The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s annual Salute to Ag awards may have been different in 2020 than any year prior, but the communal and enthusiastic spirit still rang true.
The Ag luncheon was one of the only events and meetings the chamber has held since the pandemic started and precautions were in full effect as the socially distanced tables were filled to half capacity.
When people walked through the doors with masks firmly in place, they signed in and were asked to pick up a green, yellow or red bracelet. The color would signify to others which level of contact you were comfortable with so no one was approached without their consent.
The lunch, which was sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida, was altered as well. Instead of the typical buffet, guests were served a boxed meal and were asked to put their masks back on once they finished eating.
Then the fun began.
Each year, agriculturists in the community are honored for their impact in Plant City. It’s a ceremony that has become a staple and the chamber said it couldn’t fathom ditching the awards altogether if there was a safe way to bring them to life.
Courtney Paat, chair of the Executive Board of Directors, kicked off the event by detailing the financial influence the local agriculture industry has on the economy. She said it’s a $1 billion impact and the entire community would be a very different place without its touch. The chamber decided to set aside time every year to recognize individuals in the community who are making waves in their respective fields.
Keith and Rhonda DeShong were named Agriculturists of the Year. He was born and raised in Dover and Rhonda grew up in Plant City. They married in 1988 and settled in Knights Station, where Keith stepped away from farming with his mentor Ralph Randall and began a farm of his own. Keith is a member of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association as well as a member of Gideons International.
When the farm became a success, he felt called to help others in the upcoming ag community. He’s assisted local Ag teachers laying plastic for school fields and is known for always being available to help young farmers bring their operations to life. The couple will frequently lend a helping hand for local FFA students with their steer projects and have become involved in various programs at Knights Baptist Church.
Jason Conrad was named Young Agriculturist of the Year. On top of his impressive resume, he is known for his dedication to teamwork and helping others. He can often be spotted traveling around the county lending his expertise to pull calves, treat sick cattle and give advice on nutrition and proper handling and care.
During his tenure as president of the Hillsborough County Cattlemen’s Association, he grew not only the membership but also the group’s representation at the county meetings. Under his leadership — along with that of his board of directors — the Cattlemen’s Association has been able to re-implement a scholarship program. His passion also led to the growth of the Hillsborough County Cattlemen’s Clay Shoot, which uses the funds raised to help youth in the community.
Greg Lehman was named Ag Educator of the Year. Born and raised in Plant City, he is a third-generation citrus farmer and continues managing his family farm to this day. He became an Ag teacher at Tomlin Middle School in 2005 and then opened an Ag program at Barrington Middle School in 2008.
Lehman is known for his passionate and inspirational leadership of the various FFA teams that have sprung from his programs. Several have brought home national titles and hundreds of students have been positively shaped by his calm, invigorating influence. Despite his busy schedule, he continues to care for his family’s citrus grove along with his wife, Pamela, and their three children.
One of the most passionate speeches of the night came from Carl Grooms who, along with his wife Dee Dee, were awarded Supporters of Youth in Ag. You rarely see the duo apart and, as a third-generation Florida farmer, Carl has shaped countless lives with his unwavering passion for agriculture.
Carl may have “semi-retired,” leaving much of the management of day-to-day operations to his son Dustin, but their entire family plays a crucial role in ensuring Fancy Farms remains a soaring success.
They are now looking at the generations that will follow. The couple has long had a mission to educate the public on sustainable agriculture in this nation and always hosts events or gives back to local organizations. Each year, the couple hosts the annual Hillsborough County 4-H U-pick with the proceeds raised designated for scholarships. Dee Dee markets Florida strawberries and furthers education with her Grand Champion ribbons at the Florida Strawberry Festival as well as by traveling, hosting farm tours and partaking in the daily work on the farm.
After receiving the award, Carl took a moment to address the crowd. He joked he was preaching to the choir but that they needed to share their message with the rest of the country. Imports are killing American agriculture, he said, and it is imperative that the passion for farming be passed on to the upcoming generations or else the nation would soon face even more daunting challenges.
As a founding member of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association since 1982, Carl has kept that tireless passion for agriculture education alive in their community. His awards for his hard work are numerous and he was inducted into the FSGA Hall of Fame in 2013. His farm and its operations have been seen around the world due to a variety of television features and their impact will only continue to grow as they never stop striving to further educate any who wish to learn a thing or two about farming.
Keel Farms won the Agri-Business of the Year award. Clay Keel was the only one not at the event, but his service to the revitalization of Keel Farms was lauded during the presentation. He is the son of Keel Farms founder Joe Keel and he took over the family farm and winery in 2018.
His passion for farming is equal only to his passion for his concoctions in the kitchen. He loves bringing new wines, ciders and beers to life that are full of the unique and fruitful flavors found there on Keel Farms.
Under his leadership, Keel & Curley Winery along with Keel Farms has seen a resurgence of events and the community has gotten an in-depth look at how the businesses operate. It’s a transparent policy that has helped bridge the gap between consumers and farm-to-table operators. It has developed a cult following that continue to return time and again.
Following the traditional awards, the chamber announced its Good Egg award, which it awarded to the youngest recipient in chamber history. Madilyn Conrad — Jason Conrad’s daughter — came back with her family for the ceremony. She joked she had just moved to Gainesville for the next college semester and was confused as to why her parents pushed for her to attend with them.