The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Committee recently announced this year’s agriculture award winners. Each year, the five awards are given to members of the community who have exemplified themselves in the agricultural field through their career, education and volunteer work.
“It is for people who are not only successful in what they do, but what they do in addition to that,” Debbie Simpson of Farm Credit said. “It’s the way they work, what they’ve done to improve agriculture for the good of the world.”
A contact breakfast will be held honoring the winners Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Agriculturist of the Year: Hugh M. Gramling
Hugh Gramling received his degree in journalism from the University of Florida in 1969. In 1973, he became the owner and manager of Gramling Nursery Inc., a wholesale plant nursery, until 1997.
In 1994, Gramling became the owner and manager of Horticultural Products, another wholesale plant nursery, before becoming the executive director of the Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers in 1997.
Gramling stayed in the agricultural field until his retirement three years ago. He loves the people in the agricultural community.
“The people are phenomenal,” Gramling said. “There’s kind of a common bond that you have with them.”
Gramling was honored to win Agriculturist of the Year, especially since he has previously served on the committee that selects the winners.
“I’m very humbled and honored to win,” he said. “It’s a very prestigious award. It’s just really an unusual and thrilling experience.”
Gramling has also won a number of other awards related to his work in the agricultural field, including being named an Outstanding Agriculturist in 1984 by the Florida Association of Agricultural Agents. Gramling served as the chair for the Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation District for 10 years, chair and vice-chair of the Hillsborough County Agricultural Economic Development Council and served as a member on the Hillsborough River Basin Board.
Young Agriculturist of the Year: Michael C. Lopez
Michael Lopez is the owner and general manager of Southside Western & Outdoor Wear. The company sells a variety of boots and jeans, as well as fencing supplies, animal health supplies and feed for horses and cows.
Lopez frequently makes house calls for kids who show animals and helps them with their feed programs. Lopez got his start in agriculture in middle school, when he became involved with Future Farmers of America and had cows of his own at home. Lopez later attended the University of Florida, where he received his degree in food and resource economics from the College of Agriculture.
Lopez has served as the past president of FFA Alumni and is currently the treasurer. He also serves on the swine committee at the Florida Strawberry Festival.
“Plant City has a small town, country feel,” Lopez said. “Everybody still kind of has [agriculture] in their blood.”
Lopez said that he could think of a number of other people who were also worthy of the award.
“It’s kind of overwhelming,” he said. “I wasn’t really expecting it. I do what I do because I love it.”
Ag Educator of the Year: Judi Whitson
Judi Whitson started with the Farm Bureau in 1981. Today, she is the executive director of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Federation. She has been with Florida Agriculture in the Classroom since its inception. Programming is now taught to 7,200 third-graders in Hillsborough County.
“I educate third graders to legislators,” Whitson said.
She is also responsible for bringing awareness of the need for agriculture and helping them understand the impact of agriculture in the community.
In addition to her work with third-graders, Whitson also helped to start the Ag-Abilities program for special needs students who are unable to participate in the traditional FFA events. The program is now found in nine Hillsborough County schools.
“It’s very rewarding,” Whitson said. “There’s just so many wonderful people in the agricultural community.
“I was just amazed,” she said about winning the award.
Agri-Business of the Year: The Hay Exchange
From its inception in 1995, The Hay Exchange has grown from a hay wholesale business into a lifestyle operation that focuses on selling quality products at a fair price. At first, the company was only operated by owner Bill Glisson and Frank Narvaez, but has since grown to almost 30 employees.
Michael Glisson joined his brother’s efforts two years ago. Michael Glisson is proud of the company’s personal service and having a company that has grown through integrity.
“We have found that our business has grown through building trust,” Michael Glisson said. “We get to know their family, we get to know their pets.”
The Hay Exchange specializes in selling quality equine feed, as well as halters, saddles and other food and accessories for almost all animals.
The company, in addition to caring for customers and their animals, is involved with a number of organizations, including South Florida Baptist Hospital, food drives, toy drives, the Plant City Chamber of Commerce, Pig Jam and the Florida Strawberry Festival. At the festival, The Hay Exchange offers an opportunity for kids who purchase their feed to win a cash prize. The company is continuing to expand and expects to break ground on a new building within the next three to four months, as well as preparing the next generation of Glissons for management of the company.
“We’ve got a tremendous crew here,” Michael Glisson said. “I’m very proud of the team.”
Supporter of Youth in Agriculture: William K. and Karen J. Grimmer
Ken and Karen Grimmer are heavily involved with helping youth at the Florida Strawberry Festival. The couples serves on the steer committee, and Karen Grimmer also helps with the festival’s record-keeping and on the agricultural committee. The couple also raises cattle.
While volunteering at the festival, the Grimmers noticed that some kids needed more practice than others. They began working with neighborhood kids and helped them practice showing steers on Sunday afternoons, a tradition that continued for over a decade.
“We enjoyed it a lot,” Karen Grimmer said. “It’s important to us to give back to our community, because that’s what makes our community grow.
“If one student comes back every year into the agricultural community, our volunteer time was 100% important,” Grimmer said. “No one asked us to do it. We did it because we wanted to.”
The couple acknowledges that supporting the agricultural community takes an army. They work closely with Stephanie Brower, Pam Walden, Pam Warnock, Leslie and Don Poppell, Bill McClellan, Jim Jeffries and a number of other instrumental individuals.
“It takes a lot of help,” Grimmer said. “We haven’t done it to win an award.”
IF YOU GO
WHEN: 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12
WHERE: Expo Building at the Florida Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds, 2301 W. Oak Ave.
COST: $15
RESERVATIONS: Call the chamber at (813) 754-3707
RSVP: By 4:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com