Rural Recharge

Our guest joining us today is Christian Spinosa, Vice President of Dudley Putnam Inc. and Treasurer for Florida Farm Bureau Federation. Christian is a 5th generation citrus grower and cattle rancher from Bartow, Florida. A 2014 This Farm CARES recipient, Chirstian and his family business practice environmental stewardship managing citrus, cattle and hay across three counties.

Visit FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Dr. Heidi Radunovich, Professor with UF/IFAS Family Youth and Community Sciences. After obtaining an MA and Ph.D. degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of South Florida, Dr. Radunovich has been a faculty member at the University of Florida since 2002, where she engaged in rural behavioral health research. While Heidi engages in teaching and research, much of her appointment has been in Extension where her work has involved projects related to disaster mental health training, agricultural mental health training, mental health needs of college students, and how Extension can support rural veterans.

Please reach out to Kendra Hughson for information on how to get local mental health training if interested and she can provide options depending on the location and audience: [email protected]. She can also advise about other opportunities, including Heir's Property and other financial trainings that might be helpful for our farmers.

Agristress has a helpline available: 833-897-2474 or for more information: https://www.agrisafe.org/agristress-helpline/

988 is the national suicide prevention hotline and always an option.

Visit FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guests joining us today is Mr. Matt Caldwell president of the Florida State Parks Foundation. Matt is a 7th generation Florida native and former member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2010-2018 serving on and chairing several committees including agriculture & natural resources/public lands. In 2020, Matt was elected to serve as the Lee County Property Appraiser, and he also spends time focused on his timber and cattle business.

Visit FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guests joining us today are Kelsey Waters-David, of W.D. Cattle Co. in Hawthorne, Florida. Kelsey, Class President of the Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Group, is a sixth-generation Floridian and cattle producer. Kelsey and her husband Tyler connected over a love of agriculture and developed an idea for a first-generation business W.D. Cattle Co which launched in 2023. Together they raise and finish beef cattle, selling USDA-inspected beef directly to consumers and they have quickly expanded into poultry, tallow and pet treats.

Visit FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Mrs. LaDonna LaValle, a dedicated agricultural advocate, business owner, and community leader, born and raised in Taylor County, Florida. LaDonna is a recent graduate of the Women's Communications Boot Camp hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation. She serves as the District 3 Women's Chair for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and has been an active member of the Taylor County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for over 15 years. Alongside her husband, Joe, LaDonna is very active in their family poultry, cattle, and hay operation, Perryland Poultry, LLC.

Visit FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Dr. Nathan Palardy, assistant professor and Extension economist in the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida. Dr. Palardy specializes in state and local government with an emphasis on policy and community economic development. His research and Extension programs seek to examine factors related to the growth and competitiveness of Florida's food value chains. He has recently put together a comprehensive reference guide to help farmers and ranchers navigate conservation easements and has received the Archer Early Career Seed grant to continue his work.

His full guide on conservation easements can be found here https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FE1170

Visit FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Bob Hochmuth, Center Director for the UF/IFAS North Florida Research & Educational Center. A National Association of County Agricultural Agents Hall of Fame member, focusing on commercial vegetable and watermelon crops, Bob has served the northeast extension district of Florida for decades. He was the first Florida Farm Bureau Extension Professional of the Year award recipient in 2017, and he has been a driving force behind the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and UF/IFAS partnership Suwanee CARES event that will be celebrating its 25th anniversary on May 7th, 2026.

Visit FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Mrs. Reba Mazak, the 2025 Woman of the Year in Agriculture. Reba is a fifth-generation Florida cattle rancher based in Sumter County. She and her late husband, Paul, built Mazak Ranch into a thriving cattle operation with land in Florida and Texas. She has been an active advocate for agriculture serving as the former President for both the Florida CattleWomen and the American National CattleWomen. As well as serving on her county Farm Bureau Board.

Visit FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Mr. Trevor Williams, also known as the Farm Traveler. Trevor is a podcaster and YouTuber with a love of all things' agriculture. A Florida native, Trevor graduated with a degree in Agricultural Education and Communication with a minor in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida. The goal of the Farm Traveler is to connect consumers with farmers across the world and provide an outlet for famers to share their stories.

Visit FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Mrs. Christy Chiarelli, assistant extension scientist in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, and director of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Originally from Laurel, Mississippi, Christy grew up showing market lambs and Brahman cattle for projects in her FFA chapter and 4-H club and was later elected to serve the National FFA Organization as a national FFA officer. Chiarelli obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Florida, studying agricultural education and communication while focusing on agricultural leadership development. Christy and her husband, Elio, currently reside on a small farm in Alachua with their two children.

Visit FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.