Our guest joining us today is Dr. Michael Dukes, Director of the UF/IFAS Center for Land Use Efficiency. Among the many projects and causes that Dr. Dukes is a part of, he specializes on water use efficiency in irrigation systems. Dr. Dukes and his team are saving millions of gallons of water per year through their systems, all backed by research.

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

Our guest joining us today is Jared Lanier. Mr. Lanier serves as the Director of Field Services for Florida Farm Bureau. Our conversation today will detail how Mr. Lanier and the Field Services staff advance the Voice Of Ag in their roles at Florida Farm Bureau Federation.

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

Our guest joining us today is Mrs. Victoria Hunter, a generational nursery grower with FernTrust Incorporated and seasoned member of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors. Victoria is also the Chair of the Women’s Leadership Committee and dedicated to the success of the Voice of Agriculture.

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

Our guest joining us today are Mrs. Staci Sims and Mrs. Liza Bradford. Mrs. Sims serves as the COO of Florida Farm Bureau, and Mrs. Liza Bradford serves as the CFO of Florida Farm Bureau. Our conversation today will detail how they advance the Voice Of Ag in their roles at Florida Farm Bureau Federation.

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

Our guest today is Mr. Zippy Duvall, a farmer from Georgia, a family man and has served as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation since 2016. He is a third-generation farmer. Prior to being elected AFBF president, he was president of the Georgia Farm Bureau and served on the AFBF board of directors. In 1987, he also served on the AFBF board as Young Farmer Committee chair. He has helped defeat misguided regulations, shepherd new trade agreements, and make certain farmers and ranchers are supported through natural disasters and the ongoing impacts of supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures.

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

Our guest joining us today is Mr. Scott Kirouac, a longtime friend of Florida Farm Bureau and a strong advocate for agriculture. Mr. Kirouac serves on the Highlands County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and received a Distinguished Service Award in 2023. Scott Kirouac successfully founded and runs a non-profit organization called “Ag Angels”. 

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

Our guest joining us today is Mr. Jim Alderman, an organic vegetable farmer in South Florida. Mr. Alderman is unique in that most of his farm is certified organic and most of the produce stays local within the state of Florida. Mr. Alderman is a long-time friend of Farm Bureau and our 2025 Florida Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year.

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

Our guest joining us today is Mr. Ryan Jenkins, a 4th generation row crop farmer from the edge of Florida in Santa Rosa County. If you’ve run across any of Jenkins’ Farm social media you can see how important this industry and way of life is to Mr. Jenkins. In 2020 he won the Florida Farm Bureau Federation Volunteer Communicator Award, and he is still going strong being a Voice of Ag. Ryan, thank you for being with us today.

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

Our guest joining us today is Ms. Carrie Baker, a Ph. D. Candidate at the University of Florida Department of Agricultural Education and Communication. Ms. Baker is part of a fourth generation farming family, specializing in cattle and row crops. The topic of mental health in the farming community is personal to Carrie and she hopes to see her family and Florida Agriculture thrive for years to come.

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

Kelly Aue, Suwannee River Partnerships Outreach Coordinator, joins President Jeb Smith on the newest episode of Rural Recharge. The Suwannee River Partnership works to address water quantity and quality issues in the Suwannee and Santa Fe river basin. Kelly's role in accomplishing that goal includes managing funding partners, stakeholder groups, and comunicating through various means to the public about the partnership. Ms. Aue works out of the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Live Oak and is a huge part in planning our annual Suwannee CARES event.

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