Farm Credit of Florida’s Board of Directors provides valuable leadership and guidance to the Association. Directors’ substantial business and agricultural experience plays a vital role in the oversight and planning for the organization. Board members represent both regional and industry segments of the portfolio. The current Board comprises 23 directors due to a recent merger. The Board will be reduced to 16 directors during the 2012 election cycle.
James M. Alderman
Jim is the owner/operator of J. Alderman Farms, Inc., a vegetable farming operation in Palm Beach and St. Lucie Counties. He also grows citrus in Martin County and has a cattle operation in Hendry County. Mr. Alderman currently serves on the Lake Worth Drainage District board of directors, the Palm Beach County Growers Advisory Committee, and the Palm Beach County Water Resources Task Force.
John Alger
John is a vegetable grower and nurseryman in Miami-Dade County. He serves on the Executive Advisory Board of First National Bank of South Florida, is a member of the Dade County Farm Bureau, and Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association.
T. Richard Barber, Jr.
Mr. Barber is a lifetime resident of Marion County, raising cattle and growing watermelon and peanuts. He was the 1995 Sunbelt Farmer of the Year and in 2004 he was inducted into the Marion County Agricultural Hall of Fame and the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. He serves on the Florida Farm Bureau Peanut Advisory board, Marion County Florida Department of Agriculture Advisory Committee, Florida Department of Agriculture Seed Council, University of Florida’s IFAS Regional Advisory Council and is a member of Marion County’s Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee, Cattlemen’s Association and Farm Bureau.
Howard P. “Rowdy” Bateman
Rowdy manages Bright Hour Ranch, a 46,000 acre citrus and cattle operation in DeSoto County. He has personal interests in a family cattle operation, as well as his own personal cattle operation. He serves on the Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association Board, the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank District Advisory Committee and District Legislation.
Robert J. Callaway, Vice-Chairman
Bob serves as an Outside Director for Farm Credit of South Florida. He is a co-founder of Callaway and Price, Inc., a real estate appraisal and consulting firm. He serves on the boards of directors of South Florida Fair, West Palm Beach Fishing Club and Law Enforcement Assistance Foundation.
Roger W. Davis
Roger was born and raised in Alachua County; has been a resident of Columbia County since 1978. He has had farming operations in Alachua, Columbia and Bradford Counties that include tobacco, cattle, and horses. He owns and operates a pine planting and reforestation service that includes herbicide applications. He is a member of the Alachua County Farm Bureau, Elks Club, and a past member of the National Tobacco Advisory Board, Florida Tobacco Growers Association Board of Directors, and Florida Tobacco Warehouse Association. Davis has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Florida.
Walter S. Farr
Walter is a retired Certified Public Accountant from Wauchula who has interests in citrus and beef cattle. He serves as a trustee and officer of the Matred Carlton Olliff Foundation, a charitable organization; the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank Nominating Committee.
Eric Hopkins
Eric is the Vice President and business manager of Hundley Farms, Inc., a commercial agriculture operation based in Palm Beach County. Hundley Farms grows sugar cane, sweet corn, radishes, green beans, rice and sod. Eric is an alumnus of the Wedgworth Leadership Program for Agriculture and Natural Resources (WLIFANR) and currently serves as a director on the Advisory Board for WLIFANR, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Pioneer Growers Cooperative, South Florida Fair and the Board of Governors for Leadership Palm Beach County.
Sherwood J. “Buddy” Johnson
Buddy is a citrus grower in the Indian River area. He serves on the boards of directors of Delta Farms Water Control District, CoBank, University of Florida S.H.A.R.E. Council, and is President of the Treasure Coast Ag Research Foundation.
Joseph C. Joyce
Dr. Joyce is a Jacksonville, Florida native and executive associate vice president for agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida/IFAS. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Alabama and his Ph.D. from the University of Florida. He was appointed to serve as an outside director on the board of Farm Credit of North Florida in 2008. Joe has held major leadership positions in professional organizations and has served in numerous leadership and governance roles at the University of Florida. Joyce was appointed by Governor Crist to the Environmental Regulation Commission in 2008. He is a retired Brigadier General, United States Army Reserves.
Louis E. “Woody” Larson, Jr., Chairman
Woody is a dairy farmer in Okeechobee County. He serves on the board of directors of Larson Dairy, Inc., Dairy Feeds, Inc., SunTrust – Mid-Florida, and Southeast Milk, Inc. Woody is First Vice President of the Florida Cattleman’s Association.
Charles F. “Charlie” Martin
Charlie is a Florida native, a seventh generation farmer, second generation nurseryman in Miami-Dade County. He serves as Secretary/Treasurer of Harold B. Martin, Inc. and is Vice Chairman for FNGLA’s 2010 TPIE. He is a former board member of the Dade County Farm Bureau, the Dade County 4-H Youth Club Committee.
Martin “Marty” J. McKenna
Marty is self-employed through McKenna & Associates Citrus, Inc., a privately owned citrus and harvesting operation in Polk County. Mr. McKenna owns or manages 6,000 acres of citrus. He serves on Florida Citrus Mutual, a statewide citrus growers’ organization and the Florida Citrus Research & Development Foundation, which is involved in citrus research.
Lloyd “Sonny” Register
Lloyd is a resident of Baker County. He specializes in dairy herd replacement, has a beef cattle herd, and hay and timber operations. Register is a member of the Baker County Farm Bureau and Baker County’s Soil and Water District and serves on both boards.
Stanford Robertson
Stan was raised in Florida and is a long-time resident of Flagler County, where he owns and operates Robertson Brothers Farms which operates potato farms in Bunnell and Okeechobee. He currently serves as a director on the Flagler County Soil and Water Conservation Board, is a member of the St. Johns Water Management District Agriculture Advisory Committee and the North Florida Growers Exchange Board of Directors. Mr. Robertson graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in Mathematics. After graduating, he taught school in Columbia County before returning to the family farm in Flagler County.
Arthur Sandlin
Arthur is a lifetime resident of Levy County. He produces peanuts and raises beef cattle with his son. He serves on the Board of Directors of Perkins State Bank in Williston and was formerly on the Florida Department of Agriculture State Peanut Advisory Council.
Robert G. Sexton
Bobby is a citrus grower in Indian River County. He is President of Oslo Citrus Growers Association and currently serves on the boards of directors of AgFirst Farm Credit bank, Florida Citrus Mutual, Oslo Citrus Growers Association, McArthur Farms, Florida Citrus Packers, Indian River Citrus League & HESCO.
Lisa Sherman
Lisa is an outside director for Farm Credit of Southwest Florida and a Certified Public Accountant in Lake Placid. She has an interest in beef cattle.
Ron St. John
Ron is a resident of Gilchrist County. He is co-owner and manager of Alliance, Piedmont, Highbrighton and Barrington Dairies. Ron serves on the Board of Southeast Milk.
Andrea Thurn
Andrea is a Certified Public Accountant and serves as an Outside Director for the Association. Ms. Thurn is a Partner/Owner in Morgan, Jacoby, Thurn, Boyle and Associates, PA and has many years of experience with financial institutions, cooperatives and agri-businesses. She has served as the Treasurer and President of the Board for United Way of Indian River County as well as Safeplace Domestic Violence Program.
E. E. “Bucky” Waldron, Jr.
Bucky has been an outside director for Farm Credit of Southwest Florida since 2002 and is an attorney in private civil practice in DeSoto County.
Baxter Troutman
Mr. Troutman is engaged in land management, cattle, and citrus operations in Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, and Polk Counties. He is CEO and founder of Labor Solutions, Inc. and currently serves on the Atlantic Blue Group, Inc. board. Education: Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance – Florida Southern College.