UF/IFAS is pleased to announce the honorees that were recognized at the 2025 UF/IFAS Dinner of Distinction. This celebration recognizes the commitment of individuals and organizations to the UF/IFAS mission of teaching, research and Extension.
2025 Award Recipients
Ernest Sellers | UF/IFAS Champion
Live Oak, Florida
Ernest A. Sellers grew up in 4-H and graduated from the University of Florida College of Agriculture in 1959 and the College of Law in 1962. A lifelong advocate for farmers, he built a distinguished legal career in Agricultural Product Liability Law, representing clients across Florida and in courts of multiple states. Based in Live Oak since 1962, he and his wife Norma raised three children and have four grandchildren.
Erny has lectured extensively at UF’s Levin College of Law and College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and contributed to Florida Bar CLE courses statewide. His service includes leadership roles in the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce, Board of the Suwannee County Hospital, Advent Christian Village, and First Baptist Church of Live Oak. Honors include the Florida Bar’s Tradition of Excellence Award (2009), UF/IFAS SHARE Volunteer of the Year (2012), and UF CALS Alumni Award of Distinction (2014).
Representative Allison Tant | UF/IFAS Legislative Leader
Representative Allison Tant currently serves as the Representative of District 9 in the Florida House of Representatives which includes Leon, Jefferson and Madison Counties. Allison is the Democratic Ranking Member of the Careers and Workforce Committee, and serves on the Budget Committee, Health Care Budget Subcommittee, Health & Human Services Committee, Joint Legislative Budget Commission, Rules & Ethics Committee, and Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee, and the Select Committee on Property Taxes.
Along with being a State Representative, Allison is the Founder of Independence Landing, an innovative and affordable housing option for adults with a range of Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities and is the Founding Chair Emeritus for KEYS (Keys to Exceptional Youth Success), a scholarship program for students with disabilities. During her tenure with KEYS, she worked to establish several programs for Big Bend residents including the TCC Eagle Connections program, the SOAR job certification program at Lively Technical College and a state-recognized ACE Summer Institute teaching life, social, independence & job skills, all for students with disabilities. She also serves as an Advisory Board member of the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities.
In the 2024 and 2025 Legislative Sessions, Allison sponsored the legislation for modernization and renovation of UF/IFAS 4-H Camp Cherry Lake in Madison, FL.
Kim Sams | UF/IFAS Volunteer of the Year
Clermont, Florida
Kim is a 7th generation Floridian, a Gator Grad in Journalism (1979) and proud Mom of Avery Sams LeFils a CALS grad. She enjoyed 30+ years at The Walt Disney Company, where she developed the Disney Conservation Fund prior to the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. She retired as the Director of Disney Corporate Citizenship and The Walt Disney Company Foundation.
As a member of the UF/IFAS Advancement Council, the Animal Sciences Advisory Council and the UF Foundation National Board she shares her corporate perspectives and passion for communications, strategic engagement and environmental affairs. She also volunteers as a grant evaluator for the Community Foundation of South Lake County and chairs a scholarship fund there. She enjoys the outdoors, fishing and all things equine. Fun fact: at the age of 63 she rode in her very first American Quarter Horse Association show aboard her daughter’s horse, aptly named T-Bo.
Brady Revels | College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Alumni & Friends Horizon Award
Nebraska
Brady Revels is a third generation University of Florida graduate. Growing up just an hour south of Gainesville on a family farm near Bushnell, Revels always knew he wanted to be a Gator. As an aspiring agriculturist, he found his home in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences as an Agricultural Education and Communications major. After college Brady began a career in sales, working first as a sales representative for Eli Lilly before transitioning to an account manager role with Cargill. He and his wife Katie currently live in the town of Valley, just outside Omaha, Nebraska.
Adam & Melissa Putnam | College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Alumni & Friends Award of Distinction
Tennessee
Adam and Melissa Putnam’s life together began at the University of Florida where they were both active in student government, Greek life, and members of Florida Blue Key. Adam is a sixth-generation Floridian from Bartow and holds a bachelor’s degree in food and resource economics. He was recognized as UF’s Outstanding Male Graduate in December of 1995. Adam served in the Florida Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives, and was Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture for two terms. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. He’s also Chairman of the Board of Alico, Inc.
Melissa is a second-generation Air Force brat and grew up around the world living in Moscow, Berlin, Guam, and across the U.S. She has a bachelor’s and a master’s in elementary education from UF and a graduate certificate in college and career counseling from the University of Memphis. Melissa worked in the Florida Senate focusing on education policy initiatives, taught kindergarten, and now is an active community volunteer. She also serves as a member of the UF/IFAS Advancement Council. Adam and Melissa have four children, Abbie, Libby, Emma, and Hughes, who are also Gators.
Farm Credit of Florida | UF/IFAS Extension Advocate
West Palm Beach, Florida
Farm Credit of Florida is a leading agricultural and rural financing cooperative, serving farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses across 36 counties in northern and southern Florida. With over 100 years of experience, the organization provides reliable credit and financial services tailored to the unique needs of the agricultural community. As a member-owned cooperative, Farm Credit of Florida is committed to supporting local producers, ensuring they have the resources to grow and thrive. Their expertise in agricultural finance helps sustain rural communities and strengthens Florida’s farming industry.
Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation | UF/IFAS Industry Partner
Kissimmee, Florida
The Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation (FCF), founded in 1999, is dedicated to the preservation of the history, heritage, and ideals of Florida cattle producers. The Foundation promotes a sustainable cattle industry by building viable programs in scholarship, continuing education, research, and leadership development both for the current industry and its leaders and for the future leaders and entrepreneurs to come.
The Foundation is committed to creating and maintaining a strong environmental stewardship initiative to better the animals, the land, the water, and the air so that the cattle industry might flourish within an environment that is right and prosperous for property owners and all citizens of Florida.
The 2025 UF/IFAS Dinner of Distinction was held Friday, November 21, 2025, at Valley View in Alachua, FL. Awardee videos can be viewed on YouTube.
For more information, please contact Heather Adebayo at 352-392-1975 or email advancement@ifas.ufl.edu.
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