By:
Tom Nordlie (352) 392-1773 x 278Source:
Richard Raid RNR@ifas.ufl.edu, (561) 993-1564
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Richard Raid, a professor with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, is the first UF faculty member to receive an Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award from the state agriculture commissioner.
The award was presented to Raid by Charles Bronson, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, at the Oct. 14 meeting of the Florida Farm Bureau in Orlando.
Raid was honored for his plant pathology work at UF’s Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade, where he helps South Florida vegetable growers diagnose and control crop diseases.
In addition, the award recognizes Raid for establishing a school garden program facilitating hands-on lessons in more than 70 Florida schools, and a program promoting barn owls as a rodent- control method for sugarcane and vegetable farms. Raid uses both programs to raise agricultural and environmental awareness in K-12 students.
“Receiving this award is an incredible honor,” Raid said. “I’m very proud that I’ve been able to impact the lives of people of all ages and from many walks of life.”
He was nominated for the award by Christine Waddill, director of the Belle Glade center, and selected by an independent committee made up of representatives from environmental groups, agricultural groups and government agencies.
Raid joined the UF faculty in 1986, the same year he received his doctoral degree in plant pathology from Pennsylvania State University. He also has a master’s degree in plant pathology and a bachelor’s degree in entomology from Penn State.
Now in its 12th year, the Agricultural- Environmental Leadership Award honors individuals and businesses in agriculture that work to protect and preserve Florida’s resources. Raid is one of 38 recipients overall; other 2005 honorees were Kerry’s Bromeliad Nursery in Homestead and Larson Dairy Inc. in Okeechobee.
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