GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences honored some of its most ardent supporters at its annual Dinner of Distinction, held at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center on Friday.

This was the fourth year for the awards banquet that recognizes individuals and organizations that support and advance UF/IFAS in its research, teaching and Extension efforts.

The 2015 Dinner of Distinction award recipients include: UF/IFAS Legislative Leader

• Jake Raburn, of Lithia, Florida., sponsored priority-funding issues for UF/IFAS in the 2015 legislative session. Representative Raburn provided leadership in the Florida House of Representatives, explaining the importance of UF/IFAS as well as the critical need for resources to serve the needs of Florida stakeholders. A Hillsborough County native, Raburn graduated from UF with a bachelor’s in agricultural education and communication with minors in food and resource economics, and agricultural and natural resources law.

CALS Alumni and Friends Horizon Award

• Keri E. Sidle, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, helped open two agricultural programs at public schools upon graduation from UF with a degree in agricultural education and communication — Oakleaf High School in Florida and at Rockford Middle School in Minnesota. She was the 2011 Florida FFA Agriscience Teacher of the Year, 2013 Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association Educator of the Year, and the 2013 Florida Association of Career and Technical Educators New Teacher of the Year.

CALS Alumni and Friends Award of Distinction

• Henry P. Davis, of Perry, Florida, earned a bachelor’s degree in soil science from the University of Florida in 1950. He began his 32-year Extension career in Santa Rosa County and also worked in Escambia County before spending his last 28 years in Taylor County. His most significant accomplishment was the development of thousands of young people through 4-H. Under his tutelage, five state 4-H presidents were elected from his small, rural county. Additionally, a Henry Davis Scholarship Fund was established in his honor to assist 4-H members in attending Camp Cherry Lake. Davis is a member of the UF Alumni Association and past president of the UF Taylor County Alumni Club.
• Mr. T. Jesse Godbold, of Green Cove Springs, Florida, is a UF alumnus who taught vocational agriculture at Santa Fe High School before beginning his 33-year Extension career. Godbold was an Extension agent in Columbia and Liberty counties before being promoted to county Extension director in Clay County in 1971. He provided leadership to develop and build the county agricultural Extension center and fairgrounds complex which encompasses more than 50 acres. He serves on the Clay County 4-H Foundation, which he established in 1972.

SHARE Council Volunteers of the Year

• Kevin Malone, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, graduated from UF in 1973 and the University of Florida Law School in 1976. He demonstrates his commitment to the environment through his giving to UF/IFAS. He created the Malone Distinguished Scholar Seminar that brings world-renown experts to Gainesville to discuss critical environmental issues. Malone also generously supports the UF/IFAS Florida Excellence Endowment, which provides the UF/IFAS Senior Vice President with funds to support the highest priorities and most pressing needs within UF/IFAS. Malone’s generosity also extends to the Florida Machen Opportunity Scholars program providing scholarships for first-generation college students, as well as supporting specific causes in medicine and law.

• Robert Harding, of Orlando, Florida, is a UF undergraduate and law school alumnus whose family has supported the institution for generations. His grandfather, Dr. Paul Harding, Sr., was inducted into the 2013 Citrus Hall of Fame class in Lakeland, Florida. He worked as a scientist for the USDA. Harding and his wife, Laura, generously support the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Dean’s Circle that funds the college’s highest priorities. Additionally, the Hardings hosted a Dean’s Circle event in Orlando that attracted more than 50 alumni and friends and resulted in additional Dean’s Circle members.

UF/IFAS Extension 4-H Outstanding Alumnus

• Sean Russell, of North Port, Florida, graduated from UF in 2013 with a degree in biology. Since then, he has worked with SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment to lead the development of youth conservation leadership programs. His involvement in the Florida 4-H program began at the age of nine, and as a senior 4-H member, Sean became active in state level 4-H programs, serving as a Florida 4-H Executive Board member for five years, chairing the first youth-led 4-H Day at the Capitol planning committee, and serving as the Florida 4-H State Council president his senior year of high school. During his time in 4-H, Sean founded the Stow It-Don’t Throw It Project, a youth-driven initiative that has engaged youth and adults around the world in marine debris prevention and fishing line recycling efforts. He also launched the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit with Mote Marine Laboratory; is working to implement Youth Ocean Conservation Summits; and also oversees the Youth Ocean Conservation Team.

UF/IFAS Extension 4-H Lifetime Achievement

• Wilmer and Melda Bassett of Gainesville, Florida, were selected for this award. Wilmer Bassett was active in 4-H as a child before graduating from UF in 1937 and becoming a 4-H club agent. He served as the first president of the Florida 4-H Foundation, and helped direct the 4-H camping program for six years. Melda Hamilton Bassett joined UF in 1981 as the executive director of the Florida 4-H Foundation. She was the first female fundraiser for UF as well as the first woman to direct UF/IFAS SHARE Development. Wilmer and Melda were married in 1988 and together they continued to work on behalf of UF/IFAS and Florida 4-H. Wilmer passed away in 1996 ,but his contributions to 4-H live on through his generosity. The Wilmer W. and Melda H. Bassett 4-H Endowment supports programs that develop workforce readiness in 4-H youth. Melda Bassett continued fundraising for 4-H, securing many endowments that support the 4-H program today before retiring in 2011.

UF/IFAS Research Partner Award

• The Mosaic Company, based in Plymouth, Minnesota, is the world’s leading producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash. The company employs approximately 8,900 people in six countries, and participates in every aspect of crop nutrition development. One of Mosaic’s largest centers of operation is in central Florida, where they mine and process phosphates. As a neighbor to the University of Florida, The Mosaic Company and the Mosaic Company Foundation have been a true partner to UF/IFAS offering support to multiple UF/IFAS programs and centers around the state, including being the lead donor for the Range Cattle Research and Education Center’s Grazing Lands Education Building where the main classroom was named in their honor. Other UF/IFAS initiatives that Mosaic has supported include providing fertilizer best management practices to Extension agents through the Mosaic 4Rs Stewardship program.

UF/IFAS Champion

Dr. Alto A. Straughn of Waldo, Florida, has a career in agricultural research, education, and commercial farming that spans more than 50 years and has benefited both Florida agriculture and consumers. As a UF graduate, he is among Florida’s most progressive watermelon farmers, and his work with southern highbush blueberries helped launch a $40 million-a-year industry. In 1959, Straughn began working as a UF/IFAS Extension agent in Marion County. Three years later, with the aid of a Kellogg Fellowship, he attended the University of Wisconsin, where he completed a doctoral degree in Extension administration in 1963. At the same time he was working for the Extension Service, Straughn was developing successful beef cattle, blueberry, watermelon, and timber farming operations—enterprises that now cover over 2,000 acres around Gainesville. He quickly gained a reputation as one of Florida’s most innovative growers, demonstrating again and again his ability to adjust to rapidly changing markets. Straughn’s leadership and innovation in blueberry production have been crucial to the success of Florida’s blueberry industry. He now produces about one-third of all the blueberries in Florida, and he has worked closely with UF/IFAS researchers to conduct blueberry variety trials and demonstrate new production technologies at his farms.

Straughn is generous with his knowledge and his time, selflessly sharing his expertise with other growers. He has provided financial support for more than a dozen graduate students in the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and has initiated endowment programs to provide financial support for Extension 4-H faculty and for the professional improvement of other Extension faculty.

His leadership in the agriculture industry has earned him honors, including the 2005 Gamma Sigma Delta Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award and the 1997 Cooperator of the Year Award from the Michigan Blueberry Growers Association.

-30-

By: Beverly James, 352-273-3566, beverlymjames@ufl.edu

0