Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
02/10/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/10/2026 14:01
Commissioner Wilton Simpson Seeks Nominations for 2026 Woman of the Year in Agriculture and Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Awards
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the opening of the nomination process for the Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award and the Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award. The Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award annually recognizes the achievements of women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture. The Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award is also presented annually, spotlighting environmentally innovative growers and ranchers who share a commitment to protecting and preserving Florida's resources while continuing to produce the world-class agricultural goods we rely on. Nominations for both awards must be submitted by March 1, 2026.
"Florida agriculture continues to lead because of the dedicated men and women who combine hard work, innovation, and stewardship every day," said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. "These awards recognize women whose leadership strengthens our agricultural communities and growers and ranchers who prove that conservation and production go hand in hand. I encourage Floridians to nominate those who represent the very best of Florida agriculture."
Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award
Since 1985, women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture have been honored with the Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award. This award, sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in conjunction with the Florida State Fair Authority, is presented annually to the recipient during the Florida State Fair in Tampa, Florida. Previous recipients of the award have come from all parts of the agriculture industry, including cattle, vegetables, timber, citrus, row crops, equine, horticulture, tropical fruits, sugarcane, dairy, agricultural journalism, and agricultural education and outreach.
Nomination forms and more information about the Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award can be found here.
Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award
The Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award has been presented annually since 1994. The program spotlights the environmentally innovative farming practices of the state's growers and ranchers. Award recipients come from different parts of Florida's agricultural industry, but they all share a commitment to protect and preserve Florida's resources while continuing to provide agricultural products for society.
Nomination forms and more information about the Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award can be found here.
For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.
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Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services published this content on February 10, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 10, 2026 at 20:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]