Commissioner Nikki Fried Launches 2021 Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award Application

Tallahassee, Fla. — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) have launched the online application for the 2021 Woman of the Year in Agriculture award. Since 1985, FDACS has recognized women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture, honoring them with the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award. The application submission deadline is August 1, 2021.

“As Florida’s first woman elected Agriculture Commissioner, I’m proud that our department has for 36 years recognized the contributions of women leaders in agriculture,” said Commissioner Nikki Fried. “Women are breaking barriers in every industry, at every level, every day — that includes the growing share of female agriculture producers, dedicated to serving their communities through their outstanding leadership. I’m encouraging all achieving female farmers to apply for our 2021 Woman of the Year in Agriculture award to honor the accomplishments of women leading the way from the barn to the boardroom, and everywhere in between.”

The “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award, sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in conjunction with the Florida State Fair Authority, is presented to recipients during the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Recipients of the award have come from all parts of the industry, including cattle, vegetables, timber, citrus, row crops, equine, horticulture, tropical fruits, sugar cane, dairy, agricultural journalism, and agricultural education and outreach.

In 2001, the award program was enhanced to help heighten awareness about the women who have helped make Florida agriculture into the important industry that it is today. Since then, a documentary video about each new recipient has been shown during the award ceremony, and a booklet outlining her contributions to agriculture has been distributed to those in attendance.

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