As you’ll hear in this report by Erin Best, this week’s Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame Banquet at the Florida State Fair was a HUGE success. A record crowd of agriculture producers and ag industry leaders joined Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson for fellowship and dinner to honor four more deserved inductees into this prestigious group of industry leaders. This year’s honors went to (l to r) the late Dr. Jim Griffiths, Winter Haven; the late Richard Kelly, Tallahassee; Kay Richardson, Evinston, & the late Mason Smoak, Lake Placid. Southeast AgNet hats are off to these exceptional people who have had so much impact on an industry that is so important to all of us. Learn more about the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame at their website. Read the rest of this entry »
The Florida agricultural leaders who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame are:
– Dr. James Griffiths of Winter Haven (deceased)
– Richard Kelly of Tallahassee (deceased)
– Kay Richardson of Evinston
– Mason Smoak of Lake Placid (deceased)
“Florida agriculture owes an immense debt of gratitude to these outstanding leaders,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said. “Their dedicated service in the areas of research, education, business and government helped make Florida agriculture into the remarkable industry that is known and admired around the world.” Read the rest of this entry »
Four new members will be inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame during the 31st annual awards celebration Feb. 10, 2009, during the Florida State Fair in Tampa. They are: Dr. James Griffiths (deceased) of Winter Haven; Richard Kelly of Tallahassee; Kay Richardson of Evinston; and Mason Smoak (deceased) of Lake Placid.
The recent loss of Lake Placid citrus grower Mason Smoak is mourned by community and industry this week, as hundreds lined up to support family Tuesday evening before funeral services today. Find details of the services and lots more information about Mason contained in an earlier post on this website by clicking here.
We regret to pass on this information…News from Highlands County Citrus Growers’ Association’s Ray Royce late Friday June 20, who wrote:
“…we lost a great father, husband and friend in Mason Smoak to an airplane crash in Lake Placid. Mason who was currently serving as both the President of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association and the Chairman of the Heartland Agricultural Coalition will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Tracee and their three children, as well as the rest of the Smoak family.”
Mason Smoak has been a guest on Southeast AgNet programming numerous times in his roles in industry leadership. This report (1:20 mp3) will air on the radio network Tuesday, the day before Mason’s funeral services this week on Wednesday,June 25. You can see some of the earlier posts featuring Mason, and hear his comments by clicking here.
Mason’s obituary and information on memorial arrangements follow: Read the rest of this entry »
Mason Smoak, a Florida citrus grower from Highlands County, was in our nation’s capitol Thursday to testify before the House Agriculture Committee on the importance of ag labor.
In this report, the U S House Agriculture Committee has scheduled a hearing on agriculture labor, and Florida citrus grower Mason Smoak has been invited to testify before the committee in the Nation’s Capitol this Thursday. Report (2:00 mp3)
In this report, Florida Farm Bureau’s Citrus Advisory Council Chairman, Mason Smoak of Smoak Groves, talks about “Tallahassee Days”, where the group plans to meet with legislators on issues facing citrus growers in Florida. Report (2:00 wma)
In this report, what growers in Florida’s heartland are seeing in the groves as a result of the cold weather about a week ago in many Florida growing areas. Visiting with us at the Highlands County Citrus Growers banquet in Sebring Thursday, we have comments from HCCGA Exec Ray Royce, John Gose (photo top right)from Lykes Bros, Charles Lanfier of AgraChem Sales Co (photo at left), and Mason Smoak, Smoak Groves, Lake Placid (photo btm right).Report (2:00 wma)
Mason Smoak of Smoak Groves in Lake Placid is presently the Chairman of Florida Farm Bureau’s Citrus Advisory Committee, among the many FFB Committees holding winter meetings in Gainesville in recent days. In this report, Smoak discusses the committee’s activities as part of Farm Bureau’s policy-development process, and the importance that growers stay informed on the latest information available about citrus greening. Report (2:00 wma)
On Wednesday, December 20th at 9:00 AM; growers, key employees and other allied members are invited to an in-grove greening identification demonstration. The grove belongs to Smoak Groves and is located on HWY 70, south of Lake Placid. Go west on 70 from US 27 for 4.8 miles and turn south on Lightsey Ranch Road and proceed ½ mile. Park on the west side of the road south of the canker washer (this will allow harvesting & hauling operations to be uninterrupted). Everyone will be required to enter through a personnel canker decontamination hoop and are reminded to thoroughly decontaminate their vehicles prior to arriving at the grove. Read the rest of this entry »
A record crowd of agriculture producers and ag industry leaders joined Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson for fellowship and dinner to honor four more deserved inductees into this prestigious group of industry leaders. This year’s honors went to (l to r) the late Dr. Jim Griffiths, Winter Haven; the late Richard Kelly, Tallahassee; Kay Richardson, Evinston, & the late Mason Smoak, Lake Placid. 
Southeast AgNet hats are off to these exceptional people who have had so much impact on an industry that is so important to all of us. Learn more about the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame at their website.
Four new members will be inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame during the 31st annual awards celebration Feb. 10, 2009, during the Florida State Fair in Tampa. They are: Dr. James Griffiths (deceased) of Winter Haven; Richard Kelly of Tallahassee; Kay Richardson of Evinston; and Mason Smoak (deceased) of Lake Placid. 
The recent loss of Lake Placid citrus grower Mason Smoak is mourned by community and industry this week, as hundreds lined up to support family Tuesday evening before funeral services today. Find details of the services and lots more information about Mason contained in an earlier post on this website by 
We regret to pass on this information…News from Highlands County Citrus Growers’ Association’s Ray Royce late Friday June 20, who wrote: 
In this report, what growers in Florida’s heartland are 
seeing in the groves as a result of the cold weather about a week ago in many Florida growing areas. 
