The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) has announced the Class 15 members of its Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP).
Class 15 members are:
- Shane Bevilacqua of KLM Farms
- Macey Graham of PGIM Agricultural Investment
- Gage Hjort of Tater Farms
- Charlie Hogan of R.C. Hatton Farms
- Joshua Jantz of U.S. Sugar
- Roman Mancini of Mancini Foods, LLC
- Hunter MacDonald of Hundley Farms
- Eddie Pines of EIP Citrus Management LLC
- Nolan Rayburn of Noble Ag
- Craig Stoyka of Wild Goose Farms
- Teresa White of A. Duda & Sons
- Ryan Williams of Florida Classic Growers
Over the coming year, class members will gain a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural industry. They will do that by visiting FFVA’s headquarters, touring farming and packing operations across Florida, meeting with elected officials and state leaders in Tallahassee during the legislative session and traveling to California’s agricultural heartland for a broader perspective. Class 15 will graduate at FFVA’s annual convention in September 2026.
Since its inception in 2011, the program — administered by the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation — has provided more than 160 promising leaders with an immersive, hands-on experience. That experience has addressed the critical issues facing Florida agriculture and developing the skills needed to lead within FFVA and beyond. Eleven graduates of the program have gone on the serve as members of the FFVA board of directors.
The suggested age for participation in the program is between 25 and 40. Applicants must be part of an FFVA member’s family or their company and must be working in or pursuing a career in Florida specialty crop agriculture. The class size is based on the recommendation of the program director to the FFVA Leadership Development Committee.
Source: FFVA
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