Red, White, and Grow: Recapping FFAA’s 94th Annual Meeting

Last month, over 175 FFAA members and guests gathered at the 94^th Annual Meeting in Naples, Florida. Centered around this year’s theme, “Red, White, and Grow,” the three-day event was hosted at the Ritz-Carlton Naples on July 7-9, celebrating American agriculture, industry resilience, and Florida’s economic growth.

During the meeting, FFAA members elected five Directors to serve a 3-year term:

• Mike Barry, TradeMark Nitrogen Corp.
• David Carson, Chemical Dynamics, Inc.
• Conner Davis, Florida Fertilizer Company, Inc.
• Eric Johnson, FMC Corporation
• Brian Updike, Nutrien Ag Solutions

The 2026/2027 Officers were also installed. The FFAA Board elected Mayo Ag Services’s Keith Shaw as Chairman of the Board, BASF’s Adrian Jahna as Vice Chairman, and EuroChem North America’s Rhonda Trimble re-elected as Secretary/Treasurer.

A highlight of the event was presenting the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award to Keith Davis, President of Florida Fertilizer Company. A Wauchula native, UF graduate, citrus grower, cattle rancher, ag retailer, and dedicated family man, Davis was honored for his decades of industry advocacy and service on both CNI’s and FFAA’s boards, including as FFAA Chairman from 2003–2004. In receiving this honor, he proudly follows in the footsteps of his father, Edgar, making the award a deeply meaningful family legacy.

On the legislative front, FFAA lobbyist Jim Spratt delivered a board report on Amendment 3 and grassroots strategy, while Florida Agricultural Commissioner Wilton Simpson highlighted his administration’s focus on operational efficiency, protecting farmland, and supporting Florida producers.

Attendees also heard from an exceptional lineup of guest speakers addressing critical industry issues:

• Tom Lynch, The Fertilizer Institute, detailed global fertilizer supply trends and Farm Bill provisions, including 4R research funding and biostimulant regulations.
• Scott Herndon, RISE, outlined federal/state momentum for pesticide innovation, including a $3 million funding boost for the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs.
• Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Modern Ag Alliance, advocated for science-based, uniform pesticide labeling laws to protect farm affordability and modern crop tools against activist litigation.
• Dr. Brett Bultemeier, UF/IFAS, shared updates on pesticide education, expanded applicator training, and new Spanish-language resources.
• Dr. Scott Angle, UF/IFAS, reviewed crop nutrient research, legislative budget outcomes, and future initiatives in precision ag tech like AI, drones, and enhanced efficiency fertilizers.

Beyond the insightful educational sessions, the 94th Annual Meeting offered members invaluable opportunities to connect, collaborate, and reflect on the industry’s shared goals.

As attendees departed Naples, the overarching spirit of the event—“Red, White, and Grow”—remained clear. Driven by strong leadership and dedicated stewardship, FFAA continues to build on its proud tradition to advance Florida agriculture for generations to come.