EarthBox inventor and farm leader Blake Whisenant dies at 88

Robert “Blake” Whisenant Sr., 88, inventor of the EarthBox, a member of the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame, and a humanitarian noted for his kindness, died after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease on Wednesday.

Mr. Whisenant operated a 1,600-acre farm with a cherry tomato packing house and was one of the first in the state to use laser sorting, according to his Hall of Fame nomination in 2014. He was also chairman and part-owner of Harllee Packing House in Ellenton.

He patented his Earthbox invention, a container gardening system that reduced water and fertilizer needs, and is used internationally.

His business accomplishments aside, Mr. Whisenant is remembered for his service to others, including the youth of Manatee County, and his attention to the well being of his farmworkers.

“He was a good man. He cared about everyone, regardless of their social standing,” said his daughter, Priscilla Whisenant Trace, a Manatee County commissioner.

“He was a very simple man, and loved his church, his family, farming and the Gators,” she said.

Mr. Whisenant was a 64-year member of Palm View First Baptist Church in Palmetto.

“I’ll never forget that one day he was walking out the door of the church, and he stopped and shook my hand. ‘You’re not just my pastor, you’re my friend,’ ” Pastor Larry Pritchett recalled.

Dan West, manager of the Manatee County Fair, said he was fortunate to know Mr. Whisenant from the time of his childhood.

“Mr. Whisenant and his wife would invite all 100 members of the Palmetto High School agriculture program to his farm to let them see what happened in every component. Those tours went on for more than 30 years. That was a highlight of the year for those students,” West said.

“He was a wonderful role model for me and so many other folks. He cared for and was tender with other people,” West said. “I went to the same church as Mr. Whisenant for many years. I always loved it when he got up to preach. He was a great preacher.”

Mr. Whisenant was born on Dec. 17, 1929, and was a lifelong resident of Manatee County.

He was a University of Florida graduate and was inducted into the Manatee County Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1969. He was selected as Manatee County Distinguished Citizen in 1995, served as a Hope Seeds advisory board member to fight hunger on a global basis, and, with fellow tomato grower Peter Harllee, established the Harllee/Whisenant Agricultural Scholarship Trust Fund for Manatee County students.

Mr. Whisenant was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia, in 2014.

“He went to spend Valentine’s Day with mom,” Trace said of her father’s passing.

Survivors include his sisters, Joyce McCook, Kay Henson, Sally Bustle and Phyllis White; sons Bob, Peter and Daniel; daughters Mary de Greef and Priscilla Trace; and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be at Palm View First Baptist Church, 415 49th St. E., Palmetto, 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18. The funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, at Palm View First Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Mansion Memorial Park.

Donations may be made in his memory to Palm View First Baptist Church or to Hospice. Groover Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

This story was originally published February 15, 2018 at 4:51 PM with the headline "EarthBox inventor and farm leader Blake Whisenant dies at 88."