BRADENTON — A kid who grew up on a local dairy farm, went off to college and came back with an advanced degree, and later became a respected county extension agent and a leader of a county department Tuesday was named Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year for 2009.
Brenda G. Rogers, 51, of Bradenton, the Manatee County Extension/Agriculture and Resource Conservation Department director, was honored at a Kiwanis Club of Bradenton luncheon.
“It is with enormous pride that I present to you an educator, an administrator, a community leader and a family promoter as the 2009 Agriculturist of the Year,” said Travis Seawright, a retired livestock agent and a longtime friend of Rogers’ family, in announcing her selection as part of Farm City Week festivities.
Rogers teared up a little, but managed to tell the crowd, “I am deeply honored by this recognition.”
In accepting it, she listed some of the reasons she loves her work in agriculture: “I love the people in agriculture; I love the smell of good soil,” she said, adding that another blessing is the pleasure of working with those who are passionate about their calling.
Rogers grew up on a dairy farm on Erie Road, graduated from Palmetto High School and studied home economics at college, where she earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
In 1978, she was hired as a Florida extension agent for home economics here. As an employee of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, she promoted agriculture through educational programs at local, district, state and national levels.
Within a decade, she had also earned tenure as a University of Florida faculty member, and has served on many advisory committees for UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
In 2000, she was appointed director of the county department that oversees agriculture and natural resources. She also continued her work as a longtime supporter of youth activities, such as Healthy Start and the 4-H Foundation.
Rogers has been a perpetual helper with Farm City Week, which she is again doing this year, and is on the board of directors for the Manatee County Agriculture Museum, which serves as an agricultural education center for local schools.
And let’s not forget her 10-year membership in the Kiwanis Club of Bradenton.
“I really think it’s one of the greatest selections we could have made,” said Betty Glassburn, a longtime supporter of Farm City Week and agriculture. “Brenda does everything she can for everybody she can. She really does, and I don’t think there’s a more deserving person than her.”
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