Priscilla Trace selected as Manatee Agriculturist of the Year
BRADENTON -- Priscilla Whisenant Trace became the third generation of her family selected as Manatee County Agriculturist of the Year on Tuesday.
Previously selected as Agriculturists of the Year were her grandfather, Robert Billingsly Whisenant, and her father, Robert Blake Whisenant.
The announcement of Agriculturist of the Year is always a closely guarded secret of Manatee Farm City Week. Trace came to the meeting expecting to say a few words about her father's induction into the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Trace quickly got over surprise and told the crowd at Bradenton Kiwanis Hall that everything she learned about agriculture, she learned from her father.
"We get up every day and go out to work to try to make the world a slightly better place," Trace said in accepting the award from Diane Ingram, director of the Manatee County Agricultural Museum in Palmetto.
Trace and her husband, Craig, and their son Blake have developed a successful wholesale nursery business, Ellenton Nursery Growers.
After the award presentation, as friends and family congratulated Trace, she said she always knew that she wanted to go to the University of Florida, and to work in agriculture.
Her father, Blake Whisenant, was there to watch his daughter's surprise award presentation.
Blake Whisenant was among those who were surprised, saying that he was "dumbfounded" and that the selection committee "came up with a good story" to get his daughter to the award presentation.
As a girl, Trace worked on the family farm and sold produce at a roadside stand. She raised cattle to help pay her way through college.
Ellenton Nursery Growers is one of the largest tree farms in the area, Ingram said, adding that Trace has helped bring innovations and best practices to agriculture worldwide.
She is a pioneer in using drip irrigation and growing plants on raised beds at the nursery.
In addition to her work in agriculture, Trace received praise for her community work, including as a Sunday school teacher, for conducting seminars for 4-H and FFA plant shows and auctions, and as a supporter of the University of South Florida.
Women in Agriculture is the theme of Manatee Farm City Week, now in its 58th year.
Ralph Garrison, president of the committee, noted there are 375 women farmers in Manatee County, and more than 26,000 in Florida. About one-third of farmers in Florida are women.
In presenting the agriculturist award, Ingram said nine of the 95 members of the Manatee County Agriculture Hall of Fame are women.
"Today we are about to name another woman," Ingram said.
James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee reporter, can be contacted at 941-745-7053 or on Twitter@jajones1.
This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Priscilla Trace selected as Manatee Agriculturist of the Year ."