TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation announced on Tuesday that Eugene McAvoy, John Hoblick, and John Schlechter as the 2024 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductees.
The induction ceremony will be held at the Florida State Fair’s Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on February 13, 2024.
“Today, I am proud to announce three new inductees into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame whose contributions to Florida agriculture leave lasting legacies,” said Commissioner Simpson. “Eugene McAvoy, John Hoblick, and John Schlechter exemplify the resilient, hard-working, and innovative spirit of Florida’s agriculture community, which produces the most affordable, abundant and nutritious food supply in the world.”
Eugene McAvoy
McAvoy has spent more than 50 years supporting and advocating for the agriculture industry in Florida and around the world.
McAvoy was a long-time educator and spokesperson for agriculture during his 25-year career with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). He joined the Hendry County Extension Office in 1997 as the vegetable/horticulture agent. He became one of UF/IFAS’ first regional specialized Extension agents in 2004.
In 2005, McAvoy also took on the role of county Extension director for Hendry County. He maintained these dual responsibilities until his retirement in 2019.
McAvoy is well-known for his South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, which he published biweekly during the vegetable production season until his retirement. The hotline provided growers with up-to-date information on pest and disease occurrence on more than 140,000 acres of South Florida vegetables.
John Hoblick
Hoblick is a third-generation farmer and owner of Hoblick Greens in DeLeon Springs. He has been a grower member of FernTrust Co-operative since 1996. He advocates for the livelihood and profitability of farmers and ranchers statewide. His love for farming led him to become the president of Florida’s largest agricultural organization, representing more than 131,000 member families.
As a leader within the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Hoblick tirelessly advocated for a wide range of issues, including trade, labor, rural broadband access, animal welfare, farm policies, food safety, energy, environmental regulations, water quality and water availability.
Hoblick helped shape significant state legislation that directly benefited Florida farmers and ranchers. These legislative accomplishments encompassed strengthening the Right to Farm statute, expanding tax exemptions for Florida’s agricultural community, establishing agricultural certifications to prepare students for careers in agriculture and advocating for funding for UF/IFAS and the Fresh from Florida program.
Hoblick garnered recognition as the 1998 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Florida Farmer of the Year.
John Schlechter
Schlechter began his life-long career as a farmer after graduating from the University of Florida in 1958 and bought Everglades Farm Equipment from his father in 1971, making it a fourth-generation business within the Schlechter family.
Schlechter served on several boards aimed at supporting agriculture, such as the Sugarcane Growers Cooperative board for 10 years, the Pioneer Growers Cooperative board for 35 years, and the Florida Celery Exchange board for 10 years.
Schlechter’s lifetime of service and hard work has been recognized by many organizations. He was named Ag Man of The Year by the Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce; while he and wife, Eleanor, were jointly honored with the Citizen of the Year award by the same organization; as well as the Farmer of The Year award from Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau. Through his lifetime of service and hard work, Schlechter continues to make a profound impact on agriculture, his loved ones and his community.
Additional information on the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame and banquet can be found at FloridaAgHallofFame.org.