By Team DeSantis
Editor’s Note: With the November elections fast approaching, we asked the major candidates in Florida’s governor’s race to weigh-in on why Florida farmers should support their campaigns. Here’s what Gov. Ron DeSantis team had to say. Also note, this article was written prior to Hurricane Ian making landfall. See Charlie Crist’s article here.
Florida is home to more than 45,000 farms across nearly 10 million acres. Our rich agricultural community is a significant part of the character of our state. Gov. Ron DeSantis understands the rural way of life and the hard work that goes into feeding Florida families.
“The men and women of Florida’s agriculture industry put food on the table for millions of people in our state and across the nation,” DeSantis said. “As governor, I am proud to have stood up for rural communities and look forward to providing continued support for our farmers and ranchers across Florida.”
INDUSTRY ENDORSEMENT
Our farmers and ranchers know that DeSantis has their backs and fights for their values. In September of this year, he received an endorsement from Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s FarmPAC for his work in supporting our agriculture community.
Jeb Smith, president of Florida Farm Bureau, said DeSantis “understands the value of hard work and dedication, which translates to efforts that allow our industry to thrive.”
“Our industry cannot afford to lose Gov. DeSantis’s support in Tallahassee, and Charlie Crist will not be the friend that the governor has been,” Smith said following FarmPAC’s endorsement.
TOP PRIORITY
Supporting Florida’s farmers and ranchers has been a top priority for DeSantis since he was sworn into office in 2019. He has brought support to these communities with infrastructure and job training.
DeSantis created the Broadband Opportunity Program in April to expand broadband internet in rural and underserved areas. In this year alone, $30 million has been allocated to the Rural Infrastructure Fund. These infrastructure projects will encourage job creation and capital investment in rural economies.
When he took office, DeSantis set the goal of making Florida the No. 1 state in the nation for workforce education by 2030. Since then, he has allocated $3.5 billion for workforce education and training initiatives, many of which benefit Florida’s rural communities.
“These investments are driving the growth of our rural communities and state as a whole,” DeSantis said in September of this year following the announcement of an expansion of Florida’s Commercial Driver’s License training.
Rural counties are the lifeblood of our state. DeSantis is the first governor to visit and hold meaningful events in all of Florida’s 67 counties in his first term in office. He has made a conscious effort to bring major support to these communities with infrastructure and job training.
Florida’s farmers and ranchers support DeSantis because they know that he has their backs. Re-electing DeSantis for a second term means four more years of support for our state’s vibrant and hardworking agricultural community.