Barney Cherry, Florida Commission Company, Highlands
Barney Cherry and his family own and operate Florida Commission Company, Inc. in Lake Placid, Florida. The farm has been in the family for many decades and was started by Barney’s father (Joe Cherry) and grandfather (Ray Raulerson). They proudly produce cattle and bahiagrass seed. Mr. Cherry has been implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) on the farm for over 25 years. BMPs are a set of guidelines that advise producers on how to manage the water, nutrient, and pesticides they are using to reduce agriculture’s impact on the state’s natural resources. Florida Commission Company, Inc. uses culverts on the farm to control the water flow. This control contains the nutrients for the pasture and maintains a constant supply of water for the cattle. Mr. Cherry has taken proactive steps to better utilize his forage production and nutrients by dragging the pastures. Rotating cattle, eliminating floating exotic vegetation, maintaining aquatic plant growth and aerating pastures are many other examples of how Mr. Cherry CARES for the environment.
Mr. Cherry is actively involved in his local community, serving as president of the Hardee County Cattlemen’s Association and a member of the Hardee County Farm Bureau board of directors. Mr. Cherry and his family attend First Baptist Church of Wauchula where Mr. Cherry is a deacon. When asked why he is a farmer who CARES, Cherry responded, “I want my children to have a good place to live.”
