2026 Board of Directors and Nominating Committee Election Results

Farm Credit of Florida is proud to announce the results of its recent Board of Directors and Nominating Committee elections. Ballots were tabulated by an independent third party, and the results have been certified and provided to the Association.

We are grateful for the steady leadership and dedication of our board members, whose guidance is instrumental in fulfilling our mission to support rural communities and agriculture in Florida.

The following individuals were elected to serve on the Board of Directors:

District 3 - John R. Newbold, III

John R. Newbold, III owns, operates and is President of Forest Groves, Inc., a cut-foliage farm and vineyard. He is an owner and manager of Newbold Farms, LLC. He is a Director of the Putnam County Fair Authority. He serves as Director and President of the Florida Wine and Grape Growers Association, and is a Director of the Viticulture Advisory Council, the Crescent City Cemetery Association, and the Florida Wildflower Cooperative. He serves on the Board of Supervisors of the Putnam County Soil & Water Conservation District, and on the Board of Trustees of the Putnam First Cancer Fund. Mr. Newbold was elected to the Farm Credit of Florida board in 2014.

District 4 - Harrell H. “Hal” Phillips, Jr.

Harrell H. “Hal” Phillips, Jr. is a cattleman and veterinarian in Levy and Marion Counties. Dr. Phillips owns and operates Phillips Ranch, a ranching and background / stocker operation, with almost 1,200 breeding age beef cattle and background approximately 1,000 calves annually. The ranch also produces hay, sod, grass seed, small grains, and timber. Dr. Phillips has 37 years of experience as a veterinarian. He serves as Director, and is past President, of both the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and the Marion County Cattlemen’s Association. Dr. Phillips is a past Director of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. He serves as Director on the Southeastern Youth Fair Board. He has served on the Farm Credit of Florida board since 2015.

District 7 - Paul J. Meador, Jr.

Paul J. Meador, Jr. is a lifelong agricultural leader and entrepreneur from LaBelle, Florida. He is President and Owner of Everglades Harvesting Inc., Everglades Agricultural Services Inc., Camp Keais Leasing, Inc., Fort Thompson Properties LLC, Meador Family Holdings LLC, and Meador Family Farms of Florida LLC. His businesses provide agricultural services and production support for growers throughout the United States and employ more than 2,000 full-time and seasonal employees. Mr. Meador is the founder and President of both the Florida Growers Association and the United States Growers Association. He serves in leadership roles with Florida Citrus Mutual, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, the National Council of Agricultural Employers, the Florida Citrus Commission, Hendry Regional Medical Center, and the Barron Library. He is also a past president of the Hendry/Glades County Farm Bureau and Gulf Citrus Growers Association. Mr. Meador was elected to the Farm Credit of Florida Board of Directors in 2026. 

District 8 - Tobin J. “Toby” Basore

Tobin J. “Toby” Basore is a vegetable grower in Western Palm Beach County. He is an owner and manager of TKM Bengard Farms, LLC, a vegetable grower and packing company, and Cypress Cooling, LLC, a vegetable cooling and shipping company. He is an owner and President of TKM Farms, Inc., a vegetable grower and packing company and an owner and senior officer of TKM Management, Inc. He is a Director of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (and serves as Director and past Chairman of the Florida Vegetable Exchange), and a past Director of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute Alumni Association, a graduate of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute and a member and past Director of the Leadership Palm Beach County organization. Mr. Basore was elected to the Farm Credit of Florida board in 2014. He also serves on the AgFirst Legislative Advisory Committee.

The following individuals were elected to serve on the Nominating Committee:

 Nominating Committee

• District 1 - Mark W. Anderson
• District 2 - Anthony G. Boggess
• District 3 - Joshua C. Farley
• District 4 - Skipper Henderson
• District 5 - Charles W. Harrison, Jr.
• District 6 - John M. Larson
• District 7 - Nathan W. “Wade” Purvis
• District 8 - Keith Wedgworth
• District 9 - Mark Dunagan

 Nominating Committee Alternates

• District 1 - Ben H. Campen
• District 2 - Ricky Aderholt
• District 3 - Samuel S. “Stan” Browning, IV
• District 4 - Damon W. Sandlin
• District 5 - David P. Wheeler
• District 6 - Daniel Flinton “Flint” Johns
• District 7 - Keith W. Kettner
• District 8 - Stephen W. Bedner
• District 9 - Matthew Munilla

Thank you once again for your participation and support.