Florida 4-H Hall of Fame

Doyle Conner

Doyle Conner is a 4^th generation Florida farmer born in Starke who became Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. While growing up in Bradford County he got his start in politics by serving as president of his 4-H club and of the county 4- H council. He was also active in the Future Farmers of America and served as state and national FFA president. They called him the “boy wonder” of politics because he was only 21 years old when he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. His political aspirations actually started much earlier when he was at 4-H forestry camp and met Commissioner of Agriculture Nathan Mayo. At age 14 he declared that when Mayo was no longer commissioner he wanted to take over the job.  Conner served a total of 10 years in the House of Representatives and at 28 was the youngest Speaker of the House. In 1961 he became Florida’s seventh Commissioner of Agriculture. Connor has also received the USDA’s Superior Service Award for promoting agricultural trade and was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. He was also the first president and co-founder of the Southern United States Trade Associations. Conner felt that “without 4-H he would not be the person he is today or could not have accomplished all that he has.” Doyle has also been recognized as a “National 4-H Alumni Winner.”