Republican candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture Baxter Troutman.
With a main goal of protecting and promoting Florida agriculture, Republican candidate Baxter Troutman pledges to use his post as Commissioner of Agriculture to underscore the importance of Florida agriculture to the rest of the nation – stating that the Sunshine State’s $120 billion industry is well worth fighting for.
We certainly can’t argue with that, which is why the Community Newspapers is stepping forth to endorse Troutman, a former Winter Haven state representative, as the best Republican choice in the run to replace term-limited Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam, who is running for Governor.
Troutman, an heir to the Ben Hill Griffin Jr. citrus empire, would serve the state well as the chief executive of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. As commissioner, he would hold a cabinet seat with the governor, attorney general, and chief financial officer.
Troutman grew up in Frostproof, Fla., in an ag family. Involved in growing citrus for the last 30 years, at age 21 he purchased his first citrus grove. Today, he and his wife own a 5,000 acre, 1,000-head beef cattle operation located in Highlands County.
He also served as the first president of the Florida AgriTourism Association board of directors and was a former board member of Farm Credit of Florida, Alico and Polk County Farm Bureau.
While a state representative, Troutman was vice chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection, Environment & Natural Resources Council and Chaired the General Government Council.
We also very much like the fact that, despite his eight years in the State House, his seven year time-out from public office shows he’s not a career politician.
Troutman is married to Becky Troutman, a former teacher with a
