The best piece of advice Ben Albritton received when he decided to run for the Florida House of Representatives was from his father.
“He said to me, ‘Son, don’t forget the people part,’” recalls Albritton, now a state senator. “People see the partisan bickering and dysfunction in Washington and think politics has become an ugly thing. In Tallahassee, I serve with good people who are both Republican and Democrat. What I’ve found is when you build real relationships, the partisan part does not become so important.”
Standing Up for Agriculture
Albritton is a fourth-generation citrus grower who began working on his family’s citrus grove as a teenager. His involvement in organizations such as the Farm Bureau and the Florida Citrus Commission helped him understand the value of getting involved in politics.
“My dad was very diligent to teach me the ropes in real life, and that was good for me. I worked summers, after school and out in freezes,” Albritton says. “That helped me learn hard work pays off, which is super important. I have harvested fruit, and that created in me a deep and profound respect for every part of our business and for the people that perform those tasks every day.”
Albritton was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2010, where he served eight years.
“I had a great chairmanship in agriculture and natural resource appropriations, and that allowed me to do beneficial things for Florida farmers and people in my own community,” Albritton says. “At the end of my tenure in the House, I was ready to go home, ride tractors and live out life as a farmer.”
But that wasn’t the end of Albritton’s political career. At the urging of friends and after spending time in prayer seeking wisdom, Albritton was elected to the Florida Senate in District 26, a major location for citrus growers, in 2018.
“My family’s faith is very important to us, and my wife and I agreed we felt a divine urging to get into the race,” he says. “That doesn’t mean I’m special. It was just confirmation I heard what God’s plan in my life was supposed to be, and I had the courage to do it.”
See more: Florida’s County Farm Bureaus Are Giving Back to the Community
From Rancher to Representative
Third-generation cattle rancher Rep. Josie Tomkow is proof you can take the girl out of the ranch, but you can’t take the ranch out of the girl. Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018, Tomkow represents the people of District 39. But whether working as a legislator in Tallahassee or on her family’s cow/calf ranch in Polk County, she is committed to supporting farmers and ranchers who depend on her to make sure their voices are heard.
“I grew up working cows with my dad, and I always loved our family business,” says Tomkow, whose family has also owned Cattlemen’s Livestock Market in Lakeland since the 1960s. “Growing up, my whole world revolved around agriculture. I showed dairy heifers at age 4 and later hogs and steers. I’ve been so blessed to grow up in agriculture because it teaches you responsibility and hard work.”
Tomkow’s path from the ranch to state government began with her involvement in the Florida Farm Bureau and the Florida Cattlemen’s Association.
“I would travel to Tallahassee and D.C., which allowed me to communicate with lawmakers,” she says. “I realized many legislators didn’t know about the issues farmers and ranchers face. I never thought I’d run for office, but soon I realized if not me, then who? I know what’s going on in the industry, and if I don’t know something, I know who to call. The agriculture industry is like a small town because everyone knows everyone – ag does a phenomenal job of taking care of one another.”
See more: Florida Farmer of the Year Rick Roth Leads By Example
Farm Experience Leads to Legislative Success
Tomkow believes her background in agriculture has helped her succeed in her legislative career.
“Working in ag, you learn that a job doesn’t start at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., because there’s always a task to be done,” she says. “Also, when you deal with animals, you’re dealing with lives, and they don’t take holidays or weekends off. They always need to eat and need to be checked on. I’m proud of my ag background. It has definitely contributed to my role now.”
Albritton, who has been chosen to lead the Florida Senate as Senate President after the 2024 elections, also credits his agricultural roots for his success in politics. Farmers have to be pretty tough and flexible, he notes, since they can’t control the weather. Similarly, some things in politics are beyond control, but you must listen to and invest in people, he says.
“There’s an army of farmers who have an interest in their voice being heard,” Albritton says. “I know being a farmer takes an immense amount of time, but I’d encourage anyone who grows something for a living to make time to reach out to their local elected officials in Tallahassee and say hello. Build a relationship, and be a resource for them. I’m passionate about serving farmers in a public role because I believe in the mission of farming and the honor of being a farmer. It’s worth fighting for.”
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