TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On March 27, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced Reba Y. Mazak as the 2025 Woman of the Year in Agriculture.
“Reba Y. Mazak embodies the resilience, dedication, and innovation that define Florida agriculture,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Her lifelong commitment to ranching, advocacy, and mentorship has strengthened our agricultural community and ensured a bright future for the next generation. It is an honor to recognize her as the 2025 Woman of the Year in Agriculture.”
Reba Y. Mazak is a fifth-generation Florida cattle rancher with deep roots in agriculture. Based in Sumter County, she and her late husband, Paul, built Mazak Ranch into a thriving cattle operation with land in Florida and Texas. In addition to ranching, Reba owns a limerock mine, a wedding venue, and a hunting operation.
A dedicated advocate for the beef industry, Reba has been active in Florida CattleWomen for over 40 years and served as its President in 2004. She also led the American National CattleWomen (ANCW), serving as President in 2022 during its 70th anniversary. She has completed the Masters of Beef Advocacy Program and is Beef Quality Assurance certified.
Reba is passionate about mentoring youth in agriculture and remains active in Farm Bureau leadership. In her free time, she enjoys ranching, hunting, and spending time with her daughters and grandsons.
Since 1985, women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture have been honored with the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award. This award, sponsored by FDACS in conjunction with the Florida State Fair Authority, is presented to the recipient during the Florida State Fair in Tampa.
Recipients of the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award have come from all parts of the industry, including cattle, vegetables, timber, citrus, row crops, equine, horticulture, tropical fruits, sugar cane, dairy, agricultural journalism, and agricultural education and outreach.
For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.
— provided by FDACS