Richard Joyner

As a teacher, he was one of the best, helping young people to become successful in their classes, in FFA, and in life. As a leader in the Farm Credit system, he continued to mentor youth while also making life better for entire families in agriculture. In doing these things Richard Joyner not only represented the best aspirations of the FFA, he also served his fellow man and helped preserve the great industry that feeds us all.

Richard Wesley Joyner was born in Tampa on March 20, 1947. He graduated from Plant City High School in 1964, and after attending Brevard College in North Carolina for two years, he transferred to the University of Florida to earn his degree in agricultural education in 1968. He immediately found a job as the agriculture teacher at Pinecrest High School, and when the school was merged with Plant City High, he was reunited with his alma mater. Richard built a multi-teacher program there based upon teaching, application, and community involvement, and his work became a model for successful programs nationwide.

In only his fourth year of teaching he was honored with the Plant City Jaycees Teacher of the Year award. In 1973 Richard was offered an opportunity to serve agricultural education in a supporting role as a member of the Farm Credit Services team. He was with the Federal Land Bank in Tampa until 1981, when he transferred to Farm Credit of Central Florida as Area Manager. Richard was appointed President of Farm Credit of Southwest Florida in 1990, and then became President of Farm Credit of Central Florida in 1997 and held that post until his retirement in 2008. During his tenure, Farm Credit’s gross loan volume almost doubled, from $341 million to $640 million. While he was working his way up in the Farm Credit System, Richard was still supporting local agriscience programs. For ten years after leaving Plant City High School he served as chair of its advisory committee, and he became a lifetime member of three FFA Alumni chapters. Richard also served in numerous industry and education positions, including the Florida Department of Education Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee and Secretary of the AgFirst Presidents Council. He was also a member of the Florida Council of Cooperatives and held several high FFA posts, including President of the Florida FFA Foundation Board of Directors.

Always willing to make time for his community and the greater community of Florida agriculture, Richard worked with the Strawberry Festival and the Florida State Fair, and served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. In addition to his Teacher of the Year award, he has been recognized with the Honorary State FFA degree, the Honorary American FFA Degree, and the FFA Blue and Gold Award. And in 2008 the Plant City Chamber of Commerce named Richard its Agriculturalist of the Year. In his retirement years by the side of his wife, Yolanda, Richard helps judge FFA events and assists with anything else needed by the agricultural education programs where his grandchildren are enrolled.