Marcia Lightsey receives distinguished award at 71st annual Alachua Lions Club Cattlemen’s Banquet
For the second time in the last decade, a woman was honored as the Cattleman of the Year at the annual Alachua Lions Club Cattlemen’s Banquet Thursday evening.
Polk County’s Marcia Lighstey took home
the distinguished award for her work in promoting the cattle industry. Lightsey, originally from Texas, spent her childhood in Brandon, Fla. She later married Cary Lightsey, her high school sweetheart and a sixth-generation cattle rancher.
In the years after she married into the cattle ranching business, Lightsey not only worked to build her family’s ranch, but to promote the cattle industry in general.
Lightsey is best known and applauded for the environmental methods her family’s ranching business employs. Over 80 percent of Lightsey’s properties have been placed into conservation easements, which prevent development of the otherwise agricultural land. Among her interests are providing eco tours to school groups and the Audubon Society on the family’s ranches which span over 30,000 acres in several Florida counties.
Lightsey was presented the award by Dr. Roger West who is a previous recipient of the award, a retired meat-sciences professor at the University of Florida and a Past President of the Florida Cattleman’s Association.
Chuck Clemons, Vice-President for Development at Santa Fe College (SFC), served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening as he offered a humorous commentary on many of the politicians in the room as well as many others with whom he had attended Santa Fe High School decades earlier.
Serving as the keynote speaker was Jackson Sasser, President of SFC. Sasser, who was selected to lead the SFC 2002, highlighted the institution’s involvement in the local community, including the opening of the Alachua Perry Center for Emerging Technologies in August 2009.
Nearly 300 people crowded into Alachua Woman’s Club to honor the men and women whose efforts have made the cattle industry a vital part of Florida’s economy.
The 2010 banquet marked the 71st year the event has been held, and attendees came from near and far to enjoy the annual event that also holds the distinction of being the oldest fundraiser of any Lion’s club in the state. Lions Club President Dr. Cris Hirsch kicked off the evening with a welcome to guests attending the evening’s festivities.
The evening lived up to its reputation of excellent food, entertainment and hospitable company.
Entertainment was provided by Gussie Lee and Frances Leslie. Lee led the audience in a heartfelt sing-along of God Bless America at the opening of the night’s program. Leslie performed a powerful rendition of America the Beautiful.
In keeping with tradition, the Santa Fe High School Chapter of FFA was on hand skillfully serving steak and potato dinners and dessert.
The Cattlemen’s Banquet is the Alachua Lions Club’s largest fundraiser of the year, and all profits from the banquet support charitable sight, hearing, youth and community service activities.