Six Decades of Service to Cattlemen and Young Exhibitors: Frank Markham Joins the Marion County Agricultural Hall of Fame

For more than 50 years, Frank Markham has held leadership roles with cattlemen's associations, and for 45 of them he has also worked to get young people into agriculture. Marion County's own description of him runs to more than six decades of service to agriculture, youth and the community, all as a lifelong county resident. This month, the county is adding one more line to that record: Markham is being inducted into the Marion County Agricultural Hall of Fame.

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners has a presentation on its agenda for Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, at 9 a.m. in the McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, recognizing Markham as an inductee. County Extension Director Crystal McCazzio is listed as presenting the item, which the agenda marks as presentation only. The county's background note says the induction ceremony and banquet will be held Thursday, Nov. 19, as part of Farm City Week.

AI-generated illustration. Not a photo of Frank Markham.

A state career and decades with the cattlemen's associations

Markham's working life was split between a state agency and a trade association. According to the county's item, he spent 32 years with the Florida Department of Agriculture. Alongside that, he gave more than 50 years of leadership to the Marion County and Florida Cattlemen's Associations. In 2014 the Florida Cattlemen's Association named him an Honorary Director.

Forty-five years of youth agriculture

The longest-running thread in the county's account is young people. Markham has given 45 years to youth agriculture, including time as president, Executive Board member and committee leader for the Southeastern Youth Fair. The fair itself marked that service: the 2012 Southeastern Youth Fair was dedicated in his honor.

He also backed Dunnellon FFA and youth livestock exhibitors, and the county says he was recognized by the National FFA Organization. Youth agriculture in the county also runs through programs such as Marion County 4-H.

A Vietnam veteran and longtime volunteer

The county's note closes by describing Markham as a Vietnam veteran and longtime community volunteer. It offers no further detail on his service or the groups he volunteered with, so none is added here.

What the Hall of Fame is, and who is already in it

According to UF/IFAS Extension Marion County, the Agricultural Hall of Fame has recognized local agricultural achievers since 2003. Its inductee list on the Extension website runs from the first class that year through Robert Jackson "Jack" Williams in 2025, and includes names from earlier years such as Bonnie M. Heath, Nathan Mayo and Harry T. Mangurian Jr. The Extension page says each inductee receives a bronze plaque, displayed in the foyer of the Extension Service auditorium. Extension also accepts nominations through a form linked on that page.

Farm City Week and the Nov. 19 banquet

The commission's Nov. 17 agenda also lists a proclamation for Farm City Week, to be presented by Caitlin Justesen, a livestock agent with UF/IFAS Extension. The agenda marks that item for approval and presentation.

As of Nov. 12, the county's item gives the banquet date, Thursday, Nov. 19, but no time, venue or ticket information, and the Extension office's Marion County page does not mention the banquet. Anyone interested in attending can contact UF/IFAS Extension Marion County at (352) 671-8400 or visit the office at 2232 NE Jacksonville Rd., Ocala. To see the commission's meeting schedule, visit the Marion County Commissioners page. Readers who want to see working agriculture up close can also look at farm tours in Ocala.

Sources: Marion County Board of County Commissioners, file 2026-24973; Nov. 17, 2026 commission agenda; UF/IFAS Extension Marion County, Agriculture Hall of Fame. Reviewed Nov. 12, 2026.