Hillsborough Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors
Terri Parke
District Seat 1
Position: Chair
Email Address: ParkeT@hcfl.gov
Bio: Terri Parke is a native of Plant City, Florida, and has been deeply immersed in agriculture her entire life. For over 40 years, she has been married to Gary, joining one of the largest and most well-known strawberry farm families, Parkesdale Farms. The farm, a staple of the community, is famous for its delicious strawberries, strawberry shortcakes, milkshakes, and cookies.
Throughout her career, Terri and Gary have served on numerous local and state boards and have been recognized for their contributions to agriculture, including being named the state winner of the Outstanding Young Farmers of America and the Florida Farm Bureau State Young Farmer and Rancher winner and runner-up for the national title.
Terri has long been an advocate for agriculture, both within the farming community and with the public. She has served as a 4-H leader, led farm tours, and worked tirelessly to educate both children and adults about the essential role of farmers. She believes that educating the public is crucial, as many people don’t fully understand the value farmers bring to society.
With her lifelong dedication to farming, Terri understands the increasing challenges faced by farmers, especially the pressure of suburban encroachment on agricultural land. She is passionate about supporting regenerative farming practices, which she believes are key to preserving the environment. Healthy soil, in her view, is the foundation of sustainable farming. It reduces erosion, limits chemical use, promotes biodiversity, and ensures clean water, ultimately contributing to the long-term profitability of farms and the preservation of green spaces that benefit both people and wildlife.
In addition to her dedication to farming, Terri loves spending time with her family, including her four children and five grandchildren. She takes great joy in passing on her passion for farming and the love of the land to the next generations.
General Job Description: The powers of SWCDs and supervisors are quite broad, and relate to the development and implementation of soil and water conservation practices on private lands. These duties are performed in conjunction with federal, state, regional, and local partners through funding and technical assistance.
Betty Jo Tompkins
District Seat 2
Email Address: TompkinsBe@hcfl.gov
General Job Description: The powers of SWCDs and supervisors are quite broad, and relate to the development and implementation of soil and water conservation practices on private lands. These duties are performed in conjunction with federal, state, regional, and local partners through funding and technical assistance.
Gretchen Hoke
District Seat 3
Position: Vice Chair
Email Address: HokeG@hcfl.gov
Bio: Gretchen Genrich Hoke is a passionate advocate for agriculture, wildlife, and the environment, proudly rooted as a 7th generation Floridian. She is devoted to preserving Florida's natural resources and has committed her life to advocating for rural working lands, encouraging a peaceful coexistence with Wild Florida, and protecting wildlife habitats to ensure a healthy Florida for generations to come.
As a co-founder of Rain Frog Ranch Inc., she connects people with Florida's beautiful landscapes through equine therapy and outdoor education. She actively participates in initiatives to enhance green spaces and is a team member of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, working to protect vital wildlife corridors across the state.
Gretchen believes in the power of community and education, especially in teaching children the importance of agriculture and environmental stewardship. Her faith in Jesus inspires her to serve others and care for creation, motivating her to instill values of compassion and responsibility in the younger generation. Recently, she published a children's book titled Too Cute For A Chicken Coop, which highlights the importance of friendship, second chances, and animal rescue while encouraging kids to explore the wonders of nature.
When she's not advocating for the environment, you can find her hosting guests at her unique Airbnb, The Old Florida Cowboy Cabin, or sharing her love for nature with her family. Gretchen hopes her work inspires children and others to explore, think big, and become stewards of the earth!
General Job Description: The powers of SWCDs and supervisors are quite broad, and relate to the development and implementation of soil and water conservation practices on private lands. These duties are performed in conjunction with federal, state, regional, and local partners through funding and technical assistance.
Casey Simmons Runkles
District Seat 4
Email Address: runklesc@hcfl.gov
Casey Simmons Runkles is an accomplished agricultural leader, consultant, and food safety expert with nearly two decades of experience in Florida’s specialty crop industry. She currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Director of Food Safety at E.W. Simmons Farms, Inc., where she has built and overseen comprehensive food safety programs, authored GAPs, GMPs, and HACCP plans, and led financial and operational management. In addition, she operates SimmRunk Agricultural Consulting Services, designing and implementing food safety systems for farms and facilities while providing training, internal audits, and compliance support for a wide range of certifications.
Casey is recognized for her industry leadership and service. She has been deeply involved with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, serving on its Board of Directors and as Chair of Member Services. She is also active in the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, where she has advanced from Vice President to President in 2025. Her contributions to agriculture have been honored with the Outstanding Woman in Agriculture Award at the Hillsborough County Fair Harvest Awards (2025), the Influencer of the Year Award from the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (2024), and the Workhorse Award in 2018.
Dedicated to lifelong learning and professional development, Casey has completed extensive training in food safety, regulatory compliance, and agricultural best practices, including HACCP, Preventive Controls for Human Food, and IOIA Organic Crop Inspection. She is a member of Class XI of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources (2022–2025) and an alumna of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association Emerging Leaders Program.
A graduate of the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing, Casey combines her business acumen with her passion for advancing food safety and strengthening Florida agriculture. Known for her integrity, commitment to excellence, and service-driven leadership, she continues to influence and inspire the next generation of agricultural professionals.
General Job Description The powers of SWCDs and supervisors are quite broad, and relate to the development and implementation of soil and water conservation practices on private lands. These duties are performed in conjunction with federal, state, regional, and local partners through funding and technical assistance.
Aly Sullivan
District Seat 5
Email Address: SullivanAy@hcfl.gov
Bio: Aly Joyner Sullivan is part owner of her family’s small-scale cattle operation, Circle J Farms LLC, in Plant City Florida. She co-manages its daily operations, oversees herd management and breeding programs, as well as implements best practices in animal husbandry to ensure optimal health and productivity.
In addition, she coordinates financial planning and budgeting to
maintain sustainable farm operations. Aly is passionate about using her strong communication and organizational skills, combined with her love for farming and agricultural, to contribute to a dynamic agricultural environment. Making sure the next generation of agricultural leaders and farmers understand the value of the agricultural industry is something she finds of the utmost importance.
When she’s not working on her family farm, you can find Aly with her two boys, working with their livestock projects, teaching them how to help around the farm, at church, or on the TBall fields.
General Job Description: The powers of SWCDs and supervisors are quite broad, and relate to the development and implementation of soil and water conservation practices on private lands. These duties are performed in conjunction with federal, state, regional, and local partners through funding and technical assistance.
Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District Subdivision Map.pdf