ICYMI: "It's time to send a farmer to Congress"
It's time to send a farmer to Congress, Washington has plenty of politicians. What it doesn't have enough of are people who have actually lived the realities facing the families who feed America.
OKEECHOBEE, FL — It's time to send a farmer to Congress, Washington has plenty of politicians. What it doesn't have enough of are people who have actually lived the realities facing the families who feed America.
I am running for Congress because I believe Florida's 9th Congressional District deserves a representative who understands agriculture not from a political briefing book, but from firsthand experience.
I was born and raised in Florida’s heartland, and agriculture has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a ninth-generation Floridian, my family has long been involved in dairy farming and beef cattle production, and I learned early that farming is more than a job. It's a commitment. It's long days, uncertain markets, rising costs, and the constant responsibility of caring for livestock and land regardless of the weather, the economy, or what is happening in Washington.
Cows do not care if it's a holiday. They do not care if it's raining, if it's 100 degrees outside, or if you've had a rough week. The work has to get done.
That kind of life teaches you things that cannot be learned in a classroom or a committee hearing.
It teaches accountability. It teaches discipline.
It teaches you that success comes from hard work, not excuses. Most importantly, it teaches you that decisions have consequences.
Unfortunately, too many of the people making decisions in Washington never had to live with the consequences of the policies they create.
When Congress passes regulations, farmers feel it. When fuel prices increase, farmers feel it. When inflation drives up the cost of equipment, fertilizer, feed, and transportation, farmers feel it. When labor shortages make it harder to keep an operation running, farmers feel it. And when foreign competitors are given advantages over American producers, farmers feel it.
For decades, rural communities have watched Washington become increasingly disconnected from the people who produce our food and fuel. Agriculture is often discussed during election season, but too often it becomes an afterthought once the governing begins.
That needs to change.
Agriculture is not just another industry. It is a matter of economic security and national security. A country that cannot feed itself is a country that is vulnerable. America should never take for granted the farmers and ranchers who make our food supply possible.
As a dairy farmer and cattle producer, I understand those challenges because I've lived them.
As a member of the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board, I've also worked on many of the critical water and infrastructure issues that directly affect agriculture and our rural communities. I've seen firsthand that good policy requires balancing environmental stewardship with economic reality.
Farmers understand conservation better than most people realize. We live on the land. We depend on the land. We want to leave our farms and ranches in better shape for the next generation than we found them.
That's not a slogan. That's a way of life.
The values I learned on the farm are the same values I would bring to Congress: hard work, common sense, fiscal responsibility, and a willingness to tell the truth even when it's not politically convenient.
The people of Florida's 9th Congressional District deserve someone who understands rural Florida because he comes from rural Florida.
Someone who understands agriculture because he lives it every day. Someone who understands the challenges facing working families because he has faced them himself.
Washington does not need another career politician. It needs more people who have spent their lives creating jobs, producing food, managing risk, and solving real problems.
It's time to send a farmer to Congress.
###
Benjamin "Ben" Butler is a lifelong, ninth-generation Floridian, agricultural leader, businessman, and public servant rooted in the values of faith, hard work, stewardship, and service.
Raised in Central Florida, Ben helped build and operate Butler Oaks Farm, a multi-generational dairy and cattle operation. Through decades of hands-on experience, he managed employees, balanced budgets, navigated complex regulations, and made the real-world decisions necessary to keep a business running and families employed.
Governor DeSantis appointed Ben to the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board in 2019, 2021, and 2024, where he has helped oversee Everglades restoration, flood protection, water supply, and natural resource management across South Florida.
Ben has also served in leadership roles with the Florida Farm Bureau, Florida FFA Foundation, Southeast Milk Inc., and Newtrient. A former Florida FFA State President, Ben has long believed in investing in future generations and strengthening Florida's rural communities.
Ben earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in Animal Science from the University of Florida, with a focus on dairy management, agricultural economics, and natural resource management.
Ben is joined in his commitment to agriculture and youth development by his wife, April, a native Floridian, FSU graduate, and former law enforcement professional who volunteers with 4-H, FFA Alumni, and the South Florida Fair dairy shows. Their daughter Hannah raises registered dairy and beef heifers through FFA and 4-H, and is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Club America at her high school.
Together, the Butler family remains deeply rooted in Florida's Heartland, dedicated to preserving its agricultural heritage, supporting youth leadership, and serving their community.
###
With the excitement of the campaign growing, Butler has picked up many endorsements, both federal and local, including:
Congressional:
Kat Cammack – Congresswoman, FL-03
Greg Steube – Congressman, FL-17
City of Okeechobee:
Dowling Watford, Jr. – Mayor
Monica Clark – Vice Mayor
Noel Chandler – Council Member
Bob Jarriel – Council Member
David McAuley – Council Member
Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners:
David Hazellief – Chair, Commissioner
Terry Burroughs – 1st Vice Chair, Commissioner
Bradley Goodbread – 2nd Vice Chair, Commissioner
Frank DeCarlo – Commissioner
Michael Sumner – Commissioner
Okeechobee County School Board:
Jill Holcomb – Board Chair, District 5
Christine Bishop – Vice Chair, District 1
Malissa Morgan – Board Member, District 2
Melisa Jahner – Board Member, District 3
Amanda Riedel – Board Member, District 4
Highlands County Board of County Commissioners:
Don Elwell – Chair, Commissioner
Chris Campbell – Vice Chair, Commissioner
Arlene Tuck – Commissioner
Scott Kirouac – Commissioner
Kevin Roberts – Commissioner
Scott Kirouac - Commissioner
Sheriffs:
Sheriff Paul Blackman – Highlands County
Sheriff David Hardin – Glades County
Sheriff Noel Stephen – Okeechobee County
Sheriff Eric Flowers – Indian River County
###
Release Date:
June 10, 2026
Press Contact:
Derek Dufresne
Derek@ascent-strategic.com
