Congratulations Gary & Robin!
Once upon a time Cindy and I were partners with Gary Cooper in a Florida communications company called SunStar Telecom, Inc. We started and operated several divisions including Southeast Agrinet, WTMC-AM, SunStar Network, AgStar Advertising and were doing pretty good until the government took over the savings and loan company that was financing us. That’s a story from the past now. It’s also one of the reasons I’ll never drink a Killian’s Red beer again. But that is also another story.
We’re proud though of what Gary and Robin have accomplished since then with Southeast AgNet which just announced their purchase of an agricultural publication. Here’s the scoop:
AgNet Publications Inc., a sister company to Southeast AgNet Inc., has purchased 85-year-old Citrus Industry Magazine and Citrus Expo, making Southeast AgNet, Bartow, Fla., the only combination agriculture media enterprise in Florida. Southeast AgNet is owned by Gary Cooper and his wife Robin Loftin, director of sales and marketing.
Associated Publications, owned by members of Bartow’s Frisbie family sold Citrus Industry Magazine, one of the oldest agriculture publications in the state. The Frisbie’s started the publication in 1920 and will continue to operate their core business at Bartow Printing Company.
The purchase also includes Citrus Expo, the world’s largest citrus trade show held annually in August at Lee Civic Center near Ft. Myers. With immediate plans to become involved in the sales and marketing aspects of the magazine, the first issue to be published under Southeast AgNet ownership and direction will be the May/June issue. AgNet will assume operation of Citrus Expo following this year’s Aug. 24-25 event, and meanwhile will work hand-in-hand with this year’s Expo planning team.
Ernie Neff will continue as editor of Citrus Industry Magazine and Bartow Printing Company has been contracted to continue handling design, printing and distribution services for the new owners of the magazine. “We’re excited to put these two Florida-based companies together, and look forward to continuing the excellence in journalism growers have come to know from this magazine for the last 85 years. We feel the relationships we’ve built in the industry will only add depth to the news and information on research and industry trends and issues, and the multimedia aspects of this combination will offer advertisers unique and effective cross-promotional capabilities ” said Gary Cooper, president of Southeast AgNet.
ZimmComm produces several daily programs for Southeast Agnet, which are produced and voiced by Cindy.