Dennis George Wedgworth has been a cornerstone of Florida agriculture for more than five decades. A third-generation Floridian, born in West Palm Beach and raised in Belle Glade in the heart of the Everglades, Dennis has carried forward the pioneering spirit of his grandparents, Dr. Herman and Ruth Wedgworth, and his father, George Wedgworth.
After earning a degree in mechanical engineering from Duke University in 1974, Dennis worked for the United States Sugar Corporation before pursuing his MBA at the University of Florida. At his grandmother’s request, he joined the family’s fertilizer business in 1977. Under his leadership, Wedgworth’s Inc. grew from a modest 30,000-ton operation into Florida’s largest fertilizer blender, peaking at more than 350,000 tons annually.
From the start, Dennis recognized that competing in the low-cost fertilizer market was unsustainable. His vision was to move away from price competition and instead emphasize agronomics, service, and innovation—helping growers achieve greater productivity and long-term sustainability. This shift not only strengthened Wedgworth’s Inc. but also reshaped the plant nutrition industry in Florida.
He developed proprietary software to streamline and automate blending operations and later launched Summit Nutrients, introducing nanotechnology and precision agriculture to Florida growers. Today, the Big W brand is recognized statewide for premium products and value-added services that deliver measurable results.
Beyond his business, Dennis has been a statewide leader for agriculture. He embraced 4R Nutrient Stewardship early, worked with regulatory agencies to establish fertilizer sampling protocols, and led initiatives to ensure safe ammonium nitrate storage. His principled leadership gave rise to “The Wedgworth Way”—a culture of service, quality, and innovation that continues to guide both Wedgworth’s Inc. and Wedgworth Farms, which today produces sugarcane, rice, and cattle across more than 20,000 acres.
Dennis has also played a central role in strengthening Florida’s agricultural institutions. He served as chairman of the Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association and held leadership positions with the Sugarcane Growers Cooperative, Florida Sugar and Molasses Exchange, Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce, Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau, and the Wedgworth Leadership for Agriculture and Natural Resources Advisory Council. His honors include recognition as the EAA Farm Family of the Year, induction into the Southwest Fertilizer Hall of Fame, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association.
As a Class I graduate of the Florida Leadership Program for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dennis helped spearhead its first endowment campaign. Many Glades farmers contributed to the effort, choosing to honor his father, George. That commitment ultimately led to the program being renamed the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources, ensuring future leaders will be equipped to serve Florida agriculture for generations to come.
Dennis has also been a strong supporter of youth across the Glades, helping fund and champion programs that foster leadership, education, and opportunity.
Together with his wife Becky, daughters Sarah and Katie, and their families, Dennis continues to set the bar high for the fifth generation of the Wedgworth family.
