Lynetta and Ken Griner’s planned career paths took a hard right turn in 1989 with the tragic death of her brother, Tommy Usher. Lynetta left a successful law career, and Ken left a thriving car dealership to focus on preserving her family’s multigenerational agricultural operation, Usher Land & Timber. More than three decades later, they have built a life and a legacy deeply woven into Florida agriculture.
A member of the Florida Forestry Association since 1988, Lynetta became its first female president in 2012. She has remained a leader within the Association ever since, including continued service on its Executive Committee. Her public service has included 14 years on the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board, including 10 years as chair, service on the Florida Forever Advisory Council, and more than a decade on the Acquisition & Restoration Council and Florida Forestry Council. She also served on The Nature Conservancy’s Florida Board of Directors, co-chairs the Florida Smart Agricultural Work Group, and is a respected supporter of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Ken’s leadership in the cattle industry began on the ranch, where he improved herd genetics through superior seedstock, artificial insemination, and performance-based selection. His work consistently produced cattle meeting premium market standards and led to leadership roles throughout the industry. He served as president of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, chair of the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board, and a board member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. He was a founding member and later chair of U.S. CattleTrace and served on the national Beef Industry Long Range Plan Task Force, helping shape producer-led approaches to livestock traceability.
The Griners enjoy tackling challenges together, such as the launch of the Timber Harvesting Equipment Program at the University of Central Florida’s Jack Wilkinson Campus in Chiefland. They have also opened their operation to students, educators, policymakers, environmental organizations, and media, offering firsthand views of responsible forestry and cattle production. They also host the annual Ranch Run at the U for the Suwannee Valley Rotary, allowing the public to experience firsthand the beauty of their working agricultural lands.
Their advocacy has carried them from Chiefland to Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. Lynetta participated in a 2017 White House farmers’ roundtable, where she represented Florida’s timber industry and cattle producers. Ken has represented Florida cattle producers in national discussions on industry policy. Together, they have consistently advocated for working lands, property rights, and conservation approaches that recognize productive agriculture as part of Florida’s natural-resource future.
The couple also continues to honor her brother’s legacy through the Tommy Usher Memorial Log A Load Golf Tournament, which has raised more than $1 million to improve children’s health through treatment, education and research at Children’s Miracle Network® (CMN) and local children’s hospitals.
