Florence Woodbury Gardner: A Lifetime in the Field
Florence Woodbury Gardner: A Lifetime of Farming, Service, and Community Leadership
Florence Woodbury Gardner (1913–1992) was born in Granger, Utah, into a family whose roots ran deep in the soil of the Salt Lake Valley. She was the daughter of William Woodbury and Florence Barney Woodbury, and the granddaughter of early Granger pioneers John Haskell Woodbury and Sarah Alexina “Allie” Bray Woodbury. From a young age, Florence inherited the grit, work ethic, and agricultural skill that had defined her family for generations.
Raised on her family’s farm, Florence developed an expert knowledge of livestock, particularly dairy cattle. By her teens and young adulthood, she was a familiar name at state fairs and livestock shows, often earning first or second place in competitions for her Holstein cows. At the 1931 Salt Lake County Fair’s “Black-and-White Days”, she impressed crowds in both livestock judging and the milkmaid competition, producing an impressive 7.2 pounds of milk in just ten minutes.
Florence attended Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University), further honing her agricultural knowledge. After her education, she dedicated much of her life to supporting Utah’s farm community—both as a professional and as a volunteer. She worked for nearly 40 years with the Farm Bureau and spent almost 60 years volunteering with the 4-H Youth Organization, mentoring countless young people in farming, animal care, and leadership. Her service earned her numerous awards and the lasting respect of the agricultural community.
Florence married Ralph Gardner, a member of another well-known Utah farming family, and moved to his farm in West Jordan, where they operated a successful dairy and poultry business. Together, they maintained the same high standards of hard work and excellence that had defined both of their families for generations.
Florence passed away in 1992, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of service, agricultural expertise, and community leadership. Her life story reflects the heart of Utah’s farming tradition—rooted in family, strengthened by hard work, and dedicated to passing on skills and values to the next generation.
Florence has a hat on in picture
Florence 1933
1934 Top Right Florence
Florence…A Vital Volunteer
A few years after receiving a letter from President Ronald Reagan congratulating her on 50 years of volunteer service to the 4-H program, West Jordan resident Florence Gardner was still being recognized for her dedication—and still volunteering—at the age of 76.
In 1989, the Salt Lake County Commission honored Florence with its Vital Volunteer Award. Commissioner Bart Barker noted that she was one of more than 10,000 volunteers serving in county programs. Commissioner Tom Shimizu pointed out that Florence had been working in 4-H longer than many other volunteers had been alive.
Over the decades, more than 500 young people had been members of her 4-H clubs—a legacy Shimizu called “probably the greatest tribute of all.
