Part VIIArchive
Selected archival material
A curated record of milestones, documents, and photographs. Material is published only with Dr. Rechcigl’s approval.
November 2025
Career milestones
GCREC celebrates major milestones: centennial and AI groundbreaking
About 900 guests marked the center's 100th anniversary and broke ground on the AI center, with Dr. Rechcigl as master of ceremonies.
View source (blogs.ifas.ufl.edu) ↗October 2025
Institutional developments
Scientists at new AI center aim to help Florida farmers
UF News announced the November 7 groundbreaking of the 40,000-square-foot AI hub, quoting Dr. Rechcigl on solving growers' problems with more speed and efficiency.
View source (news.ufl.edu) ↗
September 2024
Institutional developments
Southern land-grant universities create AI centers
UF/IFAS feature on regional AI hubs, describing the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture as led by GCREC Director Jack Rechcigl and associate director Nathan Boyd.
March 2024
Institutional developments
White House officials tour the Gulf Coast REC
Acting Principal Deputy National Cyber Director Jake Braun toured the center's AI research. Dr. Rechcigl stressed that cybersecurity is essential when AI systems support farms.
October 2022
Interviews & presentations
Media alert: hops, emerging crops and AI at the Florida Ag Expo
UF/IFAS invited media to the November 2 Expo, with tours of the hops yard, blackberry and artichoke trials, and smart-spray weed technology, and interviews with Dr. Rechcigl.
October 2021
Interviews & presentations
Networking a key part of the Florida Ag Expo
Ahead of the Expo's return after the 2020 pandemic cancellation, Dr. Rechcigl described in-person networking between growers and vendors as the heart of the event.
View source (floridaagexpo.net) ↗May 2020
Institutional developments
UF/IFAS appoints interim director of the Fort Lauderdale REC
UF/IFAS announced that Dr. Rechcigl would also lead the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, succeeding retiring director Robin Giblin-Davis.
View source (flrec.ifas.ufl.edu) ↗November 2016
Interviews & presentations
Power of science steals spotlight at 2016 Florida Ag Expo
Growing Produce coverage of the 11th Florida Ag Expo, opened by Dr. Rechcigl in the center's auditorium.
View source (www.growingproduce.com) ↗September 2013
Interviews & presentations
Central Florida research center addressing growers' needs
Growing Produce profile of the Gulf Coast REC ahead of the eighth Florida Ag Expo, quoting Dr. Rechcigl on visiting growers to learn their challenges.
View source (www.growingproduce.com) ↗December 8–9, 2006
Career milestones
The first Florida Ag Expo
More than 800 growers and industry members and over 60 exhibitors attended the first Florida Ag Expo at the new Gulf Coast REC, an event Dr. Rechcigl organized at the request of local growers.
2003, No. 6
Institutional developments
“Newly Elected SVU Fellows – 2003” and “Jack Rechcigl is Building a New Research Center”, Zprávy SVU
Newsletter issue listing his election as a Fellow of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences and reporting the planned $18 million Gulf Coast Research and Education Center facility in Hillsborough County.
Open original document (PDF) ↗August 2002
Institutional developments
Hillsborough County site selected for the new Gulf Coast REC
UF/IFAS selected Hillsborough County's offer of about 475 acres at Balm for a new regional Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, after a year in which the Bradenton center had been slated for closure.
2002, No. 2
Career milestones
“Focus on Younger Generation: Jack E. Rechcigl (1960–)”, Zprávy SVU
Profile in the newsletter of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences marking his appointment as Director of the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, with a summary of his research, editorial work and honors.
Open original document (PDF) ↗June 2001
Career milestones
Harvard administrative training
Administrative Training for Directors, Chairs and Deans, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
March 2001
Institutional developments
Rechcigl named Director of the Gulf Coast REC at Bradenton and Dover
After a year as associate director, Dr. Rechcigl became director of the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center on March 16, 2001, as reported by UF/IFAS News, Inside IFAS and the Bradenton Herald.
1996–2001
Scientific documents
Phosphogypsum research reports
A multi-volume series for the Florida Institute of Phosphate Research evaluating phosphogypsum on Florida Spodosol pastures.
1982–1986
Career milestones
Graduate research at Virginia Tech
Doctoral research on acid soils and alfalfa performance in the Agronomy Department at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Historical CV
Scientific documents
Curriculum vitae of Jack E. Rechcigl
His 49-page curriculum vitae covering education, administrative training, employment, research grants and publications.
Open original document (PDF) ↗
UF/IFAS News
Institutional developments
AI center coming to the Gulf Coast REC
UF/IFAS announced plans for the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture, planned by Dr. Rechcigl and associate director Nathan Boyd, with Hillsborough County pledging $1.5 million.