Programs
Get involved and help protect & promote Hillsborough Ag
Young Farmer & Rancher Program (YF&R)
The Young Farmer and Rancher Program is available for any Farm Bureau member between the ages of 18 - 35. This program helps improve communication and leadership skills, provides opportunities to become more active members and to use their talents to strengthen the organization, and provides an opportunity to meet peers with similar interests and concerns. Ultimately this program develops future leaders of Farm Bureau. Locally, we try to meet once a month to fellowship and discuss any concerns and projects. We also are involved in legislative issues, farm tours, and Supporting the Troops. We currently have a drive going to "Support the Troops". It began with our June meeting and will continue with the support of the community. We are looking for items to send overseas to the troops such as: Sun Block, Unscented Lotions, Baby Wipes, Gum, Combs, Q-Tips, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Soap, Chap stick, Kleenex, Floss, Disposable Cameras, Magazines, boot socks, 72" shoe strings etc. Please keep the items small, travel size, since most of these troops are not stationary but constantly moving. These items can be dropped off at our office located at: 100 S. Mulrennan Road, Valrico, FL Hours are: Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm. There are several contest which recognize outstanding members: 1) Outstanding Young Farmer and Rancher - acknowledges a farmer and family on their involvement in Farm Bureau and community, farming operations and leadership skills. 2) Excellence in Agriculture - acknowledges someone who does not derive the majority of their income from agriculture, but actively contributes to agriculture and grows through their involvement in Farm Bureau and Agriculture. It is judged on involvement in agriculture, Farm Bureau, and other organizations. 3) Discussion Meet - held at the Annual State Meeting in October, it is a panel type discussion in which contestants are judged on the ability to express ideas and opinions on the pressing issues in agriculture. Contestants attempt to influence others by posing and answering questions with the goal of reaching a solution to a stated problem facing agriculture. Deal dine to register is 9/10/2007. Completion will be at the Annual Meeting which will be held this year in Daytona Beach, FL 10/10 - 10/12/2007. Anyone interested in joining this growing group can contact: Leslie Laroque Turgeau, Young Farmer and Rancher Coordinator E-mail: yfr@hcfarmbureau.org
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Women's Program The Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee is open to any Farm Bureau Woman interested in participation. The women’s committee is involved in many different projects with a focus on agriculture education and promotion. Some of the Women’s Committee projects are, the youth speech contest, where our county winner will go on to represent us at the district level and then hopefully at the state contest. Ag-Venture is another project that our women’s committee works with it is an opportunity for us to tell the story of our farming operations to third graders in Hillsborough County. Our newest project is Extreme Cuisine it is a three-hour cooking school where middle school age children are taught nutrition and also have the opportunity to prepare some great snacks using fresh Florida commodities. This program has really begun to take off and is an opportunity to reach an age that many times is left out of traditional ag-in-the- classroom programs. Food Check Out Day activities as well as Farm City Week activities allow the women to get out into the public and promote the importance of agriculture to our economy as well as the security of our county. The Hillsborough County Women’s Committee is also very proud to sponsor and judge the youth open baking and craft show at the Florida Strawberry Festival each year. These are just a few of our projects. We invite you to come and join us. It is the goal of the Women’s Committee to develop new leaders and we welcome anyone interested in participating. For more information on the committee and how you can become involved contact: Michelle Williamson at women@hcfarmbureau.org Calendar Info: Women’s Committee Brunch September 8, 2007
With the increased number of children in this country
being obese Hillsborough County Farm Bureau’s Women’s Leadership
Committee has partnered with the Florida Farm Bureau and the Florida
Department of Agriculture to do Extreme Cuisine Cooking Schools.
The Women’s Committee has done four classes in the past month. The
goal of the class is to give the kids some options to put some healthy
snacks into their daily eating habits. Our hope is that by showing
the kids that just by making a few small changes they can make a
real difference in their future health. In the class the kids are
taught how to use Fresh Florida Produce to make delicious and nutritious
snacks. The kids as well as the Women’s Committee have been having
a great time. A big thanks to J.R. Pierce for all of his help as
well as Driscoll Strawberry Associates and Ag-Mart Produce for their
support in this project. For more information about the program please
contact Michelle Williamson at women@hcfarmbureau.org or
Judi Whitson at |
Florida Strawberry Festival |
Farm City Festival - Next Festival
is November 6th, 2007
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Hillsborough County Farm Bureau held its
third annual Farm City Festival at Joe Chilura Park in Downtown
Tampa. We invited all the commodity groups and Hillsborough County
Extension Service, Hillsborough Parks and Recreation, Florida
Poultry Federation, Florida Tomato Committee, Dairy Farmers Inc.,
CF Industries and Mosaic. Each group set up a table with products,
information about agriculture and their specific commodity and
lunch was served to about 700 people. 