BY TRACY LEE TATE
Special to the Times
LAKE BUTLER— The Union County UF IFAS Extension office, in conjunction with Union County 4-H, the Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Florida Farm Bureau, hosted the annual Farm-City Week luncheon at the Union County Agricultural Education Building on Thursday, Nov. 16.
The day began with a visit to the education center by about 220 third graders from Lake Butler Elementary School, who participated in several fun learning activities and games at ten learning stations in the facilities arena area. The luncheon began at noon, after the kids had boarded their buses and headed back to finish their school day. About 80 people gathered for the lunch celebrating the day set aside to bring together consumers (the city) with the people who produce the food they eat (the farm). The idea is to foster understanding between the two groups in the interest of communication and cooperation.
Agriculture in baseball
Attendees were welcomed to the event by Union County Extension Director Jim DeValerio and Union County 4-H Agent Meagan Daniel. Union County 4-H’rs took over the early phase of the program, with Gabe McNeal offering the invocation and blessing, Reed McNeal and Ava McNeal leading the Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-H Pledge and Nomi Croft singing the National Anthem. 4-H’r Raylan Dyal then gave a presentation on “Agriculture in Baseball.” She told the audience that the baseball itself was made entirely out of agricultural products.
“From the outside to the center you have leather, cotton, wool, rubber and cork,” Dyal said. “Without agricultural products, we would not have a baseball because they are made from cattle, sheep, plants and trees. Even the batting gloves are made out of sheepskin.”
Organic more expensive
After Dyal completed her interesting and sometimes humorous presentation, Lake Butler Middle School FFA member Jamie Lynn Courson gave a presentation comparing organic and non-organic farming. She said that organic farm products contained no antibiotics and were more expensive to produce and, hence, had a smaller customer base. She noted that this increased expense was passed on to the consumer, with organically grown products usually being more expensive.
20% of Florida farms are in Suwannee Valley
DeValerio then introduced the guest speaker for the event, Bob Hochmuth, who is the regional specialized agent and assistant center director of North Florida REC-Suwannee Valley, a 400 -acre research and education center near Live Oak. He said the main focus of the research and area of main concern at the center was vegetable crops, specifically focused on water and nutritional management. He then talked about the Suwannee River Region in the state, of which Union County is a part.
“Almost 20% of all farms in the entire state of Florida are in this region and it is one of the last areas of contiguous agriculture activity. We think of it as the “last stand” before entering urbanization,” Hochmuth said. “North Florida is predicted to intensify agriculture more than anywhere in the state over the next 25 years. This region has more freshwater springs than anywhere else in the world.”
Hochmuth went on to talk about the use of nitrogen-based fertilizer in an area so rich in water and that IFAS was working to determine the precise amount needed for growth here, eliminating the issue of run-off of excess fertilizer into waterways and wetlands, a threat to these resources. He told the audience that the ideal amount of fertilizer for Union County is 184 Lb. per acre.
The program held the crowd’s attention, and some seemed disappointed when it was done. Hochmuth stayed on hand for a time to answer questions.
Thanks for help
The Union County 4-H kids did a marvelous job helping keep track of the third graders, helping cook, serve, and clean-up. Event organizers would like to thank the Union County Farm Bureau, Six Petals Flower Co., North Florida Custom Meats, NAPA Auto Parts and Jason Stalnaker for their support and assistance in making the event a success.
And speaking of 4-H, they have one of their biggest annual events coming up next month – the Christmas in Florida Union County 4-H Holiday Bake-Off 2023, to be held at the agricultural education center on Dec. 4, 2023.
Entries can be in any of six categories, with only one entry per person per category. The categories are: cakes, cupcakes, candies, cookies, brownies and gingerbread houses. Entries must include a list of ingredients. The awards in each category will be blue, red or white. Products will be judged on appearance, taste and display – with additional points to be earned for entries incorporating the Christmas in Florida theme.
On Mon., Dec. 4, the entries must be dropped off at the Ag Education Building (Extension Office) between 7-9 a.m. The awards will be presented at 6 p.m.
According to Daniel, “the purpose of the Holiday Bake-Off is to encourage adults and youth to work together on a project. Work should be done by the youth with supervision and directions from an adult. Mixes and pre-cooked items may be used in the finished product. Entries should be festively themed in appearance. No live plant material may be used (such as poinsettia, boxwood, holly, etc.) or the entry will be disqualified.”
Union County is gearing up for the holiday season and the youth are no exception – if the entries in this contest are as good as they were last year the event’s judges may be finding themselves letting their belts out a notch or two before they have finished their work.
