By Katherine Allen

To kick off Farm-City Week in Suwannee County, a group of 24 people took part in the inaugural tour of several Suwannee County farms on Thursday, Nov. 15. This celebration of the relationship which agriculture plays in our society was made possible through a partnership with the UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension office, the Suwannee River Partnership and the Suwannee County Farm Bureau.

The tour’s mission was to highlight the importance agriculture plays not only in Florida, but also in Suwannee County. Attendees were able to view first hand the technology and research that is being employed by local county farmers. Many were surprised to see how automated and advanced the processes were. The Fabulous luxury motorcoach took attendees to each stop, where the farmers emphasized how much more diverse, diligent and better trained today’s producers have become in order to survive. Between each stop, Extension Agents Scott Kerr and Katherine Allen from the Suwannee County office and the Regional Specialized Agents Dr. Mary Sowerby, Linda Landrum and Bob Hochmuth provided information on eco/agri/heritage tourism, food safety, economic impact, issues today’s farmers face, and the variety of products available.

The first stop was Dwight Stansel’s Farm & Nursery to observe the equipment and techniques used for harvesting seedlings of pine, oak, and dogwood specially adapted to the Southeast. Tour participants followed the process to the packaging area where the immature trees are readied for shipping.

The next stop was at Dasher Farm, where Randall Dasher and his daughter Sarah Carte showcased hydroponic production of basil and chives. One of the interesting things they drew attention to was how the operation utilized ways to reduce waste of fertilizer and water. Many of the attendees did not realize that products being grown here in our own backyards, like the tree seedlings at Stansel’s and the culinary herbs at Dasher’s are being shipped throughout the U.S. and the herbs are marketed and available locally under a different label.

C&C; Farms in McAlpin was the third stop, focusing on the poultry broiler production. The attendees learned that the modern and updated poultry houses are fully automated. Doug Carter explained how the complex computerized system works to maintain optimal living conditions for the chickens living inside a house. This automation provides Doug the freedom to take care of other necessary tasks on the farm, like maintenance or planting and growing other crops. His chickens are sold to Pilgrim’s Pride locally and are available on supermarket shelves.

The final farm stop was the Stonewall Farm near Luraville. This location provided an overview of livestock production, including crossbred cattle and poultry. There, William Carte and his father Tom talked about the importance of diversity and developing markets. They also discussed the benefits of raising both cattle and chickens. The chicken litter was used to fertilize the hay fields, which then went to feed the cattle. Although traditional crops such as peanuts and forages are grown at Stonewall Farm, they also provide custom combine services for seed production and cleaning.

When the bus returned to the Suwannee County Farm Bureau, the Young Farmers and Ranchers provided a delicious meal. The Ted and Tammy Henderson family were recognized as the Suwannee County Farm Family. Comments were made by Douglas Carter, Young Farmers and Ranchers Chairman; Katherine Allen, Suwannee County Extension Director; Dan Buchanan, Assistant Director for Florida Farm Bureau; and Jerry Scarborough, Executive Director of the Suwannee River Water Management District. The keynote speaker was Kevin Morgan, Ag Policy Director for Florida Farm Bureau. Live Oak Mayor, Sonny Nobles and Suwannee County Farm Bureau president Randall Dasher, signed the proclamation declaring the week of November 16-22,Farm City-Week.

Farm-City week is the week leading up to and including Thanksgiving. It has been celebrated for five decades nationwide, as well as in Canada. It was founded by Kiwanis International and designed to educate youth and adults about agriculture and the interdependence of agriculture and industry.

Katherine Allen is the UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension Director.