The keynote speaker at the event, Mayor Teresa Jacobs, spoke about the need for better access to fresh fruit and vegetables among the poor and boosting community health through local \u201cfarm to table\u201d initiatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the Sunshine State’s largest general agricultural organization, the Orange County Farm Bureau is doing a terrific job in upholding Florida\u2019s reputation as a national leader in the agriculture and farming sector,\u201d Mayor Jacobs said.<\/p>\n
Many community leaders and elected officials were in attendance, including U.S. Congressman Daniel Webster, Orange County Commissioner District 1 Scott Boyd, Property Appraiser Rick Singh and Orange County Schools Superintendent Barbara Jenkins.<\/p>\n
\u201cMayor Teresa Jacobs has actively participated in the annual dinner since she was elected Commissioner of District 1,\u201d said Bobby Beagles, the local Farm Bureau\u2019s executive director. \u201cWe greatly appreciate the mayor\u2019s dedication to agriculture in Orange County.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Orange County Farm Bureau is part of Florida\u2019s largest general agricultural organization, the Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF), which promotes and protects the agricultural interests of farmers and ranchers engaged in production agriculture. This year, the FFBF celebrates 72 years of service in agriculture with about 147,000 members in 60 counties in the Sunshine State. That legacy continues through Orange County Public Schools\u2019 active and thriving Young Farmer and Rancher Program.<\/p>\n
Students who are part of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organizations from Apopka Middle School, Wolf Lake Middle School and Piedmont Lakes Middle School \u2013 all located in Apopka \u2013 and Corner Lake Middle School on Chuluota Road in East Orange County, interacted with longtime agricultural leaders and elected officials at the dinner.<\/p>\n
\u201cI especially enjoyed spending some time with students from our Young Farmer and Rancher Program, because they are so passionate about our community and maintaining Florida\u2019s abundant supply of agricultural resources,\u201d Mayor Jacobs said.<\/p>\n
Melissa Hamilton, FFA adviser at Piedmont Lakes Middle School, said her students appreciated meeting with Mayor Jacobs and were inspired by the legacies of local agricultural leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is really exciting for us because it gives the students the opportunity to see how agriculture impacts our area,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cThey really look up to the people in this room so it\u2019s like a dream come true for them.\u201d<\/p>\n