Press Release

Agriculture Industry Accomplishments to date include:

Twenty farmers and ranchers will be honored on Oct. 8 for their environmental stewardship at the Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center.

The owners of the agricultural operations will be recognized by Florida Farm Bureau’s County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) program for their outstanding efforts in implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs).

Rep. Denise Grimsley will be hosting the event. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson and Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick will attend to help recognize the farmers.

Twelve Tampa Bay growers will be recognized for their superior natural resource stewardship during the first-ever Tampa Bay CARES dinner that will be held during the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau’s annual meeting on Oct. 1.

Twenty-six Suwannee and Santa Fe River Basin farmers and ranchers will be recognized for their superior natural resource stewardship during the 9th Annual CARES dinner that will be held at the Dwight Stansel farm in Suwannee County on June 25.

These agricultural producers have implemented verifiable state-of-the-art management strategies known as Best Management Practices (BMPs) on their properties in the basin. BMPS are often designed

By Sarah A. Henderson - March 2009 (posted with permission of Senior Times Magazine)

Making hay while the sun shines, or in other words, taking advantage of an opportunity before it is gone, is exactly what the Florida Farm Bureau's C.A.R.E.S. program is all about. Environmental preservation is crucial to agricultural preservation, and farmers across the state of Florida are being recognized by the bureau's C.A.R.E.S. program for their land-friendly farming practices.

Florida Farm Bureau CARES program honored six citrus growers for their environmental stewardship Tuesday at the Indian River Citrus Seminar. Tom Jerkins of Blue Goose Growers LLC, Glen Barnes and Tommy Barnes of Barnes Citrus, Peter McClure, Evans Bluefield, Robert Edsall of Edsall Groves and James Hoffman of Estes Citrus Inc. for their outstanding efforts in implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs).

Santa Fe CARES awards: Farm owners demonstrate environmental stewardship

A cool fall evening could not chill the fellowship of more than 350 dinner guests at the Santa Fe CARES dinner held on Oct. 30. Assembled at the DeChamplain farm in Gilchrist County, they celebrated the outstanding natural resource management of 17 farmers and ranchers who produce food and fiber in the Santa Fe River Basin.

Those agriculturists recognized received a CARES award plaque and earned the right to display a CARES sign on their respective properties.

Twenty-nine Suwannee River Basin farmers and ranchers were recognized for their superior natural resource stewardship during the 8th Annual CARES dinner held at the Dwight Stansel farm in Suwannee County on July 1.

These agricultural producers have implemented verifiable state-of-the-art management strategies known as Best Management Practices (BMPs) on their properties in the basin.

CONTACT: Andrew Walmsley, environmental services coordinator, (352) 378-8100, ext. 1108
Kathy Richardson, Public Relations program manager (352) 374-1533

(OKEECHOBEE, Fla.) - Twenty-nine farmers were honored for their environmental stewardship Thursday at the Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center.

Ft. Pierce, Fla. - Six citrus growers were honored for their environmental stewardship Wednesday at the Indian River Citrus Seminar. Shinn Groves, Golden River Fruit Company, The Florida Research Center, Sunrise Citrus Partners, Latt Maxy Corporation and Cassens Grove Service were all recognized by Florida Farm Bureau’s County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) program for their outstanding efforts in implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs).