50th Annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour
The 50th Annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour will be held Tuesday October 4, beginning at the Santa Rosa County Extension office located at 6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton.
This event will provide another great tour of the agricultural community and working farms for the citizens of Santa Rosa County. “Santa Rosa County has long been a state leader in the production of crops such as cotton and peanuts but many people are not aware of the diversity of agriculture and forestry in the county,” said Michael Donahoe, county extension director for the UF/IFAS Santa Rosa Extension, and one of the event organizers. The day-long tour will showcase the wide range of agriculture in the county including a small sustainable farm and the peanut and cotton farms that dot our county’s landscape.
Santa Rosa County agriculture generates $95 million per year and provides an estimated 7,200 jobs to its citizens. The county’s population continues to be more and more removed from agriculture and the Santa Rosa County Farm Tour, one of the longest running farm tours in the state, aims to help the citizens understand the value of agriculture. Annually, approximately 200 citizens join on the tour and discover what the county’s agriculture has to offer while being provided comfortable riding conditions in a charter bus and enjoying a catered lunch. The tour will visit and award the Farm Family of the Year, the John Davy and Glen Strange families of Panhandle Growers, LLC. A catered lunch will be provided at the Jay Community Center where Jay Historical Society member, Bobby Boutwell, will give a brief history of agriculture in the county. Traditionally, and continuing this year, the tour will end at Holland Farms to enjoy some of Santa Rosa County’s infamous boiled peanuts.
Come learn with your fellow citizens about how our local farmers and agricultural professionals are providing food, fiber, and energy every day!
Bus space is limited. The fee to reserve your spot is $20. Register online at www.SRCFarmTour2016.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact the Santa Rosa County Extension Office at (850) 623-3868.
Organizing agencies and businesses include:
UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County
Blackwater Soil & Water Conservation District
Farm Bureau Insurance
Farm Credit of Northwest Florida
Florida Farm Bureau
Three Rivers RC&D
UF/IFAS West Florida Research & Education Center
United Bank
USDA Farm Service Agency
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
