Farm Bureau Tallahassee Trip

Florida Farm Bureau 5700 SW 34th Street Gainesville, Florida 32608

Farm Bureau Legislative Days March 7 & 8, 2023 Tallahassee, Florida

We have 15 rooms blocked for March 7th & 8th at the Hampton Inn Tallahassee Central. It is located at 2979 Apalachee Parkway in Tallahassee.

Your March 2023 group block is live! Here are the booking instructions for your guests:

For Call In:

Call (850) 309-1300, provide dates & ask to book with “FL Federation of Fairs” under group code FFF.

Online Booking:

Go to: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/tlhhhhx-hampton-tallahassee-central/ • Enter dates • Click on Special Rates • In the Group Code box, enter FFF • Click on Check Rooms & Rates • You should see the “FL Federation of Fairs” rates appear

Please note: any unreserved rooms will automatically release on 2/21/23.

The event at the Capitol will be Wednesday, March 8, 2023

HISTORIC SCOTT GIFT TO 4‑H WILL STRENGTHEN WORKFORCE AND OPTIMIZE 4‑H PROGRAMMING TODAY AND TOMORROW

In February, National 4-H Council announced a landmark $50 million unrestricted gift from writer and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott that will help close the opportunity gap for America’s youth. It is the largest single gift in 4-H’s 120-year history.

Today, we are pleased to share an update about the first phase of our investment of this historic gift. Over the next five years, National 4-H Council will allocate $10 million to strengthen the 4-H workforce and optimize 4-H youth programming. This investment will accelerate 4-H’s ability to meet the needs of young people today and tomorrow, while providing the professional development and training required to deliver quality, relevant and impactful programming. The Board will preserve the remainder of the gift for the long term to ensure that National 4-H Council can sustain programs and activities that have the greatest benefits for 4-H youth development in the future and to ensure the gift's enduring impact. National 4-H Council will invest to:

Strengthen the 4-H Workforce: • Develop volunteer and staff recruitment tools to assist Cooperative Extension in attracting and retaining top talent in paid and volunteer youth development roles. • Expand the 4-H Positive Youth Development Academy - powered by Cooperative Extension research-based approaches - to build the capabilities of all 4-H educators and volunteers. • Create a world-class leadership development program to ensure there is a long-term pipeline of diverse and capable 4-H leaders who are equipped to grow 4 -H today and into the future. • Commission an Applied Research Study – Cooperative Extension will continuously improve 4-H program quality by building on previous national research. Data will inform 4-H’s current and future approaches to positive youth development and will be translated into useful tools for local 4-H professionals.

Optimize 4-H Programming: • Expand national in-person 4-H youth experiences to build their skills, explore careers and develop in-person connections. • Launch Clover by 4-H to give young people a digital platform - powered by Cooperative Extension’s expertise and educational content - to access 4-H anytime and to complement their in-person experiences. The National 4-H Council Board made its investment decisions based on an inclusive process undertaken over six months with extensive input from Cooperative Extension and land-grant university leaders. These investments will ensure that Cooperative Extension can expand its capabilities of providing 4-H programming to our youth in partnership with Council as we continue to build public-private partnerships, tell the 4-H story, and convene 4-H youth and adults in meaningful ways now and moving forward.

The pandemic has shown that America’s youth need more support than ever to be successful. Many are struggling in areas ranging from academics to mental well -being to developing social connections with others. In fact, 25 million young people do not have access to positive youth development opportunities, which can provide the tools needed to realize their full potential. We are grateful to MacKenzie Scott for the opportunity to invest in 4-H initiatives that will help bridge this opportunity gap and support our young people as they shape the future of America and our world.

FIND YOUR LOCAL 4-H

Contact your county Extension office to learn about 4-H clubs, camps, and after school programs in your area.

4-H University, Gainesville—July 26, 2022

LtoR: Jim Ward, Pasco County Fair, FFF Past President, Terry Atchley, Hardee County Fair, FFF President, Hayden Hawes, Florida 4-H President, Ronda Banner, Florida 4-H Foundation President-elect, Hal Porter, Citrus County Fair, FFF First Vice President, Daniel West, FFF Executive Director, Caitlyn Hilton, Interim Director of Development UF/IFAS and Florida 4-H.

The Livestock projects have started with registrations and educational meetings. We have 88 Steers and 65 Swine and some alternates waiting.

We are working on the Dept of Ag Grant we received. We are excited to make the improvements to our facility needed to continue our mission.

The Fall Workshop being canceled was sad, but safety must come first. We always enjoy our Fair Family!

We will be hosting the 26th Annual PRCA Citrus Stampede Rodeo, November 18th and 19th. This event funds our local 4-H Programs.

The 23rd Annual Tractor & Truck Pull will be February 3rd & 4th, 2023. This event raises money for our Youth Scholarship Program. Come out and enjoy the noise, smoke and flying clay. We are excited to sponsor this well attended community event.

The Citrus County Fair is March 27th through April 2nd, 2023. Plan to attend "Carnival Lights and Home Grown Delights."

News of Florida Fairs

3600 S Florida Ave. Inverness, FL 34450

News of Florida Fairs

2616 SE Dixie Hwy. Stuart, FL 34996 Nov. 25-27, 5:30-9pm Dec 2-4, 5:30-9pm Dec 9-11, 5:30-9pm Dec 16-18, 5:30-9pm

Adults just $8 Kids 10 & under are Free. FREE PARKING!

•Have some good food for Dinner at our food trucks and sweet treats area. •Come shop our Christmas Crafters area.

•Come ride some carnival rides! *extra fee •Your little elves will enjoy the FREE activities, games, and making ornaments to take home. •Enjoy our festive holiday music provided by local schools, youth, and talented local musicians. •Relax in the serenity of our Live Nativity provided by Redeemer Lutheran Church. •Over 50 local non-profits have lighted Christmas

displays. Find your favorite!

Opens each night at 5:30

•Fun for ALL AGES. •Come see "A CASTLE CHRISTMAS" As seen on "The Great Christmas Light Fight" on ABC this December.

The 80th Annual North Florida Fair will open November 3 in Tallahassee, Florida to a big opening day crowd. Admission will be free to everyone that day. You may think that is no way to run a fair but the promotion is expected to bring large crowds and generate buzz, making the remainder of the fair something to talk about. The vendors will start the fair in grand fashion.

The Beer Barn was a popular addition last year and is expected to be a draw again. The barn was so popular, we ran out of wine slush mix halfway through the fair, switching to margaritas to give an option other than beer. The wine order was increased by 3x. Seating capacity at the Beer Barn was also more than doubled. It was that popular.

The entertainment lineup for the North Florida Fair consists of the Anastasini Family Circus, the Dizzy Magic Show, Danny Grant’s Cowboy Circus, Max Power, the Show-Me Safari Swine Racers, and the Show-Me Safari Petting Zoo. All entertainment is free with paid gate admission. The Strates Shows will again provide Midway entertainment, placing 50 rides for the customers. The Strates Shows is celebrating their 100th anniversary while the North Florida Fair celebrates its 80th.

University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Science will be on hand to talk to customers about all facets of farming and gardening, with agents on site at all times and many displays. 4H has a large display of their activities in another building as well as a building devoted to Home and Fine Arts. The Commercial Building and the Garden Show are also popular attractions. An antique tractor display is also showcased along the independent midway.

Gate admission prices make the North Florida Fair the best entertainment value in the north Florida area. Parking, as always, is free. There is so much to see at the North Florida Fair.

Come and be a part of it.

News of Florida Fairs

441 E Paul Russell Road Tallahassee, FL 32301

What an awesome summer we had riding high from our most successful Fair to date. It was a time to rest and rejuvenate while keeping the thinking cap flowing with creativity. Following the 2022 Fair, where we saw more than 110,000 visitors, 85 vendors, 640 animal exhibitors, and with more than 5,000 mega passes sold, we needed a breather! We were able to take some time on the open road and visit some of the coolest fairs around the country, meeting the best of the best in managers and staff, while taking in the most amazing shows and talent our country has to offer.

Christine and Crew visited the Alaska State Fair in August where they were treated to Fall-like weather early in the year. Christine was named coach of the Goat Milking Competition which ended up being a serious(ly) fun competition for all. These Alaskans are into their goat milking with a traveling trophy handed down year to year. In front of a packed house, the winning team squeezed out a victory in 20 minutes with a record 4+ liters of goat’s milk! A 'handedly' awesome event that’d be fun to have in St. Lucie County.

With all the summer travel behind us, we’re falling into our Fair schedules, getting ready to host you and your family in 2023. Keep an eye out for deals and steals in your email. Follow us on social media channels. But most of all, enjoy the Fall season with all its bounties and blessings.

St. Lucie County Fair 15601 W. Midway Road Ft. Pierce, FL 34945

News of Florida Fairs

303 Berryfest Pl Plant City, FL 33563 We proudly announce Mrs. Kay Varnum as the newest member of the Festival's board of directors. Mrs. Varnum was a volunteer for many years as a roving ambassador and information booth attendant and became an associate director in 2002. In addition to serving as a member of the Livestock Banquet Committee, she is Co-Chair of the Junior Royalty Pageant Committee and a former Queen’s Coordinator Co-Chair. Mrs. Varnum, we are grateful to have you!

We are pleased to introduce to you our new President-Elect Kyle Robinson. He will be replacing Paul Davis, who will be retiring in April of 2023. We are excited to have Kyle leading us into the future and look forward to having him on board. Please join us in congratulating Kyle on this endeavor.

“I love the festival and feel that Kyle will bring a great ‘teamwork’ perspective and lead this great organization well in the future,” said Florida Strawberry Festival President Paul Davis. “Kyle has a genuine love for people, is a good family man, and will be a great fit for our team. We are honored to have him.”

News of Florida Fairs

Collier Fair 751 39th Ave. NE Naples, FL 34120

Alachua County Youth Fair & Livestock Show Association, Inc. 22712 W Newberry Road Newberry, FL 32669

News of Florida Fairs

South Florida Fair 9067 Southern Blvd. West Palm Beach, FL

In celebration of all IAFE members coming together to Unite, 50+ limited edition collectible cards featuring Fairs and Businesses are available to collect at Convention!

Be sure to visit the Ed Shed daily to learn about IAFE Member Benefits, talk with the volunteers at the Help Desk and more. Ed Shed activities are still being planned – take a look now

News of Florida Fairs

Volusia County Fair 3150 New York Ave. DeLand, FL 32724

4-H Volunteer Conference of Southern States hosts the annual national 4-H volunteer conference. Open to any volunteer and staff, the conference features educational sessions, networking events and more. Mark your calendars for September 28-October 1, 2023

News of Florida Fairs

215 Sydney Washer Road Dover, FL

We are busily getting ready for our 2022 Hillsborough County Fair that will be held November 3-13, 2022. We are excited to be holding an 11-day fair this year with extended carnival hours partnering with a new carnival company, Dreamland Amusements. Our entries for the youth livestock shows have come in with record setting numbers with all shows (except rabbit) seeing an increase in entries. Thankfully we were able to complete construction on our new 18,750 square foot livestock exhibition building funded in part by the Florida Department of Agricultural

Education Facilities Funding. On October 6, 2022 our Board of Directors held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of our new livestock building that will be used to house all of our livestock for the 2022 Hillsborough County Fair. We have new entertainment acts, arena events and activities for the fair. We invite you to stop by our fair and visit with us! We are really excited for this year’s fair. We will follow the fair with our 2nd year of the Tampa Bay’s Festival of Lights and Santa’s Village that will run from November 24-January 1 and will feature a drive thru holiday light show and a walk thru experience. (See flyer on next page.)

Hope everyone is doing well and hope to see you this fall at our fair!

Top row from left: 80th Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. Four out of five pictured are Past Presidents of the Florida Federation of Fairs & Livestock Shows. From left: Melody & Artie McIntyre, Dan West, Lisa Hinton, Patsy Brooks.

Pat Cookson in Seattle

Christine Iannotti, Kathy Ross, Cathy Murphy, Jeff and AJ Ross.

Dennis Lee, Mark Sparks, and Stephanie Ann. The picture on the right was sent in marked “parolees!”

Doris Graska and Monica Welde at Bearadise Ranch

Dave Miller, Miller’s Soft Pretzels and Fritzy, Aka Steven Lombardo

Top from left: Federation representatives visit the Northeast Florida Fair in Callahan. From left: Brian Simmons, Dan West, Shelley Terrell, Jim Ward, Keith Wingate.

Florida FFF members visiting the Minnesota State Fair: Lane Wetherington and Tyler Trussell

Christine Iannotti at the Alaska State Fair and Lane & Tyler.

Jeff & Kathy Ross of Ross Concessions were welcomed at the Northeast Florida Fair in Callahan. From left: Shelly Terrell, FFF Board Member and SE FL Fair, Jeff & Kathy Ross, Mandy White, Brian Simmons.

Nancy Smith, Executive Director of the South Carolina State Fair and Dennis Lee.

Randy & Fran Crone and Laurie & Mike Peak at the State Fair of Texas.

Marc Dobson and Mark Sparks