Currents-May 2024

Suwannee Valley CURRENTS

LIFE ON THE FARM

Local farm families have a passion for working the land.

PAINT THE TOWN

Explore the murals of Lake Placid.

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

SVEC takes another crack at the Pineview Egg Drop.

Michael S. McWaters Executive VP/CEO

Anyone who has worked at an electric cooperative knows a thing or two about what it takes to provide essential services to their community. From the start, the cooperative mission has been about neighbors joining together to do what the private power companies wouldn’t — bring electricity to rural areas.

It's easy to overlook the hard work and dedication that goes into doing that. Seminole Electric Cooperative, our wholesale power provider, invests a lot of time and effort into generating and transmitting electricity to us. SVEC crews work diligently to maintain and repair our system, even on the hottest days of summer or in the pouring rain, to make sure that electricity reliably makes it to your home.

Despite the enormous effort involved, many of us take electricity for granted. We've become so used to having it come on instantly when we flip a light switch or touch the power button on our TV remote that we barely even think about it. Most of us probably never stop to consider where electricity comes from — save for the plug in the wall.

In that way, cooperative employees can identify with farmers in our community. There are few jobs more crucial to the well-being and prosperity of our country than farming. Yet, many of us are unaware of the sacrifices and hard work that go into farming, just as

we often take for granted the electricity that powers our homes.

That’s why we are spotlighting a few local farm families that are also SVEC members in this month’s newsletter. The Gaylard, Heijkoop, Keyes and Deas families have all been recognized for their outstanding contributions to farming in the Suwannee Valley. Family-owned farming operations like theirs are unfortunately becoming more and more rare throughout our country, so I hope you’ll take a moment to read their stories. You may even learn something new about the important work farmers like them are doing for all of us.

You can also learn about the Suwannee Pineview Elementary School’s annual Egg Drop Challenge, a favorite event that Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative has been proud to participate in for 30 years. You’ll also see a short recap of our Annual Meeting, where we were excited to be able to discuss the past year and the outlook for the future of our cooperative with some of you face-to-face.

Finally, you’ll find an updated map of the areas where our Rapid Fiber Internet service is available. Our network is expanding quickly, so be sure to check and see if your home is ready to be connected to high-speed broadband. It’s just one more way we’re proud to make the Suwannee Valley a better place for us all to live. 

REGISTER MEDICAL NECESSITIES WITH SVEC

SVEC recognizes that many of our members have unique needs. In some cases, they may be immobile or reliant on medical equipment or oxygen.

It is important for members with medical needs requiring care dependent on electricity to register with SVEC so we can let you know of planned or extended outages. You should also keep the information SVEC has on file for you current. To update your information, please visit our office or download the Medical Necessity Form at svec-coop.com/ member-services/medical-necessity

REGISTER WITH COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The Florida Division of Emergency Management also allows citizens with special needs to register with their county emergency management agency.

Information submitted to the register will only be used for planning and, if necessary, to provide emergency or disaster services. Residents of all Florida counties can register using the online Florida Special Needs Registry at snr.flhealthresponse.com

Residents of Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee counties can also request a special needs registration form by visiting or calling their county’s emergency management office.

COLUMBIA COUNTY: 263 NW Lake City Ave. Lake City, FL 32055 386-758-1383

HAMILTON COUNTY: 1133 U.S. Highway 41 NW, Suite 1 Jasper, FL 32052 386-792-6647

LAFAYETTE COUNTY: 194 SW Virginia Circle Mayo, FL 32066 386-294-1950

SUWANNEE COUNTY: 617 Ontario Ave. SW Live Oak, FL 32064 386-364-3405

IS COMING TO A

Rapid Fiber Internet is growing. Service is now available in eight zones, and we look forward to opening more soon. To find your zone, Visit rapid-fiber.com/project-info.

Farm families show the power of local agriculture Life in the field

Farming in the Suwanee Valley benefits the local economy with about $500 million in agricultural products sold annually. But the value of agriculture extends far beyond dollars. Farms also lend a sense of heritage to the community.

“Faith, family and farming is what the Suwannee Valley Area is founded on,” says Erin Jones with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “Farmers and ranchers have worked for multiple generations to preserve the rural America that we get to call home. Farmers in the Suwannee Valley region are stewards of the land, embracing the change of society while maintaining practices to protect our environment, and working to sustain agriculture to ensure a way of life for future generations.”

Jones says agriculture has continued to thrive in the region despite challenges, which are growing.

“While agriculture remains diverse among the Suwannee Valley Region, rural development continues to encroach on our farmland,” Jones says. “While I see agriculture remaining diverse in our region, I believe our farmers and ranchers are going to have to become creative in their production practices to reach current yields while working with less acres. Preservation of our rural way of life is vital to maintaining a sustainable agriculture industry for future generations.”

That’s why, each year, the university system’s extension offices and county farm bureaus collaborate to present Farm Family of the Year awards. Here are the SVEC consumer-members who were recognized last year for their exemplary service to the local farming community through membership in the bureau and partnership with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

GAYLARD FARMS

A.W. and Carolyn Gaylard, of Gaylard Farms in O’Brien, were the 2023 Suwannee County Farm Family of the Year. The couple took over the farm in 1974 to continue a family tradition. At the time, they raised cattle and produced vegetables.

Now, they produce hay as well as registered Angus and Charolais cattle. A.W. and his grandson, Jonathan, run an artificial insemination effort in the cattle program

to advance the herd’s genetics. A.W. and Carolyn are the third generation to run the farm.

They have three children, six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Jonathan is joined by two other grandchildren, Jordan and Andrew, in working on the farm while also managing full-time jobs.

MILK-A-WAY AND K&H DAIRIES

Gary Keyes and Johan Heijkoop, as well as their families, earned Lafayette County Farm Family of the Year honors in 2023 for their agricultural excellence and environmental stewardship.

The pair operate Milk-A-Way and K&H Dairies, both

Carolyn and A.W. Gaylard with their son Bill.

of which have used rotational grazing for their herds, bred entirely through artificial insemination. MilkA-Way Dairy has worked with 4-H Clubs, especially youths involved in the 4-H Dairy Project, and FFA chapters with the Florida Dairy Heifer Lease program.

The freeze of 2022 and Hurricane Idalia added to the challenges of dairy farming, according to the Lake City Reporter, but through a strong partnership, community support and a strong team of employees, Milk-A-Way and K&H Dairies persevere. Their resiliency encourages those who know them, and they provide a great example for future generations.

DEAS BROTHERS FARMS

Zachary and Hannah Deas represent the Deas Brothers Farm as the Hamilton County 2023 Farm Family of the Year. Four generations have farmed the 2,650 acres where Zachary works alongside his dad, uncle and cousins. According to an article in Riverbend News, the family grows 500 acres of field corn, 1,000 acres of peanuts and 100 acres of small-grain oats. They also have the largest beef cattle herd in the county, raising around 700 crossbreed replacement heifers each year.

“Zach, as well as other family members of the Deas Brothers Farms, are known for the quality of product they grow, as well as for their adoption of innovative practices,” says Greg Hicks, UF/IFAS Hamilton County Extension Director in a Riverbend News story. “Besides in Hamilton County, Zach and the Deas Brothers are very active supporters of agriculture in the state and the nation. They are proactive participants of the Farm Bureau, UF Extension Service and the Cattlemen's Association. Zach is a Hamilton County Farm Bureau board member and serves on the UF Extension Hamilton County Ag Advisory Committee.”

SUWANNEE VALLEY FARMS BY THE NUMBERS

1,695

NUMBER OF FARMS

Source:

Johan Heijkoop, left, and Gary Keyes use a style of rotational grazing on their dairies.

The Deas Brothers Farm, run by Zachary and Hannah Deas, represents the largest beef cattle herd in the county.

Soft Toffee Bars

INGREDIENTS

2 sticks butter, softened

2 cups flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 egg yolk

1 cup chopped pecans, if desired

1 teaspoon butter flavoring

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9-by-12-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Line the bottom with parchment paper, then spray parchment.

In a large bowl, cream butter, brown sugar and egg yolk together until smooth. Mix in butter flavoring and vanilla. Stir in flour until incorporated. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes.

Remove pan from oven. Evenly sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Return to oven for 5 more minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 3 minutes. Gently spread melted chocolate on surface, covering toffee bars. If desired, sprinkle pecans on top.

Allow bars to cool completely in pan. Slide bars out using parchment paper and slice into squares. 

Power Line Safety on the Farm

Per the National Electric Safety Code, SVEC maintains its power lines at a height of 15 feet and 6 inches or higher above the ground. These lines can be dangerous and should always be treated as if they are energized. It’s crucial to keep individuals, equipment, and other objects away from them to avoid potential accidents. To ensure the safety of everyone working on the farm, it’s essential to communicate and follow safety procedures around power lines.

• When moving equipment, plan routes that avoid power lines. Lower all apparatus and use a spotter to track the equipment’s location in relation to power lines.

• Many accidents occur when equipment is moved on a truck or other transport. Make sure your height calculation includes the equipment and anything it’s on.

• When you buy new equipment, check its height. Call SVEC if it’s taller than is safe to move on your farm.

• Never park or exit farm equipment under power lines.

• Ensure that irrigation equipment stays far away from power lines and doesn’t spray water on power lines. Store unused pipes far away from power lines. 

Lake Placid: The Caladium Capital of the World

BY VANESSA CACERES

The Caladium Capital of the World. The Town of Murals. Home of Toby’s Clown School. These cute monikers all describe just one town — Highland County’s Lake Placid, just off Route 27 and south of Sebring.

In 2013, Readers Digest named Lake Placid America’s Most Interesting Town because of the small town’s “unique variety of nature, culture and fun,” according to the magazine. If you’re looking for a destination that’s beyond the beach and avoids the crowds, Lake Placid is an ideal destination.

Start your day at the town’s chamber of commerce office to learn more about the murals of Lake Placid. A series of 46 paintings adorn the side of many Lake Placid businesses.

“The murals are what make the town,” says Grace Butcher, a chamber of commerce volunteer.

The idea began in the early 1990s, when residents Bob and Harriet Porter were motorcycling through Chemainus, British Columbia, and saw how that Canadian town was transformed through colorful murals. They brought the idea back home and, using only donations and no public money, were able to secure funding for the murals. The town continues to add to its mural collection.

Art is such a big part of the Lake Placid experience. Even many of the

downtown’s benches and trash containers are decorated with painted clowns, old cars and nature scenes.

Once you’ve gotten your share of murals, stop by Toby’s Clown School and Museum, where you can be a clown. Since 1993, the school has graduated more than 1,500 clowns who’ve gone through a 25-hour clown class. Visitors can see an astounding amount of clown memorabilia, including figurines, pictures and costumes. Museum workers will entertain your gang with magic tricks and may just make you join in for the performance.

For those who want to continue the journey through history, the Lake Placid Historical Society Depot Museum gives visitors a chance to see photos and items from the town’s history, as well as an antique caboose, a 1929 steam engine and the town’s 1920s-era jail.

Once you’ve explored downtown, check out one of the area’s 29 lakes — including Lake Istokpoga, Lake Placid and Lake June-in-Winter — for fishing or boating. Some lakes also have swimming.

“Lake June is a very popular spot because it has a sandbar,” says Katelyn Stuart, an Orlando resident who spent lots of time in the town during the summer growing up. “Around June and July, you can anchor your boat up and expect to see around 100 people or so.”

Golfing and biking are also popular. If you’re looking for a place to eat, just a couple of miles from downtown is Jaxson’s on Lake June, popular with locals and famous for its Hookiemelt — chicken topped with onions over sour cream, wing sauce and jack cheddar. There’s also the fried cheesecake topped with strawberries, whipped cream and drizzled chocolate. Come early on Tuesday or Thursday to watch the sunset and enjoy karaoke with Party Dog Rick, one of the chefs. 

The murals throughout Lake Placid were inspired by outdoor artwork in Chemainus, British Columbia, Canada.

SVEC celebrates 2024 Annual Meeting

Egg-citing science

SVEC was excited to join Suwannee Pineview Elementary’s egg drop. The popular event lets students take a crack at creating a protective carrier that can keep a raw egg from breaking when dropped about 55 feet from a raised bucket truck.

This was the 30th year SVEC participated in the event. It was great to see the successes, egg-splosions and, best of all, young minds having fun while learning.

More than 800 people attended SVEC’s 2024 Annual Meeting, where Jackson Lord, Tyler Putnal and Andy Walker were installed as trustees for their districts. The 627 registered consumer-members who attended heard General Manager Mike McWaters provide an update on the cooperative’s status. Dan Hartley, a field representative for U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, and

Ella Hancock, an attendee of the Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., youth tours, also spoke.

SVEC also gave away 100 door prizes and over 120 bingo prizes. It is always a pleasure to meet with our consumer-members and discuss the future of our cooperative in person. Thank you to everyone who attended.