How Rapid Fiber Internet is transforming local agriculture
SUMMER ESCAPES
Seven Florida adventures to enjoy with friends and family
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Cornhole Tournament winners, the Suwannee Valley Food Fight and more
Suwannee Valley
Cultivating progress
You don’t have to go far to see just how important farming is for our local economy. Drive down any road and you’re bound to come across row crops, cattle grazing in green pastures and irrigation pivots stretching across fields. The families who work this land aren’t just growing crops — they’re feeding our community and keeping the traditions of rural America strong.
Executive VP/CEO
MICHAEL S. MCWATERS
But that doesn’t mean farming is the same today as it was even a generation ago. Modern agriculture relies on technology just as much as any other industry, and there might be none more critical than reliable, high-speed internet. That is why, just as electric cooperatives once brought power to rural areas that private companies wouldn’t serve, Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative launched Rapid Fiber Internet to bring high-speed internet to our area.
That connection is already helping local farmers tackle the complex challenges they face. Weather patterns are increasingly unpredictable. Market demands shift rapidly. Input costs continue to rise. To navigate these pressures successfully, farmers need access to real-time data that is only possible with a robust internet connection.
That’s exactly what the owners of SanRiver Farms discovered when they made the decision to upgrade to fiber internet service. Five years ago, the Sanchez family expanded their farm beyond peanuts, corn and cattle. With their new produce crops, they embraced new agriculture technology to help them better manage their 6,000 acres.
With help from Rapid Fiber Internet, SanRiver can now monitor irrigation remotely, send jobs to tractors in any of their fields and collect crop data enabling them to identify problems before they become costly disasters. You can learn more in this newsletter about how they leverage the power of a fiber connection.
As your electric cooperative, we understand that providing essential services means more than just keeping the lights on. We’re proud to expand fiber internet access to families like the Wards throughout our territory. And we are always excited to support our community in any way we can.
This month, you can see some photos of the fun we had hosting the eighth annual Suwannee Valley Charity Cornhole Tournament. Thank you to everyone who competed and came out to support United Way of Suwannee Valley. You can also learn more about the Suwannee Valley Food Fight, which are participating in through August. Make your donations today at the SVEC office to help us support the Florida Gateway Food Bank.
Our local farmers have always been stalwart supporters of our community and innovators when facing new challenges. With the power of Rapid Fiber Internet connectivity and reliable service from SVEC, they are well-positioned to continue that tradition while ensuring that farmers remain a cornerstone of the Suwannee Valley for generations to come. ■
From time to time, SVEC’s consumer-members report calls from scammers impersonating cooperative employees. These callers often threaten to cut off electric service without immediate payment.
While these calls can be scary — especially for those who rely on electronic medical equipment — it is important to remember that SVEC never handles payment issues this way. The cooperative DOES NOT:
• Call consumer-members to demand payment right before disconnection.
• Ask for personal information, like your Social Security number, over the phone.
• Ask for payment via a prepaid debit card.
• Visit your home unannounced to promote a service or demand information.
SVEC will always work with consumer-members to resolve payment issues before disconnecting service. If you suspect you are dealing with a scammer, hang up the phone or close the door and call our Member Services Department at 800-447-4509.
Idalia Cost Recovery Update
SVEC’s electric system sustained the most damage in our cooperative’s history when Hurricane Idalia struck last year. The cost of recovery was substantial, and we are still regrouping some of those expenses. Here’s a quick snapshot of where cost recovery currently stands:
Fast, reliable and affordable Rapid Fiber Internet service is now available throughout much of SVEC’s service area. No contracts.
data caps. No installation fees.
Rapid 100 100 Mbps $55 per month
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Instant Message Rapid 1G 1 Gbps $85 per month
Movie Streaming
Live Video Sharing
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High-Speed Operations
Rapid 2G 2 Gbps $105 per month
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Growing with fiber
Rapid Fiber Internet service is driving new opportunities for local farmers
Since Rapid Fiber Internet launched three years ago, access to reliable, high-speed internet has changed the way our community lives, works and grows. With big city speeds and small-town service, Rapid Fiber is not just connecting homes; it is transforming how local businesses operate by empowering them to work smarter, faster and more efficiently.
Look no further than SanRiver Farms in O’Brien — a 6,000-acre farm established in 2020 to expand the Sanchez family’s farming business beyond peanuts, corn and cattle. Under the care of John and Jeannette Ward, the farm now cultivates sweet corn, green beans, broccoli and carrots, all of which they grow, harvest, pack and ship from the farm to grocers along the East Coast as far north as New York. SanRiver also partners with the neighboring Southern Cross Dairy as its primary grower of feed crops.
As soon as Rapid Fiber Internet was available, SanRiver used that high-speed connection to better communicate with irrigation pivots across all their crops. You may have seen these long, bridge-like sprinkler systems while driving past a crop field. With fiber internet, the farm can use a mobile phone or computer to check on the status of these pivots and see how much water has been distributed, how much remains and whether they are online or offline.
The farm’s management team can also send jobs to tractors each day, monitor their production, get live status updates and track work as it happens. When a tractor shuts off, its data automatically transmits to the farm’s operations center, helping John, the O’Brien farm manager, keep tabs and provide real-time communication for the Sanchez family headquarters in Old Town.
Being able to send and collect data quickly has also helped SanRiver Farms in much bigger ways than automation alone.
Fast delivery
Before upgrading to fiber service, the Wards couldn’t rely on information getting to equipment promptly. Information sent to tractors in the morning might be received quickly, or it might not arrive until lunchtime. With Rapid Fiber Internet, they can count on having the latest information within minutes.
Timely repairs
Better service also means better response times. In the past, an internet outage could leave the farm without service for as long as a week. That delay didn’t just impact equipment like pivots and tractors, it could also set back day-to-day operations, like payroll. Rapid Fiber’s local
Fiber service is revolutionizing farming for SanRiver farms’ O’Brien location, managed by Jeannette and John Ward.
service and suppport ensures a timely response for the farm, minimizing disruptions to help keep operations moving.
Nimble decision-making
Having so much data from across the farm available at the touch of a button helps the Wards be more productive and responsive in their decision-making. That information helps John see developing problems sooner and gives immediate access to records for each field, so he can identify problems quickly.
Smarter planning
A lightning-fast connection also helps the farm save money and time with its preparations for future crops. With the extensive information gathered from across its fields, the Wards have the insights needed to confidently decide whether to stick with the same crop next year or if it would be better to diversify into something new.
Remote monitoring
Perhaps the biggest quality of life improvement since upgrading to Rapid Fiber Internet, John says, is equipment no longer requires constant in-person monitoring. Instead, John can oversee farm operations anytime, anywhere.
With 52 irrigation systems that need to be monitored, checking on them with a phone rather than driving to each one multiple times a day saves hours.
The future of farming
While many farms in Florida are still catching up to the benefits of fiber technology for their own fields, John expects it won’t be long before more largescale farming operations like theirs start taking advantage of a faster connection. As farming equipment continues to advance, there will only be more ways to leverage the power of fiber communications for local farming operations. SanRiver’s early adoption of agricultural technology and Rapid Fiber Internet is transforming the way their team works. They’re grateful for the opportunity to invest in these tools and continue adapting for the future.
Visit Rapid-Fiber.com to sign up or view the Project Information page to find information on zones in your area today! ■
A mural based on Paul Harvey’s speech to the Future Farmers of America in 1978 adorns the wall of SanRiver Farms’ on-site office.
Farm Manager John Ward surveys a field while tracking data from other crops on his phone.
Lychee Jam
INGREDIENTS
4 pounds lychees
2 pounds strawberries
1 pineapple
6 tablespoons unflavored pectin
Spoonful or pat of butter
4 cups sugar
Pinch of salt
DIRECTIONS
Prepare 8 jam jars and lids: Wash the jars and their screw bands in hot, soapy water. Rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over the flat lids in a saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot
water until ready to use. Drain the jars and lid parts well before filling.
Peel and deseed the lychees. Process them in a blender for about 1 minute. Stem and crush the strawberries thoroughly. Cut the pineapple into small pieces, but do not use the core.
Measure 5 cups prepared fruit into a 6- or 8-quart saucepot, stir in the pectin and add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil—keeps bubbling when stirred—over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar and salt. Return to a full rolling boil and cook for exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with a metal spoon.
Ladle the fruit immediately into prepared jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Wipe
jar rims and threads, then screw on the lids. Place jars in a large canning pot with enough water to cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Put on pot lid and bring water to a gentle boil. Process for 10 minutes. Remove jars and place them upright on a towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seal integrity by pressing on the middle of lids with your finger. If lids spring back, they are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary. ■
Safety first
Electricity powers modern life, but it can be dangerous if not handled carefully. Check back here each month for new tips on how to stay safe around electric power at your home or business. Even when you head outside to cool down this summer in one of Florida’s abundant water resources, electrical awareness is a must.
• Never swim near a marina or a running boat. Faulty wiring or damaged equipment can cause the surrounding water to become energized.
• There is no visible warning for electrified water, and just 10 milliamps of current in the water—1/50th the amount used by a 60-watt lightbulb—can cause paralysis and drowning.
• Be aware of any potential electrical hazards. Check for nearby power lines before boating, fishing or swimming.
• Never use household cords near water. Only use portable ground fault circuit interrupters or shore power cords, including “Y” adapters, that are UL Marine Listed.
• When on a boat, find the main breakers onboard and at the shore power source. If you see a shock situation taking place, turn the boat power off, throw a life ring and call 911, but never enter the water. ■
To learn more about building safe electric habits, click the Outages & Safety tab on the SVEC website, svec-coop.com, and follow us on social media. /sveccoop @sveccoop
Cool events this summer
By Janet K. Keeler, Visit Florida
Florida is open for business, and the activities don’t hide in the air conditioning. The state’s dramatic summer weather is the backdrop for music and food celebrations, but that’s just the tip of the sandbar. Here are some sizzling Florida summer events to keep you busy.
Summer means mangoes
The king of fruit gets its due at two mango-riffic events in South Florida. The annual Mango Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables draws attendees from all over the state to taste some of the world’s best mangoes. The festival, set for July 12-13, includes workshops, a market and a special Sunday brunch. Mango trees are also for sale. The same weekend, Pine Island’s MangoMania brings mango lusciousness to the Gulf Coast on July 12 with tastings and food demonstrations. You don’t want to leave this tropical fruit fair without trying a smoothie.
The scoop on sharks
SharkCon at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa is a weekend of shark-related education and interactive exhibits. Set for July 12-13, there will
be touch tanks, paddleboard lessons and probably more than one reference to the ultracheesy “Sharknado” movies.
A shell of a time
Harvest your own scallops during their season, which starts in August along Florida’s Big Bend coast. You’ll need a saltwater fishing license, snorkel, mask and dive flag as you hunt for the sweet shellfish. There are many local outfitters and guides to show you the way and people at the shore who will clean your bounty for you.
Rhythm is gonna get you
Miami Salsa Congress is five nonstop days of cha-cha, mambo and bomba, Aug. 6-10, at the InterContinental hotel. There will be performances, workshops, pool parties and other ways to shake your bonbon. Salsa got its start in 1970s New York, drawing from many Caribbean influences. Today, though, it seems like Miami through and through.
Start your engines
Pack the cooler, gas up the RV and get to NASCAR’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 to watch stock cars roar around the famed high banks at
Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach. The main event is on a Saturday evening, Aug. 23, but the Coke Zero Sugar 400 is more than an all-day affair.
Buggy for bugs
Bug is a common term of endearment for the Florida spiny lobster, celebrated during Key West Lobsterfest, Aug. 7-10. Lots of recreational divers come to the Florida Keys for the two-day season, hoping to catch their limits of the succulent crustaceans. Lobsterfest marks the season with a beach party, lobster boil, concerts and a street fair.
Cool fun for kids
The Florida Kids and Family Expo, Aug. 23-24 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, is fun for kids of all ages. Exhibitors show off their latest kid-friendly wares, from bouncy amusements to games and educational tools. Interactive offerings include martial arts demonstrations, laser tag and even makeup lessons for teens. On the agenda is party planning help for parents who have run out of ideas. ■
Eighth annual Cornhole Tournament scores big
Thank you to all of the teams and community partners who made SVEC’s eighth annual Cornhole Tournament possible. Thanks to the support of our sponsors and players, the tournament raised over $4,500 for United Way of Suwannee Valley. Congratulations to our six winning teams.
Competitive winners
First place
Nate Dogg and Chad
Second place
Mike and Dylan
Third place
Grumpy Old Men
First-place recreational team Soggy Bottom Boys
Recreational winners
First place
Soggy Bottom Boys
Second place
Baggin’ and Braggin’
Third place
Average Joes
Second-place recreational team Baggin’ and Braggin’
Suwannee Valley Food Fight
Third-place recreational team Average Joes
SVEC is uniting with local partners to raise food donations for the Florida Gateway Food Bank, which serves families and pantries in Hamilton, Lafayette, Suwannee and Columbia counties.
From now until Aug. 29, SVEC members can join the cause by dropping off in-date canned or dry food items at our office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Donors will be entered into a drawing for a $25 bill credit.
You can also make donations to other Food Fight Partners. No glass items, please. All other in-date dry or canned food is accepted.
Second-place competitive team Mike and Dylan
Third-place competitive team Grumpy Old Men
Level up your classroom this school year
Operation Round Up® can help
Are you a teacher looking to upgrade your classroom for the 2025-26 school year? SVEC’s Operation Round Up® has the funding that can make a difference for your students.
Visit svec-coop.com/apply-for-a-grant to view eligibility guidelines, monthly deadlines or to apply for a grant quickly and easily.
Grants are available:
• To public schools.
• To accredited independent/private schools.
• For any materials that will directly benefit students in the classroom.