Continue reading »]]> 2013 April

Citrus Production Workshop – April 11

2013 May

Florida Beef Cattle Short Course - May 8-10 (Gainesville)

Pruning Workshop - May 11

NWFWMD Irrigation Well Regulation Workshop - May 16

2013 June

Perennial Peanut Field Day – June 1 (Quincy)

FDACS Animal ID Listening Session – June 4

4-H County Camp – June 17-21 (Camp Timpoochee)

2013 August

Florida Small Farms Conference – August 2-4 (Kissimmee)

NW FL Agricultural Innovator Banquet – August 9

Continue reading »]]> There are several ways to earn some quick, last-minute CEU’s. The obvious option is to find and attend a class offering the CEU’s needed. The next option, for those persons owning a computer with internet service, is to take advantage of CEU’s offered on the web.

The State Pesticide Office allows folks to search for classes and training, including correspondence and online classes. Visit their site at http://app1.flaes.org/ceu/.   Other sites offering CEU’s approved by Florida are www.growingproduce.com and http://pested.ifas.ufl.edu. Some of the web sites do require a fee, and some require taking a quiz.

Jackson County Extension Service has tutorial videos approved for CORE, Aquatic, Ag Row Crop, and Private Applicator, at no charge. Call the Extension Office, at 850.482.9620 to set up an appointment.

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2012 Jackson County Extension Team. Back Row from left: Doug Mayo, David Greene, Mandy Griffin, Rob Trawick, Annette Hagans, Patti Peacock, Ben Knowles. Front row from left: Sharon McRoy, Katrina Florence, Barbara Pledger.

In 2012, the Jackson County Extension Service provided valuable resources and educational training for Jackson County residents.  The 10 employees, along with the 196 volunteers affiliated with the Extension Service contributed to the success of the mission of providing educational training, individual consultations, and meeting room space for county residents.  The 196 volunteers donated 7, 083 hours of service to the 4-H, Master Gardener, Family and Consumer Science, or Agricultural Educational Programs.  Extension Educational Programs had a total participation of 10,855 people. The Extension Service received 11,277 telephone calls, had 2,837 office visitors, provided 341 field consultations, and received 147,217 web site visits to the Extension website:  http://jackson.ifas.ufl.edu.  The Agriculture Conference Center meeting facilities were used for 425 separate events with a total attendance of 16,177 people.  Of these events, 97 were private events generating $22,556 in rental income for the County.

There were a number of quality educational programs offered to County residents in 2012.  The 4-H Program was led by the 4-H Agent, Ben Knowles and Patti Peacock, 4-H Program Assistant.  There were 232 youth enrolled as 4-H members of community 4-H clubs, with 50 4-H members who spent a week at 4-H Camp Timpoochee near Niceville.  In addition seven day camps were offered with themes of food preparation, environmental science, sewing, healthy lifestyles, and citizenship.  The first County-wide 4-H Science Fair was held with 24 youth demonstrating completed science projects.  There were 834 students in 4^th through 6^th grades who participated in the Tropicana Public Speaking Program offered in each school.  450 first grade students took part in the Ag Adventure field trip to the Research Station located north of Marianna.

The Commercial Agriculture Education Program, led by Doug Mayo, County Extension Director, provided training to farmers and ranchers in Jackson and surrounding Counties.  Highlights of the program included the annual Beef Conference, Row Crop Short Course, Peanut Field Day, and Cattlemen’s Tour.  Attendance for these four events totaled 496 farmers and ranchers.  306 residents were on hand to honor 10 farm families at the annual Farm City Breakfast.  New this year, a Beekeeper School was offered to 28 people who were trained in basic beekeeping.  Participates formed the nucleus of the newly started Chipola Beekeepers Association to further grow this industry in the county.  Also unique this year, a Timber Marketing Seminar was provided for 33 foresters who own or manage 54,864 acres of timber.

The Horticulture Education Program, led by Rob Trawick, Horticulture Agent, and 31 Master Gardener Volunteers held a number of training workshops for home gardeners.  The workshops held in 2012 included:  Bulb Perennial Flowers, Native Plant Identification, Square Foot Gardening, Butterfly Gardening, Tree and Shrub Pruning, as well as Container Gardening and Birdhouse Construction for youth.

The Family Consumer Science (Home Economics) program, led by Mandy Griffin, FCS Agent, had multiple educational programs for county residents.  Highlights include a Food Preservation and Canning Workshop, Reducing Salt with Herbs Cooking demonstrations, a Family Debt Reduction Workshop, a Family Disaster Preparedness Seminar, and a Sewing Camp for youth.  There were also two home Buyer Short Courses offered to help first-time homebuyers qualify for government-assisted loans.