March 2022 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter
Florida Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers received top honors for donating 30.5 million pounds of fresh produce and other foods to assist hungry Floridians as part of American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) “Harvest for All” program in 2021.
Now in its 20th year, Harvest for All is spearheaded by members of Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) program to put food on the table for those in need.
“Farmers contribute to their communities in many ways,” said Kevin Lussier, president of Florida Farm Bureau’s YF&R Leadership Group. “I am pleased that our members have won an award for their food donation and volunteerism. I am even more proud of them for their commitment to helping other Floridians facing food insecurity to put food on their tables.”
In addition to donating the most pounds of food, Florida YF&R members tallied the most volunteer hours, 4,510. Service hours included members participating in food drives, meal-packing projects and donations to food banks and a Produce Box Program, which donates produce left in the fields after harvest to community members in need.
A “Farming for Hope” event, in partnership with Meals for Hope, also earned the Florida members a $250 grant from Nationwide for “most innovative” program for its collaboration with county Farm Bureaus, YF&R programs and community volunteers.
Harvest for All is one of the most important community service efforts undertaken by Farm Bureau members. Although the U.S. economy is stronger overall compared to several years ago, many Americans still need help securing adequate food for their families.
The awards were presented during AFBF’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference in Louisville, Ky., Feb. 25-28, 2022.
Since Harvest for All was launched, Farm Bureau families have gathered more than 412 million pounds of food, logged more than 224,000 volunteer hours and raised $10 million in donations.
Florida Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general agricultural organization, represents more than 135,000 member-families. We serve to enhance farm enterprise and improve rural communities.
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Young farmers and ranchers from District 3 gathered at Promised Land Ministries Farm in Lake Butler on Feb. 12 to network and fellowship. Attendees heard from state Farm Bureau leaders about the importance and value of the Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Program (YF&R). They also spent time discussing how to strengthen existing YF&R programs in the surrounding area.
March 2022 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter
Florida Farm Bureau has implemented a new nomination process for the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) program. For more than two decades, Farm Bureau’s CARES program has recognized farmers and ranchers who demonstrate exemplary environmental stewardship to protect Florida’s natural resources. 
“I’m a first-generation rancher, and my passion for this industry has always been rooted in my heart. When you’re proud of what you do, you’ll be better equipped to overcome any obstacles that come your way.” 
“Farming and ranching is more than a job. It truly is a lifestyle and something that you have to be passionate about. It honestly does take resiliency to push through some of the hard times, but at the end of the day, I don’t know of many careers that are any more rewarding.” 
“Farm Bureau runs based on faith, family, and farm. These are our roots. When we stand strong in what we believe and who we believe in, we will always come out on top. Rooted in Resilience then blooms in success.” 
“There are only a certain amount of people who love to farm and we happen to be one of the few. I think that is what keeps us going and how we’re rooted in resilience. There’s not many people out there who can nor want to do what it takes to farm.” 
“We have to be resilient because there are a lot of obstacles, trials and tribulations that come our way. Being rooted in resilience gives us the strength to continue to put our efforts to being successful in our farming and ranching operations.” 
“I still believe in the industry. I see the opportunity and know the value of the land. That’s the resilience.” 
“Everyone in our industry is resilient in overcoming hardships because we know farming and ranching is a necessity to provide. Farmers and ranchers are resilient by nature because their passion is greater than the struggles they may be facing at the time.” 
“Resilience? I’ve done pretty good at that. It means hanging in there, that’s what it means to me. Both at watermelons and blueberries, I’ve been pretty resilient and successful at both. We never made much money on any one crop in any one year, but there were two or three years we would make a little extra and that would help us accumulate money to get started in blueberries.” 
“You have to be tough enough and love ranching enough to overcome all adversity. Remain rooted in appreciation for when times are good and plentiful. Most importantly, love what you do and love your family.”
“Farmers and ranchers have proven to be resilient throughout the course of time. There is an enormous amount of pressure on our state’s resources as we continue to see thousands of people move to Florida every day. The only way to deal with the unprecedented growth in our state is to recognize the benefits of our Ag land and put a value on them. The population boom is concerning, but I think we can put a positive spin on it and looks at it as an opportunity in agriculture to create value that has not historically existed. As the original stewards of the land, what is more compelling than that?” 
“This year’s theme “Rooted in Resilience” aptly describes Farm Bureau Women. We are resilient in our personal lives as mothers, daughters and sisters as well as in our business and professional lives. Agriculture is lucky to have so many women championing for it.”
“From start to finish, the process is a challenge, but it’s so rewarding to see it all come together and know that this work is helping feed people across the country.” 
“Farmers give their lives to the land and my faith in God is what has sustained me through adversity over the years. As farmers we have to be adaptable and flexible in this ever-changing and unpredictable lifestyle. Faith is how we do it.” 
“You can’t always take without giving back and expect the land to stay healthy and fertile, so for us, it’s very important that we produce our crops in the most sustainable ways possible. We are constantly evolving our efforts to protect natural resources and honor my family’s legacy of farming in Florida.” 
“Agriculture and passion go together as far as I’m concerned because you have to think strongly about what makes your living. And agriculture is our living.” 
“We all learn from each other and come harvest time, three of us neighbors pool labor and equipment. We can pretty well time it to know whose peanut crop to pick and we get it out in a hurry.” 
“There were tribulations, highs and lows, and good and bad times, but by the mid-1990s, we’d established a thriving sugarcane operation. Through the year’s we’ve come to appreciate the importance of diversification because it’s just so unpredictable.” 
Florida citrus growers continue to feel the effects of citrus greening as the production of processed oranges will decline again this year. Forecasts from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) predict that Florida will have lost 80% of its production potential due primarily to this single disease. Despite the fact that COVID-19 has encouraged increased orange juice consumption for health benefits, creating an increased demand for fresh orange juice daily, the lack of fruit supply is undeniable.
Jacob Wangle represents counties in District 1 on the Florida Farm Bureau’ Young Farmers and Ranchers State Leadership Committee. Counties in his district include Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Jackson, Washington, Bay, Calhoun and Gulf. He and his wife, Emma, live in Jackson County but have farm operations in both Jackson and Holmes counties. Wangle also serves as a member of the Holmes County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. He grows peanuts and cotton and raises beef cattle along with his grandfather.