Tag Archives: Jackson County

Tied to Ag: Matthew and Blaire Fisher

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Matt and Blaire Fisher grew up in Florida’s Panhandle. Blaire grew up in Jackson County and Matt in Washington County, and the couple currently reside in Matt’s hometown of Chipley. Together, they have two sons; Brett and Brody.  

The Fishers raise and sell grass fed, grain fed and Waygu beef cattle as well as grow and bale Bahia and perennial peanut hay. They attend community farmers’ markets on the weekends to sell their locally grown beef. Matt works full-time on the family farm managing the cow/calf operation and overseeing the growth and baling of hay. Blaire works for Johnson Roofing Solutions, where she is responsible for scheduling all final inspections and assisting with permit pulling.  

The couple is eager to expand their involvement in Farm Bureau and learn more about agriculture across the state.  Matt’s dad is the Washington County president, and the couple is eager to represent their local county at the state level and continue their involvement locally. 

“Farm Bureau gives us the opportunity to meet new people and learn about new operations,” said Blaire. “We also learn how beneficial and important Farm Bureau is to members and how they help in each challenge that comes in between different operations.”  

Matt and Blaire’s community involvement through their local farmers’ market has given them the opportunity to educate customers about where their food comes from. Helping  more people learn about the importance of agriculture and its impact on the local economy is something that both Matt and Blaire are very passionate about.  

“We are tied to ag by going to local Farmer’s Markets every weekend and sharing our production of beef with the community,” said Blaire. “We have the inventory to give people the opportunity to buy Farm to Table beef and know where it is coming from. We explain how our operation works and we plan to be even more successful in 2024 with our beef production.” 

Growing Forward: Stormie Bigham, Jackson County

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May 2023 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

Stormie Bigham
Women’s Leadership Committee, District 1

Although she did not grow up on a farm, Stormie Bigham has been welcomed with open arms in the agricultural community. After marrying a rancher, Bigham worked as the bookkeeper for the family farm.  In 2006, they sold the farm in Sumter County, and over the span of three years, moved their beef cattle operation to Jackson County. After the move, Bigham worked as the bookkeeper for the Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association. In addition to cattle, the farm grew hay and seed.

Although Bigham and her family had been Farm Bureau members for years, they did not become as actively involved until their move to Jackson County. Bigham was approached by her Farm Bureau district field representative about joining the Women’s Leadership Committee and started her new role in January 2020. Due to COVID-19, Bigham was unable to meet her fellow committee members in person until December 2020. The committee met quarterly over virtual Zoom meetings and by the time they were able to meet face-to-face Bigham felt like she already knew everyone and felt connected with her fellow committee members. She relishes the opportunities Farm Bureau has provided her to grow her knowledge of agriculture and hone her leadership skills.

“I love the fellowship we have in Farm Bureau and the opportunity to work with other women and educate them about the importance of agriculture,” said Bigham.

One of Bigham’s favorite events that her county Farm Bureau participates in is the two-day Panhandle Watermelon Festival. Hosted in late June, the festival offers free entertainment for families, including a concert. Bigham’s county Farm Bureau has a booth every year to recruit new members and educate attendees about the benefits of being a Farn Bureau member.

“We set out FAMA products and a photo booth with a tractor and flowers,” said Bigham. “We had over 10,000 people attend last year, and a lot of traffic come through our booth.”

Bigham is continuously educating those around her about the many benefits of Farm Bureau and the importance of agriculture in their community through various outreach opportunities and events.

“I am growing forward by not only expanding my knowledge of agriculture in our state but educating others and helping them grow forward in their knowledge and understanding as well.”

 

Jack Payne, AG TALK

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Aly Schortinghouse

[email protected]
@JackPayneIFAS

Ethan Carter had the two huge pines lifted off his home, put what he could salvage into storage, and moved in with relatives. Then, he started visiting farms.

The UF/IFAS Extension regional row crop agent based in Jackson County could not be accused of a lack of empathy. While his home took on further damage as rain poured in, he was documenting damage to fields, barns, equipment and homes to help farmers apply for relief.

Some asked him if what was left of their fields was worth harvesting. They asked if he had a guess as to what their post-Michael yield might be.

I’ll put our plant breeding up against anyone’s, but IFAS hasn’t developed cotton that stays on the bush in 150-mph winds. Until we do, we’ll have to do more hurricane response than prevention.

The strength of that response is in the statewide network of UF/IFAS Extension. When one area takes a hit, aid rushes in from neighboring counties.

A van full of agents from Escambia County rolled east toward the devastation. County Extension Director Nick Simmons and his team delivered hay. While they were there, they responded to call from a panicked producer whose cattle were escaping through his torn-up fence. They helped an agent cut her way through a barricade of fallen trees so she could join the relief efforts. Then they all crashed on air mattresses in a fellow agent’s living room so they could wake up on site and get at it again.

The hurricane revealed not only the scope of the Extension network but its versatility. Every agent was an ag agent doing damage assessment. Everyone was a livestock agent fixing fences.

Escambia 4-H agent Aly Schortinghouse became a chainsaw-wielding sawyer. Bay County agents Scott Jackson, Marjorie Moore and Paula Davis became 4-Hers of sorts. When they finished their days handing out supplies, they settled into bunks at 4-H Camp Timpoochee because they had no habitable homes to return to.

Meanwhile, Walton County Extension agent Laura Tiu reported to the Bay County office. People are used to going to Extension offices for help. A hurricane doesn’t change that. Tiu filled in while the Bay County staff went out to those who couldn’t come to them.

Escambia agent Libbie Johnson ran a laundry service for agents without power or water. She also pinch-hit for the agent who was supposed to run the UF/IFAS operation at the Sunbelt Ag Expo before Michael turned his life upside down.

Okaloosa agent Jennifer Bearden delivered a generator. She visited farms to do damage assessments. Jim Fletcher, a regional specialized water agent from Central Florida, came up to the Panhandle to fly a drone over farms to document the destruction with images. Doug Mayo turned the Jackson County Ag Center into a pet food and livestock feed center as well as a command post for directing volunteer fence repair crews to the ranches that needed them most.

As of this writing, we don’t know how long it will be until everyone gets utilities back and can sleep under their own repaired roofs. What we do know is that UF/IFAS Extension agents will keep doing what they always do – serving people who make their living off the land.

Jack Payne is the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.