Tag Archives: Polk County

Cakes for a Cause

Cake auctions are a beloved tradition for County Farm Bureau events across Florida. Attendees donate desserts to be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting local charities or community programs. These auctions showcase the counties’ creativity and generosity, with the excitement of friendly competition often fetching bids well into the thousands. By using desserts as a tool for giving, Florida Farm Bureau members unite in their efforts to support local programs and celebrate agriculture. 


Funds raised at Hernando/Citrus County’s annual meeting supported
Citrus County 4-H and the Hernando/Citrus Farm Bureau Women’s programs.

 


Bill Elrod of Elrod Auctions proudly donates his services as a professional auctioneer to run the cake auctions in Clay, Bradford and Putnam/St. Johns counties. Clay County’s cake auction proceeds are used for student scholarships. 

 


The Hamilton County Women’s Committee cake auction raised $2,750 to be split between the Women’s Fund and a local charity that will be determined by the Women’s Committee in December.

 

 
Highlands County auctioned off 17 cakes, resulting in a $1,300 donation to Highlands County 4-H. 

 


In Hillsborough County, annual meeting attendees raised money for their Young Farmers and Ranchers program. 

 


Indian River County’s cake auction funds scholarships to help local high schoolers interested in agriculture fund their college
expenses. 

 


Jefferson County raised money for youth agricultural activities to
promote a better understanding of where food comes from among
local students.
 

 


Marion County raised more than $2,300 for a local food bank.  

 


Okeechobee County raised a total of $3,250 for Real Life Children’s Ranch, a ministry that offers residential group homes with a family atmosphere for neglected children. It is one of the few group homes in Florida designed to care for groups of siblings. 

 


The Polk County Women’s Committee cake auction proceeds will be donated to Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, a non-profit organization that provides educational resources to help Pre-K through 12th grade educators incorporate agricultural concepts into their core subject area classes  

 


South Sumter High School students helped facilitate Sumter County’s cake auction to raise funds for their FFA Chapter.

 


Suwannee County Farm Bureau’s lively cake auction raised money for Vivid Visions, Inc.– a local crisis center founded in 1995 by Suwannee area residents to support survivors of domestic violence. 

 


Taylor County collected nearly $800, donations that will support youth agricultural programs. 

Thgenerosity of Florida Farm Bureau member bidders and bakers creates a lasting impact across our communities. We look forward to carrying on this tradition for years to come.  

Polk County Farm Tour

Polk County Farm Bureau in cooperation with the Polk County Extension office hosted a farm tour featuring four This Farm CARES recipients.

Representatives from various local offices were able to enjoy the tour and speak with local farmers about their operation and issue that they face.

The tour included a listening session with Christian Spinosa about cattle ranching and Florida’s cattle enterprises. The tour stopped at Story Citrus where Kyle Story spoke about Best Management Practices that his farm uses and showed tour-goers a citrus field that is getting ready to replant after greening devastated the grove.

The break for lunch included a presentation from Florida Forestry on Firewise communities and a stop at Lightsey Cattle Company to see Operation Outdoor Freedom, a camp for wounded veterans to enjoy outdoor activities at no cost.

The tour concluded at the Polk County Extension office where guests learned about the master gardener program and toured the facility’s garden.

To view photos from the tour visit https://flic.kr/s/aHskFb2En8