Tag Archives: Young Farmers and Ranchers

Farm Raised | Farm Proud: Kyle Patterson, District 7

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Kyle Patterson represents counties in district 7 on the State Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Committee. Counties in his district include Orange, Brevard, Osceola, Indian River, Okeechobee, St. Lucie and Martin.

Patterson grew up in Christmas, a small town in Orange County. He became involved in agriculture at a young age by joining his local 4-H club. “I grew up in 4-H and FFA showing steers and heifers,” he said.

“I also worked at my grandfather’s horse stable.” Patterson started raising cattle when he was ten years old, showing at the local fair. “I started my herd when I was working cows with my grandfather and I took in an orphan calf and bottle-fed her,” he said.

The summer of his 15th year Patterson worked for a local rancher and instead of paying him in monetary value, he gifted him a heifer calf, which he still has today. “She has had 15 calves and is still going strong,” Patterson mentioned.

Patterson developed a passion for raising and showing cattle and he started his own Simmental herd. Today, Patterson resides in Fort Pierce, FL. with his wife, Alisha, and their two children, Kole and Kinsley. Patterson currently serves on the board of directors for the St. Lucie County Farm Bureau.

“My wife and I have a registered Simmental herd and a commercial herd. We raise show cattle for the youth to show at their local fairs as well as prospect shows. I also help local ranchers manage their cattle herds,” he said.

Kyle and Alisha enjoy being members actively involved in Farm Bureau at the state and local level especially because it provides a platform for them to share their passion for agriculture. “I like being involved in Farm Bureau because they share the same Christian beliefs as I do,” he mentioned.

Every year during the local fair, a special “buyers dinner” takes place. Kyle explained that, “it is a way for me to educate buyers as well as show appreciation to them for supporting the youth.”

The Pattersons would like to instill in their children the same passion for agriculture that they share so that they always know where their food comes from and the hard work comes from the people who provide it.

Adam Cook, FARM RAISED | FARM PROUD

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Adam Cook, YF&R Leadership Class President 2018-2020

Adam Cook is a fifth-generation farmer from Gilchrist County and is the new president of Florida Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Class of 2018-2020.

He and his wife, Ashley, operate Cook Farms which provides custom harvesting, fertilizer application services and produces corn, hay, Bahia grass seed, small grains and cattle on 1,400 acres in Gilchrist, Alachua and Levy counties.

The Cooks received FFB’s 2018 Achievement in Agriculture Award at the state Annual Meeting in October and will travel to New Orleans in January to represent Florida at AFBF’s National Young Farmers and Ranchers Competition.

The Gilchrist County native began farming when he was just 16 years old. “All I’ve ever wanted to do is farm,” he said. “My parents provided me a base to start with and I would not be where I am today without them.”

Adam and Ashley along with their daughter, Blakely, live on the farm which has been in Adam’s mother’s family for more than 100 years. Since receiving a County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) award in 2014, the Cooks have nearly tripled their operation in size and diversity.

The couple has entered into the outdoor recreational industry by developing two unique enterprises: guided turkey hunts and deer corn sales. Adam explained that hardwood bottoms and merchantable timbers create an oasis for Osceola turkey on their properties.

The Cooks book around 10 hunts per year bringing in a considerable revenue for the farm. “Although the farm has grown in size, custom harvesting remains our most viable enterprise,” Adam said.

Cook Farms typically harvests 2,500 acres of Bahia grass seed annually and has established a customer base that extends throughout a 75-mile radius.