Page 34 - CFANnov13

HERE’S A GLIMPSE OF

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN
YOUR AG COMMUNITY. NOVEMBER-DECEMBER
To view more events like the ones
you see here, visit our website at

www.FloridaAgNews.com
and click on our AgriCalendar.

November 23
November 27
November 28

FFA Firetower Run A Muck 5K
Haines City Farmers’ Market

Come out and have fun in the muck for a good Stop by Railroad Park in down- Happy
cause at the FFA Leadership Training Center, 5000 town Haines City and check
Firetower Road in Haines City. The proceeds from out all the great local produce
Thanksgiving!
the event will support FFA students around the and gifts available, held every
state. For more information on how to register, call Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2
(863) 439-7332 or visit www.flffa.org.
p.m. For more information, call

(863) 421-3700.

December 5-6
December 6
December 13 & 14

Florida Cattlemen’s Association / The 31st Annual Jam Awards Banquet
The 2013 Polk County Farm

Florida Cattlewomen, Inc. Winter and Scholarship Presentation
Bureau Young Farmer &

Presented by the Florida Strawberry Grow-
Quarterly Meeting
Rancher Holiday Hayride
ers Association the event is being held on Visit 1715 Hwy 17 South in Bar-
Friday, December 6 at The Regent located
It is almost time for the Year End Quarterly Meeting, which will be hosted at 6437 Watson Rd., Riverview, FL 33578. tow for Hayrides from 6-9 p.m.
by Okeechobee County Cattlemen and Cattlewomen. The meeting will and photos with Santa from 6-8
be held at the Hampton Inn, 1200 Highway 70 East, Okeechobee, FL For more information call Sue at (813) p.m. To pre-purchase tickets or
752-6822.
34972.
to make reservations for groups
of 10 or more, contact Sharon
Wheeler at (863) 533-0561, Ext.
December 12
December 21
112 or at sharonw@pcfb.org.
Winter Haven Farmers’ Market
Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market

Want to try some of the cooking The Lakeland farmers market is open every Saturday (except August),
ideas from page 42? Then head from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the street at the intersection of E. Pine Street
down to the farmers’ market for and N. Kentucky Avenue. Enjoy produce from farmers plus resale pro-

some local, fresh produce. Held duce, artisans and street food, music and more. For more information,
weekly on Thursdays, from 8-5 contact Becky Abel, LDDA Coordinator at (863) 687-8910 or visit www.
p.m. For more information, downtownfarmerscurbmarket.org.

contact Audrey McIntosh at (863)
291-5870.

THE FIGHT TO PROTECT FLORIDA’S SPRINGS: IS NEW

LEGISLATION NEEDED TO SAVE FLORIDA’S WATER RESOURCES?
BIO: A Winter Haven native,
Doug received his B.S. degree THE CURRENT legislative session over the years. As Florida’s population or to create a spring protection task
in 1975 from Duke Univer-
in Florida will be heating up before we has grown, so too has its demand for force. Senator Simmons’ proposal
sity and his law degree in 1979
from Stetson University. Doug know it as lawmakers are taking action water, resulting in changes in land use would require that water flow be
currently practices in Peterson to protect the state’s freshwater springs. and consumption patterns. Studies point restored to certain springs and

& Myers, P.A.’s Winter Haven Robert L. Knight of the Howard T. Odum to a reduction in groundwater supply and would establish protection zones,
office.
Florida Springs Institute described the an increase in groundwater pollutants as with limits on water use and

situation as “[P]ast the point of crisis . a major factor in the springs’ declining water quality standards. by DOUGLAS LOCKWOOD, III
. . ” Legislative proposals to reverse the health. Florida is home to some 700 Some of the proposals are

degradation of Florida’s springs include a freshwater springs, one of the largest controversial.
bill by Senator David Simmons to provide concentrations in the world. These springs It remains to be seen
among many to create a statewide policy to

special designation to some of the state’s play an important role in discharging whether the legislation, if adopted, would protect one of Florida’s valuable resources.

springs and to create spring protection water to rivers and streams, and provide a provide sufficient protection to halt the As with many other public policy issues
zones around them.
critical habitat for plants and animals.
deterioration of Florida’s springs as well which need to be addressed sooner rather

The proposal touches on a topic of While little regulation has been as protect the interest of the agricultural than later, we will witness the tug of war
growing concern in Florida, as the state has adopted, previous proposals have sought community. However, the uptick in of competing interests on the floor of the

witnessed the deterioration of its springs
to either implement protection guidelines
proposals indicates the growing concern
legislature this coming session.

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