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Municipal Nursery Saves Money, Ensures Quality, and Fosters Partnership With Southwest Middle Students by SHAYLYNN MARKS photos provided by KATRINA LYNN & CITY OF LAKELAND Lakeland’s streetscapes, parks and public spaces don’t begin with a purchase order. Instead, they come from the City of Lakeland’s municipal nursery, where the plants used throughout the city’s landscaping […]

Therapeutic Horticulture Program Helps Students Reduce Stress, Increase Academic Resilience by MEREDITH BAUER, UF/IFAS College can be full of stressors. Deadlines, pressure to ace exams, changing social groups and the looming fears of securing a job after graduation all lead students to feel exhausted, frazzled and anxious. What if part of the solution for taking

Fort Meade Students Learn, Serve, and Give Back by  REBEKAH PIERCE photos provided by ASHLEY WHEELER A hands-on project in raising chickens has taught Fort Meade FFA students about more than just basic agricultural principles. It’s shown them the power of community, the value of sustainable food, and the impact of giving back. Ashley Wheeler

Winter Haven Garden Club’s Dedication Blooms Outside Library by REBEKAH PIERCE If you’re a regular at Richard’s Coffees or have ever found yourself wandering toward the Winter Haven Public Library, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed the scenery. It’s hard to miss: the dramatic explosion of color right outside the entrance didn’t get there by

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida As one of the nation’s great agricultural powerhouses, it’s no surprise that Florida’s horticulture and floriculture industries are some of the most impressive in the nation.  As of 2024, there were 44,000 farms and ranches in the state of Florida, utilizing 9.7 million acres to

Now in Its 79th Year, Polk Youth Fair to Take Place Jan. 23-31 by SHAYLYNN MARKS photos by TOM HAGERTY (2025) The Polk County Youth Fair is one of the most anticipated events of the year for youth involved in agriculture across the county, bringing together students, families and volunteers for a week focused on

by  SHAYLYNN MARKS Ag Angels has been helping children in need for 19 years, and the Highlands County nonprofit’s growth and momentum show no signs of slowing.  The program operates through a simple system: schools identify students in need, shop for them directly, and return itemized receipts and thank-you letters.  Each year, Founder and Chairman

Polk County’s Abby Crawford and Samantha Nichols Are Part of the 2025-2027 Class by TIM CRAIG Two women from Polk County were among those selected to be a part of the prestigious 2025-2027 Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership group. Abby Crawford of Winter Haven and Samantha Nichols of Lakeland join 17 other

AI Research Experience Prepares Students for Tomorrow’s Agricultural Workforce by MEREDITH BAUER, UF/IFAS In the heart of Florida’s agri-tech renaissance, students at the University of Florida are not just studying the future of farming – they’re inventing it. With artificial intelligence becoming central to everything from crop management to heat resilience, UF’s Institute of Food

January Event Honors State’s History & Heritage Trade your smartphone for a saddle, your bed for a bedroll, and your daily office grind for a week of dust, sweat, and the rhythmic clatter of hooves. Welcome to the Great Florida Cattle Drive. To outsiders, Florida is often viewed as a state that’s best known for