The Polk Ag community is off and running as we begin 2023 with the long tradition of the Polk County Youth Fair. This year’s fair dates are January 21 – 27, and a schedule of daily events can be found at www.pcyf.net. We encourage you to visit the fair and support youth participants who have worked hard on their projects this year.
Please mark your calendar for Food Check-Out Week. Food Check-Out Week events highlight the abundance and nutritional quality of food available to U.S. consumers. The official dates for the 2023 events will be February 13 – 17, but members are encouraged to help share this message year-round. For more information, visit www.floridafarmbureau.org/fcoweek/.
Polk County Agri-Fest will take place March 1 – 3 and 6 – 10 at the Polk Extension office and we are seeking volunteers to help with another successful year as we host thousands of Polk fourth-grade students with interactive sessions on local agriculture commodity production. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, contact Carole McKenzie at carolem@pcfb.org.
Florida Farm Bureau has announced its March 8 Farm Bureau Day in Tallahassee. Each year, Farm Bureau members from across the state visit our capitol to meet with state lawmakers to discuss public policy issues that affect agriculture. For more information, visit www.floridafarmbureau.org/farm-bureau-days.
Our annual Central Florida Ag Deputy Luncheon will take place on March 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the WH Stuart Center in Bartow. This event offers members and community stakeholders the opportunity to network with agriculture law enforcement officers from Polk and surrounding counties to exchange information and help law enforcement officers better protect agribusiness properties and our community as a whole. To RSVP for the event, contact Carole McKenzie at carolem@pcfb.org.
Don’t forget to take advantage of your Farm Bureau membership benefits this year! One exciting new benefit is My Free Pharmacy. Florida Farm Bureau has partnered with My Free Pharmacy to offer members free prescriptions, discounted over-the-counter medications, pharmacy coaching, and more. For more information, visit www.floridafarmbureau.org/my-free-pharmacy.
Finally, Polk County Farm Bureau has an open Program Coordinator position. This essential role assists the executive director and board in serving our membership. The application process will close on January 27. Interested applicants should contact Carole McKenzie at carolem@pcfb.org.
Best wishes from Polk County Farm Bureau for a safe and prosperous new year.
Sincerely,
Leigh Ann Wynn
President
