TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 27, 2025) – With 4-H Camp Timpoochee being one of the first 4-H residential camps in the country, Florida has been serving youth there for nearly 100 years. With almost a century of service comes just as many years of wear and tear, leaving Florida 4-H with significant facility update needs.
This week during 4-H Day at the Capitol, close to 1,000 youth gathered to lobby their state lawmakers to help revitalize three state camps into agriculture and workforce laboratories to help build the workforce pipeline. With a $13.4 million campaign underway, they will start with Camp Cherry Lake due to its central location to the youth they serve.
Senator Keith Truenow, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, listened intently as three 4-H youth ambassadors shared more about a 4-H Camp Cherry Lake $5.6 million university funding request that has ranked second on the Board of Governor’s statewide list.
“I had no idea the organization would shape me into the leader, advocate and changemaker I am today,” said Summer Wayne, a sophomore from St. Lucie County. “I was incredibly shy, but when I became involved in 4-H and was eventually voted as a state officer, I became outgoing, confident and beyond ready to take on the workforce, contribute to my society and make a lasting impression,” she shared with the seven senators present, including Truenow.
Wayne also highlighted three goals the youth and adult education leaders champion with the facility repairs:
1. Expand 4-H programming to 300,000 Florida youth.
2. Continue to empower a Beyond Ready generation for work and life; youth who are productive, healthy and engaged.
3. Invest in three 4-H camps so they are year-round learning laboratories for agriculture and environmental education. (Camps Timpoochee, Cherry Lake and Cloverleaf)
According to the committee, there is a daunting task in the state to save agriculture. The young adults and Florida Cooperative Extension leaders believe camp repairs will provide a space to learn about agriculture and other youth-centered programs that can sustain food, fuel and fiber throughout the state.
“I can see the 4-H mission is alive and well. I encourage the 4-H youth to tell the senators you see today what you have done in 4-H and the lessons you have learned,” Truenow said.
“Our 4-H youth showed real leadership in traveling from across the state to testify before legislators about how important it is to invest in residential education for young people,” said Scott Angle, leader of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “4-H’s research-based science and agriculture programs are critical to prepare Florida’s future workforce. The technical and leadership skills youth develop in 4-H programs equip them to be the talented workers and engaged citizens we need.”
— provided by 4-H