Farmers' environmental efforts to be highlighted, along with 10th anniversary of CARES

Gainesville, Fla.) - Twenty-four Suwannee River Basin farmers and ranchers will be recognized for their superior natural resource efforts during the annual CARES dinner and awards ceremony at the UF/IFAS Suwannee Valley Research and Education Center near Live Oak on June 29. These agricultural producers have implemented verifiable state-of-the-art management strategies known as Best Management Practices (BMPs) on their properties in the basin.

A reception for the award recipients will be held at 5 p.m. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m.

CARES - the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship - was initiated by Florida Farm Bureau and the Suwannee River Partnership to highlight efforts made by farm owners who exemplify superior management of natural resources in the Suwannee River Basin. The partnership includes more than 60 local, regional, state and federal agencies, as well as private businesses and organizations. Farmers who achieve standards of excellence by adopting BMPs earn a CARES designation and the privilege of posting a sign on their properties identifying them as award winners for their good work.

The event will mark the tenth anniversary of the CARES program. Thus far, 328 farmers and ranchers in the Suwannee River Basin have earned the CARES designation for their outstanding stewardship. "All Floridians can be proud of what these farm owners have been able to accomplish," said John L. Hoblick, president of Florida Farm Bureau. "The CARES program has more than exceeded our expectations over the past decade."

"Each of these award recipients deserves our applause and our appreciation for their skilled efforts at managing our natural resources," Hoblick added. "Their achievements are examples of the work of this state's farmers and ranchers to produce safe, abundant food while being excellent caretakers of our land and water."

Several farm tours have been scheduled in conjunction with the awards dinner. Visitors may choose to examine agronomic crops, fruit and nut crops, field vegetables or alternative crops before the event. Plan to arrive by 4 p.m. to join one of the tours.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general-interest agricultural association with about 140,000 member-families statewide.

Name                                 County

Alto Straughn                    Alachua

John Eubanks                    Alachua

Alvin B. Butler                 Alachua

Charlie Crawford              Columbia

Chester Patterson              Columbia

Dewy Gay                         Columbia

Cynthia Ellis                     Gilchrist

Edwin Douglas                 Gilchrist

Damon Deas                     Hamilton

Sidney Koon                     Lafayette

Jimmy Witt                       Lafayette

Matt Buchanan                 Lafayette

Ron St. John                     Levy

Verdell Lewis                   Madison

Simon Kinsey                   Madison

Johnny Norris                   Madison

Robert Johnson                 Madison

Carlyle Ragan                   Madison

Richard Iott                       Madison

Greg Watts                       Madison

Larry Johns                      Madison

Mark Randell                   Suwannee

Nick Comerford               Suwannee

Eddie Oden                      Union