Santa Fe River basin farmers, ranchers to be honored for their environmental stewardship

Santa Fe River basin farmers, ranchers to be honored for their environmental stewardship

Through its CARES program, Florida Farm Bureau will recognize seventeen Santa Fe River Basin farmers and ranchers on Oct. 30 for their outstanding management of natural resources. Each agriculturist will be introduced individually during an awards dinner set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at DeChamplain’s Heaven’s Gate Farm near Trenton.

CARES – the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship – was initiated in 2001 by Florida Farm Bureau and the Suwannee River Partnership to highlight efforts by farm proprietors to improve natural resource management in the Suwannee River Basin. Since then, the program has been expanded to include the Santa Fe River Basin, the Northern Everglades Agricultural Area and the Indian River Area Citrus Region. Membership in the partnership now includes more than 60 local, regional, state and federal agencies, as well as private organizations.

Farm owners who have met verifiable standards of excellence in resource management receive a CARES designation and earn the privilege of posting a sign on their properties identifying them as award winners for their accomplishments.

The Heaven’s Gate Farm is located at 3239 S.W. County Road 334. From Trenton visitors may drive on State Road 26 west to County Road 307. Turn north on 307 and head to County Road 334. Turn left on 334. The farm is located near S.W. 32nd Court. For more information, call: (352) 374-1544.
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Editors: A list of the CARES award recipients appears below:

County First Name Last Name Farm Name
Gilchrist/Levy Jerry Wright Wright Ranch
Gilchrist Michael Wilkerson Wilkerson Farm
Levy Thomas Brookins LOTOMA Ranch
Alachua/Gilchrist Trevor Bass Bass Farms
Gilchrist Jeff Beach Jeff Beach Farm
Levy Jerry Mills Mills Family Farm
Columbia Lamar Moseley Moseley Farm
Bradford Wayne Oden Oden Farm
Gilchrist Randall Roberts Randall, Gale, and Randy Roberts Farm
Levy Andy Robinson 35 Farms
Levy James Swilley Swilley Farm
Gilchrist/Levy Ron St. John Alliance Dairy
Gilchrist Don Bennick N. Fl. Holstein Dairy
Gilchrist/Alachua Scott Tucker STS Farms
Gilchrist David Sumrall DPS Dairies
Gilchrist David Mikell Mikell Farm
Columbia Mike Tice Tice Farms