4-H'ers Learn About Farming in St. Johns County

4-H youth joined the University of Florida/St. Johns County Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and learned all about local agriculture last month.

The Farm to Table camp was described as both a success and wonderful learning opportunity regarding the entire food production from St. Johns County farms to the community supermarket. With growing popularity of residents wanting to learn more about local agriculture, the youth experienced hands-on farm living by being a farmer for a day. Johns Sykes, Sykes and Cooper Farm, gave a tour of the farm including machinery used, the storage facility and actual harvest production.

The youth also got the opportunity to shuck their own wide acre peas.

While in Hastings, agriculture agent Steve Lands, gave a tour of the UF/IFAS Partnership for Water, Agriculture and Community Sustainability facility. Youth learned about edible landscaping, alternative agriculture and agricultural sustainability. Lands provided the youth with seeds to start a fall garden. Next was a tour of Terkeurst Goat Farm, with tour guide Sharon Terkeurst. Youth learned about the production of goat milk and cheese, and they also got to try fresh goat milk.

Publix Supermarket at Murabella hosted a tour of the store. Youth toured the supermarket and went behind the scenes of the produce, meat and administration department.

A container garden and a host of creative crafts and projects were also part of the camp. Youth commented about the memorable and fun experience of learning about local agriculture and the process of farm to table.

Those interested in learning more about the 4-H program or becoming a 4-H volunteer are invited to contact the 4-H Office at the St. Johns County Agricultural Center (3125 Agricultural Center Drive, St. Augustine, 32092) at 209-0430.

To find out more about the St. Johns County 4-H Program or to enroll, go to:http://stjohns.ifas.ufl.edu.

There is no charge to enroll into the 4-H program.

Enrollment will begin in late August/early September for the 2012-13 4-H year.

via the St. Augustine Record.