Florida Outreach Update April - September 2004

Florida Outreach Update

Fall 2004

Outreach - It’s Everyone’s Job

 By Ann Bowens

During this fiscal year NRCS employees worked very hard to reach as many under served customers (groups) 

as possible. Recently I was asked about barriers to participation in programs. My response was that there are 

many Farm Bill programs available, but overall, there are less farms and ranches and a steady decrease among 

some minority groups. Minority groups and individuals have a difficult time competing directly against large 

scale producers because their small scale can lead to production inefficiencies. Conservation education has 

helped bridge the gap for many agricultural producers to adopt more efficient operational techniques and 

more profitable marketing strategies. With that being said, I would like to share with you some statistics on 

persons assisted during fiscal year 2004. Most of this assistance has come through Conservation Education. 
Florida Outreach Update 2 April - September 2004

In this Issue:

Camp Fire USA 2 

 

Sebring FO Outreach 3 

 

Broward SWCD-Earth Day 3 

 

Cedar Key Project 4 

 

Grant Writing Workshop 5 

 

Small Farmer Award 

Nominees 5 

 

Contact 5

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Blackwater Soil & Water Conservation 

District and Three Rivers RC&D 

Council, Inc. are working with Camp Fire USA 

Gulf Wind Council in Milton, Florida to assist them 

with the following needs:

1) Windows (6) $600.00

2) Driveway (handicap assessable) $2,600.00

3) Tables & Chairs (age appropriate) $1734.00

4) Flag Pole (1) $125.00

Total= $5,059.00

These purchases are a few items that will help assist 

the progression of the program to continue to move 

forward to succeed in providing adequate care for 

the children. 

Camp Fire USA Gulf Wind Council purchased a 

home located in a high risk area in North Milton that 

has been renovated to provide children, ages (5-12), 

and young adults, ages (13-17), a safe, supervised 

and enriching environment each day after school and 

during the summer vacation. 

It provides a safe haven for youth during 

the hours they would otherwise be 

unsupervised or exposed to perilous 

conditions. 

The program meets a variety of needs for 

working families, employees, the community, 

and inspires success among the youth. It 

provides a safe haven for youth during 

the hours they would otherwise be 

unsupervised or exposed to perilous 

conditions. 

Emphasis is placed upon young adults 

who reside in the high risk area in North 

Milton. This is an area with high incidences 

of juvenile crime. The program focuses on 

the 55 youth from 5-17 years of age who 

are “at risk” of becoming chronic offenders, 

substance abusers, and academically deficient, 

primarily due to the high crime area. Camp Fire 

USA will provide well-trained teachers and directors 

to carry out the awesome job of changing children and 

young adults day by day.
Florida Outreach Update April - September 2004 3

Outreach from the Sebring Field 

Office

Submitted by : Jackie Bailey, Sebring FO

Education is one of the goals in the Highlands Soil 

and Water Conservation District’s Five Year Plan. We 

are involved in many events throughout the year to 

accomplish this goal. This year we participated in 

the Civilian Conservation Corp. Festival, Highlands 

County Fair, Earth Day, Fred Wild Outdoor Classroom 

and Ag Venture. We are also available to teachers 

who would like us to visit their classroom to discuss 

environmental concerns with their students.

One event this year was the Fred Wild Elementary 

School Outdoor Classroom held on May 6th and 11th, 

2004. The entire student body of over 800 children 

participated. Our displays included shells, insects, 

tractors, the Enviroscape Watershed model - an 

interactive game from the Farm Service Agency, 

and an alligator on loan from 

the Fish and W i l d l i f e 

S e r v i c e . The children 

visited each station for 10 

minutes and then rotated 

to the next station. As the 

children left, they were given a NRCS bag filled with 

environmental brochures, novelties and coloring 

books, donated from several agencies.

to enhance the wetlands in the park and to educate 

the students and communities on the conservation 

of natural resources. Students from Sunland Park 

Elementary School, local Community leaders and 

citizens joined in the tree-planting project. In addition, 

over 160 native and fruit trees were given to the 

people from the communities to plant in their yards 

as part of the Replant Broward Project. This USDANRCS Earth Team Project, in 

coordination with the South 

Florida Ecosystem Restoration 

Council, Inc., and the Broward 

Soil and Water Conservation 

District is part of the Train the 

Trainer Program. This program

will train 1,000 (volunteer) 

community leaders, local elected 

officials, church members, 

and urban and agriculture 

citizens to participate in, and 

increase, community awareness 

in ecosystem restoration and 

the conservation of natural 

resources.

Broward Soil and Water 

Conservation District 

Earth Day Celebration

Submitted by: Thaddeus Hamilton

On April 28, 2004, the Broward Soil and Water 

Conservation District (BSWCD), South Florida 

Ecosystem Restoration Council 

(SFERC), USDA-Natural 

Resource Conservationist 

Service (USDA-NRCS), 

Sunland Park Elementary 

School, Broward County 

League of Cities, Broward 

County Park and Recreation, 

and Community and Civic 

Association sponsored the 2nd

Annual Delevoe Park Earth Day 

Celebration and Tree Planting 

Project.

Thirty (30) Bald Cypress Trees 

were planted along the lake 
Florida Outreach Update 4 April - September 2004

Seeking Ways to Assist in 

Renovations of the Cedar Key 

Fishing Pier and Boat Ramps 

A meeting was held on August 31st with representatives 

from Levy County to discuss their need for assistance 

in the renovations of several fishing piers and a boat 

ramp on Cedar Key. The meeting was coordinated 

by Ann Bowens at the request of one of the local 

commissioners. The County is in the process of 

writing for several grants for the proposed projects 

and was seeking assistance in the grant development 

process and other support for the renovations. One 

popular fishing pier had to be closed recently due to 

safety concerns and the adjacent boat ramp is in need 

of serious repair. The main town pier is in constant 

need of repair and will likely be closed if recent 

hurricane damage warrants a safety issue. These 

structures provide important recreational access to 

local residents and tourists. The boat ramp is vital to 

the commercial and recreational fishermen and is used 

by a variety of local, state, and federal agencies for 

everything from law enforcement to marine studies. 

The Suwannee River RC&D Council has written 

several letters of support for the project proposals and 

is seeking other funding streams that could be utilized 

to accomplish the goals. These projects are a high 

local priority. The Council and NRCS are seeking 

ways to assist in meeting these needs. 
Florida Outreach Update April - September 2004 5

For further information on Outreach, contact us at:

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services

Ann Bowens, Outreach Coordinator

P.O. Box 141510

Gainesville, FL 32614

Small Farmer 

Award 

Nominations 

from Florida

 By Ann Bowens

This year’s 

small farmer 

award competition drew interest 

from all across 

the state. We 

started out with 

7 farmers and 

after interviewing and visiting 

each farm, our 

top two were selected. 

Mr. & Mrs. 

McArthur Linton 

(left, with Chris 

Menhennett, DC) 

were nominated 

because of their 

dedication and 

commitment to conservation, conservation 

practices applied, and their continued efforts 

to conserve and keep the family farm.

The Thomas’ 

were nominated 

because of the 

diversity of their 

farm operation, 

and their commitment to farming. 

Eugene Thomas (left, shown 

with his wife and 

Crenel Francis, Resource Conservationist) is a 

full-time farmer, and has participated in USDA 

programs since 1979. Mr.. Thomas is a role 

model to other small farmers in the community 

and serves as president of the Big Bend Growers Association. He gives back to his community by employing and giving jobs to neighborhood children. 

My thanks to all employees that submitted 

names of small farmers.

Public Outreach, Education and 

Grant Writing Workshop

Submitted by Thaddeus Hamilton

On August 14, 2004, the Public Outreach, Education 

and Grant Writing Workshop were held at the African 

American Research Library and Cultural Center in Ft. 

Lauderdale, Fl. The workshop was co-sponsored by 

the Broward Soil and Water Conservation District, 

South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Council, South 

Florida Ecosystem Restoration Partnership, USDAForest Service and the USDA-Natural Resources 

Conservation Service. The workshop was designed 

to educate people on conservation of natural resources 

and the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration and 

USDA Forest Service grant writing process. 

There were approximately 94 people in attendance 

from Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach 

Counties. Very few of the attendees knew anything 

about the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration 

Project that has been going on for 10 years.