Florida NRCS Outreach Update 1

Clam Farming in Cedar Key

By Ann Bowens, Outreach Coordinator

The roadway signs entering the island community of 

Cedar Key read “We are USA’s Number 1 Producers of Farm 

Raised Clams.” Clam farming is a relatively new seafood 

industry in the Cedar Key area. A transition to shellfish 

aquaculture as an alternative employment opportunity for 

the fishing industry was facilitated through federally funded 

job retraining programs conducted during the 1990s. Under 

these programs, unemployed oyster harvesters, as well as net 

fishermen put out of work by the 1995 net limitation, were 

retrained in the occupation of culturing hard clams. Further, 

through these programs, shellfish aquaculture leases were 

identified, surveyed and marked, allowing for placement of 

program graduates on farm sites.

The first ever aquaculture census was conducted by the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture during 1998, in which 

Florida ranked first in volume in the national survey. Florida 

Agricultural Statistic Service has identified Cedar Key as the 

dominant production area in the state from 1997 through 

2001.

Recently I was contacted by a member of the Cedar Key 

Aquaculture Association who wanted to know if the NRCS 

had a program or grant that would provide assistance. 

The clam farmers were interested in purchasing a parcel 

of land near the boat ramp where they go out to harvest 

their clams. This property would be used primarily by the 

clam farmers to park their trucks and boat trailers. There 

are over 150 farmers in the association working hard to 

ensure the general well-being of the industry. After meeting 

with members of the association, I contacted USDA Rural 

Development and arranged a meeting with Joseph Mueller, 

Rural Business Cooperative Program Director, to discuss 

the project. Brunilda Robles of Rural Development agreed 

to accompany me to Cedar Key to hear the clam farmers 

concerns. My role as coordinator really paid off this time. 

The Cedar Key Aquaculture Association is well on their way 

to receiving a Rural Opportunity Business Grant that will 

provide them the much needed parking to continue their 

farm operations.

FY 2005 #1 October - March

FROG To The Rescue!

A new outreach group is in Florida and 

they are working to increase participation 

of minority and small-scale landowners 

and land users in various public outreach 

efforts. The Florida Rural Opportunity 

Group’s (FROG) purpose is to identify 

opportunities for improving outreach 

efforts for North Florida small farmers, 

beginning farmers, limited resource farmers, 

and rural communities by providing 

timely and relevant information that will 

assist landowners and users to become 

and remain financially stable, as well as 

preserving our natural resources.

Comprised of:

Federal agencies

State agencies

Agricultural groups

State agricultural education 

institutions

Non-governmental agricultural 

organizations

 Committee Members:

Florida A&M University

Florida RC&D Councils

Fort Valley State University

Gulf County United 

Community Development 

Corp.

North Florida Education 

Development Corp.

Perdido Bay Tribe

USDA Farm Service Agency

USDA Natural Resources 

Conservation Service

USDA Risk Management 

Agency

USDA Rural Development 

Contact Ann Bowens, NRCS Outreach 

Coordinator for more information. 

352-338-9516.

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Florida NRCS Outreach Update FY 2005 #1 October - March 2

NOPBNRCSE National Small Farmer 

Award 2004 Florida Nominee Wins 

Second Place

By Ann Bowens, Outreach Coordinator

The National Organization of Professional Black NRCS 

Employees’ (NOPBNRCSE) annual conference in December 

included the Small Farmer Awards. This years conference 

highlighted 3 small farmers, including second place winner 

Mr. Eugene Thomas from Florida 

Mr. Thomas has that “can do it” spirit and is an inspiration 

and role model for other small farmers in the community. He 

has been in the farming business all of his life, however, it was 

not until 1978 that Eugene decided to make farming a full 

time career. In 1979, he contacted the then Soil Conservation 

Service (SCS) and began participating in USDA programs. 

Conservation practices include terraces, waterways, pasture 

and grazing operation, and hay production. This was done 

through ACP cost share assistance. In the EQIP program, 

Eugene is receiving cost share to improve his pasture/grazing 

operation and hay production. He is also signed up in EQIP 

to receive cost share assistance for Residue Management and 

cover crops on all fields. 

Eugene is concerned about preserving the land and is very 

careful to apply practices that will prevent any chemical 

runoff from leaving his farm. The Thomas Family (which 

consists of 5 children, 3 girls and 2 boys) receive 100% of 

their income from the family farm. This is a very diversified 

farming operation as outlined above. Currently, none of the 

farm enterprises are irrigated. Eugene uses his own unique 

salesmanship skills to promote and market his produce. 

Because of the quality of his produce and his dependability 

as a source of supply, Eugene has been very successful in 

establishing reliable markets. The only limiting factor to 

expanding the vegetable market is labor. His children have 

provided much of the labor and he employs many of the 

youth in the community during harvest time.

Eugene is well respected in his community and serves as 

president of the Big Bend Growers Association. A better 

quality of life is the reason the Thomas Family made farming 

their way of life. They certainly have had other opportunities, 

but both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas say they love the smell of 

the earth and love watching things grow. Eugene says that 

farming is also a way for him to give back to his community 

by employing and giving jobs to neighborhood kids.

Eugene Thomas, right, at awards ceremony.

Left to right: William Hunt, NOPBNRCSE President, Eugene 

Thomas with award, Niles Glasgow, State Conservationist, Florida

Left to right: William Hunt, Eugene Thomas, Queen Thomas, Ann 

Bowens, Niles Glasgow
Florida NRCS Outreach Update FY 2005 #1 October - March 3

Florida Three Rivers RC&D Council, Inc. in Milton, 

Fl., has donated $10,000 a year as an ongoing effort to 

help others learn about Native Heritage. In the picture 

(above, left) Chief Bobby Johns Bearheart, of the Perdido Bay 

Indian Tribe, 

demonstrates the making of Native American Handmade Love 

Flutes. These flutes are individually crafted and personalized out of 

a special Red Heart Eastern Cedar. This wood has a special spiritual 

significance to Native Americans as do the flutes themselves. Native 

American men will create a love song for a special woman and the 

woman can accept or reject the song. 

The flutes are items of interest on the Tribe’s Outreach Vehicle, 

donated to the Perdido Bay Tribe by NRCS. This motor vehicle 

will be taken to schools in the NW Florida area to teach students 

about native culture and will serve as a Native 

Museum. Chief Bearheart also uses the beautiful 

handcrafted items to train Native individuals 

with disabilities so they will have a trade. These 

individuals can start a cottage industry and make 

a living using the training they receive. 

Three Rivers RC&D Council Helps 

with Tribe Outreach

Niles Glasgow, NRCS State Conservationist, Chief Bobby Johns Bearheart, 

Vice-Chief John Hartley, and John Harper, Coordinator of Florida 

Three Rivers RC&D, in front of the traveling Native Museum.

Museum Displays

Chief Bearheart and Vice Chief John Hartley with 

handmade flutes.
Florida NRCS Outreach Update 4

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, 

religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with 

disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s 

TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, 

SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

FY 2005 #1 October - March

For further information on Outreach, contact:

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services

Ann Bowens, Outreach Coordinator

P.O. Box 141510

Gainesville, FL 32614

352-338-9516

Highlands SWCD Works With After 

School Facility

By Jackie Bailey

On October 

6, 2004, Eric 

H a r p e r a n d 

Jackie Bailey 

from Highlands 

Soil and Water 

Conservation 

District visited 

the Star Center, 

an after school 

facility in Lake 

Placid. The director of the center is Theresa Williams. The 

duo presented an environmental program to the group of 

children known as the “Boys and Girls of Truth”. A short 

video about ways to prevent pollution was shown, followed 

by a demonstration on erosion and a short segment about 

good plants and bad plants that can be found in Highlands 

County. The children were all given goody bags filled 

with brochures, coloring books and novelties from several 

governmental agencies. 

Civilian Conservation Corp. Festival

By Jackie Bailey

The Sebring FO participated in the CCC Festival on 

November 6, 2004. The CCC Festival is a celebration of 

the Civilian Conservation Corp. that built the trails and 

buildings at Highlands Hammock State Park. We gave away 

tons of educational materials from numerous environmental 

agencies. We also invited “Ripply” from the 

Southwest Florida Water Management 

District. This is the fifth year 

that we have participated and 

our booth gets bigger every 

year, as do the crowds. Some 

of our volunteers for the day were 

Sandy Hart, FSA ( s h e i s d ow n 

from Idaho helping with the Hurricane 

programs), Eric Harper, NRCS and Forest Harper, Earth 

Team volunteer. Dr. Jennifer Brunty, SWFWMD also 

volunteered at our booth. 

Sandy, Eric and Forest.