Early arrivers

Flat Albert's ready for France

Euros are "pretty"

That's according to my 15-year-old daughter--I agree!

NEW!

Youth Leadership Programming

at the WLI Annual Alumni Meeting

brought to you by

Class VII of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute
in conjunction with


Hillsborough Farm Bureau and Ag in the Classroom

We know WLI alumni want the kids to have fun too!

 Class VII will be sponsoring Youth Leadership Programming at the Annual Alumni Meeting this year so that youth of all ages may have access to fun activities and educational opportunities while at the Annual Alumni Meeting.

Check the website event tab and watch for the youth registration in your brochure. 

Bonne chance à Wedgworth Classe VIII sur leur voyage à l'étranger ! Il faut se souvenir que la vie commence au bord de votre zone de confort.

Regional Meeting at Quail Creek

Here are a few pictures from the Regional Meeting that was held last weekend at Quail Creek. I am glad I got to meet some new Wedgworth folks!

I'm looking forward to a great international trip to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.  The Wedgworth program has been an amazing ride, and I cannot believe that it's been almost two years.  I look forward to seeing everyone very soon, but I still have a large amount of work and personal preparation before we leave.  See everyone in Class VIII very soon. 

Mike Joyner speaks to AEC about agricultural issues

Mike Joyner, Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture for Florida, visited the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida and spoke about current and emerging issues affecting Florida agriculture.

Joyner, a Wedgworth Leadership Institute Class I alumni, spoke of the challenges facing Florida agriculture, the top three being issues centered around nutrition, energy, and water.  Joyner referred to issues centered around nutrition as being a “legacy issue.”

Steps that University of Florida and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) are taking to address the nutrition issue include a heavy dependence upon IFAS extension.  Programs such as “Gardening for Grades” and “Fresh Fruit Thursdays” are strategies that IFAS, along with state and local governments, are implementing to ensure Florida leaves a lasting, positive “legacy.”

Among the issues presented by Joyner were also concerns about pests and diseases, issues all too familiar to Florida farmers, particularly with the devastation from citrus greening and canker.

Joyner also spoke about issues concerning food safety, and immigration laws, highlighting Florida farmers’ need for immigrant labor during harvest seasons.

“There will always be a need for workers from outside of this country.”

Joyner concluded by stating that teamwork, such as that shown in addressing nutrition issues, was essential to positive progress towards solutions.

“We have to think about how we [IFAS, Florida Department of Agriculture] can work closer together.”

A big thank you to Mike Joyner for giving up some of his time to hep educate and spread the word about agricultural issues within the state of Florida!