Florida
On April 17th and 18th, 4-H youth in the Barnyard Challengers - Florida AgrAbility - UF/IFAS participated in the Brevard County 4-H youth fair and poultry auction. During this culminating event, youth with disabilities and teen mentor participants exhibited their birds and participated in poultry showmanship, a poultry skillathon, and a poultry auction. This club, a partnership with Florida AgrAbility and Florida 4-H, introduces youth with disabilities to agriculture by pairing them with teen mentors and providing a supportive environment to foster life skill development.
On April 20th, Florida AgrAbility team members presented at the Visions Conference by the Florida Division on Career Development & Transition (FLDCDT), in Gainesville, Florida. The session shared information on the Roots to Work program, which provides agricultural training for young adults with disabilities. Attendees voiced strong interest and forged connections for expanding this program to other Florida counties.
On April 24th and 25th, the Roots to Work - Florida AgrAbility - UF/IFAS program, which provides agricultural training for young adults with disabilities, culminated in an awards ceremony and a public plant sale the following day. One hundred percent of enrolled participants completed the training program, gaining valuable skills in horticulture and independence. The participants proudly supported the community and provided outreach for Florida AgrAbility by selling their plants, displaying their garden plot, and engaging with the public at the Brevard Discovery Garden plant sale.
Florida AgrAbility attended the International Year of the Woman Farmer ACE (Advocate Cultivate Empower) Summit from June 1st - 3rd, in Washington, D.C. This national gathering, hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation and U.S. Agrifood System Stakeholders, sought to empower, equip, and connect women farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness professionals. Through skill-building sessions, high-impact networking, and advocacy-focused programming, attendees strengthened their voices and leadership within the agricultural community.
Submitted by Tara Dorn