held at the Marion County Extension in the new auditorium. Guest Speakers will be Kim Dinkins, Water Resource Coordinator for the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, Mark Mealo with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Shaun Fulford, from the Florida Farm Bureau. Tavis Douglas our YF&R Chair will also be highlighting upcoming volunteer opportunities and YF&R events. Dinner will be provided, so please RSVP to Traci Mason by 1/10/2011 at (352) 237-2124 or traci.mason@ffbic.com.  

In 2007 the Marion County Farm Bureau created a $100,000 Endowment Scholarship at the University of Florida and a $30,000 Endowment Scholarship at Central Florida College for students pursuing an agriculture related degree.   Several students each year have been awarded scholarships through the Endowment Scholarship Programs. 

Please note:  This year we are requiring students who are planning on attending or are currently attending either UF or CF to apply for a Marion County Farm Bureau Scholarship through each of above named institutions Endowment Scholarship Programs.   

In addition to our endowment scholarship programs mentioned above, we offer additional scholarship funds for students who are not pursuing degrees from UF or CF.    The Marion County Farm Bureau annual scholarship is open to Marion County graduating high school seniors and college students.   All applicants should be pursuing an agriculture related degree and they or their parents have been Farm Bureau members for one year prior to their application.  The 2011 College Scholarship application is now available on our website at www.marioncountyfarmbureau.org.    

If you have any questions about our college scholarship opportunities, please contact Traci Mason at traci.mason@ffbic.com.    

Start2Farm Program Details...

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA), National Agricultural Library Start2Farm program is funded through a USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Beginning Farming and Ranching Development Program grant and was developed to assist people new to farming or ranching and those who have less than 10 years experience.  The program has two mandates.  One is to hold a national conference for beginning farmers and ranchers which we are doing with our partners, the American Farm Bureau Federation.  The first conference will be held in Orlando, FL Feb 2011.  Information about the conference is available at Start2Farm.gov.  The other mandate is to develop a curriculum and training clearinghouse for new and beginning farmers.  This clearinghouse will be available through Start2Farm.gov and will launch in the Spring of 2011.  The clearinghouse will feature information and resources for training and assistance programs available throughout the country for new and beginning farmers. 

The Start2Farm clearinghouse will serve as a one-stop reference for anyone looking for programs and training to start farming and to be successful in their first years as a farmer or rancher.  Start2Farm has currently identified over 200 programs and counting.  Users will be able to use the site to find programs and resources specific to their needs and the area in which they live.  Additionally, the site will feature photos and success stories from beginning farmer and rancher programs throughout the country.  We at Start2Farm are very excited about this program and look forward to serving new agricultural entrepreneurs.  If you have any questions about Start2Farm please contact us at info@start2farm.govor toll-free 800-633-7701.