I just got back to my office after attending the Fresh From Florida Agriculture Breakfast at the Florida State Fair.  Held at the Ag Hall of Fame Building, the breakfast brings together the agriculture community, along with city, county and state officials, to enjoy Fresh From Florida food.

Many look forward to the Florida State Fair, and the reasons are varied.  Some attendees like the Fair because of the food (and I use this term loosely).  You can get any type of food “fried” at the Fair.  And for some reason, even those who eat somewhat healthy meals the rest of the year will try “fried cookie dough” when it is offered.  Other attendees look forward to the rides.  They spend hours on the midway riding every spinning, tilting, climbing, whirling ride they can get on.  Yep, goes great with fried Pepsi.  I am always careful about standing too close to these rides.  You never know what will come flying off.  

My favorite part of the Fair?  Really?  Can’t you guess?  It’s the 4-H and FFA shows!  You better believe it!  That’s our future right there in front of us.  They are showing pride in the hard work they have put into preparing their project for competition.  And boy are there competitions!  What would you like to see?  Beef?  Dairy?  Horses? Swine?  Rabbits, chickens, llamas and goats, oh my!  You can see it all at the Fair.  Did I mention Jack Russell Terrier races?  

There is nothing like the Florida State Fair.  If you missed it this year, please make plans to attend in 2013.  And if you are one of those who attend for fried food, or rides, take a minute to visit the livestock area and pat an FFA or 4H student on the back for a job well done.  It takes hard work and dedication to get ready for these shows, but our students take it all in stride.  

Look for results from the Florida State Fair agriculture events in our next issue and on our website at www.inthefieldmagazine.com.