Escambia Farm Bureau Honors Governmental Officials; 4-H Members Ask For Land

September 24, 2013

At their recent annual meeting, Escambia County Farm Bureau presented appreciation awards to local governmental officials, while local 4-H kids took the opportunity to lobby new land.

Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram and Commissioner Steven Barry were presented plaques honoring them “in appreciation for support given to Escambia County Farm Bureau and Escambia County 4-H Youth” over the past year.

Members of Escambia County 4-H were on hand to present letters from their membership to Evers about their desires to receive comparable  land to replace the Langley Bell 4-H Center. After the sale of the center to Navy Federal Credit Union, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Dean Nick Place recommended the 4-H’ers use a combination of the Cottage Hill State Forest, Escambia County Equestrian Center and privately owned land.

Place also recommended that most of the $1.6 million from the Navy Federal sale proceeds that was to have purchased land instead by given to the 4-H Foundation for use only in Escambia County.

Barry, along with Commissioner Wilson Robertson, spoke out against the dean’s proposal, saying that it was not fair and equitable because 4-H sold 240 acres and did not receive something comparable in return. The Escambia Commission voted 3-2 against the plan.

Pictured: Sen Greg Evers (top photo), Rep Clay Ingram (left, bottom photo) and Escambia Commissioner Steven Barry (right, bottom photo) receive plaques from Brett Ward of the Escambia County Farm Bureau. Picture inset: 4-H Escambia County Council Delegate Izzy Kent with Evers. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “Escambia Farm Bureau Honors Governmental Officials; 4-H Members Ask For Land”

  1. melodies4us on September 25th, 2013 9:48 pm

    Thank you Commissioner Barry. We need you.

  2. david lamb on September 24th, 2013 4:47 pm

    Teresa, Sue Brown and my other brothers and sisters were 4H members of Cottage Hill 4H Club. Our mom and dad, Chase and Joe Ann Lamb, were the club leaders.
    Escambia County is the only county that I know that has a privately owned Fair. The Frenkel family owns and operates it. Every where I have lived while moving with the Air Force have had fairs that were county owned with fair boards.
    Escambia has a great opportunity to restart a county fair, like the old Molino fair, on the Bayer property. Let Frenkels run theirs and the county run a traditional type fair on the Bayer property!

  3. teresa tipton on September 24th, 2013 4:04 pm

    Thank you for the support for the 4-H kids. The bayer property is still the win-win property for all involved .Get everybody on the same page and quit making these kids wait. They have activities to do now. Not while grown adults( selfish money hungry people) try to take it away from them.WHO(4 -Hers) has their Head Heart Health Hands in the right place. Take a stand on their MOTTO

  4. david lamb on September 24th, 2013 1:35 pm

    A very strong heartfelt thanks to the county commissioners, Greg Evers, Don gaetz a nd Farm Bureau for supporting Escambia 4H.
    It is my desire that the commissioners will rescind thn offer of $1.5 million for Stefani Rd or defund it until IFAS pulls their head out of the sand.
    I also hope that the legislators will cut funding to IFAS until they do what is right for the kids.
    I feel that Bayer is the best option at this time.
    I woul,d suggest that County Commissioners take the 1.5 million, purchase Bayer with it ( should be 500K left over) and use Bayer for an ALL youth camp!
    4H, FFA and inter ckity youth camp
    Tell IFAS to tke a hike back to Gainesville! Send us back the 3.6 million!

  5. Gayle & Angus Brewton on September 24th, 2013 7:47 am

    Thanks (Senator Greg Evers, Fla. House of Representatives Clay Ingram, also Commissioner’s Steven Barry, Lumon May, Wilson Robertson) for your support. The 4-H Members deserve another 4-H camp.