Agri Leader

Unsung volunteers make all the difference in Florida agriculture

TBO.com
Published: October 10, 2012

All kinds of good stuff is going on in agriculture around Florida. There also are plenty of difficult issues as well. It's an ever-present, ongoing thing. The one constant that keeps the positive things flowing, however, are all the unsung heroes out there who give so much of their time and money to make sure a new generation of young people learn the story of agriculture. Robert and Kim O'Connor are perfect examples.

The O'Connors are profiled on today's Central Florida's Agri-Leader due to their tireless effort to provide Sebring FFA and 4-H kids an opportunity to own livestock and learn how to care for them.

This isn't a money-making venture for the O'Connors. Maybe someday it can grow into that, but what they are doing right now is providing a means for some young people to own a pig, raise it, take care of it and sell it at competitions.

Anyone who has raised any kind of livestock as a child knows that the knowledge gleaned has stayed with them forever. A love of agriculture can be built on such things. If nothing else, it provides an understanding that can't be found anywhere else.

It's not just the O'Connors, though. We try to find the people working behind the scenes that promote and advance agriculture to the public.

There are many who spend countless hours, even after long days at work, to reach out to the public and explain the importance of agriculture in our state and country.

In every community of every county around here, numerous volunteers make 4-H, FFA, Ag-Venture and other organizations a reality. Their efforts reach thousands of young people, as well as the public as a whole.

We're thankful these kinds of people are our friends and neighbors. They set a great example for all of us.