Every year, the Suwannee Valley Research Education Center has a Fall Experience available for youth of the surrounding area. Schools and 4-H Clubs make reservations to attend and each kid gets to select a pumpkin from the “Pumpkin Patch”. There are special reserved days for 4-H Club members to attend. Pumpkins are the main topic of the Fall Experience, and each group that attends learns about pumpkin history, nutrition facts, growing and harvesting. Different crops are showcased each year, this year was sweet potatoes. Lafayette County Agricultural/4-H Agent, Chris Vann, was the lead presenter with Taylor County Extension 4-H Agent Abby Tharpe.

The Suwannee Valley Research Education Center was established by the University of Florida to develop and demonstrate technology to the needs of the Suwannee Valley area. Mr. Vann participates in Peanut Variety Trials and Fungicide Trials throughout the year to help determine the best pesticide treatments for local crops.

Did You Know?

Sweet Potatoes

• Sweet potatoes have a sweeter flavor if eaten a week or two after harvested.
• The size and shape of the sweet potato is an indication of the flavor the sweet potato will have.
• Sweet potatoes start out as a flower on a vine.
• Sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber if eaten with the skin on.
• Sweet potatoes can be friend, boiled, sautéed, baked and mashed.
• Sweet potatoes should never be refrigerated, unless they are cooked.

Pumpkins

• Pumpkins are a member of the gourd family and come in many shapes, sizes, and colors.
• Pumpkins are actually a fruit.
• Pumpkins are grown on every continent except Antarctica.
• 80% of the US pumpkin crop is in October.
• Pumpkin flowers are edible.
• Pumpkins are part of a vine crop family called cucurbits.

If you would like to know more about 4-H and how you and your family can get involved, contact your local Extension Office 4-H Agent.

Chris Vann- Extension Agent- Agricultural/4-H, Jana Hart- Extension Agent- FCS/4-H

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