Category: Events

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: A Birthday Wish to End Hunger

by Jasi Romero
November 5, 2025

From Presents to Peanut Butter, A Gift That Gives Back In a world where small acts of kindness can ripple into big changes, one young girl in Polk County is proving that age is no barrier to making a meaningful impact. Meet London Brandt, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Work & Life
Tags: Charity, Donate, Featured, Featured Hot Topic, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, Spread The Peanut Butter

Spring Plant Sale

by Anne Yasalonis
April 18, 2025

Mark your calendars and plant yourself at our Annual Plant Sale on April 26! Whether you have a green thumb or just enjoy the beauty of plants, this in-person event is perfect for you. The ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polk Florida Friendly Landscaping, Polk Gardening

Tractor Supply’s 4-H Paper Clover Campaign

by Jasi Romero
December 23, 2024

Empowering Polk County Youth The Tractor Supply Company’s 4-H Paper Clover Campaign is a vital initiative that supports youth development across the nation. With 90% of donations remaining in the state where they are raised, the program ensures ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Camp, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Curriculum, Events, Professional Development, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: 4-H, Campaign, Clubs, Florida, Fundraiser, Leadership, Polk County, Tractor Supply Paper Clover, UF/IFAS, Youth Development

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: How One Girl is Giving Back

by Jasi Romero
December 9, 2024

Meet the Young Girl Inspiring Our Community with Her Peanut Butter Donation At just nine years old, London Brandt, is already making a difference in her community. Inspired by the kindness she sees around her and her desire to help those ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Community Volunteers, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Charity, Donate, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, Spread The Peanut Butter

Polk County’s 2025 Peanut Butter Challenge

by Jasi Romero
November 6, 2024

Join the Peanut Butter Challenge: Spread the Love! Get ready to go nuts for a great cause! The Peanut Butter Challenge is back, and it’s more exciting than ever! Hosted by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Health & Nutrition, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Charity, Donate, Featured, Featured Hot Topic, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, Spread The Peanut Butter

April 2024: UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Events

by Shannon Carnevale, Nicole Walker, Luis Rodriguez Rosado and Anne Yasalonis

March 15, 2024

Unearth the Excitement: UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Events Welcome to a season of discovery and community at UF/IFAS Extension Polk County! As we welcome the vibrant hues of spring, we’re excited to unveil a series of enthralling events ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Events, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Recreation
Tags: Central Florida, Florida Ecosystem, Polk County, Polkpesttraining, Vermicomposting

2024 City Nature Challenge Polk County

by Shannon Carnevale
March 13, 2024

Exploring Biodiversity The City Nature Challenge is an exciting global event that celebrates the wonders of nature right in our own backyards. Hosted by The Nature Conservancy, this four-day bioblitz encourages people of all ages to become community ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Events, Natural Resources, Recreation,
Tags: BioBlitz, City Nature Challenge, Inaturalist, Polk County, Shannon Carnevale

Consumers Trends of Locally Grown Produce / 2023 Fall Southwest Florida Small Farmers Network (SWFSFN)

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
October 11, 2023

In recent years, consumers have been interested in locally grown products, creating a shift in how the public buys their food. Therefore, small farmers are now in the spotlight and have an opportunity to supply the demand for locally grown produce. Local ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Farm Management, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Farmers Markets, Florida_farms, Local Food, Produce, Small Farms, Southwest Florida Small Farms Network, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Florida Waters Stewardship Program (Polk County)

by Shannon Carnevale
August 5, 2023

Have you ever wondered about the intricate ways we interact with water? Water plays a crucial role in our daily lives, from the water we drink to the landscapes we admire. It shapes our environment, our culture, and our future. Typically, ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Events, Natural Resources, Professional Development, Water
Tags: Ecosystem Services, Environmental Literacy, Florida, Lakes, Natural Resources, Polk County, Shannon Carnevale, Stormwater, Sustainable Living, Water

Considerations When Selecting Subtropical/Tropical Fruit Crops in Florida / 2023 Summer Southwest Florida Small Farmer Network (SWFSFN) Meeting.

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
May 26, 2023

Florida is among the only places in the USA where we can grow subtropical and tropical fruit crops. This is because Florida has the necessary climatic and soil conditions that allow farmers to grow these types of crops, as well as an established ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching,
Tags: Agriculture, Pine Island, Small Farms, Southwest District, Southwest Florida Small Farms Network, Tropical Fruit Crop, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

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