AG-ABILITIES ATTRACTS 45 PARTICIPANTS

By Jim Frankowiak

Forty-five students from five Hillsborough County schools attended Ag Abilities at the Florida State Fairgrounds last month. The event, which has been hosted by Hillsborough County Farm Bureau at the fairgrounds since 2001, is a half-day competition allowing volunteers to interact with Exceptional Education Students (ESE) in a variety of contests designed to teach them about agriculture and its importance.

This year’s competition focused on animals, plants and My Plate/Nutrition. Many of the students also took part in the Tractor Driving opportunity, as well. Students were asked to identify animal breeds and equipment, plant varieties and tools along with completing My Plate activities related to nutrition and serving sizes.

“We are especially grateful to the more than 30 volunteers and partners that helped make Ag Abilities possible,” said Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Executive Director Kaylee Poppell. “Those volunteers came from Farm Bureau’s District V, Plant City FFA, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA), Grove Equipment Services and Hillsborough County 4-H as well as other individuals who gave their time.

“Thank you, too, to the Florida State Fairgrounds for hosting us, FSGA for providing lunch, Grove Equipment Services for providing the tractors and J&R Nursery in Dover for donating plants for the contest.”