The Southeastern Youth Fair is pleased to announce the 83rd annual Fair which will be held from Thursday, February 23rd to Saturday, March 4th at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala, Florida. We have approximately 150 market steers, 250 market swine, 70 market lambs, and 50 market goats which will be sold throughout the week.
The Southeastern Youth Fair is the oldest all-youth Fair in the country that continues to operate without a midway. We are also the largest all-youth Fair event in the state of Florida. Our Steer Show, the foundation of our Fair, began in 1941. The Youth Fair, as we know it today, officially began in 1978.
1978 was also the start of our Beef Heifer, Dog Obedience, Dairy & Meat Goat, Garden, Home Arts, Horse, Kitchen, Poultry, Rabbit, and Swine Show, our largest animal show. In 2004 we showcased our first Dog Agility Show.
The SEYF operates with only one paid employee and over 200 volunteers, whose time is valued at over $50,000, and provides almost 4,000 hours each year. The Fair continues its growth and success every year because of the dedicated efforts of our volunteers, and the generous donations of local businesses and individuals in our community.
The SEYF is guided in operation by their guiding principles which include: Continue reading
Jimmy Riffle put’s on a show was on Animal Planet. They have now moved to Anthony in north Marion County and they are still rescuing reptiles. They’ve been at Ft King Festival 2 years and should continue. We think the is a snapping turtle. Photo by C Kay Johnson / CKJphotos13
The under lying problem with society today is to many people think they should live free of charge. We need to get back to Pride in our work and our country. Show respect to our history. But the main word is HOPE! When there is no hope people do desperate things. That is why crime is up. There is no consequence. In some states there is no enforcement because they prosecutors just turn them loose.
Remember we need HOPE!
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The problem with Natural Immunity is it’s free and no one is gouging the tax payers for money for it.!
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I’ve learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake. I’m responsible for what I say, but not how you understand.
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In the old days the legendary frontiers people would call Fauci’s cure snake oil. Look how much money it cost for the snake oil, plaque he might have helped create. Continue reading
As we enter this new year, the Ocala Metro has made a few national lists which are worth highlighting:
U-Haul
Every year, U-Haul unveils their Top 25 Cities for Growth. This list ranks cities based on one-way moves using U-Haul. While not entirely scientific, it is a great barometer of where people are moving. The Ocala Metro has made this list each of the last several years but this year ranks #1 as the top city where people are moving. This is important because of who moves using U-Haul – overwhelmingly it is younger people. We know that 30-39 year olds in the Ocala Metro are growing at double the national average. This is a key demographic for workforce, home ownership, and families.
Wood & Poole
Wood & Poole is a Washington, DC, based economics firm. They recently created their Top 40 Cities for Growth through 2060. They wanted to determine what 40 cities were going to experience the most growth over the next 40 years. They ranked Ocala #30 on their list with the expectation that the population would grow to 610,000. While 40 years projections are not particularly reliable, it is a good sense of where others see the Ocala Metro growing. Continue reading
Dear Friends,
2023 is off to a quick start in the Florida Senate as we focus on preparing for the Legislative Session which begins March 7th. So far, we have completed four weeks of committee meetings and a special session and we have another three to go. There have been, roughly, 300 bills filed in the House and Senate. In previous years, we have seen as many as 4000 filed bills before the end of Session. So, it is a bit surprising how low this number is, but these last three weeks is when the majority of these bills will reach the “filed” status. When that happens, there will be a lot of information to sift through, but a good thing to remember is that less than ten percent of bills actually pass the legislature and lots of bad (and some good) ideas will die off.
Currently, in addition to serving as President Pro Tempore, your Senator sits on the following eight committees. The policy Committees on Agriculture, Community Affairs, Judiciary, Rules and Children, Families and Elder Affairs. The Appropriations Committees on Health and Human Services, Criminal and Civil Justice, and the full Committee on Appropriations. The full Appropriations Committee and the Rules Committee are the largest of the Senate Committees and most, if not all, of bills filed will have to come through one of these two committees. We are very excited to be a part of both of those committees and for the opportunity we have to review, give input, and vote on every piece of legislation that comes through the Florida Senate. Continue reading
The media has had a lot of fun with former President TRUMP and current President BIDEN.
Apparently, both of them have taken home a bunch of so-called’ ‘Secret Government Documents’ which, they say, is illegal.
Recently these allegations have expanded to include a former Vice President PENCE.
In BIDENS case, the problem goes back to his many years as a senator and Vice President to OBAMA.
But, now, one report said, “Classified documents were found at Mike Pence’s home in Indiana, and his lawyer turned them over to FBI/Department of Justice – (National Security Division).
Of course, like a typical modern politician Pence has previously said that he did not retain any classified information after leaving office.
Back in November, Pence was asked, “Did you take any classified documents with you from the White House?”
He said, “I did not”. Continue reading
The Marion County Library System and Coping with Dementia LLC have announced a Spring series of free ABC of Dementia workshops again in 2023. Dates and locations through April, 2023 are as follows.
Belleview Library, located at 13145 SE County Hwy 484. Workshops will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, February 27; Friday, March 31; and Friday, April 28, 2023.
Freedom Public Library, located at 5870 SW 95th Street in Ocala. Workshops will be offered on Thursday, January 26, 2 to 4 p.m.; Friday, February 24, 2 to 4 p.m.; and Friday, March 10, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Dunnellon Public Library, located at 2-351 Robinson Road, will offer a workshop on Thursday, March 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Marion Oaks Library, located at 294 Marion Oaks Lane in Ocala, will offer a workshop on Wednesday, April 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Sankofa Public Library, located at 1821 NW 21st Street in Ocala, will offer a workshop on Thursday, April 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Continue reading
Ocala, Florida – Marion Therapeutic Riding Association (MTRA) has been serving Marion, Lake, Sumter, and Alachua counties for 40 years. A celebration will take place on February 4th, 2023, at CF Vintage Farm from 6 to 10 pm. Come share in the memories and love that so many have made possible. MTRA provides equine assisted services to individuals with physical, intellectual, and emotional challenges. Programs include therapeutic riding, equine assisted learning, PTSD psychotherapy for Veterans in partnership with the Ocala Vet Center and Speech and Language pathology through Hippotherapy in partnership with Advent health. “Community support is what has driven this organization to a successful 40 years of service” says Executive Director Pam Morrison.
MTRA relies heavily on the generosity of the community and it’s businesses through donations, grants and other funding. They have maintained the equine assisted therapy program in Ocala for over forty years. Continue reading
Duke Energy Florida announced it has identified four locations in Franklin, Highlands and Marion counties for inclusion in its 2022 Site Readiness Program to evaluate and prepare industrial site opportunities for economic development investments.
“Duke Energy Florida is committed to powering the lives of our customers and the vitality of our communities,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Through the Site Readiness Program, we continue to work closely with various government and private sector organizations to bring new jobs and capital investment to the state of Florida. We are proud of this program’s initial success and we will continue to offer economic development initiatives that bring value to the communities we serve.”
Through the Site Readiness Program, Duke Energy identifies high-potential sites and partners with county officials, local economic development professionals and landowners to develop a strategy for getting sites fully ready to market to industrial prospects. In Florida alone, the Site Readiness Program has resulted in 680 new jobs and $183 million in capital investment in Florida since 2013. Continue reading
