“ She has unquestionably made a mark on our industry and in our community .” |
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Yarborough still continues her involvement by co-chairing the nomination committee for Outstanding Cattlewoman and the Florida Historic Cattle Museum Committee . Yarborough is also a founding member of the Florida Agricultural Museum , a 400 acre living history museum of Florida ’ s rural past .
“ Florida Farm Bureau and the Cattlemen ’ s Association have benefitted from thousands of hours of Imogene ’ s dedication
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and hard work ,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam . “ She has unquestionably made a mark on our industry and in our community .”
To encourage better understanding between farmers and urban residents , Yarborough and her husband began opening up their ranch for tours every year during National Farm-City Week . In 1983 she received the National Farm-City Award . The ranch also welcomes 200 county Extension agents , UF / IFAS educators and
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local ranchers each year for the Spring Ranchers ’ Forum . The gathering is a highlight of the year for Imogene and her family .
“ The majority of us who work in agriculture , we don ’ t do it for the honor . We do it because it helps us and helps everyone ,” Yarborough said .
More importantly , Yarborough knows that the future of Florida ’ s agriculture is our youth . “ It ’ s very important to get to them while they ’ re young . You don ’ t know who ’ s going to be the next governor or your senator . So you ’ ve got to plant that seed . If you can plant a good seed and work with it , somebody will benefit . And that ’ s what I ’ ve tried to do all my life - is to plant seeds that will help others .”
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that nothing was wasted . Hosting education field trips to her ranch and allowing hands-on experience with farm equipment has earned her the name “ Cow Lady ” among children .
It is efforts like these that have made her a town celebrity and loved among those young and old .
“ Imogene Yarborough is a wonderful and deserving honoree and someone who has been committed to the agriculture industry ,” Putnam said .
Imogene continues her efforts in the community and strives to leave behind an agriculture legacy that will continue to serve others . Her proudest achievement is being a mother to her four children , six grandchildren and one great granddaughter .
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In the early 1980 ’ s she introduced students to “ Beef An ” in local classrooms . A small wooden cow that demonstrated how not only beef , but many other products came from the use of cattle and |
“ Our family indeed cherishes the honor to have been given this responsibility to care for a little bit of God ’ s country and improve it when we could and where we could ,” Yarborough said . • |