GREEN COVE SPRINGS – When U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean had to cancel his appearance as the featured speaker at the Farm-City Week Farm to Table Dinner, host Kelly Mosley knew precisely who to call. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered Bean to remain in Washington, D.C., but Mobley found an equally adept way to address an audience committed to agriculture, farming and livestock. 

“Whenever he called last week to send his regrets, we had to find somebody to fill his shoes, so I made one phone call,” she said. "Thankfully, our county commission chair, Mrs. Betsy Condon, we are so incredibly grateful for the relationship we have with her and the support she has shown us.” 

Condon, who lives in Keystone Heights and represents the southern end of the county, is the Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee with the Florida Association of Counties. That made her uniquely qualified to talk about business with members of the Florida Farm Bureau during the annual dinner at Tucker's Farmhouse. 

In fact, she said she left the Florida Association of Counties meeting to be at the dinner. 

“I was at the Florida Association of Counties all week, working on legislative platforms,” she said. “Our Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee met today [Thursday, Nov. 20] and adopted some policies that are going to be really good for agriculture. I'm really proud of that. 

“It's an honor to be with you today as we celebrate the vital partnership between our farmers and our food and the ranchers and all those who provide that. If you don't know, I represent the southern part of the county, which is the largest geographic district because it's the least populated. I’m very proud that most of the agriculture in Clay County is part of my district. We get to celebrate farms and ranchers all the time in our district, but it's great to have the rest of the county join us. Our farmers and ranchers feed not just us, but they feed the world.” 

Bean sent a video message applauding the hard work of farmers. 

“Farmers founded America,” he said while standing in front of the U.S. Capitol. “Throughout our history, they've always led the way. So, this Farm City Week and tonight at the Clay County Farm Bureau Dinner, we celebrate you. We celebrate the profession. After all, agriculture really is national security.” 

While tourism is the state’s most significant economic driver, agriculture-related enterprises are the second most important source of income. Counting farmers, ranchers, shippers, processors, marketers, retailers and inspectors, the annual agriculture impact supports 2.5 million jobs and contributes $4 billion to the economy. 

Condon and Mosley closed by honoring Florida Farm Bureau President Gayward Hendry, who was recently presented with the Bureau's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. 

“He was recognized at the 84th state annual meeting, where they highlighted his service to our country, our community and to the agricultural industry,” Mosley said. “And a few of the highlights include his work in law enforcement with JSO and the Clay County Sheriff's Office, the Marine Corps, Board of Commissioners for Clay County, the 4-H Foundation and the President of Clay County Farm Bureau. "

Hendry told a joke and made a short remark. 

“I just wanted to say, I love you folks,” he said. “I'm a member of many organizations in the county, but to me, Farm Bureau is the closest, closest to my heart because the people are real people, real, real, real people.” 

And as he often does, he closed by inviting everyone to join him by singing his favorite song, “God Bless America.”