GREEN COVE SPRINGS – It would have been easy and impactful for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson to underscore the importance of agriculture in Florida.

“We are certainly glad to have grown up with an abundance of food,” Simpson said during his keynote address last Thursday’s (Nov. 21) Farm-City Week’s Farm to Table Dinner at Tucker’s Farmhouse. “Up until about 10, 15 years ago, we were an exporter of food. Now we’re a net importer of food. We’ve had great enemies in the state and around the country of the agricultural business.”

Simpson said powerful businessmen may need an attorney “from time to time,” but everyone needs a farmer three times a day to survive.

Farm-City Week has been celebrated in Clay County for 52 years. More than a half-century ago, county commissioners joined with farmers to recognize their importance and contributions to the local economy and the impact on the state and the nation.

“Most people don't realize agriculture's economic impact on the state,” Simpson said. “We are the second leading driver in the economy in Florida. During a pandemic or a recession, we are the lead driver of the economy, over $200 million in economic output, over 2½ million people went to work in agriculture. So, when you think about the economic engine of the state of Florida, agriculture is a very large percentage of that overall economic engine.”

According to UF/IFAS, 19,295 people—22.9% of the working population—are employed in agriculture and related industries in Clay County. This contributes $931 million to the gross regional product and 15.9% to the gross regional production.

Still, Simpson said money doesn’t matter when people don’t have enough to eat. That’s why he hesitates to equate the economic impact of agriculture with the role of the American farmer.

“I don't like putting in economic terms, because what we supply in food is what we should be proud of,” he said. “Not finding we're driving the economy, but that we're providing life – not only the state of Florida, but partners here in this state.”

The Farm to Table saluted several aspects of the farming business in Clay County, including Agribusiness, 4-H, the Future Farmers of America, the Clay County Agricultural Fair and the Clay County Farm Bureau.

Several groups banded to support the dinner, including Farm Bureau Insurance, Clay County Cattleman’s Corporation, The Clay County Fair Association, Amazing Grace Family Farms, Clay Education Foundation, EverGreen Waste Services, Clay County Beekeepers Association and Clay Soil and Water Conservation District.

The Clay County District School’s Career and Technical Education Culinary Classes from Clay, Orange Park, Keystone Heights, Middleburg and Ridgeview high schools prepared and served dinner.

Clay County’s Supervisor of CTE programs, Kelley Mosley, opened the program by reminding the guests to support farmers and students from 4-H and FFA.

“I encourage you to support them, as they never stop planting the seeds in our community, our youth, so that we can harvest the benefits,” she said. “Oftentimes, you'll hear people say these kids are leaders of tomorrow. But I'm here to tell you that they're leaders today.”