UF IFAS CALS at Plant City

08/30/2026

🚨 ONE FINAL PUSH — AND WE NEED YOUR HELP SPREADING THE WORD! 🚨

Last year, you all helped us take A Land Remembered far beyond what we ever imagined. Teachers, Extension agents, agricultural organizations, parents, producers, and friends shared the program across Florida — and it took off.

Can we do it again? 🌴🐄📚

Registration is wrapping up for A Land Remembered: Where Cattle, Conservation, and Beef Come Together! — a 6-week classroom program for 4th grade, 5th grade, middle AND high school students!

Using Patrick D. Smith’s A Land Remembered, students get to experience Florida’s history while connecting it to the agriculture and natural resources that still shape our state today.

📖 Daily reading from A Land Remembered
🌱 ELA, science, math & social studies connections
🗺️ Journals, maps, worksheets & vocabulary
🐄 Pioneer life + modern ranching
✏️ Real-world writing activities
🎥 PLUS a one-day statewide livestream on February 26, 2027!

And we need YOUR help getting this into the hands of teachers.

You may not be a teacher — but you probably know one. Share this post. Tag an educator. Send it to your local school. Drop it in a homeschool group. Share it with your 4-H families. Send it to that teacher who loves Florida history.

One share could put this program in front of an entire classroom of students. ❤️

🔗 REGISTER HERE:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=-KBNDTFKdk2s5gpiMx4bhLlLEGE0DK1LruOuG4GP70ZUMFhGRFhNUzc5UUFBS0pYRDUxMjRMTjFFWS4u&utm_source=chatgpt.com&route=shorturl

📧 Questions? [email protected]

Help us make Florida’s story go viral one more time. 🌴🐂📚

08/26/2026

Fall 2026 first day of in person classes from the faculty, staff, and students at UF's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Plant City

08/24/2026

Are you ready to transfer! Apply now for Spring 2027!

08/18/2026

Great place to work!

📣 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺!

We're looking for an Administrative Assistant III to help keep our center running smoothly, from coordinating center events and supporting faculty to serving as a welcoming point of contact for staff, students, and visitors. In this role, you'll support the people and programs driving research and innovation that benefit Florida growers.
𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eDmycDMz (Applications close Aug. 15.)

We're also hiring Field Techs/Farm Helpers to assist with hands-on agricultural research in the field. If you enjoy working outdoors and want to gain experience in agricultural research, this could be the perfect opportunity for you—no prior experience is necessary, and we'll provide the training you need.
𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eqQU7-Mg (Applications close Aug. 14.)

08/17/2026

Learn how you can transfer to the University of Florida without leaving your hometown. Save money on tuition and living expenses and get a degree from UF. Representatives are here to talk to you Mon. - Thurs. this week at HC Plant City from 10:30am - 1:30pm

08/10/2026

Congratulations Katie Britt and Dr. Youssef Kaddoura! We are proud to work with you through the Geomatics program in Plant City.

Our SFFGS Geomatics team was well-represented at the 71st Annual Florida Surveying & Mapping Society Conference.

SFFGS Assistant Director for Geomatics Extension Katie Britt received the 2026 Perry C. McGriff Outstanding Professional for Civic Contribution Award for her "substantial beneficial publicity and/or recognition of the profession through public office and/or civic leadership in the past two years.

SFFGS Geomatics Specialist Dr. Youssef Kaddoura received the 2026 Professional Excellence Award for "performing outstanding work in the field of research or work in academia, governmental or private sector in the past twelve months that benefits all surveyors and mappers."

Congratulations to the entire SFFGS Geomatics Sciences team for continuing to contribute to growing the next generation of geomatics industry personnel.

Learn more about SFFGS Geomatics Sciences: https://catalog.ufl.edu/UGRD/colleges-schools/UGAGL/GEM_BSGE/

Learn more about SFFGS Geomatics Extension: https://ffgs.ifas.ufl.edu/geomatics-extension/

Learn more about FSMS: https://www.fsms.org/

(Pictured: Prof. Amr Abd-Elrahman, Katie Britt, Instructional Designer Taylor Brown, Youssef Kaddoura, Instructional Designer Alejandro Perez, and Faculty Lecturer Justin Thomas.)

07/28/2026

If you know potential students in the Hardee County area, Ali Gonzales-Perez and Dr. Shane White are at the Hardee County Agri Civic Center. Let them know we are here today to talk to them about becoming a Gator - and just a little closer to home!

07/27/2026

Who will inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders? As schools across the country face a shortage of agriculture teachers, the University of Florida’s Ag Ed Institute is mentoring students, introducing them to career opportunities and helping them picture themselves leading classrooms of their own.

Explore the full article and stay connected to local ag education news at inthefieldmagazine.com or pick up the latest print issue.

06/19/2026

Check this out!!

🌱FFAA SCHOLARSHIP NOW OPEN!
Open through August 14, 2026.

Apply now at: https://ffaa.org/scholarship/

🧑‍🎓Who: Ag Students at UF, Warner, FAMU & FSC
📚Majors: Agronomy, FRE, Ag Comm/Education, Soil & Water, Agribusiness + more
🎯 GPA: 3.0 minimum
🎥 Submit a 30-60 sec career aspirations video!

Questions? Email [email protected]

06/01/2026

✨ CALS Alumni Gathering 2026 ✨
Still smiling from last week’s UF/IFAS CALS Alumni Gathering! It was an evening filled with connection, celebration, and growth—exactly what our CALS community is all about.
From UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Dean Dr. Kati Migliaccio's inspiring updates from the college to Florida Strawberries Growers Association's Kenneth Parker sharing UF Plant City’s rich history and exciting future, the night reminded us how far we’ve come and how bright the road ahead is.
We enjoyed a delicious steak dinner - special thanks to our sponsors Hillsborough Cattlemen Foundation, Farm Credit of Florida, Alsco Uniforms, and the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, heard impactful insights from Dr. Gary Vallad on the UF Gulf Coast Research & Education Center and the new Center for Applied AI in Agriculture and wrapped it all together with an incredible alumni panel featuring Brittany Andrews, Israel Contreras, Eric Davis, Ryan Kuhn, and Hailee Seely.
Grateful for the conversations, the memories, and the continued support of our amazing sponsors. Already looking forward to the next time we gather as Hometown Gators.
🧡💙 Connect. Celebrate. Grow Together.