Commissioner of Agriculture
www.freshfromflorida.com 1-800-435-7352
The 2015 Florida State Fair began with the traditional “flip the switch” by the Florida Cabi-
net. Governor Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and I, joined by local Junior R.O.T.C students, turned on the lights of the midway rides, signal- ing the ceremonial opening of the Florida State Fair. The 111th Florida State Fair boasts one of the largest midways in the country with more
than 110 fun rides for kids of all ages and features more than 6,000 animals. Nearly 1,500 FFA and 4-H students from around the state come through the fairgrounds to show a variety of farm animals, including steers, dairy cows, swine, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep, llamas and dogs. This year, the Florida State Fair is honored to be selected as one of a limited number of
sites for veterans and others in the community to view The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Wall That Heals has visited more than 400 cities across the nation, spreading the Memorial’s healing legacy to millions who cannot travel to Washington, D.C. Every year, the Florida State Fair attracts nearly half a million fairgoers, supports 1,000 jobs
and generates more than $170 million in economic impact. This economic activity, which be- gins in Hillsborough County, ripples through the Tampa Bay region and across the state of Florida. I know the Florida State Fair is just one example of how Florida’s many fairs and livestock shows are celebrating Flori-
Adam H. Putnam Commissioner
da’s rich agricultural history and having a positive impact on the surrounding communities. Best of luck to all Florida Fairs for a great fair in 2015!
Newly crowned Florida Strawberry Festival Queen, Samantha Sun, with John Sykes and Jim Tucker with IAFE, and Festival Executive Director Paul Davis
Tom Umiker demonstrates rope making at the
Jacksonville Agricultural Fair
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