10/13/22 @ 3:45 p.m. The Master Gardener Volunteers are hosting a pop-up  Plant Sale this Saturday, October 15, 2022. The event will take place at the Extension Office located at 85831 Miner Road, Yulee from 9am-12pm (or until they sell out). Cash or checks only!

Below is a list of some of the plants that will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the Master Gardener Volunteer Program. 



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• Philippine violet
• Cannas
• Rain lilies
• Peacock ginger
• Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
• Pagoda flower
• Salvias
• Firespikes
• Russelia sarmentosa
• Epidendrum radicans
• Crinum
• Gingers
• Elkhorn ferns
• Monarda punctata
• Forked blue curls
• Ruellia caroliniana
• Firebush
• Simpsons stoppers
• Beautyberry
• Snow square stem
• Crape myrtle
• Hollies
• Ash tree
• Elm tree
• Soap aloe
• Succulents
• Muhly grass
• Plumbago
• Coontie palms
• Red maples
• Chinese elm
• Kangaroo paw fern
• Milky Way aspidistra
• Pencil cactus
• Bleeding Heart vine
• Zigzag cactus

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Office

10/9/22 @ 12:45 p.m.- Please see the below message from the Nassau County Extension Office. 

It’s that time of year-the peanut butter challenge!

Each October, extension offices across the state try to outcompete one another to collect the most jars of Peanut Butter. Each year the challenge gets better. The challenge gets bigger. The competition gets fiercer. The challenge gets nuttier.  This year we’re very excited that Florida A&M is joining in on the peanut butter challenge too!

What is the peanut butter challenge? The peanut butter challenge is a truly wonderful way for Floridians to celebrate Florida’s peanut agriculture industry and to help combat local hunger.  Each participating extension office collects unopened jars of peanut butter (or similar) through the month of October. Whichever county collects the most jars wins! All donated jars go to local food banks and charities to distribute to high-need community members.

How to Donate

​Donating is easy! Feel free to drop off any of your contributions to any of the following locations.

1. UF/IFAS Extension Nassau County Office (543350 US-1, Callahan, FL 32011)
2. Nassau County BOCC – James Page Building (96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097)
3. Fernandina Beach Library (25 N. 4th Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034)
4. Hilliard Library (15821 County Road 108, Hilliard, FL 32046)
5. Nassau County Animal Control (86078 License Road, Fernandina Beach 32034)
6. Nassau County Chamber of Commerce (961687 Gateway Blvd, Suite 101G, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034)

10/4/22 @ 9:00 a.m. - The Nassau County Extension Office has partnered with the Alachua and Marion County Extension Offices to gather supplies for those affected by Hurricane Ian in southeast Florida. 

Items needed include: 

• Canned goods
• Peanut butter
• Tarps
• Dog/cat food
• Diapers/wipes/formula/baby food
• Batteries
• Paper products
• Flashlights
• Water 
• Trash bags
• Cleaning Supplies
• Toiletries

Donations can be delivered to the Nassau County Extension Office located at 543350 US Highway 1, Callahan or the James S. Page Governmental Complex located at 961335 Nassau Place, Yulee. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

9/7/22 @ 9:00 a.m. - 

​We are excited to announce that Nassau County’s 4-H Youth Development Hippology Team is heading to a national competition November 4 – November 6, 2022, in Louisville, Kentucky. Team members, Emma Norstrem, Charlie Norstrem, Raelin Tew, and Lauren Walters will compete against other 4-H Youth Development Hippology teams from around the country, proving their individual and team mastery of equine sciences.
 
The term “Hippology” comes from the Greek “hippo”, meaning horse, and “ology”, meaning the “study of”. A Hippology contest is designed to test a youth’s knowledge of equine science, as well as vet science and farm management. Participants may be asked to identify anatomy, breeds, and pieces of equipment through a variety of verbal and written tests.
 
Just a few short years ago, Nassau County’s Hippology team began their progress towards the national competition, led by the County’s 4-H Extension Agent, Kelsey Irvine. This year, the team won the State Hippology contest and successfully earned a spot at the national competition.
 
Kelsey Irvine stated, “The youth have worked hard for several years to qualify for this event by studying and practicing their skills. We are very excited to support them in Louisville. We are also very proud of their overall success and their dedication in improving their mastery within the equine science program.”
 
Please join us in congratulating the Nassau 4-H Hippology Team for securing their place at nationals! We know they’re going to do a great job and look forward to sharing their success with the community upon their return.
 
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Are you interested in learning how you can help 4-H and/or the Hippology Program? If so, please contact 4-H Agent, Kelsey Irvine, at (904) 530-6350 or via email at kelseymirvine@ufl.edu.
 

8/19/22 @ 11:30 a.m. - Congratulations to Garrett Bennett on being named as the 4-Her of the Year for 20/2!

Below is a copy of the blog post by Extension Agent, Kelsey Irvine, explaining more about how Garrett was selected for this award. 

This year's winner has served as an inspiration for our community and is a glowing example of what 4-H can do for our youth. Garrett has only been a member of Nassau County 4-H since March 2020 but has already built a 4-H career with the equivalency of graduating seniors. 
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It all started with a dairy goat donation from Farm Bureau and a local family on a rainy day. That day we promised Garrett to help him feel like he belonged and that his tomorrow’s were better than his yesterdays. You have all likely heard already about Garrett. He has won many awards, been recognized by our Board of County Commissioners, stepped up to lead changes in our fair, led summer camps, and traveled the state winning awards and volunteering at fairs all over Florida. He has spoken at County and District Events, served as officers in his clubs, mentored youth, and has been honored with State level winning photography. He has completed high quality record books and built a business made possible by the community supporting him. He embraces all the joy and challenges with “learning by doing” and we truly cannot say enough about this special member.

These accomplishments are what is possible when a youth feels like they belong and that they have the support to work for their dreams.
When asked about his 4-H involvement, Garrett had this to say:

"Since joining 4-H I have really grown as an individual. I went from being shy and timid to a confident and forthright young man. 4-H has shown me that it is ok to open up and share your knowledge with others. But most of all I have new and lasting friendships. I really feel like I finally belong and that makes all the difference in the world to me. For the first time I fell like I am making an impact in other people’s lives and I want to continue doing so.”

7/29/22 @ 1:00 p.m. - The Nassau County Extension 4-H is hosting a party to celebrate the end of the 2021/2022 4-H year. This year's theme is "Tacky Tourist Luau" and will include games and fun activities including a Best Dressed Tacky Tourist Competition and a tacky tourist tropical themed photo booth. All project/record book, youth and volunteer awards will also be announced during this event.

​The Extension Office will provide the main course but are seeking help with the sides. You will be given an option to sign up for a side at the RSVP link. 

If you have any questions, please contact Kelsey Irvine at (904) 530-6353.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer

6/13/22 @ 3:00 - On Friday, June 10, 2022, the Board of County Commissioners hosted a Ribbon Cutting in celebration of the new Rebecca L. Jordi Cooperative Extension Office. This site will serve as the primary office for the County Extension, with the existing Callahan office functioning as an annex. 

The Board broke ground on the facility on May 15, 2019 and since that time, nearly 6,500 manhours have been spent bringing this project to fruition. This includes over 3,400 manhours from our Road Department staff that consisted of clearing land, preparing the site, and pouring concrete for driveways, parking lots and sidewalks, as well as 3,000 + manhours from our Facilities staff that consisted of digging trenches for utilities, laying carpet, installing air conditioning, drywalling, painting, and much, much more.  Building the facility in-house resulted in significant savings to the County.

At the beginning of the event, Commissioner Thomas Ford stated, "While there are still some small items that need to be completed before it (the site) is fully opened, we are excited about the progress that has been made and are happy to be here celebrating with you today. We appreciate each and every one of the employees who worked diligently to get us to this point, as well as to the late Rebecca Jordi who recognized the need for the facility and pushed to make it a reality. It has truly been a group effort and while it has not been easy, we can feel proud of what we have accomplished. We trust this new site will serve the residents well for many years to come". 

​Commissioner Jeff Gray spoke about Mr. Jordi's outstanding work effort and achievements. "While in her position as Director, Becky initiated many projects and programs including, but not limited to, demonstration gardens at County facilities; landscape matters classes; plant clinics; and crash courses in gardening. She had a standing guest column in the News-Leader and also appeared several times on WTLV 12's First Coast Living. She spoke with excitement and passion and was often called upon to speak at events around the State, including speaking engagements at Epcot's annual home and garden show. Becky was a one-of-a-kind employee who dedicated countless hours serving the County and its residents. We are happy to honor her legacy through the naming of this facility which will serve as a reminder of all her great contributions to our community". 

Other speakers during the event included Dr. Taylor Clem, Becky's husband Doug Jordi, and a close relative who all shared stories about Becky's love of agriculture and horticulture, her passion for teaching others, and her vision for the new facility. 

The also event included a tree dedication in Becky's honor by Keep Nassau Beautiful, the ceremonial ribbon cutting, and a brief tour of the facility. 

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us on Friday. We look forward to seeing you at future County Extension events! 

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer

Nassau County, Florida, May 25, 2022 – On Friday, June 10, 2022, at 2:00 p.m., the Board of County Commissioners will host a Ribbon Cutting in celebration of the completion of the new County Extension Office located at 85831 Miner Road, Yulee, FL 32097.

The Board of County Commissioners broke ground on this project on May 15, 2019.  All construction work has been done in-house by Facilities Maintenance staff consisting of over 1,800 man-hours and resulting in significant savings to the County.

Upon completion, this new 2,000 square foot facility will serve as the administrative office for the County Extension staff and will feature classrooms for horticulture, natural resources, agriculture, 4-H Youth Development, and family consumer classes and training rooms for the master gardener volunteers and extension agents. The property will also feature demonstration gardens, a nature trail with learning stations, an orchard, and an aquatic pond for pond maintenance training.

At the May 15, 2019 groundbreaking event, an announcement was made that the facility would be called the “Rebecca L. Jordi Cooperative Extension Office” in honor of Extension Director Rebecca L. Jordi who spent countless hours advocating for a new facility for Extension services. Unfortunately, Ms. Jordi passed away on July 31, 2020, however having the facility named after her will ensure that she will always be remembered for her great passion for agriculture and horticulture and for all her efforts in bringing this project to fruition.
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Members of the public are invited to attend and participate in this celebration.

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The Smith Lever Act of 1914 established the Cooperative Extension Service as a partnership between land grant colleges nationwide, including the University of Florida and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in order to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public through educational programs.  The Nassau County Extension is a joint partnership between the University of Florida and the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners and has been in operation since 1915.

-Sabrina Robertson 
 Public Information Officer
 
 

5/5/22 @ 3:00 p.m.

The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program is an outreach program composed of UF/IFAS Extension certified volunteers who are trained to provide research-based horticultural education to residents. The program is offered in more than 46 of Florida's counties, including Nassau who has offered this program since 1994.

Nassau County's Master Gardener Volunteers maintain several community gardens featured at County facilities; lead youth programs; provide outreach to communities; and even work with homeowners to help them resolve their landscape issues.

Are you interested in joining Nassau County's Master Gardener Volunteer Program? If so, please join us on Monday, May 23, 2022, from 10:00 a.m.  - 11:00 a.m. for an interest event. During this event, you can learn about training dates, approximate costs, and the great projects happening throughout Nassau County and the State. Registration is free and open to everyone and the registration link can be found here. Everyone who signs up will receive a link to participate remotely via Zoom. However, you are also welcome to attend in person at our Yulee Extension Annex located at 86026 Pages Dairy Rd. in Yulee.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Taylor Clem. Director of the Nassau County Extension Office, at (904) 530-6351 or via e-mail at tclem@nassaucountyfl.com. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer