Jason Futch - reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Kidz College Primary and Secondary School (KCPSS), based in Orlando, recently visited Southern Heritage Farm in Suwannee County. During their trip, students learned about the history of the farm and had the opportunity to participate in fruit picking.
The visit, which was arranged by KCPSS and RIVEROAK Technical College, RIVEROAK to write an essay about the trip and what they learned. was an opportunity to meet the farm’s owner, local author Pat Hines, who guided the children through the program and shared the history of the farm, which was purchased by Hines’s greatgreat-great grandfather, Christmas Hemming, in 1885. The visit included 60 students and 10 instructors.
“We allowed the children to pick fruit and learn more about sugar cane processing,” Hines said. She also said the children were challenged by RIVEROAK to write an essay about the trip and what they learned. There had been plans to show the students the cemetery where Hemming and his descendants were buried, however, the bus was unable to drive through the area due to the terrain.
Hines said that there are plans for KCPSS to invite her to the school to share more about both the history of the farm and Hemming’s story.