Jason Futch Reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com Those who have grown up around the Suwannee River are familiar with the natural beauty it brings to eight counties, from the state line to the little town of…
Category: Farm & Outdoors
Local youth shine at 2025 Hamilton County Fair Events Day
Danny Federico reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com Young participants and fans of all ages gathered at the Hamilton County Arena in Jasper for the 55th Annual Fair Events Day on Thursday, Oct. 2. The day kicked…
Town Talk: What is a dragline, and why do roads need to be closed for it?
Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com On Tuesday, Oct. 28, Highway 41 in Hamilton County is scheduled to be closed for a dragline crossing. While this is not as common an occurrence in Suwannee and…
More than 163,000 apply for 172 bear hunting permits
Lazaro Aleman reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reports that as of the deadline date of Tuesday, Sept. 23, it had received 163,459 applications for the 172 available permits…
Florida announces Hunting, Fishing and Camping Sales Tax Holiday
Danny Federico reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com Residents across Florida will have the chance to save on outdoor supplies this fall through the state’s Hunting, Fishing and Camping Sales Tax Holiday, which began on Monday, Sept….
New bill seeks again to make the flamingo the official state bird
The Florida Legislature isn’t scheduled to meet again until January 2026, but already a familiar bill has been introduced for the session. House Bill 11, which State Representatives Chip LaMarca of Lighthouse…
Get to know the Garretts, Suwannee County’s Farm Family of the Year
Jason Futch reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com During the Suwannee County Farm Bureau’s annual dinner on Thursday, Sept. 18, Joseph Garrett and his wife, Katie, were honored as the 2025 Suwannee County Farm Family of the…
Avoid getting stuck with sandspurs
Carolyn Saft Contributor Prevention is worth a ton of cure when it comes to keeping sandspurs (also known as sandburs or grassburs) out of your yard. Sandspurs are weeds that lie low…
Local rodeo with cash prizes coming to Jasper
Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com Rodeos are everywhere these days. As the weather begins to cool, and the area heads into the fall and winter months, the fan favorite events start to pop back…
Lyons family announced as Lafayette County Farm Family of the Year
Riverbend News photo by Danny Federico, September 8, 2025 The Lyons family was announced as the Lafayette County Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year during the Lafayette County Farm Bureau’s annual…
Fruits of their labor: Lyons family named Lafayette County’s Farm Family of the Year
Emily Beach Contributor Chris and Kelly Lyons, along with their four daughters and Chris’s brother, Dale, have built a farming operation rooted in faith, family and farming. Their dedication to the land…
Suwannee County Farm Bureau hosts annual Speech Contest
The Suwannee County Farm Bureau recently hosted its annual Speech Contest, where local students showcased their public speaking skills and agricultural knowledge. This long- standing event, held each year, provides an excellent…
Time to fly-tie: Fly tying bench donated to White Springs Public Library
Jason Futch Reporter2.RiverbendNews@gmail.com A generous donation to the White Springs Public Library in August has provided local anglers with an opportunity to take care of their fly-tying needs. It also provides a…
Celebrating the art of hunting and fishing
Jason Futch Reporter2.RiverbendNews@gmail.com Every year, on the fourth Saturday in September, hunters and fishermen from across the country engage in their favorite pastimes, hopeful the upcoming season will provide for them and…
Dalton Tyre family honored as Hamilton County Farm Family of the Year
Jason Futch Reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com During the Florida Farm Bureau’s Annual Dinner in Hamilton County on Thursday, Sept. 4, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Hamilton (UF/IFAS) Hamilton County Extension…
Suwannee UF/IFAS announces Small and Beginner Grower Alliance
Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com Are you the owner of a small farm? Did you just buy a new farm? Are you just beginning your farming career? Do you have a million questions about…
Lafayette County Farm Bureau announces new speech contest
Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com Contests are a part of life; humans love to compete with each other. It is effective at helping every person better themselves. It also allows everyone the opportunity to…