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CF Farm Manager Jacob Dorland with the college’s new semiautonomous tractor. [Photo courtesy College of Central Florida]

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Posted January 28, 2026 | By Susan Smiley-Height, [email protected]

CF renames farm campus

The College of Central Florida has renamed its farm campus the Center for Agricultural Innovation at Vintage Farm.

Approved during a recent meeting of the district board of trustees, the name reflects the college’s commitment to advancing innovation in agriculture and equine education, recognizing the campus’ growing focus on precision agriculture, emerging technologies and forward-thinking workplace preparation that aligns with the future of Florida’s agricultural economy, the news release noted.

The new name honors the legacy of Vintage Farm, as the location at 4020 SE Third Ave, Ocala, has been known since the 103-acre working farm was gifted to the college by an anonymous donor in 2017.

“Changing the name to the Center for Agricultural Innovation at Vintage Farm represents our dedication to the rapidly changing world of agriculture,” said John D. Ash, CF dean of business, technology and agricultural sciences, in the release. “CF is preparing future generations with the tools, technologies and experiences they need to be successful in an industry that is being driven by innovation, precision agriculture and partnerships that shape the future of food, sustainability and workforce development.”

CF will launch the state’s first associate in science degree in precision agriculture at the center in August, providing hands-on education including cutting-edge drone and semiautonomous tractor technologies. The campus is the home of the college’s Agribusiness and Equine Studies programs and serves as a hub for collaboration with partners such as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, UF/IFAS and the Florida High Tech Corridor, supporting applied research, autonomous systems, data-driven agriculture and advanced equine studies.

“CF is proud to be leading the way in agriculture education to prepare students for the high-tech agriculture workforce of today and tomorrow,” said Jennifer Fryns, CF vice president of workforce innovation and technology. “Our graduates are well prepared to meet the demand for highly skilled professionals in Florida’s second largest industry.”

For more information, visit cf.edu.farm

Poets open call for festival

The city of Ocala Cultural Arts Division, in partnership with the Marion County Public Library, is accepting submissions for a poets open call for the Art Park Literary and Poetry Festival, which will take place April 11 at the Tuscawilla Art Park, 213 NE 5^th St., Ocala. 

The festival theme, “My Place, My Story,” invites poets to explore interpretations of home. Participants are encouraged to reflect on the places, memories and experiences that shape their sense of belonging. This may include physical spaces, emotions, relationships, a favorite corner of a home, a meaningful place in nature or even a secret garden. Submissions should capture the stories and emotions that make these places significant. 

Poets must be 18 or older, reside and work in North Central Florida and be eligible to work in the United States with a valid IRS Tax Identification Number. Students must be enrolled in a Marion County middle or high school and have parental or legal guardian consent. Students under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. A valid email address is required.

There is no fee to apply. Each poet may submit one original poem that includes a title and does not exceed 40 lines. Submissions must be original, unpublished work in English. AI-generated content, plagiarized work and copyrighted material will not be accepted. Poems must be family-friendly, nonviolent and nonpolitical. 

Selected poems will be featured in the inaugural edition of “My Place, My Story: Art Park Literary and Poetry Book.”

Applications may be submitted at ocalafl.gov/poetryfest, emailed to [email protected] or mailed to City of Ocala Cultural Arts, 201 SE Third St., Second Floor, Ocala, FL 34471. The deadline to apply is March 2.

For more information, contact (352) 629-8447 or [email protected].

Heart of HR conference

Early bird tickets are on sale for the “Heart of HR: People Purpose Potential” conference headlined by Curtis Campogni, a motivational speaker, consultant, author and founder of Speak4MC. The fifth annual conference, presented by CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion and SHRM Greater Ocala, will take place April 9 at the Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80^th St., Ocala.

The event will be emceed by Ricky Baez, host of the seminal “H” in HR podcast, educator and founder of the HR consultancy, Baezco Learning.

The conference is eligible for continuing education credits from SHRM and the Human Resources Certification Institute. 

Early bird tickets are available at bit.ly/HEARTOFHR2026.

Marian Rizzo unveils newest book

Award winning, local multi-genre novelist Marian Rizzo and WordCrafts Press announce her latest novel, “Time Capsule,” available in hardback, trade paperback, audiobook and all major ebook formats.

Set in the not too distant future of 2058, Rizzo imagines a world that is eerily reflective of current events; one that could easily evolve if the tenuous balance of power slips to one side or the other, with America falling to the joint power of Russia and China, where survival of the few is only guaranteed in advanced, carefully constructed Time Capsules. But are those structures really arks of survival, or something far more ominous, the news release noted.

A Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist, Rizzo has won numerous awards for her writing, including the “New York Times” Chairman’s Award and first place in the 2014 Amy Foundation Writing Awards. She worked for the “Ocala Star-Banner” newspaper for 30 years. She also has written articles for the “Ocala Gazette,” “Ocala Style” magazine and Billy Graham’s “Decision Magazine.”