PALM CITY, Fla. - Gloretta Hall is a born and bred city girl. Wes Carlton is a farm guy through and through. Meeting each other for the first time at last year’s Farm City Luncheon, the two Martin County residents found themselves seated at the same table, discussing a wide range of topics on which they agreed and many they both wanted to learn more about.
“That’s the whole point of the Farm City Luncheon,” explained Rick Hartman, President of One Martin, the nonprofit organization that hosts the luncheon each year, along with the Martin County Farm Bureau. The annual event brings together urban and rural residents of the county to celebrate the important relationship between farmers, consumers, community leaders, and everyone in between who contributes to the community’s safe, abundant food supply.
“We’re all in this together,” Hartman says, “and the better we know and understand each other, the better we can work on our collective challenges together.”
This year’s Farm City Luncheon is on Thursday, November 16 at 11:30 a.m. at The Rocking H Ranch on Boatramp Avenue in Palm City. As with previous year’s luncheons, the farm to table menu will feature items that are locally grown and sourced.
Generations of farmers and ranchers established Martin County as an agricultural powerhouse where they raised their families, harvested their crops, drove their cattle, and helped to feed a region and a nation. During the luncheon, a panel will explore Florida's rich agricultural heritage and traditions, recognize the knowledge, skills, and values passed down through farming
families, and share activities and initiatives that promote a greater understanding of the important cultural and environmental role agricultural plays in our community.
“I thought I knew my community,” Gloretta Hall said. “The things I learned at the Farm City Luncheon and my conversations with Wes have given me a whole new perspective on what it means to be part of Martin County.”
Wes Carlton seconds that. “Agriculture in our region is changing rapidly, and it’s in the best interests of all of our residents to bridge the gap between those of us still farming the land out west and the folks in our more urbanized areas. We need to do it for the sake of our children and grandchildren.”
Sponsors to date include Ashley Capital, Becker Tree Farm, Captec Engineering, Family Lands
Remembered, Hartman Real Estate, Market on Main, Martin County Farm Bureau, Midbrook 1st Realty Corp, Shearwater Marine FL, Theresa & Richard Anderson, Three Lake, and Wedgeworth, Inc.
Additional sponsorships and individual tickets for the 2023 Farm City luncheon are available online by going to https://www.onemartin.com/upcoming-events.html or by contacting Melissa Zolla at melissa@fireflyforyou.com or 772-287-5272.
About One Martin
One Martin is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization dedicated to creating a more informed citizenry and providing opportunities for civil discussions on topics of importance to Martin County. Click here to sign up for One Martin’s newsletter or follow them on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/OneMartinCounty. For more info visitwww.onemartin.org.