ALACHUA – Results from Tuesday's municipal elections across Alachua County showed a mix of incumbent strength and fresh faces, with voters in Newberry, Alachua, and Archer weighing in on the direction of their local governments.

Newberry

In what proved to be the most hard-fought contests of the night, Newberry voters returned all three incumbents to office in races that drew significant attention across the small city.

Richard “Ricky” Coleman held his Group 1 seat comfortably, defeating challenger Brandy Oldman by a margin of 602 to 234, capturing 72% of the vote. In the Group 2 race, incumbent Mark L. Clark turned back David "Wally" Wallace 531 to 296, earning 64% of the vote.

The Group 3 contest was the closest of the three, with incumbent Monty Farnsworth fending off two challengers. Farnsworth finished with 399 votes, good for 47%, while Naim Joseph Erched came in second with 331 votes and JD Mercado finished third with 111 votes. Because no candidate in the three-way race cleared the 50% threshold, Farnsworth won by plurality under the city's rules.

Alachua

In the City of Alachua, political newcomer Jackson Youmas navigated a three-way race to win a city commission seat, but just barely avoided a runoff.

Youmas, a Democrat backed by the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee, which devoted considerable organizational resources to his campaign, finished with 833 votes winning 51.9% of the 1,606 ballots cast. That left him just 29 votes above the threshold required to avoid a runoff. His opponents, both Republicans running in the formally non-partisan contest, were incumbent Dayna Williams, who received 463 votes (28.8%), and Bill Menadier, who collected 310 votes (19.3%).

The narrow margin underscored how close the race came to extending into a runoff. Had just 30 votes gone the other way — shifting from Youmas to Williams or Menadier, Youmas would have fallen below the majority threshold and a runoff between the top two finishers would have been required.

Archer

In the City of Archer, Jennifer Rossi defeated incumbent Kathy Penny, 70 votes to 61, in a contest that saw Rossi capture nearly 53.5% of the 131 ballots cast. The margin was narrow but decisive, ending Penny's tenure on the city commission.

In a second Archer race, William Lewandowski ran unopposed and was elected without opposition to his commission seat.

Results are unofficial pending certification.

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Community members gather at San Felasco Tech City for Relay For Life, an evening dedicated to honoring survivors, recognizing caregivers and supporting the fight against cancer. / Photo special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA – Under the blue steel beams and solar-panel canopy at San Felasco Tech City, Relay For Life transformed a business corridor into something far more meaningful than an event site. Families stopped for photos. Volunteers staffed booths and food tables. Teams laughed in bright, handmade outfits. Music drifted through the plaza. And when survivors stepped forward for the opening lap, the reason for the evening came sharply into focus.

This was not just a fundraiser. It was a public show of support for people whose lives have been marked by cancer.

Held March 27 in Alachua, the local Relay For Life gathering brought together residents, businesses, civic groups and volunteers for an evening centered on the American Cancer Society’s mission and the traditions that have made Relay For Life a lasting community event. Teams began setting up hours before the 6 p.m. opening ceremonies, filling the Tech City corridor with activity, color and anticipation.

At the center of the evening was the celebration of survivors. Organizers asked survivors to gather near the DJ before the event began, where they received medals and prepared to lead the Survivor Lap. It is one of Relay For Life’s most meaningful traditions, giving the community a chance to honor those who have faced cancer directly and to remind them they are not walking alone.

After the survivor lap, caregivers were also recognized, family members, friends and others who have helped loved ones through treatment, recovery and loss. That back-to-back tribute to survivors and caregivers gave the evening its emotional core: courage, support and gratitude, all made visible in a shared public space.

City of Alachua Commissioner Dayna Williams, who attended the event, later described the evening as “truly an inspiring evening for our community.” In a Facebook post, she said the Survivors Walk was especially moving.

“Watching those survivors walk with such courage, strength, and hope was deeply moving,” Williams wrote. “It was a reminder of how important it is that we continue to stand together, support one another, and lift up those facing life’s toughest battles.”

That spirit carried through the rest of the event. Relay For Life is built around four signature elements of celebrating survivors, honoring caregivers, remembering loved ones through luminaria, and committing to “fight back” against cancer, and the Tech City event reflected that larger purpose. Even in its lighter moments, the night never drifted far from the cause that brought everyone together.

The photos from the evening capture that balance well. Some show the fun and energy that kept families engaged: a horse mascot posing with attendees, a giant purple chair serving as a photo backdrop, children and adults dressed in elaborate team costumes, and community members smiling shoulder-to-shoulder beneath the open-air canopy. Others point to the event’s local backbone: civic groups and businesses showing up not just as names on a sponsor list, but as active participants such as the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe team that staffed a popcorn booth. Supporters in team shirts mingled with families, volunteers and walkers.

Relay For Life is not just a fundraiser, but it is also a ritual of community memory. It gives people space to celebrate survival, to acknowledge the weight carried by caregivers, to remember those lost and to recommit to the work still ahead.

Williams wrote that the evening reflected “the strength, compassion, and unity that make our community so special.” It was more than civic language. At Tech City, it showed in the crowd, in cheers for survivors, volunteers behind the tables, photos shared among friends and neighbors, and the willingness of so many to spend a Friday night supporting a cause that touches nearly every family. For a few hours in Alachua, cancer was not treated as an abstract issue or a distant headline. It had faces, families, stories and memories attached to it. Relay For Life gave those realities a place to be seen.

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Nashville-based performer Jim Getzen provides entertainment during the 86th annual Alachua Lions Club Cattlemen’s Banquet on March 24. / Photo Special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA – The Alachua Lions Club carried forward one of the community’s longest-standing traditions on March 24, 2026, hosting its 86^th annual Cattlemen’s Banquet, the oldest continuous Lions Club fundraiser in Florida.

The event drew more than 400 attendees for an evening of fellowship, entertainment and community support, continuing a legacy that dates back to 1940. This year’s guests enjoyed a festive reception on the veranda sponsored by Capital City Bank with appetizers by Sonny’s BBQ and live music by Cliff Dorsey. Inside the main hall, Alachua Lions Club President Bill Johnson opened the formal program, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Lions District Governor Sue Rogers. Bill Johnson led a heartfelt rendition of “God Bless America.” First Baptist Church of Alachua’s Rev. Jess Bryan delivered the invocation.

Since its origins, the banquet has grown from a modest effort to support local FFA students into a cornerstone fundraiser supporting sight, hearing, youth and community programs throughout Alachua County.

Serving as Master of Ceremonies, State Representative Chad Johnson kept the program moving with a mix of humor and local insight, continuing the banquet’s tradition of engaging leadership and entertainment.

The evening’s featured entertainer, Nashville-based performer Jim Getzen, brought a lively and interactive show that blended music, storytelling and humor, a hallmark of the banquet’s evolving entertainment lineup.

A central highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2026 Cattleman of the Year award to Dr. Timothy T. Marshall, a longtime educator, mentor and leader in the beef cattle industry.

Marshall, a University of Florida professor for two decades, is widely recognized for mentoring generations of students and coaching livestock judging teams, with many of his former students going on to leadership roles in agriculture. His career has also included service as a college dean and industry consultant, and he remains active in advancing agricultural programs and youth involvement.

This year’s banquet included special tributes to two local icons. Lions honored longtime club member and local educator Dr. Christine Hirsch and Sonny’s BBQ founder Floyd “Sonny” Tillman. Both influential local leaders passed away late in 2025.

The banquet’s origins remain a defining part of its identity. In 1940, Alachua Lions members attended a local FFA livestock auction with the goal of boosting bids for student-raised cattle. When they ended up purchasing the steer themselves, the idea for a community banquet to support young agriculturalists was born.

That spirit of service continues today. Proceeds from the annual event support a wide range of local initiatives, including scholarships, youth programs, vision and hearing assistance, and partnerships with organizations such as the Santa Fe High School FFA chapter.

The Alachua Woman’s Club once again partnered in hosting the event’s silent auction, while students and volunteers helped carry on the banquet’s longstanding connection to agriculture and community involvement.

The origins of the Cattlemen’s Banquet trace back to a small but impactful gesture in 1940, when Alachua Lions members rallied to support the Alachua High School FFA by bidding on a student-raised steer. That simple act of generosity sparked a tradition that now attracts dignitaries, ranchers, and residents alike. Past events have featured notable speakers such as President Jimmy Carter and Florida Governors Lawton Chiles, Bob Graham, and Buddy MacKay.

As the curtain closes on its 86th year, the Cattlemen’s Banquet remains a beloved celebration of community, heritage, and philanthropy — and plans are undoubtedly underway for its 87th return, promising more laughter, good food, and goodwill.

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A staff member at Frog Song Farms displays freshly harvested produce at the Hawthorne-based farm, which is serving as the anchor site for Alachua County’s Fresh Food Pathways Project pilot program aimed at strengthening local food distribution and supporting area farmers. / Photo special to Alachua County Today

HAWTHORNE – On a stretch of farmland in Hawthorne, rows of seasonal crops at Frog Song Farms are doing more than supplying produce — they are helping shape what local leaders hope will become a more connected and resilient food system across Alachua County.

County officials have launched the next phase of the Fresh Food Pathways Project: Food Hub Feasibility Study, a 30-month initiative aimed at strengthening local agriculture, supporting area farmers and expanding access to locally grown food. Phase II centers on a 10-month pilot program anchored by Frog Song Farms, a working farm and food distribution operation that already connects growers to markets across Florida.

The pilot, conducted in partnership with food system consultants New Venture Advisors, is designed to test how a community-based food hub could function in Alachua County. Organizers say the effort will generate real-world data on production, distribution and market demand while building on existing infrastructure at Frog Song Farms.

A food hub serves as a centralized system that helps small and mid-sized farms aggregate, market and distribute their products to larger buyers, including schools, institutions and retailers. By coordinating those services, a hub can reduce logistical barriers that often limit local farmers’ ability to scale their operations.

At Frog Song Farms, that model is already partially in place. The Hawthorne-based operation aggregates produce from multiple farms and distributes it to customers throughout the region. Through the pilot program, the farm will expand those efforts, working to bring more growers into a coordinated network while increasing the volume and reach of locally sourced products.

“This project allows us to expand the reach of our local food network and support more farmers throughout Alachua County,” said John Bitter, owner of Frog Song Farms. “By improving aggregation, distribution, and access, we can get more fresh, locally-grown food into schools, institutions and homes across the county.”

County officials say the initiative is intended to address multiple challenges within the local food system, including limited market access for farmers and gaps in distribution that can make it difficult for institutions to source local products at scale.

During the pilot, efforts will focus on expanding farmer participation, strengthening aggregation and distribution logistics and increasing institutional purchasing of locally grown food. One area of emphasis includes partnerships with large buyers such as Alachua County Public Schools, which could play a key role in creating consistent demand for local products.

The project will also explore ways to improve food access for residents through direct-to-consumer sales and community-based distribution partnerships, helping connect more households with fresh, locally grown food.

“Strengthening connections between local farmers, institutions and residents helps build a more resilient food system,” said Bailey McClellan, the county’s agriculture economic development coordinator. “This pilot will provide valuable insight into how a food hub could support farmers while expanding access to fresh, locally grown food.”

In addition to market expansion, the pilot includes a workforce development component. Organizers say the project will support job training in produce handling and food distribution, with the goal of creating skilled positions tied to the local food economy.

Frog Song Farms currently works with several farms across the state, and the pilot is expected to expand outreach to additional growers in Alachua County and surrounding areas. By leveraging an existing operation, county leaders hope to test the feasibility of a larger, more formalized food hub without starting from scratch.

The findings from the pilot will help determine whether a permanent food hub could be established in the county and how it might be structured to best serve farmers, institutions and residents.

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