State Fair salutes Florida agribusiness

TAMPA — From dairy goats to angus cattle, Florida's agriculture industry is on display at the 2013 Florida State Fair, which kicks off today at the fairgrounds in Tampa.

A new Florida Cattlemen's Ranching Museum debuts with this year's fair, and visitors will find a historical exhibit at the Ag Hall of Fame. There are also several competitions, from youth beef showmanship to swine and poultry judging, as well as an angus show.

Florida agriculture contributes more than $100 billion to the state's economy annually, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The state's 47,500 farms produce nearly 300 different commodities on more than 9.2 million acres of land. Agriculture employs approximately 750,000 people in the state.