GREEN COVE SPRINGS – With so many farmers approaching retirement, Florida 4-H State President and senior at St. Johns Country Day School Taylor Thigpen told guests it’s vital to support 4-A, Future Farmers of America and Youth Agriculture Programs. Thigpen told nearly 200 people at the 51st Farm-City Luncheon that growing the next generation of farmers is a matter of national security. “According to the 2017 United States Census, 98% of the more than two million farms in the U.S. are family owned and operated,” he said. “It also found that the average number of producers are 58 years old. They’re going to be looking for that next generation of leaders to take over those farms and to continue agriculture – both production and education.”