Mixon Farms benefits from ODA students' cleanup effort

Seniors from The Out-of-Door Academy filled dumpsters and relived childhood memories at Mixon Fruit Farms on Oct. 3.

The students participated in the Alliance Gives Back, an annual volunteer drive organized by the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, of which ODA is an executive member.

Dylan Walker brought a picture of himself in fourth grade eating a Mixon Swirl — the ice cream cone that became synonymous with the farm, a soft serve combo of vanilla and orange ice creams. 

Eight years later, Walker is a senior in high school, and Manatee County owns Mixon Fruit Farms. Commissioners approved purchasing the former citrus farm for $13.5 million in July.

“(The Mixons) were here for 80 years,” said Crystal Scherer, Manatee County community engagement division manager. “We’re starting to clear it out, so we can start using the spaces.”

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

ODA students were tasked with clearing out and cleaning the warehouse, catering kitchen and Honeybell Hall, which is the main event venue. 

While the school has been a member of the Alliance since 2014 and this is the eighth year for the Alliance Gives Back, this is the first year students have had a chance to participate in the volunteer days. 

For the Alliance, it's a large group to accommodate in one place, as 56 students volunteered. For ODA, it's not always easy to take students out of class. 

However, Camela Giraud, the director of collaborative learning and education outreach, said they hit "a sweet spot" this year because the ninth through 11th grade classes were doing college testing, which left the seniors with a free day.

It's also the first year that ODA is having each grade complete a service project, so the seniors were able to kick off the new initiative. 

Mixon was chosen as their project after LWRBA president and CEO Brittany Lamont had a conversation with Manatee County Commissioner Amanda Ballard.

“I realized we had a chance to expand our reach and give back to a landmark in the community," Lamont said. "Mixon’s history is in the fabric of Manatee County, and we are so glad this next generation will see it continue.” 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

Scarlette Moyer had never visited Mixon Fruit Farms before sweeping the warehouse floor, but her mom knew of the farm. 

"It's definitely going to be cool seeing it when it's all done," Scarlette Moyer said. "We can come back and know that we played a part." 

While the students were busy cleaning out the indoor spaces, Manatee County had a crew outside leveling a huge field of dirt because the original event area is being expanded.

Parks Operations Manager David Shurmur said the cement was starting to be poured that day, and the field will be sodded next. 

Manatee County is preparing the facility for its first public event on Nov. 7, Mixon in Bloom. A week later, the farm will host its first Manatee Movie Night from 6-8 p.m., followed by two more on the second Fridays of December and January. 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

While Mixon is an exciting project for the community, the farm was not the only stop for the Alliance Gives Back. The initiative provided nearly 400 volunteers for over 30 projects this year alone. 

LWRBA members are a mix of both for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations. Lamont said the three-day effort "bridges the gap" between them and allows the nonprofits to gain volunteer support.

Serving nonprofit members is the main mission of the Alliance Gives Back, but volunteering also encapsulates the alliance's tagline, which is "the power of connection." Volunteering fosters connections between members "because of the shared core values that bring them together."