Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
A picturesque photo of rural Jefferson County adorns the 2021 calendar of a statewide organization.
The organization is the Florida Association of Counties (FAC), and the photo is one submitted by Commissioner Betsy Barfield, a professional photographer in her own right.
“Show Us Your Spectacular,” is the title of the FAC 2021 Calendar, for which the photo of Jefferson County was chosen to represent the month of January.
The photo shows a tree canopied and an empty dirt road stretching into the distance, with lighter-colored vehicle tire marks forming a diminishing inverted V down the center.
The photo does not identify the road, nor did Barfield, although County Coordinator Parrish Barwick ventured a guess that it might be Brooks Road in the southern part of the county.
The 2021 FAC Calendar is intended to highlight some of the state’s rich geographical and cultural assets, as well as its history and aspects of the 67 counties that make up the organization.
Jefferson County’s photo was one of 15 selected to illustrate the calendar, out of nearly 400 statewide submissions, according to the FAC.
Besides Jefferson County, other North Florida counties chosen for the calendar, and the months that they illustrate, were: Okaloosa County, April; Leon County, June; Jackson County, July; and Wakulla County, December.
“Association members selected the (calendar) theme earlier in the year as an opportunity for counties to showcase the most unique sights in their local communities, whether it was beaches, art, architecture, or more,” Gabrielle McDonald, FAC communications coordinator sent in an email.
McDonald added that following the selection of the theme, a photo contest was held to determine the calendar’s content.
“The contest called for professional, amateur and cellphone photographers to submit their best photos emphasizing the diverse, eye-catching attractions across Florida,” McDonald said.
Founded in 1929 and headquartered in Tallahassee, the nonprofit FAC advocates for the diverse interests of Florida’s 67 counties, lobbying in the Legislature to preserve and strengthen county home rule through advocacy, education and collaboration.