Agriculture has always been part of Manatee County's history as well as a stable force and a major contributor to the County's economy. At the Manatee County Agricultural Museum, you will explore five rooms featuring the County's primary commodities including Livestock, Vegetables, Citrus, Horticulture, and Commercial Fishing. Each room houses tools, equipment, photographs and exhibits that reflect the area's rich heritage. Local farmers and interested citizens have contributed many of the artifacts that are contained in the museum.

In addition to the commodity areas, the museum is also home to a library containing books and research materials, a farm shop and a garage where a restored 1925 Model T pick-up truck is displayed, the barn, where larger pieces of farm equipment are on exhibit and the William and Marie Selby Foundation Community Education Room, where programming and film viewing takes place.

Preserving Our Heritage...

Due to Manatee County's growth, urban development is rapidly replacing the rich agricultural lands so plentiful in the early half of the 20th century. Tourism is promoted as the number one industry in Manatee County. As a result, our young people have little knowledge concerning the prominent and historical role agriculture played in the development of their home county. The Agricultural Museum works to combine recognizing the historical achievements of our pioneer farmers with a hands-on museum designed to educate as well as entertain tourists and residents alike.

Three methods of spraying pesticides included a duster, Vowell sprayer, and knapsack sprayer.	Restored Galloway Engine used in West Bradenton.

Manatee County Agricultural Hall of Fame

A permanent exhibit is the Hall of Fame, which features portraits and accomplishments of distinguished agriculturists honored in Manatee County from 1967 to the present. From pioneer farmers to teachers, and from authors to cowboys, two individuals are voted into the Hall of Fame each year.

Admission is free, so while Mom and Dad are enjoying the museum exhibits, youngsters will appreciate the Junior Ag Spots scattered throughout the facility. Storybooks about farming, vegetable puzzles and mazes, citrus tic-tac-toe, agriculture videos and more will provide hands-on learning for children of all ages!

Above are a few of our Jr. Ag Spots and a game of citrus tic-tac-toe

Our Educational Programming:

The Learning Barn - The Learning Barn is a traveling exhibit used to tell the story about agriculture. This portable structure is used as a lending library that travels to schools in the county for three weeks at a time on a rotational basis. It is filled with agriculture-related educational materials to use to enhance the learning of children, from Kindergarten through 5th grade. Books, lesson plans, puppets, videos, curriculum, toys, and games fill the shelves of the Learning Barn that we have built at the Agricultural Museum. Click here for more information about the Learning Barn. Here is a list of all the materials found in the Learning Barn.

Super Sprouts - A Pre-K program that allows young children to learn about gardens, farms, crops, livestock, and to explore "what's before the grocery store."

Field Trips - Elementary School groups visit the museum for a hands-on educational experience to discover how agriculture touches their lives. Curriculum units which are enhanced by a field trip to the Ag Museum include farms, plants, American history, Florida history, nutrition, and economics.
Programming dates fill up fast, so call the museum today to schedule your field trip!

The Learning Barn is a wonderful opportunity to bring agriculture into the classroom.
Just some of the fun and educational activities children do on our school tours.

Group Tours Are Available

Your group can have a tailor-made tour to accommodate your needs. You may choose from a 45-minute tour, a 15-minute "What is it?" presentation, and a 40-minute film on the history of agriculture in Manatee County. Call the museum at (941) 721-2034 to make group reservations.

Interested in Volunteering?

Folks interested in local history and agricultural endeavors are encouraged to stop by or call the museum to explore where they may be able to contribute. Some areas of need include: