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Design preview · Living History concept · Forms and gifts are demonstrations. Official Friends website ↗
Friends of Dudley Farm
Supporting Dudley Farm Historic State Park
Newberry, Florida · Near Gainesville
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Meet the Friends

Good things grow
when people care.

Friends of Dudley Farm is the nonprofit support organization working alongside the park staff. Members, volunteers, and donors help care for the farm and share its stories.

People demonstrating traditional cane syrup making

A community
behind the farm.


The Friends of Dudley Farm is a Citizens Support Organization (CSO), a nonprofit group formed to support Dudley Farm Historic State Park. The CSO works in partnership with the Florida Park Service. Park staff manage the site and are responsible for its resources, programs, and operations, while the Friends provide volunteers, special events, community outreach, advocacy, and additional financial support. Through memberships, donations, grants, and fundraising activities, the organization raises funds used exclusively to benefit Dudley Farm. We invite you to become part of this important partnership by joining the Friends, volunteering your time and talents, attending events, sharing ideas, or making a contribution. However you choose to participate, your involvement will help preserve Dudley Farm’s historic buildings, landscapes, stories, and traditions for visitors and future generations.

Accomplishments:

2026 (so far)

    • Twilight Walk to the Past
    • Paid for floor replacement in historic kitchen
    • Bought a Kawasaki Utility Vehicle for park use
    • Installed WiFi in the commissary
    • Started construction of Pavilion
    • Upgraded Dudley Heritage Plant Nursery 
  • On Going Expenses
  • Pay for feed and veterinary bills for cracker cattle and horses
  • Purchase farm equipment
  • Purchase seed for garden

  • In Past Years
    • Paid for part-time Farm Specialist
    • Added new docents and volunteers
    • Paid to move the Marchant Commissary to the park
    • Instrumental in constructing a Collections building and staffing with volunteers
    • Opened and staffed Commissary Gift Store
    • Purchased CPU for volunteer use
    • Purchased folding tables and canopy tents for park and CSO
    • Replaced the ramp going into the tram to make it more handicapped accessible
    • New repair area (remodeled 50s kitchen)
    • Built the new Cane Syrup Complex at the Visitor Center.
    • Purchased computers, printers, software and associated supplies for Collections Building and CSO needs.
    • Installed irrigation system for the Dudley Heritage Roses at the Visitor Center.
    • Developed / Constructed and maintains the Dudley Heritage Plant Nursery

Revenue:

  • Friend's Commissary gift shop
  • Annual special events 
  •  Fall Farm & Cane Festival
  • Twilight Walk to the Past
  • Donations
  • Membership Dues
  • Grants

Goals: 

Projects:

  • Pavilion in Visitors Center Area (In process)
  • Replace Kitchen Floor - Completed!
  • Special activities for "Friends" members
  • Recruit new members

Priorities:

  • Our top priority is to complete the building and equipping the pavilion at the north end of the parking lot. This facility will provide a location to hold educational programs and demonstrations for children and the public.
  • We want to enlist more interested people into our troupe of re-actors. These reenactments really bring the 1800's into life.

Special Events

  • A New Year at the Park
  • Earth Day & Heritage Nursery Plant Sale
  • Ice cream social and volunteer awards
  • Fall Farm & Cane Festival
  • Plowing Up the Past
  • Twilight Walk to the Past
  • Partake of the Past

Help care for a place
worth passing on.

A gift that keeps history living.

Giving to Friends of Dudley Farm, Inc.

This is an excellent spot to share information about your organization, what you do, and why people should join.

This is a great spot to place contact information, such as your organization's phone number,
address, or a link to a contact page.

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