FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Anne Rollings, Exec. Dir. Communications & Business Development [email protected]

Watershed Hospitality Concepts Launches Business Partnership with “The Farm”

Sarasota High School’s AgriBusiness class is first in Florida

Sarasota, FL; December 14, 2025//: The Watershed Hospitality Concepts family of restaurants has proudly linked arms with Sarasota High School, The Farm at McIntosh Middle School, the Sarasota Cattlemen’s Association and an innovative class with WHC’s establishment of a business partnership commitment in support of the business of Agriculture and the future Ag leaders in the state of Florida. 

Sarasota County School District boldly committed to the renovation of the 39-acre campus at McIntosh Middle School to create “The Farm” a state-of-the-art learning center, which includes pasture land and barns for goats, chickens and cattle.  The Farm also offers a university-caliber greenhouse with aquaculture systems, a show arena and a teaching kitchen where students will learn to cook what they grow.

“As Locals and Floridians, we have tremendous respect for the role farmers, ranchers, fishermen and Ag play in our quality of life.  We’ve been acquainted with the Agribusiness teacher, Mrs. Woods, since her time as a 4-H exhibitor and want to extend our commitment on an authentically practical level.  We consider the importance of the Ag industry as an integral component to sustaining the quality of fare we serve in our restaurants,” said Mike Quillen, co-owner of WHC.   Said Farm Manager, Kate Traugott, “We are grateful for the support and the engagement with Watershed Hospitality Concepts and appreciate the investment in the future leaders of our community. The legacy of excellence that is Sarasota County Schools is a product of a community that recognizes the value of high-quality education and builds networks – like this one with WHC - to support it.”

With seven new buildings, including a show arena, food science lab, and biodigester system, The Farm offers immersive, hands-on opportunities in agriculture, culinary arts, aquaculture, and more.  As family farming and ranch lands have become harder to sustain, The Farm offers a space for student animal projects which are already being housed on site.  Thousands of SCS students will now have access to real-world learning experiences each year and The Farm is being held up as a bold national example of how to sustain support for the 4-H and FFA students who want to learn the business of Agriculture.

Principal Ryan Chase, SHS; Mrs. Delanie Bartell Woods, Agribusiness Teacher; Mike Quillen, co-owner Watershed Hospitality Concepts, Napolean the Rooster; Kate Traugott, Farm Manager; Ellen Cruz, Florida Dept. of Agriculture; Anne Rollings, Watershed Hospitality Concepts Exec. Dir. Business Development (cont’d)

Rollings, Woods, Quillen, Chase, Traugott, Cruz

            4-H student with her Steer project at The Farm.                    Ellen Cruz; Lisa Carlton, President Sarasota Cattlemen’s Association; Mike Quillen;  Mrs. Woods; Principal Chase; Kate Traugott

The Watershed Hospitality Concepts family of restaurants serves Hospitality. We are committed to creating welcoming experiences through quality, locally inspired fare, seasonal local crops from our farm partners & innovative cocktails. WHC employs 100+ hospitality- driven team members in our four restaurants. WHC offers our community casual, lively gathering places to savor craft cocktails and creative cuisine and enjoy the timeless ritual of sharing a meal.  Watershed Hospitality Concepts

In the State of Florida, the hospitality industry proudly employs over 1M restaurant workers in over 48,000 eating and drinking establishments, making us the second largest private employer and with contributions of over $77.6B in sales in Florida. (stats courtesy National Restaurant Association. https://restaurant.org/getmedia/d03a3569-54f3-4808-b93f-0b0a60a46f02/florida.pdf

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For more information, interview or additional photos contact Anne Rollings, Watershed Hospitality Concepts; [email protected]