ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 21, 2026) — Clay County's story stretches from the waterways that first connected its communities to the people who shaped what came next. In the latest episode of WUCF's Florida Road Trip, local voices explore that history and how it continues to influence the county today.
Florida Road Trip: Clay County premieres at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, on WUCF. The episode will also air on PBS stations serving Clay County and surrounding communities: 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, on WUFT and 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 on JAXPBS.
Hosted by Emmy® Award-winning journalist Scott Fais, the episode travels across Clay County to uncover stories that span generations. Viewers learn how Green Cove Springs became a destination for visitors after the Civil War and visit Camp Chowenwaw, which opened as a permanent Girl Scout camp in 1933 and welcomed generations of girls for more than 70 years.
Along the way, Florida Road Trip visits Camp Blanding, where more than 850,000 soldiers trained during World War II, and Penney Farms, where retailer James Cash Penney pursued an experiment in farming and community building. The journey also reaches the Clay County Agricultural Fair, where more than 2,000 volunteers help carry forward the county’s agricultural history.
Featured interviewees include:
- Vishi Garig, Clay County Clerk's Office Archives Supervisor
- John Bowles, President, Clay County Historical Society
- Deirdre Murphy, Chair, Keystone Heights Heritage Commission
- George Cressman, Historian, Camp Blanding Museum
- Greg Parsons, Curator, Camp Blanding Museum
- Liza McCain, Park Ranger, Camp Chowenwaw
- Cynthia Cheatwood, President, Historical Society of Orange Park
- Catherine Parrott, Town of Penney Farms Museum
- Barbara Haymon-Andrews, Long-time Resident of New Hope
- Louisa Padgett, Historian, Clay County Agricultural Fair
- Randolph Padgett, Superintendent of Padgett House
- Tasha Hyder, Executive Director, Clay County Agricultural Fair
The Clay County episode is the second installment in the new season of Florida Road Trip, with eight new episodes exploring communities across the state.
New episodes premiere Thursdays at 8 p.m. on WUCF and air on public television stations across Florida. Episodes are also available to stream for free following broadcast, with early access to the full season through WUCF Passport.
The media tool kit with episode images is available here: https://www.floridaroadtrip.org/blogs/florida-road-trip-newsroom/
To request interviews with featured guests or producers, contact:
Christine Dellert Mullon
christine@sondersays.com
407.718.0199
About WUCF: WUCF serves as the region’s trusted source for educational programming, arts, culture and local storytelling. As Central Florida's only PBS affiliate and home for jazz, WUCF offers free, accessible content that enriches lives, fosters curiosity and strengthens the community. Guided by the mission "We Change Lives," WUCF is committed to connecting, inspiring and empowering audiences across all platforms. To explore WUCF’s impact and programming, visit WUCF.org.
