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2020 FORD SUPER DUTY ®
Don’t miss out on this offer. Visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com today!
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*Farm Bureau Bonus Cash is exclusively for active Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. This incentive is not available on Mustang Shelby® GT350®/GT350R/GT500®, Mustang BULLITT, Ford GT and F-150 Raptor. This offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. Must be a Farm Bureau member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase and take new retail delivery from dealer by 1/4/21. Visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com or see your authorized Ford Dealer for qualifications and complete details. Note to dealer: Claim in VINCENT using #37408.
FEATURES
FLORIDA COUNTRY MAGAZINE / ISSUE VOL. 4 • NO. 1
ON THE COVER: The 2020 Miss Rodeo Florida Court finds time to have a little fun in the Florida sunshine. Photo taken by Amanda Yachmetz. Read more on page 26.
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Bred to Buck
Silver Spurs Riding Club’s Tradition of Breeding and Charity
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Florida’s Winningest Timed-Event Cowboy Spunk Sasser’s Life Revolves Around a Horse and a Cow 2
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DEPARTMENTS FLORIDA COUNTRY MAGAZINE / ISSUE VOL. 4 • NO. 1
FCM CIRCLE
PICTURE PERFECT
A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER
page 8
page 54
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COUNTRY ARTISTRY KISSIMMEE BULLISH ON REVEAL PARTY
FLORIDA EXCURSIONS
EXCITEMENT AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY
page 10
page 58
FLORIDA 4-H
YES, YOU CAN GROW VEGGIES IN FLORIDA
page 14
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THE HOMESTEAD
TIME TO KICK BACK!
STEPPING BACK INTO TRADITION WITH DANIEL WAYNE HOMES
GAITED CHARITY EVENT AGAIN IN OCALA
COUNTRY WIDE
HORSIN' AROUND
page 62
page 16
page 19
FLORIDA HARVEST THE JAMESONS ARE MAKING CITRUS GREENER
page 22
BRANSON’S A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY
page 66
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MY BEST FRIEND
page 70
COUNTRY CALIBER MCKENNA ANDRIS IS 2020 MISS RODEO FLORIDA
STARS & GUITARS
MEET MITCHELL TENPENNY
page 26
page 72
THE RANCH
WESTONWOOD RANCH’S 3RD CHARITY RODEO
CROSSWORD
page 75
page 40
RODEO PROFILE
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WHIPPING IT UP IN YOUR KITCHEN
THE FEMALE SIDE OF ROPING
page 44
page 76
2020 RAM NATIONAL CIRCUIT FINALS RODEO
TELLING TALES
page 48
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LOTS OF ROADS AND RODEOS
A REALLY BIG FISH
page 80
page 51
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THE CULINARY CRACKER
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Owner/Publisher Scarlett Redenius Owner/C.E.O. Brad Redenius President Thomas Fifield Vice President Sheila Fifield Editorial Director Jack Collier Design Director Brian Stromlund Director of Photography Marsay Johnson Proofreader Katherine Waters Contributing Writers Christopher Decubellis, Ava Grace, Kathy Ann Gregg, Libby Grimm, Dayna Harpster, Kym Rouse Holzwart, Dave Kelly, Sue King, Katey McClenny, Myles Mellor Featured Photographers Marley Andretti, Matthew Berinato, Heather Cannon, Shannon Castaneda, Shelby Douglas, Joyce Elledge, Dave Green, Kathy Ann Gregg, Melissa Grimes, Jackie Jensen, Tyler Jones, Maranda Lewis, Scott Lisenbe, Kalyn Stanaland Parrish, Kristina Rodriquez, David Rosenfield, Shane Rux, Jason Strachan, Jessie Tillis, Cory Tucker, Debora Whaley, Jim Wright, Amanda Yachmetz For more information about advertising with Florida Country Magazine, or joining our regional sales team, please contact:
239-692-2613 sales@floridacountrymagazine.com For other inquiries contact:
Scarlett Redenius, Publisher 239-600-4783 Published by: Florida Country Publications
PO Box 50989 • Fort Myers, FL 33994 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
facebook.com/floridacountrymagazine F LO R I D A C O U NTRYM A G A Z I N E . C O M Florida Country Magazine is published bi-monthly, copyright 2020, all rights reserved. Reproduction of contents in print or electronic transmission in whole or in part in any language or format must be by expressed written permission of the publisher. All articles, descriptions and suggestions in this magazine are merely expression of opinions from contributors and advertisers and do not constitute the opinion of the publisher, editor or staff of Florida Country Magazine, and under no circumstances constitutes assurances or guarantees concerning the quality of any service or product. Florida Country Magazine specifically disclaims any liability related to these expressions and opinions. Florida Country Magazine is not responsible for any unsolicited submissions. The advertiser agrees to hold harmless and indemnify the publishers from all liability.
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JAM-PACKED WITH EVENTS, IDEAS AND INFO
he smell of cotton candy, funnel cakes, hot battered corn dogs and barbeque fill the air in February and March throughout Florida. Rodeos, fairs, festivals, parades and all kinds of events take advantage of our weather during these months. One fair that you definitely don’t want to miss is the Florida State Fair in Tampa. The fair dates back to 1937 and has become one of the larger fairs and festivals in the U.S. and Canada. Fairgoers can partake in 12 whole days of fun—from Feb. 6 through Feb. 17. Another great family event is the Swamp Cabbage Festival in LaBelle—going strong for 54 years—that takes place Feb. 22 and 23. It is a pioneer festival honoring Florida’s state tree. Starting that Saturday morning, Feb. 22, thousands of visitors and locals will flood the streets and businesses of the city. The event kicks off with a terrific parade at 10 a.m., along Bridge Street, followed by activities and entertainment in Barron Park. If you are looking for rodeos, rest assured there is no shortage of those, either. Included are the 144th Silver Spurs Rodeo at Osceola Heritage Park from Feb. 21 to 23, the 92nd Annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship from March 12 to 15, and Okeechobee Cowtown Rodeo on March 14 and 15. Westonwood Ranch’s third annual charity rodeo is March 27 and 28 in Freeport, in the Panhandle. The rodeo raises funds for the ranch’s farm-based learning program for individuals with autism. Visit our new event calendar at floridacountry magazine.com/calendarlanding to check out other great events. Or sign up and enter your own events for our readers around the state! Speaking of the 144th Silver Spurs Rodeo, just where do those bucking bulls and broncs come from? Learn all about the top-notch Silver Spurs Riding Club breeding program that’s led by George Kempfer of Kempfer Cattle Company and Kevin Whaley of Whaley Cattle (page 30). More bulls? You’ve got them! The Florida Cow Culture Preservation Committee commissioned “1521 Herd of 7,” comprised of seven fiberglass bulls. They celebrate the 500-year anniversary, in 2021, of the arrival of cattle in Florida by explorer Juan Ponce de León. The original herd of seven bovine is commemorated by seven very
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talented Sunshine State artists. Our very own Florida Cracker Trading Company sponsored Stew, by artist Deborah Herbert. See them all starting on page 10. Not only do we have talented artists, we have talented people in rodeo who grace our pages this issue. Featured are Spunk Sasser, Traci Bailey, Mose Fleming, Parker Kempfer, Erika Nelson, and Miss Rodeo Florida McKenna Andris and her court. All represent our state in different ways and we congratulate each one of you! Even though we have a lot of things rodeo in this issue, we of course also have a lot more: Meet the Jamesons of Brite Leaf Citrus Nursey (page 22) or talented country singer and songwriter Mitchell Tenpenny (page 72). You can plant a vegetable garden (page 14) at your newly built dream house by Daniel Wayne Homes (page 62) or take a trip to Branson, Missouri (page 66), or visit Mill Creek Farm, where your entry fee is paid in carrots— literally (page 16). Maybe it’s a gaited breed charity event in Ocala or a fan experience with NASCAR—we have it all. And if you still want more, you can take a look at some awesome photos, make a delicious sandwich, or kick back and relax with a great fishing tale by Libby Grimm. Now that’s Florida Country! SCARLETT REDENIUS, Publisher
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COUNTRY ARTISTRY
KISSIMMEE BULLISH ON REVEAL PARTY JUAN PONCE DE LEÓN’S ‘1521 HERD OF 7’ REPLICATED IN FIBERGLASS
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Written by: Kathy Ann Gregg
he year 2021 is the 500-year anniversary of the arrival of cattle in Florida, brought in by explorer Juan Ponce de León. The original herd consisted of seven—so those original bovine are being commemorated by seven very talented Sunshine State artists.
Every bull was given a name and a few artists also nicknamed theirs. They decorated the life-size statues with pastoral scenes, famous people and even some rodeo action. After the artists completed their work, the “1521 Herd of 7” was given a protective top coat and delivered to downtown Kissimmee for the unveiling.
In 2019, the Florida Cow Culture Preservation Committee, or FCCPC, commissioned the creation of seven fiberglass replicas of a bull, each 5 feet tall and 150 pounds. They stand on a wooden platform that is pulled by a rope. And a Florida ranch or business has paid a substantial fee to sponsor each piece.
Smith Family Growers, owned by the Dymmek family, proudly hosted the reveal party on Oct. 26, 2019, in their hometown of Kissimmee. The bulls were situated outside restaurants up and down Broadway. There was a contest to obtain the signature of each artist, to win one of seven leather saddlebags. This gave people a chance to meet and chat with the artists.
From the applications received by the FCCPC, seven finalists were selected by a jury headed by the St. Petersburg-based James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art. Each bull was delivered to its respective artist, who turned his or her imagination loose in depicting Cracker life, the cattle industry or Florida wildlife.
The reveal party featured a food and drink table donated by Hooters. Each bull and artist was introduced by brothers Hardy and Kamry Dymmek, and each artist drew a saddlebag winner. The Kenyon Lockery Band then took over and the day ended with dancing in the streets.
PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE BY KATHY ANN GREGG
An up-close view of Guillermo (nicknamed Calico Willy), created by Sadie Dymmek.
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PHOTO CREDIT INFO
Clockwise from top left: artist Deb Herbert with Stew; Herb Harbin, president of Osceola County Farm Bureau and Cattlemen's Association, and Cow Hunters; Cracker Cow at Home; artist Jerri Phillips and husband, John Phillips, with Quienientos; Ponce by Linda Ballantine Brown; up-close Cow Hunters; Everglades by Susan Sturm Menand; Kamry Dymmek posing next to his depiction on Guillermo.
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COUNTRY ARTISTRY
Artist Deborah Herbert designed Stew.
One of the artists is Sadie Dymmek. Half of her creation contains rodeo scenes—the original competitions of working cowboys. Steer wrestling is her family’s event of choice; brother Kamry is depicted bull-doggin’ a steer as the family-raised horse, Honey Belle, runs next to him. Included is a bull rider in action. A back hoof shows Juan Poncé de Leon astride the outline of the state of Florida, and also features the number 1521. Deb Herbert’s bull contains a rendering of Florida Cattlemen’s Association president Matt Pearce of Okeechobee (see the October/November 2019 Florida Country Magazine), together with a Spanish gaucho. Monica Turner’s bull is full of Florida images—an old-time Cracker homestead, fishing in a stream, a pair of Seminole Indians, deer, alligators, turtles, a pair of sandhill cranes and even a snarling Florida panther. Sponsors choose where their bull is located throughout 2020. Beginning in early 2021, the bulls will tour the state, culminating with their appearance at the Trail’s End Celebration of the Great Florida Cattle Drive. That’s scheduled Dec. 11, 2021, at Silver Spurs Arena in Kenansville. At a later time, the bulls will be auctioned and proceeds will go to the FCCPC. FCM
ROUNDUP BULLS, ARTISTS AND SPONSORS:
• Stew, Deborah Herbert; Florida Cracker Kitchen • Ponce, Linda Ballantine Brown; Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show & Fair • Cow Hunters, Hobby Campbell; Walter Farms • Everglades, Susan Sturm Menand; The Traders Hill Farms
• Guillermo (nicknamed Calico Willy), Sadie Dymmek; Smith Family Growers • Quinientos, Jerri Phillips; The Mosaic Company
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PHOTO BY KATHY ANN GREGG
• Cracker Cow at Home (nicknamed Angus), Monica Turner; Lightsey Cattle Company
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FLORIDA 4-H
YES, YOU CAN GROW VEGGIES IN FLORIDA NEW SUNSHINE STATE RESIDENTS WILL FIND SUCCESS WITH THESE TIPS
lorida still grows a tremendous amount of vegetables that are enjoyed all over the United States, particularly in winter. For the small farmer, growing one’s own vegetables is a very rewarding, healthy and delicious hobby.
Some small farmers produce enough vegetables to sell at local farmers markets around the Sunshine State. There are also thousands of 4-H members throughout the state who participate in vegetable projects. I’ve been blessed with a relatively long career with the UF/ IFAS Cooperative Extension Service, mostly as a county agent. New Floridians would complain they “didn’t’ understand why they couldn’t grow vegetables here like they did” wherever they once called home. If you’re experiencing that frustration, the following are tips to successfully produce high-quality vegetables on your Sunshine State homestead:
SITE SELECTION
Picking just the right spot can go a long way toward longterm success in your Florida vegetable garden. You want
a well-drained location—close enough to your house for convenience. The spot should also receive at least six hours of direct sun daily.
SOIL TESTING
Managing your soil’s pH, as well as nutrient management, are key factors. The pH scale is a measure of how acidic, neutral or basic something is in solution (or in water). We measure pH on a scale from 0 to 14; 7 is considered neutral; below is acidic; above is considered basic. Soil pH is important because it influences how readily nutrients are available to the plants. Many soils are naturally a little acidic in Florida. Most vegetable plants prefer a pH between 5.8 and 6.3. It’s best to have your soil professionally tested at a facility such as the UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory. You can often work with a local county agent to have your soil tested at this lab. Info is available at soilslab.ifas.ufl.edu/. If your soil pH is below 5.5 or above 7, work with your local county agent or a master gardener, who will be happy to
Above left are vegetables from the garden of this article's writer, Chris Decubellis. His info stresses the importance of soil testing.
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PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE BY TYLER JONES AND COURTESY OF UF/IFAS
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Written by: Christopher Decubellis
advise how to raise or lower your garden soil pH. Based on your soil test, they’ll also recommend fertilizer strategies tailored to your specific soil. They might even recommend strategies to incorporate compost or other organic matter into your soil. If you start with a soil test, it takes a lot of the guesswork out of fertilizing your garden. You’ll have actual data about your soil, upon which you can base your decisions. Info is available at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss187.
Soil can be professionally tested at the UF/ IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory in Gainesville.
TIMING
Another challenge that new gardeners in Florida face is the issue of timing. Just because you planted something in midJune in another state does not mean that will be the best time to plant here. Florida is actually informally divided into North, Central and South for purposes of planting dates. If you time things correctly, you’ll avoid certain pests, and also optimize temperatures for particular crops. A popular Extension publication is the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide, found at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021. It has planting dates, spacing info, planting depths and recommended varieties for all of your favorite vegetables. It has other tips on irrigation and pest management as well. If you start with a good soil test, make sound decisions on soil amendments based on your data, and time your
plantings correctly, you’ll start a successful vegetable garden in our bountiful Sunshine State. And if there’s a young person in your life who loves growing things, please consider enrolling him or her in a local 4-H club! FCM
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HORSIN' AROUND
TIME TO KICK BACK! MILL CREEK FARM IN ALACHUA IS RETIREMENT HOME FOR HORSES
eet Andy! He’s a 25- to 30-year-old pony who loves spending his days grazing close to the mares in his pasture. The gelding is sweet and somewhat shy, and especially loves Saturdays because it’s Visitors Day—when he puts his head through the fence for a tasty carrot or two.
Mary and Peter Gregory, who always dreamed of having a farm to provide lifetime retirement for old, unwanted horses, founded the equine sanctuary in 1984. They sold their hotel in South Florida, bought 143 acres in Alachua, and started off with five horses.
While grazing, nuzzling visitors and eating treats are great ways for Andy, or any horse, to spend their retirement years, it wasn’t always that way for Andy. He was found abandoned and starving in the Everglades in 2018.
When the home became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, an additional 192 acres were purchased with donors’ support, to provide pastures for more retirees. The home now has 145 retirees—141 horses and four donkeys. There are generally about 130 to 150 horses at a time.
But thanks to the South Florida SPCA, he was lucky enough to be relocated to the Retirement Home for Horses at 335-acre Mill Creek Farm in Alachua, Florida. There, retired horses can roam freely, live peacefully and die with dignity.
Senior horses come to the home for a variety of reasons. They may be retired police horses or military horses, or may have been rescued from cruelty, neglect and abandonment, such as the case of carrot-loving Andy.
SENIOR HORSES COME TO THE HOME FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. THEY MAY BE RETIRED POLICE HORSES OR MILITARY HORSES, OR MAY HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM CRUELTY, NEGLECT AND ABANDONMENT. At left is Andy, who loves visitors and especially loves carrots! Below, volunteer Jane feeds Indy, who arrived at Mill Creek Farm in 2017 after being rescued by the South Florida SPCA.
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PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE COURTESY OF NORA DENSLOW
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Written by: Ava Grace
At top, a handy guide is available for visitors to the farm. As the sign above notes, they are welcome on Saturdays. Percherons Prince and Lynn, shown at right, enjoy carrots during Visitors Day.
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HORSIN' AROUND Clockwise from left: Volunteer Christine holds Rusty, a Belgian gelding, as farrier Dwayne Davis works on Rusty's hooves. The peaceful farm is comprised of 335 acres. Laura, Savannah and Roman eagerly await visitors. Volunteer Pearl holds retired police horse Champ while farrier Jaron Queen begins his work.
ROUNDUP Mill Creek Farm Retirement Home for Horses Inc. 20307 NW County Road 235A, Alachua, Florida P.O. Box 2100, Alachua, FL 386-462-1001, millcreekfarm.org rhh@millcreekfarm.org facebook.com/ RetirementHomeForHorses Visitors Days are Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entry fee is two carrots— but a 5-pound bag is better!
“Once a horse arrives through our gate, they never leave,” Denslow says. Upon arrival, a veterinarian examines the horse and provides needed treatment. Horses are groomed weekly and receive regular veterinary, dental and farrier care. The equine sanctuary relies on donations and on volunteers, who do everything from groom horses to drive the tractor
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or maintain golf carts. Denslow notes, “We also get many students from the University of Florida who are studying law, engineering and animal sciences, and come out to volunteer on the weekends.” She adds, “They paint, pick up tree debris, clear paths, plant trees and more.” People who want to volunteer or donate can go to millcreekfarm.org and click the “How You Can Help” link. In addition to helping 423 horses retire so far, the home also hopes to spread the news about the plight of unwanted horses. “Owning a horse should be a lifetime commitment to that horse,” Denslow says. “Even if you can no longer ride your horse, it should be honored as a valued member of the family.” FCM
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORA DENSLOW
Horses arrive through reputable rescue organizations such as the South Florida SPCA or county animal service departments, but not through private parties. “When we are notified that an organization has a senior horse that would not be adoptable due to health issues, or simply because of older age, we do our best to accommodate the requests,” explains Nora Denslow, a board member and 27-year volunteer.
HORSIN' AROUND
GAITED CHARITY EVENT AGAIN SET IN OCALA DON’T MISS THE LARGEST ALL-BREED GAITED HORSE SHOW IN FLORIDA!
PHOTO BY MELISSA GRIMES
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Written by: Kym Rouse Holzwart
he Southern States Rocky Mountain Horse Club puts on its second annual Gaited Charity Event at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala from Thursday, Feb. 27 through Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. Thursday includes an organized trail ride on the beautiful Cross Florida Greenway, and a clinic on gaited dressage and equitation.
A few open Mountain Horse classes are available for Rocky Mountain Horses and Kentucky Mountain Horses. All breeds of gaited horses are welcome to enter the many types of open gaited breed classes scheduled both days. There are classes for all experience levels of riders and horses, including many fun classes and schooling classes for those wanting to learn about showing.
The largest all-breed gaited horse show in Florida, as well as the only Rocky Mountain Horse Association-sanctioned show in the state, takes place Friday and Saturday. There are specific classes for Rocky Mountain Horses, Peruvians, Paso Finos, Tennessee Walkers, Racking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses and Missouri Fox Trotters.
Contestants placing first through third in particular classes are eligible to enter the championship classes scheduled at the end of each day. Lunchtime on Saturday, there’ll be a presentation of colors with a salute to veterans of all military service branches, followed by a parade of gaited horse breeds.
The Gaited Charity Event is the only Rocky Mountain Horse Association-sanctioned show in Florida.
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HORSIN' AROUND
PHOTO CREDIT INFO
Photos above and at bottom: There are many classes in which all breeds of gaited horses compete together. Middle photos from left: Saturday has classes specifically for Tennessee Walking Horses; an array of ribbons will be awarded; Spotted Saddle Horses can compete in open or breed-specific classes.
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OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP, MIDDLE AND BOTTOM PHOTO BY MELISSA GRIMES; MIDDLE LEFT PHOTO BY SHANNON CASTANEDA, MIDDLE RIGHT PHOTO BY DAVE GREEN / THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY JOYCE ELLEDGE
The focus of the show on Saturday morning is on youth riders (under age 18). All breed (gaited and non-gaited) fun classes and open gaited breed youth classes are also scheduled for that morning. The cost for all youth and fun classes is only $10 a class or $50 for all day. There will be a free youth riders’ party on Saturday afternoon, as well as a youth hospitality stall filled with snacks and drinks, and educational horse games and items. Similar to last year, in which $5,000 was raised, all proceeds from the Gaited Charity Event will go to Operation 300. It was started in 2012 in honor of Special Operations Chief (SEAL) Aaron Carson Vaughn, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011. He left behind two small children, and his story, life and legacy inspired the creation of Operation 300. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, its mission “is to provide mentorship to children of the fallen, honor the sacrifice of those who have given their all for our freedom, and promote patriotism and service in our communities.” It hosts adventure camps for children who’ve lost their father as a result of military service. Each child is paired with a father-aged mentor and he spends the weekend doing things with the child that they might have done with their father.
Classes specifically for Racking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses are offered on the second day of the show.
THERE ARE SPECIFIC CLASSES FOR ROCKY MOUNTAIN HORSES, PERUVIANS, PASO FINOS, TENNESSEE WALKERS, RACKING HORSES, SPOTTED SADDLE HORSES AND MISSOURI FOX TROTTERS.
If you’re interested in having lots of fun with your gaited horse, or for those who want to learn more about the many breeds of gaited horses, don’t miss the Gaited Charity Event! It also provides a unique opportunity for youth riders to have fun showing horses in a large venue. Stop by the club’s hospitality stall to meet and mingle with gaited horse owners and trainers. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for this awesome event, whose proceeds go to such a good cause. FCM
ROUNDUP Southern States Rocky Mountain Horse Club Melissa Grimes, 520-873-7749 ssrmhclub.com, ssrmhclub@gmail.com Operation 300 op300.org
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FLORIDA HARVEST
THE JAMESONS ARE MAKING CITRUS GREENER FROM BACKYARD ENDEAVOR TO AWARD-WINNING NURSERY
any great accomplishments start from a small seed of thought and grow into something impressive and notable. For Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery, a fully enclosed citrus production nursery in Lake Panasoffkee, Florida, in Sumter County, it all started in the very same way—from a seed of thought. The nursery began in 1998 in the backyard of Nate and Anna Jameson, who at the time were residing in southern Hillsborough County and working for agricultural companies. Their dream was to someday branch out and farm independently.
What is grown in 120,000 square feet of fully enclosed, insectproof greenhouses are a variety of high-quality citrus trees— oranges, grapefruits, kumquats, lemons, limes, mandarins and more. The Jamesons mostly contract grow for commercial groves, but they also knew initially that homeowners wanted the same high-quality trees for their own yards.
In 2006, after Florida’s spate of hurricanes in 2004, that dream was realized. Taking into consideration new rules
“On a smaller scale, we also have exotics for homeowners,” explains Anna. The exotics include Buddha’s hand,
Standing in one of their greenhouses, which offer a disease-free controlled environment, are, from left, Nate, Anna and son Nathan Jameson of Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery in Lake Panasoffkee, Florida.
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designed to govern production of citrus nursery trees and minimize the spread of diseases (Florida Rule 5B-62), the Jamesons relocated Brite Leaf Nursery LLC to Sumter County. Their endeavor, now known as Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery, soon became a “go-to” for commercial grove owners and homeowners.
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Written by: Ava Grace
PHOTO BY FLORIDA FARM BUREAU CARES PROGRAM
William Jameson, far right, and his parents look over the crop in one of their eight production zones.
ALTHOUGH THE BUSINESS KEEPS THIS SEVENTH-GENERATION FARM FAMILY PLENTY BUSY, THE JAMESONS STILL GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
calamondin, yuzus and a few others. Growing conditions help ensure the health and quality of their trees, which they ship throughout the U.S. and Canada, with the exception of citrusproducing states such as Arizona, California, Louisiana and Texas. In addition to protective greenhouses, what else makes the growing conditions at Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery unique are implementation of Best Management Practices. The nursery’s BMP are designed to help manage water and fertilizer use, protect local water quality and assist with the bordering wildlife management area. Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery was recognized last fall as a Florida Farm Bureau 2019 CARES winner for its efforts in protecting Florida’s natural resources through the Jamesons’ BMP. To help manage water, they transitioned from overhead to drip irrigation, reducing water use from 24,000 gallons per day to fewer than 10,000 gallons per day—a 60% water savings. They also installed automated fertigation to precisely apply fertilizer, cutting nitrogen use in half. The Jamesons conduct leaf and water sampling to analyze nutrition of plants and uptake of nutrients; use coconut fiber as potting media—a sustainable byproduct of the coconut oil industry; and planted pine trees as windbreaks and to provide natural habitats for local wildlife. F F LO LO R R II D DA AC CO OU U NTRYM NTRYM A AG GA AZ Z II N NE E .. C CO OM M
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Although the business keeps this seventh-generation farm family plenty busy, they still give back to their community: Anna is vice president of Sumter County Farm Bureau, a member of the Florida Farm Bureau Citrus Advisory Committee and Sumter County Ag Alliance, and is involved with FFA alumni. Nate is VP of the International Society of Citrus Nurserymen and is on the FNGLA Citrus Nursery Division executive committee. Oldest son Nathan, a recent graduate of the University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, now works in the family business. Younger son William studies agricultural operations management at UF. Ever evolving, the nursery is in the construction phase of another facility “to focus on the out-of-state shipments,� notes Anna. And in order to raise their BMP even higher, the Jamesons are looking at collecting the water from the roofs of their greenhouses for irrigation use. FCM Above, Nathan, Anna and Nate Jameson being honored last fall with a 2019 CARES designation and sign at Sumter County Farm Bureau's annual meeting. With them are Tammy Hinkle of FDACS and James Sutton of the bureau. Below, the nursery grows a variety of high-quality citrus.
ROUNDUP Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery 480 County Road 416 South Lake Panasoffkee, Florida 352-793-6861, briteleaf.com
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLORIDA FARM BUREAU CARES PROGRAM
FLORIDA HARVEST
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COUNTRY CALIBER
MCKENNA ANDRIS IS 2020 MISS RODEO FLORIDA HOMESTEAD NATIVE ‘WANTS TO PROMOTE THE STATE AND THE PRCA’
hen each year closes, it’s “out with the old, in with the new”—and of course that’s what happens with the Miss Rodeo Florida Court, too:
Miss Rodeo Florida 2019 Cara Spirazza made us proud by placing in the Top 10. And she came in second in the scrapbook competition at Miss Rodeo America, held in Las Vegas in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. McKenna Andris is Miss Rodeo Florida 2020. With the title, she’s the state representative for the Professional Rodeo
Cowboys Association, or PRCA. Andris, of Homestead in Miami-Dade County, was crowned in September, winning over two other very qualified contestants. She also won Miss Photogenic; the awards for Horsemanship, Speech, Appearance, Personality; and the Miss Rodeo Florida Test. While waiting for Spirazza to finish her reign, Andris attended pro rodeos as a “lady-in-waiting.” The 21-year-old is a senior at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, majoring in criminal justice. She plans to continue her education by attending law school, and eventually reach her goal of becoming a prosecutor in the criminal justice system. The 2020 court members know how to have fun! From left are Miss Rodeo Florida McKenna Andris, Miss Teen Rodeo Courtney Clair, Princess Emma Boisclair and Sweetheart LillyAnn Daugherty.
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PHOTO BY AMANDA YACHMETZ
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Written by: Kathy Ann Gregg
A true Floridian, Andris takes part in a photo shoot while on a stand-up paddleboard. At right, she performs a flyby at the Southeastern Circuit Finals in Davie last November.
Andris considers the HRA as her “second family”—having ridden on the flag/drill team from 2011 to 2013. She ran flags at the 2014 rodeo in her position as Miss Teen Rodeo Florida. The years 2015 and 2016 saw her competing as a junior barrel racer at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, or WPRA. She then received her WPRA permit, and began her career in that organization running the barrels there in 2017.
PHOTOS BY DAVID ROSENFIELD
And this isn’t the first rodeo queen position held by Andris. She was Miss Teen Rodeo Homestead in 2013, and the following year was Miss Teen Rodeo Florida. The Homestead Championship Rodeo holds a special place in her heart because it’s her hometown. She’s been a part of the association, or HRA, since 2011. Her parents are on the executive board, and hold offices as well.
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At left, Andris poses for photos after winning her title. At right, the group of pageant contestants for the 2020 Miss Rodeo Florida Court take part in a Christmas shot, including 2019's Cara Spirazza.
The 2020 Miss Rodeo Florida Court also consists of Courtney Clair as Miss Teen Rodeo (see Florida Country Magazine of February/ March 2018), Emma Boisclair as Princess and LillyAnn Daugherty as Sweetheart. Explaining why she competed, Andris says, “I’ve had the opportunity to promote rodeo through being on a rodeo committee and while being a WPRA barrel racer. I wanted to promote the state of Florida and the PRCA more on a national level, and being Miss Rodeo Florida gives me that opportunity.” Florida is truly lucky to have such a talented and committed young lady on its side. And we look forward to McKenna Andris representing our state in the 2020 Miss Rodeo America pageant come November of this year! FCM
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LEFT PHOTO BY AMANDA YACHMETZ; RIGHT PHOTO BY HEATHER CANNON
She was set to attend her “second home” as Miss Rodeo Florida from Jan. 24 to 26, 2020. Concerning the event, she noted, “I’m very excited to attend my FIRST rodeo as Miss Rodeo Florida at the place I call home. I’m not sure who’s more excited about it—me or my Homestead rodeo family! They’ve supported me endlessly through all of my different rodeo journeys, whether it’s barrel racing or me wanting to be a rodeo queen.”
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TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF WHALEY CATTLE COMPANY; BOTTOM PHOTO BY DEBORA WHALEY
Black-and-white photo of a Silver Spurs Rodeo was taken by Richard Shepherd. Below are young bulls out to pasture. Opposite page, six-time world champion Sage Kimzey covers #32Y "SweetPro's Bruiser" of D&H Cattle Company during the 2019 Wrangler National Circuit Finals Rodeo.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF SILVER SPURS ARENA
Written by: SUE KING
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he bulls and the blood and the thing called rodeo—where would it all be without the buck? Thanks to some selective breeding, Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, Florida, never has to worry about that. The semi-annual rodeo, the largest east of the Mississippi, is organized by Silver Spurs Riding Club. F LO R I D A C O U NTRYM A G A Z I N E . C O M
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Silver Spurs Rodeo was first held near what is today Neptune Road and Kings Highway, on July 4, 1944, to raise money for the war effort. In its early years, riding club members would bring in bulls and broncs from their herds for the competitions.
By the 1960s, Doug Partin and Shang Bronson began breeding bucking bulls specifically for Silver Spurs Rodeo’s use. The stock committee of the riding club now runs its own breeding program, based in Kenansville. It’s led by George Kempfer of Kempfer Cattle Company and Kevin Whaley of Whaley Cattle, who continue to manage the effort in the best tradition of generations of Florida cowmen. Silver Spurs Riding Club’s breeding program uses local genetics, and the bulls have a reputation as some of the fiercest in the country. Talking about the development of the breeding program, Kempfer explains, “At some point, we bred some really tough Florida bulls that couldn’t be ridden for eight seconds. One I remember was ‘Cold Cold Heart.’ He was a hard bucker, and big—almost a ton. “Usually, when they get that big, they don’t buck or don’t buck long. But he did, and nobody could stay on him. We had to take him out of competition because when cowboys knew he was in the mix, they just didn’t want to come.” He smiles, saying: “That doesn’t make for much of a show, but it speaks to the caliber of the animal athletes we produce.”
Silver Spurs Riding Club’s breeding program uses local genetics, and the bulls have a reputation as some of the fiercest in the country. 32
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THIS PAGE: INSET PHOTO COURTESY OF WHALEY CATTLE COMPANY; OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF SILVER SPURS ARENA OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP TWO PHOTOS AND MIDDLE LEFT PHOTO BY DEBORA WHALEY; OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF SILVER SPURS ARENA
Clockwise from left: Shang Bronson graces a 1999 program; #914 "Best Hope," Silver Spurs Riding Club's saddle bronc horse, bucks at the 2019 RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo; circa-1960s photo of Bronson.
Clockwise from top left: In-program bucking broncs with the Silver Spurs "S" brand; horses in the breeding program; Kissimmee-based Silver Spurs Arena; historic photo of Silver Spurs quadrille team performing "ladies to the center"; historic image of a Silver Spurs Riding Club member working stock; bull "KO2 Hang 'em High" was a great one!
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Top left is circa-1990s photo of Doug Partin (who passed away in 2009), Kevin Whaley and Steve Whaley. Top right is a really good bull that recently went to the Southeast Circuit Finals. Middle inset photos from left show Partin, Kevin Whaley and George Kempfer. Below, some of the horses in the breeding program.
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OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF WHALEY CATTLE COMPANY; TOP RIGHT AND BOTTOM PHOTO BY BY DEBORA WHALEY; INSET PHOTOS COURTESY OF SILVER SPURS ARENA THIS PAGE: TOP LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF WHALEY CATTLE COMPANY; TOP RIGHT PHOTO BY DEBORA WHALEY
At left is a photo of "Lorena" from back in the day. She also went to the National Finals Rodeo! Above, she's now in her 30s and the terrific horse still lives on the Whaley ranch.
The program is led by George Kempfer of Kempfer Cattle Company and Kevin Whaley of Whaley Cattle, who continue to manage the effort in the best tradition of generations of Florida cowmen.
additional hazards for cowboys and don’t contribute to the sport. A successful bucking bull “has it made in life”—it will do a little traveling, a little work in the rodeo and a lot of time spent being well fed and put out to stud. Silver Spurs bulls compete in the Okeechobee and Fort Pierce rodeos, the Southeastern Circuit, the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas and the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee.
Whaley adds, “We breed some of our best mares. It takes a colt up to 5 or 6 years of age before we know how good it’s going to be. It’s a slow process. Then we have to get them used to being handled in the chute, so cowboys can get on them. We’ll take some of the horses to amateur rodeos to get them used to being handled.
The program also breeds saddle broncs and bareback broncs with notable results. Its horse #914 “Best Hope” claimed the 2018 Southeastern Circuit Finals Saddle Bronc Horse of the finals, the 2018 and 2019 Ram National Circuit Finals Bucking Horse of the finals and the 2018 National Finals Rodeo High Marked Horse in his round.
“We’re also particular about how the horses are handled. A good horse may get bucked six or eight times a year, and some of the horses will last until they’re about 20 years old before they’re retired. The bucking stock is on a vaccination and feeding program to enhance their health and longevity of performance and life.”
“It’s a hobby and a passion for me,” notes Kempfer, “but mostly it’s about raising money for the club to give away to local charities.” That follows in the tradition of the World War II-era founding of the club. Funds raised from recent rodeos have been given to organizations such as the Education Foundation of Osceola County, the Howard Phillips Center for Children and Families, Wounded Warrior Sportsmen Fund, and Horses and Heroes. FCM
Bull selection begins by breeding the best bucking bulls to a variety of cows that have either turned out promising buckers in the past, are out of successful bucking bulls or have shown an ability and preference to buck. Yearling bulls are rigged and tested with a remote-control dummy that resembles the weight and action of a rider. Ones that look promising are kept until they’re 3 years old. Between 3 and 4 years, the dummy or a light rider will work with the bulls to see how they perform; by 4 years, the stock is big enough to carry the full weight of a rider and begin competing. Kempfer and Whaley look for bulls that kick high, turn back with torque and change direction randomly. The breeders also select bulls that are good in the chute and won’t lie down or slam into barriers. Those traits are
The success of Silver Spurs Riding Club’s breeding program is in the product. In the 2017 National Finals Rodeo, its bull “KO2 Hang ’em High” became an eliminator bull. It was the high marked eliminator bull in his round, beating 2017 PBR World Champion Bull #32Y “Bruiser.”
ROUNDUP Silver Spurs Rodeo 9th Annual Monster Bulls: Feb. 15, 2020 144th Silver Spurs Rodeo: Feb. 21-23, 2020 321-697-3495, silverspursrodeo.com. Osceola Heritage Park/Silver Spurs Arena 1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee, Florida
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Written by: KATHY ANN GREGG
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o sum up Spunk Sasser’s rodeo career in one sentence, “He’s Florida’s winningest timedevent cowboy.” And Florida Country Magazine has the whole story:
Harold “Spunk” Sasser was born Dec. 28, 1965, in Pasco County’s Lacoochee, where his mom, Jeanette Sasser, still resides. He laughingly remarks that she’ll buy
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any photo with him in it—“She even has several where you can clearly see that my rope missed the calf’s head.” He “cut his teeth” in rodeo about age 10, at the 301 Arena in Lacoochee. That’s where his dad, Harold Sasser, did some rodeo and was also into horse shows. Sasser’s late sister, Lisa Dewees Belcher, learned barrel racing there. It’s where the siblings held five-day summer horse camp for 28 years.
TOP PHOTO BY KATHY ANN GREGG; OTHER PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE COURTESY OF SPUNK SASSER
Spunk Sasser heels the steer in one of the rounds that resulted in his winning, with Daren Sims, the 2017 Yeti World Series of Team Roping #13 Finale in Las Vegas. At top are Sasser's last two Southeastern Circuit Finals buckles, won in 2010.
THE YEAR 1992 GAVE HIM another one for the record books—the only PRCA contestant to win three average titles in the same year!
Sasser waits to enter the roping box during the short round of the 2017 Yeti World Series of Team Roping #13 Finale.
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From left, Sims and Sasser take their victory lap after winning the Finale in Vegas in 2017. Photo at right shows Sasser with "Shag," his heeling horse for his Finale win.
Like many youngsters, Sasser learned to ride horses and rodeo doing barrels, pole-bending and goat-tying; graduating to “traditionally male events” of steer wrestling, and tie-down and team roping. He competed in steer wrestling in the 1980 Nestea Challenge. It took place in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo, then in Oklahoma City. Sasser placed second behind world champion Oat Berry, for which he won a scholarship.
He won 15 titles during those years, for steer wrestling, team roping and the coveted title of All-Around Cowboy. Sasser competed in Arcadia, the Lakeland Coliseum, the Charlie Lykes Arena at Florida State Fairgrounds, in Marianna and Pensacola in the Panhandle, and Brighton Arena. He competed in Decatur, Alabama, while in the Southeastern Circuit Finals, in addition to its current home at Bergeron Rodeo Grounds in Davie, Florida.
Sasser competed in the Florida High School Rodeo Association, qualifying for the High School National Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling in Yakima, Washington, in 1980. He qualified in steer wrestling and team roping when it was held in Douglas, Wyoming, from 1981 to 1983.
As a tribute to his staying power, Sasser holds the record in the Southeastern Circuit for the longest span between his first and last titles: 23 years (1988 to 2010) as All-Around Cowboy, and 27 years (1984 to 2010) for team roping.
His professional career began in 1982, when he received his first permit from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, or PRCA. He wasn’t the minimum age of 18, so professionals Robert Sanders and Bill Barthle signed for Sasser, vouching he was “competitive enough” to compete with the pros. In 1983, Sasser qualified for his first Southeastern Circuit Finals. The “love affair” between Sasser and the Finals lasted for decades—as he qualified for them every year through 2018! (Although he qualified, he did miss one year because of kidney stones.) Sasser went 36 years in team roping, 27 years in steer wrestling and 17 years in tie-down roping. It was the latter event in which he never did get a title.
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He’s tied with three others for the most consecutive average titles in team roping, from 2002 to 2003. In addition to his titles, Sasser gave back to the Southeastern Circuit by being vice president from 2011 to 2015. And while he was garnering all of these honors from his circuit, he also qualified for and competed in the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo when it was held in Pocatello, Idaho, and Oklahoma City. He qualified 14 times, taking home titles for steer wrestling, team roping and AllAround Cowboy, for a total of seven wins. The year 1992 gave him another one for the record books—the only PRCA contestant to win three average titles in the same year! Sasser admits he kept bull-doggin’ for probably two years
TOP LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF SPUNK SASSER; OTHER PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE BY KATHY ANN GREGG
SASSER ADMITS HE KEPT BULL-DOGGIN’ for probably two years after he “should have stopped.” The strain on his knees caused him to retire from that event and tie-down calf roping. But fortunately not so for team roping, which is done from horseback.
Above left is a corner of Sasser's "trophy room." At right, he holds up an oversized cardboard "check" for the $238,000 that he and Sims won in 2017.
after he “should have stopped.” The strain on his knees caused him to retire from that event and tie-down calf roping. But fortunately not so for team roping, which is done from horseback. Since 2015, Sasser and various roping partners have competed in the World Series of Team Roping. It’s one of many rodeo events taking place in Las Vegas while the Wrangler NFR is held each December. More than 700 teams enter the team roping mega-event; with entry fees of $5,000 per team, there are huge payouts. Ropers of certain levels compete against others of similar talents and qualifications. The 2017 competition was a gamechanger for Sasser: He was a #7 Elite, so he teamed up with a #6, Daren Sims of Fountain, Florida, in the Panhandle, to enter the Yeti #13 Finale. They’d been friends for years but had roped together for maybe nine other runs. During the event, they watched nervously as 16 teams tried to better their four-head total of 31.19 seconds. On the 17th callback, Sims spun the steer around to put it in the right spot for Sasser’s heeling rope. Their 6.12-second run clinched the title—and a $238,000 payout! Prior to that, the most Sasser had ever won in an event was $22,000. And he had a second win that year in Vegas—in the #15 event, he and regular roping partner Nelson Linares of Hialeah, Florida, won $5,000.
Heading ropers knew his reputation, as Sasser frequently heeled in roping jackpots, and he found himself in demand as a heeler. With a twinkle in his eye and slight smile, he says, “And now I got me a good heading horse, so I’m thinking of switching back!” Life revolves around a horse and a cow: “All I’ve ever wanted to be is a cowboy, but sometimes you gotta go to work.” He practices at least three or four days a week. In addition to the camp, he regularly did roping clinics. Students include NFR competitors Clint Summers and Dustin Egusquiza, and up-and-comers Sam Morgan and Dawson Cantu. RAM National Circuit Finals qualifier Juan Alcazar Jr. lived with Sasser and his wife, Kelley, for about a year after high school, learning the finer points of steer wrestling. (“I’ve heard that every cowboy deserves one good woman, and one good horse in his life. I’m lucky—I’ve got me one GREAT wife, and I’ve had several good horses,” Sasser notes.) Sasser has won 67 trophy saddles and so many buckles that he’s lost count. He keeps much of his rodeo memorabilia in his “trophy room”—think cowboy-themed man cave. Saddles are wall-mounted, with canvas photos of his 2017 win underneath. Even the oversized cardboard check for $238,000 can be found there.
His mount for that big win was a 14-year-old gelding, a “nomaintenance-needed-ex-reiner” whose barn name is "Shag." But it is the horse’s registered name, “I’ll Be Right Back,” that sums up Sasser’s story!
Kelley is a former barrel racer (they met at the 301 Arena in Lacoochee). She fashioned old window frames into buckle stands that hang on the walls, and made the handsome buckle table that sits in one corner of the room. Her sister made a quilt of Sasser’s Circuit Finals jackets, which hangs on a rack with the saddles.
Sasser’s team roping career began on the heading side. Explaining why he switched to heeling, he says that at the first round of the Professional Cowboys Association Finals in 1997, his horse fell and broke its shoulder, requiring him to put the horse down. Over the years, his other good heading horses foundered, leaving him with only heeling horses.
Everywhere Sasser goes, he’s joined by his sidekick “Vegas,” a black-mouth cur. Born while he competed in Las Vegas in 2018, Kelley raised her from birth. Having the dog reminds him of that game-changing day in 2017. And of course there are so many more rodeo memories from Spunk Sasser, a helluva cowboy! FCM F LO R I D A C O U NTRYM A G A Z I N E . C O M
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THE RANCH
WESTONWOOD RANCH’S 3RD CHARITY RODEO HELPS FARM-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM Written by: Kathy Ann Gregg
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odeo cowboy Jason Wood and his wife, Lindy, were blessed: He competed in pro rodeos in the steer wrestling event, they had a nice farm in rural Livingston, Alabama, and they had four beautiful children—two girls and two boys. Then they heard the word “autism” as the diagnosis for their 2-year-old son, Weston, and their world was forever changed. The family moved in 2015 to the Florida Panhandle city of Freeport, in Walton County, for more therapy options for
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Weston. The 40 acres they purchased was to re-create the Alabama farm. But Lindy, who had a career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, quickly discovered it “could be so much more than just a family farm.” Because of the shortage of programs—locally and nationwide— geared toward older youths and young adults facing the challenge of autism, the Woods realized they had an opportunity to help not only their son, but many other families. And Westonwood Ranch was created!
PHOTO BY SCOTTY LISENBE
Weston Wood rides in the opening ceremony of last year's charity rodeo. With him are his mom Lindy, brother Paxton and dad Jason.
Clockwise from bottom left: Summer camp participants feeding goats; exterior shot of the ranch; and photos from last year's rodeo, put on by the Professional Cowboys Association, showing a barrel racer, a saddlebronc rider being tossed off, and steer wrestlers.
BOTTOM PHOTOS COURTESY OF WESTONWOOD RANCH; TOP PHOTOS BY SCOTTY LISENBE
This local non-profit organization has big dreams. The Woods hope the ranch will “fill in the gaps where traditional vocational rehabilitation programs fall short, such that those afflicted with autism and other developmental disabilities will be equipped to be a productive part of society as they become adults.” As Lindy explains, “There’s not enough focus on looking at the individual and figuring out what their unique talents and skills are, and retrofitting that into a job that’s comparable to their skillset. The support that we’ve received has been tremendous. I am so grateful to be a part of such a generous community.” In August 2019, the doors of the farm-based campus opened, welcoming full-time students ages 12 through adulthood. They learn independent living skills that emphasize work exploration, taught through hands-on ranch operations. Included are aquaponic farming, animal feeding and care, as well as kitchen operations, creative art exploration and fitness classes. And students receive equine-assisted therapy in their holistic curriculum. The ranch also offers after-school programming for younger children with special needs, including art therapy and equine-assisted therapy. A unique
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THE RANCH summer camp experience uses farm-based learning and equine activities. The Woods hoped the non-profit farm would become self-sustaining, with a revenue stream to help support it. The ranch has several micro-business enterprises that not only serve as on-the-job skill training and employment opportunities, but also contribute back to the program. At the center is a commercial aquaponics greenhouse that raises channel catfish and produce in a closedloop ecosystem. So how does a pro rodeo fit into this story? When the Woods launched 2017’s campaign to construct the campus, they knew it’d be critical to have a yearly signature fundraising affair. While there are many high-end ticketed fundraisers, they wanted a family-friendly event involving a large portion of the community: “It’d not only generate funds for Westonwood Ranch, but would also serve as a conduit to spread awareness about autism and our program.”
Campbell says, “When Jason and Lindy approached us about putting on a rodeo as a fundraiser for the Westonwood Ranch, we jumped at the opportunity! That’s what the PCA is all about—providing good, clean family entertainment, as well as helping grow and strengthen a community’s bond.” The relationship has obviously been successful— the weekend of March 27-28, 2020, is the third annual event. There are several “special touches” to the program: Last year, Weston, who suffers from level 3 autism, rode his horse in the opening ceremony; a teenager affected by autism sang the national anthem. And they hosted a free sensory-friendly mini rodeo on the Saturday morning of the PCA Rodeo. The Woods’ son Paxton began rodeoing in the Mid-South Little Britches Association at age 12, and now competes in the Alabama High School Rodeo Association. He travels with his dad for some of the other PCA rodeos on the circuit. Like Jason, he steer wrestles, but has the added
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PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE COURTESY OF WESTONWOOD RANCH
Enter two very important components to the ranch’s annual Charity Rodeo—Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr., and the Professional Cowboys Association. Jason was a longtime competitor in PCA rodeos, and a friend of Ace Campbell, whose family produces most of the Southeast’s PCA rodeos. The men have competed against each other in steer wrestling for many years—this camaraderie among rodeo competitors makes for strong lifetime friendships.
events of roping. Lindy says, “Paxton really has a natural way with horses—he is very much wanting to pursue scholarship opportunities for college rodeo.”
Above, a ranch horse stands between student Peyton Ward and registered behavioral therapist Thomas Owen. Below is the ranch's covered riding arena.
Walton County Sheriff’s Department helps out with the annual event and is one of the ranch’s biggest supporters. “We fundamentally want to be involved with philosophies that make a difference in people’s lives,” explains Adkinson. “We believe the work of Westonwood Ranch is transformational.” Hooray for everyone involved with Westonwood Ranch and its annual Charity Rodeo. It appears the Woods’ desire to highlight “ability” instead of “disability” has worked like a charm! FCM
ROUNDUP Westonwood Ranch 4390 U.S. Highway 20 West Freeport, Florida 850-880-2220, westonwood.org
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RODEO PROFILE
THE FEMALE SIDE OF ROPING TRACI BAILEY OF LORIDA QUALIFIES FOR THE AMERICAN RODEO
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Written by: Kathy Ann Gregg
he Women’s Professional Rodeo Association involves more than just barrel racing, and includes breakaway roping. And even though no such roping events take place in Florida, that doesn’t keep the Sunshine State’s rodeo women from becoming winning ropers! You’ll find female headers and heelers in team roping; their individual event is known as breakaway roping.
A timed event, the calf is roped by a mounted rider but not thrown and tied as in tie-down roping. Once the rope’s around the calf’s neck, the rider/roper signals the horse to stop suddenly. Because the rope’s tied to the saddle horn with a string, the running calf hits the end of the rope—it’s pulled tight and the string breaks free. When the rope’s freed from the saddle horn, the competitor’s time ends. Many ropers place a small white flag so its release can more easily be seen by the timer. And as in all timed events, the fastest time wins. One such woman roper who calls Lorida, Florida, in Highlands County, as her home, is Traci Bailey. She’s qualified to compete in the semi-finals of The American Rodeo. The final event was billed as “the richest one-day rodeo in the world.” Now held over a weekend, with a $2.35 million payout, it’s “the world’s richest weekend in western sports.” And any amateur who out-rides or out-ropes the PRCA superstars is eligible for an additional $1 million bonus! Raised in Redmond, Oregon, Bailey’s family moved to Washington State when she was in high school. She’s from a horse background: Her mom and stepdad run a Washington cattle ranch; her dad and stepmom raise and train horses. Bailey notes, “As soon as I could swing a rope, I was roping. I wanted to be able to head and heel team roping, and rope calves, and do all of this in or out of the arena.” Bailey won multiple Junior Rodeo championships and qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo in breakaway roping. At the College of Southern Idaho, she earned an associate
BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO BY SHANE RUX
Left shows Bailey in breakaway roping at 2018's AQHA World Show. Top right, she and Okeechobee Livestock Market team compete in roping and branding at Chalo Nitka in 2019. Right, Bailey at FCA's 2019 Ranch Rodeo Finals and Cowboy Heritage Festival.
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AS SOON AS I COULD SWING A ROPE, I was roping. I wanted to be able to head and heel team roping, and rope calves, and do all of this in or out of the arena.”
PHOTOS BY KATHY ANN GREGG
—Traci Bailey
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RODEO PROFILE degree in surgical technology. Bailey took a year off to heal from shoulder surgery—to close a growth plate. The pain had started to impact her roping. Recruited by Texas Tech University, she competed at the collegiate level for two years, qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo in team roping and the breakaway. Needing another year of schooling, she joined the university’s Ranch Horse Team. It won the national championship, and Bailey graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in ag education.
In 2014, Bailey competed as a header in the Yeti #13 Finale of the World Series of Team Roping. Then 2018 saw her qualify for the American Quarter Horse Association World Show in amateur tiedown roping and the breakaway. She won two of the U.S. Breakaway Roping Championships in Florida in 2019—the Jacksonville event in May, and the Sarasota event in June. Both were qualifiers for The American Rodeo. Bailey heads to Fort Worth, Texas, to compete in the semi-finals from Feb. 24 to March 1, 2020. A win there
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Another photo of Bailey in breakaway roping at 2018's AQHA World Show.
means she’d move on to the actual American, scheduled March 7-8, 2020, at AT&T Stadium in nearby Arlington. Sponsored by RFD-TV, viewers can tune in to that channel to watch this exciting and prestigious event. FCM
PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANE RUX
She met and started dating Miles Ashton, a star roper in the Florida High School Rodeo Association. They remained in Texas until recently relocating to Ashton’s hometown of Lorida.
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RODEO PROFILE
2020 RAM NATIONAL CIRCUIT FINALS RODEO FLORIDA REPRESENTED IN TWO EVENTS BY FLEMING, KEMPFER Written by: Kathy Ann Gregg
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hile the final roster of RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, or RNCFR, competitors is not yet complete for all of the 13 circuits in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, or PRCA, the competitors going from the Southeastern Circuit have been determined. And the Sunshine State is represented in two of the events: Mose Fleming of Kissimmee will compete in the steer wrestling event, and Parker Kempfer of Melbourne will compete in the saddle bronc riding event. Fleming has been competing for several years, including qualifying for the Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo. This is only Kempfer’s third year in the PRCA, and it is his second year at these Finals.
The “super bowl” of rodeo is the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, which is held in early December of each year in Las Vegas. Yet it includes only 90 PRCA contestants (plus the barrel racers). The membership of the PRCA is in the thousands, and the RNCFR gives these other members a chance at the big monies—and the titles that go with it! The RNCFR was originally known as the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo. It was held in Pocatello, Idaho, from its inception in 1987, until 2010. That is the same year that the Dodge brand rodeo initiative went to the newly formed RAM truck division of the Chrysler Group.
Mose Fleming wrestles the steer to the ground to receive a time in the steer-wrestling event.
This rule allowed Kempfer to move on, because he
The years 2011 to 2013 saw the event take place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Then in 2014 it was in Guthrie, Oklahoma. And since 2015, the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee has been its home.
THE RNCFR WAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE DODGE NATIONAL CIRCUIT FINALS RODEO. SINCE 2015, SILVER SPURS ARENA IN KISSIMMEE HAS BEEN ITS HOME. 48
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PHOTOS BY KATHY ANN GREGG
Each circuit sends two contestants from each of the seven professional rodeo events: The event winner (who is determined by the prize monies won during the previous year, including the Circuit Finals), and the average winner from the Finals. However, if the same competitor holds both titles, then the winning title passes down to the next person in line.
was second in the standings at year-end with winnings just shy of $17,000. (Kempfer came in behind Bradley Harter of Louisiana, who took both titles.) Fleming, on the other hand, took both titles, having won in excess of $18,000 for the 2018-2019 season. That guaranteed him a coveted spot in the RNCFR.
Parker Kempfer shows his winning form in the saddle bronc riding event.
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RODEO PROFILE
Fleming, second from right, and Kempfer, right, stand with last year's qualifiers Kamry Dymmek, left (who is Fleming's uncle), and Juan Alcazar Jr.
MOSE FLEMING OF KISSIMMEE WILL COMPETE IN STEER WRESTLING AND PARKER KEMPFER OF MELBOURNE WILL COMPETE IN SADDLE BRONC RIDING. This year’s competition will take place on April 3-4, 2020, with a fun-filled weekend of cowboys, horses, roping, roughstock and rodeo queens. All contestants are in the first two preliminary rounds of competition. Then the top eight in each event move on to the semi-finals, which is narrowed down to the top four for the Wrangler Round. All times/scores are wiped out for these final two rounds, giving each contestant an equal opportunity to claim an RNCFR title. Florida Country Magazine send best wishes to Mose Fleming and Parker Kempfer at the 2020 RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo. Let’s keep those titles right here in the great state of Florida! FCM
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LEFT PHOTO BY SHELBY DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY; RIGHT PHOTO BY JACKIE JENSEN PHOTOGRAPHY
RODEO PROFILE
LOTS OF ROADS AND RODEOS NATIONAL FINALS RODEO QUALIFIER ERICKA NELSON IS A NATIVE FLORIDIAN
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Written by: Katey McClenny
ach December, thousands of rodeo enthusiasts head out west to watch the world’s top cowboys and cowgirls compete in the prestigious Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It’s held at the Thomas & Mack Center arena on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in nearby Paradise, Nevada. The “Super Bowl of professional rodeo,” the NFR consists of 10 days of action-packed events—including team roping, bronc riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, and, of course, bull riding. To qualify for the NFR, a person must be one of the top 15 money-earning competitors for the year. Thus, qualifying for the NFR means lots of roads and rodeos. Most of the major rodeos that pay substantial amounts are located out west. Events such as Rodeo Houston, the Pendleton Round Up in Oregon and Cheyenne Frontier
Days in Wyoming all bring in competitors looking to win a good check and add to their overall winnings. The rodeo year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, demands not only a tough horse and rider, but a mental toughness as well. Because of the demanding schedule, most NFR qualifiers usually come from western states since they are closer to where they will be competing. So being an NFR qualifier from the Sunshine State is a big deal. Professional barrel racer Ericka Nelson of Nelson Performance Horses in Century, Florida, in the Panhandle’s Escambia County, hasn’t let geography stop her: She ended her 2019 rodeo year with just over $112,000 in earnings, leading her to her first NFR qualification. “You leave home and don't come back for a long time,” she explains of her “journey.” The hardest part for her was
At left, Ericka Nelson hugs her father, Coy Register. At right, she competes on "PC Cash," known as "Bud," in the semi-finals at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming in 2019.
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At left, Nelson walks with her daughter, Rainey Nelson. Pictured at right are her mother, Donna Register, father, Nelson, her husband, JB Nelson, and their daughter. Below, she rides "Friday" at the RAM National Circuit Finals in Kissimmee, Florida.
undoubtedly leaving her family. But after three long years of trying, all the hard work paid off. A Florida native, her father is a calf roper and her mother is also a barrel racer, so Nelson has been around horses her entire life. She began competing in local rodeos when she was just 11 years old. “I was pretty much born on a horse and have never gotten off,” she explains. “The Thomas & Mack is a dream I've had since I've been old enough to know what was going on there.” Finally that dream turned into a goal—and then reality. Nelson placed in two of the 10 rounds in Las Vegas aboard her gelding “Friday” (by “BHR Frenchy Socks” out of “Joyce's Gal”).
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“Friday is the biggest-hearted, kindest, most trying horse I've ever been on,” Nelson says. “I can always count on him to try his best—every single time. He’s the reason we were there,” she adds adoringly. She also rodeoed on “PC Cash” in 2019, which is another special gelding she calls “Bud.” Because of having him, Nelson was able to allow “Friday” to have a short break from time to time. It also ensured that both horses were sound and healthy. And her goals for 2020? Nelson plans on taking more outside horses for training in the coming months, competing in futurities—and raising a new foal. FCM
TOP PHOTOS BY SHELBY DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY; BOTTOM PHOTO BY JACKIE JENSEN PHOTOGRAPHY
RODEO PROFILE
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PICTURE PERFECT
NEW RIVER NEWBORN
“I
Photo by: Cory Tucker
own Cory Tucker Photography,” explains the Raiford, Florida, resident. “This picture was taken in November with my Sony Alpha 7 III. I shot my son’s newborn photos at a swamp head near New River, on our family farm. Photography for me is about preserving memories and I'm blessed that my children get to play a part in that as they grow up.” Visit facebook.com/cory.tucker.9231.
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FLUTTER BY
lant City, Florida, resident Jessica Beth Tillis used a Canon EOS Rebel T6 to shoot Lower Green Swamp Preserve in her hometown. She notes, “As a photographer, I enjoy taking pictures of little moments throughout nature that most would not appreciate while living in the moment. My grandmother and I share a love for the little details of butterflies and the beauty they offer; I knew I had to capture this for her. Other than capturing precious moments for people—with Southern Reflection, my photography business—butterflies will hands-down always be one of my favorites." To see more images, visit southern reflection2124.smugmug.com.
EVERYONE’S INVITED FOR TEA
“T
he photo was taken with a Nikon D7100 in the pasture of a neighbor’s house in Fort White, Florida,” explains Marley Andretti. “I’ve been photographing this family for about 10 years. They love and own lots of horses, so when the mom texted me, saying: 'I have a horse that can sit in a recliner— I have an idea for a photo shoot.' … Well, here you go! I love telling a story with my photos. I especially love when a client has an idea and I can make that come to life in a photo.” Her website is andrettiphotography.com.
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Photo by: Jessica Beth Tillis
Photo by: Marley Andretti
Photo by: Jason Strachan
ABANDONED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
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rops 2 You LLC aerial photography is owned by Jason Strachan of Dunnellon, Florida. His Mavic 2 Pro drone took this shot in Live Oak, Florida. “I couldn’t help but capture the beauty of this amazing bridge,” Strachan says. “It was abandoned in 1971. People now visit this bridge to spray paint and paint artwork on it, and visit the beauty of the Suwannee River!" Check out facebook.com/ Props2YouLLC/. F LO R I D A C O U NTRYM A G A Z I N E . C O M
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PICTURE PERFECT
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A GRAND DAY
Google Pixel cellphone was used by Maranda Lewis of Lakeland, Florida, for this image in Dowling Park in Suwannee County, on the banks of the Suwannee River. “It was taken during a family adventure along the river,” she says. “When I look at it, I see protection—almost like a grand old panther observing a cub experiencing the wonders of the wilderness the first time. I’m happy beyond words to have captured a photo showcasing the relationship between a grandad and grandson so well. Photography holds the key to the wonders of the world and photos say everything that words fail to express.”
TOT’S TRACTOR TIME
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alyn Parrish of Wimauma, Florida, “captured this photo for my son Maverick Parrish’s second birthday” with her Canon EOS 5D Mark III. It was taken at the Southern Grace wedding venue in Lithia, Florida. She adds, “Being a great-grandson of three ranchers/farmers, he has a love for tractors that I’ve never seen before. Photography to me means saving a moment in time—to have for generations to come.”
Photo by: Kalyn Stanaland Parrish
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Photo by: Maranda Lewis
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FLORIDA EXCURSIONS
EXCITEMENT AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY CAPPED OFF 2019 SEASON IN STYLE; STAGE SET FOR NEW 2020 DATES Written by: Dave Kelly
Racers during the final lap of the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway last November.
And only two months later, NASCAR held its first official race on the hard-packed sands of Daytona Beach, Florida. Since that date, the Daytona race has always been the first NASCAR race of the season. Building on this Sunshine State tradition, Homestead-Miami Speedway opened in November 1995, holding the last Busch Series race of the year. By 2002, NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series and Winston Cup Series (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup) held their last races of the year as well, using Florida to bookend the extensive 38-race season. Starting in 2020, that’s going to change—but more on that below. First, we decided to head to Homestead to check out the excitement. While viewing Homestead-Miami Speedway’s website, we were pleased to see so many choices of how to participate and view the races. NASCAR weekends are three full days long—the Gander Outdoors Truck Series on Fridays, the Xfinity
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Series on Saturdays, and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on Sundays, which features the best of the best. We opted for Champion’s Club tickets and some pit passes, and we couldn’t have made a better choice because the tickets provide an extensive experience all around the track. Eight stories above Turn One, they combine a bird'seye view of NASCAR's weekend races with first-class service. With private restrooms, flat-screen TVs, and an open bar, our seats were the perfect combination of topnotch comfort and the true NASCAR fan experience. We had access to a variety of food and beverages—and the most strategic viewpoint of the racing action. Before settling in to watch the racing, we toured pit road and the drivers’ garages with the Cold Pass that came with our Champion’s Club ticket purchase. We enjoyed seeing the race prep that the drivers’ teams put into their cars. Many team members were available to chat with fans, showing off their plans to take the weekend’s trophies. As part of the Champion’s Club experience, fans are invited to spend pre-race time on the track, watching teams line up the individual drivers’ cars in their pit lanes. There was even an opportunity to take a Sharpie and sign our names on the Start/Finish line.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY
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lorida is the home of NASCAR. Oh, the North Carolina guys say it’s theirs, but we know better. In December 1947, one of the emerging racing sport's most influential drivers, Big Bill France, held a meeting with fellow drivers, mechanics and owners to standardize racing rules—forming the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.
BOTTOM, TOP RIGHT AND TOP MIDDLE PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY; OTHER PHOTOS BY KRISTINA RODRIGUEZ
Clockwise from bottom: Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin at the Start/Finish line; fans get to sign the finish line with your fan hot or cold passes; cars on the track pre-race; Kyle Busch after winning the Ford EcoBoost 400; Brad Keslowski at a pre-race gathering.
WE OPTED FOR CHAMPION’S CLUB TICKETS AND SOME PIT PASSES, AND WE COULDN’T HAVE MADE A BETTER CHOICE BECAUSE THE TICKETS PROVIDE AN EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ALL AROUND THE TRACK.
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FLORIDA EXCURSIONS Then we eased over to the main stage, where we joined an avid crowd jamming to world-class musical artists performing before the racing began. Add in the weekend’s perfect weather and it truly made for a NASCAR devotee’s ultimate experience.
Ross Chastain lined up pre-race at the Ford EcoBoost 400.
We returned to the Club to relax in the air-conditioned lounge and watched Kyle Busch dominate the race. After experiencing the finish from our great vantage point, we returned to the infield post-race and celebrated with his team and thousands of fans who poured onto the track. Thus ended Homestead-Miami Speedway’s annual role as the final race destination of the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series. As mentioned above, change is coming to Homestead-Miami Speedway. Starting in the 2020 NASCAR season, race weekend dates are moving to an even more exciting time:
For those wanting to experience the March 2020 race weekend like a true fan, be sure to grab your tickets early. Options include special Infield Tail Gate tickets, Pit Box tickets with access to the drivers’ meeting, Outdoor Cabanas, Speedway Terrace hospitality tickets and more. But hurry—NASCAR’s sixth race weekend of the 2020 season will be a hot ticket indeed! FCM
ROUNDUP Homestead-Miami Speedway One Ralph Sanchez Speedway Blvd., Homestead Ticket info: 866-409-7223 or homesteadmiamispeedway.com
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PHOTO BY KRISTINA RODRIGUEZ
The race series will consist of the Gander Truck Series race on Friday, March 20, and the Xfinity race on Saturday, March 21. To top things off, as part of the celebration of the venue’s 25th anniversary, Dixie Vodka will be the entitlement sponsor of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, March 22.
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THE HOMESTEAD
From left, Shane Burnley and Jason Chodakowsky look at blueprints with company president Dan Dodrill.
STEPPING BACK INTO TRADITION WITH DANIEL WAYNE HOMES FORT MYERS-BASED BUILDER KNOWN FOR ITS ‘OLD FLORIDA’ STYLE
harming. Comforting. Welcoming. Classic. Nostalgic. Timeless. These are just a few of the words people say when describing “Old Florida.” And the words can also be used to describe the home building concepts that Daniel Wayne Homes keeps in mind as it sets out to bring that old-fashioned style into contemporary life.
Today’s world calls for many modern conveniences, as well as plans that consider both durability and energy efficiency. From impact glass with Low-E film coupled with 2-foot overhangs for more shade, to metal roofs that reflect solar radiation and provide insulation, to air conditioners and appliances that reduce electric bills, Daniel Wayne Homes “keeps it greener.”
“We like to combine the traditional beauty of ‘Old Florida style’ while incorporating all of the modern conveniences that homeowners crave now,” says Dan Dodrill, president of the Fort Myers-based building company. “It is a timeless architectural style, and while it has seen such a resurgence that it may seem to be a trend, it is a lasting one.”
“Even the Hardie lap siding that we use on our homes is manufactured with 40 percent recycled material,” explains Dodrill. He adds that the company’s homes are built to be able to withstand a Category 5 hurricane.
Those traditional touches include adding character to details, such as incorporating Hardie trim and siding, and nickel gap board, wood framing, metal roofs and wood ceiling beams and floors. Other touches may include French doors and wraparound porches with rocking chairs—overlooking picturesque grounds. The style also features large airy spaces, where conversations and relaxation are easier to come by.
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Dodrill’s connection to “Old Florida” is a personal one: It dates back to the 1950s when his parents, Rufus and Violet, came to Florida to vacation on Sanibel Island. They decided to build a mobile home park, known as Indian Creek, on San Carlos Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach. Their young sons helped build that first project—but Dan was the one who followed in his father’s footsteps as a developer. He and his father later developed Siesta Bay RV Resort on Summerlin Road in Fort Myers. In 1992, family-owned and
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOUG THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY
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Written by: Ava Grace
IT IS A TIMELESS ARCHITECTURAL STYLE, and while it has seen such a resurgence that it may seem to be a trend, it is a lasting one.” —Dan Dodrill, president of Daniel Wayne Homes
At top, designs by Daniel Wayne Homes are known for having an inviting front entrance. Above is a welcoming lanai with spacious windows, warm wood and rustic brick. F LO R I D A C O U NTRYM A G A Z I N E . C O M
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THE HOMESTEAD
This kitchen is a blend of old-fashioned touches and modern amenities. The master bath features a vintage-style tub, a toilet room, tile, and wood accents. Below, the outside looks in while the inside looks out, creating the perfect combination of nature and contemporary living.
operated Daniel Wayne Homes was founded, using a name created by combining Dan’s formal first and middle name. Dodrill’s wife, Karen, is a second-generation Floridian whose family lived in many “Old Florida”-style homes. She is now the company’s vice president and accountant/bookkeeper. Their children have also had a hand in the business: Sons Ryan and Jason helped clean job sites when they were young; their daughter, Brooke, worked for Daniel Wayne
Homes before she left to start a teaching career. The “Old Florida” style Dodrill has long been connected to also shines through in the one-on-one attention the company offers to clients in the building or remodeling process, which can be customized. “To us, our homeowners are much more than customers. To help ensure they get the home of their dreams, we’re here for them throughout the process— before, during and after the build,” Dodrill notes. FCM
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PHOTO CREDIT INFO
Daniel Wayne Homes 5961 Northland Road, Unit 1, Fort Myers, Florida 239-466-3955, danielwaynehomes.com
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LAND FOR SALE CHARLOTTE COUNTY 30 ACRES AT CORNER OF I-75 & HWY 17 $2,900,000 PENDING $2,750,000 FORT MYERS 4 ACRES AT COLONIAL BLVD $1,950,000 FORT MYERS 13 ACRES AT I-75 AT BAYSHORE RD SOLD $1,900,000 FORT LAUDERDALE 2 ACRES @ HWY 7 (441) $1,525,000 FORT MYERS 2.5 ACRES @ N. 41 @ SUPER WALMART $1,500,000 ALVA 55 ACRES ON PALM BEACH BLVD @ COUNTY LINE $1,400,000 FORT MYERS 35 ACRES 7150 BAYSHORE RD FORT MYERS 5 ACRES AT N.41 & JUDD RD BY SUPER WALMART $1,325,000 $990,000 LABELLE 35 ACRES PALM BEACH BLVD (HWY 80) $890,000 FORT MYERS 2.5 ACRES I-75 AT BAYSHORE RD (78) SOLD $800,000 FORT MYERS 2.3 ACRES METRO PKWY $598,000 FORT MYERS 20 ACRES PALM BEACH BLVD (HWY 80) $595,000 FORT MYERS 35 ACRES NFM RICH RD @ SLATER PENDING $595,000 FORT MYERS 1.3 ACRES CPD I-75 @ BAYSHORE RD $495,000 FORT MYERS 1.25 ACRES C1-A I-75 @ BAYSHORE RD $279,000 FORT MYERS 10 ACRES NFM RICH RD @ SLATER $139,000 FORT MYERS 5 ACRES NFM RICH RD @ SLATER SOLD $100,000 FORT MYERS 3 ACRES AT 19200 SLATER RD
Re/Max Hall Of Fame Sales Award • Platinum Sales Award Re/Max Leaders & Legends Publication • Chairman Sales Award
IF YOU WANT IT SOLD • 239-872-7653 Darius Cochran OWNER AGENT
DariusLCochran@gmail.com DariusCochran@aol.com
www.DariusCochran.com
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BRANSON’S A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY OZARKS DESTINATIONS FULL OF SURPRISINGLY VARIED ATTRACTIONS Written by: Dayna Harpster
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drive down Branson, Missouri’s main drag, Highway 76, also known as West 76 Country Boulevard, reveals the town’s identity crisis. Which is a good thing. You’re enticed by all types of entertainment: go-karts at The Track, faux famous folks in human form at Liverpool Legends and in wax at the Hollywood Wax Museum, relics at the Titanic Museum, and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, where you can eat a four-course country-cookin’-type meal while watching pigs, horses and buffaloes perform. Before a recent trip there, all I knew of the Ozarks was what I saw on the Netflix series by that name. And all I knew of Branson was its reputation for country music.
I’M NOT SURE I’D GO QUITE THAT FAR IN ANOINTING BRANSON THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL, BUT IT DESERVES TO BE A RUNNER-UP.
At top are bright lights on Branson, Missouri's main drag, including the Jim Stafford Theatre. Above is a view of Lake Taneycomo.
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BOTTOM PHOTO AND OPPOSITE PAGE PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRANSON/LAKES AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
COUNTRYWIDE
Attractions clockwise from top left are the Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai, Big Cedar Lodge, illusionist Rick Thomas, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, the Oak Ridge Boys, Tanger Outlets Branson, the Hollywood Wax Museum and Bigfoot Fun Park.
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But I saw no Mexican drug lords or accountants-turnedmoney-launderers. Jason Bateman was nowhere in sight. And while there is country music in Branson, there’s quite a bit of entertainment that has nothing to do with cowboy hats or horse tack. Compared with just about any other place, Branson is the land where the ratio of wigs to women is higher, the prevalence of barbecue outpaces most other places, and the word “country” doesn’t mean the United States but rather a rural frame of mind. Nobody said “Missourah”—which was surprising. Actually, quite a bit about Branson was surprising. Pre-trip, people told me I was going to the “Las Vegas of the Midwest,” sometimes with “Christian” in the nickname. And while it’s true that nearly every older white man I overheard talking
Echo Hollow Amphitheatre is located inside Silver Dollar City, Branson's theme park, and is home to the popular Great American Country Nights.
seemed to speak in a televangelist accent, Branson wasn’t quite the buckle on a Midwest Bible belt as I’d been led to believe. For instance, Amazing Pets is one of the shows at the Grand Country Music Hall. The main attraction at the Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre are the Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai. Grand Village’s shops and Branson Landing were mecca for gift buyers. Yet many attractions beckon believers. Included are Promised Land Zoo, incorporating Christian messages in park signage; Living Word National Bible Museum; and names and places recalling Harold Bell Wright’s 1907 novel The Shepherd of the Hills. About an hour’s drive south is Eureka Springs, Arkansas, home of The Great Passion Play, the 67-foot-high Christ of the Ozarks, and Holy Land Tour. I expected to hear all country music. While it wasn’t absent— Branson Mansion Theatre’s mainstays are the Oak Ridge Boys, the Gatlin Brothers and Gene Watson—the 48,000-squarefoot Andy Williams Moon River Theatre claims at least part ownership of a new reputation. Apparently, Williams was the first non-country performer to found a theater in Branson. “Thanks to his groundbreaking decision, other non-country performers and theme shows began to move in to the tiny town that would soon be known as the live music capital of the world,” say promotional materials. I’m not sure I’d go quite that far in anointing it the live music capital, but it deserves to be a runner-up. In fact, at Williams’ theater last fall was illusionist Rick Thomas, who wowed a
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PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANSON/LAKES AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
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crowd not by singing but by seeming to cut a woman into pieces, fly and walk through fire. Thomas has his own nod to more modern sensibilities in this newly genre-defying Branson as well: In his presentation, he explained he used to work with tigers but placed them in a sanctuary and is now training dogs. The show I liked the most featured the Million-Dollar Quartet—a tribute to Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. The impersonators were nearly perfect in demeanor and musicality.
About an hour south is Eureka Springs, Arkansas, home of The Great Passion Play, the 67-foot-high Christ of the Ozarks, and Holy Land Tour.
Don’t miss the 1880s theme park Silver Dollar City. Its Time Traveler ride is a coaster with cars that spin 360 degrees and plunge 10 stories down an Ozarks mountainside. Five episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies TV show were filmed here in 1962. Included with admission and adding a hint of authenticity is Marvel Cave, discovered by Osage tribe members around 1500. Silver Dollar City grew up around the cave entrance and upon the foundations of a circa-1800s mining town named Marmaros, which is Greek for marble. Instead of marble, settlers found limestone and a useful commodity back then—bat guano, used for gunpowder and fertilizer. Branson Landing is a 95-acre retail and entertainment destination on Lake Taneycomo. Among its myriad offerings is Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, which opened last September and features Southern food served family-style. The Landing is mostly for adults, but kids are courted equally. At Ballparks of America, baseball aficionados will find two-thirds scale replicas of five legendary ballparks: St. Louis Stadium, Chicago Field, Boston Park, Detroit Stadium and Brooklyn Field. Traveling teams of 9- to 13-year-olds can raise money and enter week-long tournaments through the attraction. A hankering for sky diving? Zip lining? A ramble on a Segway? Sure. Just save time for a dinner show—you won’t have trouble finding one. FCM
ROUNDUP explorebranson.com eurekasprings.org
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MY BEST FRIEND
Photo from when Lilly was rescued
1 Florida Country Magazine runs a “My Best Friend” contest on Facebook every other month, for each issue of the magazine.
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Jordan Liberatore of Parkland, Florida Best Friend’s Name: Lilly Best Friend’s Breed: Thoroughbred When we rescued Lilly, she had been starved and neglected. She taught my son, Riley, a new sense of patience, compassion and confidence. As she improved, so did Riley’s grades in school—and level of responsibility. Lilly has brought so much joy to our lives. We may have saved her, but it turned out we needed her just as much. Riley is Lilly’s favorite person and he absolutely adores “his girl.”
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Kelly McGoldrick Selby of Clewiston, Florida Best Friend’s Name: Blackjack Best Friend’s Breed: Miniature Donkey I got Blackjack as a companion to my horse, Rudy, but he has become so much more to our family. His silly antics keeps my whole family entertained. His brays every morning bring a smile to my face and warm my heart. He is the best little buddy a girl could have!
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My girl KD (Kerry's Dog) is a 140-pound slobbering sweetheart. Her big old droopy green eyes melt your heart. Born on my birthday, she was definitely the best gift I have ever received. Always by my side. Forever in my heart.
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Lexus Mengel of Hudson, Florida Best Friend’s Name: Diesel (Fluffy) Best Friend’s Breed: Saint Bernard I’ve had Diesel for close to two years now, and he has made my life a million times better than I could have ever imagined. In the short time we’ve had him, he’s traveled all over with us to go to the racetrack! He LOVES getting his picture taken, and has sat and let me take whatever pictures I want of him since he was a puppy! It makes my photographer heart happy! You can follow him on Facebook or Instagram at The Saint Bernard Clan!
Amy Stotler of Winter Garden, Florida Best Friend’s Name: Jacey Best Friend’s Breed: Charolais Cross My best friend is a 1,500-pound retired show cow named Jacey, who means the world to me. I am her person and she will seek me out the moment I walk into our pasture. She loves cookies, her hair brushed and taking selfies with me. My favorite days are when I take my chair to the pasture and sit in the open space while she grazes and I tell her all my secrets.
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Kerry Bowers of Arcadia, Florida Best Friend’s Name: KD (Kerry’s Dog) Best Friend’s Breed: Bloodhound
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Tiffany Danielle Steadham of Eagle Lake, Florida Best Friend’s Name: Ollie Best Friend’s Breed: Weimaraner/Pit Bull Mix Ollie is 2 years old. Having Ollie as a best friend means the world to me. He is my protector and no matter how bad a day I’ve had, he’s always there to cheer me up. He is always excited to see me! Morgan Boykin of Thonotosassa, Florida Best Friend’s Name: Classy Best Friend’s Breed: Quarter Horse After being diagnosed with POTS [postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome] and being wheelchair dependent for seven months, Classy allowed me to find a new sense of freedom I thought
7 I lost. Being horseback with my girl allows me to feel so limitless. At my weakest point, she allowed me to find myself again and because of that we’ve built an irreplaceable bond. Every ride is now a reminder of how far we’ve come since my diagnosis!
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Tara Duval-Good of Brooksville, Florida Best Friend’s Name: Pip Best Friend’s Breed: Australian Cattle Dog Pip was rescued at 10 months old from the Hernando County pound in Brooksville. Both my daughter, Morgan, and Pip are now 6 years old—and Pip is her best friend. Pip means the world to us because she’s always ready for an adventure and she loves us always. We rescued her and she’s been the best. Loyal and true.
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STARS & GUITARS presented by
Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Donna Hilley.” Tenpenny “first picked up a guitar at the age of 13.”
OUR INTERVIEW: TALES OF FAMILY GUIDANCE, INSPIRATION, A ‘USELESS TALENT’ AND HIS OWN ADVICE
F
lorida Country Magazine interviewed country music singer-songwriter and Nashville native Mitchell Tenpenny. As he notes on his website, mitchell10penny.com, his grandmother was “industry veteran and the first female CEO of
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FCM What first got you into music? MT My Uncle Ron used to make me learn piano as a kid and he wouldn’t let me go outside until I learned a new song each day during the summer! FCM What inspires you? Why? MT As cliché as it sounds, life inspires me. … It’s so different every single day and there are so many different things that come at you. FCM What is the best advice you’ve been given? From who? MT Dad always told me to be aware of my surroundings every time I left the house, and to this day I think that’s the best advice anyone can live by—especially in today’s crazy world! FCM How would you describe your sound? MT It’s hard for me to describe my sound honestly. … I don’t like to box myself into the genre, so I’d say that my sound is authentic and truly me. FCM Who would you most like to collaborate with? MT Without a doubt—John Mayer!
PHOTO BY JIM WRIGHT
MEET MITCHELL TENPENNY
His album Black Crow was released in April 2015 and extended play Linden Ave in July 2017. Extended play Mitchell Tenpenny debuted in February 2018 and album Telling All My Secrets in December 2018, which features the hit single “Drunk Me.”
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STARS & GUITARS I DON’T LIKE TO BOX MYSELF INTO THE GENRE, SO I’D SAY THAT MY SOUND IS AUTHENTIC AND TRULY ME. FCM Where were you the first time you heard “Drunk Me” playing on the radio? How did you feel? MT I was in my truck in Nashville and my hometown station played it for the very first time. … I called my mother immediately—crying. It was such a full-circle moment and something that I’ll never forget! FCM What would you be doing right now if it wasn’t for your music career? MT I’d honestly probably still be working in construction! FCM What’s the most “useless talent” you have? MT The most “useless talent” I have would probably be my trampoline skills! FCM We all have one song that can make us just stop and dance. What song would that be for you? MT “Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey!
FCM What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps? MT My advice would be to work hard, be determined to hear “No” one million times and be a good person. I think being a good person goes further than being a great musician—every single time, no matter what it is and no matter what you do, be a good person and be ready to hear “No”! FCM What’s next for you? MT I don’t like answering “what’s next for me” because I truly don’t have a clue and I know God has a plan. I just hope that whatever it is, we take full of advantage of it and have the best time of our lives—because we are extremely lucky to be doing what we do for a living! F C M
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PHOTO BY MATTHEW BERINATO
FCM What’s an average day like for you? MT An average day these days is waking up in a different city, getting off the bus kind of looking around wondering where I am, going to sound check—and then playing a show!
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ACROSS
1 Cattle breed 5 It's wrestled at a rodeo 8 Basketball organization 9 Fence in 11 Milk related 13 Make sense, with "up" 14 Escape from 16 Country-western lady 19 Close by 21 Cattle breed from the U.K. 24 For each one 25 Pollinator 26 Used to control horses while riding 28 Rare horse breed, colorfully stunning (with 31 down) 32 Parasite-control essentials 34 Directly 35 Custodian (in farming ____s of the land) 36 Artistic expression
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1 Selection of animals to create better calves 2 Florida town featuring The Rodeo mural 3 Farm noise 4 Vane direction 5 One who makes and sells riding gear 6 Prefix with center 7 They're caught on sunny days 10 Jr.'s dad 12 Magazine promotion 13 Airline, for short 15 Former 16 It holds things together 17 Practice of cultivating land, raising stock 18 Reply to a captain at sea 20 Baseball score, abbr. 21 Modern map 22 Period of history 23 Long slithery fish 26 Alamo hero with knife named for him 27 ___ firma 29 Throws in 30 Nurture 31 See 28 across 33 Familiar sibling title
HIDDEN WORD
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THE CULINARY CRACKER
WHIPPING IT UP IN YOUR KITCHEN Every issue of Florida Country Magazine is filled with easy, delicious and seasonal recipes you’ll want to make again and again.
SHRIMP SALAD SANDWICH Serves 2
INGREDIENTS 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper to taste ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning 1 rib celery, finely choppedt 2 tablespoons freshly chopped dill ½ cup mayonnaise Juice and zest of 1 lemon 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 4 slices bread or sandwich buns PREPARATION Preheat oven to 400 F. On large baking sheet, toss shrimp with oil, Old Bay and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake shrimp until completely opaque, 5 to 7 minutes. In large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice and zest. Season with salt and pepper. Add shrimp, onion, celery and dill to bowl. Toss until combined. Serve on bread or sandwich buns.
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NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN AND COLESLAW SANDWICH Serves 4
EDIENTS COLESLAW INGR ed green cabbage 4 cups finely shredd ½ carrot, shredded dalia onion 1 tablespoon diced Vi ¼ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup white sugar ⅛ teaspoon salt egar 1 tablespoon white vin s ed se y ler ce ¼ teaspoon EDIENTS HOT SAUCE INGR melted 2 tablespoons butter, ika ¼ teaspoon hot papr sauce ot dH Re k’s ¼ cup Fran light-brown sugar 2 teaspoons packed EDIENTS SANDWICH INGR easts 4 boneless chicken br pper pe k ac bl 1 tablespoon lt sa s 3 tablespoon om temperature 1 cup whole milk, ro 2 eggs y Seasoning 1 tablespoon Old Ba 4 cups vegetable oil flour 2½ cups all-purpose Dill pickles ns Large hamburger bu
PREPARATION ion bbage, carrot and on Combine shredded ca oil, , ise na together mayon in large bowl. Whisk m iu ed m d celery seeds in e sugar, vinegar, salt an ur ixt m g ly. Pour dressin bowl, blend thorough st lea at ss to coat. Chill over cabbage mix, to g. In small bowl, stir 2 hours before servin r, ot sauce, melted butte together Frank’s RedH gar, set aside. Mix 1 n su hot paprika and brow er poon pepper. Rub ov es tablespoon and 1 tabl isk wh , wl aside. In small bo chicken breasts, set r d Old Bay. In anothe together milk, eggs an lt. sa s and 2 teaspoon bowl, combine flour n, t, preferably cast-iro Fill medium-heavy po miu ed m er ov oil. Heat oil about halfway with e, ur ixt m ur flo chicken in high to 375 F. Dredge ge ed Dr ss. ce e. Drip off ex then in milk mixtur mly ure again, pressing fir ixt chicken in flour m out 3 ab y Fr . en coat chick ely et pl m Co . re he ad to through, -brown and cooked en ld go til un es ut in m ed 380 F. Drain on rimm keeping oil 360 F to with at pe Re . ck th wire ra baking sheet fitted wi ed fri of e ec pi ush each remaining chicken. Br th hot sauce mixture. wi ck ra chicken on wire rve. ckles and coleslaw, se Place on bun, add pi F LO R I D A C O U NTRYM A G A Z I N E . C O M
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THE CULINARY CRACKER
THE BEST MEATLOAF SANDWICH Serves 4
Recipe courtesy of musselmans.com. Visit musselmans.com for other great recipes.
MEATLOAF INGREDIENTS ½ cup onion, finely minced 1 tablespoon butter 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup MUSSELMAN’S® Apple Butter le Cider 2 tablespoons MUSSELMAN’S® App Vinegar Dash of hot sauce 2 pounds lean ground beef 1 egg, lightly beaten crumbs 20 crackers, butter-style, crushed into Apple Butter ’S® AN 2 more tablespoons MUSSELM SANDWICH INGREDIENTS 8 slices sourdough bread Softened butter, for bread 8 thin slices Gouda cheese ¼ cup MUSSELMAN’S® Apple Butter Cider Vinegar 1 tablespoon MUSSELMAN’S® Apple Dash of hot sauce le Butter 4 thick slices MUSSELMAN’S® App Meatloaf 4 leaves butter lettuce
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PREPARATION OF MEATLOAF x 8½ loaf pan Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray 4½ butter and add et, with cooking spray. In small skill ium heat med over onions. Sprinkle with salt. Cook translucent. and soft about 10 minutes, until onions are apple cider er, butt le In small bowl, whisk together app ked onions, coo add l, vinegar and hot sauce. In large bow butter le app and ground beef, egg, crushed crackers ared loaf prep into ture mixture. Mix by hand, press mix butter. le app ons espo pan. Brush top with 2 more tabl Bake 1 hour or until done. PREPARATION OF SANDWICHES butter. Heat Spread one side of each bread slice with s of bread slice 4 e large skillet on medium high. Plac se to each chee of slice butter-side down in skillet. Add apple cup ¼ ther piece of bread. Quickly whisk toge of hot dash and gar vine butter, 1 tablespoon apple cider Spoon d. brea of slice sauce. Add slice of meatloaf to each se chee of slice ther sauce on meatloaf, add lettuce, ano and es wich sand s Pres and top piece of buttered bread. flip over to grill other side.
INGREDIENTS ½ cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper 3 green tomatoes, sliced ½-inch thick ¾ cup Ritz crackers, crushed 2 eggs, beaten ¼ cup butter 4 slices bacon 4 slices pepper jack cheese Lettuce 8 thick-cut slices multigrain bread, toasted Mayonnaise
FRIED GREEN TOMATO BLT SANDWICH Serves 4
PREPARATION Preheat oven to 400 F and line rimmed baking sheet with foil. Arrange bacon on foil. Bake about 15 minutes, until crispy. Drain bacon, cut in half. In small bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper. Place crackers in another bowl and beaten eggs in third bowl. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Dip tomato slices in eggs to coat, then in flour mixture. Dip floured tomatoes back in eggs, then in crackers. Place coated tomatoes in skillet. Fry until crispy golden-brown on each side, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Add more butter to pan if needed. Before removing tomatoes, add cheese to each tomato slice, then melt. Drain tomatoes on paper towels. Lay 4 slices of toast on work surface. Spread with mayonnaise, top with tomatoes, bacon and lettuce. Salt and pepper to taste. Close sandwiches, cut in half and serve.
INGREDIENTS chopped 8 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and ½ cup mayonnaise stard 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mu on oni en gre d ¼ cup choppe Salt and pepper to taste ¼ teaspoon paprika 8 slices rye bread
EGG SALAD SANDWICH Serves 4
PREPARATION r in Place chopped eggs in bowl. Sti onions. and a rik pap rd, sta mu mayonnaise, taste. Make Season with salt and pepper to my! sandwich on rye bread slices. Yum
FFLO LORRIIDDAACCOOUUNTRYM NTRYMAAGGAAZZIINNEE. .CCOOM M
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TELLING TALES
A REALLY BIG FISH Written by: Libby Grimm
the stripping basket, so he quickly began false casting, pulling line off the reel on each back cast and shooting it out on the forward cast. After three false casts, he pulled out another 10 feet and shot the line, putting the Schminnow 3 feet ahead of and 2 feet out beyond the fast-approaching snook. As the fish kept coming, he stripped in line slowly, a foot at a time, pausing for a second between strips to let the fly settle and twitch. The snook spotted the fly, shot ahead and, turning its head, grabbed it. Bennett yanked the line hard, setting the hook. The fish took off in a reel-screaming run as the captain held the rod tip high and palmed the reel with his left hand, to put more pressure on it. The snook slowed for a second, then made another surge.
“Y
ou must be Marty,” said Capt. Carl Bennett to the tall guy in his early 20s. Bennett was packing gear in his flats boat at Punta Rassa Boat Ramp by the Sanibel Causeway. His wife had made the booking; her note said: “Marty from up North for half-day guiding.” “Yup,” agreed the young man. “Your website says charter clients want the big four—snook, tarpon, redfish, seatrout. Sounds good, especially coz I’ve fresh-water fly fished since I was a kid. It’s a nice change to be here in February.” No saltwater rod, no problem. The captain provided fly fishing and spinning tackle, and flies, lures and bait. While the skiff motored out into Pine Island Sound, Bennett said, “I mainly use the No. 1 fly for these waters—Norm's Crystal Schminnow. It was invented in 1995 by Sanibel outdoor writer and fly shop owner Norm Zeigler. “It was created for sight fishing for snook,” he added. “Yet it’s great for catching all this area’s game fish. And I’ve heard the Schminnow has caught 70 species in fresh and salt water.” Bennett cut the trolling motor in mangroves near “Ding” Darling Refuge. He grabbed the push pole and said to Marty, “Let me set you up with an 8-weight.” Marty responded by saying he would pole so Bennett could fish. The puzzled captain had never guided a paying customer who didn’t want to fish. Bennett catered to fly fishers of all skill levels; when he gave instruction, he’d do some initial casts and then pole the boat. Before either man spoke again, a slim, dark shadow glided toward them. Bennett hadn’t coiled any of the fly line into
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Bennett gained line, then lost it as the snook made another run. The third run was short, the fish was spent. The captain stuck his thumb into its mouth, gripped its lower jaw between thumb and forefinger and lifted it free of the water. Below the thick black lateral line, its silver sides gleamed as bright as a new dime. Above it they shaded to burnished bronze. "Nice fish," Marty said. Bennett laid the fish on its side in the water and put a tape on it: 29 inches, a splendid wintertime snook. The captain revived it close to the hull, then watched as it scooted away. Marty kept poling and Bennett kept fishing. The half-day’s catch and release for Bennett included seven smaller snook, two redfish, a seatrout and several ladyfish. Always, when Bennett would cast, he’d see the young man watching him, almost as if Marty were memorizing every move that Bennett made. Like a video camera. Back at Punta Rassa, after Marty paid and was ready to leave, Bennett said, “Say, what do you do, anyway?” “Oh, I’m Marty Hanlon. I’m here for spring training. I just signed on as a starting pitcher for the Red Sox.” The captain pretty much hid his surprise as he reached out to shake the ballplayer’s hand and say goodbye. “Best of luck in 2020,” he said. “Go Sox!” FCM
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