NOT A JOKE, BUT A JOKE

Hot, hotter, hottest can all be used right now in our lovely state. Our winters might let you down, but rest assured—summer will not.

Florida is always an interesting place to live and visit; there are so many things to do and see, and do and see again. Take a country road sightseeing trip, go shopping at local retail establishments and visit small-town diners. Or load up the family and pick an exploration spot among the Sunshine State’s 1,197 miles of coastline.

One thing for sure, no beach or small town is alike. Some beaches are car friendly, horse friendly, dog friendly or other “interesting” animal friendly. And some small towns are car friendly, dog friendly and other “interesting” animal friendly. This is Florida!

You might be fishing at a lake in the country, where you expect to see an alligator. Or you could be at a beach, fearing the sharks. And lo and behold, there’s a gator surfing the waves. If you are a Florida visitor and are surprised to read this, IT IS NOT A JOKE. An important tip: Alligators can be found in any Florida body of water, including a swimming pool. That’s not a joke either. It doesn’t matter if you are in the woods or on the water, our state is a true nature and wildlife sanctuary. But distressing things are happening below our ocean’s surface: Coral is in deep trouble. It is very important to the overall ecosystem, especially because other underwater species live in and among reefs. See what one Tavernier nonprofit’s restoration efforts are doing (page 42).

Another type of restoration project is Westerns in Wood. This husband-and-wife team travels the country, taking photos, searching for unique and rare types of reclaimed wood for her creativity to take over. And, voilà, the most magnificent pieces of inspired western art are born (page 22).

What about restoration of one’s happiness, respect of others, love? Especially for youth who need our attention, guidance and direction. Let me introduce you to “Big Will” Dunn, taking thousands of boys and girls fishing, mentoring and providing a strong male figure in their life. Kids learn not just fishing, but lessons in life skills, teamwork and patience—resulting in a sense of pride and accomplishment (page 30).

Definitions of restoration include “the act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment.” With that said, I hope you have noticed we’ve done some restoration on

Florida Country! We are always striving to be better, and for our advertisers to reach a larger audience and our readership to grow.

Florida Country knows our brand is more than a zip code; it’s a lifestyle. A lifestyle that, of course, includes coastal communities. We’re opening our doors to all of Florida and all who celebrate the county life. No matter if you are sitting on the back of a bull or sitting on the dock of the bay, we’ll reach you.

And for those who call my beautiful publication a “redneck magazine” instead of a “country magazine,” this little story is for you:

A Story About A Redneck And A Game Warden

A redneck gets caught with a bucket of live fish. Approached by a game warden as he starts to leave, the warden asks the man, “Fishing license, please?” “Naw, sir,” replies the redneck, “I don’t need none of them there papers. These here are my pet fish.”

“Pet fish!?!?” “Yep. Once a week, I bring these here fish o’ mine down to the lake and let ‘em swim round for a while. Then when I whistle, they swim right back into my net, and I take ‘em home.”

“What a line of baloney ... you’re under arrest.” The redneck says, “It’s the truth, Mr. Gov’ment man. I’ll show ya! We do this all the time!!” “WE do, now, do WE?” smirks the warden. “PROVE it!”

The redneck releases the fish into the lake and waits. After a few minutes, the warden says, “Well?” “Well, WHUT?” says the redneck. The warden asks, “When are you going to call ’em back?” “Call who back?” “The FISH,” replies the warden! “Whut fish?” asks the redneck.

News flash: I’m very country, but I’ll take redneck, too. Now I’ve restored your smile.

EQUINE FIELD FACES SHORTAGES, ‘PROFESSION IN TROUBLE’

Written by: Ava Grace

Equine vets diagnose, manage and treat horse illnesses, diseases and injuries. They work with animals that can weigh 1,000 pounds or more. Given their sheer size, a horse doctor must understand his or her patient’s behavior while handling and restraining them in the same session. One study concludes horse doctoring has risks of injury. It’s not a desk job. The hours are long. There’s travel involved. Pay isn’t the highest in the medical field and the hours can include night calls.

But there aren’t enough horse docs to go around.

MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO ADVANCING MY KNOWLEDGE OF HORSES AND HELPING OWNERS BRING OUT THE BEST IN THEM.

A study by the American Veterinary Medical Association found that 1% of veterinary students will practice equine medicine. Existing veterinarians make up less than 6 percent of the total, research shows.

Brigitte Gravitt is an equine exclusive veterinarian at Van Roekel & Associates in North Fort Myers. She completed a four-year undergraduate degree, four years of veterinary school, and a rotating internship at an equine specialty hospital. Prior to veterinary school, she trained and rode horses professionally.

“My whole life has been dedicated to advancing my knowledge of horses and helping owners bring out the best in them.”

“My profession, however, is in trouble,” Gravitt says. For one, newly graduated veterinarians don’t practice horse medicine. In fact,