Florida Country Magazine - February / March 2022 by Florida Country Magazine

FEATURES

FLORIDA COUNTRY MAGAZINE / ISSUE VOL. 6 • NO. 1

ON THE COVER: Meet Stella Crowther, Margo Crowther and Anne Pritchett Peters, three generations or rodeoing cowgirls. A strong family bond with a "Yellowstone" inspired cover. Photo Credit Joe LeDuc. Read more page 30.

It’s In Their Blood

Meet Anne, Margo and Stella, 3 Generations of Rodeoing and Opportunities

Chase Brooks NFR Saddle-bronc Hero, 'Rodeo Road a Fun One' 2

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

DEPARTMENTS FLORIDA COUNTRY MAGAZINE / ISSUE VOL. 6 • NO. 1

22 FCM CIRCLE

Florida

A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

Roadtrip

FLORIDA 4-H

FLORIDA ROADTRIP SERIES—

Series

page 8

4-H HORSE PROJECTS

page 52

page 10

THE BRAND

HORSIN' AROUND

CREEL TRACTOR COMPANY

SHANNON CASTANEDA PHOTOGRAPHY

page 56

page 14

EQUINE SMILES DENTISTRY LLC

page 18

EQUINE HEMP SOLUTIONS

page 60

COUNTRY CALIBER

RODEO PROFILE

GOLDEN VOICE OF RODEO

page 22

page 26

page 68

CROSSWORD

page 73

THE CULINARY CRACKER

FLORIDA CHARM

WHIPPING IT UP IN YOUR KITCHEN

SWIMMING FLORIDA’S SPRINGS

page 74

page 48

60 68 4

PICTURE PERFECT

page 64

MISS RODEO FLORIDA MAKAYLA BAKER

FLORIDA'S MISS RODEO AMERICA CHAPERONE

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

Owner/Publisher Scarlett Redenius Owner/C.E.O. Brad Redenius President Thomas Fifield Vice President Sheila Fifield Editorial Director Katherine Waters Design Director Brian Stromlund Travel Editor Dave Kelly Contributing Writers Jack Collier, Christopher DeCubellis, Ava Grace, Kathy Ann Gregg, Kym Rouse Holzwart, Dave Kelly, Ben Knowles, Myles Mellor

Featured Photographers Layna Bowen, Shannon Castaneda, Megan Drumheller, Heather Gantz, Kathy Ann Gregg, Clay Guardipee, Heather Jackson, Dave Kelly, Ben Knowles, Joe LeDuc, April Lopez, Makaela Marks, Kristy Lynn Rivera, David Rosenfield, Nevin Sitler, Tori Walker, Debora Whaley For more information about advertising with Florida Country Magazine, or joining our regional sales team, please contact:

239-692-2613 sales@floridacountrymagazine.com Advertising Sales:

Rochelle Larson 239-910-6414 sales@floridacountrymagazine.com For other inquiries contact:

Scarlett Redenius, Publisher 239-600-4783 publisher@floridacountrymagazine.com Published by: Florida Country Publications

PO Box 50989 • Fort Myers, FL 33994 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

facebook.com/floridacountrymagazine F LO R I DACO U N T RYMAG A Z I N E . CO M Florida Country Magazine is published bi-monthly, copyright 2022, 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.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

FCM CIRCLE

think ol’ Jack Frost missed the memo or maybe just forgot about us in Florida. But geez, what happened to the cold weather?

I know we play peek-a-boo with him, but other than a few days so far, he went MIA. And the worst part, we wait nine months for another cool opportunity—or do we? That depends on what you consider a “cool opportunity.” If you ask our writer Ben Knowles, for example, he’ll tell you to read about his adventures on page 48. When the cooler months hit, Ben takes that first chilly opportunity to take a swim in any one of Florida’s amazing springs. Another cool opportunity is 4-H horse projects. The best part? It doesn’t matter if those kids have a horse (page 10). What about Makayla Baker. She had a little too much cowboy in her but became Miss Rodeo Florida. With a lot of hard work and dedication, Makayla won the 2022 title. We get the super cool opportunity to meet her on page 22. And meet Shannon Castaneda, shifting careers to grab a cool opportunity to build a hugely successful business photographing horses and their owners. See her work on page 14. And there’s Rosie Pope getting the cool opportunity to become an equine dental assistant, which led to her discovering that horse dentistry was her calling. This amazing woman now owns Equine Smiles Dentistry LLC (page 18). This issue of Florida Country Magazine is filled with amazing people who see cool opportunities and move on them. Or offer them to you. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, opportunities do present themselves. But when is the right time? You never know, you just go for it, and sometimes it works out … and sometimes it does not. Sometimes your cool opportunity is simply a life lesson. Our writer Kathy Ann Gregg has the coolest opportunities to interview the finest people in rodeo, cowboys such as Chase Brooks (page 40). Chase grew up cowboying on western ranches and cow camps, which led to opportunities to ride saddle broncs, which led to cool opportunities to give back at the Broncs, Bulls and Bibles Rodeo School held

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaarrcchh 22002222

in Miles City, Montana, as well as other schools that get young people started in rodeo. Opportunities are for everyone, from Ms. Debora Whaley, who chaperones state rodeo queens (page 26), to writer Dave Kelly in beautiful St. Petersburg to share his experiences (page 52), or Creel Tractor, its family and staff celebrating 50 years in business in March. The Fort Myers company had an opportunity to be an Elite Certified dealer for Kubota, the highest level of recognition granted by that giant equipment firm, which they have earned and held since 2013. Brian Dickerson saw an opportunity in the power of hemp to help horses, dogs and people. Thanks to his Equine Hemp Solutions’ products, Brian’s LaBelle company provides relief and improves lives (page 60). And there is rodeo announcing legend Roger Mooney, the perfect voice. And who took his cool opportunity 40 years ago to do what he loved (page 68). And finally, one of my favorite cool opportunities, learning from others, people such as Anne Pritchett Peters, a tough Floridian who loves her family, who taught me a little thing about the word opportunity—something that took time to realize—and that was the opportunities her dad had set in motion, not given, but presented … and that it was up to you to take that opportunity and make something out of it. She did that with her Rainbow Farm Stables in North Fort Myers, then giving her daughter Margo an opportunity to be the best at her sport, barrel-racing, and now Margo gives her daughter Stella the same opportunities to learn from these two strong women, not just in the sport of rodeo but in the sport of life, as well (page 30). And we are proud of the “cool opportunity” to share these stories, bringing you great products from our advertisers and looking forward to our next issue of Florida Country Magazine. I will leave you with this: needing inspiration, remember what Milton Berle said—if “opportunity does not knock, build a door.” SCARLETT REDENIUS, Publisher

TOP LEFT PHOTO BY SHANNON CASTANEDA; TOP RIGHT PHOTO BY BEN KNOWLES

LIFE IS FULL OF ‘COOL’ OPPORTUNITIES

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

FLORIDA 4-H

4-H HORSE PROJECTS LEARNING LIFETIME SKILLS, APPRECIATING A SPECIAL BOND

Written by: Christopher DeCubellis

ome of my fondest memories as a child growing up on the farm in Pasco County, and even today as an adult at my farm outside of Archer, occurred on the back of a good horse.

History shows a strong connection between humans and horses, and folks in the Sunshine State enjoy spending time in the saddle. A horse can be a buddy that is easy to talk to, an athlete to appreciate in the ring or at the track, an essential part of a working cattle ranch, an integral part of therapy for a child who has special needs, or a very beautiful way to mow the grass.

• Appreciate riding as a recreational activity. • Learn horsemanship skills and understand breeding, training and raising of horses as a business. • Acquire skills in horse management by owning and being responsible for an animal. • Acquire safety skills when working with horses. Additionally, the UF/IFAS Extension 4-H Youth Development Program and the UF Department of Animal Sciences offer opportunities for young people involved in 4-H horse projects.

For families exploring ways to introduce their children to the wonderful world of horses, the UF/IFAS Extension 4-H Youth Development Program offers many opportunities to not only learn about horses and interact with horses, but also to learn about equine science, and grow and develop skills that will last a lifetime.

Many counties offer local 4-H clubs that focus on horse projects. There are 4-H horse shows at the local, area, state and regional level. There are two weeks of horsemanship schools offered during the summer: one week targets Western skills—including horsemanship, ranch, trail and speed skills—and one week focuses on English riding skills, including hunt seat, dressage and saddle/gaited skills.

Young people in Florida 4-H can begin learning about horses if they have a horse or not. Through Florida 4-H horse projects, young people can have the opportunity to:

There are horse judging competitions where young people learn to evaluate a horse’s form as it relates to function and hone their decision-making skills.

A horse can be a buddy that is easy to talk to, an athlete to appreciate in the ring or at the track, an essential part of a working cattle ranch.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

Florida folks enjoy time in the saddle, even learning to evaluate a horse’s form as it relates to function and honing their decision-making skills.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

FLORIDA 4-H

In hippology, or the study of horses, young people compete in a written exam, identification, judging and ID stations, including feedstuffs and team problems.

In hippology, young people compete in a written exam, identification, judging and ID stations, including feedstuffs and team problems. In Florida 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl, young people show off their knowledge of horses and equine science. There is a horse demonstration and horse public speaking contest where 4-H members can give oral presentations on something related to their horse project or equine science. Youth must be at least 8 years old to interact with horses and other live animals in 4-H. Young people can form a very special bond with their horse—I know I did. When I was 10 years old, I sold a heifer, some goats and two pigs I had raised, and bought my first horse. Bill was a palomino quarter horse, and I owned him till the day he died. I have since owned horses for the past 33 years, can tell you from experience that caring for horses can be a lifelong hobby, and that there are also careers in the equine industry. Participating in the 4-H horse project is an excellent way to introduce the next generation of horse enthusiasts to their equine pals in a safe, educational way. FCM

ROUNDUP For more information about 4-H in Florida, or other opportunities in 4-H, visit florida4h.org.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

HORSIN' AROUND

SHANNON CASTANEDA PHOTOGRAPHY HORSES AND CAMERAS ARE HER PASSION, MORE IDEAS PERCOLATING

Written by: Kym Rouse Holzwart

ombining her love of horses and passion for photography, Shannon Castaneda three years ago founded Shannon Castaneda Photography. Her business, currently out of Jacksonville, has been hugely successful; in fact, she doubled her profits after the first year. It also helps that she is an amazing multi-tasker and has a solid foundation in business and money management—she works full time in the financial industry and has an MBA degree from the University of North Florida. Shannon is busy and works tirelessly. During the week, for example, she works as an operations assistant at a top financial firm, rides horses and spends lunch breaks and nights editing photographs. On weekends, however, she roams Florida photographing horses and their owners in private sessions or at horse shows.

Shannon understands the special bond that owners have with their horses and takes pride in creating spectacular photos that will be treasured forever. Growing up in Winter Springs with a mother who rode and owned several horses, Shannon started riding at age five. After taking lessons for years, her parents bought her an Appaloosa thoroughbred cross mare named Dolly. The pair competed in local hunter/jumper shows. Her grandparents bought her a second horse, Lakota, after a trip to Wyoming. Shannon’s passion for photography began as soon as she figured out how to work her mother’s camera, and she often got into trouble for using all the film taking photos of her pets and a sister. She took a summer photography class, learning about photo composition and developing images in a darkroom. After getting her first digital camera at age 12, Shannon began taking it to the barn to photograph horses,

Opposite page clockwise from top left: Shannon Castaneda, equine portrait sessions are popular with horse-lovers, the LAJUF Hunter-Jumper-Dressage Schooling Show series at Fannin Hill Farm in Brooksville, owner showing her Spotted Saddle horse, Spirit of Gravedigger, another of Shannon’s work as official photographer for the Sunshine State Open Pleasure Show series in Ocala, more horse-and-rider sessions throughout Florida.

14 14

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE BY SHANNON CASTANEDA

This page: Example of a lovely horse Shannon Castaneda had photographed during an equine portrait session.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

HORSIN' AROUND which continued until college. She resumed her photography after graduating and receiving a highend digital camera as a Christmas gift from her mother and her husband. During the summer of 2016, Shannon was introduced to the manager of the new Sunshine State Open Pleasure Show series, who was looking for a photographer. This opportunity sparked the idea of an equine photography business. Her mom gave her a loan for camera equipment, and after less than one year, Shannon repaid the loan and was the sole investor in her business. Shannon is the official photographer for the LAJUF Hunter-Jumper-Dressage Schooling Show series held at Fannin Hill Farm in Brooksville. She was also the official photographer for the Sunshine State Open Pleasure Show series held at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala for four years. For the horse shows, she photographs all horseand-rider teams, organizes the photos by rider number, and presents them for sale on her website. She offers two types of sessions: horse and rider, and equine portraits. In the future, Shannon plans an equine business branding package. The latest adventure for this young entrepreneur is Castaneda Sport Horses, where young horses will be brought to train and resell. Shannon and her husband recently purchased their first training prospect, an Oldenburg gelding named Charming ROF, and are actively looking for property to establish their new business. In addition to living on her own horse farm, Shannon’s goal is transitioning to full-time equine photographer. She says that day will be the day that she will never work again! Shannon’s amazing work is viewed on her website, as well as the many platforms on social media to present purchased photographs. Contact her for a private photography session with you and your horse—you will not be disappointed! If you’re lucky enough, you may be participating in a horse show that she is photographing. I have many of Shannon’s spectacular photographs of me showing our young Spotted Saddle horses throughout our home. FCM

ROUNDUP

shannoncastanedaphotography.com, Shannon.Castaneda.Photography@ gmail.com, 407-430-2992

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

HORSIN' AROUND

STOP HORSING AROUND WITH ORAL HEALTH Written by: Ava Grace

loating a horse’s teeth removes the sharp bits caused by grinding. These edges can be painful and affect how the horse feels and performs.

While many equine dental vets use sedation while floating teeth, Rosie Pope, owner of Equine Smiles Dentistry LLC, opts to work without it. Instead, she keeps your horse calm in holistic ways and uses hard floats instead of power instruments, which limits the side effects of sedation. A horse’s teeth should be checked every six months. Pope says: “This preventative measure helps ensure no hooks, ulcers, or sharp points develop in the mouth, which can cause pain when chewing and riding. It is better to prevent oral pain rather than correct it.” Between six-month treatments, Pope monitors a horse’s eating behavior and watches how they chew feed and hay. It’s also essential to see if they have any odd mannerisms while eating, “that way,” she says, “you

can know if something is wrong and let your dentist know it isn't a usual behavior,” adds Pope, who works from the Panhandle to Jacksonville to Miami. Pope connected with horses at an early age, is a horse owner herself. She has a 19-year-old Quarter Horse named Secret, rides English and Western dressage in the arena. Even at a young age she knew she wanted to work with horses. Pope received her undergraduate degree in Equine Studies to learn all she could about the equine industry. During that time, she met a certified equine dentist at the horse barn where Secret was boarded. “When I saw him floating a horse, I asked him what he was doing, as I was so intrigued. I then asked if he was looking for an assistant, and he was,” says Pope, who assisted that man for a year, knowing then that equine dentistry was her calling. She later enrolled in a nationally certified equine dentistry school, earned certification, and did a week-long training with the veterinarian and equine dentist who runs the school.

PROCEDURES CAN BE DONE WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF STRESS.

Rosie Pope will monitor a horse’s eating behavior and watch how they chew feed and hay. It’s also essential to see if they have any odd mannerisms while eating. And she floats their teeth (pictured).

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE COURTESY OF ROSIE POPE, EQDT. EQUINE SMILES DENTISTRY LLC

EQUINE SMILES DENTISTRY LLC

Clockwise top left: Floating a mini-pony and a horse without drug sedation, body clipping to show how thick of a coat was removed, and floating another mini-donkey. The frequency of clipping depends on the horse and its lifestyle, six months on floating is recommended.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

HORSIN' AROUND In addition to floating, Pope offers a few other equine services, including clipping and equine massage. The services are sometimes booked along with the floating. The frequency of clipping depends on the horse and its lifestyle. “For example, Cushing’s disease horses need to be clipped two to four times a year since they develop a shaggy coat more quickly than others, which can make them uncomfortable, especially in Florida,” says Pope. Another example is show horses, who usually get clipped a week or so before a show, so they look slick and clean for the judges. Equine massage is good for relieving muscle tension and stiffness, which helps increase the range of motion. It also helps stimulate circulation throughout the entire body, which releases endorphins that are natural pain killers. “I offer a type of massage called sports massage, which focuses on the cause of muscle injury, not just to relieve muscular pain, but to assist in the prevention of future injuries to those muscles,” says Pope. Massage frequency depends on activity levels of the horse. For instance, horses in elevated levels of competition should be massaged weekly; a horse competing regularly every two weeks, while a horse that does light riding on an as-needed basis.

Equine Smiles Dentistry LLC equinesmilesdentistry@gmail.com, 772-801-9828 Facebook.com/equinesmilesdentistry

PHOTON COURTESY OF ROSIE POPE, EQDT. EQUINE SMILES DENTISTRY LLC

Due to Pope’s understanding of how to touch and handle a horse, procedures can be done with the least amount of stress. FCM

ROUNDUP

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

COUNTRY CALIBER

MISS RODEO FLORIDA MAKAYLA BAKER RANCH COWGIRL TO 2022 QUEEN Written by: Kathy Ann Gregg

Makayla Baker is the newly crowned Miss Rodeo Florida 2022.

he 2022 Miss Rodeo Florida title was won by Makayla Baker of St. Cloud, Florida, at the pageant held in September.

And her path to this seat of royalty is a very different one from most of her predecessors.

During her youth Baker was an active member of Future Farmers of America, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, student government and the Homecoming Committee. She showed steers and competed on the cheering squads starting in elementary school all the way through high school, and even her first year of college. While not a rodeo competitor herself, Baker’s family has deep roots in the Florida rodeo industry. The initial meeting of the Silver Spurs

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

PHOTO BY WILLIAM CLARK

Baker grew up on the 6,000-acre E.L. Partin Ranch in St. Cloud. “I was thrown on a horse to pin cows the moment I could walk,” she laughingly says. “I grew up pushing cows through the Florida swamps and cabbage palms—and lost many cow whips and cellphones in the process!”

From left to right: Makayla Baker receives the crown from the outgoing queen McKenna Andris, of Homestead, Makayla in western dress at the pageant held in September, McKenna Andris at the pageant in December.

Riding Club was held at the home of her grandparents Geech and Connie Partin, for example. And Miss Connie’s handsewn Silver Spurs flag still hangs in the organization’s clubhouse in Kenansville.

Learning how to be a rodeo queen was quite a process for Baker. She was coached in horsemanship techniques by Jimbo Albritton, and his wife Erica Lassiter Albritton, the 2008 Miss Teen Rodeo Florida.

LEFT AND MIDDLE PHOTOS BY HEATHER GANTZ; OTHER PHOTO COURTESY OF MAKAYLA BAKER

Miss Connie ran the Miss Rodeo Florida pageant for years while Baker’s mother, the former Tricia Partin, was young. In addition, she was also in charge of the Miss Silver Spurs pageant for years. Tricia was not only Miss Silver Spurs 1989, but also the Florida Cattlemen’s Sweetheart in 1991. Tricia then took over the reins of the Miss Silver Spurs pageant.

Baker, a 2019 graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in theatre, had never competed in any beauty or rodeo queen pageants before deciding to go for the Miss Rodeo Florida title. And then Covid-19 sidelined her intentions when the 2020 pageant was cancelled, and the existing queen McKenna Andris was given a second year to her reign.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

COUNTRY CALIBER

BAKER’S FAMILY HAS DEEP ROOTS IN THE FLORIDA RODEO INDUSTRY. Clockwise from the top: Makayla Baker performing a queen fly-by at Southeastern Circuit Finals in November, in horsemanship competition, at her aunt's ranch in Texas, and Makayla's mother, the former Tricia Partin, as Miss Silver Spurs 1989.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

During their sessions, Baker’s dad called Albritton to find out how she was doing. And Jimbo replied: “She’s doing great—we just have to figure out how to beat the cowboy out of her!” You must flap your arms a lot to push cows, so the concept of sitting up straight in the saddle, with elbows tucked in and a constant smile on your face, was completely foreign to Baker. And then there’s the queen wave while completing her fly-by! As witnessed in her appearance as Lady-in-Waiting at the Southeastern Circuit Finals held in Davie in November 2021, Baker has fully mastered these new techniques. And at the pageant itself, she won the Test, Speech and Appearance awards, as well as Most Photogenic.

OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP PHOTO BY DAVID ROSENFIELD; BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTO BY HEATHER GANTZ; OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAKAYLA BAKER

Being a theatre major, it’s the show business aspect of rodeo that this queen loves the most. “It’s a spectacle, and pure entertainment, all while teaching the audience about the western way of life,” Baker says, adding that “I love the look on someone’s face when you put them on a horse for the first time, or you bring them to their first rodeo.” And since rodeo queens are the face of rodeo, Baker’s platform during her coming reign is to bring in as many new rodeo fans as she can. “I got one friend to buy her first pair of cowboy boots, get on a horse for the first time, AND go to her first rodeo, all in the year 2021—and I wasn’t even wearing the crown then!” Next in her court is Miss Teen Rodeo Florida, Heaven Crosby. As a total opposite of Baker, this young lady now holds her third Miss Rodeo Florida title, having been the Sweetheart in 2015, and then Princess in 2018. It seems like she’s going for the Miss Rodeo Florida Grand Slam. And then there is the Princess Ava Boisclair and Sweetheart Calli Tenan. So, look for all these gals at the rodeos— they’ll be glad to give you an autograph and one of their tear sheets, or pose for a photo with you. FCM

ROUNDUP Miss Teen Rodeo Florida, missrodeoflorida.com Silver Spurs Riding Club, silverspursrodeo.com

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

COUNTRY CALIBER

FLORIDA'S MISS RODEO AMERICA CHAPERONE MEET DEBORA WHALEY OF ST. CLOUD, DAYS 'CHOCK-FULL OF ACTIVITIES'

Written by: Kathy Ann Gregg

t sounds strange that young ladies in their mid-to-late twenties need a chaperone in today’s world. But in Las Vegas before and during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, it is a serious job.

The most recent Miss Rodeo America pageant was held in a new venue, the South Point Hotel, from November 28-December 5, 2021. There were 31 state rodeo queens from across the continental United States, plus Alaska and Hawaii. And Florida’s own McKenna Andris was there. Right: Miss Rodeo America 2022 Hailey Frederiksen with Debora Whaley, (below) chaperones for a December event are Debora Whaley, left, MerryAnn Stoney, former Miss Rodeo Canada; Kate Rumford, 1983 Miss Rodeo Canada; Deborah Dilley, just inducted into the Miss Rodeo America Hall of Fame; Sudzy Ruzanski Benesch, 1984 Miss Rodeo Colorado; Vicki Vest Woodward, 1986 Miss Rodeo America; Joyce Battaglia from New Mexico/California. Her daughter Markie Battaglia was Miss Rodeo California and first runner-up and Horsemanship winner at the 2013 Miss Rodeo America.

FFLLO ORRIIDAC DACO OUUN NTTRY RY Fe Febbrruuaarryy ||MMa ar cr chh22002222

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEBORA WHALEY

And Debora Whaley, of Whaley Cattle Company in St. Cloud, Florida, has been a “mom” for the 30-some state rodeo queens annually since 2016.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

COUNTRY CALIBER

Above left: The theme of the 2017 MRA Fashion Show was "The Greatest Showman." A good sport, Debora Whaley was elected to be the bearded lady. Keri Sheffield-Smith, the 2017 Miss Rodeo Florida, would win the title of Miss Rodeo America. In the Justin Boot parade, right, each contestant decorates a boot, (below) the PRCA Awards Banquet in December.

For the first time in the pageant’s 60-plus-year history, the 2020 Miss Rodeo America, Jordan Tierney—and all of the state queens as well—held their titles for two years, caused by Covid restrictions cancelling the 2020 pageant. And there are only seven chaperones charged with the care of all of these contestants for a solid eight days. The pageant began with orientation, where the contestants were presented with their respective state banner from the current titleholder, Jordan Tierney. Thereafter, each day started with the chaperones awakening the contestants at the early hour of 5 a.m., as Whaley says “with a positive smile and ready to hit the ground running.” Breakfast followed at 7 a.m., for approximately 40 minutes, then the heavy lifting began. One year, for example, one of the chaperones dressed up as an elf to surprise the girls when knocking on their doors! The days began with fashion show rehearsals. During these rehearsals, it was the responsibility of the chaperones to pull a couple of contestants at a time and escort them to their respective room, to allow them to freshen up and change their outfit for personal interviews, as well as horsemanship interviews with the panel of esteemed pageant judges. The days are chock-full of activities—the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation luncheon, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association luncheon, the Wrangler NFR welcome reception, and the back-tag ceremony, as well as the PRCA awards banquet. The MRA pageant is still going on during the first few performances of the NFR, and the chaperones escorted the girls to the first performance, which was held December 2.

ORRIIDAC DACO OUUN NTTRY RY Fe Febbrruuaarryy ||MMa ar cr chh22002222 FFLLO

From left: 2021 Miss Rodeo America pageant chaperones are Sudzy Benesch of Colorado, Kate Rumford of Kansas, MerryAnn Stoney of Canada/Arizona, Deborah Dilley of Colorado, Vicki Vest Woodward of Utah, Florida's Debora Whaley, and Joyce Battaglia of California/New Mexico.

They had been in isolation from friends and family until this event. They also went to the Las Vegas Convention Center for the Justin Boot Parade, and auction for Bags for Bucks. This latter event raises money for the MRA Scholarship Foundation. While a lot of work, being a Miss Rodeo America chaperone is also a lot of fun, and results in lifelong friendships. It is their job to do everything the girls need—from being a shoulder to cry on, listening to their concerns or lifting their spirits when having a bad moment. If someone forgot to pack an item or is running low on medications, it is the chaperones to the rescue!

PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE COURTESY OF DEBORA WHALEY

Whaley’s journey started with her dear friend, the late ClemieJo Lamb of Wauchula, Florida. Lamb had been a MRA chaperone for several years, had catered the wedding of Whaley’s daughter Laci to Carl Langford. Another of Whaley’s friends, Deborah Dilley, was visiting from Colorado and helped out with the wedding. Shortly thereafter Whaley received the call from Dilley inviting her into this elite group of women, a chance that she jumped at. And she has never regretted a moment of it. She takes this responsibility very seriously. At the end of the 2021 pageant, after the eight long days, Whaley thought, “wow, that sure did fly by!” And she can’t wait for the next one in November. Florida Country Magazine wishes the best to Miss Rodeo America 2022— Hailey Frederiksen of Colorado. FCM

ROUNDUP Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, nfrexperience.com Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, prorodeo.com Miss Rodeo America, MissRodeoAmerica.com

ORRIIDAC DACO OUUN NTTRY RYM MAGA AGAZZIIN NEE..CCO OM M FFLLO

It’s In

ount ‘em … one, two, three generations of rodeoing and horse racing success in one North Fort Myers, Florida, family.

There’s Margo Crowther, a barrel racing NBHA world title holder, her daughter, Stella, who is just nine and the 2021 Florida State NBHA 1D Youth Reserve Champion at the Silver Spurs Arena and a youth reserve champion at the World Equestrian Center, or WEC, in Ocala, Florida, and Anne Pritchett Peters, who placed fifth at the world event Margo won in October in Perry, Georgia. Anne is Margo’s mom, Stella’s grandmother, a stable owner, barrel racer, reining competitor and lifelong horse owner and equestrian.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaarrcchh 22002222

Says Margo: “God has blessed me with a talent and passion for it.” Says Anne: “It’s wonderful … I don’t know what other word to use, just unbelievable.” Says Stella: “It feels nice … my mom’s really proud of me.” Growing up, Anne Pritchett Peters spent most of her time at their North Fort Myers ranch, Rainbow Farms located at Dick Pritchett Real Estate off Bayshore Road. Her father, Dick Pritchett, was a successful land developer and avid sportsman. He also had a great passion for horses and that same love trickled down to his Annie Bumps, a

PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE BY JOE LEDUC

WRITTEN BY JACK COLLIER

Their Blood M E E T A N N E , M A R G O A N D ST E L L A , 3 G E N E R AT I O N S O F R O D E O I N G A N D O P P O RT U N I T I E S

nickname given to her by her father. As she became older her nickname evolved into a couple of different versions, such as; Bumps, Bumpy (given to her by her son Trey Peters), but the proudest title she carries is Bumpy-ma, a name given to her by her first-born grandson, Sawyer Crowther and that name has stuck with all six grandchildren. Throughout her teenage life, Anne continued balancing school and equine activities and ultimately finding true love with her partner of 40 years, Donn Peters, a real estate appraiser. She became a mother of one boy, Trey and one girl, Margo, and she would eventually approach her father and see if she could turn Rainbow Farms into a lucrative

boarding business. With her determination and $1,000 from her dad, she set her dream in motion. “My father gave us opportunities that I’m so thankful for and I will do the same for my children and grandchildren now,” says Anne. “My father was about business, horses and being a good person, making the best of things and I live my life by that.” A life of family, horses, competing, and you better believe, nothing has changed at age 62. She has won a lot of state, regional and national titles in various English and Western disciplines, but with that success, there is no other success than family to Anne.

Stella Crowther, Margo Crowther and Anne Pritchett Peters, three generations of women from North Fort Myers, Florida.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

Anne Pritchett Peters

It’s like going back in time, watching Margo with Stella, it reminds me of myself with a young Margo. — Anne Pritchett Peters ‘STARTED ASKING FOR A BARREL HORSE’

her stuff and her hopes until her husband ignited those dreams in 2010, buying his wife a barrel horse.

A teenage Margo Peters then was among the country’s best competitors, but how many people can make a career out of the rodeo lifestyle and support themselves? So off to college she went, but it was her rodeo scholarships at Tarleton State University that paved the way for her bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Margo Crowther would return to barrel racing, interspersing her time with training, breeding and selling horses. She had also married Casey Crowther, the couple creating three beautiful children, Sawyer, who’s 11 and into football and baseball, Stella, a barrel racing fourth-grader loves PE, school science, and softball, and Saylor, a 2-year-old already saddled up for barrel racing, her mom says—with a big grin. Casey Crowther had once told of being stunned at the costs to feed, house and purchase a quality horse, the long days and months to train a barrel horses, the dangers of his wife racing around a dirt dragway. He winced at Margo on horseback shooting out of the turns like a NASCAR driver stepping on the gas, he said, her strong legs gripping and encouraging the horse, her boots held in the stirrups with rubberbands, strong hands directing the reins. His fears were real; Margo Crowther in her long racing career had been dragged and

After college in suburban Fort Worth, Margo about 15 years ago was on the cusp of national fame. And then her partner, Lexus, a filly that seemed to race as her rider urged, suddenly and randomly took ill, dying with a gasp in Margo’s arms. This was devastating, and in grief, she shelved

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

STEPPING ON THE GAS

PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE BY JOE LEDUC

This same farm her mother grew up on is also where the former Margo Peters first discovered she belonged on horseback, especially barrel racing. And as Anne’s father saw the determination in her and had given her an opportunity, she saw the same fire in her daughter and gave her an opportunity by getting Margo her very first barrel horse at the age of 10.

PHOTO CREDIT INFO

Stella Crowther

Margo Crowther

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

Clockwise from top left: Anne competing in the finals at the NBHA, Margo rounding a barrel in Lafayette, LA, Stella at the Vegas Tuffest event, Margo’s traveler, her home away from home, a Crowther family photo including Saylor, Stella, Sawyer, Margo and Casey Crowther.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Margo is so thankful for her family, a tightknit bunch that have Sunday night cookouts. Her father, her No. 1 fan, always texts her before every run —“go kick some azz”—and the first person she texts after her run to let him know how she did. But one person you can count on to be by her side, always there to help while she travels, is her mother, Anne. Returning the same to her daughter and granddaughter as Anne’s husband did for her back in the day. “It’s tough being on the road with small children and trying to be the best at your sport,” says Anne. “I’m happy and blessed I can do this for her.” The rodeo life isn’t easy, and Margo spends more time on the road during preliminaries than at home, travelling the winding roads of America, hauling horses behind the wheel of her 38-foot Renegade, travelling to the next rodeo, often with Anne. Racing, Margo says, “I’m an adrenaline junkie, I have to have it, it’s what my soul needs.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

“Some people see a therapist, I jump on a horse and ride.” If you ask both, they have no regrets and when they reach their destination, their family, if not with them, will be tuning into webcasts to cheer them on.

HERE COMES STELLA

Stella is following in the footsteps of the strong women before her, it’s in her blood and she has the best teachers in her corner. Just like her mother and Bumpy-ma, she takes off like a rocket and she is lucky to the have French N Tonic, (aka Patron) has her teammate, a horse Margo hauled as one of her backup to horses for She's Packin Fame, [aka Sissy] until he was injured on one of Margo’s many runs in the summer of 2019. Cold hard facts in this sport, you never know when you or your equine athlete's time is up and you always wish for a simple retirement and not an injury. But life is not simple and sometimes reality is presented in a different form, a different road, and that was a decision Margo had to make after Patron’s injury. They said he would never barrel race again, but that was not Patron’s fate. He did recover, but Margo knew she would be too tough on him—once a perfect match for Margo has now become a perfect match for Stella.

PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE COURTESY OF MARGO CROWTHER AND ANNE PRITCHETT PETERS

banged around on horseback, receiving “cowgirl tattoos,” her powerful calves from the knee down a patchwork of scars and healing wounds. “Sometimes,” Casey Crowther had said of his wife’s races, “it’s just hard to watch.”

Clockwise from top left: Stella, age 7, on Momo, Anne and a young Margo on horseback. When Margo was younger she used to show in different disciplines of English riding. Casey, Margo and their son Sawyer, Dick Pritchett and one of his sport dogs, Anne and Margo on horseback.

Patron’s skill, knowledge and strength, he's an ultimate athlete, yet a gentle giant, a seasoned competitor and equine teacher of sorts. Now it's Stella’s turn for a good horse to carry her through the next few years until she outgrows and gains more experience in her trade. Margo is so proud of Stella … and Anne is too. “It’s like going back in time, watching Margo with Stella, it reminds me of myself with a young Margo,” Anne says. “I had to push Margo when the time came to take on more responsibility with her horse, and now I see Margo doing the same with Stella. I know she’s growing up, but I still cannot help stepping in sometimes because I’m still a grandmother,” Anne adds.

OPPORTUNITIES ARISE

In October, Margo entered the National Barrel Horse Racing World Finals in Georgia. Stella had to return home after her successful claim of the Youth Reserve Championship at WEC in Ocala. She might be a champion in her own right, but she still is 9 years old, and school is top priority.

It was then Margo saw the opportunity of getting her mom back into barrel racing: “I really encouraged mom to ride Patron,” Margo told Barrel Racing Report for its November 2021 issue for the NBHA World Finals. “The last 10-15 years she’d been into reining, but she sold her reining horse and was trying to figure out what to do.” Anne was also holding a Wild Card she had won years ago at the NBHA Triple Crown. The stars had aligned, and what better way for Margo to spend with her mom than competing, doing what they love to do, a whole week of mother and daughter time. The plan was set into place and between Margo and Stella— and with competitiveness already in Anne’s blood, it did not take much convincing for the matriarch to jump on Patron and give it her all. Afterall, her best advice came from her granddaughter Stella: “Go for it Bumpy-ma, keep your eyes forward and let Patron do his thing, I know he’ll take care of you.” “It’s where I get it from,” says Margo, “she’s the toughest woman I know, she taught me everything and my success has a lot to do with her. “My whole family period, I could not do this without any of them.” F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

Nothing better than working in tandem with [your] horse. — Margo Crowther So, Anne ran aboard Stella’s buckskin gelding Patron, Margo aboard Sissy, a mare she trusted beyond imagination, she says. “The mental game of it all,” Margo says of the partnership between rider and horse, “is insane. Her 10-year-old mare, Sissy, is a freak of nature, one-in-a million. She knows when it’s game time.” The two women made the Open Finals. At one point leading the event, Anne Peters and Patron had a 14.893 in the finals, ultimately finishing fifth overall, which any other 62-year-old woman would find acceptable, as her daughter had only recently “convinced me to throw my leg up on a horse again,” Anne says. A good horse, she adds, “that was a lot of it.” Margo Crowther and Sissy would scorch a 14.441 in the finals, close to the 14.428 NBHA Open World arena record. In her victory, she claimed $12,000 in winnings, adding to Sissy’s Lifetime Earnings total of more than $250,000.

A BLOODLINE WORTH PRESERVING

Sissy means the world to Margo, her best friend. And as any professional athlete, you are always looking to be better. In Margo’s world, her equine partner is held to the highest standards. “It’s important to keep Sissy’s legacy and bloodline going” Margo adds … and to achieve that, she must be bred. Today, Margo owns several of Sissy’s offspring, full-siblings and even Sissy’s mother. And every year she looks forward to welcoming new offspring by embryo transfer.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

Sissy is inseminated and carries the embryo for 14 days and then they are flushed and placed into a recip mare—a surrogate—with hopes in 11 months a new healthy foal is born.

JUST WHO I AM

Like anyone immersed in a successful career, Margo Crowther loves explaining her trade. She’s not showing off or lecturing, rather pointing to the tools that help make a champion, down to the five or six pairs of muddy Lucchese and Justin boots stashed in the horse trailer. If you ask either Margo or Anne, where would they be today if they never were involved with horses? They both go silent, because neither one can even picture that. Margo loves her life and she also enjoys working at home with girls, mentoring in her rare free time. In a social media posting after her world title, Margo Crowther wrote: “I truly never imagined we would WIN! Some people might say, yeah right, but it's true. I never really think that far ahead, I guess. LOL. I definitely imagine my perfect run, but I never picture actually being the winner … It’s not that I don’t believe in myself or in my horse, but I tend to only focus on being in the moment and making the best run I can at that time—and if things line up and everything falls into place, then I am the blessed one THAT day. There are so many incredible horses and jockeys out there, and a lot must go right to be your day. Horses are not robots, and neither are we!” To which Anne Peters added: “It was just the grace of God. Margo and Stella have really given me the confidence that I can do this.” FCM

MIDDLE PHOTO THIS PAGE AND BOTTOM PHOTO OPPOSITE PAGE BY JOE LEDUC; ALL OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARGO CROWTHER AND ANNE PRITCHETT PETERS

From left: Anne in reining competition, Margo on the ranch and Margo and Sissy would scorch a 14.441 in the finals.

Roundup D E TA I LS O N M A R G O C R O W T H E R , C R O W T H E R H O R S E S . CO M D E TA I LS O N A N N E P E T E R S , R A I N B O W FA R M STA B L E S , FA C E B O O K

Clockwise from top left: Stella in Las Vegas in December qualifying for the Vegas Tuffest Jr World event, Margo owns several of Sissy's offspring, including her mother, Heidi Dashing Sixes, Margo and Saylor, her youngest, Stella ready to run, Donn Peters, Margo and Anne in an earlier portrait.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

PHOTO BY CLAY GUARDIPEE

Brooks aboard Frontier Rodeo's bronc Yellowstone in Round 4 of the NFR. This round saw him in eighth place with a score of 84.5 points.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaarrcchh 22002222

CHASE BROOKS NFR SADDLE-BRONC HERO, 'RODEO ROAD A FUN ONE'

WRITTEN BY KATHY ANN GREGG

hile Deer Lodge, Montana, may stake a claim on saddle-bronc rider Chase Brooks, the Sunshine State can also call him its own. The 27-year-old Brooks competed in his fourth consecutive Wrangler National Finals Rodeo when this prestigious event returned to Las Vegas December 2-11, 2021.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHASE BROOKS

Covid restrictions had caused the 2020 event to be held in Arlington, Texas. And returning to the Thomas & Mack Center was a charm for Brooks: he was one of only three saddle-bronc contestants to conquer the 8-second mark on all 10 nights of competition. This feat landed him second in the Average, behind Brody Cress by only three points. Cress won Round 2 and stayed in control

of the Average for most of the competition. The third rider in this elite group was the Canadian Zeke Thurston. This modest young man was born and raised in Montana, having lived on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning for the first half of his childhood. From there he attended Powell County High School in Deer Lodge for his junior and senior high school years. He describes his youth as “growing up cowboying on different ranches and cow camps.” Brooks helps out each year at the Broncs, Bulls and Bibles Rodeo School held in Miles City, Montana, as well as other schools that help get young people started in the sport of rodeo—he likes to give back to the sport he loves, and which has been very good to him.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

H I S FAVO R IT E AC C O M P L I S H M E NT WA S B E I N G T H E 2 0 1 9 R A M N AT I O N A L C I R C U IT F I N A L S C H A M P I O N . His lifetime accomplishments include being the 2012 Montana High School Saddle Bronc champion, the 2013 Northern Rodeo Association champion, the 2018 All American Pro Rodeo champion, and the 2020 Montana Pro Rodeo champion, along with being a four-time NFR qualifier, from 2018 to 2021. But his favorite accomplishment was being the 2019 RAM National Circuit Finals Champion, as it was in Kissimmee, Florida, at that very event that he met the 2019 Miss Rodeo Florida, Cara Spirazza. And they have since been a couple and best friends. He says: “Cara’s my biggest supporter in my rodeo career, and I’m her biggest fan in her veterinary career.” Brooks spent much time competing in Florida rodeos at the start of his professional career, and says, “the Florida rodeos have always been good to me.”

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaarrcchh 22002222

He loves the Sunshine State’s beaches and fishing, as well as its swamps and airboating. The couple also spends time in his old stompin’ grounds, where they enjoy the mountains, ranching, skiing and camping that Montana has to offer. Being a professional rodeo contestant entails a lot of travel. Brooks' travel buddies are fellow saddlebronc riders Kolby Wanchuk of Alberta, Canada, and fellow Montana cowboys Sage Newman and Tanner Butner. “In rodeo, our biggest competitors often become our closest friends,” Brooks adds, “and we’re always helping each other out, celebrating wins together, and keeping the rodeo road a fun one!” During those 10 days in Las Vegas, Brooks placed in the money in six rounds, for a total purse of $56,171. His biggest win was taking first place in Round 1 for $24,167 aboard Pendleton Whiskeys

BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTO BY DEBORA WHALEY; OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHASE BROOKS AND CARA SPIRAZZA

Clockwise from top left: Cara Spirazza, the 2019 Miss Rodeo Florida, and Chase Brooks with his #62 back tag, Brooks in the NFR, Spirazza with her boyfriend Chase Brooks with his Round 1 buckle, and Brooks gives a "private lesson" to Audie Will Langford, son of Carl and Laci Whaley Langford of Arcadia, Florida.

PHOTO BY CLAY GUARDIPEE

Brooks aboard Frontier Rodeo Company's bronc Yellowstone in Round 4. Frontier Rodeo is the stock contractor for the past three decades at the Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHASE BROOKS

Each contestant has an autographed display at the NFR; girlfriend Cara Spirazza hams it up with Brooks' poster!

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaarrcchh 22002222

MIDDLE TOP PHOTO BY KATHY ANN GREGG; RIGHT TOP PHOTO BY DEBORA WHALEY; OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHASE BROOKS

Clockwise from top left: Chase Brooks receives his back tag in the formal Back Tag Ceremony, in a contemplative moment, Miss Rodeo Florida 2019 Cara Spirazza and Brooks at the Cowboy Christmas, Las Vegas Convention Center, at the 2019 Miss Rodeo America pageant, and Chase and Cara on horseback in Montana.

T H I S M O D E ST Y O U N G M A N WA S B O R N A N D R A I S E D I N M O NTA N A . Marquee, for a score of 88.5 points. Round 2 saw him take second place behind Brody Cress, with 85.5 points on Three Belles. In Round 3 he conquered Awesome Sauce for a third place finish of 86.5 points. It was then the final three rounds that saw him win more money, starting with Round 8’s score of 84.5 points on Tickled Pink for fifth place. Round 9 landed him in third place with a score of 89 aboard Sun Glo, and the finish line was Round 10 on Onion Ring, where he tied with Ryder Wright for third place, with his highest score of 89.5 points. In addition to winding up second in the Average, the end of 2021 gave Brooks fourth place in the overall standings in saddle broncs. And considering that, the Wright family of Milford, Utah, has a tight hold on this event, with Stetson

beating out his older brother Ryder by less than $1,200 for the championship, leaving them in first and second place. Taking fourth can certainly be considered a win! And Brooks is grateful to have been a part of this momentous competition—with Sage Kimzey winning his seventh bull riding title, Kaycee Feild breaking the record in Round 5 for 26 Round wins—and going on to take the championship title in bareback riding—and Shane Hanchey, younger brother of Jason Hanchey of Okeechobee, in an emotional win in Round 1 of the tie-down roping, on a green horse after having lost his longtime roping steed just 10 days before the beginning of the NFR. As Brooks says: “We’re ready to kick off the 2022 season!” FCM

ROUNDUP W R A N G L E R N AT I O N A L F I N A L S R O D E O , N F R E X P E R I E NC E .C O M F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

FLORIDA CHARM

SWIMMING FLORIDA’S SPRINGS NATURAL SPA ADVENTURES, WRITER’S TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

Written by: Ben Knowles

rowing up in Florida I often visited springs with my family. I remember park rangers saying how the springs stay the same temperature year-round, so you could swim in December.

As a child that sounded impossible and crazy to me. The springs were freezing when we swam in them during the summer. I remember being shocked if I saw someone swimming in the fall or winter. I figured they were from up north. As an adult I have continued to visit the springs with my wife and children, and in recent years found myself jumping into the springs when it was cold outside. In fact, the fall and winter have become my favorite seasons to swim in the springs. The water flowing out of the springs comes from the Florida aquifer below the ground and therefore has not had time to be affected by the air temperature. Most Florida springs have a consistent water temperature somewhere between 68 to 72 degrees. On a hot summer day, spring water feels ice cold, on a winter day in the forties or fifties; spring water feels warm to the touch since the air temperate is significantly lower than the water temperature. Swimming in the winter requires a little more planning. Sometimes I wear a wetsuit if I plan to be in and out of the water for an extended amount of time. For example, when my wife and I paddleboard on the Santa Fe River near High Springs, I will wear my wetsuit if it is cold outside. It is just a $50 suit from

Florida manatee can be seen during a December swim in Cypress Springs.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

Amazon, but it keeps me from feeling too cold when I am wet and paddling between the springs on the river. I also use a towel and a pullover hat to keep my head dry and warm. If I am visiting a spring at a state park, I will wear a swimsuit under warm athletic clothes and remove the warm clothes when I am ready to hit the water. I stay in the water until I am done swimming, which could be just a few minutes or close to an hour. It just depends on how much there is to see in the spring. Some springs are larger and have more area to explore or an abundance of aquatic life to observe. I always tell people that it is easier to get in the water than get out when it is cold outside. Getting out of the water is when I really feel the cold. Once I exit the water, I quickly dry off with a towel, put my clothes back on and start moving around to warm up. It helps if the sun is out. I enjoy swimming when it is cold out because it is a physical and a mental challenge. Sometimes my mind will tell me it is too cold to swim. I remind myself that my body will adjust once in the water, and the reward of seeing below the surface will be worth it. I also think about how life circumstances can change unexpectedly, and I may not get another opportunity to swim in a spring. My wife, who does not like the cold, has also learned to embrace winter swims in the springs. A crystal-clear spring or the possibility of seeing a manatee underwater helps motivate her to get in with me. Our seven-year-old daughter has

Cypress Springs

Dogwood Spring

Gilchrist Blue

Hart Springs

PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE BY BEN KNOWLES

Fanning Springs

Ichetucknee Springs

The writer's wife and kids swim in Fanning Springs and Ichetucknee Springs, a few of Florida's idyllic locations.

Madison Blue Springs F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

FLORIDA CHARM

Merritt’s Mill Pond

Shangri-la Spring

swum with us a few times on warmer winter days. Our two-year-old son will sometimes wade in the water, but currently wants no part of swimming in the cold water any time of the year. I do not usually set resolutions but in January of 2020 I set a goal to swim in a Florida spring at least once a month. Not only did I accomplish the goal, but I was able to carry it through to 2021. Twenty-four months of swimming in the beautiful Florida springs in the books, and I hope to swim on this year!

Florida State Parks Springs Information Check online for details floridadep.gov/my-home-my-springs

PHOTOS BY BEN KNOWLES

Ben Knowles is an outdoor enthusiast who lives in north Florida with his wife and two children. Find his Facebook page “Ben Outside” to enjoy photos, stories and videos of his outdoor adventures throughout Florida. FCM

ROUNDUP

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

FLORIDA CHARM

St. Pete's newest pier has five restaurants, a playground, the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center and the St. Petersburg Museum of History.

Florida

Roadtrip Series

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA

Written by: Dave Kelly

his writer remembers old downtown St. Petersburg. In the 1970s, the glories of the city’s 100year history had given way to crumbling disuse, developer disinterest and abject neglect.

In fact, there was even a phrase that other Floridians used to describe the area— “populated with the newly-wed and the nearly-dead.” As the years went by, it looked as though St. Pete’s best days had passed it by. Not so anymore. Through creative thinking and aggressive investment, the city’s past issues have given way to a unique and hearty rebirth that acknowledges St. Pete’s lively history while embracing the growth of modern and trendy concepts. From the remodeling of the century-old pier to the proliferation of hip bars, cafes and boutiques to the renaissance and redesign of bed-and-breakfast-style lodging, the city has shown a colorful resiliency that is attracting folks from all over.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaarrcchh 22002222

No bed-and-breakfast better represents the revival of the downtown St. Petersburg area better than the extraordinary Bay Street Inn. Built in 1914 and formerly known as the Boyce Guest House, this historic Florida landmark’s grounds are surrounded by decades of lush old-Florida landscape. It is only steps to elegant Vinoy Park and the St. Petersburg Pier. And walking just a bit farther south on Beach Drive takes you to downtown St. Pete's waterfront dining and Central Avenue entertainment scene. The Bay Street Inn features three suite apartments in its Carriage House and six more luxury rooms in the Main House. New owners Christina and Wendy have worked diligently to keep original builder and owner George Boyce’s vision alive by repurposing previous features and adhering to prior plans when updating and remodeling. In fact, weeks before our visit, former owner Martha Boyce visited the property to meet the new proprietors and was thrilled with the passion for historic preservation that she saw in this new ownership team.

OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP LEFT AND TOP MIDDLE PHOTOS COURTESY OF BAY STREET INN; BOTTOM MIDDLE PHOTO COURTESY OF NEVIN SITLER CURATOR ST. PETE MOH; OTHER PHOTOS BY DAVE KELLY

History Meets Rebirth in Old Downtown

Clockwise from top left: The original Boyce Guest House, today's Bay Street Inn, a plaque for the Boyce House. Bottom photos left to right: Hip hangouts dot Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete, Little Cooperstown has thousands of autographed baseballs, inside the lovely Bay Street Inn.

All rooms at Bay Street feature ensuite bathrooms with jacuzzi tubs and showers. They are appointed with historical period furnishings and feature king or queen beds. Yet they also have modern necessities such as ultrahigh-definition TV and high-speed internet, continental breakfast, water, snacks and free parking. Amenities such as a Sunlighten mPulse Sauna and electric bikes are also available, as are a tropical courtyard and gas fireplace. The Bay Street Inn is a do-not-miss accommodation in the perfect setting.

THIS PIER HAS NO PEER

Much of the history of St. Petersburg centers around the various city piers built in the downtown area over the

years. In 1913, the city’s Recreational Pier opened where today’s current pier is, ushering in over a century of sightseeing, dining, fishing and more. This pier included a hangar for the local airline (more on that later), an indoor swimming pool, an aquarium, and a dance hall. It even provided a solarium for nude sunbathing, a popular pastime of the day. But the Recreational Pier was damaged in a 1921 hurricane and was replaced by the Million Dollar Pier and Casino in 1926. In the 1920s, casinos were not a place to gamble but rather a place for folks to gather, and gather they did—when it opened, more than 10,000 attendees flocked to the pier. It was the first city pier to contain a roadway, a feature that still exists today.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

FLORIDA CHARM Florida

Roadtrip Series

NO DIVE INTO THE HISTORY OF ST. PETERSBURG WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A TRIP TO SUNKEN GARDENS.

This museum, originally founded in 1920, chronicles the city’s place in Florida history. Though its archives contain over 32,000 unique pieces—check out President Top photos: Sunken Gardens features over 50,000 tropical plants in its century-old park, the Million Dollar Pier (pictured) attracted typical Florida fun such as water-skiing.

William Howard Taft’s huge pajamas, or the two-headed calf—the museum highlights two key Florida subjects: flying and baseball.

PLANE CRAZY AND LITTLE COOPERSTOWN

Despite their relative proximity, the busy cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg are separated by expansive Tampa Bay. In today’s world, we simply cross bridges in minutes to traverse the bay, but back then it took a day-long train ride around the perimeter of the harbor. In December 1913, aviator and investor Thomas W. Benoist signed a contract to provide air service between the cities. Benoist created the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line using his own airplane, the Benoist XIV flying boat. On January 1, 1914, pilot Tony Jannus flew the world’s first commercial airline flight from the St. Petersburg Pier across the bay to Tampa. At an astonishing 75 miles per hour, the trip took Jannus just 23 minutes to complete, all at less than 50 feet above the water. The venture was short-lived, however, as Benoist failed to procure additional financing for the airline. But the efforts of Benoist and Jannus helped to secure St. Petersburg’s unique place in aviation history. The museum’s other main feature is Little Cooperstown, a glass-encased collection of almost 5,000 autographed baseballs. Baseball history is rich in St. Pete, as Major League Baseball’s spring training has come to the area for over a century. In 1915, the Philadelphia Phillies made a home in St. Pete, for instance, and the team has since been in the St. Pete/Clearwater area. Lifetime baseball fan Dennis Schrader works with the museum to curate his collection. In 1956, the Yankees came to Al Lang Stadium for spring training. Nine-year-old Dennis was helping another ball boy when a player walked up, grabbed his baseball, signed it and handed it back. Mickey Mantle had just autographed Dennis’s ball, and he was hooked on collecting for the rest of his life.

St. Petersburg, Florida— HISTORY MEETS REBIRTH IN OLD DOWNTOWN

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF NEVIN SITLER CURATOR ST. PETE MOH; OTHER PHOTOS BY DAVE KELLY

After its demolition in 1967 due to disuse and deterioration, the city built the infamous Inverted Pyramid Pier. Finally, in 2020, construction was completed on the current pier, which houses five restaurants, a playground, the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center and the St. Petersburg Museum of History.

Clockwise from left: The Million Dollar Pier and Casino grand opening in 1926, the Benoist XIV skimming Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg Museum of History's replica of the Benoist XIV, the first commercial vehicle to fly over Tampa Bay. Bottom photo: Original St. Petersburg Museum of History building front.

Little Cooperstown features thousands of baseballs alongside storyboards, photographs, and artifacts from the game’s stars over the years. Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Jackie Robinson all are represented on the walls, as are hundreds of other famous nonbaseball stars such as Elvis Presley, basketball great Larry Bird and dozens of presidents.

‘DEEP ROOTS’ IN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NEVIN SITLER CURATOR ST. PETE MOH

No dive into the history of St. Petersburg would be complete without a trip to Sunken Gardens. Nestled on four acres tucked into the Historic Old Northeast neighborhood of the city, this 100-year-old garden showcases a collection of over 50,000 tropical plants and flowers, many of which are the oldest in Florida. Once a national roadside attraction on a main road before interstate travel, the park features lush gardens, winding paths, cascading waterfalls and tropical wildlife such as flamingos and butterflies. It is still the oldest commercial tourist attraction on Florida’s west coast.

ROUNDUP:

Bay Street Inn 635 Bay Street NE, St. Petersburg baystreetinn.com, 727-273-9719 St. Petersburg Museum of History 335 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg spmoh.com, 727-894-1052 Sunken Gardens 1825 4th St. N, St. Petersburg stpete.org, 727-551-3102

Sunken Gardens has existed since plumber and avid gardener George Turner purchased land in 1903 that included a shallow lake 10 feet below sea level, which he drained to form his private “sunken garden.” Turner started planting tropical fruits and other exotic plants on the property, and in 1935 fenced his garden and started charging 24 cents admission. The Gardens eventually became widely popular and often ranked among Florida's Top 10 tourist attractions. The site was sold to the city in 1999 and is open daily for educational tours, special events and general tours. Head to St. Petersburg and you will experience the best of what is old … made new again. FCM

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

THE BRAND

CREEL TRACTOR COMPANY 50 YEARS IN MARCH, STILL FAMILY RUN, A TOP KUBOTA DEALER

arch marks a big month at Fort Myersbased Creel Tractor Company. It’ll be 50 years that the family owned-andoperated business had sold, serviced or rented tractors, mowers, utility vehicles, construction and hay/farm equipment. Special pricing, giveaways, food trucks and live music will make Creel’s enterprise at 3771 Palm Beach Boulevard a lively place to mark the special occasion on March 25. Fifty years ago, Ray and Phyllis Creel sold a Naples tomato farm and opened their new business in Fort Myers, selling tractors that met construction and individual customer needs. “For three generations,

Creel Tractor has done everything in our power to give customers the best experience,” says vice president and co-owner Brian Creel, the grandson of Ray and Phyllis. To ensure customers receive the most personalized experience, both owners, Brian Creel and his father Mark Creel, the firm’s president, are onsite every day. “We appreciate our community and strive to address their needs,” adds Brian Creel. That edge has helped Creel Tractor grow into a business that now has 30 team members. Plus the firm had purchased commercial property to start the process of a new facility with 14 service bays and more than 25,000 square feet of room. “This additional space will allow us to serve all of our customers better,” Brian Creel says.

WHEN DEALER CONSOLIDATION IS THE TREND, CREEL TRACTOR HAS MANAGED TO STAY A FAMILY OPERATED DEALERSHIP.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITTE PAGE COURTESY OF CREEL TRACTOR CO.

Written by: Ava Grace

Creel Tractor 1972 (top left). The Fort Myers-based firm has been in operation for 50 years. It offers a full range of tools and tractors to fit the needs of any customer. Creel Tractor has been proud to be an Elite Certified dealer for Kubota, as well. F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

THE BRAND Creel Tractor since 2013 had been an Elite Certified dealer for Kubota, the agricultural and construction equipment company. This is the highest level of recognition granted by that giant firm. “There are many things we have done well to earn this level of excellence—from parts to sales to service, and by providing quality customer experience,” Brian Creel says. Creel Tractor is also a Top 10 single-store volume dealer for Kubota Tractor Corp. Very few dealers achieve this special recognition. Creel also offers a full line of Land Pride tools from rotary cutters to grapples to augers, Echo machines such as chainsaws and chipper/ shredders. Creel Tractor also offer rentals on various machines such as excavators and tractors, competitive prices on used equipment, zero percent financing options, parts, and a fullservice center with mobile availability. When dealer consolidation is the trend, Creel Tractor has managed to stay a family dealership. “We are committed to our customers and employees, and we appreciate all they offer and do for us,” says Brian Creel.

ROUNDUP Creel Tractor Company, 3771 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers creeltractor.com, 239-694-2185

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaarrcchh 22002222

LOGO COURTESY OF CREEL TRACTOR CO.

Visit Creel Tractor Company on March 25 to help celebrate its 50-year anniversary. And say hello to the team, to Mark Creel or Brian Creel, as the pair carry forward the tradition of professionalism, top customer service and quality products and service set forth in 1972 by Ray and Phyllis Creel. FCM

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

THE BRAND

EQUINE HEMP SOLUTIONS AMAZING BENEFITS OF AN ANCIENT PLANT

Written by: Ava Grace

Lucky Lola, a 15-year-old Paint Quarter Horse, was a rescue. She was thought to be blind, had a fractured bone, just wasn’t a happy camper. In only 30 days, she made a remarkable recovery with Equine Hemp Solutions. These are success stories linked to the ancient crop hemp, which is legal in Florida. Brian Dickerson is the chief executive of Star Manufacturing Hemp in LaBelle, Florida, which has created and markets Equine Hemp Solutions, other such products for people and dogs. He was inspired by hemp in 2014, watching how it helped a friend’s son with autism and suffering from seizures. Witnessing this became life-changing, he says. So, he carved out farmland on his Grassy Run Ranch, an outdoor venue in LaBelle, and planted hemp using no chemicals or pesticides. “We now have a line of products for horses (Equine Hemp Solutions), humans (Doctor’s Hemp Solutions), and canines (Canine Hemp Solutions),” says Dickerson. The Chinese first cultivated hemp, and for 3,000 years it was the earth’s largest agricultural crop, offering properties used for such commodities as oils, fuels, cloth, rope and building materials.

Left: Lucky Lola, a rescue in rough shape, in part got better with Equine Hemp Solutions' supplements, right, Twister recovered from injuries after treatments with Equine Hemp Solutions’ HempFlavin, a spray oil.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

This ancient crop also had medicinal properties, including its ability to reduce inflammation, provide relief from anxiety, and even help joints and horse hooves, research has shown. There was a time that hemp was outlawed due to its association with cannabis; however, the plant has gained acceptance, as it offers benefits and has no psychoactive components. It is legal to cultivate in Florida if it has less than 0.3% THC content. The LaBelle company’s product line includes supplements, powders, oils, creams and pulps. Products are formulated with a board-certified physician and pharmacist to enhance its effectiveness. The company also donates products to animal rescues, in Florida and other states. “The pain relief itself is amazing, as I’ve seen it bring Level 10 pain down to 5 … or even less, making it manageable and improving many lives,” adds Dickerson, who has six horses and a small Brangus cattle herd on his LaBelle ranch. Those cattle also enjoy the benefits of hemp. “We provide Equine Hemp Pulp to our non-beef cattle who have been injured. We also use HempFlavin on our non-beef cattle to help fight parasites and bacteria,” explains Dickerson. Michell Bock is a riding instructor at M&H Stables in Naples, Florida. She couldn’t agree more about the effectiveness of Equine Hemp Solutions’ products. “For example, Robin is a 21-year-old American Paint horse and does trail rides and lessons with kids. He has osteoarthritis

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GRASSY RUN RANCH

wister had a bad injury. But the 14-year-old Appendix horse recovered, however, using Equine Hemp Solutions’ HempFlavin, a spray oil. Its anti-inflammatory properties ended the use of Banamine, which has documented side effects.

THE PAIN RELIEF itself is amazing, as I’ve seen it bring Level 10 pain down to 5 … or even less. MIDDLE LEFT, MIDDLE RIGHT AND BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE BOCK; OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF EQUINE HEMP SOLUTIONS

—Brian Dickerson, chief executive of Star Manufacturing Hemp, LaBelle, Florida

Top: The LaBelle company’s hemp line includes supplements, powders, oils, creams and pulps. Bottom clockwise left: At 21 years young, American Paint Horse Robin is doing well after Equine Hemp Solutions treatments, quarter horse Farrah is rebounding from arthritis since hemp treatments started in June, Scout, a Potcake dog adopted from the Bahamas, was given Canine Hemp Solutions to help with digestion and anxiety issues, Lady, an 18-year-old American paint, has resumed trail rides and lessons, as she's picky about her food and supplements. but loves the equine hemp powder.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

THE BRAND and was on the anti-inflammatory Equioxx but was diagnosed with a kidney problem and could no longer take it. Thanks to a double dose of Equine Hemp Solutions, he’s doing great,” says Bock. Jane Trone gives her dogs Cody and Scout products from the company’s canine line. Cody, a Schnauzer rescue from Kansas, is given Canine Hemp Solutions pulp for his hips, all-around health and energy, for example, she says. “In just a few weeks, we noticed that he has marked improvement in movement and energy level,” says Trone, who also gives him Canine Hemp chews before bed. Scout, a one-year-old potcake dog adopted from the Bahamas, also takes the hemp pulp to help his digestive system and to lessen anxiety issues that arise with new surroundings. Jane Trone is a fan of Delta 8+ Full Spectrum Tincture from the Doctor’s Hemp Solutions line, as it helps her sleep. Also, to help reduce pain in her left eye caused by macular degeneration and subsequent treatments, she uses HempFlavin, which has made a tremendous improvement, she says.

ROUNDUP Star Manufacturing Hemp 540 B Road, LaBelle, Florida doctorshempsolutions.com, info@doctorshempsolutions.com, 863-674-5775

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EQUINE HEMP SOLUTIONS

The company had completed a 100-person clinical study using HempFlavin, which is a non-THC product. That demonstrated a 98 percent reduction in pain for its participants. “Once I saw how the equine hemp that was added to the horses feed changed their behavior and health issues, I could not wait until the Canine and Doctor’s product lines were developed,” adds Trone. FCM

Cody, a rescue, at nearly 15 is given a hemp supplement for hip issues, all-around health and to increase energy levels.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

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

#1 RE-MAX OFFICE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

www.DariusCochran.com

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

PICTURE PERFECT ‘TRUE CRACKER COWBOY!’

“M

y son Conlin Kelley is a 9-year-old cowboy following in his dad and great grandfather’s footsteps of being a true cracker cowboy! He is riding his pride and joy, his 7-year-old cracker gelding Weeman. Conlin loves this life working cows, building fences and rodeo. He rides minibroncs and breakaway ropes at Top Hand Challenge. His favorite thing to do is go work cows with his dad. This picture just sums up the iconic view of a Florida cracker to me.” Lake Placid’s Jordan Kelley submitted this image shot by Layna Bowen at the Lazy S Cattle Co. in Venus, Florida. She used a Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaarrcchh 22002222

Photo by: Jordan Kelley

‘MARVELOUS CHARACTERISTICS’

“T Photo by: Kristy Lynn Rivera

o most people photography is just pictures. To me photography is about capturing a memory, a breathtaking moment, a step back to cherish the small things in life. Ever since I was young, photography has been a passion for me. My most favorite thing to capture most is nature and its marvelous characteristics.” Kristy Lynn Rivera of Fort Myers, Florida, captured her image on Peace River in Arcadia, Florida, on an iPhone 6.

YES, DEER!

“I

usually go out to take pictures in the early evening when the deer are moving. This particular evening, I caught this little fawn relaxing and casually munching on the grass around him. I truly enjoy photography, capturing the beauty of nature and sharing it with others so they can enjoy it too!” April Lopez of Marianna, Florida., photographed her front-yard image using a Nikon D3300.

Photo by: April Lopez

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

PICTURE PERFECT ‘BLESSING I HAVE RECEIVED’

“P

hotography has always been a passion of mine and a way for me to share the blessings and beauty of what the Lord has made. I love being able to go out into the land and capture the things that show His creation. From landscape pictures, to ranch pictures, to rodeo pictures, to family portraits, I always feel like I am able to bless others with the blessing I have received of getting my camera!” Tori Walker used a Canon EOS Rebel T6 to capture this image in Kissimmee, Florida (submitted by Tiffany Tripson)

‘FUN SPLASHING’

“A

fter Tropical Storm Fred hit, we had no power, nothing to do, and lots of water around us, so we took the opportunity to make the best of it! She had fun splashing in the water. Photography for me is an art. I love seeing my work once it’s finished … and getting feedback.” Clarksville, Florida’s Makaela Marks shot her image on an iPhone XS.

Photo by: Makaela Marks

OR RIIDAC DACO OU UN NTTRY RY Fe Febbrruuaarryy || M FFLLO Maarrcchh 22002222

Photo by: Tori Walker

‘CAPTURE A MOMENT’

“T

his is my daughter, Madison, laying in the pasture at the St. Lucie County 4-H farm where we volunteer feed weekly with their dairy calf Opal. Photography is a way to capture a moment for me. It allows me to express myself through a single image in time.” Fort Pierce’s Heather Jackson shot her photo at the St. Lucie County 4-H farm using an iPhone 11.

SHELL-A-BRATING BEAUTY

Photo by: Heather Jackson

Photo by: Megan Drumheller

“S

helling is another one of my hobbies. I wanted to capture the beauty of one of our seashellcovered beaches. Photography challenges me to look at the world differently and to find the beauty and potential in it. I enjoy being able to share the wonders of our world, big and small, with others through photography.” Megan Drumheller of Winter Haven, Florida, photographed her work on Marco Island, Florida, on an iPhone 11 Pro Max.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

RODEO PROFILE

GOLDEN VOICE OF RODEO ROGER MOONEY, ANNOUNCER, ENDORSEMENT CHAMP AND LEGEND

ake a good ol’ Southern country boy with a loud deep voice, add a little bit of twang, and a love of rodeo, and what do you have— announcer Roger Mooney, of course!

Mooney got his start in rodeo announcing in 1984, when fate stepped in. He was at a rodeo while attending the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia, when the producers learned that their announcer had suffered a heart attack. With standing-room attendance and no announcer, the panicked producers remembered the young man they had met, who not only knew the rodeo events, but also had a perfect voice for the job. And Mooney found himself with a microphone in his hand. They liked his performance so much that they hired him for a rodeo in Phoenix City, Alabama, the next weekend. And these two gigs turned into a total of 40 for his first year in the business. “I was making as much money as my college professors, in a sport I truly loved, so I was off and running!” Mooney says. Since then, Roger Mooney's life on the rodeo road—and it is one that covers the North American continent—has

seen him announcing regularly at such acclaimed venues as Madison Square Garden in New York City, the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the Tamiami Stadium in Miami (now demolished), and at the annual Calgary Stampede. This latter event draws upward of 1 million attendees per day, and was first held in 1912. In Florida, he’s been known to be the voice of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos held at Davie, the Brighton Field Days, and the Arcadia rodeos, as well as the RAM National Circuit Finals held annually in Kissimmee at the Silver Spurs Arena. In fact, he announced at these Circuit Finals when they were held in Pocatello, Idaho, and the 2020 event which was moved to Greeley, Colorado, due to the Covid pandemic, for a total of 12 times for this event. Mooney has announced the National High School Finals Rodeo 10 times, where Florida had two national champions at the 2021 event, and he is the voice of the National Finals Senior Rodeo. His first time announcing the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was the year 2000, and since then he has done it an

Left: Rodeo announcers were once in jackets and worked from horseback, which Roger Mooney did at the 1987 Orange Blossom Rodeo in Davie, Florida. Right: Mooney takes a moment at the 2020 Fall Arcadia Rodeo with rodeo writer/photographer Kathy Ann Gregg.

68 FFLLOORRIIDAC DACOOUUNNTTRY RY Fe Febbrruuaarryy || M a r c h 2 0 2 2 68

LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF ROGER MOONEY; RIGHT PHOTO BY KATHY ANN GREGG

Written by: Kathy Ann Gregg

ALL PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY KATHY ANN GREGG

Clockwise from top left: Roger Mooney having fun with rodeo entertainer Robbie Hodges, his favorite downtime activity is with his family, wife Ashley, daughter Morgan and son Cash, working their family farm in Ellijay, Georgia, getting a laugh with Hodges at the 2020 Fall Arcadia Rodeo, congratulating Okeechobee saddle-bronc rider James Greeson. Inset: Mooney's honorary buckle for announcing at the 2021 National Finals Rodeo.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

RODEO PROFILE additional four times, three of them 2018-2021. To be chosen for this prestigious event, you must pass muster with the PRCA Executive Board and the Committee from Las Vegas Events. While being nominated for the PRCA Announcer of the Year, the actual win has eluded Mooney, but he has won the award for the Womens Professional Rodeo Association Announcer of the Year. Mooney’s success can certainly be combined with what he describes as “the greatest endorsement program”—he is an endorsee for Cinch jeans and shirts, Resistol hats and Justin Boots, thereby covering the entire cowboy’s clothing needs—along with Big Tex Trailers, Prierfert Ranch & Rodeo Equipment, Livestock Dispatch, Inc., Mountain Place Realty and Boyd Gaming of Las Vegas. And he is the longest-running endorsee—including for all the sports figures that it endorses—for Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, the world's best-selling brand. The relationship between Mooney and the Brown-Forman Corp., owners of the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, had existed for longer than 30 years. Mooney in a group photo with the sound and music staff, those men and women making him sound good.

And what does this professional rodeo announcer do in his spare time? When not on the rodeo trail, Mooney is the host of “The Rodeo Roundup Show” on the Outdoor Channel, is frequently found on RFD-TV, and rarely does a week go by that you won’t see and/or hear him on The Cowboy Channel. Additionally, he does more than 1,000 radio and television commercials a year. But Mooney's favorite downtime activity is with his family, wife Ashley, daughter Morgan and son Cash, working their 150-cow beef herd on the family farm in Ellijay, Georgia. Even while working on this story, he was out on the tractor between email and phone communications! And Mooney’s children are the seventh-generation to live on and work this land, having come into the family from the Cherokee Nation. And just imagine, all of this from a twist of fate! So come hear and see Roger Mooney at the RAM National Circuit Finals in Kissimmee in April, or the Ninth Annual Fall Arcadia Rodeo October 15-16.

ROUNDUP Check YouTube for podcasts/ interviews with Roger Mooney

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaar rcchh 22002222

PHOTOS BY KATHY ANN GREGG

You’re guaranteed to have a good time! FCM

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

FCM CROSSWORD SUBSCRIBE ONLINE TO OUR PRINT OR DIGITAL MAGAZINE 1 Year $29.95 floridacountrymagazine/ subscribe.com Call today and subscribe 239-692-2613

ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A FREE ONE-YEAR PRINT SUBSCRIPTION. WE WILL RANDOMLY PICK THREE WINNERS THIS ISSUE.

To Enter Contest for Free Subscription: Email Hidden Word to: publisher@floridacountrymagazine.com Mail Hidden Word to: PO Box 50989 Fort Myers, Florida 33994 Send to Social Media: Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

Find the hidden word and email, mail or send a message to any of our social media accounts to enter.

ACROSS 1 Cowboy show 4 Florida Springs, one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world 8 Island off Florida’s east coast 10 Wrangler 12 Through on a travel route 13 Bit of horse show gear 15 Trembling trees 19 Sailing vessel 21 Gardener’s supply 23 Scuba-tank filler 24 Small meals 27 Like the Keys’ waters 30 Steal 33 Escape from 34 Beach footwear 35 Acted as a guide

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 11 14 16 17 18 19 20 22 25 26 28 29 31 32

HIDDEN WORD

Arrive at Scheduled to arrive Mediterranean salad fruit __ the people Speed measurements at sea Retriever, for short Heartland’s horse whisperer It’s better fresh Have legal possession of Like foliage Concept of self Internet destinations Very cold Traverses Secure with a rope Controlled as burns Snorkeler’s sight Pulls it off Massachusetts cape Korean automaker Keats’ composition Bottom of a river

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

THE CULINARY CRACKER

WHIPPING IT UP IN YOUR KITCHEN Every issue of Florida Country Magazine is filled with easy, delicious recipes you’ll want to make again and again.

INGREDIENTS 1 small head green cabbage ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 3 teaspoons garlic, minced 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 small lemon Parmesan cheese, grated Ranch dressing, garnish

CABBAGE STEAKS

PREPARATION Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously coat baking sheet with nonstick spray and set aside. Cut off the bottom end of the cabbage and place on cutting board, flat side down. Cut top to bottom into 1-inch slices. Place on the baking sheet without cabbage slice touching. Set up a second baking sheet, if needed. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Brush over both sides of the cabbage. Roast cabbage for roughly 27 minutes, or until crispy at the edges and tender in the center. Halfway through the cooking time, rotate the pan(s) 180 degrees. If you are using two pans, switch pans on the upper and lower racks. Sprinkle the roasted cabbage with parmesan. Squeeze lemon over the top, then finish with ranch dressing.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaarrcchh 22002222

Serves 5

INGREDIENTS 4 cups Brussels sprouts, halved 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup heavy cream 2 eggs, beaten 1½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder PREPARATION Brussels sprouts Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, toss in a casserole with olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread layer the oven and let dish and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from cheddar cheese, cool. In a large bowl, add eggs, heavy cream, Pour egg mixture onion powder and garlic powder, mix well. or until top is over Brussels sprouts and bake for 20 minutes, for 5 minutes. nicely golden. Remove from oven and let sit

CHEESY BRUSSELS SPROUTS CASSEROLE Serves 4

STUFFED PEPPERS Serves 4

INGREDIENTS ¾ cup uncooked long grain white rice 1½ cups water 1 medium onion, diced 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cups marinara sauce 1 cup beef broth 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 pound ground beef

¼ pound ground hot sausage 1 can diced tomatoes ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 pinch cayenne pepper 4 large bell peppers, seeded and halved lengthwise 1½ cups finely grated parmesan cheese

PREPARATION r to a boil in Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bring rice and wate ium-low, cover and saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to med been absorbed, simmer until rice is tender and all liquid has . Cook onion and approximately 25 minutes. Set cooked rice aside s to soften, about 5 olive oil over medium heat until onion begin bowl and set aside. minutes. Transfer half of cooked onion to a large ar and red pepper Stir marinara sauce, beef broth, balsamic vineg te. Pour sauce into a flakes into skillet and cook and stir for 1 minu ground beef, sausage, 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside. Combine cayenne pepper into tomatoes, parsley, garlic, salt, black pepper and cooked rice and 1 cup large bowl with the onions. Mix well. Stir in the baking dish over parmesan cheese. Stuff bell peppers halves in se. Cover baking dish tomato sauce and sprinkle with remaining chee Remove aluminum foil with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. se is browned on top. and bake for another 25 minutes, or until chee

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

THE CULINARY CRACKER

SPINACH ARTICHOKE CHICKEN THIGHS Yields 6

INGREDIENTS 6 skinless and boneless chicken thighs 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 tablespoon garlic, minced 8 ounces cream cheese 1 cup chicken stock 14-ounce canned artichoke hearts, chopped 4 cups baby spinach leaves ¼ cup parmesan cheese Salt and black pepper, to taste

PREPARATION Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side until crisp and golden. Drain fat. Sauté garlic until fragrant. Add cream cheese. Occasionally stir until cream cheese begins to melt. Pour in the chicken broth, bring to boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until sauce thickens. Stir in artichokes and spinach. Simmer until the spinach has just started to wilt and add the parmesan cheese. Taste test and season with salt and pepper, if needed. Transfer everything from skillet into a casserole dish and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until completely cooked.

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | MMaarrcchh 22002222

INGREDIENTS 2 medium sized eggplants 2 cups ricotta cheese 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded ½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped 1 egg Salt and pepper 1 cup marinara sauce

EGGPLANT ROLLATINI Serves 6

PREPARATION Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice ends of the and lay eggplants and slice them into ¼ -inch slices nt hme parc in red them out on a baking sheet cove the of paper. Season with salt on both sides eggplant slices and let them sit for 20 minutes. on Dry eggplant slices with a paper towel. Seas tes, minu 20 for eggplant slices with pepper. Bake ta ricot mix l, or until soft. In medium-size bow basil cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and oven the from and egg. Remove eggplant slices n Spoo ees. degr turn oven temperature up to 400 slice, 2 tablespoons of the mixture onto eggplant of half Pour s. then roll it up, repeating for all slice t. shee ng baki -inch the marinara sauce onto an 11x17 ining rema Pour Add all the roll-ups, seam down. half of marinara sauce and top with basil and se is parmesan. Bake for 25 minutes, or until chee melted and golden brown.

INGREDIENTS 4 slices bacon, chopped 3 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 4 teaspoons garlic, minced 1-pound small button mushrooms, rinsed and patted dry with paper towels ½ teaspoon chili powder ½ teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon garlic powder Salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth ½ cup heavy cream

BACON GARLIC CREAM MUSHROOMS Serves 4

PREPARATION Heat skillet over medium-high heat and add in chopped bacon. Cook until crispy and remove from skillet. Set aside. Add butter and olive oil to the skillet. Once melted, lower heat to medium and stir in the garlic. Continue to cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add mushrooms to skillet and coat good with butter sauce. Season with chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Continue to cook over medium-high heat for 7 minutes, or until tender and browned. Add chicken broth and cook for 20 seconds. Stir in the heavy cream and continue to cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens. Remove from heat and stir in bacon. Serve. F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY Fe b r u a r y | M a r c h 2 0 2 2

F L O R I DAC O U N T RY M AGA Z I N E . C O M