Heartland LIVING Magazine Feb-Mar 2023

Heartland LIVING

February & March 2023

The Pink LadyRISES AGAIN

“The purchasing experience was very smooth. There wasn’t any pressure from our salesman, we were in and out very quickly. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience ordering my 2022 Ford F-250.”

- Eric & Sheena Klause A1 Moving & Storage, Owner

We know that everyone is eager to get back to normal and we are excited to announce that we are open for business. Please call our office to schedule an appointment!

Melissa Kindell, DMD Frank Maye, DMD

With Dr. Maye joining our team, we now have more availability to accommodate your child’s dental needs!

26

By Hannah Tucker

By Christy Swift

56

Fast

By Rebecca Maglischo

— Cosmetic & General Dental Services

— Laser Treatment and Digital Imaging Orthodontics

— Invisalign ®

— Full-mouth Rehabilitation

— Same-day Crowns, Root Canals, Bridges & More

— Zoom! ® Whitening

— Sedation

THE PUBLISHER

When it was all an idea, challenge or both, I never thought I would be going into our twelfth year for Heartland LIVING. As I write this it is taking me back to all my roots where it all started. If you love what you do, you know how I feel.

The opportunity to go out and meet new businesses in the Heartland and talk with everyone about each issue and the interesting stories has been a huge part of my life and brings me such joy year after year.

As we enter this new year, my intention is to deepen my relationship with you, our readers, and your businesses. I want to continue to bring you an award-winning regional magazine, and to further deliver content that is inspiring and of value to you.

I hear from so many of our readers that you keep the magazines on your coffee tables. Some of you have even told me you have saved every issue from the beginning. Thank you! We will do our best to keep bringing you the area’s most interesting editorial content. I’m always thrilled to hear from you on what you loved in each issue and what you’d like to see more of. Please keep sharing with me what you like to read about.

The secret is out of the bag that the Blackmon family from St. Petersburg, Florida has purchased the Historic Harder Hall. My Sebring family couldn’t be prouder to see our historic hotel being brought back to life. I couldn’t think of anyone else better to write this story and know the history than my niece and writer for Heartland LIVING Hannah Tucker. Photographer Caroline Maxcy Fox and I met Robert Blackmon at Harder Hall for a tour and photoshoot of the hotel. You will see in the gorgeous photos Caroline took that the hotel has sat unoccupied for years and is a little run down to say the least, but there is greatness to come. During our tour Robert shared with us that, The Pink Lady Will Rise Again to all it’s Glory!

I’m so proud of all our stories my writers have brought to this issue. I could go on and on, but I will just let you start turning the pages and enjoy each one of them. I feel there is something for everyone in this issue.

Thank you to my team, most of you have been with me from the beginning and I couldn’t be prouder to have all of you, old and new. I sure couldn’t create this without my team, the businesses that support us and of course our readers. Don’t forget to share with us your thoughts on this issue.

God Bless,

Cindy Sebring Adams

Cindy with Robert Blackmon at Harder Hall

PL AY Ou t ' n C OM E

Florida' s C e n t erpi e c e Commun it y

At Sun ’ n Lake, great golf is just the beginning of an affordable Florida lifestyle that ser ves as the foundation of our great community Our variety of rich amenities offer something for ever yone — a recreation complex with a zero entr y lagoon pool, 36-holes of championship golf, the Island View Lakefront Restaurant & Pub featuring New Coast cuisine, two excellent schools within the district, hospital and medical facilities at our front entrance, and more! With desirable building lots, preferred builders, and existing resales , we have options for ever y budget and way of life. Come see for yourself what Sun ’n Lake is all about.

Heartland

Publications & Marketing, Inc.

February & March 2023

Volume 12  Issue 1

CEO | Publisher

Cindy Sebring Adams

Editor Christy Swift

Feature Writers

Rebecca Maglischo

Christy Swift

Hannah Tucker

Contributing Writer

Sharon Kunkel

Creative Director

Bridgette Waldau

Photography Director

Rafael Pacheco

Cover Photographer

Caroline Maxcy Fox

Feature Photographers

Barr Visuals

Caroline Maxcy Fox Sarasota Arts Conservatory

Contact: 412 Rest Haven Road, Zolfo Springs, FL 33890 863-781-0344

E-mail Cindy@Heartland-Living.com

Become a fan on facebook www.HeartlandLivingMagazine.com

The Pink Lady

Published

Florida Magazine Association

Proud Recipient of 18

Charlie Awards 2014 - 2021

In the Following Categories:

Best Overall Design

Best Department Design (2)

Best Feature Design (4)

Cover Photo Illustration

Best Traditional Illustration

Best Self-Promotional Ad

Best Table of Contents

Best Department Design

Best Photography Image (3)

Best Overall Writing

Best Custom Publication (2)

Heartland Living Magazine is published bi-monthly by Heartland Publications & Marketing, Inc. Copyright 2023, 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 Heartland Living Magazine, and under no circumstances constitutes assurances or guarantees concerning the quality of any service or product. Heartland Living Magazine specifically disclaims any liability related to these expressions and opinions. Heartland Living Magazine is not responsible for any unsolicited submissions. The advertiser agrees to hold harmless and indemnify the publishers from all liability.

Neil Diamond Experience

Grammy Winning Country Star

American Tribute Band

Featuring Lisa McClowry

BEHIND THE SCENES

Creative Director

BRIDGETTE WALDAU has been a graphic and fine artist for over 30 years. She received her A.A. from the Ft. Lauderdale Institute of Art and a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Stetson University. She moved to Okeechobee in 1994 where she opened her art studio. Bridgette has been creative director for several publications, working with Heartland Publications & Marketing as art director since 2011, winning eleven Florida Magazine Charlie Awards (2015- 2021). She is Arts & Culture Alliance Director (17 years) for Okeechobee Main Street. Bridgette is married to James Waldau, a retired firefighter from the City of Hialeah.

February & March 2023

Editor | Writer

CHRISTY SWIFT has been a freelance writer for over 13 years, working as an award-winning newspaper correspondent, magazine article writer, and web and social media content provider. She is also a soon-to-be published author of Young Adult and Adult fiction. You can find her at www.christyswift.com.

Photography Director

Writer

REBECCA MAGLISCHO is a wife and mother of two boys. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Human Movement with an emphasis on Corrective Modalities. She has completed a two year study in Full Body Systems through the Holistic Nutrition Lab and a certification in Functional Range Condition through the Functional Anatomy Systems.

Writer

HANNAH TUCKER is the Downtown Coordinator for the Community Redevelopment Agency with the City of Sebring. Hannah was born and raised in Sebring and enjoys getting to work for the city that she loves so much. Her biggest passion is the creativity of the work she designs and writes as well as the memories she captures through her videography and photography.

RAFAEL PACHECO I am a Pisces and was born on the island of Puerto Rico. My dog thinks I am crazy for locking the door so many times in 10 seconds and my cats think I am made of catnip. Everything I wear is black, gray or blue. If I put on something colorful I must have been in a hurry. Photography is how I have let my artistic visions come to life since the early 90’s. Patience, kindness, sharing, sacrifice, love and not to judge- I saw my mother practice these and they stayed within me. We are collective energy and all from the same Source. I don’t see the world through my eyes. I see it through my soul.

Photographer

CAROLINE MAXCY FOX was born and raised in Central Florida. She decided to be an artist at the age of five. After achieving her BSA from Florida State University, she practiced in the field of design for six years and then received a Master's in Graphic Design from NC State University. She honed her artistic craft and developed a "way of seeing" that fuels her work. Caroline is a full-time photographer and lives with her husband in the heart of Sebring. Together they run the day-to-day life at The Great Commission Bible Institute as the site coordinators and dorm parents. Naturally, adventure abounds.

"Every GREAT design begins with an even BETTER story."

- Lorinda Mamo, designer

The Villages of Highlands Ridge

36 Holes of Championship Golf

is home to 635 families that live in beautiful homes with beautiful views. There are 150 completely ready to build homesites available. All infrastructure is in place. This is a golf cart friendly community. Actually, it is a golf cart preferred community. A full-time event coordinator keeps everybody as busy as they can be. Not to mention, besides the golf courses, there is bocce ball, pickle ball, basketball, tennis, shuffleboard courts, and two swimming pools, two restaurants, two club houses and two pro shops.

Lake Bonnet is adjacent to this property. There are two piers on Lake Bonnet, one is for watching beautiful sunsets; the second dock is next to the private boat ramp. The golf course is set in the middle of the wilderness . You get a chance to step back in time and see where the Seminole Indians roamed and lived. There is wildlife galore. Florida Whitetail deer, Osceola turkeys with their big 8-inch beards, owls, hawks, eagles, ospreys and then of course you have your residence squirrels, possums, armadillos, raccoons, bobcats, and you might even get lucky and see a Florida panther.

Amenities

36 Holes of Championship Golf | Golf Driving Range

Two Club Houses | Community Center

North Tavern Restaurant | 3 Gens Grill

Two Heated Swimming Pools and Hot Tub

Lighted Tennis Courts | Shuffleboard, Pickle ball, Horseshoe Pits, & Table Tennis

260-Acre Lake with Boat Launch Ramp

Dock with Slips | RV Boat Storage Area

Gated Community with two entrances Active 55+ Community

The Christmas edition was beautiful.

-Laura Young, Owner, Bare Wood Market

Talent, hard work and your love for what you do has accomplished much… congratulations, Cindy.

-Roberta Beattie

Always the most beautiful covers.

- Lani's Rental For Weddings & Special Events LLC

It is gorgeous! Absolutely Gorgeous!

Monica Lynn

look forward to attending this year!

- Christy Swift

Surfing Santas was such a fun story. This is now on my family's "must do" list.

-Kay Dawson

Nice story about Okeechobee's Wreaths Across America. Thank you for doing this. Our veterans deserve only the best.

- Jane C. Black

Big thanks to each volunteer on our local Wreaths Across America team that helped us have another successful year honoring our veterans at their final resting place.

-Brad Phares

FEEL GOOD about your SMILE and your dentist.

Whether your dental needs are an exam and cleaning, full-mouth restoration, or anything in between, we promise to provide you with exceptional care as we enhance the natural beauty of your smile. Please call or visit us today for your reservation! We look forward to meeting you.

Located next to Lowe’s in Sebring!

WE ARE PROUD TO INTRODUCE

Dr. Alan Ward

Dr. Ward was born and raised in Central Florida and graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. Growing up, Dr. Ward always enjoyed working with his hands. Through encouragement from his dad, who is also a dentist, he decided to become a dentist to take his passion for hands-on work to restore patients’ smiles in Highlands County!

DR. ANNA OLAES | DR. BILL CHEN | DR. MATT GREEN | DR. KEN CHEN | DR. JERE SERALDE | DR. ALAN WARD

Southern Grace is designated by the state of Florida as a century pioneer family farm and has been a homestead to the Gill family for well over 100+ years. A premier all-inclusive historic wedding venue, where every detail on our estate grounds, includes event planning design+styling for an exquisite wedding celebration. Love is in the details, and it’s the little things and extra touches, flawlessly executed, that are sure to exceed your wedding day dreams!

FL

RISES AGAIN

By Hannah Tucker

The Lady in Pink has remained empty of promise for over 30 years along Golfview Road. You have likely passed by her and noticed the iconic pink paint continuing to fade or witnessed key pieces of history being taken from her. Through a deep dive online and some old tax returns, Robert Blackmon and his family decided to take on the challenge of saving Harder Hall and restoring her to a mission she was always meant for—creating memories.

Photography by Caroline Maxcy Fox

Robert Blackmon

The Blackmon family is no stranger to the restoration of historic properties. Their family restoration ventures began in 2008 with the purchase of a couple of homes in the Saint Petersburg and Tampa Bay areas. They decided to pivot into the multifamily market so that they could take more time in the renovation and restoration of larger properties, without the profit from sale being the measurement of their success. With opportunity still in Saint Petersburg, Robert Blackmon knew that it was time to branch out and expand on the family’s success. Through his search online, Blackmon came across Harder Hall. After giving the listing a quick look over, he decided that it was not the right venture and continued his search.

“My parents recently moved into a 1924 Mediterranean home that they restored, which was also dilapidated,” stated Blackmon. “As they were moving, we were sorting through boxes of files, and I was shredding and shredding old tax returns. I kept seeing on tax returns of my grandfather’s same name—Sebring. I thought, wait a second, that's where that hotel that I saw was. If my grandfather was invested there, maybe I should check it out.”

After subscribing to the local newspaper, the family learned that Harder Hall was in her final days and was slated for demolition. Hoping that the demolition was not approaching quickly, Blackmon reached out to a local realtor to find out more information on the property. The opportunity arose for the Blackmon family to make a trip to Sebring and tour the Lady in Pink before her final days, anticipating that the structure would be rundown to the extent of needing demolition. Blackmon stated, “On the way out of the tour, we almost couldn’t keep straight faces. This place does need everything, but structurally it’s nowhere near as bad as the media portrayed.” Following the tour, he had three separate contractors walk through on separate occasions and each one stated that the bones were good. „

The main reason for solidifying this deal was the personality of Sebring. “The character, the culture of the town and every single person we have met here have been incredible,” stated Blackmon. “The values of the people, the culture, and the quality of life is very high in Sebring.”

The community of Sebring is so tightly woven that a common phrase is often used: you can’t go to the grocery store here without running into someone you know. The Blackmon family is a true extension of that mentality. Their family is going to become an integral part of this community with plans to restore a needed lifeline to the tourism industry as well as a beloved local venue. On the long list of repairs, the Blackmon family plans to touch on every element of Harder Hall. The hope of the family is for the community to understand that there were talks of this place being demolished just 12 months ago, and it is in dire need of repairs. Blackmon noted that this project is not going to happen overnight and there is a very long road ahead.

So, what will the Lady in Pink become? The Blackmon family has plans to restore Harder Hall as a luxury resort. By having an established structure with good bones and an existing layout with blueprints, the next phase is to make it functional again. Blackmon ensures that although it will be luxury quality, “the pricing is still going to be in line with other hotels in town.” The destination tourism market is going to be a huge asset to Harder Hall, but the Blackmon family also anticipates a draw from the cultural heritage tourism market for travelers who want to vacation and visit historic locations.

Some additions he hopes to bring in are a lobby bar, pool bar, fine dining restaurant, and pickleball courts just to name a few. Locals won’t need to book a room to enjoy the amenities of the luxury hotel. “These are the places you will go, and we want it to be so inherent that if you’re having a business meeting or meeting friends, you’re going to go there,” says Blackmon. „

The main goal of this restoration is to remain as close to the original as possible. The first step in this process is to repair the roof. After finding a box of the original roof tiles hidden in a crawlspace, Blackmon was able to import Spanish clay tiles directly from Spain to ensure that the restoration of the roof would be a true representation of the original. The next repair on the list will be the windows. The family decided on hurricane impact windows to add a soundproof element which will ensure a true resort feel. One major step that is happening soon will be the tenting for termites. With a contract signed and ready to go, you won’t want to miss photographing the biggest tent in town!

Harder Hall was updated 20 years ago with various electrical and plumbing improvements, so the next step will be to see which of those are operational. Blackmon ensures that if any element of Harder Hall needs to be updated, they will do it.

One piece of history that the Blackmon family is excited to restore is the original wrought iron in the main lobby. Another main lobby addition is a 7-foot chandelier, which is already waiting in a storage unit for its big day.

Blackmon ensures that this resort is going to be something that the Sebring community will have a huge stake in and won’t just be for tourists to enjoy.

“What I stress to everyone is that Sebring is one of the most well-defined secret southern cities that exists,” Blackmon states excitedly. “There is a huge sense of place here and sense of place is all that anyone is looking for these days in tourism and culture. Where else are you going to find a city on a circle and on the water? Every single building on the circle is a contributing National Register Property, which is unheard of. I’m hoping that everyone will see that we care a lot about this town and making this right for generations to come.”

Waterside, Blackmon plans to install floating docks. The hope is to have boat rentals and boat slips for guests of the resort as well as visiting locals. This will allow for traveling on Lake Jackson so that the waterfront areas and surrounding locations can be utilized by the community and not just residents who live on Lake Jackson. Blackmon states, “We want there to be community ownership of not only the hotel and the hotel grounds but the waterfront as well.”

There is no shortage of challenges surrounding this project, but one that the Blackmon family hopes will soon subside is the vandalism and looting. There are many historical pieces that have been stolen from the hotel during its many years of vacancy, but more have gone missing in just the short time that the Blackmon family has taken ownership.

One way that Blackmon hopes the community can help in preserving the history of Harder Hall is by donating historical pieces to help build a museum at the resort. He jokes, “Even if you didn’t steal them, if you have any historic pieces, we would love to see them. We are hoping to showcase the history, so if you have china, architectural elements, programs or photos, please share them because we want this to be a real community asset to the resort. We want to try and bring as much of the historic elements back as we can.”

More than anything, the Blackmon family is so appreciative of the excitement that the City of Sebring and the community have shown to them at the news of having Harder Hall rise again. It is going to take a lot of time before any signs of change are visible from the outside, but this will be a true labor of love. You can’t reverse the momentum of a downslide without first taking the time to stabilize it, and that is just what the Blackmon’s plan to do.

Out of respect for Sebring, they want to take the time to do everything right for the Lady in Pink. They hope to become one of those families that you run into at the grocery store, because they are here to make a lasting impact on our community, and theirs.

What I stress to everyone is that Sebring is one of the most welldefined secret southern cities that exists. There is a huge sense of place here and sense of place is all that anyone is looking for these days in tourism and culture.

-Robert Blackmon

Step Back in Time at Ybor City’s

By Christy Swift Photos Courtesy Cigar Factory

There aren’t many businesses where they’re doing things the same way they did a hundred years ago. At the J.C. Newman Cigar Factory, however, they’ve caught time in a bottle... or rather, a wrapper.

“Walking through our factory is like walking through a time capsule. Nobody does this

That’s Eric Newman talking, third generation owner and president of the J.C. Newman Cigar Company located in Ybor City, Tampa. He’s the grandson of founder Julius Caesar Newman and has the pleasure of co-owning and -operating the only surviving traditional cigar company from the early 1900s in the entire United States, along with his brother, Bobby, and son, Drew.

“It takes 300 pairs of hands to make a cigar from the time the seed is planted to when the tobacco is used in the cigar,” he says. Over 150 employees hand-roll or use machines like the ones Eric’s grandfather purchased during the Great Depression to make about 12.5 million cigars per year. While it is labor-intensive, it makes the cigars special, and the factory has become a tourist attraction in downtown Ybor City.

“You don't need a passport to see how these cigars are made,” says Eric. “It's pretty cool.”

The factory is located at 2701 North 16th Street in Tampa, but you won’t need your GPS to find it. Just look (or listen) for the big clock tower. Known throughout the years as “El Reloj” (Spanish for “clock” or “watch”), the building used to be the city’s timekeeper in an age where most people worked in the cigar industry and didn’t have timepieces of their own.

The over 110-year old factory was purchased by J.C. Newman in 1954 when he moved his cigar business from Ohio down to Tampa to be closer to Cuban tobacco distribution. The Newman family executed a major renovation back in 2002, including getting the 1500-pound bell working again. El Reloj is open to the public on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., although visitors are strongly encouraged to arrive before 3:00 p.m. when cigar rolling stops. It’s free to visit the cigar museum, theater, rolling room, and factory store. More in-depth guided factory tours are available for $15 per adult and $12 per person for seniors, students, and veterans.

The tours include a trip down to the basement, where the tobacco leaves are processed and the aging and archive rooms are located, and the second floor, which is home to the bulk of the manufacturing— that’s where you can see employees using antique machinery. The interactive theater offers videos on the Newman family, how cigars are made, and the history of box label art, among others. The third floor is a “factory within a factory” where employees do the hand-rolling.

The tourism aspect of the business is relatively new to the company and took a little getting used to. “Five to seven thousand people come through here per year,” Eric says. “The majority of these people are not cigar smokers. Our employees can’t believe people actually want to pay money to see what they do every day. We tell them, ‘Yeah, you’re important!’ They are proud of what they do.”

J.C.Newman represents the quintessential American Dream story. In 1890, the Newmans were recent immigrants to the United States, and J.C.’s mother, Hannah, paid $3.00 per month for 14-year-old J.C. to apprentice in the cigar trade. After working as a journeyman cigar maker for three years, J.C. was laid off during a severe recession. Facing unemployment as an immigrant, J.C. decided to follow the American Dream and start his own company.

In 1895, J.C. used some old boards to create a cigar table in the family barn, borrowed $50 for tobacco, and received his first order for 500 cigars from the family grocer. His first brand of cigars was named “A.B.C.” an acronym for “Akron, Bedford, and Cleveland”—the name of the local streetcar line. By 1916, he had added two factories in Marion and Lorain, Ohio and had 700 employees.

After World War II, J.C. son's, Stanford and Millard, came back from service and joined the company. J.C. wanted to move the company south to Tampa due to its world-class reputation for producing high-quality, premium cigars, and for its access to Cuban tobacco. Stanford scouted the area and discovered El Reloj in the middle of Tampa’s central cigar-making district, Ybor City.

The company, along with the industry, has seen its share of struggles, including the Great Depression, the Cuban embargo, excessive taxes, smoking bans, and the rapid consolidation of the cigar industry. In 1985, Stanford and his sons, Eric and Bobby bought out their relatives’ shares and continued to grow the company, partnering with overseas cigar manufacturers and even opening an 800-employee factory in Nicaragua while continuing its own tradition at home. In 1895, the U.S. had over 40,000 federally licensed cigar manufacturers.

Four generations and over 125 years later, J.C. Newman Cigar Company is the only one that is still owned and operated by the founding family.

“We love to have people visit us,” Eric said. “Come walk back in time. There aren’t many factories left. There aren’t many products being made the same way they were being made a century ago.” He loves to see the looks on the faces of people as they walk through what his family has preserved over 127 years. “It’s like taking a kid to Disney World for the first time. It makes you feel good.”

The J.C. Newman Cigar Company retail store offers a variety of cigars and merchandise you won’t find anywhere else. Cigars can bring people together, Eric adds. “It’s a very hectic, stressful world. When you’re smoking a cigar, all is right with the world. In a cigar lounge you can find people from all walks of life. One could be a CEO, one could be a custodian, but by the time they finish that cigar, they are best friends.”

Find out more about the J.C. Newman Cigar Company or book a tour at www.jcnewman.com.

"You

-Eric Newman

Walking through our factory is like walking through a time capsule.

-Eric Newman

Stanford Newman

Eric, Drew and Bobby Newman

Expert care for more heart-warming moments

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By Rebecca Maglischo

January 9th, 7:16 am. Chad Chastain knows this is what time the sun will rise. He also knows the temperature highs and lows promised by four different websites, and he knows that the microclimate of any given piece of land can skew that prediction significantly. Chad knows if there will be any rain in the near future, the average rain for January in South Florida, the humidity, and any possible fronts that just might impact the next 30 days. Chad Chastain is a watermelon farmer. He comes from generations of watermelon farmers, in fact. And today, Chad will begin planting the 400 acres that will sustain his family this year.

Over 600 miles away, in North Carolina, Ross Chastain notes that the sunrise is 16 minutes later than his childhood home in Alva, Florida. He has already checked the weather back home and texted both his father and his brother. Ross won't be there this year to plant. The meetings and training he will do over the next 30 days will sow the seeds for his season to come. Ross Chastain drives the #1 Chevy Camaro for Trackhouse Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Chad and Ross Chastain

(L-R): Ralph Chastain, Chad Chastain, Ross Chastain and Carlee Chastain

In southwest Florida, not far from Fort Myers, lies the town of Alva. The Caloosahatchee River flows from East to West through the center of the community. If you hop on State Road 80 and cruise just 12 miles east of this small town, the landscape changes to farmland. It is flat here, like God himself ran out of creativity and simply drew a straight line. This used to be the Everglades, but now it is a mind-boggling mix of muck and sugar sand. The farmers who make their living off this land manage the water with canals, seepage irrigation, and man-made ditches. Acres and acres of nothingness… unless you have an affinity for sugarcane, vegetable crops, cows, and watermelons. This is where toddlers ride on tractors with their dads, young boys learn to drive pickup trucks, and teenagers race 4-wheelers on self-made tracks for hours on end.

As a little boy, I can remember riding with my dad. I had my pack of doughnuts and chocolate milk,” Ross Chastain remembers. “I would walk behind him and literally put my feet in the footprints he left in the sand. I wanted to be like him, to do everything he did.”

Ross Chastain began racing young, following in his father’s footsteps as a hobby racer around the age of twelve. Quickly, he turned his eyes toward racing as a career, as a business rather than a hobby. Ross got his first break in 2011, taking over the No.66 Turn One Racing car in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Connections in agriculture and the watermelon industry helped fuel Ross’s early rides. In 2019, Ross broke the record for most consecutive races run across all three NASCAR series to start a season. Despite setbacks and disappointments, he found ways to stay racing and won his first career NASCAR Truck Series Race at Kansas in May 2019, after eight years of attempts.

Ross and Chad Chastain come from a long line of farmers. Their farm (JDI Farms) sits just north of Labelle, FL. This land has seen success, and this land has seen failure. Farming watermelons, like racing, is not for the faint of heart. Watermelon is a 100-day crop. Planted mid-January, the harvest comes at full speed from April to Memorial Day. The people who farm watermelons spend months preparing for this push. Every day matters, and decisions are made on the fly. The investment is high; mistakes can be catastrophic. And every farmer knows loss and disappointment.

Chad Chastain focuses on the farm in season, but is also putting in his time on the track working through the ranks. “Farming and racing, it's what we know.” He chuckles. “Watermelons are 100 or so days, every day is 1%. The season can shift in a day! Racing is a bit over 100 minutes, every minute is 1%. Man, a race can change in a minute. You gotta be ready for anything, either way!”

Every farmer also knows resilience. Ross vowed to take any opportunity to keep racing. He received a truck series opportunity with Niece Motorsports and knew he had to take it.

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The races he won with that team were ultimately a deciding factor in his invitation to drive the No. 42 car in the NASCAR Cup Series left vacant by Kyle Larson’s exit to Hendrick Motorsports in 2021. In August, it was revealed that Ross would drive the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing's upcoming second Cup team, in a multi-year deal beginning in 2022.

The 2022 season began without any notable finishes and a number of frustrations. But like any good farmer, Ross kept showing up, and success was just around the next turn—Turns 3 and 4 to be exact. In October, he qualified for the Championship 4 by a thin margin at Martinsville. In tenth place on the last lap of the race, Ross Chastain drove his car up onto the outside wall of the track in Turns 3 and 4 to pick up the unprecedented speed of up to 130 miles per hour, overtaking five drivers to finish in fifth place. Ross set a record for the fastest lap during a NASCAR Cup Series race for the track and was retroactively credited with a fourth-place finish after another driver was disqualified.

Susan, Ross and Ralph Chastain

Alva, Labelle, Punta Gorda… The Chastain Brothers describe it as a "triangle of nothingness." To an outsider, these places are sleepy and unnoticed. But, on this farmland, the character of young men is tested. The lessons come hard and fast, and the family ties stay strong. Despite his current success, Ross' mind always drifts back home. The second the harvest is settled, Chad is back behind the wheel or on the team supporting his older brother. Watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) is a vining, annual plant with branching tendrils, roots and vines that spread up to an amazing 18 feet. The analogy to life is not lost on these men. No matter how far they go or how life branches, Ross and Chad know they can get back to their roots. Just follow the vine.

Race photos by Barr Visuals, Port Orange, FL

Farming

and racing, it's what we know.

-Chad Chastain

Cowboy Poetry

By Christy Swift

From joy to grief, humor to spirituality, cowboy poetry creates an authentic snapshot of rural America featuring horses, ranch life, and

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Week is January 24th through 29th. The most famous celebration takes place in Elko, Nevada, where the Western Folklife Center has been bringing together cowboy

With our ranching traditions in Florida’s Heartland, we have plenty of cowboy poets of our own. Let’s meet a few of them.

Brad Phares

Brad Phares is an 8th generation Florida rancher, artist, storyteller, and conservationist. His family owns and operates the Lazy JP Ranch in Okeechobee. Brad started storytelling in elementary school and got serious about writing poetry in high school. “Working at the ranch in the summer, bouncing around on a tractor—doing that sort of job you got a lot of time staring out the windshield with not much else to do,” he says.

“A Cowman’s Valentine” depicts the very real struggle cattlemen have to maintain their livelihood amidst factors they can’t control, like market behavior.

These days, Brad’s poetry focuses on conservation and the history of ranching in America. His poem “Crooked and Clear” is a kind of love letter to the Kissimmee River. “It’s a metaphor looking back at the river historically, how it was when our ancestors knew it, and how it was and has been abused through the years,” Brad says. You can hear him recite the poem in a video on his website at www. cowhuntersunlimited.com as well as order a signed copy of his book, “Celtic Cowhunters.”

Okeechobee

A Cowman’s Valentine

So here it is Valentine's Day

And I've got something to say; While most folks are buying gifts; Spending cash hand over fist; Know with half a chance I would too; And I'm not just ignoring you

But those calf prices sure took a fall; Still, with you I've got it all So please take my IOU, And I'll make it up to you

When the market turns around; And new calves are on the ground

I ain't bought a dozen roses; Damn they're high, holy Moses! No candy or mushy Hallmark card; No jewelry nor plants for the yard; Didn't buy you pretty lingerie; Lucky, you prefer t-shirts anyway

Damn this market for taking a fall; Thank God with you I've got it all; And that you trust my IOU

Knowing I'll make it up to you; When the prices turn around; And new calves are on the ground.

Despite hardship, we've got true love; That shines just like the stars above; Two hitched together as a team; Forging ahead, chasing one dream; It takes a very special bride; To go through life at a rancher's side

So let the market take a fall No matter what, we've got it all; I'll offer another IOU

Knowing I'll make it up to you; When the prices turn around; And new calves are on the ground

Sean Sexton

Indian River County

Sean Sexton grew up on his family’s Treasure Hammock Ranch in Indian River County and divides his time between managing a 700-acre cow-calf and seed stock operation, painting, and writing. More of a “poet cowboy” than a “cowboy poet,” Sean is deeply involved with the poetry community, having read at the Miami Book Fair International, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, and the High Road Poetry and Short Fiction Festival in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He’s currently on his second term as the poet laureate for Indian River County and is in the running to become the state’s poet laureate. This February 17th and 18th, Sean has been invited to perform at the Lone Star State Poetry Gathering in Alpine, TX.

Sean has kept a daily sketch book and writing journal since 1973, capturing thoughts and images of daily life on the ranch. He shares his poem “Old Cow Museum” originally published in the Night Heron Barks journal in 2022, which talks about that place on every ranch where they put cows that they can’t do anything with. “In a way it’s about old friends,” Sean says. “It’s very sentimental and very real, very sad, too.”

You can hear Sean read “Old Cow Museum” at https://nightheronbarks.com/spring-2022/sean-sexton/. His books of poetry, “May Darkness Restore” and the brand-new “Portals” can be found at https://www. press53.com/sean-sexton. His poetry book “Blood Writing” can be found at www.anhingapress.org.

Old Cow Museum

Like soldiers from the front, they come hobbling—veterans of time’s war—dragging limbs, comporting brokenness—shambling on to assemble at the trough. The heifer with a turned back foot is always in the lead, maimed in calf-hood in a bovine crush, and culled from the August load to stow here, unsalable, where she’s grown and got bred out of season when a Brahma bull spirited in and fertilized her like Danae.

The elderly blind dam smells her way to feed—outpaced by the throng. We can’t send her to market—that maze opened on the trailer door as grim as her own labyrinth —where and how would she go? They’d foot us a bill for the pathetic parody played out. Here she stays until death closes her paddock of memory: every shallow and rise branch, and barb relearned again in her daily trace unless she must follow her ear—or reckon the air.

Time stands still in the Old Cow Museum, time present, time past that empties and fills the wombs of calf streams. Time of no season, no accounting as the daily orb arrives to no consequence. Where the crippled brahma that can’t make it down the lane, glows in the distance like a cumulonimbus over the Bahamas. She calved, her first year in captivity, whelp—slight as her udder— melted into the woodwork soon as we caught sight of him. Here she stays, barren augury of an unspoken beatitude—

violating every scruple of cattle-breeding— companion to the arthritic angus matron bought one year in the Carolinas at the end of a sale. Attrition could be her name as she struggles to her portion like your grandmother through the aisles of the grocer, cries loudest when Sunday’s brunch must wait ‘til after church. And every calving season orphans emerge— to count among the world’s brood, be added in: the first timer’s get she wouldn’t own, an unclaimed twin,

Daughter of the cancer-eye cow that withered away two months shy of the wean, a listless starveling of the fretful

Madonna of the swollen teats—taken and given to shoulders and wits, and wastrel whose mammy up and died mid-winter, she—wild as a snake—to be gotten out and finessed into this house of mishap; anyone in this business needs what they contain: an out of the way place, quelling grain, and peace of ancient dames.

Attheendofsufferingthereisadoor.

And some bright morning, we’ll find another gone off to the unfenced field, a shadow curled beneath a bough: collect of leather and bone, gather of manure, birds already there. And what we’d always taken for the wind, an unceasing benediction.

Clint Raulerson

Immokalee

Fifth generation rancher and former PRCA bullfighter Clint Raulerson hails from a family that came to Florida in the 1800s. His dad and grandfather were renowned cowboys. “It’s all I ever wanted to do,” says Clint, who is now managing a Nextgen Cattle operation in Kansas. His cowboy poetry is born from the things he’s experienced as well as the stories he’s heard from others.

Clint published "Cowboy Legacy, A Lifetime in the Saddle,” a compilation of poetry and short stories, in 2016 and plans to re-release it this year, along with two new books. He’s also working on a children’s book series.

“White Cadillac” is based on a true story experienced by a fellow cattleman’s wife out at Yeehaw Junction.

White Cadillac

And a lady in a Cadillac with the worst kinda luck

The Semi was driven by old Billy Beam A load to the market would make for a good day it seemed Ole Billy left Bull Hammock about noon on that day Rolling along with a load of beef cows makin’ his way

From the Martin county grade to hwy 70 he shifted through every gear He’d made this trip to the market a 1000 times over the years

But today was a day he’d never get out of his mind Cause what was about to happen would put the whole outfit in a bind

Ya see when Billy reached ole Hwy 441 the stop light was glowin’ red So he eased her to a stop, his heavy load weighing 1200 lbs a head

He was sittin’ there a waitin’ for his light to turn green Then something happened like nothing he’d ever seen

He looked in the mirror and here came a big fancy Cadillac car It was too fancy for Chobee it was kinda bizarre

It was long and white and it had no top It pulled next to the trailer and that’s where it stopped

And that lady drivin’, she looked like she was straight outta Hollywood Bleached blonde hair, low cut top and fancy fingernails said she’d been livin a life that’s good

And what she didn’t see was one of those cows had her hind end to the side And you know that old cows belly was shaken from this long truck ride

What happened to that poor lady next was kind of obscene Cuz out of that ole cow shot a substance that was green

Her face was a look of shock and dismay At what had came out of that danged old Charolais

She tried to go but couldn’t retreat And that green recycled grass landed right in her seat

From that high up it hit that seat and it scattered In her hair in her eyes even in her shoes it splattered

Billy got out and tried to assist

But that lady fussed and hollered and hissed

She drove away cussin’ with a mess on her clothes

And she really needed an old water hose

So remember folks If your traveling through old Okeechobee in your convertible Cadillac

If you like your pretty clean seats, you better stay back!!!

It all began as a time and place where western ranchers and cowboys could gather to share poems about their lives working cattle.

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By Cindy Adams

FAVORITE RECIPES IN FLORIDA

Nothing beats living in Florida and knowing all the best Florida recipes. Every state has its own set of unique foods, many of which can be recreated at home. From Cuban sandwiches to Key Lime Pie, Florida has some fantastic recipes. We’ve collected some of the best traditional Florida recipes all for your culinary enjoyment.

Most Floridians would agree that the most famous sandwich in southern Florida is the Cuban. Originating in early Cuban immigrant communities in Florida, particularly in the cigar-producing cities of Tampa and Key West, the Cuban Sandwich is also known as a Cubano. Cuba brought a variation of the classic sandwich to Florida in the early 1900s where it remains a signature dish in some of the most popular Cuban restaurants.

A Cuban Sandwich is a combination of roast pork, ham, swiss cheese and pickles. Press it all between thick Cuban bread. Once you bite into a warm, crispy Cuban sandwich, you are sure to be hooked for life.

INGREDIENTS

2 (8- to 10-inch) sections Cuban bread, split open horizontally

4 tablespoons yellow mustard

6 ounces sliced Swiss cheese

6 ounces thinly sliced dill pickles

8 ounces sliced honey ham

6 ounces leftover Cuban-style roast pork

4 ounces sliced Genoa salami (optional)

2 tablespoons butter

Cuban bread is a soft white bread made with lard. Look for it in Latin bakeries or groceries. If unavailable, use any not-too-crusty, soft white rolls, preferably with some lard or fat baked into them. Salami is a traditional ingredient in Tampa-style Cuban sandwiches, but can be omitted.

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat a panini press or a large cast iron skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lay bread, open side up, on a work surface and spread the bottom and top halves with mustard. Layer bottom and top halves with Swiss cheese. Working only on bottom halves, layer on all of the pickles, ham, roast pork, and salami (if using). Close sandwiches, pressing gently.

Butter top and bottom of panini press and press sandwiches with moderate pressure until crisp on both sides, about 8 minutes. If using a cast iron skillet or griddle, melt half of butter in pan and add sandwiches. Use a second pan to press on them as the first side crisps. When crisp, flip sandwiches, add remaining butter, swirl to coat, and continue cooking while pressing until crisp on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Slice sandwiches in half diagonally and serve immediately.

Stone crabs are a Florida delicacy from October to May that you don’t want to miss. There are strict harvesting regulations to preserve the population of these creatures, and only the claws are allowed to be consumed. Wildlife advocates insist only one claw is removed per crab before they are set free again, allowing them to regenerate and be harvested for the future.

Those gigantic claws with signature black tips are full of succulent meat just begging for lemon and butter or a tangy mustard sauce for dipping.

Stone crabs are pre-cooked for commercial sale. You don’t have to cook them. If you’re catching them yourself, bring a pot of water to a boil, place the claws in the water and simmer for 6 minutes, then immediately transfer to an ice bath and chill completely.

INGREDIENTS

Tangy Mustard

1 tsp A1 steak sauce or hot sauce

1 cup mayonnaise

4 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Salt & freshly ground black pepper

This Grilled Shrimp recipe is a back-pocket ace that utilizes pantry-friendly ingredients to create restaurant-quality shrimp in minutes.

INGREDIENTS

The shrimp is spice rubbed with smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper then dunked in Lemon Parsley Butter.

INSTRUCTIONS

Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, dried basil, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Add the shrimp and stir until evenly coated. Marinate for 15-30 minutes at room temperature (no more!).

Evenly space skewers on the clean grill and cook for 2 minutes per side or until the shrimp are golden – no more! Grill to golden perfection so shrimp are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and exploding with flavor all over. Remove grilled shrimp to a plate.

FLORIDA’S STATE PIE

Florida's most famous export besides oranges may be Key Lime Pie. Named after the small, tart, aromatic limes commonly associated with the Florida Keys, the meringue-topped pie combines tangy lime juice with sweetened condensed milk and egg yolk, all poured into a graham cracker crust.

INGREDIENTS

1 Ritz graham cracker pie crust

Brush with butter and bake 5 minutes or so

- Remove from oven and cool.

3 eggs - separate

1 - 14 oz can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup KEY LIME juice from fresh limes if possible

INSTRUCTIONS

Beat egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk; add lime juice a little at a time until it is well incorporated, then pour into the cooled pie crust.

Cook about 15 minutes in a 400-degree oven

While pie is cooking, beat egg-whites on high adding white sugar to taste - some like the meringue sweeter, others less sweet.

Remove pie from oven and top it with the meringue and return to oven until lightly browned - keep your eye on this part!

The mojito is a tropical standard for Florida. Five ingredients make this a warm-weather winner.

INGREDIENTS

5 mint leaves, more for garnish

2 ounces white rum

1 ounce fresh lime juice

½ ounce simple syrup

Ice

Club soda or sparkling water Lime slices, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Lightly muddle the mint in the bottom of a cocktail shaker until aromatic. Add the rum, lime juice, simple syrup, a handful of ice and shake. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of club soda and garnish with lime slices and more fresh mint sprigs.

Amanda Amisti Bekah Chloe

Diane Felicia Lorelei Mandy

Oceana Pamela Staci

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary Year

By Sharon Kunkel Photos Courtesy Arts Conservatory

The Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) is planning another exciting year of youth and professional performances as well as community outreach programs in its 25th anniversary year.

The CAC is the nation's only nonprofit organization that combines professional circus performances, youth circus training, and education and outreach programming. One of the feature programs at the Circus Arts Conservatory is its renowned Sailor Circus Academy, the nation’s longestrunning youth circus program. Students ages 8-18 wow audiences with acts showcasing stunning aerial artistry, heart-stopping acrobatics, contortion, light-hearted comedy, and more.

THE SAILOR CIRCUS Academy recently presented a sold-out run of its annual holiday show, this year titled “Sailor Circus Holiday Special.” The students will return to the Sailor Circus Arena for the spring show, with shows running April 20-23.

The CAC also runs magnet programs at two area schools, Booker Middle and Sarasota High, for which students receive academic credit.

Each year, community members and visitors eagerly await the return of the CAC’s Circus Sarasota show. This year’s Circus Sarasota Legacy: 25th Anniversary Show will, once again, bring together award-winning international artists in one ring, under the Ulla Searing Big Top on Nathan Benderson Park's Regatta Island, from February 10-March 5, 2023.

Joseph Bauer Jr. returns as Ringmaster. Some of the featured acts will include Alan Silva on aerial silks, Chu Chuan-Ho performing Tempo Diabolo (juggling, “The JuJus” on tight wire, Oleg Izosimov doing hand balancing, a Russian Barre act from Ethiopia, the funny and adorable pups of “Muttville Comix,” and more. CAC leaders are particularly excited to welcome Tetiana Yudina and Maryna Tkachecko, an aerial straps duo from Ukraine. There will also be clowning and comedy galore.

Ringmaster Joseph Bauer Jr.

“WE ARE CONFIDENT that audiences of all ages, from near and far, are going to love the talent we’ve assembled for Circus Sarasota 2023,” said Circus Arts Conservatory founder and CEO Pedro Reis. “We are proud to continue to provide an entertainment option that is unique and unparalleled in our region… and beyond.”

Up next for the CAC is Cirque des Voix®: Circus of the Voice, its annual collaboration with Key Chorale. Thirteen years ago, Reis and Key Chorale’s Artistic Director Joseph Caulkins joined forces to create a unique arts presentation, as they combined the more-than 100 voices of the Key Chorale with the 40-piece Cirque Orchestra and live circus artists. Through this unique partnership, audiences have been held spellbound as circus artists of both national and international acclaim, as well as youth performers from the Sailor Circus Academy, perform with exquisite musical accompaniment.

This year’s Cirque des Voix takes place March 10-12 under the Ulla Searing Big Top on Nathan Benderson Park's Regatta Island. „

MUCH OF THE CAC’s work does not, however, take place under the Big Top. The nonprofit organization presents arts integrated education at area schools as well. Utilizing the engineering and artistic achievements of the circus arts, the CAC has developed a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) curriculum that demonstrates the physics, science, engineering, art and collaborative problem-solving required to produce a contraption-based circus performance.

Since 2012, the CAC's Education Outreach team has helped students recognize the importance of science, technology, and mathematics through kinesthetic learning experiences. The team provides in-class curriculum and supplies to primarily fifthgrade (with some middle school participation) classroom teachers; the culmination of the unit is the performance of the arena-sized Marvelous, Miraculous Circus Science Machine, which demonstrates physics, gravity, force, and motion for approximately 1,400 students and teachers each year.

“When students learn through arts integration, they are engaged in experiences in which they actively build and demonstrate their understanding of both the art form and the corresponding curriculum area,” said Karen Bell, the outreach and education manager for the CAC. “The Circus Science Machine doesn't always function as expected, affirming that engineers learn through – and students shouldn't be afraid of – failure. But we’re always thrilled when everything works as planned!”

The CAC is also known for its Circus Arts in Healthcare program, which improves the quality of life for individuals in care facilities by bringing delight to people through the circus arts. CAC artists incorporate comedy, music, magic and more to engage and energize audiences. The CAC works with health care professionals to develop interactive programming that is both entertaining and therapeutic in design. The program is not just a one-time performance; visits are made on a reliably consistent basis, building relationships with residents, families and staff.

"We are so excited to present another season of thrilling and inspiring circus arts performances and programs," said Jennifer Mitchell, Circus Arts Conservatory executive VP/COO. "We wanted to be sure that this was our most remarkable season yet, especially as we embark upon the 25th anniversary of the Circus Arts Conservatory in 2023.”

Jennifer Mitchell and daughter, Emma Clark

THE COMMUNITY IS invited to become involved with the CAC – whether by volunteering, taking classes, doing corporate training, or making a donation in support; visit CircusArts.org or call the Box Office at 941-355-9805.

We are confident that audiences of all ages, from near and far, are going to love the talent we’ve assembled for Circus Sarasota 2023. -Pedro

Reis

Four Days of Good Old Fashion Family Fun!

Live Music Daily  Antique Engines & Tractors  Daily Tractor Parade

Classic Cars  Trucks & Jeeps  Wildlife Animal Refuge  Local Food Vendors

Spring Market  Vintage Belle Market  NEW Kids Zone  Concerts

Pioneer Village Entertainment

“Night in the Village”

Working Blacksmith Shop

Whip Cracker & Story Teller

Cracker Trail Museum

PT Mortimer Medicine Man / Magician Show

Swamp Cabbage

Gospel Jubilee | Cracker Kids Experience

Orange Blossom Pageant

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