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APRIL 2021 VOL. 17 • ISSUE 6
CONTENTS A TRIO OF GRAND CHAMPIONS
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Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 305 S. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL. Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Insurance Services: 813-685-5673 Member Services: 813-685-9121
Photo by Karen Berry PAGE 10 State Officer
PAGE 30 News Briefs
PAGE 14 Deer in Landscape PAGE 15 Extension
PAGE 32 SWFWMD PAGE 35 Dandelion Greens
PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 36 Festival Results PAGE 42
Protect Springs PAGE 44
PAGE 24 Business Up Front
PAGE 50 Literary Time Machine PAGE 51 Tomatoes PAGE 52 Activity PAGE 53 A Closer Look
PAGE 56 Scott Angle
John Dicks
PAGE 25 Save Water
PAGE 46 Endangered Species
PAGE 26 Local Bites
PAGE 48 Burrowing Owls
PAGE 28 HCSO
PAGE 58 Island Spirit Farm PAGE 62
Clothing FFA PAGE 64 Mulch PAGE 65 Wish Farms
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
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OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dennis Carlton, Jr.....................President Jake Raburn................Vice President Tony Lopez..............Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary DIRECTORS FOR 2018 - 2019 Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes
Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813-685-9121 Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents
Valrico Office 813-685-5673
100 S. Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, FL. 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, ChFC, CASL, CPCU Agency Mgr. Julie Carlson, Amy Engle
Plant City Office 813.752.5577
305 S. Wheeler St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer Artis Griffin
Tampa Office 813.933.5440
6535 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL.33625 Greg Harrell, Jared Bean
AGENCY MANAGER Thomas O. Hale WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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STAFF
Letter from the Editor It’s time for the Florida State Fair! After postponement, thanks to the COVID 19 pandemic, the Florida State Fair is set to kick off on April 22. Though the steer and swine shows have already been held there will still be plenty of agriculture events to see.
As I write this Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried just finished testifying before the U.S. International Trade Commission on the issue of unfair foreign trade. According to the release, a surge in foreign imports of fresh and chilled cucumbers and squash have caused an estimated 2,721 lost jobs, $944 million in lost cash receipts and $1.85 billion in negative economic impact for Florida’s domestic produce growers.
According to the release, Fried provided the ITC with reports from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services showing that while Mexico’s market share of these produce imports increased as much as 134 percent since 2000, Florida’s has decreased by 61 percent, while Georgia’s and Michigan’s decreased by 35 percent – and Georgia’s squash market share has decreased by 84 percent.
Of course, these aren’t the only crops suffering. Specialty crops have long been battling foreign imports. As a matter of fact, in the current testimony, Fried referred to the last time she testified virtually, of course, “Farmers from Florida and across the U.S. testified on the personal hardships they have experienced while Mexico’s blueberry market share in the U.S. increased over 2,000 percent since 2009.”
The battle against unfair foreign trade hits every sector of our agriculture markets. Where does it end? Do we get this under control so that our food is safely grown and harvested right here in our country and our state? Your guess is as good as mine. But the battle wages on.
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor Patsy Berry Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols George Domedion Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Anita Todd Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909
Until Next Month
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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VISIT AND ENJOY THE FLORIDA STATE FAIR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
-Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
Dear Readers – The rescheduled Florida State Fair will take place April 22 – May 2. It was moved to this later time period because of COVID-19. I hope you, your family and friends consider attending the fair. It has something for everyone from food and entertainment to a range of exhibits and opportunities to learn about contemporary agriculture. Rest assured the fair has protocols in place to protect attendees during these times of the pandemic. Information about all aspects of the fair from a listing of events to ticket sales and more is available at FloridaStateFair.com. Last month I urged you all to read an article about a pending change to Hillsborough County’s Comprehensive Plan that could have a devastating effect on agriculture and landowners in the county. These changes are being sought by the Board of County Commissioners to better manage the impact of the tremendous growth the county has experienced. While that goal is admirable, the proposed changes have unintended consequences that are harmful. I am pleased to report that no further action will take place on this Comp Plan change until the Board of County Commissioners’ August meeting. Apparently, county officials have heard the concern expressed by landowners and our industry and are acting accordingly.
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, Florida Strawberry Growers Association, individual members of each of those organizations, their attorneys, realtors, consultants and landowners have all gone on record with their concern over these pending changes. While we oppose these changes, we stand ready to work with the Board of County Commissioners, County Planning Commission and its staff to better address the impact of growth while continuing to protect landowner’s property rights and enable producers in the county to continue to thrive. Please note that this is a temporary reprieve, and I ask that you continue to stay abreast of action related to these pending changes to the Comp Plan as this process moves forward. Thank you. Dennis Carlton, Jr.
Dennis Carlton Jr. Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
305 SOUTH WHEELER STREET • PLANT CITY, FL 33566 • 813-685-9121 Board of Directors
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Dennis Carlton, Jr. , President; Jake Raburn, Vice-President; Tony Lopez Treasurer; Buddy Coleman, Secretary; Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv,Jay Marty Tanner, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes Judi Whitson, Executive Director
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APRIL State Officer Column
The team had the opportunity to tour the University of Florida Dairy Unit and Calf Unit. We learned all of the stages of development for replacement heifers, as well as seeing the stages of milk processing. The UF facility is an amazing place where so much research and development is occurring for the dairy industry!
By Emma Poole and Christian Bentrovato With each passing week we seem to be getting busier and busier. We have been holding even more in person Career Development Events and have met so many astounding FFA members. It is simply amazing to see how far we have come this year and especially how much we have grown as an organization. On behalf of the entire state officer Team, I would like to congratulate all the wonderful FFA members that have competed so far this year and best of luck to all those that are preparing to compete. I can remember the hard work it took to prepare for a competition and with this year being even more challenging; I know our FFA members in our great state have worked even harder to be able to compete. Within the past couple weeks, the state officer team has had the opportunity to become students again as we take classes with The University of Florida! Over the next couple months, we will take two courses based on the development and philosophy of agriculture education, as well as a course designed just for state officers. On March 25, the entire state officer team had the opportunity to tour The University of Florida’s dairy teaching unit. It was very interesting being able to see a few of the different experiments going on at the research facility. The amount of work that goes into producing a glass of milk is astounding. One thing that I learned was that milk is one of the only agriculture products that goes straight to your table and doesn’t need any preparation (besides pasteurization). It’s also one of the fastest agriculture products to make it to your table, as after 48 hours it can already be on your table after leaving the dairy! As we move through our courses, we hope that we will have the opportunity to tour more facilities and learn even more about the research going into the agriculture industry! - Christian Bentrovato Area V State Vice President
At the end of the night, I felt that the whole experience was so rewarding. As someone who exhibited swine at the Florida Strawberry Festival in the past, I’m glad to see that so many FFA and 4-H members are continuing to be dedicated to their projects and have successful outcomes in the show ring. While I do miss showing, I think I might even like helping the judge more! Every time the festival comes around, I feel so thankful that we live in a community that supports young people in agriculture. Growing up in Plant City, I’ve always been surrounded by this kind of environment, and it’s not until I get outside my community that I realize – not everyone has what we have. Wonderful facilities, supportive community members, and generous businesses and families who act as buyers are something that is very special to Plant City. When we’re used to having something, we’re often times not as thankful for it as we should be. But every year, as our town comes together to show their support to young people, I’m reminded a little bit more how blessed we are to call this place home. As we start to prepare for state convention, even though it’s still just under three months away, I find myself reflecting more and more on this year and what it’s taught me. There have been so many unique experiences that I am forever thankful for. Thank you for following along with us on our journeys this year! I know the year isn’t over yet – I just wanted to maintain that attitude of gratitude I’ve been talking about. Until next month, find something in your life that you just aren’t thankful enough for, and learn to appreciate it a little more. - Emma Lauren Poole Florida FFA State Secretary
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This month, we’ve been staying especially busy. Between the Florida Strawberry Festival, in-person competitions starting up again, and our college courses through UF, the entire state officer team has had a lot on our plates, but we have been enjoying every second of it! We started the month helping out at the Florida Strawberry Festival Swine Show. We were able to do some announcing, as well as helping the judge in the ring. I was especially thankful for the opportunity to shadow the judge. I learned so much about his selection process and stayed on my toes passing out all the ribbons to exhibitors.
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DOE A DEER, A FEMALE DEER By Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Agent UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
This article is for those of you that are unhappy about deer damaging your landscape plants. For those of you who love to see deer in your landscape, there are publications mentioned near the end of this article that will help you learn about plants deer want to eat. As with pretty much everything, proper identification is the first step – a must-do. You can identify the cause of the damage by the type, height of damage and tracks (hoof prints). Just review the information at the link provided below. Deer and humans have some similar traits such as issues with breaking habits once established. If they find a landscape with tasty, plentiful and nutrition-filled food sources, they may well eat to their hearts’ -- aka stomachs’ -- content. Hungry deer can consume native plant areas and decrease plant species populations. There are several ways to manage deer populations. Some methods can be permanent, like hunting during designated seasons. Research hunting deer before proceeding. Other deer-population-management methods involve avoiding specific plants to which deer are attracted. Crape myrtle and Gardenia sustain rare or minor damage by deer. Hibiscus is a favorite and not deer resistant. Verbena, Sage, Marigolds and Peace lily are deer resistant.
Removing wildlife habitats to decrease deer populations is not a good option. That removes cover, habitat and food sources for deer and other native and non-native birds and animals. Repellents can decrease the amount of damage but rarely eliminate it. Several options are contained in the articles above, but they are not endorsements. Bottom-line: If you do want to attract deer, select plant that are susceptible to deer. If you don’t want to attract deer, plant deer resistant plants. Visit https://ifas.ufl.edu and type deer in the search field to reference two excellent publications on coping with deer damage and ornamental plant susceptibility to damage by deer published by the University of Florida. Visit the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County website: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/ and check out our calendar of events. Remember to reduce, reuse, recycle and repeat! Contact Barber at labarber@ufl.edu.
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Frightening devices (fireworks, etc.) may work temporarily, although you may irritate your neighbors at the same time.
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PANDEMIC PROMPTS EXTENSION EDUCATION SHIFT
from Traditional Outreach to Video Production; Domestic and International Impact By Jim Frankowiak
Access to science-based information by Florida’s minority Hispanic population has typically been difficult. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more challenging to develop and initiate in-person educational programs for Extension clients and communities. This has been further complicated by cultural and language barriers. “To comply with our mission to provide quality, relevant education and science-based expertise to solve Florida’s problems, Extension educators have created, edited and released educational videos in Spanish,” said Hardee County Extension Director Jonael Bosques, who is leading the initiative. “The goal is to breach these cultural barriers and deliver science-based information to this demographic, which constitutes more than 27 percent of the Florida population. In the counties we serve, this demographic constitutes forty percent on average of all residents and income earners in households earning their income from agricultural endeavors” “Ninety-six videos of approximately 20-minutes each in duration were created in both English and Spanish with experts in different fields such as livestock production, natural resources management, 4-H youth development, ornamental horticulture, hydroponic production beekeeping and marine science among many other areas,” noted Francisco Rivera, co-producer of educational content and Small Farms/Alternative Enterprises Extension Agent, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Hillsborough County Extension. To date, the multi-state initiative has reached more than 5,400 views and summarized 28 hours of recorded time with viewers recording nearly 215 hours of watch time.
“Our viewership has expanded to places as far as Argentina, Colombia, Chile and other countries by farmers in need of education,” he said. “With our initiative, we provided sciencebased practices and recommendations at their fingertips by delivering high quality, relevant information that they can apply to their agricultural operations.” “Moreover, after doing a needs assessment and collaborations with other governmental organizations and institutions, participating educators developed one-on-one troubleshooting session for peers on video editing and designed workshops for community clients on specific topics,” said Rivera. “All of these efforts were developed to bring appropriate educational content to entities and families during the social distancing period of the COVID-19 pandemic, positively impacting communities and advancing the mission and initiatives of UF/IFAS,” Bosques concluded.
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The estimated value of the YouTube video series “Produciendo en Tiempos de Distanciamiento Social/Farming in Times of Social Distancing, Produciendo con Ciencia/Farming with Science and DeerTalk” is more than $1.2 million. “We have received support from the Farm Credit Association of Florida and UF/IFAS Extension Administration for purchasing needed equipment. In addition, this program established an international collaboration with the UF faculty and School of Veterinary Science at UF, the University of Puerto Rico, University of Tolima in Colombia and Natural Resource Conservation Agency State Agronomist Edrick Marrero,” said Bosques.
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Tampa Bay Fishing Report May 2021 Capt. Woody Gore
The bait is finally showing up on the grass flats, and that means one thing, we’re finally going to catch fish. So now it’s time to get that bait net out and get it repaired. Because unless you’re an artificial angler, you’ve got some work to do before you can catch a few fish.
Snook: Tampa Bay snook seem to be
everywhere and they are chewing, especially when using live sardines. Almost any tidal grass-flat, mangrove shoreline, pass, or cut from upper Tampa Bay to Sarasota should prove productive.
Spotted Sea Trout: with the bay’s
warming, water should continue improving when free-lining live sardines, or shrimp, or under a popping cork. As we call them, whitebait/greenbacks begin to start moving onto the Tampa Bay grass flats. Look for flats with lush grass with plenty of sandy potholes. The potholes should produce some decent fish using sardines or shrimp under a small popping cork or freelined.
Redfish: Throughout Tampa Bay, the
redfish should start settling in for the summer. Check your favorite oyster bars, cuts, and broken bottom grass flats on the last of an outgoing tide and the first of an incoming. Don’t forget those large mullet schools. Redfish feed right along with schooling mullet and usually follow larger schools.
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Cobia: Many anglers consider cobia somewhat of a bycatch. You seldom hear of someone initially going cobia fishing. However, should they run across one cruising the sandy flats following giant rays and manatees or hanging around a marker, looking for easy meals and feeding, they will eat just about anything tossed in their direction. Spanish mackerel: When the threadfin
herring show up throughout Tampa Bay, bet your guns the giant mackerel will not be far behind and should be in full swing this month. Catches already reported some ranging up to 4 lbs. Chum them up with some cut-up threadfins or greenbacks, then toss both up-current. Now hook up a greenback or small threadfin on a free-line, leader, and hook. Mackerel are also excellent table fare. Either fried, baked, or smoked and used to make great smoked fish spread. Also, remember when the mackerel show up, so do the Sharks. If you like catching a few black tips, bulls, or shovelnose sharks, they should be around your boat, especially when the mackerel are feeding.
Tarpon: is showing up around the Skyway and the beach. Expect plenty of activity by month’s end and on through the summer. Try free-lining some threadfins or small crabs, and if you have them, use large greenbacks. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
813-477-3814
Capt. Woody Gore operates Tampa Bay’s #1 Outdoor Fishing Guide Services. Guiding and fishing Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater areas for over fifty years, he offers first-class customer service, family-oriented charters, and a lifetime of memories.
Visit his website at www.captainwoodygore.com or send an email to fishing@captainwoodygore. com or give him a call at 813-477-3814. Member: FOWA-Florida Outdoor Writers Assoc., MemberSEOPA Southeastern Outdoor Press Assoc. CEO/Pres. Sport-Fishing Unlimited & Outdoor Communications, Outdoor Writer & Speaker
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AGRICULTURE FACTS • The sable palm is the official state tree of Florida? • Orange peels can be used by gardeners as a slug repellent. • Florida accounts for 99% of the nation’s supply of spiny lobster. • The flavor of carrots, squash and tomatoes can be enhanced by a dash of sugar. • Avocados were once called” alligator pairs.” • Avocados can replace oil or butter. • National Farmers day is October 12. • You can get more juice out of any citrus fruit by microwaving it for 20 seconds. • Mushrooms are 90% water. • Grapefruits got their name because they grow in grape-like clusters. • Unlike any other nut, peanuts grow underground.
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Sponsored by:
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971
HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the April 2016 issue
I remember when I was growing up my mother always had a yard full of chickens and one big red rooster. My job every afternoon was to gather the eggs. I didn’t mind, but I had to keep my eye on “Dummy” the big red rooster. For some reason he did not like me. It could be because I kicked him across the chicken yard when dad first brought him home to be the “King of the Roost!” Dummy’s main problem was he always was fighting the hens. He actually killed a couple of them before we tied a heavy three-foot string around one leg with the other end to a post in the middle of the chicken-yard. If a hen got anywhere close he would lunge at them. Over a period of time we noticed one leg was about an inch-and-ahalf longer than the other one. Feeling sorry for him we turned him loose, and every time he tried to corner a hen he would fall over. A week or two of this cured him from chasing all the girls in the chicken yard. I was reading up on this “pecking habit” of chickens, and found that farmers would do what they called beak trimming. They would remove approximately one-third of the beak with a cold or heated blade when chicks were only a couple of days old. This was effective in reducing pecking injuries, but cased great pain and had significant effects on the chicken. According to an article in a 1953 issue of the National Road Traveler newspaper, someone discovered that red-tinted lenses was effective in reducing the urge for a chicken to peck another. They are held on the chicken’s beak with a cotter pin through the nostrils of the bird. Chickens are provoked by the sight of blood and will peck at each other, eventually killing off much of the flock. These red lenses prevented chickens from seeing the red blood and calmed their behavior. According to the information I found the glasses have not been made for years. These glasses are now considered a collector’s item! There’s the story of an old farmer who decided it was time to get a new rooster for his hens. The current rooster was still doing an okay job, but he was getting on in years. The farmer figured getting a new rooster couldn’t hurt anything. So he buys a young cock from the local rooster emporium, and turns him loose in the barnyard.
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Well, the old rooster sees the young one strutting around and he gets a little worried. ‘So, they’re trying to replace me?’ thinks the old rooster. ‘I’ve got to do something about this.’ He walks up to the new bird and says, “So you’re the new stud in town? I bet you really think you’re hot stuff, don’t you? Well, I’m not ready for the chopping block yet. I’ll bet I’m still the better bird. And to prove it, I challenge you to a race around that hen house over there. We’ll run around it ten times and whoever finishes first gets to have all the hens for himself.”
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Chickens Well, the young rooster was a proud sort, and he definitely thought he was more than a match for the old guy. “You’re on,” said the young rooster. “And since I know I’m so great, I’ll even give you a head start of half a lap. I’ll still win easy,” said the young rooster. So the two roosters go over to the hen house to start the race with all the hens gathering around to watch. The race begins and all the hens start cheering the roosters on. After the first lap, the old rooster is still maintaining his lead. After the second lap, the old guy’s lead has slipped a little but he’s still hanging in there. Unfortunately the old rooster’s lead continues to slip each time around, and by the fifth lap he’s just barely in front of the young rooster. By now the farmer has heard all the commotion. He runs into the house, gets his shotgun, and runs out to the barnyard figuring a fox or something is after his chickens. When he gets there, he sees the two roosters running around the hen house, with the old rooster still slightly in the lead. He immediately takes his shotgun, aims, fires, and blows the young rooster away. As he walks away slowly, he says to himself. . . “That’s the third bad rooster I’ve bought this month.” One day the Library was lonely with no one in it for the librarian to help. These two chickens came through the door screeching “cluck cluck.” The librarian quickly got up and gave them each five books. The two chickens left satisfied. Just a few minutes later the same two chickens come through the door with no books screeching “cluck cluck.” The librarian once again jumps up and gives each chicken 15 books this time. The chickens leave satisfied once again. Then again for the third time the chicken return screeching “cluck cluck” But this rime being suspicious the librarian gives each chicken only one book because they have still have not returned the other books. As the chickens leave the librarian slowly follows behind to see where all the books are going. The chickens come to a stop and start throwing the books into a pond where some frogs grab the books and throw them behind their back croaking “red-it red-it” As if the story above was not bad enough here’s one more, and I’ll close with this one: There are three guys named Manners, Shutup, and Crap. They were really bored, so they decided to run a race. During the race, Crap fell down, and Manners stopped to help him. But Shutup ran so fast the police caught him. Here’s how the conversation went: Police Officer #1: “What’s your name?” “Shutup” “Police Officer #2: “Where’s your Manners?” Shutup said, “Back there picking up Crap!”
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Business Up Front
GRACE MANOR AT HUNTERS CREEK:
Unmatched Independent and Assisted Living for Seniors and Their Families By Jim Frankowiak The decision to move to Grace Manor at Hunters Creek is more than a move to a new residential community for seniors, “it’s the chance for those individuals and their families to become members of a large, extended family,” said Grace Manor Executive Director Sheryl Vitelli. “Visitors and residents often comment on the warmth and friendliness they experience from the very first visit to Grace Manor.” That difference, which makes Grace Manor at Hunters Creek an unmatched choice for seniors, is “a reflection of the commitment local ownership and management make in creating a warm, family-focused environment for senior living,” said Vitelli. The community is owned and managed by Mainstay Senior Living, “not by a corporation or senior care conglomerate focused primarily on return-on-investment for its shareholders,” she noted. “Our team members get to know each resident and their family members personally, and become members of a large, extended family.” Since first opened in 2019, Grace Manor at Hunters Creek has enjoyed strong popularity in Plant City. “Our occupancy approached 90 percent very quickly,” said Vitelli. “The COVID-19 pandemic saw that drop, but we continue above 70 percent and that figure is moving upward continuously. All of our residents have and continue to be happy, healthy and safe during these trying times. They all enjoy an independent lifestyle with amenities such as a gated community, swimming pool, garage parking and comfortable villas.” May 4 marks Grace Manor’s 2nd birthday. Independent living options include the choice of several floor plans, ranging from a studio to deluxe, and one bedroom residences. Those living options are named after major thoroughfares in Plant City: Park, Collins/Redman and Alexander. Amenities include dining, housekeeping, laundry and more. The Grace Manor community also offers assisted living for residents and family members who need supportive care, medication management and specialized services – all within the comfort of a beautiful home and safe environment.
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Grace Manor’s accommodations feature designs with modern fixtures and finishes. They include an urban, farmhouse sliding entry door, granite countertops, plantation blinds and an abundance of natural light. “Our residents also enjoy gourmet meals, hand-delivered mail, Wi-Fi and an active social
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calendar,” said Vitelli. “We cater to seniors who want an active, independent lifestyle, but who are ready to relax and let others do the heavy lifting.” Additionally, Grace Manor at Hunters Creek Retirement Villas, the first phase of the community, offer its residents “fun and enriching activities for the mind and body,” said Vitelli. “They have an intimate, active and peaceful lifestyle within our gated community while offering easy access to other locations throughout Florida.” The inclusive monthly rent for Independent living begins at $2,095 per month, while assisted living is $3,495 each month. In addition to including all utilities and amenities, Grace Manor rent also covers three daily meals prepared by on-staff chefs with menu options; private dining areas for special occasions and family gatherings; housekeeping and laundry services; daily social events and activities; tastefully-appointed indoor and outdoor gathering areas; styling salon and barber services; personal emergency response system that knows resident location with the press of a single button for prompt service; 24-hour secured access and video surveillance; transportation services for outings, shopping and medical appointments; access gates and fully sprinklered fire safety system and access to primary care home health and support services through vendors serving the community making house calls. Residents also have easy access to Brewer Park, which is just across the street, for a walking trail, picnic area and duck pond. Villa residents are just a few steps away while independent and assisted living residents can hop on the community golf cart or bus.
Grace Manor at Hunters Creek is located at 765 West Grant Street, Plant City, FL 33563. The community’s website is http:// www.gracemanorhunterscreek.com. Telephone: 813/7433701. Vitelli encourages interested seniors and their families to call for a complimentary tour and to see why Grace Manor at Hunters Creek offers a unique lifestyle for seniors. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
10 TIPS TO SAVE WATER FOR WATER CONSERVATION MONTH
While the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) encourages water conservation year-round, there is extra emphasis each April for Water Conservation Month. April is historically one of the driest months of the year and typically marks the peak demand season for public water suppliers. With these 10 simple tips, you can lower your monthly water bill and do your part to save hundreds of gallons of water: INDOOR • Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when they are full. • Use the shortest clothes washing cycle for lightly soiled loads; normal and permanent-press wash cycles use more water. • Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water. • Scrape, don’t rinse, your dishes before loading in the dishwasher. • Install high-efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets.
OUTDOOR • Check your home’s irrigation system for leaks. • Turn off your irrigation system and only water as needed. • Don’t leave sprinklers unattended. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn sprinklers off. • Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle when washing the car. • Consider installing a rain barrel with a drip irrigation system for watering your landscaping. Rainwater is free and better for your plants because it doesn’t contain hard minerals. Leaks are the biggest water waster, both inside and outside of your home. You can use your water meter to check for leaks. Turn off all faucets and waterusing appliances and make sure no one uses water during the testing period. Wait for the hot water heater and ice cube makers to refill and for regeneration of water softeners. Go to your water meter and record the current reading. Wait 30 minutes. (Remember, no water should be used during this period.) Read the meter again. If the reading has changed, you have a leak. For more information about water conservation, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/Conservation. Southwest Florida Water Management District INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL by: Sue Harrell and Tiffany C. Dale the festival, it’s likely you have asked your family or friends to bring you a fresh cinnamon roll on the way home. Needless to say, it is no mystery around town when the festival is underway. We got all settled in and ready for the 11-day haul at our Florida Strawberry Growers Association exhibit area at the Florida Strawberry Festival. Within minutes of engaging with festival visitors, we begin asking, “what should we try first.” While you have your annual favorites, we’re always looking for what’s new and exciting. We started with a classic that we can munch on throughout the festival, kettle corn! It goes well with everything as it’s both salty and sweet. Of course, if you’re going to be there for any amount of time, you must get the souvenir cup for the great refill price. As we sipped on our iced tea and enjoyed our kettle corn, you find yourself asking again, what’s next? As we made our way through the 11-days, we also made our way through our annual favorites: Spaghetti Eddies’ pizza, Brandon Farms Strawberry Milkshake, Smitty’s Corn Dogs, Grandma’s Cinnamon Rolls, Fiske Fries, Pickle Barrell, and the famous Amish Doughnuts. Somehow, it’s like trying it for the first time when a year has passed, and it’s just as delicious as ever!
All Aboard the Delicious Train! If you have ever been to the Florida Strawberry Festival, you know one thing, you show up prepared to eat! Cookies, shortcakes, berries, oh my! Popcorn, cheese, doughnuts, and more! Anything you can dream of can be found at the Florida Strawberry Festival. In its 86th year, the Festival is better than ever, offering a family, funfilled, and delicious experience.
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Locals, out-of-towners, and exhibitors alike are fibbing if they don’t tell you they have a favorite festival fare. If you’re a local, you spend the weeks approaching the festival daydreaming about the Amish Doughnut you haven’t had since last year, or the famous strawberry shortcake that tastes so magical when you enjoy it on the festival grounds. If you spend the festival working on the grounds in an exhibit like us, Strawberry Sue and Tiffany, you make it your greatest effort to pace yourself as you make it through the 11-days of delicious, so that you don’t overdo it on the first day. Even if you never make it to
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This year, after reviewing the Plant City Observer Festival Guide, we had to try some of the new and exciting items around the festival. We went on a mission and tried some of the new fare! Starting at the Chocolate Strawberry Express, we tried the Strawberry Pickle. As we looked at the red pickles in a jar on the counter, we were unsure of what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised as we bit into the red pickle spear. It had a sweet, slight strawberry taste, but still tasted like a pickle. The strawberry was not overpowering, and yet a nice complement. Great idea, Chocolate Strawberry Express! Next, we made our way to indulge in a Jolly Rancher Slush located at Apple Fries Concession. Wow! What a sweet treat this stop ended up being. If you like candy, the Jolly Rancher Slush is for you! It is overflowing with Nerds, jelly beans, a lollipop and other fun candies. You can choose from strawberry, green apple, or mixed for your slush flavor. We went for the obvious choice, strawberry! We expected the overall experience to be a very sugary and sweet one, but it wasn’t overpowering, a crowd favorite for all ages. But wait, before we left, the owners insisted that we try what they’re most known for, the apple fries. What a treat! The apple fries blew us away as they are fried apple slices with cinnamon and sugar, topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream. Next up, we made our way to The Cookie Barn. The blue-ribbon booth was full of excitement as a local favorite. We ordered the famous Faye’s Doozies, strawberry and chocolate chip. Named after an icon in the community, we had to try Mrs. Faye’s secret family recipe. The fluffy center and delicious baked cookie was the perfect festival treat! This booth is truly reflective of the community support and involvement that makes the WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Florida Strawberry Festival a success year after year. Amazing job, Mrs. Faye! Last, but not least, on our Local Bites Festival Tour, we made our way to the Best Around Concessions to try the Strawberry Lemon Ricotta Funnel Cake. As we approached the concession, we instantly felt like we walked onto the set of a Food Network special. The flavors, the options, the toppings, the lights! Everything was as if it was an endless bank of options to create the most memorable funnel cake you have ever tasted. The Lemon Ricotta Funnel Cake was a delight! The lemon offered a great bite, while the sweet strawberries and glazed offered sweet flavors, all mixed and topped amongst a fresh funnel cake that is always a win. Needless to say, the 86th Florida Strawberry Festival was a delicious success! Now that is over, we have thoughts from time to time over the next year, anticipating the theme, dreaming of eating our favorites again next year, and trying something new and exciting. The Florida Strawberry Festival is so much more than a festival. It is a celebration of the strawberry industry that is so important to our community, state, and beyond, and one that we hold near and dear to our hearts! While the Florida strawberry season is coming to an end and the Florida Strawberry Festival is over, we will all be dreaming of another fun and delicious festival in 2022!
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WOMAN SENTENCED IN 2019 ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE
Sheriff Chad Chronister
Raven Devoss A local woman was found guilty on multiple charges of animal cruelty and unlawful abandonment stemming from a July 2019 arrest by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. On July 25, 2019, Raven Devoss, 29, was arrested after deputies located five emaciated horses without a sufficient food source. Deputies found the malnourished horses in a small holding pen. At the time, the property did not have a sustainable amount of hay, grain or grass for five horses to graze upon. The pen was located in direct sunlight and the horses had also gone two days without access to shade or shelter.
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On March 22, 2021, Devoss was charged with two counts of Cruelty to Animals Failed to Provide Necessary Care and two counts of Unlawful Confinement or Abandonment of Animal Confinement Without Sustenance. She is serving a 30-day jail sentence and will also serve 24 months probation.
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“This is another example of the great work by our Agricultural Crimes Unit deputies,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our commitment to protect and serve the people of Hillsborough County extends to the animals and livestock in our community, too. I hope this incident serves as a lesson to those who think they may be able to get away with the bare minimum when serving as the primary caretaker for animals. It will not be tolerated in Hillsborough County.” At the time of her arrest in 2019, Devoss was employed by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office as a detention deputy. She was dismissed from the agency following her arrest. Anyone with information about an agricultural crime or a loose animal is asked to call (813) 247-8200. You can also stay updated with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office by following @HCSOSheriff on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
2021 Florida AgExpo Set for November 18
Ford Offers $500 Bonus Cash
This year’s Florida AgExpo will take place Thursday, November 18 at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFA) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Balm. Updated information can be accessed at: https://floridaagexpo.net/.
Farm Bureaus in the market for a new vehicle can receive $500 Bonus Cash toward the purchase or lease of new Ford Ranger, F-150 and Super Duty trucks. Eligibility and guidelines: • A Florida Farm Bureau member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase/lease • Proof of FFB membership. Members must present Bonus Cash Certificate to dealer at time of purchase/lease. • Offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford private incentives or AXZD-Plans. • Eligible new 2020/2021/2022 Rod Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty • F-150 Raptor, F-600, F-650 and F-750 Super Duty are not eligible for this program To claim Bonus Cash Certificate, visit: www.FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com.
COVID-19 Resources on Florida Farm Bureau Website Florida Farm Bureau has developed a COVID-19 resources website page that includes a variety of agricultural and state and federal links related to the pandemic. The site is continually updated and can be accessed at: floridafarmbureau.org/ covid-19-resources/. FARM BUREAU MEMBERS SAVE 10% AT RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM TOPGOLF LIVE EVENT Topgolf Live will transform the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Raymond James Stadium -- to a unique golf experience June 3 – 6. Participants can hit golf balls from the concourse down to the field. To redeem this offer and for more information, contact Jewel Henderson with Topgolf Live at jewel.henderson@revelxp.com or call 214/884-2898. UF AMONG TOP 50 AG SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD; “ACES” ALL AG SCIENCES The University of Florida is among the top 50 agricultural schools in the world, according to the 2021 rankings released by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the London-based provider of services, analytics and insight into the global higher education sector since 2004. UF also garnered “A’s” among the best colleges for agricultural studies in America. Virtual Ag-Venture Wins National Award The Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP) recognized the Virtual Ag-Venture Program in Hillsborough County as one of its 2021 national Achievement Award recipients for “innovation in local agricultural education.” The program, which was introduced in 1994, is a “hands on” learning experience designed to teach the importance of agriculture to third grade students in Hillsborough County. Ag-Venture typically takes place at the Florida State Fairgrounds, but due to COVID-19 was changed in 2020 to “AgVenture in the Box.” Third grader teachers in the county were provided the opportunity to order informational materials for delivery to their classrooms. Program sponsors include the Florida State Fair, Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 4-H and Hillsborough County Extension. Sea Tow Special Offer for Farm Bureau Members
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Sea Two is offering Florida Farm Bureau members two free months of service when signing up or renewing an annual membership. Visit: https://loom.ly/lDqvroc to learn more about this offer.
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2022 Farm Dog of the Year Entries Welcomed Farm Bureau and Nestle Purina PetCare Company are looking for the best farm dog in the country. Desired attributes include helpfulness to the farmer and his/her family, playfulness and obedience. The grand prize winner – Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year – will win a year’s worth of Purina dry dog food and $5,000 in prize money. To apply, visit: https://submittable.com/submit. Questions and more information is available by emailing: support@submittable.com. COVID-19 Aid Expanded to Include More Ag Producers The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to distribute more than $12 billion under the Pandemic Assistance for Producers Program, which includes aid that had been put on hold as well as funds newly allocated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The program is to assist farmers and ranchers who previously did not qualify for COVID-19 aid and expands assistance for farmers helped by existing programs. Farmers will need to sign-up only if they are applying for new programs or if they are eligible for CFAP assistance and did not previously apply. USDA is now accepting applications. More information is available by visiting: www. farmers.gov WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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DISTRICT ANNOUNCES
SUCCESS OF NORTHERN TAMPA BAY WATER USE CAUTION AREA RECOVERY EFFORTS
BEFORE
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), in partnership with Tampa Bay Water, announces the successful environmental recovery efforts of the Northern Tampa Bay Water Use Caution Area. The success of the Northern Tampa Bay recovery efforts was detailed at the Governing Board’s February meeting. The Board has concurred that a recovery strategy is no longer required for the area because aquifer levels have rebounded and the health of the lakes and wetlands in the region have recovered or significantly improved. The District has invested more than $300 million and Tampa Bay Water has invested nearly $2 billion toward this 20-year recovery effort, which has reduced groundwater withdrawals by about 50 percent and has developed innovative solutions to replace these reductions with alternative water sources, including surface water and desalinated sea water. Most notably, the ecological health of more than 1,300 lakes, wetlands, and other surface waterbodies in the area have recovered or significantly improved and most aquifer water levels are at their highest in four to six decades.
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“By all measure, this is such an incredible model of what we can do as a community to reinforce and maintain a healthy environment,” said Governing Board Secretary Rebecca Smith, who represents Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
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“I just think it’s amazing. A proud moment for our region, for sure.” “This is the evidence of the value of the water management district working along with Tampa Bay Water,” said Governing Board Chair Kelly Rice. “We look forward to working with Tampa Bay Water for many, many more years.” Before the Northern Tampa Bay Water Use Caution Area was established in 1989, large amounts of water were permitted and pumped from the region’s wellfields, resulting in lakes and wetlands in the area losing water and, in some cases, drying up completely, which caused significant harm to the natural ecosystem. As a result, Tampa Bay Water was created in 1998 ending the region’s “Water Wars.” The District and Tampa Bay Water worked in partnership to develop a 20-year recovery plan, which included reducing the amount of groundwater withdrawals in the area and developing alternative water sources for the residents of Tampa Bay. Part of the joint recovery approach included Tampa Bay Water building one of the largest seawater desalination plants in North America located in Apollo Beach, pulling water from various river sources, constructing the 15-billion-gallon C.W. “Bill” Young Regional Reservoir in southern Hillsborough WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
County, installing miles of pipelines to connect systems, and completing a surface water treatment plant. These alternative water resources have been critical in compensating for the reduction in groundwater withdrawals and the rise in demand for water due to population growth in the area. These alternative sources also provide resiliency, allowing Tampa Bay Water flexibility in its water sources. The District will continue to monitor the Northern Tampa Bay Water Use Caution Area to ensure continued success. Currently, Tampa Bay Water has a consolidated water use permit that includes all 10 wellfields in the area for an annual daily average of 90 million gallons. Tampa Bay Water has submitted a request to renew its consolidated water use permit for another 10 years at the current withdrawal level, which will go to the District’s Governing Board for approval later this year. Southwest Florida Water Management District
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FLorida
DANDELION GREENS
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Did you know that all parts of the dandelion are both edible and nutritious? Young dandelion leaves are mild in flavor and have more iron than spinach and more vitamin C than lettuce. Dandelion blossoms are sweet and crunchy and can also be eaten or processed into wine. The name dandelion comes from the French word for lion’s tooth, dent de lion, which refers to its tooth-shaped leaves. Dandelion leaves can be eaten raw, as well as steamed, stir-fried, or added to soup. The root can be dried and roasted or steeped into hot water and consumed as tea.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Dandelion greens rank high on the nutritional barometer, surpassing both spinach and broccoli in nutritional value. Dandelion greens are rich in Vitamin C, K and A as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and protein. They have also historically been valued for their medicinal qualities. Dandelion greens act as a natural diuretic and they help boost digestion. They also reduce swelling and inflammation and support healthy teeth, gums and skin. Fresh Florida dandelion greens are bursting with nutrition and are considered even more nutritious than superstars like spinach or broccoli. Like most other dark green leafy vegetables, dandelion greens are high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet rich in dark green leafy vegetables lowers the risk for developing a variety of cancers. According to the USDA, a one cup serving of raw fresh dandelion greens contains 25 calories, 5 g of carbohydrate, 2 g of fiber, 0.4 g of fat, and 3.6 g of protein. It also contains 535% of your daily requirement for vitamin K, 112% for vitamin A, 32% for vitamin C, 9% for iron, potassium, and calcium, and plentiful amounts of the B vitamins.
maintain healthy cartilage, bones, and teeth, as well as promotes wound healing. Vitamin C also helps you absorb iron better. There is some research to support that vitamin C may also reduce the duration and severity of the common cold.
Iron Dandelion greens are a great vegetarian source of iron. Iron is essential for blood production and many other important functions in the body. It is involved in carrying oxygen from the lungs to all the tissues in the body. Insufficient iron from the diet can lead to anemia, which is a reduction of hemoglobin in the blood. Iron is also required as a cofactor for a number of enzymes that converts the nutrients we eat into energy.
How to Select and Store Choose fresh leaves that have a deep, dark green color with no signs of wilting or yellowing. The leaves and stems should look fresh and tender and be dry to the touch. To store raw dandelion leaves, pat dry with a paper towel, place in a tightly wrapped plastic bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. Keep refrigerated for up to five days. Do not wash until immediately before use.
How to Enjoy
Vitamin K is essential for bone and blood health. This vitamin functions as a coenzyme for vitamin K-dependent carboxylase, an enzyme required for the synthesis of proteins involved in blood clotting and bone metabolism. Additionally, vitamin K may help you maintain a healthy blood pressure by preventing mineralization, or build-up of minerals in the arteries.
Dandelion greens can be enjoyed both raw and cooked. Younger leaves are milder in flavor and can be enjoyed raw in a salad. More mature leaves will have a stronger flavor that can be balanced by cooking with other foods. The flavor of dandelion greens is complimentary to the flavors of tomatoes, garlic, fennel, vinegar, cheese, and olive oil. Other ways to enjoy dandelion greens include: • Lightly steamed with garlic • Sauteed with olive oil and herbs • Stir-fried with onions and garlic • Tossed as a salad instead of lettuce • Baked with olive oil and salt into chips • Tossed into a stew or soup • Use as a sandwich topper Fresh Florida dandelion is a nutritious vegetable that is readily available during the spring months. Eat more of these leafy greens and blossoms and reap all of the health benefits they offer in one delicious package.
Vitamin C
SELECTED REFERENCES
A single serving of dandelion greens contains about a third of your daily needs for vitamin C! This vitamin is needed for growth and repair of all tissues in your body, including skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. It helps your body
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu
Vitamin K
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2021 Florida Strawberry Festival Ag Show Results 7th – Rylee Woody 8th – Nicholas Claussen 9th – Gehrig Graham 10th – Alyssa Grimes
Swine Show Grimes Family Agricultural Center Patterson Companies Livestock Arena Grand Champion - Ellie Smith, Antioch Critters 4-H Club Reserve Grand Champion – Shyanne Wood, Durant FFA Class 1 1st – Rylee Davis 2nd – Emily Franson 3rd – Alainah Macki 4th – Morgan Kersey 5th – Lacey Merrell 6th – Tucker Conrad 7th – Knox McDonald 8th – Christopher Dudzins 9th – Brooke Wight 10th – Chase Durrance Class 2 1st – Caris Schneider 2nd – Olivia Lawton 3rd – Gabrielle Langston 4th – Kennedy Schrier 5th – Eusebio AntionoMeijia 6th – Kali Daniels 7th – Kaitlyn Boyette 8th – Ella Connell 9th – Ashley Walls 10th – Lily Nance Class 3 1st – Shyanne Wood 2nd – Gus Devane 3rd – Kace Zinke 4th – William Letner 5th – Kylie Boyette 6th – Madison Brewer 7th – Peyton Douglas 8th – Cooper Sollars Class 4 1st – Cooper Davis 2nd – Tytan Gill 3rd – Mason Howard 4th – Bryce Runkles 5th – Kayla Hanson 6th – Brayden Keys 7th – Abby Weisbert 8th – Parker Scott
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Class 5 1st – Brielee Bedenbaugh 2nd – Mackenzie Paul 3rd – Danica Gill 4th – Genesis Manrow 5th – Noah McNabb 6th – Hope Storter
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Class 6 1st – Ellie Smith 2nd – Avery Ashley 3rd – Bristol Bedenbaugh 4th – Lillian Devane 5th – Madelynn Council 6th – Ciera Diaz 7th – Zachary Cobb 8th – Cameyn Smith Class 7 1st – Faith Satterfield 2nd – Jenna Marvin 3rd – Joliene Reid 4th – Rebecca Holcomb 5th – Abigail Mullis 6th – Olivia Ennis 7th – Isabella Bianchi 8th – Brodie Layton Class 8 1st – Jaylynn wood 2nd – Roby Runkles 3rd – Karoline Kmetz 4th – Macyn Graham 5th – Brandon Karnowski 6th – Madison Corson 7th – Hunter Freeman 8th – Bennie (Ryan) Rice 9th – Gerald-Michael Daniels 10th – Xavier Smith 11th – Hardy Polk Class 9 1st Caroline Haxton 2nd – Hannah Perry 3rd – Lyla Bent 4th – Jessie Parker 5th – Carter Durrance 6th – Cooper Newman 7th – Ava Futch 8th – Josiah Comas 9th – Dillian Sumner Swine Showmanship Senior 1st – Shyanne Wood 2nd – Avery Ashley 3rd – Joliene Reed Intermediate 1st – Brielee Bedenbaugh 2nd – Jessie Parker 3rd – Karoline Kmetz Junior
APRIL 2021
1st – Jaylynn Wood 2nd – Ellie Smith 3rd – Tytan Gill Mosaic Youth Poultry Show Grand Champion – Kenzie Vasquez Reserve Champion – Addison O’Brien Best Opposite Sex Production – Ryan Haney Best Opposite Sex Exhibition – Rebecca Bush Dairy Show, sponsored by Grove Equipment Patterson Companies Livestock Arena Grimes Family Agricultural Center Ayrshire Grand Champion – Nathan Wilhite Reserve Champion – Nicholas Hammer Brown Swiss Grand Champion – Cheyenne Sommer Reserve Champion – Cheyenne Sommer Guernsey Grand Champion – Austin Holcomb
Reserve Champion – kenslee Heinke Holstein Grand Champion – Austin Holcomb Reserve Champion – Austin Boyd Jersey Grand Champion - Kyleigh Glenn Reserve Champion – Kyleigh Glenn Ayrshire Junior Champion - Nicholas Hammer Reserve Champion – Nicholas Hammer Brown Swiss Junior Champion – Cheyenne Sommer Reserve Champion – Colby Holcomb Guernsey Junior Champion – Kenslee Heinke Reserve Champion – Austin Holcomb Holstein Junior Champion – Taylor Boyd Reserve Champion – Colby HOlcomb Jersey Junior Champion – Avery Best WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Reserve Champion – Avery Best Ayrshire Senior Champion – Nathan White Brown Swiss Senior Champion – Cheyenne Sommer Reserve – Cheyenne Sommer Guernsey Senior Champion – Austin Holcomb Reserve – Kenslee Heinke Holstein Senior Champion – Austin Holcomb Reserve – Austin Boyd Jersey Senior Champion – Kyleigh Glenn Reserve – Kyleigh Glenn Richard Kahelin All-Breeds Champion Award Austin Holcomb Premier Exhibitor Award Austin Holcomb Junior All Breeds Bred-By Exhibitor Award Cheyenne Sommer Senior All Breeds Bred-By Exhibitor Award Cheyenne Sommer Junior Herdsman Kenslee Heinke Senior Herdsman Abby Weisberg Charlie Hunter Memorial Sportsmanship Award Nicholas Hammer Florida Strawberry Festival Dairy Scholarship Anna Tsemba
Pee Wee Mason Raburn Novice Jessica Dempsey Junior Colby Holcomb Intermediate Sarah Rogers Senior Austin Holcomb Premier Showmanship Austin Holcomb Adult Taylor Boyd Costume Ball Funniest Jacob Hill with Popeye and Olive Oyl Prettiest Anna Tsemba with Aladdin & Princess Jasmine Most Original Thomas Campoamor with Tom Brady & The Vince Lombardi Trohpy Most Colorful Sarah Rogers, Makayla Watson and Anna Cok with Powerpuff Girls Overall Clayton Raburn with A 2020 Hero & the Cow-Rona Virus Lamb Show Patterson Companies Livestock Arena Grimes Family Agricultural Center Showmanship Beginner 1st – Adelyn Jensen
2nd – Reid Patino 3rd – Josie Clark
Reserve Champion – Skyler Hancock
Junior 1st – Shelby Southerland 2nd - Ty Polk 3rd – Mackenzie Paul
Crossbred Ram Grand Champion – Nancy Yang Reserve Champion – Samuel Potter
Intermediate 1st – Emma Leiss 2nd – Levi Sampson 3rd – Makinley Jensen Senior 1st – Ruca Rhoton 2nd – Bailey Polk 3rd – Jessica Ferreira Jumping Short-Legged Tie 1st – Colby Holcomb 1st – Keely Wells 1st – Christopher Dudzinski Long-Legged Tie 1st – Sarah Rogers 1st – Brendan Flores Black Face Ewe Grand Champion – Mackenzie Paul Reserve Champion – Mackenzie Paul Black Face Ram Grand Champion – Chloe Dudzinski White Face Ewe Grand Champion – Emma Leiss Reserve Champion – Emma Leiss White Face Ram Grand Champion – Emma Leiss Reserve Champion – William Jones Crossbred Ewe Grand Champion – Ashlyn Hudson
Rare Breed Ewe Grand Champion – Keely Wells Reserve Champion – Christoper Dudzinski Rare Breed Ram Grand Champion – Rebecca Holcomb Reserve Champion – Colby Holcomb Supreme Grand Champion Emma Leiss Costume Contest Funniest Julia Jones with Cottonelle Most Original Cade Brock with Fisherman Most Elegant Rebecca Holcomb with Queen Penny Most Creative Chloe Howard with All Aboard the Berry Express Most Colorful Brendan Flores with Pirate and his parrot Best Overall Shelby Southerland with Pirate Princess Beef Breed Show sponsored by Bad Boy Mowers Patterson Co. Livestock Arena Grimes Family Agricultural Center
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Showmanship
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WARNING FATIGUE AND RESTRICTED BLOOD FLOW PROCEED WITH CAUTION Chest pressure, a squeezing sensation or chest pain. These feelings may be angina, a symptom of heart disease. Your heart comes with a warning system called angina, which happens when part of the heart doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen. Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), a type of heart disease that occurs when arteries that carry blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked. Although angina often feels like a pinching sensation in the chest, it can also be accompanied by sluggishness, fatigue and chest tightness. If you experience any of these symptoms, the heart experts at BayCare’s South Florida Baptist Hospital can quickly get to the cause and treat it with a procedure that’s right for you. Diagnosing and treating CAD is just one area of our expertise in heart care. Using state-of-the-art technology, our compassionate and multidisciplinary team of experts provides a suite of other advanced heart care services. From treatment options for rhythm disorders like AFib and heart attacks, care for advanced heart failure through our Heart Function Clinic, to helping you recover with cardiac rehab, South Florida Baptist Hospital is here when you and your heart need us. And we have enhanced safety measures to help keep you protected, so you can feel secure getting the care you need.
Learn more and get a cardiology referral: SouthFloridaBaptistHeart.org
21-1422419-0321
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STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL GRAND CHAMPIONS A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME
Photos courtesy of Berry Sweet Memories by Dee Dee
Ellie Smith One of the perennial features of the Florida Strawberry Festival are the youth competitions that take place, showcasing months and even years of hard work and commitment by these youngsters and the animals and plants they exhibit. Each competitive division has its own Grand Champion and that is indeed a high honor. We’d like to take a closer look at three of the 2021 Grand Champions.
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The youngest Grand Champion this year and in the Festival’s history is eight-year-old Ellie Smith, who took top honors in the swine competition with her entry, “Ten.” She is the daughter of Ashley and Justin and a third grader at Brandon Academy. Ellie began working with swine at the age of 3 with the help and guidance of her parents and grandfather, Allen Newsome. The 2021 Strawberry Festival competition was her first ever.
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In addition to her parents and grandfather, Ellie has learned a good bit from her membership in the Alafia Kids 4-H club and its leader Tami Newsome. Ellie’s swine “Ten” brought her nearly $5,500 during the post competition auction. “That money will go into my college fund,” she said. Ellie wants to be a paleontologist. That’s the scientific study of life of the geologic past that involves the analysis of plant and animal fossils, including those of microscopic size preserved in rock. Congratulations Ellie and best of luck going forward! The Festival Youth Plant Grand Champion was Grace Merrell, an 8th grader at Barrington Middle School, who won with her weeping podocarpus entry. The daughter of Fred and Stephanie, Grace “followed in my dad’s footsteps” as she developed her plant skills. Grace also received a good deal of guidance from her mother and grandparents, Fred and Joann. Grace’s sister, Lacey, also supports her activities and she, too, shows plants as well as pigs. Her family operates G & L Farms where they raise small animals and vegetables they sell locally. Grace was a 4-H club member for five years and has belonged to FFA at Barrington Middle School for three years, crediting Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor Greg WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Grace Merrell Lehman with valuable guidance. She serves as Barrington FFA Chapter Vice President. In addition to her Festival win, Grace was a member of the 2020 State Nursery Team. Her future plans call for continued participation in plant competitions, as well her first pig show and public speaking contests. Durant High School and hopefully the University of Florida are also on the horizon for Grace. She plans to major in agriculture in college. 2021 Festival Steer Grand Champion is Jackie Marvin, daughter of Ned and Casey and sister of 10-year-old Jenna. “I started showing Swine at the Strawberry Festival in 2018 and decided I wanted to raise a steer to show,” she said. “I had always heard that cold is great for steers, so I asked my parents to install A/C in our barn. This has made a huge difference in my steer’s hair and fat content.” Jackie has received inspiration and guidance from her middle school Ag teacher Mrs. Kallee Smith, “who inspired me to take part in livestock projects,” she said. “I am proud of what I have accomplished and believe the time and dedication I put into my steer project really paid off. I never would have thought I would win Grand Champion. A month prior to weigh-in, Asher got bitten by a snake on his neck and I had to give him medicine and clean the wound twice a day. But, I overcame all of that and won.”
Congratulations to all of the 2021 Florida Strawberry Festival Youth competitors, thanks for your hard work and good luck with your future plans!
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In addition to her livestock efforts, Jackie owns an online business, Sweet Maple Molasses Boutique, she started in 2020. She sells apparel through that site. “I am working on growing my business to become more successful and possibly get a store front,” she said. “I do plan on attending college and would one day like to own several businesses.”
DISTRICT PROCLAIMS
APRIL “SPRINGS PROTECTION AWARENESS MONTH”
By Jim Frankowiak
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board has declared April Springs Protection Awareness Month. The Governing Board has also emphasized that springs are vital to the environment, economy, citizens and visitors of the state.
There are more than 150 documented springs throughout the 16-county District, with five first-magnitude spring groups that collectively discharge more than 1 billion gallons of water per day.
The District, in partnership with various stakeholders, is committed to implementing studies, projects and programs to conserve and improve the ecological balance of these spring systems, supporting regional economies and quality of life. The District has been a lead technical agency in springs’ protection and improvement for more than a decade and has taken a comprehensive approach to protect the region’s springs, which includes water conservation, restoration, planning, communication and education, monitoring, research and development, regulation and land acquisition and management.
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You can find more information about springs on our website at WaterMatters.org/Springs.
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All Breeds Grand Champion Heifer – Mariah Austin Reserve Champion Heifer – Cae Watson All Breeds Grand Champion Bull – Kaylee Mixon Reserve Champion Bull – Carlie Shenefield Grand Champion Bred and Owned Heifer – MorganMcCullough Reserve Champion Bred and Owned Heifer – Tucker Conrad Grand Champion Bred and Owned Bull – Carlie Shenefield Reserve Champion Bred and Owned Bull – Kyleigh Criswell Grand Champion Angus Heifer – Case Watson Reserve Champion Angus Heifer – Jayce Ware Grand Champion Brangus Heifer – Payge Dupre Reserve Champion Brangus Heifer – Bryanna Mixon Grand Champion Brangus Bull – Kaylee Mixon Reserve Champion Brangus Bull – Paige Blankenship Grand Champion Simmental Heifer – Carter Howell Reserve Champion Simmental Heifer – Bell aBallard Grand Champion Ultrablack Heifer – Caden Wingfield Reserve Champion Ultrablack Heifer – Madilyn Nichols Grand Champion Ultraback Bull – Colton Blankenship Grand Champion Other Breeds Heifer – Maddox Sewell Reserve Champion Other
Grand Champion Other Breed Bull - Carlie Shenefield Reserve Champion Other Breeds Bull – Colton Taylor Grand Champion Commercial English Heifer – Mariah Austin Reserve Champion Commercial English Heifer – Avery Fales Grand Champion Commercial Brahman Heifer – Raelan Sherouse Reserve Champion Commercial Brahman Heifer – Bayleigh Finney Junior Herdsman 1st – Kyleigh Criswell 1st – Kaylee Mixon 2nd – Mason Goff 3rd – Madilyn Nichols
Youth Plant Show, sponsored by Choo Choo Lawn Equipment Swindle Family Pavilion
Division 1 Champion – Elizabeth Sutton Reserve – Wyatt Drawdy
Grand Champion – Grace Merrell Reserve Champion – Carson Buttram
Division 2 Champion – Jace Stines Reserve – Jaylie Wyatt Division 3 Champion – Jackie Marvin Reserve – Emma Leiss Showmanship Junior 1st – Jaylie Wyatt 2nd – Shalee Conrad 3rd – Emma Leiss Intermediate 1st – Riley Guy 2nd – Austin Holcomb 3rd – Eliana Holt Senior 1st – Mariah Austin 2nd – Alivia RIvera 3rd – Erin Morrissey
Woody Ornamentals – Evan Scott Foliage Plants – Owen Baylor Hanging Baskets – Carly Steward Liners – Caden Palmer Miscellaneous Plants – Alli Taylor Size category No. 1. – Logan Smith No. 3 – Ciera Diaz No. 7 – Lexi Ford Awards of Distinction Avery Palmer Cooper Davis Payten Christie
Senior Herdsman 1st Dustin Mixon Bill McClelland Scholarship, sponsored by the Florida Strawberry Festival Carter Howell Greenhand Award Morgan McCullough Jim Thompson Senior Award Reanna Brown Beef Breed Showmanship Senior 1st – Payge Dupre 2nd – Mariah Austin 3rd – Case Watson Intermediate 1st – Shalee Conrad 2nd – Raelan Sherouse 3rd – Lillie Myers Junior 1st – Ansley Bryant 2nd – Avery Fales 3rd – Julia Jones Steer Show INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Breeds Heifer – Tucker Conrad
Grand Champion – Jacki Marvin Reserve Champion – Jace Stines
Vaccination Liberation by John Dicks It would be nice to think that this is the last article I will be writing about the Coronavirus pandemic.
me to dream that we are, indeed, getting closer to mastering the misery brought on by the pandemic.
How wonderful would it be if COVID-19 would simply just disappear and be gone for good?!
People are really ready to party. There’s no doubt about that. Even ones who have not had shots are gearing up to get going!
While I do default to positive thinking on life, I’m also relatively realistic and know that wishful thinking doesn’t necessarily make dreams come true. Nonetheless, I do get the feeling that we are turning a corner, so to speak, or at least soon will be approaching a life generally referred to as “back to normal.” I got an initial whiff of good things to come with my first of the two vaccination shots. Granted that I am not one who particularly likes being jabbed with a needle, nor frankly does anyone else that I know, yet I found it was an almost awkward feeling to be actually looking forward to the experience.
There’s a huge pent-up demand for a return to gatherings of family and friends. Already we’ve seen throngs of people in near record numbers racing to our parks and beaches, anxious to renew the good times that have sorely been missed. People who have been fully vaccinated are relishing the reduction in restrictions on travel. Places that previously have been off limits to visitors are now meekly putting back out the welcome mat. Such is just one more good reason for inoculation!
In fact, many of us spent hours, days really, on the computer and phone, working through the system just to get a reservation to endure the prickly piece of steel being gleefully stabbed into our arms.
As summer draws nearer we are certain to see lots of activity. Of course all of that mingling of people, both vaccinated and not, is what’s got the health experts worried about possible spikes, as well as new strains of the coronavirus.
When the appointment day and hour finally arrived, the whole process was quite mundane. It felt exactly like a flu shot. No better, nor any worse. Yes, my arm was sore for a day; and the second shot hurt a bit more.
So, let us not throw caution to the wind.
What I wasn’t expecting, though, and am still somewhat surprised at, was the onset of a strange sensation of liberation. Almost at the instant the needle pricked my skin, I seemed to feel “ten feet tall and bullet proof!” It was downright euphoric! Admittedly, the unexpected feeling of freedom, while not fleeting, was more of a sigh of relief than it was a manifesto of discarding my mask. I still wear one, and appropriately engage in social distancing, too. The inoculation, though, particularly with the second shot, brought about a deliverance of sorts that has caused
Masks will, unfortunately or not, still be on the front line of defense. It’s not so much that masks protect the wearer as it is that they prevent the virus, at least to some measure, from being spread by the person wearing the mask. That’s why it’s good to see people still wearing them. Whatever ailment they might have, you’ve got a better chance of not catching it when there’s a mask sitting between you and them, helping to stop it from it spreading your way. The good news is that now, after all of the fits and starts of the vaccination roll-out, all adults in Florida (and several other states) are now eligible for the inoculation. If you have not yet done so, go do it. It’s generally free, simple, quick, potentially lifesaving, and for some, like me, downright euphoric and liberating!
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John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!”. John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.
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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
A LITTLE JOY AND A LOT OF HOPE:
By Ginny Mink
Having only recently returned home from an unexpectedly extended trip to the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, one finds it hard to erase the images of those first spring daffodils. What wondrous yellow flowers that seem to nod and smile at passersby, doling bits of sunshine and happiness at each sighting.
Linum Carteri
Which of course makes one consider the flowers present here in our own state. And, since that’s something we write about, it made sense to look for an endangered bright yellow flower, which landed us on the Linum carteri or Carter’s small-flowered flax. Carter’s small-flowered flax is an annual and it is considered an herb. As such, it produces small bright yellow flowers that will unfortunately shed their petals very shortly after they bloom.¹ If you have wondered why the sunshine makes you feel happy, note the color to describe it and then look at these little streams of golden joy! Still dreaming of daffodils, research reveals, “As daffodils are not native to Tennessee, the original bulbs would have been lovingly planted by someone many years ago…Archaeologists watch for patches like this as daffodils often outline foundations of structures long since lost…”² So, while the love of the daffodils that inspired this story is intriguing, they are unlike the Linum carteri, because these precious flowers are endemic to South Florida.³ According to NatureServe Explorer, this is, “A Florida endemic species with two endemic varieties.”³ There are Linum carteri carteri and Linum carteri smallii. However, both of them are acutely threatened by habitat loss thanks to fire suppression, land development, and the degradation of the remaining fragments of habitat they have left.³ And, believe it or not, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service ECOS’ system, there are “No Current Recovery Plans available for this species.”⁴ Thankfully, in June of 2019 there was an initiation of the 5-year status review, but that is now nearly two years ago.⁴ What’s to become of these precious and native flowers? Where do they even grow? Well, they are native to MiamiDade County and are generally found in the pine rockland habitats that are still available. These areas are composed of limestone that has been exposed and is supporting the saw palmettos and hardwood hammocks. Thankfully, the Carter’s small-flowered flax will gladly inhabit all of the pine rockland available in Miami-Dade.¹ While that sounds incredibly hopeful, the truth is, there are only 19 occurrences believed to be in existence. There are eight locations that are home to the L. carteri carteri variety and 11 that are residences for the L. carteri smallii one. Most of these groupings are small and it is estimated that there are probably less than 5,000 total plants alive today!³
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In truth, the more you read about the potential outcome for this flower the more depressing it gets. In fact, NatureServe Explorer writes, “Few, if any, occurrences likely have any good viability. Many are small and threatened by factors difficult to mitigate even on conservation lands…Approximately nine of the occurrences are on some type of conservation land, but current management methods on these lands are unknown.”³ So, even though we know they are endangered and that they
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are living on some areas of conservation, we have no clue if anyone is even paying attention to them! Somewhere between 1975 and 1980 the Linum carteri became a plant of concern and thereby ended up an endangered one. So, what have we done in the last 40+ years to ensure that it doesn’t become an extinct one? If we’re honest, and the last filing attempt is accurate, we haven’t done much. And, in truth, we probably haven’t done much about any of the animals and other species we have written about here. So, what’s the point? Man, that’s such a good question, isn’t it? What’s the point about writing about endangered species when most people aren’t going to do a single thing about it besides go, “Aww, what a pretty flower.” Hope is the point. Hope is always the point in every single thing we do. We hope that an outcome will rectify any and all bad in our lives and the world. So, what’s the point about telling you about an endemic flower found in South Florida, where you don’t even live? It’s the hope that you will pay attention to the beauty of the world around you and appreciate its creatures and creations as much as their Creator intended you to. And that means, maybe, just maybe, doing something to protect those beautiful things, because we all need a little joy and a lot of hope! Resources: ¹Center for Biological Diversity. Natural History. Carter’s SmallFlowered Flax} Linum carteri carteri. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/plants/Carters_small-flowered_flax/ natural_history.html ²Conover, R. (2018). Point of View. The Tennessee Magazine. https://www.tnmagazine.org/point-of-view ³NatureServe Explorer. Linum carteri Carter’s Flax. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.142228/ Linum_carteri ⁴U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ECOS. Carter’s small-flowered flax (Linum carteri carteri). https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/7208 Photo taken from Center for Biological Diversity where credit is given to USFWS and Roger L. Hammer. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Keep Your Eyes Out for Ground-Dwelling Owls
Photos ©John Ficken Tampa Audubon is asking farmers and ranchers to report any sightings of Burrowing Owls to (813) 503-7317 (call or text), or email owls@tampaaudubon.org. Tampa Audubon is doing everything it can to ensure the survival and breeding success of these rare owls. This Burrowing Owl was recently found at the edge of a strawberry field in Hillsborough County.
By: Sandy Townsend Have you seen owls that live on the ground instead of trees? If so, Tampa Audubon Society wants to know. Farms and pastures often provide prime habitat for Burrowing Owls, a rare species designated as threatened by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Unlike most owls, Burrowing Owls live in burrows in the ground. The small owls have long legs and short tails and spend most of their time on the ground or on low perches, such as fenceposts. They live in open habitats with few trees and low vegetation. They may live in a cow pasture or even along the edges of a strawberry field. The owls are not harmful to crops and farm animals and mainly eat invertebrates, such as insects, and small vertebrates, including lizards, birds, and small mammals. Tampa Audubon wants to help protect Burrowing Owls through Project Perch, a program designed to protect the county’s existing population. “In the 1980s, Hillsborough County recorded more burrowing owls than any other county in the nation during its Christmas Bird Count,” said Valrico resident Sandy Reed, who chairs Project Perch. “We found none during the last several Christmas Bird Counts, but to our joy and surprise, we found one recently in Southern Hillsborough County.
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“It’s tragic that our burrowing owl population has nearly disappeared,” Reed says. “We have a feeling that Burrowing Owls are in the county on ranchland and farmland, but we’re not
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aware of them because those areas are not accessible to the public. “That’s why we’re reaching out to farmers,” she says. “We’d like to partner with them to help this rare bird survive. “There are multiple ways we can work with farmers to ensure their cattle and crops aren’t compromised while still protecting the owls.” Project Perch was initially developed by the South Florida Audubon Society to protect owls with artificial burrows. “Artificial burrows have been used successfully in South Florida to reinforce existing colonies for 20 years,” said Chris Reiss, a volunteer with Project Perch. Reiss, who was active in South Florida’s Audubon’s Project Perch, recently moved to Hillsborough County and is working closely with the program here. “We hope to repeat their success in this county,” Reed said. “We need to make room for wildlife.” The decrease is attributed to many factors, primarily the continued loss of habitat due to development. “Even though much of their habitat is lost, there are still plenty of things we can do to protect Burrowing Owls and all birds,” Reed said. “We are thankful that farmers have the land to help owls and other birds survive.” If you see a burrowing owl, please call/text (813) 503-7317, or email owls@tampaaudubon.org. Leave your name, date and location of the owl. GPS locations are appreciated. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Excellent opportunity for up to 27,000 SF of commercial and office development. Water and Sewer on site, off-site retention, and rough graded. This 2.64+/- acre parcel is in the heart of the exploding Riverview growth with 542+/- feet of road frontage on Summerfield Crossings Blvd! Phenomenal location with accessibility from Hwy 301 and Big Bend Road. Close proximity to thousands of new residential units, the St. Joseph Hospital, and multiple medical and commercial development projects.
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Information provided on properties is as accurate as possible. Fischbach Land Company does not guarantee the accuracy thereof. All parties shall conduct their own due diligence, research, inspection, and records to come to their own conclusions.
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By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Perhaps you are a little like we are, and you have just returned from spring break. What a glorious time of year when things seem to miraculously come back to life, where flowers bloom, and birds fill their nests with their future families. It is spring time and time to take another voyage on the Literary Time Machine. Join us as we cruise down memory lane while adding new knowledge to our own gardening repertoires. Holding this book in hand, seeing from whence we have begun and through what we have traveled, it becomes apparent that this is our next to last voyage with Mr. Charles TorreySimpson. He closes out his chapter entitled Exotic Ferns and Fern Allies by writing, “Tree ferns of a number of species have been introduced into South Florida…Mr. John Soar and the writer have introduced some of them from Cuba but as far as I know they do not succeed very well here. Occasionally I see one or two among plant collections in Lower Florida but they do not look happy.” He specifically mentions four different tree ferns that were introduced here, some of which he and Mr. Soar did themselves by route of Cuba. So, we thought it might be interesting to learn a little about the ferns that were brought over here and if they are still here, successful, invasive, whatever the story might be? So, the first one he mentions is the Alsophila australis. Better known as the Australian tree fern, UF|IFAS says it’s also known as the lacy tree fern because it has very delicate fronds. They say it’s a giant fern whose trunk can reach heights of 30 feet. But, most importantly, they reveal that it’s “Great for shaded gardens in South and Central Florida…(where) these ferns are evergreen.”² This sounds like a good addition to our native flora and fauna. Which brings us to Cibotium schiedei, where one of our favorite gardening websites, Dave’s Garden, explained that, “Cibotium shiedei, or the Mexican tree Fern, is really more of a shrubby plant rather than a true tree fern, suckering and spreading in nature. But it is a very soft and user-friendly plant that tolerates even inland climates in protected gardens in southern California, as long as kept somewhat moist in hot summers.”³ We imagine that suggests it might still do well here too, if you want to give it a try.
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Blechnum braziliense, is next, which landed us on the Top Tropicals’ site where we learned that, “This is one of the better known and more common species of Blechnum in warm-
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Part 79
er climates. It forms a small trunk. On some forms, the new fronds emerge a beautiful pinkish-red, making the fern very attractive.”⁴ Now that we know it’s a good looking fern, the best news is that it can survive in USDA Zone 9 and warmer. That means, it’s more than likely still quite alive and well here! Finally, we arrive at Dicksonia antartica, which Charles Reynolds (2003) wrote about in a Lakeland Ledger article! He writes, “Florida’s summers…are hard on tree ferns…if gardeners are willing to provide some extra care and put up with the intervals when the plants aren’t at their best….This graceful fern does well even in mild areas…”⁵ He does admit that it’s a little hard to find these ferns but that they can grow to fifty feet tall with eight foot long fronds that are three feet in width!⁵ That’s a serious tree fern. It is obvious that Mr. Simpson and Mr. Soar introduced some amazingly huge ferns into our state. And, for the most part, they all seem viable here. But before he closes this chapter, he reveals that “S. wildenovi is an old favorite, growing to a considerable height and having its fronds blue green and bronzy.”¹ Thusly, if you have been in the market for some very unique and ornamental ferns, we think you have been provided with some excellent options; make sure you look that last one up, it’s incredible. Until next month, happy gardening! Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 222-223). ²UF|IFAS Gardening Solutions. Australian Tree Fern. https:// gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/australian-tree-fern.html ³Stein, Geoff (2015). Introduction to Cold Hardy Tree Ferns. Dave’s Garden. https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/ view/450 ⁴Top Tropicals. Blechnum Brasiliense. Red Dwarf Tree Fern, Red Brazilian Tree Fern. https://toptropicals.com/catalog/ uid/Blechnum_brasiliense.htm ⁵Reynolds, Charles (2003). Ferns Worth Extra Care. The Ledger. https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20030801/ News/608110006/LL Photo Credits: Slater, Amanda (2008). Dicksonia Antartica. Flickr. https://flic. kr/p/5dTXaS Dave Pape (2008). Cibotium_schiedei. Flickr. https://flic.kr/ p/55vuTx WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Fun Facts About
T matoes By Kimberly Bragg-Armatrout, NDTR Family and Consumer Sciences Agent UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
Tomatoes are native to America and have made their way around the world. It was discovered by the Aztecs, which named it xitomatl. They then shared it with Spain's conquistadors, who carried this fruit back with them and renamed it Tomate. It then made its way around Europe to find it grew well in the Mediterranean's temperatures. So many countries adopted this fruit as a staple that it made its' way in many food dishes like Spanish gazpachos, French salads, and Italian sauces. It is even used in some Indian curries and other Asian dishes. So, now that we know where this fruit came from and the many versatile uses. Why is it a fruit when so many of us think of it as a vegetable? Well, botanically, the tomato is a fruit because it forms from a flower and contains seeds. However, based on the culinary definition, it is classified as a vegetable because it is used in savory dishes, and in 1893 the Supreme Court classified tomatoes as vegetables based on the culinary definition. Florida is number one in tomato production in 2018 and produces about $344 million worth of tomatoes on about 27,000 acres of land. This tributes to
137,790 full-time and part-time jobs in Florida, according to a fact sheet written by the University of Florida/IFAS. Because of Florida's warmer weather, we can grow tomatoes eight months out of the year. Florida ships more than 1.1 billion pounds of fresh tomatoes to the US, Canada, and abroad, and it takes about 33,000 workers to handpick the fruit. With these fun facts you now know the origin of tomatoes, why they are a fruit or vegetable, and how tomatoes effects Florida’s agriculture. https://www.floridatomatoes.org/tomato-101/ https://ifas.ufl.edu/media/ifasufledu/ifas-dark-blue/docs/ pdf/impact/FloridaAgFactsFactsheet.2020.Prt.pdf
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Naturally Amazing Activities
By Sean Green
Dye Naturally
I hope you will pardon my play on words; I was just having fun and this month our activity is more about fun than expertise. I am still learning how to craft things with resources that can be found in nature. This month I am sharing an experiment in making natural dye. I used pine pollen that had fallen to the ground and probably could have added in pine cones for a potentially darker dye, but wanted a pure experiment. From what I have read, there are many roots and bark that can make a good dye. I did not want to harvest anything that was living, nor did I want to encourage our readers to do so, therefore I’m suggesting you experiment with what you can find on the ground.
Supplies: A Pot Natural plant material (pine pollen, pine cones, pine needles) Water Vinegar Alum cheesecloth Fabric (100% Cotton or Wool)
Gather stuff from the ground Place stuff in a pot Cover stuff with water. Simmer stuff to make a dark tea (12 -24 hrs) Strain solids out through cheesecloth Place fabric into the dye simmer for 1 hr Turn off heat, let fabric cool in the dye The longer the fabric stays in the dye the darker it will get. I kept mine in for 2 days and continued to get darker but not as dark as I would have liked. I might try pine cones next hoping for a darker color. I did not use a cast iron pot; I may try that next to see if the iron will darken the dye.
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Prep the fabric in mordant Add fabric to a clean pot Mix 1 part Vinegar to 4-part water covering fabric *Add Alum to brighten color *Add Iron to darken color (using a cast iron pot) Bring to a light boil, then simmer for an hour stirring frequently. Wring fabric (do not rinse)
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ANaturally Closer Look Amazing
by Sean Green
Thistles (Cirsium spp)
I often lead interpretive hikes to share my Passion for insects with others. When I see thistles on a hiking trip, I get excited because that is the one place that I can guarantee there will be an assortment of insects.Thistles are packed with more nectar than most other plants and consequently are a popular stop for pollinating insects such as butterflies, bees, flies, and beetles. Thistles are one of the first springtime plants to flower and among the first plants to grow after a natural or prescribed wilderness fire. This adaptation gives thistles an upper hand when competing for habitat real estate. This efficiency can be a sad thing when the thistles are invasive, and many are. We do, however, have some native species of thistle that are cherished for their natural history in Florida, and I hope you’ll take a closer look with me to understand how to distinguish the native species from the invasive. Many of us recognize thistles on site. They are tall enough to be seen from a distance, and flowers can be white, yellow, red purple, and orange. Despite their beauty, they have a reputation of being a real pain in many ways. They can usually be found in open sunny areas such as a pasture or a prairie and even on the side of roads. Livestock cannot eat these weeds and they are not usually a welcome site for livestock farmers. They have horrible spikes that will certainly hurt if you step on them or try to remove them from the ground with bare hands. Thistles are a member of the Aster family (Asteraceae), commonly known as sunflowers. This family is one of the most diverse group of flowering plants consisting of over 24,000 species. The Aster family includes many genera that are commonly called “Thistle,” however (Cirsium spp.) is the only genera of the “true thistles.” True thistles are distinguished from other groups by sharing specific characteristics that make them a truly remarkable plant. In fact, botanist regard this family as an example of a flower that has reached its highest state of evolution. Considering the characteristics of a thistle, one could think of thistles as the Swiss army knife of flowers because these flowers have been outfitted with more tools in the same space than any other. It is no surprise this species is a premium choice for pollinators and a notable example of survival of the fittest. True thistles have composite flower heads of only disk florets while other groups in the Aster family have disk florets in the center of the flower that are surrounded with ray flowers for outer petals. The composite flower is pollinated more efficiently than other flowers. A visit from one insect can pollinate several of the individual flowers that make up the floret. Each flower in the floret can produce a seed that is cleverly equipped with a fluffy parachute that resembles down feathers and carries the seed in the wind for dispersal. In addition to these excellent features, the true thistle is generous in its bounty to pollinators. Some studies have demonstrated that the nectar of thistles have a higher concentration of sugar than other flowers; furthermore, the pollen, has higher con-
Human populations share a history with wildlife in benefiting from thistles. The thistle is the national flower of Scotland and has been the national heraldic emblem since the reign of King Alexander III (1249 – 1286). Legend has it that in the Battle of Largs (1263), the invading Norse failed in an attempt to sneak up on the Scottish army’s encampment when barefoot Norse soldiers suffered the tragedy of stepping on thistle and blowing their cover by crying out in pain. In the United States, Native American populations understood the benefits of thistle. Both the Houma tribe in Louisiana and our own Florida Seminole tribe brewed an infusion of thistle leaves and roots in whiskey to use as an astringent and breath in the steam to relieve a stuffy nose or clear phlegm from the lungs or throat. They may have sipped the whiskey as well; my sources did not confirm my suspicions. The blowgun darts of own Florida Seminole tribe were made from the native Horrid Thistle (C. horridulum). The young shoots of the thistle and parts of the flower can be boiled and eaten. The older stalks are too tough to eat, but could be used to produce fiber for weaving basketry and clothing. Thistle, like many wild edibles, have an assortment of medicinal properties that will not likely see FDA approval, but retain historic value and ancient wisdom, nonetheless. Thistle seeds can be used to produce lamp oil and the fluff that comes from the seed makes great fire tinder. There are both native and nonnative thistles in Florida, some of which are difficult to distinguish from each other. Horrid Thistle (C. horridulum) and the invasive Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) for example are both commonly called “Bull Thistle” and look almost exactly alike. Many journals confirm there are no reliable physical characteristics to distinguish native from nonnative, however, as a general observation, native species tend to be less spiny than their introduced counterparts and native species tend to have a thicker mat of white pubescence (hair like structures) on the underside of the leaf than nonnatives such as Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare). I do not encourage the harvesting of native species. If you want to harvest, please research, take a closer look, and be absolutely sure of the species before harvesting. If you want to just enjoy the show, take a camera, and see how many insect species you can find. I can literally spend an entire day in a field of thistles and not get bored. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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centrations of proteins, minerals, and vitamins. You will not have to stick around in a field of thistles long to see that they attract more fascinating insects than though possible in one stop. It is not just primary pollinators you will see; insect predators such as assassin bugs, spiders, and mantis seem to know that finding thistles is a buffet of meal choices for a predatory insect. Birds join the party as well not only eating the insects, but also the seeds, which are said to have higher protein levels than other plants. The plant itself provides great nesting material for birds with soft seed fluff for the inside of the nest and thorny leaves and stems to arm the outside of the nest from predators.
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Where Plant City's seniors come together as neighbors.
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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD By J. Scott Angle
Eileen Hart has been traveling Hillsborough County for 40 years trying to put more flora in this part of Florida. Camellias in Lutz. Ferns in Valrico. Native plants in Ruskin. She talks in Tampa, Seffner, Riverview, Odessa.
Not all of them do it two or three times a month over the course of eight U.S. presidencies. Nor do they all branch out beyond a single activity to support an entire Extension office’s operation. Hart, for example, also serves on the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County Advisory Board and on the county’s 4-H Foundation board.
Hart has been teaching classes as a Master Gardener Volunteer as long as there has been such a thing in Florida. She sees her volunteer work as propagating flowers and with them We don’t need a 40-year commitment from you, but we do an ethic that she credits Extension with instilling in her: If you need you. Please consider contacting your local office at 813744-5519 or hillsborough@ifas.ufl.edu to learn about volunteer know something, pass it along, teach it. opportunities. Some of the most gratifying moments of her Master Gardener career are when students she has given clippings and instruc- At 78, Hart still returns to that family farm in Georgia to ride tions on how to nurture them return to her with a full-blown horses. And just like cataracts have limited the distance she’ll plant. It’s validation, and it’s an opportunity. She tells them their travel and the darkness she’ll drive in to deliver a talk, she says work isn’t finished, that it’s their responsibility to teach a neigh- her old bones limit how far and how fast she rides. But she has no plans to stop doing either. That family farm still has family, bor. namely a 103-year-old matriarch. Hart still calls it “Cooperative Extension,” just as she did as a 4-Her in rural 1950s Georgia. Back then, it was still an agrar- Hart volunteered while raising kids and working full-time in the ian America where neighbor helped neighbor. You shared the medical field. In fact, she fit that inaugural 1979 Master Gardenwork, and you shared what you knew, like when she stood be- er training class into her schedule by working all night, going fore a panel of 4-H judges and told them how she’d made the directly from work to the Extension office for an 8 a.m. start to class, and returning home for a few hours’ sleep before starting dress she was wearing out of two chicken feed sacks. her next shift. Why, she says, 14 years into retirement and with The Greatest Generation 4-H volunteers of her childhood her kids long since grown, would she stop? taught her another lesson that informs her own volunteerism to this day, that you learn by doing. Hart arrives for each talk Hart estimates that she volunteers approximately 100 per year, not only with a head full of knowledge but a trunk full of clip- and only keeps a tally because it’s a condition for maintaining pings. Each student goes home with a piece that can become her Master Gardener certification. She has no idea how many plants in Hillsborough County and beyond trace their provea plant. nance to her two acres in Odessa. But she hopes each carries She can do this because she grows and clips herself on her in its bloom the cultivation of the agrarian spirit of neighbor two acres in Odessa. Over decades of collecting, she’s curated helping neighbor. thousands of decorative plants she can cull from to turn her talks into hands-on demonstrations. When Hart speaks at a Hart isn’t trying to reclaim paved library or a garden club or a camellia society, dirt gets under Hillsborough for farming. But she does want to revive its agrarian spirfingernails. it. If your neighbor needs help, you During National Volunteer Month, the University of Florida’s In- give it. Share what you know. Grow stitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, which runs the state- something. And support your landwide Master Gardener Volunteer program, salutes volunteers grant university because it supports like Hart. The success of Master Gardener, 4-H and other pro- your community. grams depends on volunteers.
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This column is a public thank you to Hart and other volunteers who make Hillsborough and Polk counties better places to live, learn and labor.
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Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Sustainable Living in the City By Libby Hopkins
Luis and Dianolys Denizard have farming in their blood. They both grew up on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico where farming was a part of their daily life. “Our farming background goes back to where we came from, Puerto Rico,” Dianolys said. “We are from an island where farming and agriculture was to some extent part of the day to day living for many. I remember when I was a little girl, staying with my grandparents and great-grandparents and having to help around their country home while learning from them. I remember helping to plant seeds, harvest fruits, collect chicken eggs and care for their farm animals.”
The sheep were first created in the 1930s. It quickly rose to popularity, with an official Dorper Sheep Breeders Society founded in 1950. The terminology is fun and unique. It is simply a combination of the names of the two parent breeds, “Dor”set and “Per”sian. They are a fast-growing sheep, that is easy to care for and has a very light mixed coat of hair and wool that it sheds early in the summer. (www.morningchores. com/dorper-sheep). “We currently have a small heard of Dorper sheep,” Dianolys said. “They are stocky and short haired. Their meat is known to be one of the most marbled and tasty. This breed is known
Luis Denizard spent a lot of time with his father in the countryside of the island. “His parents had, at one point or another, horses, goats, dogs, guinea pigs, fish and chickens,” Dianolys said. “They also grew and harvested avocadoes, bread fruit, and several types of mangoes, Barbados cherry, various herbs, bananas, plantains, yams, veggies, as well as ornamental plants. That was part of his upbringing growing up in the island.” The couple are the owners of Island Spirit Farm in Tampa. “We have been working this property for the last two years, but just recently started the business,” Dianolys said. “We are a small farm and we are specializing mostly in sheep and dog breeding. We are also exploring the possibility of selling eggs and certain crops in the future.”
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Island Spirit Farm specializes in raising Dorper Sheep. Dorper sheep are South African-bred and were first developed as a combination of the Blackhead Persian and the Dorset Horn. Unlike many other breeds of sheep, which were developed by farmers and shepherds to create a breed more suitable for their individual purposes, the Dorper was created as an effort of the South African Department of Agriculture to create a breed of meat sheep that would be more tolerable of the area’s dry climate.
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to be pretty easy to handle, with a tame personality. We also breed Bouvier des Flandres, which are a herding dog breed from Belgium. They are very family oriented, very loving and smart. We decided to get this breed because they are rare and unique breed listed as hypoallergenic at the AKC. Our kids wanted dogs and due to allergies, this is a breed that seems to work out with our family. They are like big, plush toys and you don’t see many Bouviers around this area, so we saw the opportunity to bring this breed down to the Tampa Bay area.”
labor. Working the land is hard work but it is very rewarding. The sheep are fun to have, they are very easy to handle and they keep the grass short, so they are great helpers around here.”
Island Spirit was born from the couple’s dream to have sustainable living in the city. “We both grew up having access to farm animals, fresh fruits picked from the trees and seeing the benefit of those efforts was always very rewarding,” Dianolys said. “That connection with the earth was special, so we wanted our kids to have that same experience, to work, love and appreciate this type of living. The idea evolved into growing into a business where we could share some of that passion for the natural and fresh with our friends and neighbors in the Tampa Bay community. We decided to sell our house and look for a place to start this journey.” “What we like most about a farm is the peace you feel working outside and seeing your animals and nature in harmony,” Dianolys said. “It is truly a blessing and a dream come true that we have this little piece of heaven and give the opportunity to others to have this experience and see the fruit of our If you would like to learn more about Island Spirit Farm, you can visit their Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/Island-Spirit-Farm-LLC or call (813) 545-5717.
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Clothing Our Future FFA By Libby Hopkins
The National FFA Organization is a youth organization of more than 700,000 student members as part of 8,600 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, FFA members, alumni and supporters across the country continue to do what they do best serve and help others in their communities. Dee Dee Davison-Wheeler is the owner of a photography business in the area called Berry Sweet Memories by Dee Dee. She is also a proud supporter of the FFA. “I am the mom of two agriculture teachers and FFA advisors who began their journey, like their father, in agriculture classes at the middle school level,” Dee Dee said. “Those two kids have blessed me with five amazing grandchildren who take up my time along with my photography business. I was personally never an FFA member but was involved in 4-H as a youngster. My daughter, Melissa Sampson, is currently teaching science and agriculture at Turkey Middle School and my son, Brett Wheeler, teaches at Hardee High School in Wauchula.” Dee Dee recently started the FFA Official Dress Closet of Hillsborough County. As many families are trying to get back on their feet from the recent pandemic, having clothes for FFA events can be a difficult challenge for some families. Dee Dee wanted to help students have nice dress clothes for FFA events. “Being a photographer at local livestock shows, I have seen and heard a need for official dress at these events,” Dee Dee said. “I also have attended FFA contests and have witnessed not all students have the proper dress as required by FFA. If they don’t have on proper attire points are deducted from their scores. This closet will be utilized by any FFA member as the need arises that attends school in Hillsborough County. If I were to get a call from another county, we surely would not turn down those needs if we have it.”
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Dee Dee is currently maintaining the closet at her home. “At this time the closet will be housed at my home,” Dee Dee said. “Students, parents or advisors can reach out to me and we will provide the needs if we have them.”
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Some of the needed donated items in high demand for ladies are white, button-down dress shirts, black skirts, black dress pants, black nylons and black dress shoes. For men the items needed are white button-down shirts, black jeans, black dress pants, black dress socks and black dress shoes. “We also need FFA scarves for the ladies and FFA ties for the men,” Dee Dee said. “We can also use brown boots for outdoor events. I also recently got a sponsor to give us 10 dress jackets, which was wonderful!” Dee Dee hopes that the community will come together to help FFA students in need. “I hope and pray this closet outgrows my home,” Dee Dee said. “I hope that no FFA student goes to a contest not in proper attire or a student decides they cannot participate because they don’t have the proper attire. Giving back to an organization that gave so much to my kids and is still giving because they are agriculture teachers is something that led my heart to do this for FFA students.” Dee Dee is also taking monetary donations to purchase clothing and other items as well. “I have witnessed students who had no official dress items and those were purchased by their agriculture teachers time and time again,” Dee Dee said. “I have seen students who exhibit animals and are provided with official dress but they don’t have the appropriate clothing or barn clothes to be at the show for two or three days. So, we are also taking a few donations of good, clean, used and new items that can be worn in the barn but aren’t official dress. Blue jeans and button up shirts are items we will accept for barn clothes.” If you would like to learn more about the FFA Official Dress Closet of Hillsborough County or if you’d like to make a donation to the clothes closet, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ groups/891588554955784 or email Dee Dee at Berrysweetmemories@aol.com. If you are in need of dress clothes for an FFA event, you can reach Dee Dee at 813-967-1865.
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WE BUY FARMS Gladstone Land is actively acquiring farms in Florida. We offer owners and farmers three options: 1. We buy farms and provide long-term leases to the farmer.
2. We buy land that farmers would like to farm, but not own.
3. We buy farms with leases in place or can be leased.
Please contact Bill Frisbie at Gladstone Land: (703) 287-5839 bill.f@gladstoneland.com | www.GladstoneFarms.com
With every generation,
we get better at protecting our environment. Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.
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®
Mulching to a Healthier Growing Ecosystem By Stephanie Koeser
WHAT IS MULCH? Mulch is organic or inorganic materials, such as: wood mulch, leaves, and pine straw or needles to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, prevent erosion, and insulate soils. BENEFITS OF MULCH: Most mulches are organic, which means they will eventually turn into compost as the mulch slowly decomposes. In Florida, mulches need to be refreshed every 6 to 12 months depending on your ecosystem. Some systems require greater material depths to continue feeding the poor soils. Most local soils are sandy and, therefore, offer very little nutrients or water-holding capacity. MULCH TYPES: SHREDDED TREE TRIMMINGS – Shredded tree trimmings are easy to find and often very economical. It’s a mulch that may be a mix of chipped wood and green leaves. If not allowed to sit, these mulches may have a higher nitrogen content and are best suited for pathways or mulching around shrubs and trees. If time is on your side, you can use these mulches to add organic matter to a farm field or garden. I recommend 6 to 9 months between working the mulch into the soil and planting delicate annuals and vegetables. SHREDDED WOOD – This mulch is used within the residential and commercial landscape – many times as more of a decorative additive opposed to a soil amendment. It can be pine, hardwood, cypress, etc. These mulches come in various colors (i.e., red, gold, brown, black). Because these mulches are high in carbon, they take longer to break down in the soil. PINE BARK – Pine bark is a biproduct from lumber yards, but creates a great addition to soil mixtures – especially potting soils. This is due to its high acidity. Most plants thrive in a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Most Florida soil are naturally alkaline and benefit from a soil amendment that helps foster a lower pH. Pine bark can also be used solely as a mulch. It makes a pretty landscape and enriches the soil to a more desired pH.
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PINE NEEDLES – Pine straw is a long-lasting mulch that has a wax coating causing it to be more resistant to decomposi-
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tion. Once decomposed, pine needles can also help lower a soil’s pH. Please note that if laid too thickly, this mulch can be water resistant. HAY OR STRAW – Hay and straw create a weed barrier and also a helps insulate the soil again the Florida heat. Other mulches – There are other options such as rubber mulch. This is a functional option for playground settings. Rocks and shells can also be used as a mulch. This mulch should be used with proper preparation of a weed barrier. THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN MULCHING: Mulching around trees should be done with care. Mulching too much or too high can produces hazards, such as: encouraging too much bacteria and fungal activity, which can rot the trunk and cause a weak base; trees and shrubs can grow new roots that are not grounded within the soil causing strain during drought; and water can run away from the tree if mulch is too high and at a steep angle. WHAT IS SHEET MULCHING? Sheet mulching can also be referred to lasagna gardening. It’s a no-dig technique that can help build the soil. This technique uses a variety of materials to help offer a variety of ways to help foster healthy soil eco-systems. These ecosystems are teeming with beneficial fungi, bacteria, protozoan, etc. These living creatures need food and shelter. Compost, biochar, and mulches help build this. No matter which mulch you prefer, you have options to help meet your ecosystem’s needs. SOURCES: Stibolt, Ginny. Sustainable Gardening for Florida. 2009. Stephanie Koeser is an install coordinator with American Mulch & Groundcover serving the greater Tampa, Orlando and Sarasota areas. Stephanie specializes in native and organic ecosystems. She is certified in permaculture landscape design and has been growing small-scale edibles since childhood. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WISH FARMS HOSTS RIBBON-CUTTING AT NEW CORPORATE HQ
By Jim Frankowiak photos by Chad Baumer
Wish Farms, the nearly 100-year-old family-owned international berry supplier, recently co-hosted a ribbon-cutting at its new corporate headquarters with the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce. Special guests at the event were Florida Secretary of Agriculture Nicole “Nikki” Fried and Plant City Mayor Rick Lott, along with other elected officials from the city and county. More than 100 attended the ceremony. Located on a 36-acre parcel of land that abuts the south frontage road of Interstate Highway 4 (I-4), two blocks west of Park Road, the property includes a three-acre blueberry farm, 125,000-square foot warehouse and three-story, 24,000-square foot office building, each with innovative features. Among them is a tree house meeting room connected to the office building, an indoor adult slide, workout facility, wellness room for nursing mothers and nature walking paths. “Visibility was a major factor in the selection of the site, as that falls in line with the strategic vision of our brand,” said Wish Farms owner Gary Wishnatzki. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) estimates some 115,000 vehicles pass the site daily on I-4. “We are pleased to be able to remain in Plant City,” said Wishnatzki. “Plant City is home to us.” “We did everything we could to maintain the site’s natural beauty,” said Wish Farms Public Relations Manager Nick Wishnatzki. “All trees harvested from the property were given new life as conference tables, reception desks, stair treads and other items throughout the new facility.” The land was previously a three generation farm owned and operated by the Kuhn family. They had cattle, citrus, pepper and other crops. Proceeds from the sale of the land to Wish Farms in 2018 were placed into the Kuhn Family Charitable Trust that benefits various agriculture education groups such as FFA, 4-H and others. Giving back to the community is a noteworthy hallmark of both the Kuhn and Wishnatzki families. The Wish Farms brand is closely identified by Misty the Garden Pixie and her presence is noteworthy at the new headquarters from the Pixie Way entrance road to her image on the front of the warehouse facing I-4. The company is the only Florida-based, year round marketer of berries, including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and the recent addition of white strawberries.
Mayor Lott expressed his appreciation to Wish Farms “for making Plant City your forever home” through the development of the new headquarters. He also cited the company’s importance to the local economy and its varied community support initiatives. Founded in 1922, Wish Farms has enjoyed continued growth through innovation and commitment of its family members, employees and growers. “We are proud of our achievements, but humble,” said Gary Wishnatzki. The fourth generation of Wishnatzki family members is involved in daily operations as well as many long term employees. Attesting to family and employee importance was the naming of various rooms in the office building of both. Additionally, the site includes outdoor signs depicting past employees. Following the ribbon-cutting, attendees were provided with the opportunity to tour the location and exterior nature paths. The office building was designed by Behar & Peteranecz and built by Barr and Barr, while the warehouse was designed and built by RCS Company of Tampa. The treehouse conference space was built by James “B’fer” Roth from the DIY Network’s “The Treehouse Guys” program. The new warehouse includes a 20,000-square-foot solar array, energy-efficient coolers; both contributing to marked reduced energy usage and reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. In addition to shipping, receiving and processing, the warehouse also houses the Wish Farms Innovation Lab where items such as sustainable snacks are tested and developed. For more information about Wish Farms, including various berry recipes, where to purchase Wish Farms berries and more, visit: WishFarms.com. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Commissioner Fried said Wish Farms “epitomizes what Fresh from Florida Means,” referring to the state’s Agricultural Promotional Campaign which associates Florida ag products with excellence on a global basis. “I was inspired to form the Ag Innovation and Technical Knowledge Committee by the work of producers such as Wish Farms,” she said, noting that Gary is a member of the committee. “I told Gary when we first met, if you build it, I will come” and she did, referring to the new headquarters.
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USED BAD BOY OUTLAW XP Zero turn mower. 61” cut, kawasaki engine. $4,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
PRODUCE FRESH PRODUCE Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
MISC. FREE Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722 24 HOUR SERVICE Coggins Plumbing licensed • bonded • Insured. www.cogginsplumbing.com 813-643-7173 FARM BUREAU INSURANCE We have you covered! Call us today. 813-752-5577 LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL? Call Rhonda Wetherington, P.A. Realtor, GRI. 813-933-1761 ALAN’S AIR CONDITIONING Residential, Commercial Sales SVS & Repair. Legendary service for over 20 years! 813-752-0821 FOR RENT Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mulcher. For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
TRADE • BUY • SELL? Since 2004 In The Field has been Hillsborough and Polk Countys #1 Agriculture Magazine. Call Us at 813-759-6909 to place your Ad Today!
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
APRIL 2021
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
APRIL 2021
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