3012 S. Jim Redman Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • southsidestores.com 813-752-2379Mon. - Sat.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
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WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COMINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE August 20224PAGE 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 OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dennis Carlton, Jr.....................President Jake Raburn................Vice President Tony Lopez..............Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary FORDIRECTORS2021-2022 Carl Bauman, Member at large, Christina Andrlik, Jake Cremer, Travis Council Tiffany Dale, Drew Futch, Rep. Lawrence McClure, Madison Astin Salter, Michelle Williamson, Gayle Yanes AGENCYThomasMANAGERO.Hale 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 Tampa Office 813.933.5440 6535 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL.33625 Greg Harrell, Jared Bean Kaylee Poppell, Executive Director 813-685-9121 40 CONTENTS 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 InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner! PAGE 10 SpeciesEndangered PAGE 12 Urban Farmers PAGE 14 HCFB MemberBoard PAGE 16 Plant City Gardens PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter PAGE 26 New Festival President PAGE 28 Business Up Front PAGE 30 News Briefs PAGE 32 The Ladies of Riverview PAGE 35 Sugarkiss Melon PAGE 36 Save on Banking PAGE 38 MistakesLandscaping PAGE 44 John Dicks PAGE 46 Salute to AG PAGE 48 Burrowing Owls PAGE 50 State Park Society PAGE 51 Voice of Agriculture PAGE 52 Faculty Promotions PAGE 56 Scott Angle PAGE 58 Eighty-two Years PAGE 60 GCREC HOLCOMB:AUSTIN NEW FFA STATE VICE PRESIDENT AUGUST 2022 VOL. 19 • ISSUE 10
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The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. -
Weoutgrew.didn’t have a large farm; a few cattle roamed the hillsides you find so abundant in that neck of the woods. Pigs were acquired each year to go along with the beef we put in the freezer, a garden supplied most of our vegetables for the year and our cash crop was tobacco. When not in school I could be found roaming the hillsides searching for adventure. I would stop by my house, or my grandparent’s house for a snack or lunch and right back out the door I would go It wasn’t all play but looking back now it seems that way. I often spent time with my grandmother, stringing beans, shelling peas and canning.
STAFF
Numbers 6:25
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is avail able through local Hillsborough County businesses, res taurants, 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 Associa Letters,tion. 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 Advertisers813-759-6909warrant & 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 Publica tions, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
Sarah Holt It’s mid-August and the kids are back in school. Take care on the roads as the future of our country makes their way to the bus stops and schools. Your phone can wait until you arrive at your destination, so pay attention to where you are going.
I was raised in a very rural area in northeastern Kentucky. My father was a city boy (okay, not really a city, but compared to where my mom grew up it was massive) and my mom a country girl. After a few years of living in town they moved to the farm. I couldn’t be more thankful. It was a long drive to get anywhere, even the grocery story, especially for a young girl prone to motion sickness. This was something I never
I was so tired at the end of the day that bedtime was never a fight. I didn’t sleep late, there was too much fun to be had. I enjoyed hearing my grandparents talk about their experiences growing up, both good and bad. Family stories should be cherished. Even more so right now for me.
I miss those carefree days on the farm and will cherish those memories for the rest of my life.
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Letter from the Editor
CreativeSeniorPublisher/PhotographyKarenBerryManagingEditor/AssociatePublisherSarahHoltEditorPatsyBerrySalesKarenBerrySarahHoltMelissaNicholsGeorgeDomedionDirector/IllustratorJuanAlvarezPhotographyKarenBerryStaffWritersAlBerrySandyKasterJamesFrankowiakSeanGreenGinnyMinkInternMaggieFussellContributingWritersWoodyGoreJohnDicksSocialMediaVictoriaSaunders
Board of Directors
Dennis Carlton, Jr. , President; Jake Raburn, Vice-President; Tony Lopez Treasurer; Buddy Coleman, Secretary; Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes, Judi Whitson, Executive Director
Dear Readers –With the summer break coming to close and stu dents heading back to school, Hillsborough County Farm Bureau is excited to hit the ground running! Our members are always excited for the return to school because that means agriculture education opportu nities are plentiful. We highly encourage Hillsborough County teachers, of any grade level, to reach out and request an “Ag-Venture” for their classroom. Educat ing the next generation about the importance of agri culture is not only the mission of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, it is essential to our sustainability and the future of our industry.
Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
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Dennis Carlton Jr.
305 SOUTH WHEELER STREET • PLANT CITY, FL 33566 • 813-685-9121
You will hear Hillsborough County Farm Bureau often referred to as the “Voice of Agriculture” and we most certainly are! That’s a voice that we want heard by a variety of audiences from our members and residents of the county to appointed and elected officials that have an impact on our operations and future. Please read the article in this edition of In The Field Maga zine that reviews the many ways we work to have our industry’s voice heard from guests at our board meetings as well as tours to our member farms and ranches. We work tirelessly to have our voice heard locally, in Tallahassee and our nation’s capital. I would also encourage you to read about our newest board member, Madison Astin Salter, who is featured in this issue of In The Field. Madison and her sisters are the fourth generation of the diverse Astin family businesses. My personal thanks to Madison for her willingness to serve as a member of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Welcome aboard! Also, please grab your calendar and save the date for our Annual Membership Meeting on October 11th at 6:30pm. This will be Hillsborough County’s 80th An nual Meeting and one you surely do not want to miss! If you are a Farm Bureau member, please consider volunteering to help us with our educational outreach efforts and if you are not a member, please consider joining our organization. We would be delighted to have you join our team and help us communicate the importance of our industry with its diverse audiences on a continuing basis. For more information, visit us online at: hc.farmbureau.org or contact our Executive Director Kaylee Poppell at our office in Plant City at 813-685-9121. Thank you.
TOBACKSCHOOL
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY-Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
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The Black Creek crayfish is restricted to higher water quality headwaters, which make it vulnerable to pollution, siltation, pollution of water by silt and clay, damming and changes in water temperature. These threats occur from increased ur banization, road shoulder erosion, mining and cultivation of Thetrees.highly restricted range of this species coupled with its fragile, freshwater habitat leaves the Black Creek crayfish vulnerable to a host of climate-related impacts. This spe cies is threatened by loss of the wetland habitat on which it relies. Wetlands can dry up because of extensive drought and changes in the hydrological cycle triggered by climate change and are also at risk from encroaching human devel
The Black Creek Crayfish or procambarus pictus as it’s known by its scientific name, is a mid-sized crayfish that can reach a length of three inches. It has a black carapace with yellow and white marks, and a dark red abdomen with black bands that wrap around. Black Creek Crayfish can also be distinguished from other crayfish by the ten bumps located on their claws, where other species would have hair-like features.
The Black Creek CrayfishBy Libby Hopkins
E ndang E r E d S p E ci ES
oped in the area, which is likely to accelerate with climate change. Sea level rise and salt-water infiltration are also ma jor Becausethreats.the range of this species is so small, severe storm events are also a special risk. The entire population could be at risk from one major hurricane in the area. Conservation and restoration of existing wetland habitat is critical to increase habitat and species health and resilience at the onset of intensifying climate change. Monitoring population levels and hydrological conditions is important for this species as well. Development of a captive breeding program for this species may warrant consideration. If the population is wiped out by a major hurricane or storm surge event, a captive population could be used to repopulate the area.
The Black Creek crayfish is considered an endangered spe cies and is protected by Florida’s Endangered and Threat ened Species Rule. The diet of the Black Creek Crayfish primarily consists of dead animals, plants, and decomposed organic matter.
Reproductive males can be found from January to Septem ber while females can be found in a reproductive state be tween the months of June and August. The average clutch size ranges from 47-146 eggs, with the eggs hatching in the first part of June. The young reach maturity in one year, just before they reach their maximum age of 16 months. These crayfish inhabit tannic stained streams where they can be found taking refuge under tree roots and in vegetation. This species can be found in St. Johns, Duval, Clay and Put nam counties in Florida. They are currently on the Florida En dangered Species List.
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The study also found that when they look to future opportu nities, farm operators select value-added products as a top choice; for example, a product like a salsa made from the grower’s recent tomato harvest. Additionally, many opera tions incorporate agritourism -- like farm tours, field days or educational events.
Surveyed farmers identified other common opportunities, in cluding growing new crops to meet consumer demand, offer ing online sales and delivering training and workshops. All of these opportunities allow CUAs to diversify their offerings to clientele and build on their existing community of customers.
For more information on urban farms and community food systems and resources to support them, visit programs.ifas. ufl.edu/urban-agriculture. The new study, “Commercial Ur ban Agriculture in Florida: Needs, Opportunities, and Barriers,” can be accessed at doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05038-22.
RecentlyFrankowiakcompleted
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Supported by UF/IFAS SEEDIT research funding, researchers surveyed 53 farmers in major metropolitan areas across the state. The data captured information on future opportunities, barriers and needs.
research by the University of Florida In stitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) explains common challenges commercial urban agriculture (UA) farmers face and opportunities that could help them thrive.
New Research Findings to Help Urban Farmers
Researchers found labor was the most common barrier for urban farmers. Access to capital and profitability came in sec ond and third, respectively.
By Jim
An urban commercial farmer can be defined as a person in an urban area who is typically running a for-profit business on a smaller scale than traditional commercial farms and who sells directly to consumers instead of through other channels like grocery stores.
Researchers plan to use these findings to develop resources and to provide additional support for urban farmers through Extension efforts.
Data reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture focus on more traditional, rural farms, which leaves a blind spot for urban and other non-traditional farms. Previous research has focused on urban agriculture producers in regions much dif ferent than Florida, so researchers wanted to find updated information on Florida’s commercial urban agriculture.
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Astin Farms represents more than 1,700 acres of strawberry and blueberry fields that produce more than 50 million pounds of fruit each season. Astin Strawberry Exchange and Astin Family Farms handle the sales, marketing, and distribution of Astin crops and Astin Plant Company grows the stock straw berry nursery plants that are transplanted in Florida each fall “Myharvest.sisters, Payton and Baylee, and I are the fourth generation of our family business,” said Astin Salter. “Our great grandfather moved to Plant City and began farming a few acres in 1923,” she said. “The farm continued to grow locally as my grand daddy took over. At a very young age, my dad developed a deep-rooted passion for farming as well and has guided the farm into major growth. In the last 20 years, we began sell ing our own produce independently and have also focused on continuing to increase farm acreage and commodities. We are very excited to celebrate Astin Farms’ 100th anniversary this upcoming season! It has taken many long, hard-working days to get where we are today, and our goal is to continue this leg acy for many more generations in the future.” “I am the oldest of three sisters. We grew up in the middle of our strawberry farm, learning the ins and outs of agricul ture from a very young age,” said Astin Salter. “To us, farming is much more than a career and has truly become a lifestyle. We each have our strong suits that enable us to really work well to gether. We are extremely close and love being together so be ing able to share our passion each day makes it even better!”
Astin Salter graduated from the University of Tampa and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business. “I have been in volved in agriculture within our community ever since I can remember,” she said. “Growing up, I was heavily involved in FFA leadership positions and participated in various competi tions while being a member of the organization. I am extremely thankful for the amazing role models and teachers I had during those times of my life. I feel that my involvement and the guid ance I received contributed to where I am today. Astin Farms supports FFA and 4-H chapters through various sponsorships and local livestock sales each year. We are so appreciative of the impact that these organizations have made on our lives, and we want to be part of the continuation of opportunities and experiences for other students.”
“I feel honored to be a member of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau board,” said Astin Salter. “I plan to be an advocate for agriculture in my community, while also continuing to learn about the challenges facing the industries surrounding us. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a voice of encouragement to other young farmers and to communicate the importance of sustaining the presence of agriculture in our nation.”
MADISON ASTIN SALTER JOINS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FARM BUREAU BOARD
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Madison is married to Cameron Salter, who is also from Plant City. “We actually grew up together as good friends,” she said. “He has always had a passion for agriculture and spent his childhood raising and showing dairy cows and other livestock at local fairs. After graduating from Warner University, Cam eron took on the role of farm manager at Astin Farms, working with both organic and conventional strawberry production. It’s great to be able to constantly learn from each other and grow in our careers together.”
By Jim Frankowiak
Madison Astin Salter has joined the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Born and raised in Plant City, Astin Salter is the daughter of Sam Astin III and Buffy, both of whom were born in Plant City and “have been surrounded by agricul ture their entire lives,” said Astin Salter. That includes a fourthgeneration family business encompassing Astin Farms, Astin Ranch, MPB Farms, Astin Family Farms, Astin Strawberry Ex change and Astin Plant Company in North Carolina.
When not working on the farm, Madison and Cameron “take advantage of the free time we have together. We are truly best friends and it doesn’t take much for us to have fun! We enjoy traveling to new places and spending quality time together with our friends and family.”
Farming is OrCallHelpstressfulisavailable211Text‘FarmFL’to898-211 Working on a farm can be physically and emotionally demanding. If you are feeling anxious or depressed, you’re not alone. Nine in ten farmers cite financial issues, farm business concerns and fear of losing their farms as mental health stressors. Call 211 to speak to someone who will listen and provide the resources you need to get through tough times. Calls are confidential and can be anonymous. Learn more at 211.org
Plant City Commons, Inc., a registered non-profit organization, started a “Go Fund Me” initiative to cover the cost of tornado and vandal damage. “We have yet to reach that goal,” said the Garden’s Karen Elizabeth, and the “recent vandalism has made the attainment of that $2,000 goal all the more impor tant.”
VANDALS HIT PLANT CITY GARDEN AGAIN; DONATIONS NEEDED
Additionally, vandals caused senseless damage to the gar dens during after hour visits in June and July.
The Plant City Garden, 2001 East Cherry Street, has yet to reach its donation goal for tornado and vandal damage and has experienced additional damage by vandals.
A tornado touched down at the gardens in June, causing damage inside to the greenhouse roof and out in the garden.
Plant City Commons, Inc. is a registered non-profit organization and donations are typically tax deductible.To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/greenhouse-repairs-from-storm/donate.
By Jim Frankowiak
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“Thank you for your contribution to our community,” Elizabeth concluded.
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As summer vacation draws to a close, Mosaic welcomes students, faculty and staff back for another successful school year. We also salute the parents, community members and other businesses supporting education across the region. Every Fall, Mosaic employees look forward to partnering with schools on academic and extracurricular initiatives from 4H & FFA to furthering innovative STEM learning. Let’s work together to cultivate the most valuable crop of alla bright future. We help the world grow the food it needs. www.mosaicfloridaphosphate.com Back
Welcome
• After everyone onboard has donned their PFDs, assign them to be lookouts.
Capt. Woody Gore How It affects boaters? How to navigate through it? Fog is directly related to dew points and occurs when water temperatures start to warm. As this happens, there is a good possibility fog will begin forming. A dew point is when the air can hold no more moisture at its current temperature. Therefore, as the air temperatures de crease, you reach the dew point, creating fog. Does sea fog go away? Sea fog shows up near bodies of salty water and forms as water vapor con denses around tiny bits of salt. Depend ing on the humidity and ambient temper ature, fog forms suddenly and typically disappears as quickly as it forms. For mariners, fog is the primary cause of reduced visibility, but haze and heavy rain also present hazards: grounding and collisions. The possibility of colliding with another vessel, navigational aids, or even land requires stringent lookouts. Your first option in preventing these dan gers begins with reduced speed. An old saying does not appear in the Rules of Navigation, “Be able to stop in half the distance of your visibility.” But it is good advice; always remember slower is bet Youter! can quickly get into trouble navigat ing in a marine fog without basic navi gational skills or equipment. Without a compass or an electronic navigational device, you might be dead in the water or traveling in circles. Be aware that visibility can drop when operating in a marine fog. When visibil ity is between 30 and 150 yards, objects, including other boats, may appear twice as large. While giving the illusion of being larger also tends to make you think they are approaching faster.
Below are a Few Navigational Actions You Should Know During a Sea Fog. Whenever boating and despite your best planning, you may be unable to avoid getting caught in sea fog. Follow the guidelines below if you find yourself in this situation. However, if you are in a life-threatening situation, call the Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.
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• There’s a phenomenon about objects in a fog appearing bigger than usual. Be aware that visibility can drop when operating in a marine fog. When visibility is between 30 and 150 yards, objects, in cluding other boats, may appear twice as large. And also give the illusion they are approaching faster.
• If you become disoriented, STOP! Do not proceed if you are unsure of your po sition and direction. Again, proper navi gation gear and skills will help you keep your bearings.
Maintaining a proper lookout is required by the Coast Guard Navigation Rules.
• Make sure all eyes and ears on board are looking for other boats, boat wakes, buoys, and floating debris. Be sure to lis ten for engines or other clues that signal another boat is near.
• Use a sounding signal of some sort, which is required safety equipment by the U.S. Coast Guard, to signal your po sition every two minutes. You can use a bell, a loud air horn, a foghorn, or other approved means for producing sound.
• Either underway or stopped, and you hear an approaching vessel, sound the optional one short - one long - one short blast to notify them of your presence.
What is Marine Fog?
• You find yourself in a marine fog and try ing to navigate a straight course without navigational aids. Undoubtedly, you will wind up traveling in a circle. So, to steer a straight course, attach a 20-foot line on the bow or from the mast and drag a sea anchor, drift sock, boat cushion, or any thing that creates resistance. Keep the line centered where it passes over the stern, and you will steer a straight line.
• Utilize your navigation equipment if you have it. Hopefully, you have at minimum a compass and a navigation chart to get your bearings. Sometimes a GPS, de pending on the size of your vessel, will be outfitted with RADAR.
Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
• If you are underway, slow down to a safe speed. If you cannot see the bow of your boat, then maintain idle speed.
• Periodically stop your engine and listen to your surroundings. Sometimes, this may be your only way to avoid colliding with something in a fog. Listen for other boats, fog horns, and other sounds from aids to navigation.
The Coast Guard International and Inland Navigation Rules state that a vessel must proceed safely to avoid a collision.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE August 2022 19 PAGE Capt. Woody Gore owns and operates Tampa Bay’s #1 Outdoor Fishing Guide Services. Guiding and fishing in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater areas for the past sixty years. He offers first-class customer service, familyoriented charters, and a lifetime of memories. Call 813-477-3814 or Visit our website, www.captainwoodygore.com, or email us at fishing@captainwoodygore.com “Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” 813-477-3814
July 2022 Tampa Bay Fishing SpottedReportSeaTrout fishing looks to continue and remain strong throughout the summer. Live shrimp seem to be the bait of choice, either hooked below the horn on the head, freelined, or fished under a cork. Snook fishing in the summer is al most a given. Practically every an gler throughout the Tampa Bay Ares is looking to catch snook. And given the amount of weekend fishing pres sure, it is a wonder you can catch a snook or redfish. Redfish There are good redfish days around the Tampa Bay grass flats. Finding redfish means covering lots of water; once located, they do not venture too far if there is bait in the area. Soft plastic artificial lures work well. Search deep water grass flats looking for lush grass beds with plenty of broken bottom or potholes.
Tarpon fishing picks up during the late summer. Following the bait, schools like greenbacks, threadfins, and crabs appearing abundantly throughout the bay.
Others Sheepshead, Mackerel, Kingfish, Permit, Grouper, and Snap per, offer diversity during the sum mer and continues to do well. Fol low the bait schools, and fish around structures or fish attractors.
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• Bobby Leach was the second person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. He survived that fall but later died as a result of slipping on a piece of orange peel.
• Squid is the number one pizza topping in Japan.
• World Wide Web is three syllables when spoken. Its abbrevia tion, “www,” is nine syllables.
•Iceberg lettuce derived its name from the 1920s when it was shipped from California packed in ice.
• Coca Cola has never been patented because to do so the secret formula would have to be revealed.
• Your typical hen lays 300 eggs per year.
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• An area of the brain known as the bilateral vomitation center notices when our stomach is upset and makes the final decision on barfing.
The first one was an email from my friend Bruce Rodwell. He said he had a close friend before he moved from Clarks Summit, Pa. to Plant City that had a drink ing problem. Bruce said he tried his best to get him to go to AA. Nothing seemed to work until one night his friend spent the evening with some friends and had a few cocktails. He emailed Bruce that after that evening he has com pletely stopped drinking. The email read as follows: Dear Bruce, as you well know many of us at one time or another have had brushes with the authorities on our way home from an occasional social session. Last Friday I had one to many cocktails, and a couple of glasses of red wine at a small party on the west side of town with Mike Townsend who works in the same department with me at the metal shop.
For the life of me I could not come up with anything special to write about for this month, so I decided just to go back through my notes and see what I could find.
Knowing full well I may have been slightly over the lim it, I did something I’ve never done before. I took a cab home. Sure enough, I passed a police roadblock but, since it was a cab, they waved it past.
Bruce, I arrived home safely without incident, which was a real surprise as I have never driven a cab before and am not sure where I got it or what to do with in now that it’s in my garage. Last week I pulled off I-4 at the Stingray Chevrolet exit. Seeing all the new cars reminded me of the old “fender skirts” that were a status symbol in high school. Going south on Park Road I stopped for the red light, and to my right was Jarrett-Scott Ford. That made me think of some other things we never hear about anymore. Like “curb feelers” and “steering knobs.” Any kid today will most likely have to find some adult over 55 to explain some of these terms.
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Remember “Continental kits?” They were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental. The light changed and as I pulled away I thought about the “emergency brake.” No such thing any more, it’s a “parking brake.” What we called a foot feed is now called the accelerator.
Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the August 2018 issue
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My dad always used the phrase “store-bought.” Never hear that any more, because everything is store bought these days. When dad used those words it was brag ging material to have a store-bought dress or a storebought bag of candy from McCrory’s Five and Dime in Plant City, managed by Otis Andrews. We have a couch now. What ever happened to the dav enport? Now we’re going to a “luncheon.” When I was coming up we were going to lunch. Let’s close with a lesson from a great old girl. The 92year old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who was fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her fashionably combed hair and makeup perfectly ap plied, even through she was legally blind, moved to a nursing home. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of patiently wait ing in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweet ly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, the nurse provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung over her window.
“I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eightyear-old having just been presented with a new puppy. “Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room…just wait.” “That doesn’t have anything to do with it.” She replied. “Happiness is something you decide on head of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged, it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away just for this time in my life. You see, old age is like a bank account… you withdraw from what you’ve put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories.”
As they entered her room she said to the nurse, “Thank you for your part in filling my memory bank. I am still Idepositing.”hopeyouwill remember these five simple rules to be 1-Freehappy: your heart from hatred. 2-Free your mind from worries. 3-Live a simple life. 4- Give more. 5- Expect less.
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Robinson’s ties to the festival go back to when he was just a “Ikid.love the Strawberry Festival,” he said. “I grew up in this com munity. My family is from this community, and I too, have some of my fondest childhood memories out here in the Strawberry Also,Festival.”heand his sister were entered into the baby parade, and he has done the same with his children.
Davis had initially approached the festival vice president, Tim Lovett for the role, but Lovett decided to remain as second in command. Davis immediately thought of Robinson next for the title after seeing how he’s conducted the daily security operations at each festival. After Robinson accepted the posi tion as president, Davis went before his board members and made a case for why his hand-picked successor is competent for the job. “He’s exceled better at almost every area that he’s followed me in, and that’s a big deal,” he said. “With Kyle Robinson, you know what you get. He’s a Plant City native. He loves the festi val. He’s got character. He’s got the ability to lead.”
Throughout the country, Plant City has become known as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World and Hillsborough County grows about 15% of the nation’s strawberries with ap proximately 10,000 acres. With all this in mind, Robinson said he will continue to keep the Florida Strawberry Festival as one of the most popular attrac tions around the country. As a security officer, he has also taken measures to make sure the event is a safe one. Robinson worked along with volun teers, the fire chief, and the festival staff to plan an emergency evacuation plan. A fire truck and an ambulance are on standby during the festival. “I’ve always viewed the deputy’s job as more than just se curity,” he said. “That deputy sheriff is an information booth. It’s one who reunites children with their families. It’s (helping) somebody that maybe overdid it and is physically exhausted. We get them back to their car.”
“I’m excited to see where Kyle’s going to go,” Davis said. By Brian Fernandes
The Florida Strawberry Festival began in 1930 and has con tinued to grow in prominence over the years. This year, the 11day event had 80 different rides, games and attractions. It also drew in 543,129 visitors, a stark change from last year, which had a lower number of attendees due to COVID-19. There were live performances from music groups and artists such as TESLA, Gene Watson, Nelly, Sam Hunt, and the Bel lamy Brothers. The festival has been known for country music for years, but there was a need for more variety, Davis said. Today, genres range from not only country, but pop, rock, Hip Hop, R&B, and Latin music.
Robinson will start to oversee projects that are already in the works such as building more restrooms. It was a suggestion brought to Davis’ attention from patrons. He has always kept in mind the feedback from visitors, even if it all hasn’t been positive, to see where the festival can improve.
Robinson is a retired colonel from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, an agency he began working for 27 years ago. What’s more, he has led the security team at each festival since “Honestly,2015.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COMINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE August 202226PAGE KYLE ROBINSON
“It was a great ride,” he said. “I’ve loved the festival. I still do. It’s just a younger man’s game out here.”
Parking is the number one agenda in handling the daily opera tions of the festival, Davis and Robinson said. The festival receives assistance from several churches and the local YMCA in helping to properly organize parking.
Former law enforcement officer selected by festival board Retired Col. Kyle Robinson of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (left) is joined by Director Sandee Sytsma, of the Strawberry Festival, and President Paul Davis, of the Strawberry Festival.
“I said, ‘You know I want to go after John Legend,’” Davis re called. “’I don’t know who that is but get him.’ We try to have music for everybody.”
Davis said that he will work with Kyle for a year and will volun teer his time at the festival.
The live entertainment and festivities have appealed to many patrons, and vendors, from other states – even Canada.
NAMED AS NEW STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL PRESIDENT
For 15 years, Paul Davis has prepared and orchestrated the operations for the annual Florida Strawberry Festival as its president, but now he’s ready to pass the mantle on to Kyle Robinson. Robinson has been selected to become the new president, a role he said he has been auditioning for in his 51 years. He will officially take the job in August.
Davis could also speak of Robinson’s character, having met him 23 years ago and working along with him at the sheriff’s Withoffice.that, the board unanimously voted for Robinson to be come the new president.
how often does a person get to have two dream jobs in one lifetime,” Robinson said. “I’m very fortunate to fol low the path that Paul has paved. It’s a little intimidating be cause he set the bar so high.”
Davis felt it was time to leave his post and allow someone else to have the privilege to head the festival.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is reminding agricultural produc ers that many of its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) accepts applications on a continuing basis. These pro grams, which provide financial and technical assistance, are designed to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air qual ity, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat.
NEWS BRIEFS
Tomatoes among Critical Crops tobe Studied for Updated BMPs
UF Researchers Working to DevelopHigher Heat Tolerant Crops
UF Researchers Using AI to DetermineProduce Freshness
Florida producers, stakeholders in food and nutrition fields and consumers are being encouraged to complete the U.S. House Agriculture Committee 2023 Farm Bill online feedback survey. As Congress enacts major policies that will drive the food and nutrition systems in the future the survey is essential to help inform federal representatives of the needs and inter ests of Florida’s agricultural community. Every five years, Congress creates an omnibus piece of leg islation called the “Farm Bill” to address the country’s agricul tural and food policy needs. Congress is currently preparing to consider the next Farm Bill. The survey can be accessed at: https://agriculture.house.gov.
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak Bird Owner Alert
Florida Ag Community Encouragedto Complete Federal Farm BillFeedback Survey
Researchers at the University of Florida are working to devel ops crops that can withstand high temperature stress. After observing that plants’ younger leaves are more heat tolerant than older ones, the scientists conducted an experiment to understand how genes are expressed differently in young and old leaves exposed to extreme heat. Those genetic insights can lead to breeding of plants with greater heat tolerance. Cookouts Cost More this Summer
Many EQIP Applications Acceptedon Continuous Basis
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) reports the average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people this year is 69.68, which is less than $7 per person, but up 17 percent or about $10 from last year. The AFBF says the rise in cost is due to general supply chain challenges, inflation leading to higher prices for everything and the war in Ukraine.
More information is available on the NRCS website or by con tacting the USDA Service Center, 201 South Collins Street, Suite 201, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813-752-1474.
Researchers at the University of Florida (UF) are using artificial intelligence (AI) to hopefully lead to the development of a de vice that can be used to determine produce freshness at the market level. The four-year, nearly half-million dollar study is being funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida will invest up to $900.000 for Conservation Innovations Grants (CIG) for agricultural priorities in the state. Those priorities are: climate resilience, grazing, soil health and urban agriculture. The proposal deadline is august 31, 2022. For more information, contact the USDA Service Cen ter, 201 South Collins Street, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813-752-1474.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a non-commercial, backyard flock in Seminole County. The USDA is working with its partners to actively look for diseases in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory bird populations. In addition to practicing good biosecrity, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state/Federal officials or through APHIS’ toll-free number: 1-866-536-7593. Informa tion on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at http:// healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has received $8.8 million to conduct new research that will provide farmers with new and improved rec ommendations for five, key Florida crops, among them toma Farmerstoes. apply fertilizers to their crops with parameters com monly referred to as “best management practices” (BMPs) that come from UF/IFAS research that establishes fertilization rates for maximum economic crop yields and minimal nutrient losses to the environment.
Conservation Innovation Grants Available
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Small family farms come up with the best names. Stephen Price of Riverview has a small family farm that he and his wife own called The Home Girls of Riverview. “For the most part I have always either lived in the country or a rural area,” Price said. “I would not consider myself a farmer or from a farming Whenbackground.”Pricewas looking for a name for his farm, The Home Girls of Riverview seemed to be the perfect fit. “Basically, it is just a name my wife and I came up with one day while sit ting around,” Price said. “Nothing special except the hens are, well, Smallgirls.”family farms are becoming quite popular nowadays. More than 90 percent of farms in the U.S. are classified as small, with a gross cash farm income of $250,000, or less. These farms, most of which are family-owned and operated, confront considerable challenges due to current trends, such as increased movement into cities, an aging population, farm consolidation, and changing weather patterns.
The Home Girls of Riverview is open seven days a week dur ing daylight hours. “We have more than 70 hens that are all laying lots of nice brown eggs,” Price said. “The chickens are let out every day and allowed to roam the four acres of land without restriction. They are safely housed at night to protect from predators. Most of the time I or my wife are available for brief tours of the grounds.”
By Libby Hopkins
Keeping things local is important to Price. He keeps his egg prices reasonable so locals can get some of his fresh, local eggs. “It’s important to keep things local,” Price said. “If for some reason trucks can’t get produce and other food items to people, then local farms, small and large need to be able to meet the demand. This is why it’s so important support your local farms and farmers. No farmers, no food.”
If you’d like to learn more about The Home Girls of Riverview, you can visit the Local Harvest website at www.localharvest. org. Local Harvest connects people looking for good food with the farmers who produce it. Their directory lists more than 40,000 family farms and farmers markets, along with restau rants and grocery stores that feature local food. They call it a theirateseachdirectory”“grassrootsbecausemembercreandmaintainsownlisting.
Family and small farms are vital to our economy and wellbeing as a nation. Not only do they support the competitive ness and sustainability of rural and farm economies, but they also serve to protect and enhance natural resources and the environment. They provide a nursery for the development of new enterprises and marketing systems, as well as, maintain rural populations. (www.nifa.usda.gov/topics/small-familyfarms) “There are no other farms in the area,” Price said. “Mine is just a hobby. I do it because I love animals. I really enjoy the evenings watching the girls roam the property. They are free to explore all four acres.”
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COMINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE August 202232PAGE The Ladies of Riverview
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FIVE WAYS TO SAVE ON BANKING, AVOID FEES
5. Need a second chance at checking? Some of us, at one time or another, have had an issue with a bank ac count and may have abandoned it. The fees kept adding up and it just didn’t seem worth keeping, but now ob taining another bank account is challenging. Banks are handy be cause they help us keep track of our income and expenses. They allow us to pay bills for free in some cases with speed and ease. Some businesses require employees to direct deposit their paychecks so it can be expensive or a hassle to be unbanked. Be aware that many banks offer a second chance checking account. These are not free. There will be a monthly maintenance fee, but if you can keep the account in good standing for the required time-pe riod, you can transition to an account with better terms. Also, be aware that many banks now offer low-interest, short-term loans as alternatives to those payday loan services that can be costly. Carefully research the pros and cons of these fea tures and services to get a handle on the actual cost.
2. Look for the highest annual percentage yield on savings. The annual percentage yield (APY) a bank will pay to hold your money is starting to increase. When the Federal Reserve raises interest rates on banks, they pass that on to their cus tomers through higher rates to borrow money but also higher rates for savings, check ing and other accounts in many cases. If you are in the market for a new sav ings account, you will want to find the highest APY pos sible compounded as of ten as possible. Search for accounts with no monthly fees. Those tend to under mine our earned interest benefits. You can find the right account for you by searching https://www.bankrate. com/banking/ .
1. Know there are common bank fees you can avoid. Fees, they’re everywhere. When choosing a bank account, make sure you understand the activities that impose a fee and how to avoid them. Start by reviewing your account terms. In many banks, certain types of accounts require a minimum balance to avoid a fee. In others, a minimum number of trans actions or deposits within a month may be required to avoid a fee. The bank you are considering may simply charge a monthly fee for account maintenance. Whatever the case may be, understand those fees. Avoiding fees keeps the money in your accounts and even accruing interest – a plus as banks consider raising interest rates.
6. Check out this YouTube video, Banking and Saving Consid erations, created by UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County, for more information about banking skills.
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Here,development. Roberts offers five tips to avoid fees and to leverage changes in the current banking environment that can keep cash in your wallet and accounts.
3. Maintaining accessibility and safety on your terms. Make sure you can access your money when and where you need. That’s an important part of choosing a bank and the type of account you need. If you prefer to support a small, local or online bank, watch for limited locations or fees attached to ATM usage. If you prefer to bank with an online institu tion rather than a traditional brick-and-mortar establish ment -- because they offer more benefits and a higher return -- learn how they keep your account secure. Con sider how you prefer to bank so you know which online banking features will be most important and beneficial to you. Look for convenience of locations and hours for inperson banking. Look for account security with two-step veri fication for logging in when banking online.
By Jim Frankowiak
As interest rates begin to rise, consumers will start to see pros and cons to changes in their account terms. “Financial institutions like banks and credit unions provide safekeeping of our money and allow for easy bill-paying, but we need to be smart consumers when choosing the best one for our money needs,” said Carol Roberts, one of several UF/ IFAS Extension agents specializing in community resource
4. Understand overdraft protection. The bank account you select might include an option for overdraft protection. You will notice you have to opt in for this feature, but you are unable to opt out. Here is the concept: Your bank will cover you if you make a transaction that is more than you have in your account – for a fee in some cases. It is not the bank that covers you. The bank is pulling the overdraft from the linked savings account or bank credit card that you are required to maintain to take advantage of this service. The fee is usually considerably lower than an overdraft fee, cur rent average overdraft fee is $33.47 per transaction. Consider that many major banks are dropping overdraft fees as a policy. Consider that opting-in for this service, if you choose a bank that still charges, might be a slippery slope to overspending.
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By Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Agent UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
starting from the ground up
It’s good to have at least a general idea of the size of the landscape bed you want to create, the height and spread at maturity along with the light and soil moisture needed for plants you are considering. When plants match the growing conditions they need, they usu ally require less water, fertilizer, pesticides and main tenance than plants that do not match the conditions
Whatcapacity.is the growth rate, height and spread? Select plants that won’t block doors, windows or require ex cessive pruning. What are those black spots, leaf holes and distorted leaves? Before you purchase a plant, check for signs of pests. If there are pests, don’t purchase the plant. If the plant is rootbound, roots coming out of the bottom of the pot and circling, consider another plant. Weeds growing in the pot may be a sign the plant is not getting the nutrients it needs. Why mulch? It retains soil moisture, moderates soil temperature, reduces runoff and erosion, improves soil structure and much more. Mulch the landscape bed af ter your plants are planted. Do not place the mulch against the trunk/stem of the plants/trees because that decreases oxygen to the roots, keeps roots too wet in soils that are poorly drained and can cause trunk rot. Mulch should be 2-3 inches in depth after it settles.
COMMON LANDSCAPE MISTAKES
Theneeded.easiest way to secure that information is to order a free copy of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping GuideTM to Plant Selection and Landscape Design. Go to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s web site and look under Free Publications. Page 31 of this Guide provides the information that will help you suc Haveceed. you tested your soil recently? Most Extension of fices provide pH testing at their offices for a minimal fee. Depending on the result of the soil test, follow the recommendations made by your Extension office. If you need to make any changes to the bed, do so before you plant your plants. What are your site conditions? They include sun, shade, partial sun/shade. If you plant a sun-loving plant in the shade, it will not perform at its best. If you place a shade-loving plant in the sun, it may not survive. Select plants that match your site conditions. If you plant the right plant in the wrong place, it will not survive.
If turf and weeds grow to the tree trunk, they can de crease nutrients and moisture from the tree and may inhibit tree growth. Turfgrass and landscape plants should be in separate irrigation zones because turf needs more water than ornamentals.
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Most of us shop for plants without a plan. Wrong.
If there is too much shade, you can plant shade lov ing shrubs and groundcovers in areas where turfgrass is challenging to maintain. Trees and shrubs should be positioned to improve your home’s cooling and heating
What are the water and fertilization laws in your area? Turfgrass, irrigated and fertilized, is great for recreation, dog runs and erosion control. A caution: Follow your county’s fertilization regulations.
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Irrigation/Water: Installing microirrigation in a landscape bed is a win-win situation. Microirrigation provides gal lons per hour, not gallons per minute, as is the case with inground irrigation. At UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, we offer this workshop monthly from February through November at a cost of $5 per household, one time only. If you have a rain shut-off device, is it working? If it is rain ing and your irrigation system is running, there is prob ably an issue. Rain shut-off devices have an approximate 5-year life expectancy. A soil moisture sensor when prop erly installed is a better option. Check the calendar of events for your county to deter mine what workshops are offered. In Hillsborough Coun ty, we offer three types of microirrigation, two types of composting and a rainwater harvesting workshop. You can reach us at 813-744-5519 or visit us at 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584. Remember to reduce, reuse, recycle and repeat. Lynn Barber is the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ agent for UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. Contact her at la barber@ufl.edu.
decision to pursue the state FFA office was not an easy one. “I had to choose between the FFA opportunity and my acceptance to the U.S. Air Force Academy as the result of the nomination I received from U.S. Representative Vernon Buchanan.” he said. “The FFA opportunity was a once in a lifetime chance, while I have until I am 23 years old to pursue my col lege education at one of the U. S. service academies.”
Consequently, he opted for the chance to become an FFA state Coincidentally,officer.Holcomb visited Washington, D.C. re cently as part of the state officer summit and had the By Jim Frankowiak
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COMINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE August 202240PAGE
The FFA Organization is a youth leadership organization that makes a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier lead ership, personal growth, and career success through agriculture education. The FFA Motto is Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve. Nation ally, FFA has more than 735,000 members. FFA functions within the three-circle model of agricul tural education as a student leadership organization that complements a student’s classroom/laboratory instruction and supervised agricultural experience pro gram. FFA members can compete in Career Develop ment Events (CDE) that cover job skills in everything from communications to mechanics. Some events al low students to compete as individuals, while others al low them to compete in teams. These competitions can happen at a local or district level, state level, and on the national Studentslevel.are supervised by agricultural education teachers that have to cooperate with parents, employ ers, and other adults who assist individuals in the de velopment and achievement of educational and career goals. You might recognize Holcomb as he was featured on the June cover of IN THE FIELD Magazine last year, rec ognized as the Florida State Fair “Champion of Cham pions,” leading the 32 Senior Champion Youth exhibi tors. He took high honors in the Open Guernsey Show, Open Holstein, Youth Guernsey, Open Red Brahman and Youth Red Brahman.
Austin Holcomb: FFA State Vice President
New
Austin Holcomb, a recent graduate of Durant High School, has been named a State FFA Officer and he will serve in that capacity for the next year. As Area V Vice President, he has responsibility for overseeing FFA chapters in Charlotte, De Soto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas counties, as well as state wide and national responsibilities.
The son of Suzanne and Chris Holcomb, Austin decided to pursue the state FFA office as a “way of giving back to the organization for all it has done for me since I first joined in the sixth grade,” he said. “Many of the previous state officers have encouraged me and other mem bers, and I wanted the chance to do the same thing go ing forward hopefully serving as a role model to FFA members I come in contact with.” Austin is the oldest of three Holcomb children who include Rebecca and Holcomb’sColby.
Congratulations Austin!
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opportunity to meet with Congressman Rubio, Con gressman Scott, and other Florida lawmakers. “I took that chance to briefly talk to them about my decision regarding my nomination to the Air Force Academy and they appreciated the reason for my choice, and I was encouraged to re-apply for another nomination from them in the future. I’d really like to become a fixedwing pilot.”
FFA leadership was not something new for Holcomb. He became a federation officer as a ninth grader and served as District 9 President while a senior at Durant High School. However, the path to becoming a state of ficer is not an easy one to travel. It involves preparation and submission of an application followed by success ful completion of a series of screening interviews with each graded. That leads to an election for the top two candidates vying for each of the state officer positions. Once elected, the new state officers have a 12-month commitment to the organization that includes state wide career development events, the preparation of four conference curricula, area director responsibilities, board meeting attendance and representing Florida FFA as a national delegate. There is no compensation, just reimbursement for expenses incurred while serv ing as an officer. “It’s a fulltime-plus responsibility, but I truly feel that where I am today is the result of the mentors, teachers and others who have guided me along with the ongo ing support of my parents,” he said. “I truly look forward to giving back in appreciation for the many ways I have Onebenefitted.”recent example of how Austin has benefitted from his FFA activities is his trip to the United Kingdom along with his dairy judging teammates from the Durant FFA chapter, Savannah Rice, Casey Lane, and Caroline Hax ton. “Our dairy judging team took state and national FFA honors,” he said. “As a result of our second place finish we participated in a two week international dairy judg ing tour that took us to England and Ireland. We spent two days at dairy shows in Northern Ireland, crossing the country for the balance of our first week and an other show and then sight-seeing in London. It was a great Holcomb’sexperience.”lovefor agriculture and competitive spirit originates with his family. He was born on his parent’s dairy farm in upstate New York. His father Chris and his brother competed in dairy events growing up. The fam ily moved from New York to the Lithia area of Hillsbor ough County at C & S Farms when Austin was young. His mother, Suzanne, also competed in Ag events while growing up. She is now manager of the Greater Hills borough County Fair. His father is an Animal Health Care Representative with Endovac Animal Health.
Austin’s grandparents, Gene and Jody Holcomb, have also been instrumental in his competitive success and appreciation for agriculture. Gene is a member of the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Florida 4-H Hall of Fame for his 30-plus years of involvement in a wide range of 4-H activities, including the Hillsborough County 4-H Youth Foundation, Florida 4-H Dairy Youth Committee, several Florida State Fair Dairy Committees and organi zational assistance for state level judging contests.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COMINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE August 202242PAGE Looking to transform your commercial farm into a regenerative system? At Advancing Eco Agriculture, our expert consultants work with growers to build comprehensive crop programs using liquid minerals and biological products. Everyday, we help farmers across North America improve crop quality, yield, and soil health through regenerative practices. Reach out to our team today and take the first step towards a healthier and more profitable(800)farm.495-6603 • www.advancingecoag.com • Plant City, FL Listen to our podcast! I learn so much from this podcast. [...] John guides the conversations brilliantly. His guests are excellent experts. - onekanmar (Apple Podcasts). “ ”
Communication and staying in touch is so much better, too. Even if you can’t make a phone call deep into the woods, you can, even without an internet connection, use an app on your smartphone to show your precise GPS location, displayed on a moving map, which will lead you precisely in the right direc tion and let you know how far it is and how much longer it will take to get there! Back at “camp” odds are good today that you can actually connect online, too. Not that you’d want to let the kids know since they’d likely beg to play games or check Facebook, but I’ve known several people, including myself, who have worked remotely while simultaneously enjoying magnificent mountains vistas. Of course it doesn’t have to be the mountains that you head to. Florida has some wonderful places, too, with all of our county, state and national parks and forests; and it doesn’t take long to get there, nor cost too much to do so. Just for the record, I’m “out there” now!
Camping Redux!
Think for a minute. When’s the last time you went camping? What? Never, you say?! Or years, and years ago?! Oh, say it ain’t so. Camping, it seems, is one of America’s top new trends. It’s been growing steadily, too, for the last several years. Young, old, and everybody in between are taking to the hills, beach es, parks, and other places to commune with nature and relearn the subtle art of making “Smores.”
Photo by iStock
Also not a surprise is to learn that the pandemic pushed them over the edge to the world of camping. There is, after all, much to be said for walking and hiking, and just plain sleeping, in fresh, open air. Far better, I think, than the recircu lated stuff that we can enjoy in hotels. It’s not just the clean air, either. There are those beds, too. Mind you, I’ve indulged in some great ones in wonderful plac es around the world, but there is something special knowing that while camping, that which you lie down upon is yours and yours alone. Whether it’s a cot or a pad or simply a sleeping bag, you know where it’s been and where it and you are go ing next. It’s interesting also to recognize that another factor adding to the surge of interest in camping, which is a decidedly lowtech activity, actually comes from innovations in technology. For example, things like new super lightweight materials make backpacking something that now us mere mortals can Labelsenjoy.
to gear all include screaming adjectives like sunproof, rain-proof, wind-proof, snow-proof. Yes, “proof is in the pudding,” but I have found such things, for the most part, to be amazingly true. They really do work!
John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blue berry 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.
What’s the big reason for such a surge in camping? Not sur prisingly, 40% say they ventured into nature to be with family and friends, and just to get outdoors.
The business magazine, Forbes, recently noted (with its eye keenly on the economics of the activity) that last year some 20% of Americans went camping. Well, if that’s true, it means that more than 66,000,000 of us found ourselves sleeping on the ground, in a tent, hanging in a hammock, or however else you might define “camping.”
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by John Dicks |
Granted, as life matures and gracefully ages us, some might prefer to doze in an RV or CamperVan versus the surprise of finding under our tent a misplaced pebble beneath the selfinflating mattress pad. Regardless, though, camping is camp ing, and it looks like lots of us are doing it. That same Forbes article further surprised me with the reve lation that eight million of last year’s campers were doing it for the first time. I have no idea as to why those newbies appar ently missed out on Scouting when they were kids, but still, that’s a jump of 12% getting involved in this “new adventure.”
21-1543996-0621
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Great health care is closer than you think.
South Florida Baptist Hospital is more than just a small community hospital. We’ve got a wide array of specialty care and surgical services that you don’t have to travel far to get. Our surgeons are experts in minimally invasive robotic surgical procedures that provide lots of benefits, including shorter hospital stays, decreased blood loss and smaller incisions that reduce the risk of infection. Plus, faster recovery times that mean you can get back to your normal activities sooner. You’ll find comprehensive orthopedic care—whether you’re an athlete who needs sports medicine services or you’re someone who needs a total joint replacement. Our all-inclusive gynecology program offers high-quality care to the women and mothers in our community with a variety of women’s care services. We’ve even been designated as a Center of Excellence for our weight loss surgery program, meeting nationally recognized standards and providing outstanding care to our patients. And all of this extraordinary care exists right here in Plant City. Learn more: SouthFloridaBaptistSurgery.org
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COMINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE August 202246PAGE 2022 GREATER PLANT CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SALUTE TO AGRICULTURE
Agri-business of the Year – Astin Farms
As a fourth-generation familyowned and operated business, Astin Farms has grown to be the largest independent strawberry producer in Florida. Throughout the harvest, Astin Strawberry Ex change of Plant City, Florida, and Astin Family Farms of Riverview, Florida, provide packing, cooling, and shipping services. Together, Astin represents more than 1,500 acres of strawberries and 400 acres of blueberries. The berries are sold across the United States, and some are exported to Canada. During the winter months, you can expect to see Astin strawberries at many local gro cery stores.
Andy McDonald was born into agriculture, growing up learn ing farming and hard work from his father, Steve McDonald. He is a fifth generation farmer in the Plant City area. He is proud to have served on the Florida Strawberry Growers Association for over 20 years, be ing named president twice. He is a very proud partner at Sweet Life Farms, which has been blessed to continue to grow since its founding. As proud as he is of his farming ac complishments, he is most proud of his wife and family. Andy and his wife Jean Ann are most blessed with their three children, sons Cooper and Knox and daughter Charlee. Supporter of Youth In Agriculture – J.D. Cauley
J.D. was born in Plant City Florida and raised in Lithia on Bo Ryals Dairy Farm. His Father was a Dairyman and mother was a homemaker who raised 5 children. Due to his parents’ divorce his mother remarried and the children all lived the travels of military life. His mother and stepfather returned to Lithia and even tually moved to Lakeland. J.D. was extremely close to his family. He attended Plant City High School and transferred to Kathleen due to some teenage troubles that ultimately benefited him later in life and is a big part of what drives him to support the youth and especially those involved in agriculture. J.D. worked on the dairy farm and Piper Aircraft, Lykes Brothers, James Hardie Building Products and IMC Agrico (which is now Mosaic). JD married Patricia in October of 1984 and they have two children (Jarrod and Ethan). While raising children they remained in the Springhead area and J.D. became a volun teer umpire with Little League and Umpired the Little League World Series in 2006. In 2004 J.D. joined the Strawberry Fes tival Swine and Steer Committees and continues to serve on those committees. He considers being able to assist the youth with their animal projects to be his greatest accomplishment. In 2006 JD began another career at Magnum Steel as an outside sales rep and began raising cattle under the Circle C cattle brand. These cattle are raised for the youth that par ticipate in the Strawberry Festival and in 2008 Circle C Cattle produced the Grand Champion Carcass. J.D. volunteers for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Depart ment Reserves and specializes in the Agriculture Division. J.D. is also a Team Leader for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol Team. He has completed both the R1 and R2 Academies for HCSO. J.D. was named Reserve Deputy of the Year for 2022.
Reed serves on the Boards for Farm Credit of Central Florida, Brandon Regional Hospital and Hillsborough County Agricul tural Economic Development Council. He is a member of the Realtors Land Institute (RLI), Strawberry Growers Association, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, and other industry groups.
Ag Educator of the Year – Robert Wilder
Agriculturalist of the Year – Reed Fischbach Reed Fischbach is the owner of Fischbach Land Company and is a Licensed Real Estate Bro ker. He specializes in agricultural, commercial, and transitional land. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from the University of EarlyFlorida.on, Reed’s grandfather told him that after he completed his education, he needed to find some land for himself. At an ear ly age, with this advice in mind, Reed developed a genuine re spect and appreciation for land. Reed started Fischbach Land Company in 2008 to cultivate his mission of supporting property owners in their real es tate decisions. He has always been close to the land and has developed a deep knowledge and respect for agricultural producers. He guides clients thoughtfully through their land decisions in the context of the current land market. Over the years, he has come to know the area’s landowners of farms, horse communities, agriculture, and commercial. Reed has earned a reputation of integrity and work ethic that focuses on solutions that cater to client’s specific needs.
Young Agriculturalist of the Year – Andy McDonald
A 7th generation Floridian and 6th generation Plant City native, Wilder grew up on the north side of Plant City. His family had a small navel orange grove and some cat tle. His father taught agriculture and his mother taught English. He was active in FFA and 4-H showing plants, swine, chicken, and steers. Wilder competed in forestry and ag mechanics. In his free time he likes to grow vegetables and flow ers at the farm and travel with his wife around the country to see new things and try new foods. Wilder graduated from the University of Florida in 2012 with a degree in ag operations management and he has been teaching horticulture and fundantals of ag at Tomlin since 2016. He enjoys coaching Forestry, vegetable judging, nurs ery and landscape and Floriculture.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE August 2022 47 PAGE
Mosaic Program Ensures Burrowing Owls Not Only Survive But Thrive
They stand about nine inches in height, roughly the diameter of a basketball or just a little shorter than an iron. They weigh about the same as a cup of blueberries. They are also in-themidst of a fight to survive as their habitat is developed.
Data from the tags combined with an army of cameras are starting to reveal more about the life of these owls. Utilizing as many as 1,500 derived locations a day, Mosaic biologists can determine the size of the owl’s territory, their favorite place to hunt, and what they are hunting.
The sandy soils, short trees and sparse vegetation of re claimed “scrub” habitats make them particularly hospitable to other burrowing animals like the gopher tortoise. Florida’s phosphate industry has successfully relocated thousands of gopher tortoises to suitable habitat out of harm’s way.
Studies have shown owls do well on pasture lands used by cattle. Cattle keep the brush down which in turn helps the owls dig burrows and spot predators such as coyotes or even other, larger owls who hunt their much smaller counterparts.
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The Florida burrowing owl is listed as a state Threatened spe cies, but most Floridians have never seen them. Mosaic is working to find solutions as to what are the best methods to implement in order to increase survival during and after dis Andturbance. theburrowing
Mosaic’s work extends beyond the burrowing owl. We trans locate species “of special concern” from mining areas to both unmined and reclaimed lands — many of which are desig nated as perpetual conservation easements.
Thanks to field research and a tagging program, we can now track the owls in nearly real time learning about their move ments, habitat preference, and overall ability to adjust to ac tivities around them.
Long before a permit is issued, experts are talking about and designing the habitat that follows on reclaimed land.
owl isn’t alone. There’s the Florida scrubjay, the eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise, and others. Many of these species call Mosaic lands home, which is why as a large landowner and an impactive industry, the Mosaic Company has devoted resources and expertise to making sure the state’s native creatures continue to exist. Take the owl as an example. They live year-round in Florida breeding during March through June, and now persist nearly exclusively in grazed pasture habitats of rural Florida, or in suburban areas on vacant blocks. In recent years, Mosaic has undertaken several research and mitigation programs. For example, in collaboration with the Florida Wildlife Commis sion, Mosaic is measuring how burrowing owls are using post mined, recreated habitat.
In 2020, Mosaic banded and tagged nearly 70 adults. Two years later, the company confirmed 32 breeding pairs with 31 chicks so far. Ten of those are already old enough to be banded themselves.
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Mining is a temporary land use. Mosaic works to restore habi tat, reconnect corridors, and restore streams. Each plays a critical part in ensuring these native Florida creatures have room to roam. We recognize the impact of mining. We’re proud our jobs help farmers grow the food we count on, ensuring a domestic food supply. We also call the central and southwest Florida communities where we operate home and while many will never see or know about the environmental leadership and stewardship at the center of the life’s work for many on our team, that’s ok. They know the legacy they leave means a creature the size of an iron, weighing about the same as a cup of blueberries has found the champion it needs to not only survive but thrive.
For more information about Mosaic’s wildlife programs, stewardship/ www.mosaicfloridaphosphate.com/environment/wildlife-visit
Hillsborough River State Park Society Seeking Donations for Fort Foster Renovation
For more information about the park and fort, as well as be coming a member of the Hillsborough River State Park, visit: historyandnature.org.
In recent years, park staff and re-enactors provided living history demonstrations of life at Fort Foster, providing living history events – Fort Foster Rendezvous in January and the candlelight Dinner experience at Fort Foster during the winter months. Park staff has also conducted weekly tours, allowing visitors to tour the fort and grounds. Such events and tours are no longer taking place until the fort can undergo a major restoration. The wooden structures have deteriorated over the years and while there have been some repairs, the support structures and boardwalks must be replaced. Volunteers have complet ed a preliminary assessment of needed repairs to make Fort Foster safe for the public. The estimated cost of the materials and hardware exceeds $75,000 which is beyond the capa bilities of the HRSP, a volunteer Citizen Support Organization (CSO), founded in 1993. It is a not-for-profit Florida Corpora tion established to support the needs of the park and fort.
Collection boxes are also located within the park, located nine miles south of Zephyrhills on U.S. Highway 301. Fort Foster is also located on U.S. Highway 301, across from the park.
By Jim Frankowiak
Hillsborough River State Park and Fort Foster Historic Site, like other parks in Florida, have programs and physical needs which exceed the state’s ability to provide funding and sup port, a role of the HRSP as it strives to fulfill the mission of the park – “to provide resource-based recreation while preserv ing, interpreting and restoring natural, cultural and historical Theresources.”Society has established a Go-Fund-Me account through which contributions can be made toward the restoration of Fort Foster. It can be accessed by visiting: https://www.go fundme.com/f/restoration-of-fort-foster.
Fort Foster Historic Site, part of the Hillsborough River State Park (HRSP) south of Zephyrhills needs our help. The fort is a reproduction of a fort originally built on the same grounds in 1836 by Col. William S. Foster and his 430 men. It is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Fort Foster was utilized during the Second Seminole War to defend the bridge crossing the Hillsborough River and served as a supply point for soldiers in the field. The fort was staffed with soldiers from December 1836 through April 1838.
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“There are opportunities for their assistance at all levels, and we would certainly ap preciate additional volunteers to our team,” she said. For more information, visit: hcfarmbureau.org or call the HCFB office in Plant City at 813-685-9121.
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau (HCFB), also known as “the Voice of Agriculture,” has an active and important role in educating local and state electoral office candi dates, as well those currently serving in local, state and national elected offices. That is especially important during an election year, though it is an ongoing role for HCFB at all Whiletimes.theviability of agriculture in Hillsborough County is critical to farmers and ranch ers, it also has an impact on all residents. You have undoubtedly seen the phrase, “No Farmers, No Food,” a statement of fact that’s always part of the HCFB message to its varied stakeholders, including candidates and officeholders.
HCFBcussed.Executive Director Kaylee Poppell and HCFB President Dennis Carlton Jr. met with Congressman Vern Buchanan where they discussed the proposal to discontinue the use of Thiram in strawberry production and the devastation this would cause to the Florida strawberry Industry.
By Jim Frankowiak
In recent months, HCFB has hosted District 3 County Commissioner Gwen Myers on a tour of JayMar Produce where Commissioner Myers learned about strawberry pro duction, labor issues and farmworker housing among other important subjects dis
HCFB has also hosted numerous county commission candidates and state repre sentative candidates at their monthly board meetings to help these candidates un derstand the importance of agriculture in both Hillsborough County and the State of Florida. During these meetings, HCFB members had the opportunity to discuss current proposed rules and bills that could impact the agriculture industry as well as needs for the industry.
The Hillsborough County Agricultural Political Action Committee (PAC) also serves the local community by supporting candidates who support the agriculture industry and serve as our voice in county commission/legislative sessions.
HCFB reaches candidates and current commissioners/legislators by inviting them to board meetings and functions, such as the annual meeting, as well as hosting tours of Hillsborough County farms and ranches. During these tours, HCFB members open up their operations and they, along with HCFB board members, discuss the current issues and challenges they are facing as well as policies they need to ensure their farms can remain sustainable and profitable.
“State Representative Lawrence McClure, who also serves on the HCFB board, has been an important asset of HCFB as he continues to educate his colleagues, other candidates, HCFB members and the general public about agriculture,” said Poppell. “We also travel to Tallahassee and our nation’s Capital to meet with our elected of ficials and their staff members to assure that they are current on the challenges and needs of our industry from a lawmaking perspective,” noted Poppell.
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“The Voice of Agriculture” Hard at Work
Effectively serving as the Voice of Agriculture is an ongoing need. “We would wel come Farm Bureau members, both new and old in Hillsborough County, who would like to join with us,” said Poppell.
Diaz is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at the UF-Plant City campus focusing on program evaluation, community develop ment, behavior change, social mar keting and local resilience. He has responsibilities in research, exten sion and Desaeger,teaching.anAssociate
Dr. Whitaker, Professor of Horticulture, develops strawberry varieties for Florida growers. His breeding program is enhanced through genetic research and through col laborations with the GCREC faculty team ad Florida strawberry industry. Dr. Whita ker works closely with Florida Foundation Seed Producers, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association and Ekland Marketing Company to license and market UF/IFAS varieties in Florida and around the world.
FIVE FACULTY
PROMOTED AT THE GCREC By Jim Frankowiak
Professor at the GCREC, is focused on develop ing integrated nematode manage ment (INM) programs for Florida ag riculture with a focus on vegetables, small fruits, ornamental and alterna tive crops. Research is undertaken at the GCREC research facilities and in farmer’s fields. An Associate Professor of Horticul ture, Agehara and his group focus on the development of vegetable and fruit production practices to im prove productivity, product quality and resource conservation. The pro gram covers Florida’s major crops, including tomato, strawberry, blue berry bell pepper and cucurbits, as well as new specialty crops such as blackberry, hops and pomegranate.
Five members of the faculty at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) have been promoted. They are John Diaz, Johan De saeger, Shinsuke Agehara, Abd-Elrahman and Vance Whitaker. More information is available on these faculty and the GCREC by visiting: gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu.
Dr. Amr Abd-Elrahman, Professor of Geo matics, supervises both undergraduate programs in Geomatics at the GCREC Plant Cuty Center. His research focuses on utiliz ing remote sensing techniques to provide information needed in natural resources management/monitoring and precision agriculture applications. The research program involves multispectral and hy perspectral image classification, lidar data processing and geospatial analysis.
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The University of Florida (UF) and Michigan State University (MSU) Extension have collaborated to offer growers and tech nical staff in the greenhouse and controlled environment in dustry two online training programs. Under the new collabo ration, growers who pass five courses in plant health in these programs can obtain a new certificate of completion that rec ognizes their training, skills and dedication.
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The first four courses are offered by UF, while the last two are from MSU and the University of Kentucky. Growers sign up for individual courses through UF (hort.ifas. ufl.edu/training) and MSU websites (canr.msu.edu/onlinecollege-of-knowledge).
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Extension Offers New Online Training for Growers and Greenhouse and EnvironmentControlledStaffers
The new collaboration is online any time of day and bilingual (English and Spanish). Growers must pass five of six courses, which include:•Nutrient management Disease management Weed management Water quality and treatment Abiotic disorders Biological control
Email: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl. edu once five courses are successfully completed and grow ers can obtain their certificate of completion at an annual graduation ceremony, the first of which is anticipated in July of The2023.first course in the series, Nutrient Management Level 1, is now available. For more information, email: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu. Greenhouse Training Online is supported by the Florida Re search Alliance.
By Jim Frankowiak
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To Carl and Dee Dee, berries are business. But they’re also ser vice. When Dee Dee took that call from Betty Jo, they were 25 years into a 4-H friendship that began with Betty Jo’s club gleaning the Fancy Farms fields to supply food banks and oth er charities with berries. And, after all, it was just one time. Betty Jo called again the next year. And the next. And the next. They knew Betty Jo would be calling again this year. But this time she wanted to surprise and honor them. She needed to see them in person. It was easy to find them. The Grooms family has won so many awards for their service to the agriculture industry that all Betty Jo had to do was show up at a ceremony where they were already being honored by someone else. She went to the Re gent in Riverview, where Carl and Dee Dee’s family was being honored for 2022 Outstanding Project of the Year Award from the Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Though Dustin was never formally in 4-H, he was raised the same way his dad was. He got those 4-H lessons at home on the farm. Only he had hundreds of 4-Hers coming to his home and farm to learn those lessons, too.
Hillsborough County 4-H was in a rough spot. A local farmer who had volunteered his field for a U-pick fundraiser had to back out at the last minute.
By J. Scott Angle
Hillsborough 4-H Foundation leader Betty Jo Tompkins turned to Carl and Dee Dee Grooms with a request—can we send a few hundred people to your farm to pick your bushes clean and keep for 4-H the money they spend for the berries? Just one time.
Carl explained from the stage last month that he never be longed to a 4-H club but that he got the lessons of 4-H at home on the farm from his dad. Today, he sees 4-H and his berry fields as tools to teach youth those same lessons. The U-picks teach adults as well, namely, where their food comes from, how much work goes into producing it, and how important it is that Floridians support agriculture.
Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natu ral Resources and leader of the UF Insti tute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD
Sixteen annual calls later and $100,000 raised for 4-H since Betty Jo’s just-one-time request, she asked Carl and Dee Dee to bring the family to Gainesville in July to be inducted into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame.
The Grooms family’s generosity has paid for a lot of residential summer camp scholarships and 4-H University scholarships, trips to Tallahassee for 4-H Legislature, as well as trips to state, regional and national judging events.
Betty Jo has dropped all pretense by this point. In fact, she doesn’t even call Dee Dee. Carl and Dee Dee’s son Dustin runs the farm now.
Dustin’s always ready for Betty Jo’s call, and he always says yes. She and 4-H long ago taught him the true meaning of “Just one time.”
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The Wilder Road is still there and little Jesse Logston is still playing the wildwood flowers on a gold guitar. Mr. George H. Wilder you can rest in peace because there is a new om bre and his family by the name of Mr. Charley and Mrs. Betty Grimes that has moved on Wilder Road. Mr. Charley is packing a big gun loaded with strawberries. The Mrs. Maggie Taylor home is still there at the corner of Wilder and Midway Roads. The old wood school building and the two block school buildings that were built in the late 30s are gone. All that is left is the Midway Baptist church and the civic center.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COMINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE August 202258PAGE EIGHTY-TWO YEARS LATER
Mr. Alfred(Webb) Davis was the heavy weight. In may 1944 Mr. Davis, Mr. Gordon Dempsey, a super-super gentleman, and I, just turned 17 years old when we decided to join the US Coast Guard. Everything went well until Alfred got on the weight scales. His weight was 96 pounds. The minimum weight re quired was one hundred and sixteen pounds. After almost a year eating everything that was fattening, he joined the U.S. Navy. After his Honorable Discharge he and Miss Betty Jean Rubling were married. He acquired a job at IMC Bonnie mine. After 40 years plus he went from title labor to manager of their shipping port in Tampa, FL.
The next one to the right is the 95 year old marble shooter, me, George Elder. By my side is Mr. Wallace Barber. After serving four years and receiving an Honorable Discharge from the U.S.A.F., he married Miss Faye Paul. He acquired a Job with Tampa Electric Co. and retired after 31 years.
Mr. John Cone and wife Mrs. Mary Frankie Cone have moved their dairy to heaven and they still prefer the golden guernsey cattle. Don’t let anyone tell you that earthly angels do not live to be elderly. Mrs. Mary Frankie Cone lived to be over a hun dred before she received her heavenly wings. The Midway Road is about the same until you get to Taylor Road. The dirt road east of Taylor Road has been paved and nice homes built on both sides of the road. Mr. Richard Platt’s old home has been replaced by a new one. The old wood bridge over Itchepackesassa Canal on Knights Griffin was re placed by a new modern bridge. From Knights Griffin South to Mt. Enon (I-4) the road has a big change except the land west between Knights Griffin Road and Midway Road it is about the same. Standing at the cross road of Taylor and Midway road looking Northwest one can only imagine what it will look like in the next eighty two years.
By George J. Elder
December 1941, when Pearl Harbor was bombed and presi dent Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the Second World War, there were about 15 or 16 patriotic families living on Taylor Road. Of these families there were 21 men that I personally went to school with, fished and hunted with, or picked straw berries with that volunteered or were drafted into the military service during the Second World War and Korean War. They were: Mr. Wallace Barber U.S.A.F., Mr. Hugh Platt U.S. Navy, Mr. Ervin Ortman U.S. Army, Mr. Rex Ortman U.S.A.F., Mr. Lewis Elder U.S. Navy, Mr. J.W. Elder U.S.M.C., Mr. George U.S.M.M., FL. N.G., and the U.S. Army, Mr. Calvin Elder U.S. Navy, Mr. Flavris Dempsey U.S. Army and FL. N.G., Mr. Ken neth Dempsey U.S.M.C. and FL. N.G., Mr. Gordon Dempsey U.S. Navy, Mr. Alvin Futch U.S. Army, Mr. Howard Imler U.S. Army, Mr. David Imler U.S.M.M., Mr. Jasper Imler U.S. Army, Mr. Franklin Smith U.S. Army, Mr. Monroe Smith U.S.A.F., Mr. Pete Davis U.S. Navy, Mr. Alfred (Webb) Davis U.S. Navy, Mr. Wil liam Smith U.S. Army and Mr. J.L. Smith U.S. Navy. We moved from Taylor Road in 1943 so I apologize to the other men that served in the military during that time.
Mr. Billy Sloan married Miss Dorthy Strahan. He Retired from Asgro FL co after 33 years. I have known him all of his 83 years
The six men in the group picture taken at my 90th birthday party all grew up in the midway and Mt. Enon area. They are (left to right) Mr. Charley Grimes, who married Miss Betty Rob erts. After Graduation he acquired a job with IMC at Bonnie Mine in operation and worked there as chief operator until they started the maintenance training program. He trans ferred and worked in maintenance until he decided to get back to the roots of farming like his forefathers. He did not stop there. Within ten or fifteen years he was one of the top strawberry growers in Florida. He has his own packing and shipping facilities (Grimes Produce) also one of the finest cat tle ranches that I have ever seen.
This article is a follow up of the article published in the June 2020 In The Field magazine titled, Eighty Year Old Dream. This is, Eighty-Two Years Later. This is no dream, instead the cold hard facts. All of the familyowned grocery stores, bicycle shops, Capitol Theater and Ice Plant are gone. Except for Felton’s, it is still going strong. Gordon street is still there with all the changes. Houses are as thick as they can stick to them. The nine-foot Mt. Enon road has been replaced by Interstate 4. The sawmill and moss plant are gone. Looking west all, you can see is redlights, over passes, and four lanes of traffic coming and going the same looking east.
of life. I was visiting his brother Earl and his sister brought him out on the porch the morning after he was born.
Mr. Earl Sloan married Miss Nettie Jean Moore and acquired a job with Kilgore Seed Co. I was told by another employee that his first title was Do-it-Boy. He would do anything that would benefit the company. During the 40 years plus that he worked for the company, the company changed its name three or four times from Kilgore Seed Company to Asgrow Seed Company In 1968 Upjohn Co. acquired the company and in 1970 changed the name to Asgro FL. Each time the company changed names the new company would see the ability that Mr. Sloan had and would give him a higher position, he went from (Do-IT-Boy) to manager of all the stores in South FL. He achieved the employee of the year from Asgro FL Co. which has hundreds of employees. One could say these men had achieved the American Dream. Like the men said they worked for it. I have heard the saying behind every man’s success there is a good woman. That is true in these men’s cases. Four have been married over 60 years and two over 70 years. I was looking at the group picture one day and wonder ing how long I had known each one of them. I added up the amount of years I had known each one and the total was over four hundred years. This article would not be complete without including a lady that lived on Taylor Road. In 1939 she had a family of her own and had very little but was willing to share it with other kids. I recall one time when a friend and I caught a ride with a farmer taking his strawberries to the market to see a movie. It was dark when the movie was over and by the time we walked the seven miles home it was pretty late. The friend lived about a mile from me and because it was dark, I was afraid to walk by myself so I asked him to spend the night with me. When we arrived at my house, I knocked on the door and the lady came to the door holding a kerosene lamp. The first thing she said was, “You boys had anything to eat?” I replied, “A coke and a popcorn,” and she said, “Well I can fix you an egg and biscuit sandwich or I can cook you a pone of cornbread and you can have a pone of milk and cornbread.” The vote was two to zero for the pone of cornbread.
Some 50 years later I received a phone call from Birmingham, Alabama where he had moved. He told me his doctor told him he had lung cancer and he had a few weeks to live. He asked me if mom Elder was still living. I replied yes and she is in her mid 90s. He said that he was coming to Lakeland to visit his sister and cousins and asked me if I would take him to see mom Elder. I told him that she lived in Lakeland, and I could pick him up at his sister’s house and take him to see her. She lived with my sister and brother-in-law. He knew him because they went to Kathleen School together. When we walked in I asked my mother if she knew this person and she replied, “I don’t know which one but he is one of the Impler boys.” He told us that he was Howard. After a short visit he told her that he had never forgotten the time she got up after dark and baked a pone of cornbread so that we could have a bowl of milk and cornbread. There is not a day that I don’t thank the Good Lord for the opportunity and blessing to call that lady GodMother.Bless and keep reading the In the Field Magazine. I will give you an update in five years.
P.S. The author of this article is 95 years old and has a BA de gree from Mt. Enon School and a Master Degree from Midway School in Marble shooting.
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The GCPSA is an organization promoting the advancement of education and professional development of graduate stu dents and postdocs at the University of Florida-Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) located at Balm and Plant City, Florida. The association was founded in 2017 by a group of graduate students and postdocs with the mission of organizing academic seminars for the community working at the GCREC.
· To foster professional mentorship among postdoctoral scholars and graduate students.
· Bi-weekly research seminar series every spring and fall se mesters to showcase the research carried at the GCREC.
ENHANCING THE GCREC EXPERIENCE
Since 2017, graduate students and post-doctoral research ers (postdocs) have had the opportunity to enhance their ex perience at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) by joining and participating in the varied activities of the Postdoc and Student Association (GCPSA).
· Professional development workshops to enhance the knowl edge and skills of students.
· Poster contests where students showcase their research.
The general goals of the GCPSA are:
In 2018, the association was officially established as the GCP SA when the founding members ratified the organization’s constitution. An executive committee composed of a Presi dent, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Program Develop ment Chair, Marketing and Communication Chair, Plant City Campus and Faculty Advisor is elected by the general mem bers each year.
· To promote the use of peer groups as a resource for solving challenging research problems.
· To enhance communication and networking between grad uate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty within and outside of GCREC.
· To create and promote intellectual, social, and cultural op portunities between graduate students, postdoctoral schol ars, and faculty within and outside GCREC.
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· Outreach and education events.
“In 2021, GCPSA organized a total of seven research seminars which were focused on providing updates, progress and re sults of our member’s research activities,” said current GCPSA President Edgar Sierra. “We also conducted a summer work shop aimed at improving our members’ technical and leader ship skills for the benefit of their personal and professional development. The research seminar and workshop series have resulted in hundreds of cumulative learning hours for our members.” Other notable activities successfully orga nized and hosted by GCPSA in the past include the inter-re search and education center poster competition attended by several participants from other UF Research and Education Centers. During this competition, the top post doc, graduate and undergraduate posters were recognized. “GCPSA also organizes spring and fall ‘Welcome Day’ social events for new and current graduate students and post-doc toral researchers,” noted Sierra. “In 2022, we are continuing to organize these activities and we expect to surpass the num ber of learning hours achieved in previous years. We con ducted a seminar series in spring and are planning the series for fall. “In coordination with our industry partners, we will organize a field trip to visit industry research fields and facilities in Florida which represents an excellent opportunity for exposure of students to the industry where they can develop networking to expand their professional relationships. Our organization also actively participates in various GCREC activities such as the Florida Ag-Expo. We also continue to organize welcome days and social events for the students. Additionally, we con tinue to organize workshops and special seminars to enhance
· Social activities.
· To foster outreach with industry and academic communities.
· Industry field trips.
By Jim Frankowiak
· Welcome days and student orientations for incoming new students where they can interact and meet the community at GCREC.
· To foster interdisciplinary collaboration among postdoctoral researchers and graduate students with diverse specializa Overall,tions. the GCPSA has developed and implemented the fol lowing activities:
· To provide professional enrichment opportunities to gradu ate students and postdoctoral scholars.
“Tosessions.helpour
· Plant City Campus Representative: Ju naid Lone - Horticulture · Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sriyanka Lahiri, As sistant Professor of Entomology “Building on our past successes, GCPSA will continue to organize the spring and fall research seminar series to provide additional venue for our members to communicate the results and progress of their research and to serve as a train ing ground to hone their presentation and communication skills,” said Sierra. “A summer professional development workshop series will also be organized with emphasis on soft skills develop ment of our members.” Additional ac tivities in the GCPSA “pipeline” include networking with similar post doc and graduate student organizations within UF and from other U.S. universities in the form of online “Zoom, Meet and Greet”
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE August 2022 61 PAGE the learning opportunities of the GCREC community” said Sierra. “The formation of the association is one of the best initiatives we have instituted at the GCREC,” said Center Director Dr. Jack Rechcigl. “It brings students to gether educationally and socially help ing career growth in a variety of ways. Also, members conduct Center tours, which is especially important when those groups consist of younger stu dents since I believe our guides better relate to them age-wise. And, as they participate in the association’s varied programs they become more comfort able speaking publicly and interacting with a variety of audiences, skills that will help them advance their careers.”
·tureTreasurer: Mark Porter - Horticulture · Program Development: Lilian Pride·HorticultureMarketingand Communication: Esnaih Munthali - Entomology
· President: Edgar Sierra - Horticulture · Vice president: Gabrieli Riva - Nema
members maintain and im prove their mental and physical well-be ing, we plan to hold several sports and social events throughout next year such as friendly basketball, beach volleyball, and soccer games,” said Leonard Gas par, current Secretary and 2023 presi dent of the organization. “We will con tinue to foster strong relationships with our industry partners by engaging with them during field trips and Ag-Expo.
Current Officers for 2022, all of whom are graduate students and their areas of study are:
Rechcigl, who also holds a similar post at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education, notes the expansion of the association outreach has exposed members to other areas of research and education. “At the Fort Lauderdale REC our focus is effectively meeting urban challenges such as termites, turf grass, palm trees and water quality,” he said. “Overall, this initiative has broadened the horizons for these students and also our Membershipresearchers.”inthis organization is open to all enrolled students at the Univer sity of Florida. The GCPSA represents more than 50 post-doctoral researchers and graduate students from 17 different countries who came to UF to conduct research and receive advanced educa tion in diverse fields such as horticul tural science, environmental horticul ture, weed science, nematology, plant breeding, genetics, genomics, soil and water science, plant pathology, ento mology, landscaping, phenomics, ag ricultural economics and agricultural “Theengineering.research our members carry in volves finding solutions for the chal lenges and needs of Florida growers of strawberries, tomatoes, blackberries, blueberries, hops, ornamentals, cucur bits and many other economically im portant crops,” said Sierra.
One new seminar series being planned for next year is the International Agricul tural Research seminar series. Scientists working at world-class international agricultural research institutions will be invited to talk about how their research helps farmers feed the world. The goal of this seminar series will be to update our members with current develop ments in the international agriculture research community, and to widen their horizon for future employment opportu “Thenities.”GCPSA leadership is comprised of a driven group of graduate students who aspire to provide their colleagues at the GCREC the best experience through networking and several profes sional development activities,” said cur rent Faculty Advisor Dr. Lahiri. “I have found their dedication and commitment highly commendable. Such an organi zation is an asset for students working at research centers,” she concluded.
·tologySecretary: Leonard Gaspar - Horticul
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