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HARVEST OF HAPPINESS
Letter from the Editor
Merry Christmas everyone! I am once again struggling with gift ideas and promised myself I would not wait until the last minute to do my Christmas shopping, but here we are. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is definitely real for me. I find myself stressing and making last minute preparations. But you know what? It’s absolutely worth it. When it’s all said and done, I look back at the time I got to spend with friends that have become family and it fills my heart with joy. Deep down I know that no one cares if I didn’t get the perfect gift and that I had to buy something to take for Christmas dinner because let’s just say cooking isn’t my strong suit. So, if you are feeling overwhelmed with everything you have to do for the holiday festivities, remember the true reason for the Christmas season. Luke 2:10-11
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
That should fill your heart with peace. Please remember, when shopping for your Christmas dinner, to purchase foods that are Fresh From Florida. And if it isn’t your normal addition, add some strawberries. Our growers, along with everyone else involved in agriculture, took a big hit with the hurricanes this year. We always need to support them, but especially this year.
In The Field magazine has been covering what is growing for 20 years now! We look forward to bringing you many more years of stories of agriculture. Thank you for reading. You make it possible for us to continue what we love to do.
Until Next Month (Year)
Sarah Holt
Publisher/Photography
Karen Berry
Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher
Sarah Holt Sales
Karen Berry
Sarah Holt
De De Floyd
Melissa Nichols
Creative Director/Illustrator
Juan Alvarez
Photography
Alexis Greene
Staff Writers
Al Berry
Sandy Kaster
James Frankowiak
Sean Green
Autum Miller
Contributing Writers
Wade Osborne
John Dicks
Tiffany Dale
Social Media
Victoria Saunders
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association.
Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909
Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
SEASON’S GREETINGS AND MORE
-Casey Simmons Runkles - President
Farm Bureau Family Members
Let me begin by wishing all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas. This is a special time of the year for all of us. I would also like to ask you to join me in supporting our strawberry growers as they work to overcome the challenges presented by the hurricanes that beset us within the last few months.
Fresh from Florida strawberries are currently available, please be sure to read the label and support our local farms. They are healthy for all of us, and we need to be sure that the extraordinary efforts of our strawberry growers, particularly this season, do not go unnoticed. After Hurricane Milton, many strawberry growers had to restart their season. Yes, they had to start from the beginning once the hurricane damage had been addressed. They rose to that challenge with untold hours of hard cleanup work and the replanting of berries. That’s like rebuilding a home after the frame and roof have been built. It’s hard and costly work that had to be done, and it was. So, let’s show our support and add strawberries to your dinner table this holiday season!
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Getting back to Christmas, let me make a suggestion to those of you who are not members of Florida Farm Bureau. Please consider a family membership as a gift this Christmas. Membership is truly a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. By joining you not only support our industry but also open the door to a wide range of benefits that deserve your attention from travel discounts and family entertainment options to more. Check them out by visiting: https:// floridafarmbureau.org/benefits/save.
And, if you are a member, please consider getting involved at the local, state or national levels. The “Voice of Agriculture” needs to be heard, and your help in that regard would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Casey Simmons Runkles
Casey Runkles - President
Board of Directors
Casey Runkles, Brittany Coleman, Madison Astin Salter, Clay Joyner, Michelle Williamson, Travis Council, Drew Futch, Steve Neely, John Bertram, Jim Romkey, Brian Shoop, Tommy Hubble.
BARBOUR’S MAP TURTLE
The Barbour’s Map Turtle is the largest species of map turtle. Shell length for the species differs by sex. Female shells can grow up to 11 inches, while male shells can grow up to six inches. This species has a gray ovalshaped shell with two to four individual spikes along the vertical center of the upper shell. These spikes become worn down to knobs on female shells. The large head is used to crush mollusks. This species also has black-and-green striped skin with a yellow mark on or below the chin.
Barbour’s Map Turtles can be found in the Gulf Coastal Plain in the Apalachicola and Choctawhatchee River systems. This limited range includes parts of southeast Alabama, southwest Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle. The Chattahoochee, Flint, and Chipola Rivers, where these turtles reside, are clear flowing with limestone rock and cobble bottoms. They are also rich in mollusks and contain many fallen trees and exposed rocks for basking.
The nesting season for Barbour’s Map Turtles is from June to August. The only reports of mating have been during the winter months from captive turtles. Nests are laid on sandbars or riverbanks as far away as 656 ft. from the water. They typically contain 4-11 eggs that hatch in late August and September. The temperature during incubation determines the sex ratio of hatchlings as with many turtle species; warmer temperatures result in a higher number of females. Males become sexually mature at four years, while females reach maturity at 15-20 years.
Basking is a common occurrence in this species of map turtle and usually takes place on rocks, tree branches, or tree stumps at a safe distance from shore. They have been recorded to bask at temperatures as low as 10°C, but in general, there is not much activity in colder months.
Barbour’s Map Turtles will dive into the water at the slightest disturbance. Due to their powerful jaws, females maintain a diet of primarily aquatic snails and freshwater mussels. Females have also been known to scrape freshwater sponges off hard substratum. Males and juveniles tend to ingest softer-bodied invertebrates such as caddisflies and dragonfly nymphs. Raccoons and other mammals cause the most harm to eggs and hatchlings but introduced fire ants have also become a major problem. Fire ants are likely to pose a
By Libby Hopkins
problem for many egg-laying reptiles, but we have few data quantifying those impacts.
Because rivers in Florida are relatively stable and persistent, riverine species like the Barbour’s Map Turtle are less profoundly threatened by habitat destruction than much of the state’s herpetofauna. Nonetheless, various human-generated threats to the integrity of lotic systems, including their floodplains, affect Florida’s riverine turtles.
The threat of chemical pollution (from industry, cities, boats, or highways) is especially dangerous to a species such as the Barbour’s Map Turtle that is confined to very few river systems, with but a single system harboring most individuals.
The problem is compounded by the Apalachicola River receiving pollutants from Georgia and Alabama. In non-impounded sections of the Apalachicola River, channel maintenance operations for shipping have altered the river bottom profile, removed preferred basking sites essential to Barbour’s Map Turtle, covered nesting sites with sediment, though incidentally creating new sites, and altered natural hydrological regimes in the floodplain.
Barbour’s Map Turtles also face the natural threat of the destruction of their nests by boat strikes, though difficult to detect, may be a significant source of mortality in some areas more heavily used by man; large females are particularly vulnerable.
Barbour’s Map Turtles were hunted in the past; however, rule 68A-27.005 of the Florida Administrative Code makes it illegal to take, possess, or sell the Barbour’s Map Turtle. They are still on the Florida Endangered Species list.
DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR FILING BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INFORMATION WITH THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT
By Jim Frankowiak
Time is running out for thousands of farmers who may face steep fines and possible jail time for failing to file their businesses with the federal government. Jan. 1, 2025, is the deadline to file Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) (www.fincen.gov/boi) with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
The Corporate Transparency Act of 2021 requires businesses to register any “beneficial owner” of a company in an effort to combat money laundering. Many farms are structured as either a c-corporation, s-corporation, or limited liability company (LLC), which are now required to be registered if they employ fewer than 20 employees or receive under $5 million in cash receipts – which covers the vast majority of farms.
“The use of LLCs is an important tool for many farms to keep personal and business assets separated, but small businesses often lack the staff to track and stay in compliance with changing rules and regulations,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “It’s clear that many farmers aren’t aware of the new filing requirement. Unclear guidance and lack of public outreach are now putting
thousands of America’s farmers at risk of violating federal law.”
Businesses that fail to file, or do not update records when needed, could face criminal fines up to $10,000 and additional civil penalties of up to $591 per day. Failure to file could also lead to felony charges and up to two years in prison.
“The greater farm economy will also be impacted by CTA requirements,” AFBF economists write. “Many feed and supply stores, crop marketers like grain elevators, and the greater rural business community are also likely required to file their BOI and subject to penalties if they do not comply. The regulatory burdens and potential enforcement crackdowns could have ripple effects throughout the entire food, fiber, and fuel supply chains.”
Farmers are encouraged to contact an accountant or attorney if they are unsure whether they are required to file their business’s BOI with FinCEN.
2024 Hillsborough County Fair Results
Beef Breed Show
American Influence
Heifer
Grand - Lietz, Nicole
Reserve - Taylor, Alli
3rd Peacock, Hannah
4th Lott, Marlena
5th Taylor, Emilee
Class 19
1st Taylor, Emilee
2nd Duran, Joanna
3rd Taylor, Alli
Class 20
1st Peacock, Hannah
2nd Lott, Marlena
3rd Taylor, Alli
4th Cook, Jonathan
Class 21
1st Lietz, Nicole
2nd Pinkston, Hayden
3rd Hinton, Joleigh
Class 22
1st Taylor, Alli
2nd Cook, Jonathan
3rd Hinton, Joleigh
4th Pinkston, Hayden
Class 23
1st Lott, Marlena
2nd Taylor, Alli
3rd Menendez, Sarah
4th Lucas, Jadyn
5th Taylor, Alli
County Breed Steer
Grand – Christopher, RJ Reserve – Sewell, Maddox
3rd Bedenbaugh, Brielee
4th Leiss, Emma
5th Ballard, Bella
Class 1
1st Shoop, Colton
Class 2
1st Kmetz, Karoline
2nd Jensen, Makinley
3rd DeBlasio, Elissa
4th Potter, Lila
5th Council, Macey
6th Johnson, Addison
Class 3
1st Crim, Caroline
2nd Swilley, Kash
3rd Diaz, Jayda
4th Duran, Joanna
5th Hench, Kenan
6th Hinton, Joleigh
7th Bass, Kyndall
Class 4
1st Taylor, Emilee
2nd Register, Makayla
3rd Mathena, Kaleb
4th Davila, Kipras
5th Gilmore, Trentin
6th Willis, Braxton
7th Bosley, Ashlin
1st Leiss, Emma
2nd DeVaun, Kylie
3rd Sampson, Levi
4th Tilson, Raeleigh
5th Vaughan, Olivia
6th Lott, Marlena
7th Gutierrez, Camila
8th Tejada, Markus
Class 6
1st Young, Haidyn
2nd Devane, Lilly
3rd Staggs, Camden
4th Swilley, Kiah
5th Crim, Carley
Class 7
1st Sewell, Maddox
2nd Baker, Annie
3rd Haudrich, Emma
4th Jones, Julia
5th Goff, Alleigh
6th Peacock, Hallie
Class 8
1st Bedenbaugh, Brielee
2nd Ballard, Bella
3rd Scott, Connor
4th Peters, Mia
5th Young, Adysen
6th Lietz, Nicole
Class 9
1st Christopher, RJ
2nd Bedenbaugh, Bristol
3rd Harris, Zachary
4th
5th Hinson, Halie
6th Emery, Tyler
7th Menendez, Sarah
Class 10
1st Steward, Abby
2nd Willis, Brightyn
3rd Crim, Chloe
County Bred Heifer
Grand - Lietz, Nicole
Reserve – Peters, Mia
3rd Lott, Marlena
4th Gilmore, Trentin
5th Jones, Julia
Class 11
1st Ryan, Grace
2nd Grier, Lilly
3rd Aouadi, Aziza
4th Warren, Kendall
Class 12
1st Branch, Amelia
2nd Taylor, Alli
3rd Lafond, Dakota
4th Flannagan, Miley
Class 13
1st Goff, Mason
2nd Boynton, Cody
3rd Patino, Reid
4th Falvey, Braden
Class 14
1st FFA, Newsome
2nd Menendez, Sarah
3rd Lott, Marlena
4th Hardesty, Jacob
5th Cummins, Connor
6th Beasley, Amaya
Class 15
1st Peters, Mia
2nd Jones, Julia
3rd Grier,Lilly
4th Hinson, Halie
5th Manis, Faith
6th Grier, Connor
Class 16
1st Lietz, Nicole
2nd Gilmore, Trentin
3rd Peacock, Hannah
4th Shoop, Colton
Class 17
1st Cook, Jonathan
2nd Baker, Khloe
3rd Pinkston, Hayden
Class 18
1st Lott, Marlena
2nd Menendez, Sarah
3rd Lucas, Jadyn
4th Lietz, Nicole
General Show Steer
Grand – Ballard, Bella
Reserve – Sewell, Maddox
3rd Scott, Connor
4th Christopher, RJ
5th Young, Haidyn
Class 1
1st Parker, Jessie
2nd Shoop, Colton
Class 2
1st Kmetz, Karoline
2nd Bass, Tanner
3rd Jensen, Makinley
4th Johnson, Addison
5th Bass, Kyndall
Class 3
1st Crim, Caroline
2nd Swilley, Kash
3rd Diaz, Jayda
4th Duran, Joanna
5th Hench, Kenan
Class 4
1st Mathena, Kaleb
2nd Taylor, Emilee
3rd Davila, Kipras
4th Gilmore, Trentin
5th Register, Makayla
6th Willis, Braxton
7th Cook, Brody
Class 5
1st DeVaun, Kylie
2nd Leiss, Emma
3rd Sampson, Levi
4th Vaughan, Olivia
5th Gutierrez, Camila
6th Tilson, Raeleigh
7th Tejada, Markus
Class 6
2nd Staggs, Camden
3rd Devane, Lilly
4th Cook, Jonathan
5th Crim, Carley
6th Lallemand, Camryn
7th Swilley, Kiah
Class 7
1st Sewell, Maddox
2nd Peacock, Hallie
3rd Goff, Alleigh
4th Haudrich, Emma
5th Baker, Annie
6th Jones, Julia
Class 8
1st Ballard, Bella
2nd Scott, Connor
3rd Bedenbaugh, Brielee
4th Peters, Mia
5th Young, Adysen
6th Lietz, Nicole Class 9
1st Christopher, RJ
2nd Harris, Zachary
3rd Emery, Tyler
4th Hinson, Halie
5th Holmes, Caylee Class 10
1st Bedenbaugh, Bristol
2nd Steward, Abby
3rd Crim, Chloe
4th Willis, Brightyn
5th Gutierrez, Jesus General Show Heifer Grand – Peters, Mia Reserve – Peters, Mia
3rd Ballard, Bella 4th Young, Adysen
5th Young, Haidyn Class 11
1st Grier, Lilly
2nd Warren, Kendall
3rd Ryan, Grace 4th Aouadi, Aziza Class 12
1st Taylor, Alli
2nd Branch, Amelia
3rd Flannagan, Miley
4th Lafond, Dakota Class 13
1st Peters, Mia
2nd Goff Mason
3rd Boynton, Cody
4th Patino, Reid
5th Falvey, Braden Class 14
1st FFA, Newsome Senior
2nd Menendez, Sarah 3rd Beasley, Amaya 4th Hardesty, Jacob Class 15
1st Jones, Julia
2nd Grier, Connor
4th Manis, Faith
5th Grier, Lilly
6th Peters, Mia
7th Cummins, Connor
Class 16
1st Young, Adysen
2nd Shoop, Colton
3rd Peacok, Hannah
4th Gilmore, Trentin
Class 17
1st Young, Haidyn
2nd Young, Hadley
3rd Baker, Khloe
Class 18
1st Peters, Mia
2nd Ballard, Bella
3rd Taylor, Alli
Class 19
1st Taylor, Alli
2nd Lietz, Nicole
3rd Lucas, Jadyn
Market Steer
Grand – Sewell, Macyn
Reserve – Goff, Alleigh
Class 1
1st Johnson, Addison
2nd Plant City FFA
Trenton Staats
3rd Hurtt, Natalee
4th Register, Makayla
5th Overduijn, Sascha
6th Spoto FFA Lashelle
Spangler
Class 2
1st McDaris, Jayden
2nd Brock, Branson
3rd Paris, John
4th TH Cribbs FFA
Isabella Marchio
5th Kavalets, Carter
6th Lucas, Jaydn
Class 3
1st McDaris, Avery
2nd Lewis, Paisley
3rd Marshall FFA Triston Norwood
4th Mulrennan FFA
Kenan Hench
5th Hardesty, Jacob
6th Armwood FFA Sydney Bernad
Class 4
1st Bedenbaugh, Brady
2nd Brock, Barrett
3rd Schrier, Kennedy
4th Price, Sawyer
5th Bass, Kyndall
6th Sullenberger, Aubrie
Class 5
1st Sewell, Macyn
2nd Manis, Carter
3rd Hinton, Joleigh
Senior
Class 5
1st Young, Haidyn
3rd Hinson, Halie
4th Goff, Mason
5th Svede, Makenna
6th Bass, Tanner
Class 6
1st Goff, Alleigh
2nd Taylor, Alli Jo
3rd Parker, Jessie
4th Svec, Bailey
5th Lewis, Jade
6th Schrier, Carter
Class 7
1st
2nd Taylor, Emilee
3rd Christopher, RJ
4th Sears, Keller
5th Pinkston, Hayden
6th Cook, Brody Beef Showmanship
Junior
Class 1
1st Goff, Mason
2nd Pinkston, Hayden
3rd Young, Hadley
4th Patino, Reid
Intermediate
1st Ballard, Bella
2nd Bedenbaugh, Bristol
3rd Taylor, Emilee
4th Jones, Julia
Senior
1st Peters, Mia
2nd Taylor, Alli
3rd Bedenbaugh, Brielee
4th Peacock, Hallie
5th Devane, Lilly
Market Goat
Grand-Baylee Ballard/ YLPA
Reserve-Riley Silkworth/Gaither FFA
Class 1
1st Sickles FFA
2nd Lian, Ella
3rd, Moskowitz, Mia
4th Potter, Lila
5th Bernardo, Sydney
6th Delashaw, Irene
Class 2
1st Ballad, Baylee
2nd Silkworth, Riley
3rd Dorries, Mary
4th Plant City FFA Trenton Staats
5th Scales, Jameson
6th Tribbe, Hope
Class 3
1st Svede, Makenna
2nd Cesario, Aubrey
3rd Strawberry Crest FFA Emma Fa
4th Varnum, Carly
5th Surber, Bradlee
6th Parker, Jessie
Class 4
1st Walls, Jace
2nd Redner, William
3rd Ramirez, Damian
1st Ballard, Bella
2nd Walls, Nathan
3rd Haudrichh, Emma
Market Lamb
Grand-Emma Leiss/ Durant FFA
Reserve-Camryn Lallemand/Steinbrenner FF
Class 1
1st Puerto, Mackenzie
2nd Sampson, Levi
3rd Birkholz, Anniston
4th Baker, Wesley
5th Legg, Annika 6th Lee, Saige
Class 2
1st Casler, Reagan
2nd Tesmer, John
3rd Varnum, Carly
4th Jones, Haley
5th Ganas, Garrett
6th Lucas, Jadyn
Class 3
1st Davis, Cooper
2nd Berst, Emily
3rd Goulding, Alexsandra
4th Clark, Carly
5th Gonser, Tyler
Class 4
1st Leiss, Emma
2nd Sickles FFA
3rd Jensen, Adelyn
4th Merrell, Grace
5th Bergwall, Colby
6th Gutierrez, Regina
Class 5
1st Palmer, Kenzie
2nd Goede, Isabella
3rd Moskowitz
4th Sampson, Brock
5th Goff, Korbin
6th Salter, Mya
Class 6
1st Casler, Johannah
2nd Cornelius, Ryan
3rd Armwood FFA
4th Wink, Chesnee
Class 7
1st Lallemand, Camryn
2nd Boutte, Teryn
3rd Deese, Jenna
4th Rodriguez, Anayeliz
5th Paul, Mackenzie
6th TH Cribbs FFA
Class 8
1st Cantrell, Calder
2nd Palmer, Aubree
3rd Brown, Mason
4th Redner, William
5th Gutierrez, Camila
6th Newsome, Brylynn
Class 9
1st Stewart, Abigail
2nd Bond, Madison
3rd Moos, Lucy
2nd Morotti, Delaney
3rd Willis, Brightyn
4th Kimbrell, Georgia
Market Turkey
Grand-Sascha Overduijn/Lennard FFA, Reserve-Garrett Ganas/Durant FFA Swine
Show
Class 1
1st Thomas, Tucker
2nd Zinke, Kace
3rd TH Cribbs FFA
Isabella Marchio
4th Merrell, Grace
5th Bent, Lyla
6th Mallory, Landon
7th Haudrich, Emma
8th Abend, Ryan
9th Thomas, Payton
Class 2
1st Brazil, Autumn
2nd Whitehead, Lorelei
3rd Tibbe, Hope
4th Spivey, Taylor
5th Sevret, Hannah
6th McDonald, Jaidyn
7th Gonser, Travis
8th Hillsborough
County FFA Federation
9th Ogden, Ivy
Class 3
1st Tomlin FFA Adelyn
Jensen
2nd Stolle, Evelyn
3rd Jones, Zachary
4th Cook, Hadley
5th Newsome, Brylynn
6th Swilley, Kiah
7th Schrier, Jackson
8th Stolle, Eliza
9th Karr, Zoey
Class 4
1st Sturgis, Jackson
2nd Briel, Sophia
3rd Durant FFA
4th Steinbrenner FFA
5th Demanovich, Ashlyn
6th Gonzalez, Beisy
7th PS 91 4-H
8th Ogden, Jake
9th Purcell, Brooke
10th Salter, Mya
Class 5
1st Jones, Haley
2nd Mobley, Rylee
3rd Wise, Luke
4th Strawberry Crest
FFA Emma Fa
5th Pinkston, Hayden
6th Peacock, Avery
7th Fry, Tyler
8th Schrier, Grant
9th Arce, Gabriel
Class 6
4th Wise, Addisyn
5th Nash, Madison
6th Mulrennan FFA
Kenan Hench
7th Jenkins, Bryson
8th Gonser, Tanner
Class 7
1st Langford
2nd Wood, Jaylynn
3rd Vaneepeol, Peyton
4th Wyatt, Lilah
5th Wilkinson, Sadie
6th Fry, Emma
7th Ausburn, Jaden
8th Harris, Zachary
9th Wade Hayden
10th Mones, Isabella
Class 8
1st Griffin, Ireland
2nd Sheldon, Karisa
3rd McCoy, Riley
4th Cook, Brody
5th Solomon, Kate
6th Berst, Emily
7th Taylor, Charlotte
8th Gonser, Tyler
9th Flanagan, Payton
10th Hickey, Caroline
Class 9
1st Gaither FFA
2nd Euell, Myah
3rd Miller, Ellie
4th Case, Rilyn
5th Holland, Harper
6th Hinson, Halie
7th Cornelius, Harrison
8th Ross, Morgan Class 10
1st Borchard, Vince
2nd Iturriaga, Taylor
3rd Lyons, Jadyn
4th Carlin, Ethan
Goat Show
Alpine
Juniors 0-6m
1st Gelyon, Ava
2nd Ishak, Henry Juniors 6-12m
1st Arett, Christina
2nd Gelyon, Ava
3rd Ferland, Andi
4th Gelyon, Ava
Juniors 18-24m
1st Morotti, Delaney Milkers 2-3y
1st Gelyon, Ava
2nd Ishak, Henry Milkers 3-5y
1st Gelyon, Ava
2nd Morotti, Delaney
3rd Manriquee, Avery Milkers 5 & older
1st Manriquee, Avery AOP
Juniors 6-12m
Milkers 2-3y
1st Miller, Gideon
2nd Manis, Faith
3rd Privett, Nicholas Milkers 3-5y
1st Lawrence, Shelby 2nd Manis, Faith Milkers 8 & older
1st
2nd Privett, Nicholas 3rd Mendez, Osvaldo LaMancha
Juniors 6-12m
1st Scales, Cinea
2nd Willey, Katelyn 3rd Willey, Katelyn Juniors 18-24m
1st Moskowitz, Mia
2nd Willey, Andrew Milkers 2-3y
1st Bailey, Katarina Milkers 3-5y
1st Miller, Gideon Milkers 5y & older
1st Miller, Gideon Nigerian Dwarf Juniors 0-6m
1st Thatcher, Camryn 2nd Thatcher, Camryn
3rd Willey, Karina Juniors 12-18m
1st Brazil, Charlie 2nd Svec, Bailey Juniors 18-24m
1st Overduijn, Natalia
2nd Scales, Cinea
3rd Bailey, Katarina 4th Hardesty, Lukas Milkers 2-3y
1st Privett, Nicholas 2nd Zeigler, Skylar Milkers 3-5y
1st Miller, Caleb
2nd Scales, Jameson Milkers 5y & older
1st Miller, Gideon
2nd Willey, Katelyn
3rd Privett, Nicholas 4th Bailey, Katarina Nubian
Juniors 6-12m
1st Harkey, Teagan
2nd Valdez, Grace
3rd Valdez, Grace 4th Sarmiento, Penelope
Juniors 4-12m
1st Reems, Evelyn
2nd Valdez, Grace
3rd Valdez, Grace
4th Vega, Mari
Milkers 8y & older
1st Morotti, Delaney
Recorded Grades
Junior 0-6m
Class 5
4th JF St Martin FFA
5th Register, Makayla
Class 10
1st McConnell, Jayde
1st Paul, Mckenzie
2nd Dyches, Lainey
3rd Plant City FFA Trenton Staats
1st Lawrence, Shelby 1st Casler, Johannah
2nd Manis, Faith Juniors 12-19m
1st Manis, Faith
1st Casler, Johannah Juniors 6-12m
1st Ferland, Andi
2nd Cousin, Landon
Fishing During Low Tides
Capt. Wade Osborne
During the winter, the water levels in Tampa Bay drop well below the mean low range. On top of that, the water temperature drops into the upper 50s to low 60s. These drastic changes force anglers to modify their tactics.
At the first of the month, the grass flats are basically devoid of fish. Heck, at times they’re devoid of water, too. So where did all the fish go, you may ask? Considering you can see land in many places, the obvious answer is in the creeks, rivers, channels, and residential canals. They are all loaded with fish right now. Whatever species you’re looking for, they’re there!
pieces to broadcast them into my fishing spot.
Another thing you’ll notice about winter fishing, different species seem to mingle more. I guess it’s because there are so few other places with water, there’s no choice. Clients are catching snook, redfish, seatrout, sheepshead, and small black drum in the same spot.
During the winter, fish metabolism slows down, making them more sluggish. They also seem to prefer shrimp over live scalded sardines. When buying shrimp at the bait shop, I always go for the medium-sized. The selects are just too big and too hard for most fish to easily consume. When fishing in the winter months, I rarely use a float, because I’m fishing in deep water with no grass for the shrimp to bury in. When free-lining shrimp I prefer to hook them in the head under the horn, just in front of the black dot, which is its brain. Hook it in the brain, it’s DOA. When you cast a shrimp out, just let it swim around naturally for the best presentation and wait for the strike.
Chumming with pieces of shrimp helps trigger a bite and draws fish to my boat. After a day of fishing, I don’t throw out my remaining shrimp, I bag it and freeze it to use for chum. The next time I go fishing, I let them thaw out and break them into
Regarding sheepshead: Even though the sheepshead spawning season doesn’t start until February, the cooler water temperatures have them feeding very aggressively. On a recent charter, my clients specifically requested sheepshead, and the day did not disappoint. On the very first cast of the day, they reeled in a 16-inch keeper. Throughout the charter, we must have caught close to 30 sheepshead, along with numerous redfish, seatrout, and snook. At the end of the day, they went home with six nicesized keeper sheepshead.
As I mentioned last month, if you enjoy catching redfish, now is the perfect time. Even though most are rats, “under slotsized redfish” they are still fun to catch.
The same can be said for seatrout. Clients have been catching some of the largest seatrout of the year recently. Seatrout school up in the winter, so when you hit the right spot numerous fish in the 15 to 19-inch slot range can be landed. One thing to keep in mind when handling seatrout is to do so gently. Of all the inshore species in Tampa Bay, they are the most delicate. Unless keeping some for
26-Year Veteran Fishing Guide, Captain Wade Osborne.
dinner, it’s best to leave them in the water beside the boat and use a de-hooker to release them. When taking pictures of fish you plan on releasing, also wet your hands so you don’t remove the protective slime on their bodies. Never, ever handle a fish with a towel.
Snook are also making their presence known. I’m finding snook mixed in with the redfish and seatrout also. Just remember, snook are closed to harvest until March 1, so it’s strictly catch and release.
With no water on the grass flats, fish only have one place to go, that’s deep. The same can be said for dolphins. If you’re
out fishing and one or more dolphins move into your area it’s time to leave, game over. Please do not do what I see too many people do. They will continue to fish and every fish they release gets eaten by the dolphins. Sadly, some people seem to get a kick out of it. It’s best to move on and not continue to train dolphins to target boats with anglers.
Afishionado, “Adventures in Fishing.”
Tampa Bay fishing guide Wade Osborne of “Afishionado Guide Services” has been plying the waters of Tampa Bay as a professional full-time captain, since 1997. Osborne has been featured on numerous TV and radio shows and writes for multiple publications. Osborne offers inshore fishing charters on light tackle spin, fly or plug. He also offers eco-tours with an emphasis on photography. For more info visit Afishionado.com or find Afishionado Guide Services on Facebook and Instagram. Email: wade@afishionado.com Call/Text 813-286-3474
• According to the Guinness world records, the tallest Christmas tree ever cut was a 221-foot Douglas fir that was displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Washington.
• The largest Christmas stocking measured 51 m 35 cm (168 ft 5.65 in) in length and 21 m 63 cm (70 ft 11.57 in) in width (heel to toe) and was produced by the volunteer emergency services organisation Pubblica Assistenza Carrara e Sezioni (Italy) in Carrara, Tuscany, Italy, on 5 January 2011.
• Each year there are approximately 20,000 “rent-a-Santas” across the United States. “Rent-a-Santas” usually undergo seasonal training on how to maintain a jolly attitude under pressure from the public. They also receive practical advice, such as not accepting money from parents while children are looking and avoiding garlic, onions, or beans for lunch.
• Christmas wasn’t declared an official holiday in the United States until June 26, 1870.
• In 1962, the first Christmas postage stamp was issued in the United States.
• Approximately 25-30 million real (living) Christmas trees are sold each year in the U.S.
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971
YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR
We all know there are four seasons. Summer, spring, fall and winter. But for the farmer there are only three seasons: Before harvest, harvest and after harvest. Farmers have “stay power!” They stay with it year after year of losing money. They say once farming gets into your blood, you’re hooked.
They have things to keep them amused and help forget about staying up all night and watering the berries to keep them from freezing when the cold front moves through. Ronnie Lott says you know you’re a farmer when on laundry day you go to your tractor to get your dirty clothes.
Farmers have a unique way of saying things, too. While driving on a back road in Blairsville, Georgia I saw a sign along side the road that read “Used Cows for Sale.” I love the bumper stickers farmers put on their pickup trucks. The most popular one in east Hillsborough County is “No Farmers No
Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the December 2016 issue
Food.” These are available free at the In The Field Office in Plant City.
There’s the story of Fred the Farmer. He had so many children that he ran out of names. So he started calling his kids after something around his farm. It was the first day of school and the teacher asked each child their name. When he got to one of the farmer George’s sons, the boy replied, ‘Wagon Wheel.’ The teacher said, ‘I need your real name boy, to which the lad replied, ‘It’s Wagon Wheel, sir...Really.’ The teacher, rather annoyed rejoined, ‘All right young man, take yourself right down to the principal’s office this minute.’ The youngster pushed himself out of his chair, turned to his sister and said, ‘C’mon, ‘Chicken Feed’, he ain’t gonna believe you, either.’
Speaking southern is universal in the south, and it’s apparent each state thinks pretty much alike.
For example: In Louisiana a senior citizen was overheard saying, “When the end of the world comes, I hope to be in Louisiana.” When asked why, he replied, “I’d rather be in Louisiana ‘cause everything happens in Louisiana 20 years later than in the rest of the world. MISSISSIPPI: The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy, “Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!” Bubba replied, “Did y’all see who it was?” The young man answered, “I couldn’t tell, but I got the license number.” TENNESSEE: A Tennessee State Trooper pulled over a pickup on I-65. The Trooper asked, “Got any ID?” The driver replied, “Bout whut?” ALABAMA: The Sheriff pulled up next to the guy unloading garbage out of his pick-up truck into the ditch. The Sheriff asked,
“Why are you dumping garbage in the ditch? Don’t you see that sign right over your head?”
“Yep,” he replied. “That’s why I’m dumpin’ it here, ‘cause it says: ‘Fine For Dumping Garbage.’ ”
Here’s a little exercise for you farmers during offseason.
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax. Each day you’ll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.
After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags, then try 50-lb potato bags and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.
After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.
KNOW YOUR BEEFWHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MILK?
By Bridget Stice, UF/IFAS Livestock Extension Agent
Don’t have a cow, but today we’re moo-ving away from beef and diving into milk! Why? Because every dairy cow is eventually part of the beef supply chain. That makes the dairy and beef industries two sides of the same bovine coin. Whether it’s ribeyes or ricotta, ranchers are committed to producing safe, wholesome, and nutritious products for your table. So, let’s milk this opportunity to clear up a hotly debated topic: raw milk.
The Raw Milk Hype: Myth vs. Reality
Raw milk enthusiasts tout its benefits with claims that sound enticing: more nutrients, better digestion, and even the power to fight allergies and asthma. But is raw milk really the magic elixir some make it out to be? The science says otherwise. Here are the top myths—and the truths that bust them.
1. Myth: Raw milk is healthier because it’s “natural.”
Reality: Pasteurization doesn’t strip milk of its nutrients. This heat treatment kills harmful pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria while preserving the milk’s vitamins and minerals. Raw and pasteurized milk contain virtually the same levels of calcium, vitamin D (if fortified), and other essential nutrients.
2. Myth: Pasteurization destroys enzymes necessary for digestion.
Reality: The human body produces its own digestive enzymes, so we don’t rely on milk for them. Claims that pasteurization interferes with digestion lack scientific backing. People who are lactose intolerant struggle with lactose, whether the milk is raw or pasteurized.
3. Myth: Raw milk can cure allergies and asthma.
Reality: While some studies suggest early exposure to farm environments, including raw milk, might reduce allergy risk, these benefits don’t outweigh the serious health risks of consuming unpasteurized milk. Pasteurization ensures milk is safe for everyone, especially children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
4. Myth: Raw milk tastes better.
Reality: Taste preferences are subjective. While raw milk might have a slightly different flavor profile, pasteurization doesn’t significantly alter taste. The difference you notice might come from freshness rather than pasteurization.
5. Myth: Pasteurization destroys proteins or reduces milk’s nutritional quality.
Reality: Pasteurization has minimal impact on milk proteins. The process involves heating milk to specific temperatures,
which can cause slight structural changes in proteins, but this does not affect their nutritional value. Milk remains an excellent source of high-quality proteins like casein and whey, even after pasteurization. Ranchers ensure that the safety benefits of pasteurization outweigh these negligible effects, allowing consumers to enjoy a safe, nutritious product.
What is Pasteurization?
Pasteurization, developed by Louis Pasteur in the 19th century, is a simple process that involves heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period. There are two main methods:
• High-Temperature, Short-Time (HTST): Milk is heated to 161°F for 15 seconds.
• Ultra-Pasteurization (UHT): Milk is heated to 280°F for 2 seconds.
These methods eliminate dangerous pathogens without compromising the milk’s nutritional value or taste. Pasteurized milk is then rapidly cooled and packaged to maintain its quality.
Why Pasteurization Matters
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that raw milk is 150 times more likely to cause foodborne illness outbreaks than pasteurized milk. Between 1993 and 2012, raw milk was linked to nearly 1,000 illnesses, dozens of hospitalizations, and a few fatalities. These risks are avoidable, and ranchers take great pride in producing a product that is not only nutritious but also safe. Pasteurization is one of many steps they take to ensure milk and dairy products meet the highest standards.
Closing Thoughts
While milk typically comes from dairy cattle, all cattle— whether raised primarily for milk or beef—contribute to a sustainable food system, supporting the production of everything from steaks to Swiss cheese. The dairy and beef industries share the same commitment to food safety and quality, so next time you reach for a glass of milk, make sure it’s pasteurized. After all, ranchers want you to enjoy your dairy without a side of unnecessary risk.
Stay tuned for more from the Know Your Beef series! Got a topic you’d like us to explore? Send your ideas to bccarlis@ ufl.edu, and we’ll dig into it in a future article.
Continued 2024 Hillsborough County Fair Results
3rd Morotti, Delaney
4th Manriquee, Avery
5th Manriquee, Avery
6th Scales, Jameson
7th Scales, Jameson
Juniors 12-18m
1st Miller, Gideon
Juniors 18-24m
1st Morotti, Delaney
2nd Hill, Madelyn
Milkers 2y or younger
1st Ruhe, Mila
Milkers 2-3y
1st Polizzi, Sienna
2nd Morris, Kenzie
3rd Sarmiento, Gabriella
Milkers 3-5y
1st Cousin, Landon
2nd Casler, Reagan
Milkers 5y & older
1st Maice, Aubri
Poultry Show
Supreme-Emma Zimmerman/Turkey Creek
4-H
Reserve Supreme-Emma Fagnan/Strawberry
Crest FFA
Ameraucana
Hen
Cannon, Lillian
Guess, Carly
Commercial Pullet
Mahoney, Makayla
Bantam Hen
1st Cofield, Emalee
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Diaz, Jayda
1st Mathers, Kayla
1st Salazar, Araceli
1st Sullivan, Aubrie
2nd Edgeman, Pagan
2nd Hall, Kaidon
2nd Townsel, Madison
3rd Salazar, Araceli
AOB
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Cofield, Emalee
Australorp
1st Boutte, Teryn
2nd Carey, Jacob
Barred Rock
Purebred Large Fowl
Cock
1st Bailey, Dixie
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
2nd Carey, Jacob
Purebred Large Fowl
Pullet
2nd Bailey, Dixie
3rd Bailey, Dixie
Black Spanish
Purebred Large Fowl
Cockerel
1st DeMarco, Helen
Purebred Large Fowl
Pullet
1st DeMarco, Helen
Brahma
Purebred Bantam
Pullet
1st Bailey, Dixie
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Farrell, Kaylee
2nd Farrell, Kaylee
Broad Breasted Bronze
Turkey
1st Miller, Gunner
2nd Miller, Gunner
Buff Orpington
Purebred large Fowl
Cockerel
1st Miller, Gunner
2nd Bailey, Dixie
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
2nd Greenwood, Logan
Purebred large Fowl
Pullet
Miller, Gunner
Cochin
Purebred Bantam
Cockerel
1st Bailey, Dixie
1st Bailey, Katarina
2nd Bailey, Katarina
Purebred Bantam Hen
1st Redner, William
Purebred Bantam
Pullet
1st Bailey, Rosalie
1st Vega, Mari
Purebred large Fowl
Cock
1st Beck, Christopher Crested Duck
Purebred Waterfowl
Cock
1st Weeber, Keira
2nd Weeber, Keira
3rd Allen, Jackson
d’Anver
Purebred Bantam hen
1st Tanner, Alexander
2nd Tanner, James
Delaware
Purebred Large Fowl
Cock
1st Diamond, Aiden
D’Uccle
Purebred Bantam
Cockerel
1st Patino, Reece
2nd Hernandez, Anayalen
3rd Vega, Mari
Purebred Bantam Hen
1st Patino, Reece
1st Redner, William
2nd Patino, Reece
2nd Townsel, Madison
Purebred Bantam
Pullet
3rd Bailey, Rosalie
Frizzle
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Mahoney, Makayla
Guinea Royal
Purebred Guinea
Cockerel
1st Diamond, Aiden
Hamburg
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Zimmermann, Emma
2nd Zimmermann, Emma
Japanese Bantam
Purebred Bantam Cock
1st O’Brien, Jayden
Purebred Bantam
Pullet
1st O’Brien, Jayden
Langshan
Purebred Large Fowl
Cock
1st Zimmermann, Emma
1st Zimmermann, Emma
2nd Zimmermann, Emma
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Zimmermann, Emma
3rd Zimmermann, Emma Leghorn
Commercial Hen
2nd Redner, William
Purebred Bantam
Cock
1st Anderson, Brody
2nd Patino, Reid
Purebred Bantam Hen
1st Redner, William
1st Ventura, Fabiola
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
2nd DeMarco, Helen
Malay
Purebred Large Fowl
Cock
1st Zimmermann, Emma
Purebred large Fowl
Hen
1st Zimmermann, Emma
Purebred large Fowl
Hen
1st Bryant, Faith
1st Chagas, Troy
2nd Curry, Morgan
3rd Spencer, Nathan
Modern Game
Purebred Bantam Hen
1st Strawberry Crest
FFA
Naked Neck
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Falvey, Braden
2nd Falvey, Braden
New Hampshire
Purebred Bantam Cock
1st Cast Saelen
Purebred Bantam Hen
1st Hall, Kaidon
Old Enligh
Purebred Bantam Hen
1st Cofield Emalee
1st Temoin, Kanlaya
Chloe
Purebred Bantam
Pullet
1st Bailey, Katarina
1st Cooper, Leah
2nd Cooper, Leah
3rd Cooper, Leah
Orpinton
Purebred Large Fowl
Cock
1st Goeltz, Emerson
Purebred Large Fowl
Cockerel
1st Goeltz, Emerson
Purebred large Fowl
Hen
3rd Curry, Morgan
Purebred large Fowl
Pullet
2nd Beck, Christopher Pekin
Purebred Duck Young Duck
1st Bailey, Katarina
2nd Bailey, Katarina
Purebred Old Duck
1st Bailey, Katarina
Purebred Old Drake
1st DeMarco, Helen
2nd Zimmermann, Emma
2nd DeMarco, Halen
Phoenix
Purebred Bantam
Cock
1st Patino Reid
Purebred Bantam Hen
1st Bailey, Katarina
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Patino, Reece
2nd Patino Reid
3rd Patino, Reid
Purebred Large Fowl
Pullet
1st Kotari, Samyuta
2nd Patino, Reece
Plymouth Rock
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Charles, Brielle
3rd Curry, Morgan
Purebred Large Fowl
Pullet
1st Harris, Kiahna
Polish
1st Christiano, Isabelle
1st Harris, Kiahna
2nd Townsel, Madison
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Christiano, Isabelle
1st Christiano, Isabelle
1st Christiano, Isabelle
2nd Cavanaugh, Emmalou
Rhode Island
Commercial Cockerel
1st Sullivan, Aubrie
Purebred Bantam Hen
1st Bailey, Katarina
Serama
Purebred Bantam
Cock
1st Allegretti, Sawyer
2nd Christiano, Tahlia
Purebred Bantam
Cock
1st Lanzetta, Imogen
2nd Galster, Eloise
3rd Montney, Lawson
Purebred Bantam Hen
1st Andrews, Zoey
1st Fagnan, Emma
1st Fleming, Ethan
1st Patino, Reid
Sex Link
Commercial Hen
2nd Hawkinson, Camden
Sicilian Buttercup
Purebred Bantam
Pullet
1st DeMarco, Helen
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
2nd Walker, Lacie
Silkie
Purebred Bantam
Cock
1st Hackett, Caleigh
1st Stewart, Abigail
Purebred Bantam
Cockerel
1st DeMarco, Helen
Maran
1st Patino, Reed
Purebred Bantam Hen
1st Doyle, Noreen
1st Doyle, Noreen
1st Flood, Camille
1st Goeltz, Emerson
1st Hackett, Caleigh
1st Hackett, Caleigh
2nd Cannon, Lillian
2nd Stewart, Abigail
3rd Knorst, Vitoria
Purebred Bantam
Pullet
1st DeMarco, Helen
1st Hackett, Caleigh
1st Hamilton, Emma
Sussex
Purebred Large Fowl
Cock
2nd Bailey, Dixie
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Lake, Mackenzie
2nd Coniglio, Lauren
3rd Collier, Joshua
Swedish Duck
Purebred Duck Young Duck
2nd Cast, Daelen
Purebred Duck Old Drake
1st Hoenes, Paul Welsummer
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Mikitchook, Zoriana
2nd Mikitchook, Alexandra
Whiting True Blue
Purebred Large Fowl
Cockerel
2nd Mikitchook, Alexandra Wyandotte
Purebred Large Fowl
Hen
1st Mikitchook, Zoriana
1st Mikitchook, Zoriana 2nd Barnes, Elise
Purebred Waterfowl
Hen
1st Mikitchook, Alexandra
Breeding Sheep Show
Grand White Face EweEmma Leiss/Durant FFA
Reserve White Face
Ewe-Riley Silkworth/ Gaither FFA
Grand White Face
Ram-Shelby Southerland/Tomlin FFA
Reserve White Face
Ram-Camila Gutierrez/ Strawberry Crest FFA
Grand AOB Ewe-Riley
Silkworth/Gaither FFA
Reserve AOB Ewe-Lyla Potter/Brandon FFA
per Davis/Durant FFA
Reserve AOB Ram-
Sydney Bernardo/Armwood FFA
Grand Black Face EweRiley Silkworth/Gaither FFA
Reserve Black Face
Ewe-Emma Leiss/Durant FFA
Grand Black Face RamHannah Rice/Durant FFA
Reserve Black Face
Ram-Owen James/ Randall FFA
Early Spring Ewe lamb 11/1/23-2/29/24
1st Silkworth, Riley
2nd Clark, Ashlyn
3rd Willis, Brightyn 4th Sevret Hannah Yearling Ewe Lamb 11/1/22-10/31/23
1st Potter, Lila
2nd Schneider, Lauren
3rd Schneider, Lauren 4th Lincoln, Madison
5th Patino, Reid
2-Year Old Ewe
1st Patino, Reid
2nd Prince, Joseph
Early Spring Ram Lamb 11/1/23-2/29/24
1st Davis, Cooper AOB
Yearling Ram Lamb 11/1/22-10/31/23
1st Bernardo, Sydney
Black Face
Late Spring Ewe Lamb
3/1/24-8/31/24
1st Silkworth, Riley 2nd Leiss, Emma
3rd Stewart, Taylor
4th Stewart, Meredith
5th Rodriquez, Anayeliz 6th Wadsworth, Barbara
7th Davis, Cooper
8th Stewart, Abigail
9th Brownell, Sophia
10th Gutierrez, Mateo
Early Spring Ewe Lamb 11/1/23-2/29/24
1st Stewart, Taylor, 2nd Leiss, Emma
3rd Silkworth, Riley
4th Rodriguez, Anayeliz
5th Karr, Zoey
6th Lincoln, Mckenzie
7th Clark, Sydney
8th McNair, Ada
9th Gentry, Colton
10th Kelly, Evangeline
Yearling Ewe Lamb
11/1/22-10/31/23
1st Bernardo, Sydney
4th Davis, Cooper
5th Clark, Bailey
6th Griffin, Lee
2 Year Old Ewe
11/1/21-10/31/22
1st Davis, Paitlyn
2nd Rice, Hannah
Aged Ewe Born Before 10/31/20
1st Clawson, Sophia
2 Year old Ram
1st James, Owen
Black Face
3 Year old Ram
1st Rice, Hannah
White Face
Late Spring Ewe Lamb
3/1/24-8/31/24
1st Leiss, Emma
2nd Stewart, Abigail
3rd Willis, Brightyn
4th Jensen, Adelyn
5th Gutierrez, Regina
6th Gutierrez, Elena
Early Spring Ewe Lamb
11/1/23-2/29/24
1st Leiss, Emma
2nd Silkworth, Riley
3rd Berst, Emily
4th Salerno, Lilliana
5th Willis, Brightyn
6th Salters, Mya
7th Jensen, Adelyn
8th Armwood FFA
Chapter 4
9th Davis, Cooper
Yearling Ewe Lamb
11/1/22-10/31/23
1st Dorries, Mary
2nd Jensen, Adelyn
3rd Armwood FFA
Chapter 1
4th Clark, Sydney
5th Davis, Paitlyn
6th Armwood FFA
Chapter 3
7th Jensen, Makinley
8th Hardesty, Jacob
White Face
2-Year-Old Ewe
11/1/21-10/31/22
1st Clark, Harleigh
2nd Clark, Josie
3rd Southerland, Shelby
3-Year-Old Ewe
11/1/20-10/31/21
1st Hiers, Brooke
Late Spring Ram Lamb
3/1/24-8/31/24
1st Gutierrez, Camila
2-year-old Ram
11/1/21-10/31/22
1st Southerland, Shelby
Dairy Show
Supreme Champion
Heifer-Payton Carlisle/ Strawberry Crest FFA
Armwood FFA
Summer Heifer Calf
6/1/24-8/31/24
Ayrshire
1st Mason Wilhite
Brown Swiss
1st Patino, Reece
Guernsey
1st Holcomb, Colby Holstein
1st Wadsworth, Kyle Spring Heifer Calf
3/1/24-5/31/34
Ayrshire
1st Wilhite, Dylan
Guernsey
1st Holcomb, Colby
2nd Haya, Hailey
Holstein
1st West, Dalton
Jersey
1st Casler, Reagan
Winter Heifer Calf
12/1/23-2/29/24
Brown Swiss
1st Patino, Reece 2nd Hiers, Brooke 3rd Riverview FFA
Holstein
1st Carlisle, Payton 2nd Lare, Abbigail Jersey
1st Cook, Aubrey Fall Heifer Calf 9/1/2311/30/23
Ayrshire 1st Patino, Reid
Brown Swiss 1st Hiers, Brooke 2nd Riverview FFA
Holstein
1st Ayo, Isabella 2nd Montgomery, Kayla
3rd Garrett, Trinity 4th Goodman, Adriona
5th Sommer, Nico Jersey
1st Cook, Aubrey 2nd Holcomb, Colby 3rd Riverview FFA 4th Hammer, Andrew Summer Yearling 6/1/23-8/31/23
Brown Swiss 1st Patino, Reid
Holstein
1st Nico Sommer 2nd Colby, David Spring Yearling 3/1/235/31/23
Ayrshire
1st Riverview FFA
Guernsey
1st Holcomb, Colby Holstein
1st Vrastil, Bradley 2nd Ortiz, Wirlein
1st Holcomb, Colby
2nd Riverview FFA
Winter Yearling
12/1/22-2/28/23
Brown Swiss Hiers, Brooke
Jersey
1st Riverview FFA
Fall Yearling 9/1/2211/30/22
Brown Swiss
1st Hiers, Andrew
2nd Carey, Jaylene Holstein
1st Holcomb, Colby
Jersey
1st Hammer, Andrew Bred By Exhibitor Jr. Animal Cook, Aubrey Cook, Aubrey Holcomb, Colby Holcomb, Colby Guernsey
1st Holcomb, Colby Holstein
1st Holcomb, Colby Jersey
1st Hammer, Andrew
Dairy Goat
Grand AOP-Shelby Lawrence/Udderly Legendairy 4-H
Reserve AOP-Giddeon Miller/Udderly Legendairy 4-H
Grand Recorded Grade-Landon Cousin
Reserve Recorded Grade-Mila Ruhe/Martinez FFA
Grand LaMancha-Giddeon Miller/Udderly Legendairy 4-H
Reserve LaManchaGiddeon Miller/Udderly Legendairy 4-H
Grand Alpine-Ava Gelyon/Steinbrenner FFA Reserve Alpine-Ava Gelyon/Steinbrenner FFA
Grand Nigerian DwarfGiddeon Miller/Udderly Legendairy 4-H Reserve Nigerian Dwarf-Katelyn Wiley/ Udderly Legendairy 4-H
2nd Salters, Mya
Grand AOB Ram-Coo-
3rd Brazil, Autumn
Reserve Supreme Heifer-Dylan Wilhite/
3rd Garrett, Trinity Jersey
NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
UF Economists Estimate Hurricane Helene Florida Agricultural Production Losses Top $40 Million
The agricultural production losses Florida experienced due to Hurricane Helene have an estimated value between $40.3 million and $162.2 million, according to a preliminary report by the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP).
The report is based on a diverse set of baseline data and surveys UF/IFAS economists distributed to producers.
Helene, a Category 4 storm, made landfall Sept. 26 near Perry and brought tropical-storm-force winds to 55 of the state’s 67 counties, as well as hurricane conditions to eight others: Dixie, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla.
Helene affected more than 6 million acres of agricultural land in Florida, property that collectively produces an estimated $8.7 billion in agricultural products over multiple growing seasons each year. Sixty-eight percent of the affected land is used for animal grazing.
Strawberry Growers Face Substantial Increase in AEWR for 2025
Southeast specialty crop growers are facing a substantial increase in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for 2025. Florida’s new AEWR is increasing 10 percent to $16.23 an
hour. AEWR is the minimum hourly wage for H-2A workers, the vast majority of workers at strawberry farms, as well as other specialty crops. The AEWR has increased by more than 30 percent over the last three years.
Farm Bureau Reports the Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner Declined this Year
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 39th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey noted the average national cost of this year’s holiday feast for 10 was $58.08 or about $5.80 per person. That was a drop from the last two years, but still 19% higher than it was in 2019. The survey included the cost of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream – all in quantities sufficient to serve a gathering of 10.
The cost for this annual meal was the most affordable in the South at $56.81.
CHRIS
Make Memories With Florida Orange Juice
Mocktails, Made With Florida Orange Juice, Are Healthy Holiday Treats
By
For multi-generational citrus farmer R. Roy Petteway of Petteway Citrus and Cattle in Wauchula, the holidays aren’t just a time to get together and celebrate the season with family and friends but a time for traditions. The oranges from his trees have always held a special place in his heart- not just for their crisp, bright flavor, but for the memories they carry with them.
As a child, he would head to the groves of his family’s farm each year, hand-picking a couple of the juiciest oranges to give to his mother. She would take those ripe fruits, cut them up, and add them to her homemade cranberry sauce, a holiday staple that brought warmth to their family dinners. The combination of tangy cranberries and sweet, freshly picked oranges became more than just a recipe; it was a memory, a ritual that marked the passing of seasons and the bond between mother and son.
“That homemade cranberry sauce is just one of my special holiday memories because my mom would always wait until I came around to pick the oranges and that’s when she’d make the recipe,” he said.
Even though he’s grown, the family tradition continues, with help from his daughter, Addilyn. “It’s one of those full-circle moments to have her help me pick the oranges,” said Petteway.
Even though at 29 months old she’s a little too young to fully understand the magic of the farm, her love for fresh orange juice is undeniable. “She would come home from daycare and that’s the first drink she asks for,” remarked Petteway. “After a long day of being a toddler, she wants her Florida OJ.”
For Petteway, it’s a regular part of her diet and he’s glad she’s making healthy choices. “Nowadays parents worry about everything that goes into their kids but what’s great about orange juice is there’s no added anything,” he said. “It’s almost as perfect as going outside and squeezing the oranges fresh right off the tree.”
Fresh citrus delivers the total package of nutrients including vitamin C, potassium, folate, and thiamin to help support the immune system all year long, particularly during cold and flu season. Plus, 100% orange juice has a unique polyphenol called hesperidin which may have a number of benefits to the immune system, including helping fight inflammation.
While not all of us are blessed to have a citrus grove in our backyard, we can purchase a carton at our local grocery store and create our own memories with Florida’s fruit.
With the holidays here, it’s a perfect time to treat the young (and the young-at-heart) to a healthy and nutritious mocktail made with Florida orange juice.
“As a mom and registered dietician, I am always looking for healthier beverage options that my daughter and I can enjoy during the busy holiday season,” said Jennifer Hillis, MS, RDN, University of South Florida, Citrus Nutrition Research Liaison.
The Florida Department of Citrus has shared these recipes that parents will love as a healthier option and kids will love for the taste. “I love using Florida Orange Juice as a nutrient-dense base for holiday mocktails, like in
Michelle Caceres | Photos Courtesy of The Florida Department of Citrus, Floridacitrus.org
this mint mocktail,” said Hillis. “I love that it has no added sugar, and thanks to 100% orange juice my kids love the taste and the mint garnish gives it a nice touch.”
Florida Orange Juice Mint Mocktail
* 2 cups Florida Orange Juice
* 1/4 cup lemon juice
* 1/2 cup carbonated water
* 1/4 cup water
* 2 to 3 mint leaves
* Ice cubes
1. Mix Florida Orange Juice, lemon juice and water in a pitcher.
2. Divide mocktail among ice-filled glasses and top with carbonated water.
3. Garnish with mint leaves.
Florida Orange Juice Mocktail
* Florida Orange Juice, frozen into ice cubes
* 8 oz. sparkling water
* Splash of grenadine syrup
* 1 sprig of rosemary
* Splash of vanilla syrup
* Florida Orange wedge
1. Pour Florida Orange Juice into ice cube trays and place in freezer.
2. Place two Florida Orange Juice ice cubes into a glass.
3. Add sparkling water, grenadine syrup and vanilla syrup. Stir well.
4. Serve with a sprig of rosemary and a Florida Orange wedge.
While Florida orange juice definitely makes a tasty mocktail, Petteway said it’s not something to save for a holiday or special occasion. “OJ is part of our daily life,” he said.
For more recipes visit www.floridacitrus.org.
26th Annual Lights of Love
Thank You to Our Sponsors
As the holiday season begins, we thank our sponsors for supporting Lights of Love. The Lights of Love tree, located in McCall Park in downtown Plant City, will be lit through the end of December. Donations support the new level 2 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) opening in 2025 at South Florida Baptist Hospital.
We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
For more information about the Foundation: SFBHFoundation.org
TITLE SPONSOR
Tampa Electric Company
MAJOR SPONSOR
Publix Super Markets Charities
TREE SPONSORS
Terry and Peggy Crum
City of Plant City General Services
First Baptist Church Plant City
PHOTOS WITH SANTA SPONSOR
BayCare Health System
MRS. CLAUS’ KITCHEN SPONSOR
Susan L. Doan
TOP STAR SPONSORS
Candy Greene
Mary Ann Hall
Ashley Kerr
Karen and Wade Kerr
Nate and Kat Kilton
Sylvia Knox Morrow Steel
Cynthia Morselli
Rock & Rose Lawn Care
PATRON SPONSORS
Astin Strawberry Exchange
Coleman and Sue Davis
Dale and Shelia Lewis
Brenda McIsaac
Dean and Nancy Nourie
Mary Ann Paris
Patterson Companies In memory of Emily Morgan Pierce
Rotary Club of Plant City
Beverly Tindle Selinda Walden
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
Brewington’s Towing & Recovery LLC
Chuck and Kathy Christensen
Laurie Curtis
Dr. Barry Gaffney
Dr. Gregg and Cindy Gutowski
Jarrett-Scott Ford
Larry and Kim Johnson
Dub and Pec McGinnes
Cookie Smith
Mike and Diane Sparkman
Pat and Darcy
Stottlemyer
Union Contractors Association
FLORIDA CHESTNUTS
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Chestnuts take the spotlight at the dinner table and in grocery stores during the holiday season. Roasting chestnuts over an open fire is still done today in some places and when roasted, chestnuts have a soft texture and are slightly sweet and nutty. Chestnuts can also be roasted in the oven. Fresh chestnuts are used in many holiday dishes including stuffing, pudding, cake, and desserts.
Chestnuts are a member of the genus Castanea, and the four main species have been cultivated for thousands of years. These include the European chestnut, Japanese chestnut, Chinese chestnut, and American chestnut. The American chestnut tree used to grow prolifically on the East Coast, from Maine to Florida. Unfortunately, a blight in 1904 wiped up nearly all of the American chestnut trees over the next few decades. There have been efforts to bring back the American chestnut. Fresh chestnuts grow in north Florida and their peak season is in late fall and winter.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
While chestnuts are a type of nut, their nutrition content varies from other nuts. They are higher in carbohydrates and lower in fats and calories than other nuts. Nutritionally, chestnuts are more similar to brown rice than other nuts such as pecans or cashews.
Chestnuts are a good source of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins B6 and C, thiamine, folate, riboflavin, copper, manganese, and potassium. They are also a great source of dietary fiber and have a wide array of antioxidants.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one serving of ten roasted chestnuts (84g) contains 206 calories, 2.8 g protein, 1.9 g fat, 44 g carbohydrate, and 4.3 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 47% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for copper, 43% for manganese, 25% for vitamin B6, 24% for vitamin C, 17% for thiamine, 15% for folate, 11% for riboflavin and potassium, and significant amounts of other minerals and vitamins.
Good Carbs: Fiber
One serving of ten chestnuts provides 15% of your daily requirements for fiber. Fiber has many beneficial functions, including lowering cholesterol, preventing colon cancer, and improving bowel regularity. Chestnuts are a great source of complex carbohydrates including fiber and resistant starch. Resistant starch is a type of fiber, along with soluble and insoluble types, and has beneficial physiological actions in the body. Resistant to digestion in the stomach and small intestine, it reaches the large intestine intact. It improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, lowers plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, increases satiety, and provides bulk. In the bowel, resistant starch also supports the growth of healthy bacteria and inhibits the growth of potentially harmful bacteria.
Building Cells with vitamin B6
One serving of fresh roasted chestnuts contains 25% of your daily requirement for vitamin B6. As a water-soluble vitamin,
Figure 5. Burr (center), mature chestnuts (left) and immature chestnuts (right).
B6 is not stored in the body and needs to be consumed in adequate amounts on a regular basis to replenish the body’s supply. Vitamin B6 is involved as a coenzyme in many enzymatic reactions and is essential for the formation of new cells in the body. This nutrient is required for the synthesis of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, as well as nucleic acids, which are used to make DNA. Phospholipids, which make up the cell membrane, and heme, the protein component of red blood cells, are also dependent on vitamin B6. Additionally, this important vitamin is involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, helping the body use the fats and carbohydrates eaten, as well as synthesis of neurotransmitters, which include serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and GABA. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are hormones that play a key role in responding to stress; GABA is essential for healthy brain function; and serotonin contributes to feelings of well-being. Conversely, a lack of serotonin and norepinephrine is linked with depression.
An important contributor to heart health, vitamin B6 also lowers homocysteine levels, a dangerous molecule that causes damage to the blood vessel wall and subsequent atherosclerosis. High homocysteine levels have been associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Eating chestnuts and other foods high in vitamin B6 is good for your heart.
How to Select and Store
Choose fresh chestnuts that are firm and feel heavy for their size. Look for a glossy brown shell that is free of blemishes or soft spots. Avoid any that rattle in the shell, a sign of old age. Store chestnuts in a ventilated container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. They have the best flavor when eaten soon after harvest.
How to Enjoy
To roast a fresh chestnut, carefully cut an X into the skin on the rounded side of the nut. Arrange them with the cut side up in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast chestnuts until the skins have pulled back and the nut inside has softened. Soaking the chestnuts in hot water before roasting makes it easier to remove the skin. They can also be boiled, microwaved, or cooked in an air fryer. Chestnuts can also be eaten raw, but can have a more bitter flavor. Here are some more serving ideas:
• Mash boiled chestnuts with root vegetables for a side dish
• Add whole or chopped chestnuts to soups, stews, or casseroles
• Sauté chopped chestnuts with sweet potatoes, carrots, rutabaga or parsnips for a mixed root vegetable dish
• Roast chestnuts with olive oil and salt
• Grated and added in bread
• Add mashed chestnuts to cake or muffin batter
• Sauté with garlic and vegetables
• Mix into stuffing with apples or cranberries
Enjoy fresh chestnuts for the holidays and during its peak winter season.
SELECTED REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ http://www.florida-agriculture.com
When you do business with Farm Credit, you are a member of a cooperative. When we do well, you do well. And we’ve been doing well for over 100 years. Refinancing
FARM BUREAU DETAILS INITIAL GOALS FOR NEAR TERM AND TWO NEW ACTIVITIES
By Jim Frankowiak
The newly elected Hillsborough County Farm Bureau (HCFB) Executive Committee is finalizing goals and programs, and “will continue to have a strong focus on elected official tours and education as well as community education,” said Executive Director Kaylee Poppell. “We will also be promoting our member benefits and why it is important to be involved in Farm Bureau.”
The Mission of HCFB is as follows and remains unchanged - “Together we work to protect and promote the interests of farmers, ranchers, and rural communities in Hillsborough County. We advocate for policies that preserve our agricultural heritage, support rural economies, and ensure a sustainable future for agriculture. Through education, outreach, and collective actions, we empower our members to be effective advocates for agriculture and to thrive in an ever-changing industry. We are the Voice of Agriculture.”
HCFB is part of American Farm Bureau and currently has 3,696 members in Hillsborough County. HCFB proudly represents 1,992 farms located in Hillsborough County that together have a $704 million market value of agricultural products sold annually.
“We plan to continue to work very closely with the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to ensure Agriculture has a seat at the table and an ongoing opportunity for continued profitability,” she said.
The Farm Bureau Executive Committee includes President Casey Simmons Runkles, Vice President Brittany Coleman, Treasurer Clay Joyner, and Secretary Madison Astin Salter. The Committee anticipates meeting soon to finalize goals and new programming.
“We do plan to continue two new activities that we first hosted this year,” said Poppell. “Those include the Elected Official Showmanship Contest and the Outrun Hunger 5K.”
The Elected Official Showmanship Contest was hosted by the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee in partnership with the Hillsborough County Fair Livestock Committee. The contest aims to connect our elected officials with our youth and highlight their hard work and dedication to raising and showing livestock. Participating elected officials included: Ryan Gill, Chair of the Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation District; Ally Sullivan, Hillsborough County Soil and Water
Conservation District 5; and Jason Jones, Vice Mayor of Plant City. Ally Sullivan won Champion Elected Official Showman honors.
The inaugural Outrun Hunger 5K Fun Run/Walk was held at the Florida State Fairgrounds and served as the kickoff of Farm City Week while benefitting Feeding Tampa Bay. Farm City Week is an annual celebration that promotes and highlights the vital connection between rural farms and urban consumers. This week of activities aims to bridge the gap between these two groups and educate urban residents about the importance of agriculture and its impact on their daily lives. HCFB’s goal through the Outrun Hunger 5K was to raise awareness of agriculture’s importance in Hillsborough County and bring awareness to the food insecurity that is prevalent locally.
Sponsors of 5Kincluded: Mosaic (presenting sponsor), Ardent Mills, Everglades Farm Equipment, Farm Credit of Central FL, Farm Bureau Insurance, Busy Bee Laser and Design, Berry Sweet Memories Photography, Florida State Fair, and Fresh Pak Produce.
“With 80 participants, we were able to make a large donation of non-perishable food products as well as $1,500 of proceeds from the race to Feeding Tampa Bay,” said Poppell. “This donation will help Feeding Tampa Bay provide food for our community while also supporting our Farms through direct procurement of goods.”
“In addition to continuing both the Outrun Hunger event and Elected Official Showmanship Contest, It is also our hope to host a public Ag tour again this year, as well,” said Poppell.
MACKENZIE BRYANT SCORES BIG AT COUNTY FAIR; SELLS TURKEY “WADDLE” FOR $10K
By Jim Frankowiak
Seven-year-old Mackenzie Bryant had a great time at the recent Hillsborough County Fair, selling her turkey “Waddle” for $10,000 at the market turkey sale, as well as enjoying all the Fair had to offer.
“Kenzie” as she is often called, is the daughter of Samantha Williamson Bryant. A Material Planner for Driscoll’s, and James Bryant, a Manatee County Paramedic. Mackenzie has a 9-year-old brother Marcus. She is a 1st grader at Independence Academy.
“She has had chickens for four years and Waddle was her first turkey,” said her mother Samantha. “Kenzie is a sixth-generation member of a strawberry farming family.”
Waddle was purchased for $10,000 at the Fair by cobuyers Pipe Pros and RLR Renovation’s. “Mackenzie plans on using the money to fund her future animal projects, said her mother. “She will continue in 4-H as part of On Target Clover Buds and we hope to see her go into the Ag industry when she grows up.
“Mackenzie is a little girl with special abilities and she does not let that get in her way,” said her mother. “She has ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and was diagnosed with Epilepsy at the age of 2 and autism a year ago. We have chickens, geese, turkeys, three pigs, two dogs, and a bunny. The animals help
to comfort her and keep her grounded. They have provided some of the best therapy for her with her unique abilities.”
Research findings within the last several years have noted the increases in social behaviors, regulation of behaviors and a sense of normalcy among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a developmental disorder that affects an individual’s ability to communicate, create social relationships and regulate sensory input and repetitive behaviors. An uncommon intervention used in ASD treatment is farm animal assisted therapy (AAT).
“We are most grateful for the advances in diagnosis and treatment that have taken place and how they have benefitted Mackenzie,” said Samantha. “Early diagnosis has certainly been helpful, but recognizing differentlyabled brains has given us the opportunity to expose Kenzie to many different kinds of relationships through which she has and continues to grow.
“I would encourage parents of children with special abilities not to accept traditional labeling, but to expand their horizons and offer their children varied options for growth. It works.”
Congratulations Kenzie!
300 MILITARY FAMILIES AT MACDILL BENEFIT FROM 3RD ANNUAL HARVEST OF HAPPINESS – NOURISH THE SERVICE EVENT
By Jim Frankowiak
Blue Star Families’ Tampa Chapter recently held its Third Annual Harvest of Happiness – Nourish the Service event at MacDill Air Force Base during which more than 300 military families received nearly $100,000 of groceries and household items.
“We are extremely grateful to our community partners: ABC Action News, CSX, Quality Carriers, Chobani, Wish Farms, Metropolitan Ministries, Tampa Bay Lightning, CareSource Military & Veterans, West Shore Homes, DFCU Financial, Leonardo DRSA, Craig Newmark and Support the Troops for their support,” said Blue Star Families’ Tampa Chapter Executive Director Suzy Malloy.
“Blue Star Families was founded by military spouses in 2009 to empower these families to thrive as they serve,” said Malloy. “We’re committed to strengthening military families by connecting them with their neighbors – individuals and organizations – to create vibrant communities of mu-
tual support. We believe we’re all stronger when we take care of one another.
“Our groundbreaking research is raising the nation’s awareness of the unique challenges of military family life. With the help of neighbors across the country, we are overcoming the isolation and alienation of frequent moves, deployments, and reduced support from the government. Our innovative programs are solving specific challenges for military families, including fighting economic insecurity with resources that foster spouse career development, creating family strength with rich family programming, and providing critical peer support for caregivers, whose numbers are only increasing.”
“With approximately 275,000 members in our network, including in chapters and communities all over the world, we touch more than 1.5 million military family members each year. Through our
research and program partnerships, we ensure that wherever American military families go, they can always feel connected, supported and em-
powered to thrive – in every community, across the nation, and around the globe.”
EcoSwing® and Gowan’s OMRI Solutions: Empowering Florida’s Specialty Crop Growersz
Florida’s specialty crop industry thrives on providing highquality produce while grappling with challenging pests and sustainability demands. As growers navigate these complexities, Gowan Company offers an arsenal of OMRI-listed products tailored to the unique needs of Florida agriculture. These solutions—rooted in science and practicality—include EcoSwing® Botanical Fungicide, Aza-Direct®, Badge® X2, Captiva® Prime, and M-Pede®. Together, they form an integrated toolkit for growers seeking effective and sustainable crop protection.
A Legacy of Biological Innovation
Gowan Company, a family-owned business since the 1960s, has long been committed to delivering innovative agricultural solutions. The development of EcoSwing® and its complementary OMRI-listed products exemplifies this dedication. By combining advanced research with practical application, Gowan ensures that growers can tackle their toughest challenges while protecting their crops and the environment.
EcoSwing®: A Revolution in Fungal Management
At the heart of Gowan’s portfolio is EcoSwing® Botanical Fungicide, derived from the Swinglea glutinosa plant. Its unique properties desiccate fungal hyphae, directly attacking pathogens like powdery mildew, Botrytis cinerea, and anthracnose. EcoSwing® is also believed to stimulate plants’ innate defense mechanisms, providing additional resilience against diseases.
With its 0-day Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI) and 4-hour Restricted Entry Interval (REI), EcoSwing® offers flexibility, making it an ideal solution for Florida growers managing strawberries, grapes, citrus, and ornamentals. Its OMRI certification ensures it fits seamlessly into organic and conventional farming practices, aligning with consumer demand for sustainable solutions.
Enhancing Integrated Pest and Disease Management
Growers can incorporate Gowan’s other OMRI-listed products into their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs for comprehensive pest and disease control. Each product brings unique benefits to the table, enhancing overall efficacy: Aza-Direct®: Broad-Spectrum Botanical Insecticide
• Aza-Direct® controls key pests such as whiteflies, aphids, and leaf miners on outdoor food crops, ornamentals, and greenhouse plants. Its primary mode of action as an insect growth regulator disrupts pest life cycles, while its repellent and antifeedant properties reduce feeding damage. With superior purity and stability, Aza-Direct® ensures consistent performance, making it an essential partner for crops vulnerable to insect infestations.
• For Florida’s specialty growers, Aza-Direct® is especially valuable for greenhouse operations and high-value crops like strawberries and tomatoes, where pest management is critical to maintaining quality and yield.
Badge® X2: Dual-Action Copper Protection
• Badge® X2 combines copper hydroxide for immediate action and copper oxychloride for long-lasting residual control, offering exceptional disease protection against bacterial and fungal pathogens. Its rainfast formulation provides reliable performance even after rain events, a critical advantage in Florida’s unpredictable climate.
• Badge® X2 is ideal for managing bacterial spot in tomatoes and citrus canker in citrus groves, two pervasive challenges
in Florida agriculture. With its OMRI certification, Badge® X2 is a trusted solution for organic growers striving to maintain disease-free crops.
Captiva® Prime: Natural Repellent and Bio-Insecticide
• Captiva® Prime targets pests like thrips, spider mites, and aphids, driving them out of hiding to increase exposure to in secticides. This natural bio-insecticide enhances the efficacy of tank mix solutions, making it a valuable tool in managing pests resistant to traditional chemistries.
• For Florida growers, Captiva® Prime shines in crops like peppers and cucumbers, where controlling hidden pests is essential to maintaining marketable yields. Its compatibility with all food and non-food crops ensures versatility across diverse farming systems.
M-Pede®: Versatile Insecticide, Miticide, and Fungicide
• M-Pede® provides effective contact control of soft-bod ied pests, such as aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites, as well as fungal pathogens like powdery mildew. Its ability to target pests and diseases across their life cycles makes it a versatile option for rotational IPM programs.
• In Florida, M-Pede® is particularly effective in managing powdery mildew on cucurbits and controlling pests in leafy greens. Its compatibility as a tank mix partner enhances the efficacy of other products, ensuring comprehensive crop pro tection.
Synergizing Solutions for Maximum Impact
The strength of Gowan’s OMRI-listed portfolio lies in its abil ity to synergize. Products like EcoSwing® can be paired with Aza-Direct® for fungal and pest control, while Badge® X2 complements M-Pede® in managing bacterial and fungal pathogens. Captiva® Prime can drive pests out of hiding, in creasing their vulnerability to Aza-Direct® or M-Pede®. This integrative approach gives growers a customizable, sus tainable strategy for tackling Florida’s diverse agricultural challenges. Whether protecting strawberries from Botrytis, managing bacterial spot in tomatoes, or repelling pests in cucumbers, Gowan’s products empower growers to optimize crop health and productivity.
Meeting Florida’s Unique Agricultural Needs
Florida’s climate, while ideal for many crops, presents constant pressure from pests, diseases, and rain events. Gowan’s OMRI-listed products address these challenges with solutions that prioritize efficacy, flexibility, and environmental stewardship. EcoSwing®, Aza-Direct®, Badge® X2, Captiva® Prime, and M-Pede® together provide a robust arsenal for managing pest and disease pressures while supporting organic and conventional systems alike.
A Commitment to Sustainable Growth
Gowan Company’s dedication to growers extends beyond products—it’s about building lasting partnerships rooted in science and a shared vision for sustainable agriculture. With solutions like EcoSwing® and its complementary OMRI offerings, Gowan continues to empower Florida’s specialty crop growers to thrive in a competitive and demanding market. By integrating these tools into IPM programs, Florida growers can protect their crops, optimize yields, and meet the growing demand for sustainably produced food. As challenges evolve, Gowan’s commitment to innovation and grower success remains steadfast, offering a brighter future for agriculture.
by John Dicks
AMAZING PREDICTIONS FOR 2025
Right about this time of year, between the winding down of Christmas Holidays and the spinning up of a Happy New Year, I tend to pause and reflect upon the recent past (2024) and ponder that which we might predict for the near future (2025).
As to the part about looking back on 2024, you’ve got to be fast with the reflection because it was a year running at breakneck speed. Like those awful hurricanes of just a few months ago, our lives seemed to be spinning and swirling and changing almost with every blink of our eyes.
The weather would whipsaw in all directions, first hot, then cold, then windy, then still, but always ever changing. The political cycles, too, brought with an election year, swung like a pendulum out of control, favoring one side, then the other, and back and forth.
That’s the thing about 2024, it twisted and jerked along without much real direction, leaving in the dust pontificating prognosticators who early on were certain that they could predict the future. It turns out, as you might suspect, that way too many of their predictions simply proved wrong.
For fun, or maybe just out of curiosity, I googled predictions for 2024 to see what boldly had been stated. Ignoring all of the ones directing attention to elections, I noticed one entitled “Top 10 Predictions for 2024.” Naturally, that caught my attention since the top hit also specified that it included “such topics as international relations, areas of major technical contestation, and underdogs using chaos to their advantage.”
Clicking on the link brought me to a web page where the same words as above were stated, followed by, literally, nothing at all! Surprised? I guess a little I was, but I did think the author might want to list a few things even just to keep score.
Yet no, it was just a blank page, which led me to believe that earlier predictions had not fared so well and that they just conveniently got deleted. Maybe the listings had said gas prices would skyrocket (they didn’t), inflation would resurge (it didn’t), bitcoin would crash (it didn’t). Who
knows? Then again, the page was still getting the top spot for Google’s search results, so perhaps something worked out for them after all.
Such is the predicament of prediction making.
For new forecasts of things to be coming in 2025, topping Google’s list for relative links went this year to the venerable magazine, The Atlantic. Granted, not everyone is enamored with the publication, but I do respect the writing of many of its authors. As such, and in this case, it projected 10 specific things that if they do come to fruition in 2025, it will be really quite amazing. Here’s five of the things they say are forthcoming.
- Teleportation is tested - Just like on StarTrek with “beam me up Scotty.” It’s not predicted to reach refinement and reality next year, but technology is such that scientists are looking to begin its testing.
- Food shortages disappear - Certain to face controversy, but 2025 will see genetically modified crops grown rapidly and safely indoors, with constant light from low energy LEDs. That reality would help to reduce the risk of crop failure, price fluctuations, and food shortages.
- Flying for the masses - Lightweight aircraft will be powered by new, improved lithium batteries, bringing down weight, and even the costs of private air transportation.
- Pollution control - Packaging materials will become fully biodegradable, eliminating a significant source of litter.
- Advances in genetics - DNA mapping at birth will begin, leading to greater accuracy of diagnosis and ability to gather data over longer period of times.
Wow! All of that points to a brave new world, indeed. Will such amazing things really happen? Let’s check the score card again this time next year.
In the interim, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!”. John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.
AREA LAWMAKERS RECEIVE LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR HONOR FROM FLORIDA FARM BUREAU
By Jim Frankowiak
Each Year the Florida Farm Bureau Federation recognizes state legislators that support policy initiatives that are critical to our state’s farmers and ranchers and help Florida Farm Bureau achieve our policy objectives. This year, Florida Farm Bureau is proud to recognize State Representative Danny Alvarez, who represents District 69, and State Senator Jay Collins, who represents District 14. Both recipients represent large portions of Hillsborough County. Senator Collins also chairs the Florida Senate Agriculture Commission. “We are incredibly grateful for Representative Alvarez and Senator Collin’s commitment to the agriculture industry in our state and cannot thank them enough for their willingness to speak up in Tallahassee on behalf of Florida’s farmers and ranchers,” said Florida Farm Bureau President Jeb Smith.
Representative Alvarez and Senator Collins were both instrumental in championing policies that benefit farmers and ranchers and ensure agriculture can stay profitable in Hillsborough County and the State of Florida. “Farming is a demanding and challenging career and having legislators who are not only supportive but also understanding of the complexities of our operations is crucial,” said Hillsborough County Farm Bureau President Casey Simmons Runkles. “We are deeply grateful for the dedication and advocacy of our Legislators of the Year – Representative Danny Alvarez and Senator Jay Collins. Their commitment to supporting agriculture in Tallahassee makes a real difference for farmers across Florida.”
USDA SELECTS UF/IFAS TO LEAD FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM
By Jim Frankowiak
By Jim Frankowiak
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has selected a University of Florida, Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS)-run center for food safety training to coordinate similar facilities across the country.
The USDA’s decision means the Southern Center for Food Safety Modernization Act Training will continue serving as the Lead Regional Coordination Center for such training, a role it has filled since 2015. The Southern Center is run by two food safety professors in the UF/IFAS food science and human nutrition department: Keith Schneider and Michelle Danyluk.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was passed in 2011 to prevent the introduction of food-borne pathogens into the American food system. In 2015, the USDA joined with the FDA to establish the National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Program and funded a national coordination center and four regional centers. UF/IFAS has served as the headquarters of the Southern Center for a decade. The center supports 13 states between Texas and Virginia. Partners include land-grant institutions and non-government and community-based organizations.
This year, NIFA awarded the Southern Center a $950,000 grant to continue training food safety educators. During this grant cycle, a three-year period, the center will focus on reaching underserved populations, including operators of small farms, socially disadvantaged farmers, and farmers beginning their careers.
The center’s teaching model involves training trainers, including representatives from academia, state and local regulatory agencies, non-governmental organizations, commodity group associations, and local food hubs. This approach creates a multiplier effect.
Most of the curriculum focuses on two FSMA rules: the Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule. The first established mandatory minimum standards related to agricultural water quality, employee health, and hygiene, animals, biological soil amendments of animal origin, equipment, tools, and buildings. The second requires food facilities to create a food safety plan that includes an analysis of hazards and risk-based preventive controls to minimize or prevent identified hazards.
DO YOU HAVE THE HOLIDAY HO-HUMS?
Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping AgentTM, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
Most people enjoy holidays, but there are some that have the holiday ho-hums. If you are one of the ho-hums, consider involving yourself in at least one of the activities below that will benefit you and others. If you are not a ho-hum, you can still enjoy the activities below.
Purchase a holiday plant or dig up and repot one of your favorite plants in your landscape. You could include a card that details the plant care needed, such as sun or shade, water, soil, and fertilizer.
You can also purchase a holiday plant – a Christmas cactus or small Christmas tree to decorate their table. Amaryllis adds a huge pop of color in groups of 10 or more. It performs best in partial shade and full sun. It should be planted between September and January, so get going! Gardenia has beautiful, fragrant white flowers and can reach a height of 4-8 feet. Paperwhite narcissus should be placed in a cool, dark room until shoot growth occurs. Rosemary topiary is a great smelling gift for cooks and gardeners. It has light blue flowers in winter and spring. Norfolk Island Pine is a pyramid shaped evergreen tree that has dark green needles and prefers full sun or bright indoor light. It can reach 80 feet when mature. I was fortunate to have a friend that created homemade holiday ornaments every year for many years that adorn my small tabletop tree. I think of her fondly every time I walk by that tree.
Offer a service to your friends that need help or don’t have the inclination to complete. This could include giving them a ride to an appointment, pruning a shrub, sharing a favorite book, weeding a landscape bed, gifting bromeliads, decorating their holiday tree or other help they need. You could even teach your friends how to or make their own ornaments out of pinecones, palm leaf sheaths or fronds.
If you have an older or somehow impaired relative, friend or neighbor, set aside some time to spend with them. Not only will they appreciate your company, but you also get to enjoy theirs! Make cookies, decorate a tree, hang stockings or create a pine frond centerpiece for your table.
Walking a trail or around the block is good exercise and walking it with a friend or relative is a plus – beautiful scenery and the company of someone you enjoy. You can even identify plants on your walk. If you can’t identify them, you can take photographs and, we, Extension, can identify them for you. Join a community garden. There are 60+ community gardens across 5 counties in West Central Florida. If you are interested in more information about community gardens, go to: https://coalitionofcommunitygardens.org/. You will make new friends, learn more about gardening, and being outside is almost always better than being inside….at least to me it is! Enjoy!
FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD
We are well on our way to creating a space in Hillsborough County dedicated to delivering artificial intelligence-driven solutions to your farms and ranches. But it’s people, not just the place, who will make it happen.
Our state has generously appropriated funds to build what will be known as the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. We hope to break ground in 2025.
We need a team of experts to make the space a game changer. These are the cutting-edge minds that will design prototypes and demonstrate technologies for you. They’ll work with companies to turn innovative ideas into products and services that help you cut costs or increase yield and efficiency.
We’re asking the legislature for funding to start building this one-of-a-kind team.
Three years ago, when Nathan Boyd, GCREC’s associate director, presented a vision for the AI Center to an industry advisory group, Kenneth Parker asked him – and me – to immediately work on making it a reality.
Parker, who chairs the group and is executive director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, has inspired us to move at the speed of need. The big need is for technology as the Florida farmer’s edge in a world where your competitors enjoy cheap labor and a less costly regulatory environment.
In that spirit, we didn’t wait for a new building before getting started on seeking ways for AI to help you harvest, irrigate, plant, control pests, and spray for weeds. But without a place to prototype machines or process massive amounts of data, there are limits on what even the best scientists can do. So, we’re building.
Conversely, the best-equipped laboratory doesn’t help you much if the expertise is not there. So, in 2025, one of the highest priorities for UF/IFAS in Tallahassee will be to se-
cure funding for the people who will make the place one that transforms Florida agriculture.
Please support the UF/IFAS budget request. We believe the $4.5 million we’re asking for will be repaid many times in labor-saving innovation for Florida’s hard-working farmers and ranchers.
Your land-grant university works for you. Our job is to help you make money while feeding the world. You make more if you spend less. We can help with that if the state will help us. Anything you can do to help legislators and policy makers understand that – letters, calls, emails, invitations to visit your farm – will help Tallahassee, too, to move at the speed of need.
J. Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Provost. He served as UF’s Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/ IFAS) from July 2020 through January 2024.
By Brad Buck | All photos, “Courtesy, Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS photography.” Video and SOTs, “Courtesy, UF/IFAS video.”
Photo of robot arm picking a strawberry, UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones
AI digital twin technology at Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, UF/IFAS Photo by Cat Wofford.
BayCare’s new South Florida Baptist Hospital brings the latest advancements in health care to Plant City and the surrounding communities. You’ll find a state-of-the-art facility that has expanded orthopedic, heart and vascular, labor and delivery, emergency and surgical services. The new Charles and Betty Grimes Medical Arts Building gives you convenient access to a full range of care, including imaging, labs and select BayCare Medical Group providers’ offices. You can expect clinical expertise combined with compassionate care delivered by a team that treats you like family.
Recipes
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Chef Justin
Timineri
Coconut Snapper with Spinach Endive Sauté
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4 (6-ounce) snapper filets
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1/2 cup diced onion, divided
1 cup canned coconut milk
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 head Belgian endive, thin sliced
1 (10-ounce) bag spinach, washed
Strawberry Pops
DIRECTIONS
1. Season fillets with salt and pepper.
2. In large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat.
3. Cook fillets 3 to 4 minutes per side until cooked through.
4. Remove fish from skillet and keep warm.
5. For coconut sauce, return pan to heat and cook garlic, ginger and 1/4 cup onion until tender.
6. Add coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce, hot sauce and bring to a boil.
7. Lower heat and add cilantro; simmer for 5 minutes.
8. In a separate, large skillet, heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat.
9. Sauté remaining 1/4 cup onion, endive and spinach until greens are just wilted.
10. Serve fillets with sauce over sautéed vegetables.
Ingredients
• 12 Florida strawberries
• 12 (4-inch) lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks or 6-inch bamboo skewers
• 1 cup lightly crushed whole grain cereal
• ½ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
DIRECTIONS
1. Rinse strawberries and remove leaves.
2. Dip berry in yogurt, then in the cereal.
3. Insert sticks into the narrow end of the strawberry.
4. Serve immediately.
A
Closer Look
Naturally Amazing Activities by
Sean Green
Glass Rock Candle Holder
If you are anything like me, you have a small collection of jars that no longer have a lid. Jars such as these are often repurposed for holding pens and pencils, flower petals, and tiny knick knacks that have no other home. This month’s project is simple enough for children (supervised), and results in a beautiful candle holder that would make a great handmade gift or unique decoration for the home. The example we have provided uses only one color of glass rocks, but experimenting with multiple colors is encouraged. In addition to using a variety of colors, why not combine this project with the concepts in last month’s Petroglyph project and carve a design in the glass rocks for surprisingly endless possibilities.
Materials:
Glass Jar (2 ½ - 3” diameter or larger)
Glass Rock (or anything translucent)
Hot Glue Gun (high temperature glue sticks)
Tea light Candle
Rotary Cutter (if carving rocks)
Clean the jar well with dishwashing detergent and dry thoroughly. Put a small dab of hot glue no bigger than a small raindrop (1mm or 2 mm). Press the glass stone onto the jar to cover as much of the jar as possible using either a random or symmetrical pattern.
Caution:
Low temperature glue guns heat to about 248 °F to melt the glue. High temperature glue guns range between 350-400 °F
Low temperature glue is commonly used for this project without a problem so long as the diameter of the glass jar is large enough to prevent the candle from heating the glass jar too much. We suggest using high temperature glue if possible; not only as an added safety precaution, but the high temperature glue has a stronger bond.
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