In The Field Magazine - Hillsborough

Jan. 15 - Feb. 15, 2011

®

Michael C. Tucker Senior Market Manager Bureau of State Farmers Markets

Covering What’s Growing

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From the Editor

January Cover Story

Sarah Holt

®

Al Berry

Michael C. Tucker

Senior Market Manager Bureau of State Farmers Markets

Covering What’s Growing

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

10 Business Upfront The Simple Life Outfitters 14 Recipes 16 Grub Station Keel & Curley

28 Lennard FFA 30 Rocking Chair Chatter 60 Ford Motor Company 66 Champion of Champions 86 Activity 92 Alien Invasion

In The Field® Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants and other local venues.

It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes members of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Growers 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 their 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. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

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The Plant City Farmers Market 48 Cover photo by Stephanie Humphrey 7 Did You Know?

24 Gentle Gardening

The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

Numbers 6:25

®

Karen Berry

Editor-In-Chief

20 Fishing Hot Spots

Sarah

®

Publisher/Owner

Jan. 15 - Feb. 15, 2011

Happy New Year! January 2011 is well under way and I trust everyone is still abiding by the resolutions made on January 1. One you can easily keep is to read In The Field magazine each month.

It’s time for the Florida State Fair! This year the Fair will be held February 10 – 21 and, as always, will showcase agriculture in Florida. Youth from across the state will be on hand to vie for a variety of awards with their agriculture projects. So while enjoying all the fair has to offer, be sure to stop by the livestock pavilions to tell the youth that we appreciate them, the future of our industry. Look for a schedule of agriculture events in this issue. In The Field magazine will have a booth in the Ag Hall of Fame building, so stop by and say hello.

As always, when shopping to feed your family, look for food that is “Fresh From Florida.” Check out your local farmers markets, too. These cultural icons will have fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as other offerings available on a seasonal basis. Go to the Florida Department of Agriculture web site at www.florida-agriculture.com/consumers/farmers_markets.htm to find a farmers market near you.

Please support our advertisers. They allow us to continue to “Cover What’s Growing.” We would like to wish them, and you, a very prosperous New Year. We look forward to spending it with you.

Until Next Month,

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Heartland’s AGRICULTURE Magazine

VOL. 7 • ISSUE 3

Senior Managing Editor/Associate Publisher Sarah Holt

Editor

Patsy Berry

Office Manager Bob Hughens

Sales Manager Johnny Cone

Sales

Karen Berry Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Eric Singletary W. Russell Hancock Chass Bronson

Art Director Amey Celoria

Designer

Juan Carlos Alvarez

Staff Writers

Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Kayla Lewis Nick Chapman Tracy Cox Sean Green Craig Chandler Mark Cook

Contributing Writers Woody Gore

Photography

Karen Berry Al Berry Stephanie Humphrey INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FARM BUREAU

100 South Mulrennan Road • Valrico, FL 33594 Phone (813) 685-9121

100 S. Mulrennan Rd. Valrico, FL 33594

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Insurance Services 813.685.5673

• • • • • Dear Readers,

•

Many of you may already know me, but for those who don’t, I am a native of Hillsborough County and in the dairy and beef cattle business. My family has operated dairies in Hillsborough County since 1943. Cattle have been a major part of my life and I have enjoyed and respected this industry. There have been many challenges with this business, but over all it has been a wonderful way of life for me and my family.

Hillsborough County is one of the largest Farm Bureaus in the state of Florida.

Membership is going strong with over 4,500 members and growing. You do not have to be in agriculture to be a member and members receive many valuable benefits. Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, together with Florida Farm Bureau, is working hard to address issues and policies that apply to agriculture. Their mission is “to increase the net income of farmers and ranchers, and to improve the quality of rural life.” They are working hard to be the “Voice of Agriculture.”

On behalf of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau I would like to congratulate our newly elected Governor Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam. We have high expectations for this team to enhance and ensure the well being of Florida Agriculture.

Hillsborough County Farm Bureau would like to extend their appreciation to all those who contributed in any way towards the success of these politicians on behalf of agriculture.

Sincerely,

Danny Aprile Danny Aprile President, Hillsborough County Farm Bureau

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Mature turkeys have more than 3,500 feathers.

There are 47 different breeds of sheep in the U.S. Pork is the most widely eaten meat in the world.

The average person consumes 584 pounds of dairy products a year.

160 degrees Fahrenheit is the correct cooking temperature to ensure safe and savory ground beef.

Elevators in the Statue of Liberty use a soybean-based hydraulic fluid.

Like snowflakes, no two cows have exactly the same pattern of spots.

Twenty-nine cuts of beef meet government guidelines for lean.

The average dairy cow produces seven gallons of milk a day, 2,100 pounds of milk a month, and 46,000 glasses of milk a year.

Turkeys originated in North and Central America, and evidence indicates that they have been around for more than 10 million years.

Agriculture employs more than 24 million American workers (17% of the total U.S. work force).

Today’s American farmer feeds about 155 people worldwide. In 1960, that number was 25.8.

Raising beef cattle is the single largest segment of American agriculture.

One pound of wool can make 10 miles of yarn. There are 150 yards (450 feet) of wool yarn in a baseball.

Soybeans are an important ingredient for the production of crayons. In fact, one acre of soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons.

The heaviest turkey ever raised weighed 86 pounds, about the size of an average third-grader.

Cows have four stomachs and can detect smells up to six miles away!

Cows are herbivores, so they only have teeth on the bottom.

There are 350 squirts in a gallon of milk.

Courtesy www.farmersfeedus.org

Member Services 813.685.9121

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Danny Aprile .............................. President Bill Burnette ....................... Vice President Jemy Hinton ................................Treasurer George Coleman....................... Secretary Glenn Harrell ...............Member at Large

DIRECTORS FOR 2010-2011 Amanda Collins, Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Alvin Futch, Stefan Katzaras, Joe Keel, Greg Lehman, Kenneth Parker, Jake Raburn, Marty Tanner, James Tew, Patrick Thomas, Michelle Williamson, Ray Wood

Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813.685.9121

FARM BUREAU INSURANCE SPECIAL AGENTS Valrico Office 813.685.5673

100 S. Mulrennan Rd. Valrico, FL 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, CHFC, Agency Mgr. Julie Carlson, John McGuire

Plant City Office 813.752.5577

1302 S. Collins St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Sumner, Bill Williams

1046 W. Busch Blvd., Ste. 100, Tampa, FL 33612 Greg Harrell, Mike Miller, Brad Allsgood

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Danny Aprile, Vice-President; Jemy Hinton, Treasurer; George Coleman, Secretary; Glenn Harrell, Member-at-large; Bill Burnette, Jake Raburn, Patrick Thomas, Amanda Collins, Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Alvin Futch, Stefan Katzaras, Greg Lehman, Carl Little, Lance Ham, Michelle Williamson and John Stickles. Judi Whitson, Executive Director

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Tampa Office 813.933.5440

AGENCY MANAGER Tommy Hale INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

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COWBOYS WESTERN WORLD

HOURS: 10-7 T A S N O •M • SUN 11-5

gi r ls

and C o w

Where The Cowboys Shop.

120 S.R. 60 E. • Plant City, FL 33567 • 813-737-3259

www.cowboyswesternworld.com Ove r h e a rd:

answers on page 87

“Best Fono!”d In Tow YOU TOO CAN BE A WINNER No Food HEY READERS, hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE InTheField® T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the page on which you found the logo and where on that page you located the logo to: No Farmers

InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, FL 33563-0042 All Entries must be received by February 3, 2011.

Winner will be notified by phone.

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January 2011

KIDS UNDER 10 EAT FREE ALL DAY TUESDAY (One child per adult) rllss

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Where The Cowboys Eat. 120 S.R. 60 E. • Plant City, FL 33567 • 813-737-3259 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

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Business UpFront

Simple Life Outfitters

Eat Better. Love Life. Live Longer.

By Rhonda Walker

An unexpected chance to “do something we always wanted to do” led Kelly Morris and his family to open “The Simple Life Outfitters.” The shop is located at 2553 SR 60 East in Valrico. “We always wanted to do something where all our friends could find the kind of clothes and things they are looking for,” Morris said.

Kelly was offered a retirement package from his employer that provided the impetus to start the business. “We talked about it,” he said. “The whole family talked about it and agreed.”

Kelly along with his wife, also named Kelly, and children Kory and Mandy, provided the elbow grease to get the new shop into place. Located in a strip mall, the landlord painted and put carpeting in the shop space, but the Morris family and friends did the rest. The “rest” included shelves and racks, counters and dressing rooms. The dressing rooms are paneled in a Mossy Oak design and the doors have a hand applied camouflage design. A hand applied camouflage design is also found along the tin roof over the cashier area.

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Kelly and son Kory work in the store full-time, while daughter, Mandy a student at Durant High School, and mom Kelly are parttimers.

Kory is at ease behind the cash register or helping customers make a selection from the store’s many designs. “I’m good with customers because I really like people,” he said. His father said Kory has “the gift of gab.”

The Simple Life Outfitters is warm and welcoming with neat display racks showing off everything from camouflage infant wear

facebook.com/FredsSouthernKitchen

www.fredssouthernkitchen.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

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to jackets and outerwear. There is a large selection of handbags, notepad covers and check book covers that feature an outdoorsy theme with “a little bling.” Belts with “bling” are coming soon.

The shop had a soft opening in December and plans a grand opening sometime in January or February.

After the store opening, Morris said a visit from the landlord provided some accolades about the work the family had done in the space and the impact The Simple Life Outfitters was having on the shopping center. “I am comfortable here,” Morris said. “It reminds me of home.”

Morris said he thinks the store fills a niche in the local market.

Wife Kelly agrees, “when we go school shopping for our children and we were looking for this type of clothing, western wear or outdoor wear, we would have to travel to Orlando, Tampa and farther to find what they wanted. We have it all here in one place.”

The Morris family is proud that they carry Guy Harvey’s entire line including the collegiate line which has been a big seller so far.

“The Florida Gators shirts have been very popular,” Kory said.

The Simple Life Outfitters also carries the Al Agnew line.

Agnew is a wildlife artist whose line includes deer, ducks, turkey, and fresh water fish like bass.

Popular at the store is a line of camouflage clothing from Louisiana that is nicknamed, “bass-o-flage.”

Real Tree and Mossy Oak, popular lines of clothing for men, women and teens, has a prominent spot in the store and other items can be ordered. Real Tree Girl and Ranger Girl are also available.

Some of the handbags are from Webers Leather from Texas.

On these bags the leather is really camouflage. The line includes purses, handbooks, checkbook covers and other accessories.

Charlog furniture is available in the store or can be ordered through the store. A large rocking chair might seat the entire family for some front porch rocking. A high top table and chairs is also on display in the store. The furniture line is reasonably priced and extremely comfortable.

The Salt Life line of clothing is expected to be offered in the store soon. Another sure hit, “we are getting camouflage lingerie for Valentine’s Day.”

Morris said that a lot of the products found at The Simple Life Outfitters cannot be obtained locally, except on line and he plans on increasing those items continuously. They offer Dixie Outfitters line and can put their own logo on any item of the customer’s choosing.

Available in time for the Spring formal and prom season – Camouflage formal wear. Kelly Morris described the girls’ formal wear as “really beautiful and classy.”

Morris said that his entire family enjoys the simple things in life and “we believe that what we have is a special bond with the surrounding community.”

“Many friends and family encouraged us to pursue this dream,” he said.

“The products we carry reflect the life style that surrounds our way of life and the people we are meeting in pursuit of that dream,” he continued.

“Our customers and friends look to building these relationships for years to come, and that is why we call it ‘The Simple Life’,” Morris said.

You can visit The Simple Life Outfitters at 2553 Highway 60 E, Valrico or call 813-727-2802 for more information.

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Banana Berry Jam

“I Didn’t Want To Dig To China,

Ingredients

3 cups chopped strawberries 2 cups mashed bananas 7 cups of sugar 1 box pectin

I Just Wanted To Tend To My Garden.”

- Jane, age 65 Plant City

Preperation

Combine berries, bananas, 1 ½ cups of water and one box of pectin.

Bring to a boil. Boil hard for one minute.

Remove from heat, pour quickly into jars and seal.

Invert for 5 minutes.

Yields 8 half pints.

For for

call (813) 402-2344.

My Strawberry Shortcake (Poundcake) Ingredients

2 sticks of butter, room temperature 3 cups of sugar 6 eggs, separated 3 cups of flour, sifted ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 cup sour cream ½ teaspoon almond extract Submitted by Malissa Crawford Coldwell Banker 813-967-0168

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more information or a physician referral,

January 2011

For a list of orthopedic seminars or to take an online Orthopedic Risk Assessment, visit MobilityIsEverything.org and receive a complimentary health kit.

Ordinary tasks don’t have to be impossible. Jane didn’t want to spend the rest of her life in pain, so she chose the skilled orthopedic team at South Florida Baptist Hospital to repair her knee. “ Years of kneeling in the garden took a toll on my knee – when

I had to have it repaired, I trusted South Florida Baptist.

Thanks to them, I’m able to do what I love again!”

Preperation

Cream butter and sugar really well.

Beat eggs yolks with wisk and add to creamed mixture. Add a little water.

Sift dry ingredients together. Mix dry ingredients and sour cream into the creamed mixture alternately ending with dry.

Add almond extract.

Whip egg whites and fold in.

Bake in a bundt pan at 325 for 1-1 ½ hours.

Top with fresh Plant City Strawberries and whipped cream.

Mobility Is Everything

The comprehensive orthopedic program at South Florida Baptist Hospital will take care of all your needs, from diagnosis to treatment to rehabilitation. And you’ll receive dedicated care from a team that handles only orthopedic patients.

Advanced technology. Great patient outcomes.

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We’ll make the ‘impossible’ possible again.

301 N. Alexander St. I Plant City, FL 33563 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

BC2100892-1210

January 2011

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Never having reviewed a restaurant that is only open for service one night a week, I thought the exception should go to Keel & Curley Winery as they are establishing something unique coupled with country charm and a down-home feeling with what the French call élan.

There’s an old joke that asks the question, “What do you call a man who is outstanding in his field?” Answer, “A farmer.”

Well that’s an apt description of Joe Keel the owner and entrepreneur behind Keel and Curley Winery in eastern Hillsborough County.

As he explains it, one day in 2003 he was standing out in his blueberry fields when he realized that at the end of the growing season, he still had lots of berries that could be put to a more productive purpose and hit upon the idea of turning the end-of-season berries into wine. As ideas go, it has proven to be a real winner with more than 20,000 cases of his pure blueberry, strawberry, blended and fusion wines sold annually.

When asked if Keel thought of himself as an outstanding entrepreneur, “Heck no,” he said. “I’m a farmer; I’ve always been a farmer and sit on the Farm Bureau board. I just hate waste and seven years ago found a way to use what we grow in a way that eliminates product loss. It just kind-of evolved into all these other things. This place (the Wine Tasting Room, retail shop, events and dining) helps market our product all over the country where people who have visited us in Plant

City, retailers, and our wine club members can buy online.”

This past September, using his philosophy of putting everything on his property to productive use, Keel decided he wanted to branch out using his facility and large deck overlooking a pond and rows of grape vines as a place for special events, dining and entertainment.

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Making Florida’s future

that much sweeter

He has turned the deck into a place where folks can sit, listen to good music, enjoy the fresh country air, eat good food and relax or, more or less, become “uncorked” at the end of a busy week. A haven for the T-G-I-F Tampa-Lakeland business crowd and locals, who know a good thing when they find it, has become known as “Friday After Dark Uncorked.”

Soon after the decision was made to be open for Friday night dining, a couple came in looking for a place to hold their daughter’s wedding reception. Since they’re caterers, they wanted to handle the food themselves. Well, they had the wedding, catered it themselves, Keel liked their food, and so Tim and Tina Calhoon began catering for the weekly “uncorked” crowd.

They do the preliminary preparation at Fresco’s Bakery and Bistro, their place in Lakeland. They finish the meals in the winery’s kitchen. Tina is baking at Fresco’s by 4:00 in the morning with Tim helping serve breakfasts by around 6am. They close up to do outside catering after 2:00 in the afternoon so they say scheduling to come in to cook for Keel and Curly “is a piece of cake” and has become a “very fruitful relationship, for which we are very grateful.”

The Calhoon’s buy fresh meat, seafood, poultry, fruits and vegetables locally. “For our dinners at the winery, we always shop at the market on Sam Allen Road and State Road 39 in Plant City. It’s great,” says Tim. Fresh ingredients not only taste better but they look better. The spring salad that was served with our featured “wine and dine for $49” dinners was crisp with home-baked croutons and crunchy grape tomatoes accompanied by a Keel & Curley strawberry Riesling vinai-

Florida citrus growers — like so many American farmers — rely on crop nutrients to produce more abundant crops. This means lower food costs for us and more land that can be preserved for the environment. It is our business and our honor to provide farmers across America — and right here in Florida — with the crop nutrients they need to help feed the world.

A better Florida and a better world

®

www.mosaicfla.com

grette created by Tina, a self-taught chef who loves to make her own vinaigrette’s, sauces and glazes. “I’m always thinking about creating interesting new combinations,” she said.

With our meal, my husband and I received our choice of a bottle of Keel & Curley wine. Deciding to try their newest blend, a Wild Berry Pinot Noir (a combination of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black berries and Pinot Noir grapes), it instantly became our new favorite since the berry combination is surprisingly not sweet but light and dry, yet still carries a full berry flavor that is just tart enough to tickle your taste buds.

Our entrees were two very healthy servings of a delicate chicken Florentine with an al dente rice pilaf. I swear the spinach in the Florentine sauce still managed to hold its original texture.

The fresh spinach and poultry retained their own identity as did the perfectly prepared rice. This main course and side dish are too often mistreated and the unwary can end up receiving an overcooked mush. Kudos to our chef with a light touch.

If you don’t want to be surprised, you need to call first or check the website for the “wine and dine” menu for Friday.

There is also a standard appetizer and sandwich menu to choose from that’s pretty eclectic. Some examples of Tina’s art are large freshly-grated parmesan-topped bread bowl stuffed with spinach dip, a gourmet cheese tray, a Tuscan chicken sandwich with roasted bell peppers, applewood smoked bacon with a balsamic glaze, a refreshing southwestern chicken wrap accompanied by a tortellini soup cup, spinach Florentine quiche’ where the spinach leaves are imbedded in this egg and cheese concoction so it almost resembles fine Italian marbling. It’s topped with feta cheese and crisp bacon.

“It’s a nice date night,” says Christine Connolly, the winery’s retail and floor manager. “Really good food served at medium prices combined with fine wine and music under the stars is a great way to start the weekend. Our Friday nights are becoming very popular so we do encourage reservations. Our front bar is open for wine tastings until 9pm.”

Keel is always thinking about how to improve his product and place of business. He took me out to the deck overlooking the pond and told me about his plans to enlarge the pond with a fountain in the middle. “What do you think,” he surprisingly asked. “I think you should have a giant blue signature blueberry wine bottle as the fountain,” I had the temerity to suggest.

“Hmmm, not a bad idea,” the outstanding farmer and entrepreneur mused.

Keel & Curley Winery

5202 Thonotosassa Rd. In Plant City Phone: (813) 572-9100 Web site: www.keelandcurleywinery.com Wine Tasting Room open daily – Tasting is $5 to try all 10 Keel & Curley wines Wine & Accessory Store

Retail Store and Wine Room hours: Sunday through Thursday 11am - 6pm, Friday 10am – midnight, Saturday 10am – 6pm. Available for Catering, Private parties, Weddings Dining at “Friday After Dark Uncorked” from 5 to 10pm, featuring “Wine & Dine for $49,” with two dinner salads and two entrees, a bottle of wine plus dessert. Call or visit the web site for the weekly Friday night menu. A staple menu of appetizers and sandwiches is also available Beer and wine served on “Friday After Dark Uncorked” with 2-for-1 happy hour from 6 to 7pm. Friday night entertainment from 6:30 to 10:30 pm. Call or visit the Web site for entertainment roster. Cover charge of $5. Reservations suggested.

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Farm Bureau

By Ginny Mink

HIGHLIGHT

According to James Tew, who serves on the Hillsborough Farm Bureau Board of Directors, “Ranchers are environmentalists.”

One might question this logic given the threats of taxation on cow flatulence and its carbon footprint. However, an article in Time magazine entitled, “How to Save the Grasslands: Bring in More Cattle,” would support Mr. Tew’s belief.

“Those who ranch for a living understand the significance of conservation,” he said. “Conservation is not just profitable it’s the right thing to do. If we don’t maintain our resources we hurt ourselves.” Certainly a man with such extensive ranching experience knows what he’s talking about.

Mr. Tew’s ancestors began cattle ranching in Fort Meade, FL. In 1941 they drove their cattle (via horses, not trains) up to the family’s current property located on the Hillsborough-Polk County line. The approximately 2,300 acres is home to Blackwater Creek Ranch and was purchased at about $10 an acre (imagine trying to buy property that size today!). With at least six generations of ranchers, including four generations at Blackwater Creek, the Tew family has undoubtedly established itself in the industry.

Blackwater Creek Ranch is home to 500 brood cows and is considered a commercial cow-calf operation. They are in the business of raising calves for market. Each calf weighs about 550lbs when it’s sold and shipped out west to feed lots. According to Mr. Tew, it is more economical to ship the cattle out west than to ship extra feed here.

Since ranching has been the family business for so long, Mr. Tew jokes that some of the original herd is still there. His cattle are crossbred with a mostly Brahman influence and the ranch raises its own replacement heifers, as they’ve always done. They do, however, obtain their seedstock (or bulls) from outside the herd. Technically though, there are three separate herds on his land and they manage the bulls by rotating them through the herds.

In keeping with another family tradition, all their cattle work is done on horseback, and they breed their own horses for this purpose. Mr. Tew acknowledges the fact that many ranchers today are using ATVs or 4-wheelers but he maintains that the layout of his land, with its wooded areas and oak hammocks, is not compatible with the use of anything but horses, “plus the cows are used to it,” he says.

Given the size of his ranch it seemed logical to ask why he only had 500 cows. His answer confirmed his conservationist beliefs.

Blackwater Creek Ranch voluntarily participates in the Best Management Practices (BMPs) established by the University of Florida (U.F.) and the Florida Department of Agriculture. “We have a one cow per four acre stocking rate which allows us to stock pile grass and use rotational grazing,” this is part of the BMPs and resource conservation.

Obviously, Mr. Tew intends to follow the BMPs, but there’s another reason for the 500 cow limit. If they raised the number of cows per acre they would be forced to purchase food rather than sustain growth via the naturally growing grass on the ranch. As it is, 2009’s hard freezes, which don’t normally occur until January,

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has them utilizing 15 tons of hay a week. They roll their own hay, and luckily, have a contract with a, “hay man based on shares.”

Recently they hosted a field day in collaboration with the University of Florida. U.F. invited cooperative extension agents from 10 counties to participate in a Q & A about the BMPs in order to explain to them how to help ranchers implement the BMP program. A professor from U.F. and three people from the Florida Department of Agriculture were in attendance as well.

Blackwater Creek Ranch is owned by very passionate and compassionate people. “This land is a part of us personally. I want to see it continue. We feel like we’re feeding America, we’re feeding people, we take that very seriously – we want to offer a product that is quality and really the best product in the world.” That’s why their cows are all natural, grass-fed without the use of any growth hormones.

Aside from wanting to offer consumers a safe product, James Tew also tries to make a difference in the community. In previous years he has given “city-kids” an opportunity to experience the joy he finds in raising cattle. They have leased calves and provided free barn space for students involved in FFA and 4-H that don’t have the resources necessary to compete in fairs and festivals.

Some of those opportunities for kids have changed their lives. At other times he’s given high school students employment “in an environment that’s interested in their character development.”

James Tew and his wife, Cheri, married after graduating college and were very active in their church’s ministry. They left their native Lakeland to go to seminary in New Orleans. In fact, Mr. Tew achieved both his MA and EdD in education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently a contract professor for their site in Orlando. They have two children. Andrew, 17, will be graduating soon and attending FSU on a full ride scholarship.

He hopes to attain his degree in Broadcast Journalism. Their daughter, Mollie, is 11 and she’s a big help on the ranch, riding her horse alongside her father when they move cattle to different pastures.

“Ranching will increase your faith,” Mr. Tew said, and while his faith lies first and foremost in his Creator, he also has faith in old Florida traditions. He has no intentions of ever selling his land, though there have been numerous offers to develop it over the years. He says, “I’m committed to keeping this part of Florida the way it has always been.” Thankfully that means 2,300 acres of no concrete!

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

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TAMPA BAY’S FISHING REPORT

Nematodes: Old battle.

New strategy.

By Captain Woody Gore

Buying a boat?

Make an informed choice!

Every now and again we all get the urge to buy a boat, and if you’ve finally made the decision to own one, here are some thoughts to consider. However, there is an old adage you may or may not know and it applies to thousands of boat owners throughout the world. “The two happiest days of your life are when you buy a boat and when you sell it!”

There are thousands of boats and hundreds of manufactures and one will probably suit your needs. It all comes down to making the right choice which should be an informed choice. Never buy a boat on impulse. Be informed before you go. Get independent evaluations, many are available from the internet, review new product reports in boating magazines, and above all test-drive every vessel before you make a final decision. You wouldn’t buy a car without driving it….would you? If a dealer is unwilling to arrange a test drive for you, that should tell you something about the type of service you can expect in the future.

The first thing you must consider is how much you can afford.

All too often people get caught up in the moment, use the wrong financing and blindly spend more than they can afford. All boats have suggested retail pricing, they also have a price dealers are willing to sell for… you must negotiate the best deal. Take your time, evaluate, and compare it’s the only way to make a good

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rational decision before you buy. Whenever possible get preapproved financing, paying cash is always to your advantage.

Next, think about how you will use the boat? Is it for fishing only. Will you use it offshore, inshore, in freshwater or both? Is it for tournament fishing or family fishing? If you don’t fish will you use it to cruise or ski? Should it be a shallow-water flats boat for fishing skinny water, a deep-V for offshore angling or cruising?

Does a bow rider, cabin/cuddy cabin, family fishing design or a total fishing machine better suit the needs? Plan this out with your family well in advance.

Now consider what size you want? Do you plan to trailer it? Is your vehicle large enough to safely tow it and will it fit in your garage? If you plan on keeping it at home will the homeowners association allow you to keep it outside? If you plan on keeping it in the garage the entire rig including trailer can’t be longer than about 21 feet. If you’re thinking really big…can it be used with a trailer? Big boats (25’ & up) require larger towing vehicles. If you plan on fishing offshore you must go larger if no other reason than safety and it must withstand heavy seas. Remember, if you go larger there could be extra operating cost like fuel and oil. You may also be required to keep it at a marina which can average from $12.00 to $20.00 per foot depending on the marina.

What kind of power and drive do you prefer: Outboard (Two or Four Stroke), Out-drive (Prop or Jet), or Inboard? My preference is an outboard, but your circumstance may allow for something different.

The new four stroke outboards work well on almost all models, are fuel efficient and more environmentally friendly. Consider an inboard if you plan to operate only in fairly deep water.

Boats require constant maintenance and cleaning. If you park it under a tree and let it sit there for several months, then you decide to go fishing or boating, trust me it’ll take plenty of work and time to get it ready and running. Batteries go dead, the boat is dirty and full of leaves, levers are corroded, cables are stiff, lights don’t work, trailer bearings have rusted, brakes are rusted, trailer lights won’t work, the list is endless. However, if you stay on top of these maintenance items by checking and fixing them when something is not working, starting and running the boat engine periodically, moving the trailer (pull it around the block a couple of times). Or simply use the

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boat, after all that’s what you bought it for.

Hopefully, this gives some insight into purchasing your boat.

It’s a major investment, always go with the best boat and deal you can afford. Finally, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your family, and other boaters is take a U.S.C.G. Safe Boating Course. It’s time well spent and the stuff you’ll learn, that you didn’t know, will amaze you.

What’s Biting in Tampa Bay – January 2011 Snook You can still catch a few, but if the water temperatures are low, look to muddy bottom inshore canals, creeks, rivers, and deep-water docks. Occasionally you’ll find them on the sunny side of a bank lying in the sun, but can usually forget about getting one to eat.

With the tremendous increase in the number of anglers over the recent years it has made it necessary for all true sports minded recreational anglers to consider the interest of others as well as themselves. It’s vital we practice catch and release to preserve an activity we all love. During the winter months we should try targeting other species, giving the struggling snook a break; after all they are instinctively trying to survive already cold water temperatures.

Redfish You can usually find plenty of redfish during the winter and sometimes cut bait or artificial lures are your best bet. Low winter tides make access to the backcountry difficult but wading is always a positive way to target low water redfish. If wade fishing is not your thing try looking around docks during the cooler months.

“If you haven’t already heard they are trying to increase the bag limit on redfish to two fish limit. It’s the opinion of this writer and many others; this would be a mistake. Redfish populations and redfish fishing have changed substantially since the low abundance periods in the early 1980’s. Redfish numbers have risen in numbers and size, and in angler interest, to be one of the most sought after gamefish on both the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. As conservationists and as anglers we need to continue the protection

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and management measures for the long term health of this great gamefish and recreational fishery. At every opportunity voice your opinion to keep the current laws.”

Spotted Sea Trout Plenty of trout are showing up and they are legal from January till November in the southern region, but go out in February in the northern region. Grass flats and moving water, like an incoming or outgoing tide, are the best bet, however some rivers and deep water channels hold some of our summer trout. Shrimp always produces but its more fun using soft plastics or topwater lures. If there was ever an inclination to change a rule, why not change the ridiculous closed trout rule to no close season?

Mackerel, Cobia, Sharks The power plants are the place to look for cobia and sharks during the winter months. But be alert as other species frequent the warm water discharges. We still get the occasional mackerel along with plenty of bluefish, blacktip sharks, small hammerheads, pompano, permit, ladyfish and jacks during the winter months, especially near flats close to warm water discharges Sheepshead and Mangrove Snapper Check out areas around bridges, pilings, docks, oyster bars and rock piles. Small egg sinkers and smaller hooks tipped with a piece of shrimp, oyster or mussel will work… but you’ve got to be quick.

“Give Me A Call & Let’s Go Fishing” If you you’re interested in catching fish, having a memorable fishing adventure or perhaps learning some new fishing tips, Capt. Woody Gore is the one to call. He’s fished Florida for over 50 years and offers professionally guided fishing charters in and around Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, Clearwater, and Tarpon Springs.

He also offers multi-boat or group charters with the finest captains available. If you are interested in booking a trip, please visit his website www.captainwoodygore. com or call 813-477-3814.

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Gentle

GARDENING Tip of the Month:

By Craig Chandler

Mid-Winter Reminders

Now that the holiday season is behind us and the football season is almost over, you may have time for some yard work.

Here are six mid-winter reminders: • If you want to move a shrub or small tree (except palms), now is the best time to do it. Try to keep root loss to a minimum by severing the horizontally spreading roots as far from the plant’s trunk as is practical. Most of these roots will be in the top 12 inches of soil.

• Water plants based on the weather and their needs.

Established shrubs and trees need very little water this time of year, while turf, annuals, and herbaceous perennials will generally be fine with ½ to ¾ of an inch of water every 7-10 days. An inexpensive rain gauge is a great tool for keeping track of how much rain you’ve received.

• Keep fallen leaves on your property. You’ve heard of carbon credits, right? Carbon, in the form of organic matter, is valuable, and leaves are mostly carbon. So don’t burn them or bag them for the trash man to collect. Mow over them with a lawn mower and let the leaf pieces disintegrate into your lawn. Or rake them into your shrubbery beds where

they serve directly as mulch. Alternatively, move them to a corner of your yard to partially decompose before using as mulch.

• Don’t head back your crape myrtles. This type of pruning destroys their naturally attractive growth habit. It’s okay to do some pruning early in the life of the tree – to limit the number of trunks the tree has or to remove excessively twiggy growth – but there is no good reason to reduce the length limbs and stems that have a diameter greater than a #2 pencil.

• Fertilize citrus in January or February, and palms in February. Use a fertilizer that is labeled specifically for these plants (e.g. a “Palm Special” for palms) and follow the label concerning the amount to apply.

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• Plant some flowering annuals to brighten up your spring. Petunias and snapdragons are generally reliable performers when planted in January or February. Consider adding wax begonias and geraniums in February.  Don’t do this. Or this. 

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Dear In the Field Readers, The Christmas Break has come to an end, 2011 has arrived, and it is hard to believe that my year of service as a state officer for Florida FFA is already half over. In December, the Florida FFA State Officer team presented the “M.A.D. Science” themed Middle School Conference to approximately 120 middle school FFA members at the FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City. At this conference, participants learned about different opportunities in FFA, discovered their personal strengths, examined real world problems, and developed plans to “make a difference.” I absolutely loved working with these middle school members, as they were so eager to learn and determined to apply their acquired knowledge in a positive way. The 360° Conference was also held at the Leadership Training Center in December, geared towards high school FFA members and presented by the National FFA Association. Participants of 360° set goals and discovered leadership on a deeper level. January 4-14, the state officer team traveled to Argentina to study foreign agriculture. I will share more about this international experience with you in next month’s issue of In the Field.

On December 7, over 30 sub-district Career Development Event (CDE) competitions were held state wide in the areas of Tractor Operations, Parliamentary Procedures, Dairy Cattle Evaluation, and numerous public speaking contests. Congratulations and good luck to the winners of these CDEs, who will compete at the district level on January 20! As my team and I get ready for the upcoming weeks, we are very excited for what they will bring. The Floriculture and Nursery & Landscape Career Development Events will be held on February 5 in St. Petersburg at the Pinellas Technical Education Center (PTEC). The Floriculture Contest was always one of my favorites when I completed as an FFA member. PTEC staff and The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) do a fantastic job organizing this CDE, and are even bringing in the American Institute of Floral Designers to present the Floriculture Live Practicum. Career Development Events are incredible opportunities for FFA members to develop agricultural knowledge and personal skills that will stick with them for years…I know they have stuck with me!

Next on the calendar is The Florida State Fair that runs February 10-21 and is a busy couple of weeks for FFA members. The State Officers have the unique opportunity to spend all 11 days at the Florida State Fair assisting wherever help is needed. We will do everything from helping out at the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame to awarding winners of the youth shows. I am looking forward to attending all of the different youth livestock shows ranging from poultry and swine to breeding sheep and pygmy goats. I am eager to fellowship with the many FFA members I will see at the State Fair as they showcase their hard work, and to experience it from a different perspective, as it has always been one of the highlights of my year since childhood.

While it is hard to believe that half of my year of service is complete, I am thankful that I still have a full six months to look forward to. When performing my duties as a Florida FFA State Officer, I am often overwhelmed by the blessings God has given me and the opportunities I am faced with. I hope that with the New Year you will count your blessings as well, and treat everyday like a new opportunity.

God Bless and Happy New Year!

Nicole Liles

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Phosphate Operations “Helping Farmers Feed a Hungry World”

Friday Night Live! Fabulous 50's Friday January 21, 2011 – 5-­‐9 pm Main Street Heritage Park – Wauchula

Friday Night Live! Grillin’ and Chillin’ Friday, February 18, 2011 – 5-­‐9 pm Saturday, February 19, 2011 – 10 am – 3 pm Main Street Heritage Park – Wauchula

LENNARD FFA CHAPTER Sub-District Contest Results Three members of the Lennard FFA Chapter competed in the SubDistrict contests held Tuesday, December 7 at Plant City HCC. Rebecca Knowles took first place in the FFA Creed Speaking contest. She had to recite the FFA Creed and then answer questions regarding the meaning of the Creed. Lucas Worley took first place

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in Extemporaneous Speaking. He had to draw a topic at random and write a speech in 30 minutes, then present the speech before four judges. Kyle Bowman competed in the Tractor Driving contest, placing third. He completed a written test and oral questions in order to complete the driving portion. All three competitors worked diligently for at least a month to be prepared for the contest.

Lucas and Rebecca move on to districts competition in January.

The Lennard FFA Citrus Team competed in the State Citrus contest on December 1 placing third out of 49 other chapters. The contest was held at the Florida FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City. To prepare the team had to practice identifying weeds, insects, commercial fruit varieties, leaves, rootstocks, and diseases, along with a written general knowledge exam. The team was made up of Randall Casey, Jessica Fernandez, Rebecca Knowles, Joshua Stanaland, and the alternate Lucas Worley. Randall Casey was the third high individual and Rebecca Knowles was the fifth high individual of all the scored participants that competed.

CF Industries wishes our friends and neighbors in Hillsborough County a happy and prosperous new year!

CF Industries Community Advisory Panel hosted a community dinner at the Plant City Complex picnic grounds in December, 2010. Pictured above (L-­‐R) are Craig Kovach, Gary Braun, Tim Farnell, Herschel Morris, Stefan Katzaras and Mike Johnson. Thanks to all our neighbors, friends, and supporters who helped to make this CF Industries event a success.

10608 Paul Buchanan Highway  Plant City, FL 33565  813-782-1591  www.cfindustries.com 2520 Guy Verger Boulevard  Tampa, FL 33605  813-247-5534  www.cfindustries.com

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Brake Hoses The other day I was walking down the sidewalk in downtown Plant City and a bug tried to fly up my nose. Of course it made me sneeze, and immediately the person walking in back of me said, “God Bless You.” I said, “Thank you,” and went in to the Chamber of Commerce. I thought, why do they say, “God Bless You,” when you sneeze? I asked Marion, Amy, Jane, Susan and Al at the Chamber if they knew, and they all said they had no idea.

Later that day I ran into Dean Snyder and asked him if he knew.

He said, “Yes Al, as a matter of fact I do know why they say ‘God Bless You’. When I was going to Harvard I wrote a thesis paper on this very subject. To sum it up, the Romans apparently routinely greeted sneezing with a salutation, most often, “May the Sun be with you!” The writers back then referred back to the legend of Prometheus, who made a clay model of a man, then brought him to life by applying a heavenly celestial-fire-filled reed in the clay man’s nostrils.”

Wishes for good health appeared to have been born out of a number of epidemics beginning the Middle Ages. There was a legend that the habit of sneezing dates back before Christianity, even before the time of Jacob. Back then the shock of sneezing was fatal. Buford, the right hand man for Cyrus the Great, bargained with the Gods, exchanging the fatality a of sneeze for the promise that a prayer would be said every time one sneezed. Thus, from that we get today’s “God Bless You,” so says Dean.

Why I spend time on the subject of sneezing I’ll never know, but one thing I did learn is that there are numerous superstitions about sneezing. When you sneeze you do it with your eyes closed, and your bodily functions completely are beyond your control. Have someone take your picture when you sneeze and you’ll see what I

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mean. Your face contorts, you might turn pink and the threatened explosion comes whether we are at home, attending a funeral or behind the wheel of our car.

‘Nuff of that, let’s move on to another subject.

I have two questions. One, if man evolved from monkeys and apes why do we still have monkeys and apes? Two, what do you do if you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant? I’ll let

you work on those.

Have you ever heard of “Coon Dog Cemetery?” I have and I have been there. It’s located in northwest Alabama in a small, grassy meadow, deep in the rich, thick wilderness of Freedom Hills. The coon dog graveyard was established in 1937 on a popular hunting camp where coon hunters from miles around would gather to plot their coon hunting trips, and compare coon hounds. The first coon hound buried there was old “Troop.” It was said he was “cold nosed,” meaning he could follow cold coon tracks until they grew fresh, and he never left the trail until he had treed the coon.

The only dogs that are allowed to be buried there are coon dogs.

Key Underwood who established the graveyard said, “there is no way we would contaminate this burial place with poodles and lap dogs.”

The official name is now “Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard,” which has over the years become a popular tourist attraction and is the only cemetery of this kind in the world.

More than 200 coon dogs have been laid to rest here, and all have met the three requirements for internment.

1 - The owner must claim their pet is an authentic coon dog.

2 - A witness must declare the deceased is a coon dog.

3 - A member of the local coon hunters’ organization must be allowed to view the coonhound and declare it as such.

You can find the “Coon Dog Cemetery” 7 miles west of Tuscumbia on U.S. Highway 27. Turn left on Alabama Highway 247, travel about 12 miles. Turn right, and follow the signs. For more information contact the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau.

Put this place on your next vacation, and watch the expression on your friends faces when you tell them where you went.

Some people make profound statements, and I have collected a few of my favorites; • Will Rogers - We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress.

• Billy Crystal - By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he’s too old to go anywhere.

• Joe Namath - Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP! • Rodney Dangerfield - My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying.

• Lillian Carter - (mother of Jimmy Carter) Sometimes when I look at my children, I say to myself, “Lillian, you should have remained a virgin.”

• Victor Borge - Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year.

Have you noticed how many people are using their cell phone while driving? Stranger things have happen on the interstate highways. When Lamar Maxwell of Lithia was with the Florida Highway Patrol he pulled over a car that was being driven by a chimpanzee on I-4 between Plant City and Lakeland.

Recently I heard the story of a highway patrolman that pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway in California. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting! Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper lowed his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, “PULL OVER!” “NO” the blonde yelled back, “IT’S A SCARF!” Till next month I leave you with this to ponder. Why is it that when you’re driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio?

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DURANT FFA MAKING WISHES COME TRUE The Durant FFA Chapter helped make Christmas wishes come true for students at two local elementary schools. Over the past 15 years the Durant FFA Chapter has given away over 60 bicycles to children, helping make their Christmas one to remember.

The FFA Chapter started a community service project in 1995 and called it Operation Bike Drop. The FFA students raise money and also find sponsors in the community that help defer the cost of the bicycles.

This year the FFA members were able to drop bicycles off at J.S. Robinson and Bryan Elementary schools. The members of the Durant FFA Chapters would like to thank everyone that has helped make this project such a great success.

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DURANT FFA WINS SUB-DISTRICT David Walden of the Durant FFA Chapter won the Sub District FFA Prepared Public Speaking event that was held on December 7 at Hillsborough Community College and has advanced to the District contest that will be held in January. David’s speech was on the topic of Immigration Reform and the way that it affects Agriculture in the United States.

Codie Kent a senior at Durant High School and a member of the Durant FFA Chapter placed first in the Tractor Operation CDE. Codie competed against eight other FFA members from around the county. The event consisted of a written exam, an oral exam and the ability to operate a tractor through a designated course. Codie has advanced to the District contest that will be held January 20. Also, participating was Kody Aubel of the J.F St. Martin chapter, placing second at the sub district contest.

The J.F. St. Martin Parliamentary Procedure

team placed second at the sub district contest that was held at the Trinkle Building on December 7. Team members were Mylie Feaster, Jessi Rae Varnum, Heather Ross, Kaitlyn Taylor, Alyssa Shepherd, Mariah Kunze and Jana Watkins. The Durant Senior Parliamentary team placed fourth at the contest and team members were Kelsey Newsome, Haley Smith, Tiffany Tucker, Jerri Rowell, Andi Butts and Morgan Belsley. Jana Watkins placed third in the CD event of Creed Speaking and Mylie Feaster place second in Extempoures Public Speaking.

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Jimmey Ray Pannell-December 9, 2010 • Mary Clendening Robinson-December 13, 2010 Norman T. Godheim-December 13, 2010 • Henry James Glavich Jr.-December 14, 2010 Francis H. Jent-December 14, 2010 • Charmaine D. Brittingham-December 18, 2010 Mary Nell Morgan-December 18, 2010 • William Ferrell Mangum-December 18, 2010 Ray G. Gaither-December 22, 2010 • Marcella E. Driggers-December 23, 2010 Rober M. Graves-December 26, 2010 • Babu Srinivasan Mahendra-December 26, 2010 Vickie Peoples Fears-December 28, 2010

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2011 FL State Fair Livestock Schedule of Events Thursday, February 10th 10 a.m. Purebred Poultry Judging Open Brahman Show Open Santa Gertrudis Show 10 a.m. Youth Rabbit Judging 1 p.m.

Open Zebu Show 3 p.m.

Open Angus Show Open Brangus/Red Brangus Show 7 p.m.

Open Goat Show – Junior Show

Thursday, February 17th 10 a.m. Youth Poultry (Purebred) Judging

Pre-Junior Poultry Judging

Open Boer Goat ABGA Show 12 noon Strolling Entertainment ( Barns)

Open Pigeon Exhibit 2 p.m.

Ranch Rodeo 7 p.m.

Ranch Rodeo

Friday, February 11th 9 a.m.

Youth Beef Showmanship/Show Angus, Brahman, Brangus/Red Brangu, Santa Gertrudis

Purebred Poultry Judging (as needed) 10 a.m. Youth Rabbit Judging 12 noon Youth Goat Showmanship / Show 6 p.m.

Southeastern Miniature Zebu Classic

Friday, February 18th 8:30 a.m. Open Dairy Show

Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn After Open Open Dairy Supreme Champion

Dairy Show

Open Rabbit Judging 9 a.m.

Youth Poultry (Purebred) Judging

Pre-Junior Poultry Judging

Open Pigeon Exhibit 12 noon Youth Poultry Showmanship

Pre-Junior Poultry Showmanship

Youth Llama Show Clinic 2 p.m.

Youth Poultry Judging

(Commercial/Farm Utility)

Youth Llama Showmanship Followed by Youth Llama Halter Classes 5 p.m.

Youth Sheep Obstacle Course Contest

Saturday, February 12th Open Goat Show 9 a.m.

Junior & Senior Show

4H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest

Youth Rabbit Showmanship – Senior 9:30a.m. State 4-H Dog Show 1 p.m.

Youth Rabbit Showmanship –

Junior & Intermediate

Purebred Poultry Crowing Contest 1:30 p.m. 4H/FFA Horse Judging Contest

4 p.m. Purebred Poultry Crowing Contest

5 p.m. Swine Showmanship Sunday, February 13th 8 a.m.

Goat Judging Contest Followed by Open Goat Show 8 a.m.

State 4-H Dog Show 1 p.m.

Swine Show Purebred Poultry Crowing Contest 2 p.m.

Monday, February 14th 10 a.m. Open Dexter Show 11:30 a.m. Open Hereford Show 12 noon Strolling Entertainment (Barns) Open Limousin Show 2 p.m.

Strolling Entertainment (Barns) Open Simmental Show 4 p.m.

Tuesday, February 15th Youth Beef Showmanship/Show 9 a.m.

Limousin, Simmental

All Other Youth Beef Cattle 12 noon Strolling Entertainment (Barns) 2 p.m.

Strolling Entertainment (Barns) Boer Goat Judging Contest 6 p.m.

Wednesday, February 16th 10 a.m. Youth Steer Showmanship

Youth Boer Goat Show & Showmanship Followed by Youth Wether Show Followed by Open Boer Goat ABGA Show 12 noon Youth Poultry Grooming Box Contest 2 p.m.

Ranch Rodeo 7 p.m.

Ranch Rodeo

Youth Steer Show

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Saturday, February 19th Cavy Show 8 a.m.

9 a.m.

4H/FFA Poultry Judging Contest 4H/FFA Dairy Judging Contest

Open Pigeon Exhibit 10 a.m. Pygmy Goat Show 12 noon Youth Llama Performance Classes 1 p.m.

Youth Sheep Showmanship

Open Rabbit Judging

Youth Poultry Crowing Contest 4 p.m.

Youth Poultry Crowing Contest Registered Youth Sheep Show 6 p.m.

Sunday, February 20th 8:30 a.m. Youth Dairy Showmanship 30 min after showmanship Youth Dairy Show - Heifer Classes Youth Llama Performance/PR & Obstacles Classes 9 a.m.

Open Pigeon Exhibit 10 a.m. Pygmy Goat Show 11 a.m. Youth Breeding Sheep Show 2 p.m.

Youth Poultry Crowing Contest 4:30 p.m. Youth Poultry Crowing Contest Monday, February 21st 8:30 a.m. Youth Dairy Show - Cow Classes All acts, concerts, scheduled times, exhibitors, prices and other advertised events are subject to change and/or cancel without notice.

Visit www.floridastatefairag.com for more information.

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Foundations

by Johnny Cone Photo by CM Foto

Getting a new puppy or dog can be a very exciting experience. It should be the beginning of a friendship, a partnership between owner and dog, and many years of enjoyment. However, you need to ensure you start off on the right foot or it can become a frustrating experience. Far too many people wait too long to begin training a new dog. Some people voice comments and opinions that a puppy should be allowed to be a puppy. Or a new dog should be allowed to settle in. These statements are true. But they in no way mean that training should not begin immediately. When you build a house, you don’t frame in the walls and run the wiring before you pour the slab. In home building the real construction cannot begin until the slab is poured and finished. It is the same way when it comes to dogs.

You cannot begin your relationship until you have set the foundation. Far too many people wait. In most cases, waiting leads to a dog that laid its own foundation and decided for itself what behaviors were and were not important. The result is a dog that needs to be retrained proper behavior.

It is much easier, and enjoyable, to train a dog how to do the proper things in the first place rather than eliminating problem behaviors and re training the correct behaviors.

Cynthia Humphrey of Call Me Farms, a long time breeder of Australian Cattle Dogs, Border Collies and Rat Terriers, advises her clients to start training the basics right away. She recommends keeping the sessions short and fun, and to only use positive reinforcement. Don’t make it too complicated for the dog. Use simple techniques that are easy for the dog to pick up on. If you follow this advice, there is no reason a puppy cannot begin learning, sit, stand, and down right away. These commands can easily be taught using treats for shaping and motivation. A creative trainer can create fun little games to introduce and teach these games, so the puppy is playing and learning at the same time. Ms. Humphrey also suggests keeping treats in your pocket at all times. Each time you call or speak to the puppy and it responds by coming to you, reward it with a treat. This ingrains the behavior and lays the foundation for when you begin formally teaching the recall later on.

Ms Humphrey’s recommendations ring of the three key ingredients in building a great foundation with your dog. Keep it fun, keep it simple, and keep it positive. It is important to remember when building the foundation that you are not only training and reinforcing commands and behaviors but you also establishing a bond and building a relationship with the dog. This is a critical ingredient that will follow you for the life of the dog. If the dog enjoys training with you and learning from you, it will be eager and responsive. Negative reinforcement has its place in dog training.

Likewise, complex training techniques to learn advanced cues are another valuable tool, as is pushing the dog to work harder and longer. But not during the foundation, save these tools and techniques for later. Failure to do this can result in a dog that shuts down on you, reacts poorly to stress, and has a distant relationship with you.

So it needs to be repeated. During the foundation, keep it fun, keep it simple, and keep it positive. To keep it fun, always make training a game.

For example, if you are working on sit, bring that training into a game your dog loves, such as fetch. Have the dog go into a sit each time before you throw to ball. Or if you are playing a game of tug, take a break and have the dog go into the down position for a brief moment. This is also not the time to use the latest fad training technique you learned on a television show or DVD. You can save those for later if you like. But at this point you are working on very simple behaviors. All can be shaped and taught

38

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

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to the dog very quickly and easily by luring the dog into the position you want with a treat. If you want the dog to sit, take a treat and move it past the dog’s nose, just above its head and move your hand towards the dog’s tail. The dog will naturally move into the sit position to get the treat out of your hand. As soon as the dog is in the right position, it immediately gets the treat. There are two important pieces of advice here. Only reward when you get exactly what you want. When the dog goes into a down, it does not get rewarded for “sort of” going into a down position. Only reward the dog when it goes into a proper down with its rear legs tucked and its elbows making contact with the ground. It is the same for sit and stand. Only reward nice square sits, and nice solid stands with the feet square. There are a lot of sloppy dogs out there. They are sloppy because sloppiness was rewarded during the foundation. Again, it is much easier to train it right the first time than to clean it up later. The second piece of advice is that timing is critical when rewarding the behavior. Make sure you get the dog the treat the instant the dog performs the behavior you are looking for. This will ensure the dog understands what you are looking for and gives it to you the next time you ask for the behavior. And don’t forget to only use positive methods of training at this point the dog’s development. Reward what you want and ignore what you do not want.

Just like a well built house, a good foundation is critical in your relationship with your dog. That foundation can be the difference between a poor dog ownership experience or maybe a mediocre ownership experience and a great long lasting relationship with a dog that wants nothing more than to please you. So don’t wait for cracks to form in the walls. Start building your foundation today.

If you have a dog question you would like answered in the magazine, email it to Johnny Cone, Johnny@inthefieldmagazine.com.

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

39

The Creek January 2004

By Mark Cook

This story was originally written in January 2004 but I think of it each year around this time as the weather cools and the days grow shorter. Sometimes in life when things seem bleak you need a place of solitude and solace and I found it each day as I made my drive from Shands Hospital in Gainesville to the community of Cross Creek.

The early morning January fog was lifting as I turned off the main road leading to the Twin Lakes Fish Camp in Cross Creek.

As far as I could gather from the locals it was originally built by Tom Glisson, one of author Marjorie Rawlings best friends, in the 1940’s. The dirt road to the camp was bordered by hundred year old oaks with Spanish moss dripping from their outstretched limbs. A man made canal covered in duckweed lined the north side of the road and led to another canal that opened up into Lake Lochloosa from Orange Lake. As I got out of my truck a dog of several breeds greeted me with a canine sniff and a tail wag. The lake was barely visible through the cold and fog but the sun was rising and slowly warming the morning air.

The office sign said they were open yet. I still hadn’t seen a human face. The place seemed deserted as I cautiously knocked on the door. As I knocked a knock came back. Startled I heard a laugh and a voice.

“Get in here out of the cold, what are you doing in shorts in weather like this?” the husky voiced woman said.

Before I could answer she introduced her self as Annie.

“I own this place, my late husband and me,” Annie said.

I introduced myself and walked around the office. Packages of plastic worms and assorted beetle-spins lined the walls collecting more than a few years’ dust. On the shelves were new and used

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

household items, children’s toys and crafts.

“Since fishing went down I figured I needed to try and make a little extra money,” Annie said. “ So fishing is down, what happened?” I asked.

“Honey there was a sinkhole back in 99, it took water from both these lakes,” she said. “But with this rain it’s coming back.

They’ve been catching some nice specks the last few days.”

“So what brings you up here anyway?’’

After explaining my wife was ill following a transplant I told her I liked to get away to the Creek for some stress relief.

“It’s a great place to do that. It’s real laid back here,” Annie said. “I have to go to the hospital soon myself for a CAT scan.”

“I told the Lord that I don’t have time to be sick, I have too much to do.”

The old lady lit up a cigarette as she glanced out the window.

“I do a lot of volunteer work with abused spouses and children and I also work with some veterans groups,” Annie said.

“Yes sir if I ever win the lottery I’m going to buy 50 acres of land and set up places for them all. I might even sell the camp. But it would have to be to the right person. My customers are like my family now. We take care of each other.”

The conversation stalled for just a moment.

“What’s your wife’s favorite color?” she asked.

Embarrassed slightly I replied, “I’m really not sure.”

“Well take her this,” she said as she handed me a small wicker craft basket with a small porcelain doll in it. “Tell her Annie said to get better soon and she’ll be on our prayer list.”

I took the basket and tried to pay for it but she refused.

“It’s a gift from a friend.”

We said our good-byes and I walked out. The fog had lifted and in the distance from a cypress tree an osprey cried out. The old dog walked over and looked up at me telling me goodbye in his own way. As I drove back down the dirt road things seemed a little brighter and my mood was better. As I drove I smiled thinking about what the old lady said.

It’s a gift from a friend.

Twin Lakes Fish Camp has changed hands two more times since Annie owned it. I spoke to the newest owners recently and they reported Annie was alive and well and still stops by occasionally to visit. In her 80’s Annie remains an independent caring woman who will always be a part of the Cross Creek’s rich history of characters. Twin Lakes Fish Camp can be reached at 352-466-3194.

Innovative products are only part of what we do.

Syngenta is committed to helping you produce the highest-quality crop possible.

Our goal is to aid growers in producing higher marketable yields, year after year, with proven solutions. To learn more about the products listed below, including the broad-spectrum control of Durivo® insecticide and the superior control of gummy stem blight and powdery mildew with Inspire Super™ fungicide, call your local Syngenta sales representative, Doug Wilbanks at 941-737-1974.

©2010 Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., 410 Swing Road, Greensboro, NC 27409. Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using Syngenta products.

The instructions contain important conditions of sale, including limitations of warranty and remedy. Agri-Mek, Gramoxone Inteon and Warrior II with Zeon Technology are Restricted Use Pesticides. Actara, Durivo, Inspire Super, Platinum, Revus and Voliam Flexi are not currently registered for use or sale in all states. Please check with your state or local extension service before buying or using these products. Actara, Agri-Mek, Durivo, Platinum, Voliam Flexi and Warrior II with Zeon Technology are highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment on blooming crops and weeds. Do not apply these products or allow them to drift onto blooming plants if bees are foraging adjacent to the treatment area.

Actara,® Agri-Mek,® Actigard,® Bravo,® Durivo,® Fulfill,® Gramoxone Inteon,® Inspire Super,™ Platinum,® Quadris,® Revus,® Ridomil Gold,® Voliam Flexi,™ Warrior II with Zeon Technology® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368). www.FarmAssist.com MW 1LPH0043-V 9/10

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

41

DR. SAM HUTTON, NEW TOMATO BREEDER AT GCREC

By Jim Frankowiak

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE

Day SALE COMING SOON! Strawberry Boots

on selected strawberry shirts He is new to the position, but he’s been part of the team at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) for the last few years. Dr. Sam Hutton, who most recently served as a post-doctoral scientist working under Dr. Jay Scott in the tomato breeding area, is the new Tomato Breeder. His major focus will be the further integration and application of molecular techniques with classical breeding methods to advance germplasm and develop varieties needed by Florida growers. Dr. Hutton’s position is funded by an endowment from the Paul J. DiMare Foundation.

Originally from Tchula, Mississippi, an agricultural area in the west central part of the state, Dr. Hutton has, “always enjoyed gardening, but I never thought I would get some much enjoyment from one crop, tomato,” he said. Growing up in the Mississippi Delta, he had a rose bed for his own private vegetable garden and he helped on the family farm where the crops included corn, soybeans, cotton and rice. The son of Sam D.G. Hutton, Jr., and Laine, Dr. Hutton grew up with three sisters.

After high school, Dr. Hutton received his undergraduate degree in Agronomy from Mississippi State University, Starkville, in 2000. His tenure at MSU included being named the Agronomy student of the Year in 1998.

He went on to pursue his Master of Science degree at the University of Minnesota in the Applied Plant Science Department, where he majored in soybean breeding and received the Lambert Fellowship. In 2004, he moved to warmer climates for his doctorate in Horticultural Science at the University of Florida, which he received in 2008. While at UF, he was an Alumni Fellowship recipient.

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Married to Emily, the Hutton’s have three children, Anna Christine, 4, Forest, 2, and Chanin, 10 months, and they reside in south Tampa, where they are active members of Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church. “Tomatoes get me to work, but my wife and children get me home,” said Dr. Hutton.

Summers during college, Dr. Hutton served in a variety of internships. His first was for Stoneville Pedigreed Seed Company where he was responsible for cotton mapping on major variety trials for the company’s cotton physiologist. In the summer of 1999, he was a tech service intern for American Cyanamid, working closely with sales representatives, crop specialists and weed scientists to gather product information. His internships also included positions with Dow Agrosciences and Aventis CropScience and he spent one summer as a counselor at an Alpine Camp for Boys.

While pursuing his doctorate at the University of Florida, his research under Dr. Scott focused on the inheritance of bacterial spot resistance and the identification of molecular markers linked to resistance genes. During his course of study, he also served as an instructor for the undergraduate Vegetable Gardening course at UF. Most recently, during his tenure as a post-doctorate researcher, Dr. Hutton was involved in the fine mapping of Ty-3, a major TYLCV resistance general, as well as further work to identify and characterize genes conferring bacterial spot resistance.

In addition to continuing work on the development of highyielding, disease resistant varieties, Dr. Hutton also plans to focus on quality characteristics such as improved flavor and superior internal and external color.

Congratulations Dr. Hutton on your new position at GCREC.

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January 2011

43

In the Field // 3.56x9.75

The Florida Strawberry Festival, A FAMILY TRADITION

By Brent Davis

There is a popular commercial on television that touts a group of men that have attended every Super Bowl.

That got me to thinking about how many Strawberry Festivals I have attended. Now, please keep in mind since 1991 my family and I have lived outside the state of Florida. However, I am a born and bred Plant City native that celebrated his 50th birthday this past year and I started attending the Strawberry Festival at a very young age.

While reflecting on the question, how many Strawberry Festivals have I attended, my mind wonders back to the early 1960’s when my mother would take my sister, Roxane, and me to what was then the Hillsborough County Fair, The Strawberry Festival. I did interviews when I was six years old with Al Berry in the WPLA booth in, what was then, the ONLY exhibition Hall. As a band member at Turkey Creek Junior High and Plant City High School I marched and played trumpet in many a Strawberry Festival Parade.

Then there were many years that I was involved with the Strawberry Festival while I worked for The Tampa Tribune.

My family and I have made a point of planning to be home in Plant City around the first of every March

since we moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi almost 20 years ago. What is now known as the “Florida” Strawberry Festival is just part of my Plant City DNA. Like the Swallows to Capistrano, I am drawn to the Florida Strawberry Festival come the first of March. This year’s Strawberry Festival is March 3 through March 13.

In the TV commercial I was referring to about the Super Bowl, one of the guys compared the Super Bowl to “The 4th of July and New Year’s Eve all rolled into one day.” This year’s 2011 Florida Strawberry Festival has top notch entertainment (Kenny Rogers, Clint Black, The Doobie Brothers, and Lady Antebellum, just to name a few), great food (fresh strawberry milkshakes, Bar-B-Que, strawberry shortcake and strawberry pies, just to name a few), a premier agriculture event with young people presenting and showing top notch local livestock, midway rides that will turn you every which way but loose and, the main attraction, flat, atop flat, atop flat of those world famous Plant City strawberries.

There is a lot of great stuff jam packed into the 2011 Florida Strawberry Festival. Those fellows in that Super Bowl commercial can have their Super Bowls. I’m gonna keep planning my yearly calendar around the Florida Strawberry Festival.

Brent Davis is the Associate Publisher of our South Mississippi edition of In The Field Magazine. As close as he can figure, in his 50 years he has attended 42 year’s worth of Strawberry Festivals.

It’s Sunday Morning. This Call Is

The Last Thing You Expect.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

BY jAY hAllAron

Y

It’s your father calling from his vacation in Mexico.

As soon as you hear his voice, you know something terrible has happened.

He says your mother’s You need to know a gone. An auto accident on a coastal road. His voice cracks Dignity Memorial® and you begin to worry about provider. how to get both of them home.

The Dignity Memorial* network offers you more services than anyone else in America, like Away From Home Protection*. It will get your loved ones home when tragedy strikes, no matter where they are in the world*.

The Dignity Memorial* network: America’s leading funeral homes and cemeteries, united to bring you the services you need when it www.DignityMemorial.com matters most.

Away From Home Protection® | 24-Hour Compassion Helpline® | National Transferability Bereavement Travel | Personal Planning Services | Grief Support Veterans Benefits Child & Grandchild Protection Call today to learn what your Dignity Memorial provider can do for you.

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44

Battle Disease Resistance while Boosting Yields ear to year, few crops face as many obstacles as strawberries.

Disease pressure and highly variable moisture levels present growers with a revolving door of new challenges. Strawberry growers can protect their investment and overcome many of these challenges by adding a costeffective fungicide program that delivers more nutrients to your crop—and more yields at harvest.

One of the best ways to boost your bottom line is to use a unique product that offers powerful control of diseases like Botrytis (also known as gray mold) while it provides a micronutrient boost that increases yields.

Studies show Thiram’s unique composition provides strawberries with more nutrients, which ultimately leads to higher yields.

Thiram Granuflo®, a product from Chemtura AgroSolutions, is an affordable, consistent fungicide that protects berries from diseases like Botrytis. With multisites of action, Thiram has low resistance risk and is safe for the plant as well as the pollinators.

“The main advantage of using Thiram is that it does the same job for control of Botrytis as some of the more expensive systemic fungicides,” said Dr. Natalia Peres, assistant professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida. “It’s also an effective resistance management tool because it works on different sites of the disease organism.”

“Thiram Granuflo gives growers a broad-spectrum fungicide that often is used in

place of seed protectants as an inexpensive, broad-spectrum alternative,” noted Glenn Brown, salesman for Crop Production Services in central Florida.

But disease control is only part of Thiram Granuflo’s success story. Studies show the fungicide also provides your berries more nutrients, which ultimately leads to higher yields.

“Our studies have shown that because Thiram has sulfur in its composition, it is also an effective nutrient boost that delivers increased yields in areas where soils are deficient of this nutrient,” said Dr. Peres.

Thiram Granuflo is a contact fungicide with preventative activity, so it should be applied at bloom before Botrytis becomes established. For the best results, use multiple applications of Thiram during the season, from very early bloom through fruiting.

Another product of Chemtura AgroSolutions that delivers successful disease protection is Procure® 480SC. Procure is a unique, locally systemic fungicide proven to have superior powdery mildew activity—providing an excellent rotational or tank-mix partner.

“We’ve also seen positive results with Procure. It’s one of the best products for powdery mildew control,” said Dr. Peres.

“The best way to control powdery mildew would be to use Procure in a rotational program.

In fact, one benefit of using Thiram and Procure would be an effective combination of disease control and increased yields.”

Chemtura AgroSolutions offers a full line of products to keep your berry crop at its best throughout the growing season. For more information about Thiram Granuflo, Procure, Acramite®, Firestorm® and Rimon®, contact me at jay.hallaron@chemtura.com or talk to your local dealer.

Firestorm is a restricted use pesticide.

Always read and follow label directions. ©2010 Chemtura Corporation. All rights reserved. Chemtura AgroSolutions, the logo and all brands are the property of Chemtura Corporation. Granuflo is a registered trademark of Taminco, S.A. Rimon is a registered trademark of Makhteshim Chemical Works Ltd. CASMPS12105362

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 1105362_CASMPS12105362_ITF_3-56x9-75_4C_r2.indd 1

January 2011

45 12/8/10 11:09 AM

JANUARY 15 – JIM STAFFORD

Singer-songwriter and comedian, Jim Stafford will grace the stage in the Red Rose Ballroom on this evening for his special birthday celebration.

His hits include: Swamp Witch, Spiders and Snakes, and My Girl Bill. Jim’s music has been covered by George Jones and Jerry Reed and he has contributed to several movie soundtracks. Also performing - PJ Leary & The Las Vegas Sounds before and after the show. Space is limited, so please RSVP for this great dinner show soon!

JANUARY 21 & 29

JANUARY 22 – BOB ANDERSON

FEBRUARY 19

A dynamite crowd pleaser! P.J. Leary & The Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

JANUARY 29

THE FABULOUS HUBCAPS

“One of the Nation’s Most Sought After Oldies Show Bands.” Tributes to Bobby Darin, Ray Charles, Sinatra, Sonny & Cher... and much more! Plus, PJ Leary & The Las Vegas Sounds.

FEBRUARY 4, 12, 19 & 26

RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WIND

Performing in the Red Rose Dining Room

FEBRUARY 12

WWW.REDROSEINNANDSUITES.COM 46

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

Enjoy a romantic evening of continuous hits – “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” “Only You,” “Twilight Time,” “Enchanted”...and more.

Richie Merritt of the Marcels will be performing in the Red Rose Dining Room.

MOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUE

I-4 Exit 21• 2011 N. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL 33563

In the Red Rose Ballroom “ENCHANTED” WITH THE WORLD FAMOUS PLATTERS

Performing in the Red Rose Dining Room

JOHNNY ALSTON’S

TEL: 813.752.3141

It’s a three hour Las Vegas style show, featuring adult contemporary music including show tunes and those special romantic songs for just the right Valentine’s atmosphere!

FEBRUARY 18 – RICHIE

JANUARY 28

Make your reservations today.

MARCH 11 & 12

RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WIND

“A Night in Vegas” Las Vegas Hall of Fame Entertainer! Rich, smooth voice- and great impressionist! PJ Leary & The Las Vegas Sounds will also perform.

Remember Valentine’s Day!

WITH RALPH ALLOCO & SECOND WIND

VALENTINE SHOWS In the Red Rose Dining Room

MERRITT

DOOWOP WEEKEND - VOL. 5

The annual event is underway for another spectacular extravaganza! This year’s line up will include The DelPrados, George Galfo’s Mystics, Terry Johnson’s Flamingos, The Edsels, Bob Feldman and P.J. Leary and the Las Vegas Sounds.

MARCH 19 & 25

JOHNNY ALSTON’S MOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUE

A dynamite crowd pleaser! P.J. Leary & The Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

MARCH 26

THE VAN DELLS

BUDDY HOLLY & BEATLES TRIBUTE SHOW

FEBRUARY 26 THE LEGACY OF

APRIL 2

50s & 60s Rock and Roll – The Van Dells are a unique blend of comedy, choreography and tight harmonies... the group is nonstop action from start to finish! Plus, PJ Leary & The Las Vegas Sounds will also perform before and after the show in the Red Rose Ballroom.

THE

A tribute to two of music’s historical cutting age acts - Buddy Holly & The Beatles. BeatleBeat previously performed at Disney’s Epcot and was a big crowd pleaser. If you loved Holly and the Beatles, this is an act not to miss! Dinner served in a supper club atmosphere in the Red Rose Ballroom.

BOB RYMAN “THE FIDDLER”

TEMPTATIONS

Back by popular demand. This group will thrill you with the hits that we have loved for so long... including: “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg and “Papa Was A Rolling Stone!” Plus, Richie Merrit and PJ Leary & The Las Vegas Sounds.

MARCH 4, 18, & 26

RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WIND

Performing in the Red Rose Dining Room

MARCH 5 – LOLA & THE SAINTS Doo Wop At Its Best! Relive the 50s & 60s as though it was yesterday. “Forever in Love,” “Just Over the Brooklyn Bridge.” Plus, PJ Leary & The Las Vegas Sounds.

Bob Ryman “The Fiddler” was a legend in the area for many years when The Red Rose was Lanny Purcell’s Holiday Inn and was also a favorite at Florida The Strawberry Festival®.

Because of his fans’ request, The Red Rose Inn is bringing “The Fiddler” back. P.J.Leary & The Las Vegas Sounds will open & close the show in the Red Rose Ballroom.

The Premier Showplace for Talent in Florida

“UNFORGETTABLE”

SHOW RESERVATIONS Please call for ticket prices. Shows in the Red Rose Ballroom are in a supper club atmosphere with a four course meal (seats also available for the show only – for a lower price!)

NO COVER CHARGE for shows in the 5-Star Red Rose Dining Room with the purchase of dinner.

Show Guests - inquire about our special room rates when staying overnight after a show!

Mrs. Evelyn Madonia Owner

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

47

So you can just be the grower.

We’ll take care of the rest.

PLANT CITY FARMERS’ MARKET A Vital Link in the Fruit & Vegetable Chain from the Field to Your Table

FERTILIZER • CROP PROTECTION • SEED Walk-ins are Always Welcome Audie Ham

Ornamental Sales

813-478-5806 D.C.#: 158*17*4837 Layla Drawdy

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Mobile: 813-267-2246 D.C.#: 158*31*12301 3507 State Road 574 Plant City, FL 33563 (main office)

813-752-8342

813-757-2459 (fax)

By Jim Frankowiak

Michael C. Tucker

of the business today involves growers, processors/packagers and If you’ve ever driven on Alexander Street, which you all have, you can’t miss the 22-acre complex on the southeast quadrant shippers – though there are some retail sales but at quantities far beyond that of the typical household. We’re talking pallets full of Alexander and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The location is home to a pair of popular dining establishments, of product or enough to fill a semi-trailer.

Fred’s Market and Grandpa “The market changed in the mid 80’s and small, retail Johnson’s Barbeque, but it’s sales associated with an open also home to the Plant City “The market changed in the mid 80’s and State Farmers’ Market. air market for fruits and vegIn today’s parlance, the etables pretty much ended,” small, retail sales associated with an open market is for many of its tensaid Michael C. Tucker, air market for fruits and vegetables pretty senior market manager for ants a “logistics hub,” where commodities come from the the Bureau of State Farmers’ much ended.”

Markets in the Division of field for washing, processing, Marketing & Development. packaging and shipping on to large retail customers or small neighborhood stores and everyThe local market is one of 13 across the state that are owned thing in between. In operation since the 1930’s, the market was and operated by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer at one time also a place where you could buy fruits and vegetaServices.

Other markets are located at Florida City, Fort Pierce, Fort Mybles at retail in small quantities, but that has changed and most

Thank You Platinum Sponsor Mr. Roger Rivard James-Rivard Pontiac-GMC, Inc. 9740 Adamo Dr. Tampa, Fl 33619 813-620-6500 http://www.jamesrivard.com/

Gold Sponsor CF Industries Stefan Katzaros P.O. Drawer L. Plant City, FL 33564 863-712-2155

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Silver Sponsor

Mr. Jason Langston Langston Used Auto Parts 8011 Hwy 301 North Tampa, Fl 33637 813-988-7341 jason@langstonauto.com www.langstonsauto.com

Hillsborough County Farm Bureau

100 South Mulrennon Road • Valrico, FL 33594 • Tel: (813) 685-9121 Fax: (813) 681-3779 • E-mail: info@hcfarmbureau.org

48

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

S T R A C F 00 GOloLw as 8 8 9 , as 3 $ y t . Warran

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(813) 752-4459 www.countryvillagepowerequipment.net INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

49

Vintage photography courtesy of The Plant City Photo Archives

operations in the area. Leases vary from one to five and ten years. “There are long term benefits to our operation when a tenant invests substantially in leasehold improvements,” said Tucker.

“As a consequence we are inclined to enter into longer leases with added financial benefits to the tenant.”

The market program is authorized by Chapter 570.07 (18), Florida Statutes, “to acquire suitable sites and erect thereon necessary marketing facilities and properly equip, maintain, and operate same for the handling of all staple field crops, meats, fruits and vegetables, poultry and dairy products, and all farm and home products and for selling and loading livestock and other activities determined to be beneficial to the production

ers, Gadsden County, Immokalee, East Palatka, Pompano Beach, Sanford, Starke, Suwannee Valley, Trenton and Wauchula. Each of these markets specializes in fresh Florida produce. More than 25 million units of fresh fruits and vegetables valued at more than $225 million are annually sold through the 13, state run markets.

Nearly a billion units of fresh fruits and vegetables valued at more than $5.5 billion have been sold through the markets since the first one opened in 1934.

The mission of the State Farmers’ Markets program is to assist in the marketing of farm products by providing information, leadership and modern facilities necessary to move farm products from the farm to the consumer, thereby assuring the consumer a better quality product at a reasonable price and a fair return to the producer by providing a convenient, dependable place through which producers and buyers may carry on the process of marketing. The current rental rate at the market for warehouse space is in the vicinity of $2 per square foot (the current rate for office space is $8 per square foot), which is highly attractive compared to rate of commercial

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More than 25 million units of fresh fruits and vegetables valued at more than $225 million are annually sold through the 13, state run markets. or sale of agricultural products and to let or lease space therein and thereon; employ such managers and other help as may be necessary to operate the plants and the costs of operation and maintenance.”

The markets are owned by the Florida Department of Agricul-

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ture and Consumer Services and are operated as a bureau within the Division of Marketing and Development. Fundamentally, the markets are “built for service” and their function is to provide facilities for assembling and marketing Florida produce. Through volume production and marketing, effective competition is assured for both small and large growers and buyers.

Each market handles its own range of commodities and at the Plant City Market that list “runs from apples to yams,” said Tucker. Unit is the catchall term used to describe typical volume of a given commodity. For strawberries, a unit is a flat, while a unit of cucumbers equals 1 1/9 bushels. An eggplant unit is equal to 5/9 of a bushel.

Strawberries by far comprise the largest volume of 2.5 million

units shipped through the Plant City market last year with a 1.1 million total. Tucker notes the year is the Department’s fiscal year, which runs from July through June.

The next highest volume of shipments at the Plant City market is cucumbers at 200,000 units. The local market’s other high volume commodities include tomatoes and watermelon. The category of peppers numbers nearly 40 on the basis of variety and size.

Tucker said his tenants provide monthly reports on unit volumes shipped. The market is busiest from January through June, which is prime time for strawberry processing and shipments.

“Some of out tenants have field operations in other parts of the state, particularly south Florida and shipped commodities such

Strawberries by far comprise the largest volume of 2.5 million units shipped through the Plant City market last year with a 1.1 million total. as apples, watermelons and mangos to our market for processing, packaging and shipment to retailers,” said Tucker who also noted some tenants ship items in to the market from outside the state, “but that is much more the exception that rule.”

The complex currently has 19 tenants and that includes wholesale brokers, growers, packers and shippers as well as the local offices for other Department of Agriculture divisions. There are nearly 208,000 square feet under roof and that includes warehouse space, coolers, docks and offices. Each year, the market generates over $500,000 in tenant rental fees. It has a staff of six

including Tucker, which includes: Carol Ryan, Senior Clerk, Randall McCandless and Russell Taylor, Maintenance Mechanics, and Security Guards Bob Dziengielewski and Terry Piras round out the team.

The largest current tenant by volume at the market is Produce Exchange Co., which does business as PEXCO. “They are a three shift, 24/7 operation,” said Tucker.

“Among our tenants are state food and vegetable inspectors and state agriculture license and bond officials,” noted Tucker, who considers himself to be the market’s landlord and he must be doing a good job since his facility is at 99 percent occupancy with a waiting list of prospective tenants.

Tucker also holds an interesting claim to fame and that is the design for the Fresh from Florida brand that was created several decades ago. The Department of Agriculture held a statewide competition for the design of a logo that could be used to identify fruits and vegetables grown in Florida. “They were looking

for a graphic symbol similar to the Florida citrus tree,” he said.

At the time of the competition, Tucker was employed by the city of Tallahassee in a marketing capacity and developed the winning entry after hours.

A native of Panama City, Florida, Tucker is an alumnus of Florida State University. He is married to Sherry and is the father of four and grandfather of four. The Tuckers reside in Riverview.

Prior to being named to his current post, Tucker held a variety of communications and marketing positions in healthcare, power generation, municipal government and professional services industries. In addition to his “landlord” duties at the market, Tucker serves as a conduit between his tenants and other state entities that could help them reach the end use consumer. The 13 markets cooperate with other agencies of the Florida department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the United States Department of Agriculture, universities and numerous other agricultural entities to extend activities and services in marketing.

For more information about the Plant City State Farmers’ Market call 813/757-9027 or visit http://doacs.state. fl.us. The market’s physical address is 1305 West Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Suite No. 5, Plant City, FL 33563.

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The Fly

Jeti’s Marble & Granite Remodeling Kitchens & Bathrooms

By Ralph Galeano

Have you ever noticed how a horse or cow can shiver their skin to get rid of a fly that lands on them? It’s amazing how they can make a portion of their skin vibrate in the area a bug has landed.

How do they feel something so tiny through their thick hide? I’ve often wondered at the sensitivity of an animal’s skin to be able to detect such a light creature landing on them.

We can feel those tiny insects landing on our skin, too. It’s irritating when a fly lands on us but we react a little differently than an animal does. What usually happens when we feel one set down on our skin is we take a good slap at the spot where we think it has landed. In the process we generally miss the fly and cause ourselves more pain from the slap than the fly would have caused.

God gave the animals a more sophisticated defense system than he bestowed on humans. We can’t shiver our skin to chase them off and we don’t have that long, hairy, flyswatter of a tail that he gave horses and cows. So, when we feel a fly or mosquito land, we take a slap at it with our hand, hat, or whatever is handy.

Those pesky little boogers can teach us something. Don’t try this on a cow because you may get kicked. Broke horses are a little more tolerable of our shenanigans, so use one of them.

Next time you have your horse tied up, try barely touching his skin with the tip of your finger and see what happens. Barely touch him and see if his skin doesn’t shiver like it does when a fly lands on him. If he’s alive, his skin will begin fly flickering and jiggle up and down in the area you touched. Now, try it again in his girth where you usually poke him with your spur. His skin jiggles again because he can feel that light touch you have placed there. If you’ve got nothing better to do and the cows don’t need milking, take the time to go around his body lightly touching him in the areas you usually cue him with your spurs, legs or heels.

See what I mean? He feels that light touch every time.

Think about the fly the next time you work with your horses.

It doesn’t matter whether they’re young colts or older horses that haven’t learned the light touch and are a little tough to respond to your cues. They feel your every touch to their skin whether it’s with spurs or your legs. You can make a better horse if you think about the fly during your training regimen and how sensitive a horse’s skin is.

Take it one step farther and think about your verbal commands. Horses have good ears, too. They probably hear a lot better than we do. They live in a natural environment so most don’t have to listen to the noise pollution humans are subjected to, like horns honking and machinery screaming in our ears.

Those civilization noises dull our hearing. That’s why we’re

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always saying “huh” and the hearing-aid people are rich enough to spend the winter in Florida.

You don’t have to shout to make your horse understand you.

Say “whoa” softly and I’ll bet you’ll get a better result than when you shout. My wife is always telling me that I don’t have to shout when I talk to her. She doesn’t understand that she’s not the same as a sensitive horse. I get her attention pronto if I raise the decibel level. What’s more, I can’t startle her like I can a horse.

What is your first reaction when surprised by a loud shout?

Treat your cues the same way. Do them softly and see what happens. If nothing happens, bump him a little harder. Next time speak softly again and cue lightly.

World Champion trainer, Jack Hennig, says, “If they never feel soft, they’ll never know soft.” Don’t do it too lightly because you may get swished with a fly swatter. You’ll know your cueing is too light if your horse keeps swishing at you with his tail. Remember how sensitive his skin is and only use enough pressure to get the movement you want.

Once you start getting satisfactory results, try using even less pressure. Softness takes work and patience. Work on it a little each time you ride your horse. Pretty soon you’ll find yourself having to work less to get better control. When it starts working for you, it’s a win-win situation. Your horse is more comfortable with less pressure and you’re more relaxed in the saddle. You can concentrate more on the job at hand rather than spurring and pulling on the reins.

And don’t worry about using too much fly spray. It will keep the flies away but won’t stop your horse from feeling your light touch.

Contact Ralph Galeano at horseman@horsemanspress.com or www.horsemanspress.com

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Store Phone: (813) 657-8308 Hours: Tues-Sat 10-8 & Sunday 10-6 Mike Snyder, President, Plant City Garden Club

The Excitement Builds for Plant City Garden Club’s Annual Flower Show For more than 50 years the Plant City Garden Club has held its annual flower show. This year the location will again be the Walden Lake Golf and Country Club on February 3, 2011.

The show is free to the public from 5:00 P.M. To 8:00 P.M. In the past it has been held in various locations, including local banks such as First Federal, businesses and their own former building with the members showing off their floral designs and beautiful horticulture.

The theme changes from year to year giving new excitement and challenges to the members. This year’s theme is “Give Our Regards to Broadway,” which will feature creative floral designs and beautiful horticulture with titles from various famous Broadway Musicals such as Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma, Lion King and many more. The designs and horticulture are judged by Florida Federation of Garden Clubs 56

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accredited judges. Awards are presented for the top design in each classification as well as the top horticulture.

There will also be a People’s Choice Award, voted on by those viewing the show. If a member is lucky or creative and talented enough after winning the Plant City Show they could go on to District, and State Flower shows, then possibly be selected to place a creative design in the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ State Calendar.

Entertainment will perform in the main dining room of the Walden Lake Country Club and a buffet dinner will be offered for $9.95 from 6:00 P.M. till 8:00 P.M. You do not need to be a member of the Garden Club or the Country Club to attend, however reservations are needed for dinner. To make reservations please call The Walden Lake Country Club at 813-752-1171 ext. 227.

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Dry Creek Christmas The Dry Creek “Christmas Smile” Town Hall meeting held on Tuesday, December 7 was a resounding success. Nicole Humpherys headed up the team of Patricia Hardwick, Melvia Kingen, Danielle Superior, Ariel Blackburn, Mike Cecala, and John John, who through their efforts, brought entertainment, Toys for Tots and the Dry Creek cast and crew together for a night of good will and Christmas spirit. Bunky Clause and Horse Deer greeted and gave out candy to the several hundred people from Plant City and surrounding areas who came to Cowboy’s Western World to join in on the fun. There was music provide by the Harold Jones Band, Mr. MC Karaoke, and Benjamin Dehart. Ms. Sue PonyTime with Patches provided free pony rides for the children. Dean Mackey shared his expertise creating unique designs of paper airplanes to the delight of all. Robert James performed the Native American Eagle Dance as Power of Four Mountains accompanied by Dock Green Silverhawk on the flute. Cowboy Tom, Fast Shooting Annie, Eager – The Trick Horse, and even some audience members performed in Cowboy Tom’s Wild West Show, which warmed the chilly night and filled the air with laughter.

There were several raffle drawings with proceeds going to HorsePower for Kids. Local Artists Art Faschan, Cathy Lees, and photographer Linda Constant donated sketches, prints and photographs. Cynthia Lopresti of Body Jewels donated four beautiful bracelets. Speedgel, Alaska Heat Salsa Company, and Big&Wild Outdoors Coffee donated gift baskets and samplings of their products. In The Field Magazine and Toys For Tots donated t-shirts. Gaberiel Libraty donated silver USA rosettes and a halter. Benjamin Dehart and Connie McDowell donated some of their music CD’s. Les McDowell donated books, scripts, a Roy Rodgers cookie jar and items from the Dry Creek set.

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Sign Station, Cowboys Western World, The Hay Exchange and Manhattan Hairstyling Academy donated gift cards for dinners, products and services. Thanks to these people and businesses, many who participated in the raffle got a big Christmas Smile.

Master Sergeant Casey Fulton was on hand to speak to us about Toys for Tots and explained why donating to them helps so many. Stephanie Reynolds and Kelly Perez, Childcare Specialists from Tampa General Hospital, and Pam Bell, Operations Director of Everyday Blessings, received special thanks for their tireless commitment to the Children in their care. Cowboy’s Western World, Jared’s Gallery of Jewelry, Target, Plant City Fire Rescue, HorsePower for Kids, Sign Station, cast and crew of Dry Creek, Manhattan Hairstyling Academy, the Harold Jones Band, Big & Wild Outdoors Coffee, Lutz Flooring Center, and Essentials of Brandon’s generous donations put a real Christmas Smile on all and especially the children involved. We are so lucky to have people like them in our community. Together they helped kick off the Toy and Food Drives. The People who attended the “Christmas Smile” event filled the Toy Box with toys and the Food Drive is off to a very good start. The food will be donated to the Hope Children’s Home in Tampa. They were very happy to be chosen for this blessing and thank all who have donated. Donations were accepted until December 21, at Cowboy’s Western World, 106 SR 60 East, Plant City; The Hay Exchange 4950 US HWY 92 West, Plant City and Hire A Pony 8005 Racetrack Road, Tampa.

The evening rounded out with a viewing of two episodes of Dry Creek, Tampa’s own TV Western. Many heartfelt thanks to all those who worked so hard to make this a special evening for the children and to the community who opened their hearts. We hope you had a very Merry Christmas!

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FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND JARRETT-SCOTT FORD CONTINUE STRONG COMMITMENT TO FFA

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Scott. “All our previous scholarship recipients tell us how grateful they are for the financial support and how the FFA experience has changed their lives.”

“Visit any local farm and you can see that trucks - particularly F-Series - play an integral role in the agricultural industry,” said Scott. We want to help these future leaders succeed and become our customers from the start of their careers to the end - just like many of their parents and grandparents.”

About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 163.000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 523,309 student members - all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture - as part of 1,487 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agricultural education. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a Federal Charter granted by the 81st Congress of the United States, and is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. Visit www.ffa.org for more information.

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Ford Motor Company’s 2010-2011 commitment includes substantial support of National FFA events, and $ 1,000 collegiate scholarships for hundreds of FFA members; Ford, with local dealers such as Jarrett Scott Ford, has awarded 6,060 scholarships since 1997.

• For the 2010-2011 school year, Jarrett Scott Ford is sponsoring two Built Ford Tough scholarship(s), helping students attend the college of their choice.

• FFA develops students’ leadership, business skills and community service in preparation for a career in agriculture, which accounts for one out of five U.S. jobs.

Jim Scott announced that Jarrett Scott Ford would join Ford Motor Company in its ongoing commitment to the National FFA (formerly known as the Future Farmers of America).

Ford has committed to a fourteenth year of the Built Ford Tough - FFA collegiate scholarship program, which will award $1,000 scholarships to hundreds of FFA members, each cosponsored by Ford Dealers like Jarrett Scott Ford.

Ford has supported the National FFA since the first F-Series truck was introduced in 1948, and has sponsored the Built Ford Tough collegiate scholarship program since 1997. The program, equally funded by Ford Motor Company and Ford dealers, has awarded almost $6.1 million in scholarships to FFA members.

Jarrett Scott Ford is sponsoring the Built Ford Tough collegiate scholarship program for Plant City High School and Durant High School. For the 2010-2011 school year, they are helping two local students attend the college of their choice.

To be eligible, FFA members must submit an online 2011 Scholarship Application at www. ffa.org and take the required Signature Page to Jarrett Scott Ford for the dealer endorsement and official dealer code; thus providing FFA members the opportunity to meet and thank - the dealer for their support of continuing education.

“We’re pleased to be able to support the local chapter and Ford Motor Company in its strong commitment to the National FFA”, said Jim

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The Allen Cracker House

d& e n w O y “Famield Since 1961” Operat

Feed and Garden Supply, Inc.

By Mark J. Cook

A few folks have called Billy Allen crazy. But those who take the time to see his work are always impressed. Located west of Pinecrest off Dorman Road is Allen’s labor of love, a hand built authentic Cracker house inspired by the home his father built nearly 100 years ago just a few miles down the road.

“Yeah I have gotten a few strange looks from people when I tell them what I’ve been doing since last September,” Allen said. “But everybody who stops by and visits really seems to enjoy it.’’

Allen’s Cracker house started on a whim. “I came home from work one day and saw blocks layed out on the ground,” wife Linda Allen said. “A few days later I see beams lined up. A few days after that there are slat boards being built. He just kept working at it and although I’m not sure he will ever be completely finished it’s in livable shape right now.”

Allen’s project was used with lumber from a local sawmill that donated a lot of the wood.

“I asked them what they were going to do with some of their scrap and they said burn it, so I told them don’t do that bring it over to my place,” Allen said. “A couple of times a week they would use their tractor and drag the lumber through the woods and I’d stack it until I was ready to use it. I did 99 percent of the work by myself, design and labor.”

Of course it about killed me a couple times. I fell off the roof putting my tin on the back porch and I broke my foot one day working on the floor. I ended up getting a cast put on it but after I got home I didn’t like it so I cut it off and got back to work.”

The approximate 700 square foot home takes Allen back in time.

“Things were much simpler back then,” Allen said. “People today don’t appreciate the way we were brought up. Most kids don’t know one end of a grubbing hoe from the other. I like that I can show the younger group what it was like before all the modern technology of the world took over. When you had to go pump your water by hand

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DEALER and haul it up to the house. How you boiled your clothes over a hot fire then used a wringer to finish them.”

“I like seeing peoples head spin when I show them how things used to be. You had to work for the simple things we all take for granted today.”

Another thing that makes people chuckle and shake their head is the replica outhouse. “Ten cents a cob is what I tell people who need to use the bathroom,” Allen laughed. “I thought about making a two seater but growing up I never remember anyone ever using the other seat so I figured why waste the wood on one with two seats.”

Walking through the front door the first things that stand out are the pine floors. To the left is the wood burning stove and above it a homemade mantel that is lined with family pictures, including one of the original family home that Allen’s father built after moving from Alabama in the early 20th century. The living room connects with a small kitchen, then in the back of the house is a small indoor bathroom and bedroom with a mattress sitting on a bed frame more than 100 years old. Many of the decorations have come from friends and visitors who give Allen their items for him to display.

“Lots of the things I have are things from my family but I’ve had a lot of people say, hey I have something at home that really fits this house and they let me have it to help complete the cracker look,” Allen said.

Allen is proud of his work and hopes people interested in old Florida history will stop by and visit. “I’ve thought it would be a neat place to have a wedding in or small get together,” he said. “I don’t mind a bit if folks want to come by and see me and see my place. I might even fix them a cup of coffee.”

The Allen’s don’t live in the Cracker home, built east of their modern block home on their five-acre homestead, but it’s not totally out of the question.

“Hey it would be just fine for me if Linda ever gets tired of me and tells me to get out,” Allen laughed. “It’s old fashioned but I’ve snuck a few modern things inside like my TV and a few appliances. In fact most days I’ll come out here and spend my days inside this house instead of the one we live in. I can open all the windows, sit on the porch, drink coffee and see the world. Not like that big concrete block one we live in. Heck that one is like a prison compared to this Cracker house. If anything ever happens I’ve got me another place ready to go.”

For more information of the Allen Cracker House call Billy Allen at 813-758-4570.

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H il ls b o ro ugh C o u n t y Fa r m B u re au C h r is t m a s D in ne r

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Educating Today’s Youth to be Tomorrow’s Leaders

By Vina Jean Banks

Story on page 68 66

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Shelby Rae Adams, Sarah Luther, Amy Odom, Brittney Thompson, Somer Harvey, Pamela Mayo, with former Commissioner of Agriculture Charles H. Bronson

While students throughout the state rise each morning to additional educational information related directly to their animal. head off to school, for 4-H and FFA students their morning One year they learn about the health issues of their animal. They begins as they hurry out to feed their animal projects. Their may learn how to correctly give an injection or read a medication mornings usually start much earlier than most kids as they have label and determine the correct dosage to be used. During another the responsibility for another living animal. The students are the year they will study about the correct nutrition for their animal. primary care giver for their projects. Their animals must be fed, They may learn about different feed types, how to select an animal watered, bathed, walked/handled, groomed, and housed so they or even how to tie knots. The other two years they will learn about can grow to their maximum potential to bring home that Grand marketing and reproduction specifically related to their animal.

Champion ribbon!

Participation in the Isn’t it just amazing that program has increased by we have young 8-year-old more than 85 percent since students that take on the its inception. According to project of, say, raising a hog We have young 8-year-old students that take on one exhibitor, “The Florida to show at the Florida State Fair has been the most the project of, say, raising a hog to show at the State Fair in February? What an educational, competitive awesome undertaking as and fun-filled fair that I Florida State Fair in February. there are so many parts to have ever been to.” Another the project. For showing said, “The Champion Youth an animal at the State Fair program has inspired me not only entails raising to learn more about my the animal, as this is the traditional foundation of livestock animal projects, and to strive to succeed in all of my livestock competitions, but the animal is just the tool that all the education competitions. Without the program, many young people like components of the project is built around. me would not have the opportunity to exhibit or learn so much Many years ago the Florida State Fair had the opportunity about livestock.” Still another stated, “It is a tremendous learning to add an additional educational component to the youth experience for me. I thought all I had to do was lead an animal animal projects. In conjunction with the University of Florida around a show ring. I soon found out there was much more to this the Champion of Champions program was developed. A four project. I learned to keep accurate records and complete a record year rotation was designed where the exhibitors would receive book. I participated at the All Specie Seminar and got to see the

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2011 STRAWBERRY DISTANCE CHALLENGE sponsored by

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Race # ________________________________ (official use only) Registrations by mail must be received by February 1, 2011. One form per participant (photo copies are accepted).

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Name:______________________ Sex:___________Age on race day:______

Feb 5th 7:30 AM Start

Check in begins at 7:00 AM Walden Lake Polo Fields Cost pre-register $20; day of $25 www.sdc5k.com -orRegister by mail: Strawberry Distance Challenge P.O.Box 4768 Plant City, FL. 33566 Hillsborough’s AGRICULTURE Magazine

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I know that running in and volunteering to work at The Strawberry Distance Challenge is potentially hazardous activities.

I should not enter and run, walk and/or volunteer unless I am medically able and properly trained. I agree to abide by any decision of a race official relative to my ability to safely complete the run, walk and/or volunteer. I also agree that I may be examined and treated if necessary during the course of a race by qualified race personnel in the event medical problems of any cause arise. The race officials or the qualified personnel have the right to disqualify me and remove me from the race, if in their opinion, I may be suffering from a life threatening condition. I assume all risks associated with running in and volunteering for races including, but not limited to, falls, contact with other participants, the effects of the weather, including high heat and/or humidity, the conditions of the road and traffic on the course, all such risks being known and appreciated by me. Having read this waver and knowing these facts, and in consideration of your acceptance of my application for participation in races and/or my volunteering, I, for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, waive and release the Strawberry Distance Challenge, and all above mentioned officers and agents, all sponsors, their representatives and successors, from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in events even though that liability may arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of the persons named in this waiver. I also approve the use of my and/or dependent’s picture taken before, during or after the races for promotional use without further compensation.

Signature:_______________________________Date:_______________

Parent of Guardian, if under 18: _____________________________________

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internal organs of an animal. I studied for the skilathon and the an illustrated record book test. I even tried to get artistic and completed a poster. talk or It was a wonderful experience for me.” demonstration The premise of the Champion program is that the exhibitors directly related can earn points (which are converted to money, Achievement to their project.

Premiums, after the Fair), by participating in various educational Volunteering activities. Most of the shows offer approximately nine activities. in the Ask Point opportunities may vary slightly from show to show, but Me Booth – basically they are the same. The activities the exhibitors can earn Exhibitors points in are the following: can earn up to Attending an Education Seminar - The Fair, in conjunction 30 points for participating in the Ask Me Booth where they can with the many committee members, produce two comprehensive display their project animal and talk with the Fair goers about seminars, one for the Steer Exhibitors and one for All Other their animal.

Species Exhibitors, where they learn subjects from record keeping All the activities were designed to give the exhibitor a better to feeding and selecting a animal. Exhibitors can earn up to 30 understanding of their project. points by attending one of the seminars.

After all the points are totaled, within each species, the top Entry Correct and Complete – Exhibitors can earn 10 points if four seniors with the highest number of points are announced as their entry is complete and properly filled out. the Champion Youth and awarded savings bonds ranging from Giving a Pre Fair Talk – Exhibitors can earn up to 30 points for $1,000.00 for highest point individual to $250.00 for fourth place giving a talk, before the Fair, to a group in their community. individual. The Intermediate and Junior high point individuals Completing a Record Book – Exhibitors can earn up to 100 are also announced and awarded $100.00 savings bonds. At this points for completing and turning in a record book. point the competition is not over for the top four senior winners Participating in a Skilathon – During the Fair the exhibitors in each of the eight species. They then continue on to the final can take part in a hands on Champion of Champions Skilathon where they are tested competition, which is held on the knowledge they have on the last day of the Fair learned from the Skilathon in the Special Events center.

At the 2010 Florida State Fair Youth manual that the Fair provides for This round robin competition them that directly relates to their Exhibitors earned more than $150,000.00 in requires these winners to display animal project. This Skilathon their skills and knowledge in Achievement Premiums/Savings Bonds. is worth 100 points. all eight species of livestock Taking a Record Book Skills production.

Test – Also, during the Fair Then the finale of the Fair, the exhibitors take a test that directly correlates with their record the Champion of Champions awards banquet where exhibitors, book. The test is in three levels. The juniors complete the first 10 sponsors, parents, 4 – H Leaders, FFA Teachers, committee questions, the intermediates the first 20 questions and the seniors members, and staff join together to recognize the top winners the complete 30 questions. This helps to verify that the exhibitors in all the species competitions. At the conclusion of the awards completed their Record Book that they turned in. The Exhibitors presentations, the top six winners of the round robin competition can earn up to 100 points for completing the test. are recognized with trophies and savings bonds as follows: 1st Showmanship - While ribbons are awarded, exhibitors earn up place Champion of Champion - $3,000.00, 2nd place - $2,500.00, to 100 points for participating 3rd place - $2,000.00, 4th place - $1,500.00, 5th place - $1,000.00, and placing in showmanship.

6th place - $500.00.

Creating an Educational At the 2010 Florida State Fair youth exhibitors earned more than Poster – An instrument to help $150,000.00 in Achievement Premiums/Savings Bonds. This was educate the Fair going public, in addition to the animal premiums of over $167,000.00. exhibitors can earn up to 30 As you can imagine this program takes a lot of work and points for creating a poster that support from a large number of people - University staff, sponsors, directly relates to their animal parents, volunteers and the dedicated board members of the project and the Skilathon topic.

Florida State Fair Authority, who are tremendous supporters of our The posters are on display 4-H and FFA youth in Florida, youth who will be our Agriculture during the Fair. leaders and voters of tomorrow.

Giving an Illustrated Talk or The 2011 Florida State Fair dates are February 10 through Demonstration - Steer, Sheep 21. The Florida State Fair – “The Best Time of the Year” – is and Beef exhibitors can earn organized by the Florida State Fair Authority under the leadership up to 100 points for giving of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

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Anderson’s Acre

• Strawberry Shortcake • Strawberry Pies

By Kayla Lewis “I’ve been in business for myself doing animal care for about 20 years,” said Brenda Anderson, owner of Anderson’s Acre. When it comes to animal care, Brenda does a little of everything. “If you need to go on vacation, or if your job keeps you away from home more than usual, I can take care of your animals. I also train horses to be ridden to pull a carriage.” Brenda will work with all kinds of species in the animal kingdom from cats, dogs, and horses to tarantulas, tortoises, and snakes. “I don’t mind handling most animals,” she stated and recalled with a laugh how in school the boys in her class thought she was no fun because they could not torment her with insects and rodents the way they did with the other girls.

Brenda has taken her love of animals and turned it into a business, and in the last five years has expanded to doing pony parties.

“These days you have to branch out your area of expertise,” she said. Brenda explained that for her, working with animals was always a given. “My grandmother knew when I was five that I would one day work with animals,” she said and particularly of horses.

“My grandfather was a cracker cowboy, and it kind of comes natural for me to want to be around horses.” Now she uses her horses to help bring joy to people and especially kids who may never have another opportunity to be around them.

For her pony parties Brenda uses miniature horses and large ponies that can carry up to 200 pounds, she explained that she also has friends who allow her to use their larger ponies if people at the parties want to ride.

At Anderson’s Acre Brenda has three miniature horses, Bluey, 12, Cricket, 11, and Star, 6.

She explained that they used to be owned by a client of hers and she worked with the horses.

“My client decided that he

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no longer needed to have the minis so he gave them to me.” Their acre also houses another larger pony but she explained that he was retired from service. She said that he is a 17- year-old Pony of Americas that was plagued with Cushings, a condition that effects the feet, muscles, and ligaments of horses.

Besides birthday parties, Brenda and her ponies work at almost any type of event. She does block parties, Christmas parties, and end of the year school parties, day cares, and has even done a Mexican fiesta. Brenda’s pony parties offer several kinds of services. Her ponies can either be ridden, or she also has a cart that people can ride in if they prefer. “The minis can carry up to 55 pounds,” she explained, “so I do mostly toddler parties with them. Little kids aren’t so afraid of the minis.” She said that the kids at the parties are almost always excited when she brings her horses. “They love to see the ponies and the horses,” she said and explained that once she stayed 20 minutes over her usual time for a little girl who was afraid to get on one of the pones at her birthday party—she was a year old. Finally she was able to be placed on the pony and after a while began to enjoy the ride. Brenda considers that as an integral part of her work at the pony parties. “I don’t want children to be afraid of animals,” she said.

Brenda said that it was a friend that got her in to doing the parties. “She kind of gave me the idea,” she said. “I thought, my guys are safe enough and quiet enough, I can do this.” She explained though that after she started offering pony parties as one of her services that she was in for a few surprises. “I didn’t realize there was such a need for ponies for parties.” She knew that there were pony parties but she never realized before how many people actually had them. “I didn’t know how much need there was for people to have ponies for their parties. Even in this economy people still spend money on their kids.” She went on to say that she never minded doing the parties saying, “If you have enough lighting I can even do it in the dark.”

And no matter the time of day, Brenda never tires of seeing kids reactions at the parties when she brings the horses. “I love coming into the backyard when they don’t know I’m there yet and seeing their eyes light up and they’re like, ‘There’s the horse! There’s the pony!’ That’s my favorite part, is the kids.”

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EXTENSION OFFERS NEW CLASSES, EXPANDS AVAILABILITY OF OTHERS Financial Mentoring, Health and Finance and More Canning Classes Included

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By Jim Frankowiak

Hillsborough County Extension is offering several new classes and expanding others with the start of the New Year.

One of the new programs is Florida Master Money Mentors, a coordinated referral network of volunteer mentors who provide personal finance coaching. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Extension serves to provide the infrastructure of this program throughout Florida as a result of a gift from Bank of America.

“The program was pilottested in Hillsborough County early in 2010 and is a co-operative effort with United Way of Tampa Bay,” said Extension Agent Lisa Leslie. Mentors, many of whom serve United Way as volunteers for the agency’s free tax preparation assistance program, receive approximately 20 hours of intensive training in basic money management, strategies for dealing with financial problems, credit and debt management, savings, mentoring techniques and connecting clients to community resources. Once training has been completed, volunteer mentors provide guidance to at least 24 individuals within one year.

“FMMM was a perfect fit for us,” said Ellen Stoffer, Director of Financial Stability Initiatives for United Way. “It provided the type of program with the potential to address one of our key community impact focus areas, helping individuals achieve financial stability. This coaching is being provided in a positive, non-judgmental way.”

Bank of America employee Paul Rolles, who has been a United Way volunteer helping individuals and families prepare their tax returns for the last two years, joined the program and has completed the coaching. A native of Haiti, Rolles has been in this county for six years and holds an advanced degree in accounting. “I have a basic desire to help people, and serving as a volunteer mentor enables me to do that,” he said.

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A desire “to make my community better” was the reason Dyal Singh has become a mentor. A volunteer for the IRS’ VITA Program through United Way, Singh “met with people who wanted to be financially responsible, but did not have the tools or knowledge on how. I believe education can empower anyone who takes the initiative and has the desire to learn. I was fortunate enough to have parents who taught me about finances, credit and budgeting. I want to pass on this knowledge, so people in my community can practice good financial habits,” said Singh, a senior tax consultant at True Partners Consulting in Tampa.

The FMMM program came about as the result of a successful grant application to Bank of America by Dr. Michael S. Gutter, Assistant Professor and Family Financial Management Specialist in the Department of Family Youth and Community Services at IFAS “It is clear from the evidence that many families would benefit from some one-on-one assistance with basic money management, getting their monthly finances in order,” said Dr. Gutter.

“This is an essential fist step to a sustainable family financial plan. After a presentation where I was discussing the need for additional support for low to moderate income families, a representative from Bank of America, who had been in attendance, contacted me and we began discussing a possible gift to support our efforts. They provided us with a $100,000 gift to launch our program in 2010. Then most recently, they renewed this gift to continue their support of our family financial capability efforts and specifically, the FMMM program.”

Individuals interested in the FMMM program, are encouraged to call 813/744-5519, Ext. 143.

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

75

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A NEW YOU IN THE NEW YEAR The New Year also marks the beginning of another Extension program, Start a New You in the New Year, a series of workshops enabling participants to improve their health and personal finances. Discussion topics include nutrition, personal finance and stress management and participants will receive the book, Small Steps to Health and Wealth, a $16 value. Sessions will be held February 3, 10, 17 and 24 from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Roger Stewart Training Center at Sabal Park, 3629 Queen Palm Drive, Tampa, FL 33619. Registration is $10 and may be made via http://startanewyou02032011.evenbrite.com or by calling Lisa Leslie at 813/744-5519, Ext. 143.

HOME CANNING The popular Extension Home Canning classes for vegetables, sweets, pickles and fruits have been expanded for 2011 with the addition of several sessions. The vegetable sessions, which cover the preservation of vegetables, meats and seafood, will teach you how to can these items, what equipment you need, types/pros and cons of canners, how to use a pressure canner, what can and cannot safely be altered in recipe and what’s important for safety. Classes will be held Friday, January 14 (9:00 a.m. to noon) – http://canningvegetables011411.eventbrite.com;

Wednesday, February 16 (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)-http:// canningvegetables021611. eventbrite.com; Saturday, February 26 (1:00-4:00 p.m.) http://cannningvegetables022611.eventbrite.com and Tuesday, March 22 (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.) – http:// canningvegetables032211. eventbrite.com.

Classes for jams, pickles and fruits will cover how to make jams, how to make pickles, how to can fruits, what equipment you need, using a boiling water bath canner, what can and cannot be altered in a recipe and what’s important for safety. Individual classes are as follows: fruit/pickles, Wednesday, January 12 (9:00 a.m.- noon) – http://canningfruit011211.eventbrite.com; jam/pickles, Friday, January 21 (1:00 – 4 p.m.) – http://canningjam01211.eventbrite.com; jam/fruit, Friday, February 25 (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.) – http://canningjamfruit022511.eventbrite.com; jam/ pickles, Wednesday, March 9 (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.) – http://canningjampickles030911.eventbrite.com; jam/pickles, Saturday, March 19 (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.) – http://canningjampickles031911.evenbrite. com.

All classes will take place at Hillsborough Extension, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584. There is a $5 donation requested for each class to cover the cost of materials. For more information, contact Dr. Mark Keith at mkeith@uifl.edu or 813/744-5519 Ext. 136.

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Thank You to all of our participants who gave Blood at our Annual Blood Drive and to everyone who gave to our Philanthropy and Winter Wishes 2010 Program.

We would like to say a special thank you to Gene Barber and Martin Rudinki of PACTIV for sponsoring our Annual Event for Winter Wishes kickoff Luncheon on 12/03/10.

We collected 18 Pints of Blood on 12/03/10. And on 12/22/10 we were able to give a gift to all of our adopted angels and to feed all of the migrant families that we adopted through a local school program.

Also at this time we would like to say a heartfelt thank you to John & Kim Stickles with Florida Pacific Farms, LLC. and Tom O’Brien with C& D Fruit & Vegetable Co. and Ruth Doroslovac with Flowers to Eat for the generous contributions to our program.

12880 Hwy. 92 E., Dover, FL 33527 • 813.659.4120 • 813.659.1584 Fax INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

77

Ohnstad Farms

By Kayla Lewis Mike and April Ohnstad, and their children Alyssa, 15, and Ethan, 12, at first did not plan on having a fully operating goat farm. “It was kind of a hobby. We tried cattle and all sorts of stuff, and this is what we found was the most fun.” Now, one year after breeding and raising over 80 South African Boer goats, the Ohnstads are even looking to expand.

At Ohnstad Farms their does graze with the kids on the back of their property. They are closely guarded by two herd dogs, an Anatolian mix and a Pyrenees mix, to ward off predators such

as coyotes. April said that the dogs are still puppies, even though they already stand waist-high, and they are learning well. Indeed, nothing can go near the herd of goats without the dogs coming to inspect them.

Located on the front of the property is Avenger, a large male who is the only herd sire. The Ohnstads said that Avenger is a three time grand champion at shows, and is only one point away from ennoblement. Mike explained that ennoblement is the point system that enhances the pedigree of the goat. It is a status with show goats and increases their value. He went on to say that Avenger’s father sold for $42,000.

Inside their large barn are does who had given birth only two days before. “It’s good for us,” April said, “we sold out all but one meat goat for Christmas.” The kids are relatively large for only having been a few days old as they huddle under heat lamps next to their mothers to ward off the cold temperatures permeating the barn. Mike explained that these were their first kids from Avenger, and that they had already received deposits for them even before they were born.

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The Ohnstads do more than just raise and breed goats, they are involved in their local goat industry as well. Mike is in the process of completing a certification program that will allow him to judge at competitions, while April is working on her Master Goat Producer Certification from Langston University. She also hosted her first show at the Hillsborough County Fair, acting as chairwoman. It was one of the biggest shows in the state with 160 goats. “It was pretty exciting for us,” she said. Alyssa and Ethan are also showing goats at fairs and competitions. The Ohnstads are also active in the buying process, offering hoof trimming services to their clients for a fee. “We pride ourselves in that if people call us looking for goats we try to help them as best we can,” Mike said.

Ohnstad Farms produces goats for meat, starter herds, and shows. They offer a complete nutritional diet for the goats, even providing quarterly supplements of selenium shots, a necessary nutrient for goats that is lacking in the Florida soil. The majority of their stock can be registered, but Mike added that many of their customers are not interested in the goat’s pedigree. Some of their clients want goats to show at competitions, but they also have a wide variety of buyers who want them for meat and also for greenbelt purposes. Alyssa explained that around the world, goat meat is consumed more than beef. “We get a pretty wide diversity of customers,” she said. They have even recently made their first international sell, selling a herd sire to a farm in Montserrat in the British Virgin Islands.

The entire Ohnstad family is involved in their farm. They all work with the goats, and Alyssa and Ethan have both won an award in showmanship at an independent show in Dade City for goats. They explained that their farm is their practice ring.

Ohnstad Farms has built a successful goat farm, while working as a family. “It’s truly a family affair,” said April.

To find out more about Ohnstad Farms they can be reached by phone at (813) 752-2069, or visit their website at www.bumpyoaks.com.

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

79

A Closer Look: The Winter Ecology of Insects

A Closer Look:

The Winter Ecology of Insects

By Sean Green

Photo Credit: Thomas Hank

The natural capabilities of insects have fascinated me from an early age. Some insects can shoot streams of acid from their bodies, while others glow in the dark, change their body structure, or have ingenious predation behavior. Some of the least celebrated capabilities of insects are the adaptive mechanisms that ensure their survival through seasonal temperature changes. If you have ever wondered how such small creatures manage to survive cold weather, then you share my curiosity. Although some insect’s species will seek refuge in human structures, the majority will remain outside and rely on inherent strategies that predate the option of human structures.

Unlike mammals and birds, insects are not capable of generating enough heat to maintain their core body temperatures. When the weather gets cold they become cold and sluggish or completely immobile. As long as they do not freeze, most insects will resume normal activity as the weather warms. An insect’s innate ability to survive a great range of temperatures is an amazing feature distinguishing insects from other animals. Insects can survive core temperature changes that would be fatal for any other animal. The spruce budworm (Choristoneura) for example can resist freezing in temperatures approaching –22°F and the Alaskan beetle (Upis ceramboides) can survive temperatures of –76°F. A core temperature change of ± 5 °F is enough to compromise human metabolism and degrade normal body functions. With a change of ± 10 °F human organs begin failing and death is expected.

The ultimate goal for any living organism to survive in cold temperatures is to avoid cell damage that results in lethal freezing. Lethal freezing occurs when internal ice crystals cause cellular death. When ice forms on the outside of a cell membrane it draws water from the interior of the cell causing cellular dehydration (osmosis). Ice formations on the inside of a cell create mechanical damage as the ice crystals expand through the cell walls. Insects adopt one of two strategies for surviving cold temperatures that could result in lethal freezing. Insects in the northern hemisphere, where extended cold temperatures are expected are freeze avoidant species, they avoiding freezing by keeping bodily fluids in a liquid state. Insects here in the southern hemisphere are freeze tolerant species because they are able to tolerate moderate formations of internal ice crystals.

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Freeze avoidant species condition their bodies to prevent internal fluids from ever reaching a solid state. Water requires a seed particle such as dust, food, or bacteria for ice crystallization to begin, without seed particles, pure water can cool down to about -43°F without freezing. Freeze avoidant species eliminate sources of ice crystallization by starving themselves or shedding their midgut when molting.

Insects also manufacture cryoprotectants that are circulated through the body of the organism to lower the lethal freezing temperature of their fluids. Cryoprotectants is a term used to describe a variety of substances manufactured from overwintering insects that protect its tissue from freeze damage.

Typically insects will circulate sugars and alcohol substances such as glycols and glycerins as a cryoprotectant to reduce the freezing point of their body fluids. Some insects have a wax coating that helps protects them from external moisture that could turn to ice while others such as the bark beetle will over winter inside living plants. Migration is a common strategy for freeze avoidant species. The most familiar example of insect migration is that of the adult monarch butterfly in its journey from Canada southward to Mexico. The return trip will be made by a member of its offspring.

Freeze tolerant insects that remain in their host environment during the winter months have adapted to tolerate the formation of internal ice rather than avoid it. Instead of relying solely on cryoprotectants they also produce antifreeze proteins that bind to small internal ice crystals and inhibit the internal growth and recrystallization of ice that would otherwise be fatal. The production of antifreeze proteins in the insect are triggered by the reduction of sunlight as the shorter winter days approach. Species that produce antifreeze proteins can control where the crystals form within their body thus reducing damage to vital functions. Not all insects produce antifreeze proteins and instead rely on the environment to provide enough heat to avoid freezing, a dry place to hibernate is critical if the insect is to avoid ice formation of internal ice from external sources. Insects may seem to disappear in winter, but can be found. Ladybugs hibernate in communities under stumps or rocks to share heat. Many butterflies and moths overwinter in soil in the egg stage. Beetles hibernate underground or in tree bark during the winter and will be found on the southeastern side of trees where they will receive the longest duration of warmth.

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Guitar Auction Funds Strawberry Grower Scholarships The sound of the auctioneer’s gavel was music to the ears of some aspiring college students, at the Florida Strawberry Grower’s Association (FSGA) 28th annual “Strawberry Jam” awards banquet. It took place at the Red Rose Inn, Plant City, Florida, Saturday, December 4, 2010. The evening was dedicated to honoring Florida’s best strawberry growers and presenting special scholarships to deserving students.

But one item that the “Jam’s” agenda did not mention was a surprise live auction to help fund the Rodney Hutto Memorial Scholarship. The single item up for bid was a custom made Musical Harvest, strawberry themed electric guitar, donated by Colorful Harvest, an FSGA member and producer of premium Florida strawberries. “Rodney Hutto was a friend to Colorful Harvest and the Florida strawberry industry, and we wanted to do something special to honor his memory,” said Doug Ranno, COO and managing partner of Colorful Harvest.

The guitar was made to order by Musical Harvest from fine hardwoods including a deep red maple body, a green maple headstock, and a variegated green cocobolo kalic fingerboard. While a past scholarship recipient, Jerod Parker, rocked the guitar on stage, attendees rocked the bidding. When the auctioneer’s gavel came down, the guitar auction had raised over $3,200 for the scholarship fund.

“Colorful Harvest grows amazing strawberries near Bel Glade, Florida,” said Ranno. Their Florida crop gives a big boost to their year around berry program and they have substantially increased their Florida acreage for 2011.

Colorful Harvest also grows bush berries, melons and colorful heirloom style produce under the Colorful Harvest and Green Giant Fresh brands, including: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cantaloupes, honeydews & athenas, Ruby JewelTM sweet red corn, Rainbow Crunch Carrots™, orange, purple, green and white cauliflower, violet broccoli, purple artichokes, Blue Lake style beans, and MORE. Information on the entire family of Colorful Harvest products with their AMAZING COLORS and AMAZING FLAVORS is available at www.ColorfulHarvest.com.

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1047 -330’ Field Fence ........... $109.00 Barb Wire 15½ CL3 Gauge ....... $35.00 Barb Wire 12½ GA CL3 ............ $64.00 Barb Wire 15½ GA 3” spacing ... $41.00 100’x4’ cl1 no climb horse wire ..... $105.00 100’x5’ cl3 no climb horse wire ..... $145.00 200’x4’ cl3 no climb horse wire .........$229.00 100’x4’ cl1 4 X 4 goat wire .................$78.00

CHAIN LINK FENCE

12½ GauGe 11½ GauGe 4’...... $39 .................$48 5’...... $56 .................$63 6’...... $67 .................$74 Gate Roll Kits availaBle

1”X6”X16’ ROUGH CUT $6.95

www.Fencing-Farm-Ranch.com 82

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Specializing in Foreign and Domestic Trucks and Cars

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BILL’S TRANSMISSIONS Tel: 813.707.9865 13350 Hwy. 92E WE NOW OFFER TOWING Dover, FL 33527 Come See Porky!

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Naturally Amazing Activities

Kennco Manufacturing, Inc.

OVERWINTERING INSECTS

By Sean Green

Materials: •

Appropriate Clothing

• Habitat Container (Jar, plastic critter box, Tupperware) • Container Top (old nylon stockings, plastic lid with air holes) •

Substrate (soil, moss, sand)

•

Rubber Bands

•

Knife / Pruning Shears

Where to find winter insects: Acorns provide both shelter and nutrition for some insects.

Gather acorns from under the oak trees and place them in a container of water. Acorns that float are likely to have insects inside. You may find an Acorn Weevil or an Acorn Moth or one of a number of ants or fly species.

Galls are warty growth structures (usually round) you see on trees and shrubs and range in size from that of a pea to as large as a basketball depending on the species that created it. They are often created by

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insects such as gall flies, gall wasps, gall midges, aphids and psyllids as a habitat and food source for the insect.

Tree bark on decaying logs provides a home for a number of beetles such as the Patten Leather Beetle but also home to some of Florida’s centipedes and scorpions not to mention both native and imported fire ants. Caution must be implanted when exploring decaying logs, especially very large ones that can provide a habitat for many species.

Kennco’s Spray Machines

• Frame, gantry, booms, and spray drops are custom built to your requirements.

• Hot dipped galvanized frame for durability • Fiberglass tanks with mechanical agitation • 200 to 2000 gallon tanks • High pressure galvanized or SS plumbing • Manual, electric, or electronic controls • Wide selection of high quality pumps available

Compost piles and leaf litter will provide a warm home for a huge variety of insects, each fulfilling its role in the decomposition of your compost pile. Of the many insects you may find one of the larger treasures are beetles, if you’re lucky perhaps you will find one of the larger species of stag beetle. Ladybugs also hibernate in leaf litter and usually communally.

Call our friendly, knowledgeable staff today!

800-645-2591 • email Sales@KenncoMfg.com See videos at kenncomfg.com/i1.aspx

In The Field Magazine - January 2011 Hillsborough County Edition 1/4 page vertical ad - 3-9/16” W x 4-13/16”H

by Glenn PO #79123 - $240

Keeping Insects: If you intend to keep the insects you find, try not to disturb its overwintering process. Include components from its environment in the habitat you create for it.

Keep any substrate in the habitat humid but not wet by misting the habitat every two or three days. It is best to keep the habitat outside to approximate the temperature and exposure to sunlight it received in the wild. If you do move an insect to the warmth of your home, it may develop faster that it would have in the wild or may not develop at all.

Enjoy observing the insect for a while, then return it to the wild unless you have researched the species and understand the commitment necessary for husbandry throughout its life cycle (which could be years). It would be great to see pictures of your findings.

• Custom Fresh & Silk Arrangements • We send flowers WORLD WIDE • Accept all major credit cards

Image 975 px wide Email PDF to art@inthefieldmagazine.com TELEPHONE sarah@inthefieldmagazine.com 813.754.1212 David.Pavlicko@architechsw.com 116 Alsobrook Street Plant City, FL 33566

Sarah Holt 813-759-6909

trivia questions on page 8

Our tropical climate in Florida provides a terrific home for overwintering insects. Some insects even migrate here from other states to overwinter. Insects can overwinter in any of several life stages (eggs, pupae, adult). Finding overwintering insects can be like a treasure hunt if you don’t recognize the species. This month’s activity is the exploration and observation of overwintering insects. Watching immature insects develop into an adult can be especially fascinating.

Some insects are active while others remain inactive during hibernation periods. You will be surprised with the variety of insects that can be found in the wintertime in Florida, and for some of us, it can be more exciting than the theme parks that attract winter visitors.

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Sinkhole Assistance Grant Available to Homeowners Impacted by Sinkhole Damage

Hillsborough County homeowners have until March 31, 2011, to apply for a Sinkhole Assistance Grant. The Grant is to provide qualified homeowners with financial assistance to recover from the damages of sinkhole impacts from January 2010 through March 2010, and to assist them in the maintenance and support of their families.

The maximum Grant award is $3,000, and only the property owner of record at the time of the sinkhole damage is eligible to receive assistance.

The application period will be from January 3, 2011, through March 31, 2011. Applicants can pick up an application packet in person through the Hillsborough County Family & Aging Services Department at the Plant City Neighborhood Service Center, 307 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2, in Plant City. They can also apply by calling (813) 757-3871 #201.

To qualify, the applicant must have a qualifying property that is: 1. Zoned to allow a single family residence on which has been constructed a single family residence.

Located within 2.

Hillsborough County.

Has been docu3. mented to have suffered sinkhole damage to the property and/or structure during the months of January 2010 through March 2010.

The applicant must also provide specific documentation, such as, but is not limited to: 1. Ownership of the qualifying property at the time the damage occurred.

2. An estimate of the cost to assess or repair sinkhole damage prepared by a professional engineer or licensed and qualified contractor.

3. Property Tax bill for 2010 tax year.

The Sinkhole Assistance Grant was approved by Board policy in a Sept. 2010 regular Board of County Commissioners meeting.

For questions regarding grant qualifying documentation, call Stephen Gran, Hillsborough County Manager, Agriculture Industry Development at (813) 272-5506.

Trinkle, Redman, Swanson & Coton, Davis & Smith, P.A. Attorneys at Law

Our Practice CORPORATE & BUSINESS LAW • Incorporations, Partnerships & LLCs • Acquisitions, Sales & Mergers • Employer & Employee Relations FAMILY LAW • Dissolution of Marriage • Alimony, Child Custody & Support • Adoptions ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE • Will & Trust Drafting • Probate & Administration of Estates • Guardianship Proceedings

REAL ESTATE • Commercial & Residential Closings • Title Insurance • Development, Planning & Zoning • Foreclosures • Landlord - Tenant LITIGATION & LAWSUITS • Commercial Litigation & Collections • Creditor Representation in Bankruptcy • Real Estate • Personal Injury • Property Damage • Probate

*The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisments. Before you decide, ask the lawyer to send you free written informationabout their qualifications and experience.

121 North Collins Street • P.O. Drawer TT Plant City, Florida 33564-9040 • 813-752-6133 88

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A Wintertime Treat

By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicine, B.S. Nutrition Science Wintertime in Florida means a bountiful supply of juicy, delicious citrus fruits in their peak season. Florida is the second largest citrus producer in the world, behind Brazil. In 2005-06, Florida accounted for 68 percent of the U.S. citrus production, California for 28 percent, and Texas and Arizona for 4 percent.

Tangerines are similar to oranges, but are smaller in size, peel more easily, and have a less tart flavor. In the United States, tangerines are grown in Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas, and their peak season is November through January. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, Florida produced 27 percent of the total U.S. value of production for tangerines ($58 million) in 2008.

NUTRITIONAL PROFILE Florida tangerines are bursting with nutrition. They contain vitamins such as folate and vitamin B6, as well as minerals such as potassium and magnesium. In addition to these nutrients, tangerines contain a wealth of other disease-fighting compounds, such as phytonutrients and antioxidants. These potent chemicals fight cancer, lower cholesterol, and control blood sugar levels.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of tangerine segments (195 g) contains 103 calories, 1.6 g protein, 0.6 g fat, 26 g carbohydrate, and 3.5 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 87 percent of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin C, 27 percent for vitamin A, 14 percent for dietary fiber, 9 percent for potassium, 8 percent for thiamin, and other nutrients including vitamin B6, calcium, niacin, phosphorus, magnesium, and riboflavin.

Vitamin C Vitamin C is important for a healthy immune system, cancer prevention, healthy blood circulation and wound healing. This vitamin acts as a potent antioxidant in the body, neutralizing harmful free radicals and preventing its damaging effects in cells. By fighting cell and tissue damage, Vitamin C

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protects against cancer and other diseases, such as the common cold. This vitamin also helps the body absorb more iron, and aids in the development of strong bones and teeth.

Current research findings support that Vitamin C’s benefits come from consumption of whole fruits and vegetables. A high intake of produce is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Taking supplements does not seem to provide the same protective benefits as eating a tangerine or consuming the juice.

Fiber Tangerines and other citrus fruits contain a significant amount of dietary fiber, which can help lower cholesterol, assist with digestion, and prevent constipation. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of several types of cancer including colon, rectum, breast, and pancreas.

A single tangerine provides 12.5 percent of the daily value for fiber, which has been shown to reduce high cholesterol levels, which helps to prevent atherosclerosis. Fiber can also help maintain steady blood sugar levels, as can fructose, the naturally occurring type of fruit sugar found in oranges. Oranges also contain pectin, a water-soluble fiber that helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and aids in satiety.

Potassium Tangerines are a good source of potassium, which can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke and cardiac arrythmias. One tangerine contains more than seven percent of the Daily Value for potassium, which is needed for proper electrolyte and fluid balance. Potassium plays an important role in muscle contraction and nerve transmission, and people with low levels may experience muscle cramping. This important mineral may also help prevent or slow down bone loss from high-sodium diets.

Thiamin Thiamin helps the body convert carbohydrates and fats into energy. In addition to

January 2011

energy production, thiamin is important for brain and heart health and in coordinating the activity of nerves and muscles.

Vitamin B6 Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, helps form red blood cells and maintain brain function, among other functions. Vitamin B6 is also needed to help the body use protein.

Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is important for metabolism. It is also essential in the formation of healthy red blood cells and plays a role in maintaining the central nervous system.

How to Select and Store Choose tangerines with glossy, deep orange, pebbly skins that feels heavy for its size.

When gently squeezed, they should feel firm to slightly soft. Avoid those with soft spots or dull color. Tangerines can be stored in the refrigerator for up to seven days.

How to Enjoy Since tangerines come in their own natural packaging, they are a portable, convenient snack. You can simply peel and eat the tangerine out-of-hand. Tangerines can also be juiced for a refreshing beverage.

Other ways to enjoy tangerines include: • Toss tangerine segments into a salad.

• Squeeze the juice into a pan, allow it to thicken over heat, and use it as a sauce for fish or chicken.

• Add tangerine juice to baked goods or icing for a bright refreshing twist.

• Slip a few slices of orange into a pitcher of water for a refreshing low-calorie beverage.

• Boil tangerine slices with your teabag or add slices to boiled tea.

Enjoy sweet, juicy Florida tangerines in their peak season today!

SELECTED REFERENCES http://www.florida-agriculture.com/agfacts.htm http://www.fao.org http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/

ALL PLANT CITY RESIDENTS

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Sponsored by Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort Let your smart pooch show just how much he’s learned by becoming an official AKC Canine Good Citizen and show your pooch just how generous you are with 50% of the proceeds benefiting: Plant City’s Relay for Life Testing Fee: $10 To Register: Call 727-475-9059 or E-mail BaysideBehavior@gmail.com Spaces are limited. Day-of-Test registrations on site, if space is available, on first-come basis. For more information about the CGC Test requirements visit: http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm

Call: (813) 754-PETS (7387)

1704 Walden Village Court, Plant City, FL 33566 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2011

91

The most important real estate in the soil is at the root tip.

By Johnny Cone Florida has been invaded by aliens! I am not talking about little green men and flying saucers. I am speaking of exotic wildlife species. This invasion began when the first explorers visited the New World and continues today. We see these exotic species every day and many times may not be aware that many common animals are not native to this state. For example, the brown anole lizards that are a common sight in most residential yards are not native to Florida.

They are native to various islands in the Caribbean. Older folks will most likely remember a time when the only lizards we saw in our yards were our native Green Anoles. But now the brown lizards are everywhere. Another species commonly seen and often assumed as a native is the House Sparrow. This small bird is a common sight at backyard feeders. The House Sparrow is actually native to Europe and parts of the Middle East.

The reason exotic species found their way to Florida is as diverse as the species themselves. Some arrived as part of a natural range expansion from other portions of the United States. Others were intentionally introduced in hopes they would serve some purpose or solve some issue. Many times this issue is the control of another non native species. On several occasions state officials have intentionally released an exotic species as a method of control of another exotic species already established. This has worked in some cases and in some cases it has not. Other exotics have become established because they were released, both intentionally and unintentionally, by pet owners. Of note, Hurricane Andrew is felt to have played a significant role in the establishment of some exotic species. Miami is an entry point for exotic captive wildlife coming into the United States. Because of that, there are many breeding and wholesale operations in Dade County. Those operations got hit very hard when Hurricane Andrew hit that part of the state, damaging and destroying many buildings and cages, causing the release of thousands of exotic animals. The strong winds helped distribute many animals, especially among the smaller species, far and wide across the Everglades and South Florida.

An underlying cause with the exotic wildlife problem in Florida is the same cause as other issues the state has, population growth, traffic, etc. Florida is a great place to live. The exotics like it here as much as the people do. With a mild climate, plenty of rainfall, and lots of sunshine, there are few species that cannot survive here. Some even appear to do better here than they do in their native habitat.

The heat is not so excessive that it causes a problem for species from more temperate climates. It also does not usually get cold enough to cause a problem for tropical species. While we get a good amount of rainfall, many desert dwellers even do fine in Florida.

Looking at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website page on Invasive Species, it becomes clear just how serious the problem is Florida. The number of species now residing in the state, established and breeding is simply staggering. According to the above mentioned site, the numbers are as follows: There are 15 species of mammals that are established and have been breeding for at least 10 years in portions of the state. Notable species include coyotes, nutria and Rhesus Macaque monkeys. Amphibians have the fewest species with just four. However, one of the four is the Giant Marine Toad, which is deadly to pets and native predator species.

A whopping 52 exotic bird species have bred within the state.

Some of these species have become established, some have not, and with some species it is not yet confirmed. Bird species of note

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include Muscovy Ducks, European Starlings, and numerous parrot species. When it comes to fish, 55 species have been collected in state waters. The blue tilapia, known in Florida commonly as the Nile Perch, is a common sight for fishermen. In Saltwater, Lionfish, a native of Indio Pacific waters, has become established on our reefs and near shore waters. Lionfish pose some unique problems. Aside from the fact they are ravenous feeders and preying heavily on our native reef species, they possess venomous spines that can cause a serious injury to an unwary fisherman unlucky enough to catch one of these brightly colored fish. There is one success story when it comes to non native fish species. The state of Florida successfully introduced Peacock Bass, a South American Species into south Florida. This species does not compete with native predatory fish and does a good job of keeping many non native fish species in check. Peacocks are a sportfish and great fighters. So a new recreational fishery was created. The state considers the introduction of Peacocks as an important success and the species has the distinction of being the only non native wildlife species that receives legal protection with size and bag limits.

Leaving some of the most serious risks from non native species for last, we come to reptiles. Forty-six species of reptiles have been reported as breeding here in Florida. As with birds, some of these species are established, some are not, and some are unknown. This list contains some very ominous species, including the Nile Monitor Lizard. A large carnivorous lizard native to Africa has become well established in the Charlotte County area of Southwest Florida and appears to be expanding. This large lizard grows to a size of about six feet in length and is a cunning hunter that can be aggressive towards humans. Aside from the potential threat to humans, this lizard’s hunting habits pose a great risk for many native species including bird life. Notorious nest raiders, they are preying on the eggs of threatened species such as Gopher Tortoises and endangered sea turtles. Another Reptile established here in Florida has received national attention and has been the subject of television documentaries is the Burmese Python. This large species of snake has colonized the Everglades. Capable of taking large prey including deer, feral hogs and alligators, this species poses a very real safety threat to people. Like the Nile Monitor they appear to be expanding their range along the east coast of the state, with reports as far north as Volusia County. In addition to the 54 species on the FWC’s file of non native reptiles, there is one other species that may or may not be of a very serious concern. In August of 2009 a cable television worker was bitten by an Eastern Green Mamba while working in a Hollywood Florida neighborhood. Green Mambas are native to Africa and one of the most dangerous venomous snake species in the world. The bitten man recovered with treatment. But the snake was never found and captured.

It is not likely that State Officials or anyone else will be able to eradicate any of the problematic species of exotic wildlife. The best we can probably hope for is that numbers are held in check and new species do not become established. Keep an eye out, because one day you may look out your back window and see anything from a Gambian Pouch Rat, to a monkey, to a Burmese Python or worse. The next time you hear someone talking about aliens, don’t look to the sky for flying saucers. Take a look in the bushes because something just may come crawling or slithering past.

It is there that

yield robbing soil diseases, like Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora and Fusarium enter and infect plants.

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• Biotic Burst cleansing action • Surrounds and shields • Protects against damping off and root rot diseases

] © 2011 Certis USA. 1-800-250-5024 •www.certisusa.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE January 2011 93

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DBL INSULATED Thermo Pane. Starting at $55.00 Call Ted 813-752-3378 Beautiful Brooksville Horse Ranch, 51 Acres, Large 7 Stall center Aisle Barn, 5 Bay RV Garage, 4 Car Garage, Nice 3 Bedroom 2 Bath house, Private Lake, Private Pool and Much More! $699,000 http:// alturl.com/i9rka (Old Video) Realty Associates (352) 346-5295 CALVES FOR SALE Simmental outstanding pedigree, gentle.

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T1LL 4X8 sheet B-grade $14.95. Call Ted 813-752-3378 1984 KUBOTA B6200 2 wd, w/4 ft. Finish Mower. $3,000 • 863-698-2967 KUBOTA KX 41 Mini Excavator low hours. Quick attach bucket.

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Ford 2000 Gas Tractor Restored, 2WD, 33 hp, PS, 3600 hrs, $4,950.00 (U13360) Call Fred 813-623-3673 Used Post Hole Digger W/6” & 9” augers $500.00 (U13347) Call Fred 813-623-3673 Ford 3010S Tractor 2WD, handyman special $3000.00 (UT5634) Call Fred 813-623-3673 FORD 2000 GAS TRACTOR 2WD, 33 hp, $2500.00 (U13378) Call Fred 813-623-3673

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HAY FOR SALE 4X5 rolls.

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WINDOW SCREENS We make window screens all sizes available in different frame colors.

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Kubota 1750 4x4 Hydro Stat Trans. 20hp. $3,750. Call Alvie 813-759-8722

NEW HOLLAND TC35 tractor / loader 35 pto hp 150hrs. $17,500 (UT9809) 813-623-3676 MOUNTAIN TOP #185445 Located in Blairsville Ga. Fantastic mountain views, like new, 2/2 with wood burning fireplace, loft, basement, porch, second home use only from original owners! $299,000 Call and ask For Jane Baer with Jane Baer Realty. 1-800-820-7829.

BEAUTIFUL CABIN #194651 A real tempter in mountain setting on 1.14 acres. A charming air comes with this metalroofed 3BR/3+BA fully furnished cabin in ideal condition with a wonderful view. Marble foyer, large rooms and loft. $385,900. Call and ask For Jane Baer with Jane Baer Realty. 1-800820-7829.

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Call John 863-412-2683 | 863-299-3171 for sale or lease 2.66 acre nursery in N. Lakeland with 1,000 sq. ft. frame house. 2 sheds, irrigation throughout.

Call Bruce 863.698.0019 2002 Massey ferguson 243 4x4. Shuttle Trane, Remote. $9,750. Call Alvie 813-759-8722 1999 Massey ferguson 4270 4x4, cab, 99 pto hp. $22,500. Ask for Alvie 813-759-8722 Mahindra 4530 Tractor Loader 455 hours, 4x4, 42 hp. $14,900. Call Alvie 813759-8722 Contributing writer Write about events in your community. Immediate openings in Hillsborough and Polk Counties. Paid per article. Responsibilities include covering community events and taking pictures.

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24 hrs a 7 days a day 365 days week a year

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