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Great health care is closer than you think.
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South Florida Baptist Hospital is more than just a small community hospital. We’ve got a wide array of specialty care and surgical services that you don’t have to travel far to get. Our surgeons are experts in minimally invasive robotic surgical procedures that provide lots of benefits, including shorter hospital stays, decreased blood loss and smaller incisions that reduce the risk of infection. Plus, faster recovery times that mean you can get back to your normal activities sooner. You’ll find comprehensive orthopedic care—whether you’re an athlete who needs sports medicine services or you’re someone who needs a total joint replacement. Our all-inclusive gynecology program offers high-quality care to the women and mothers in our community with a variety of women’s care services. We’ve even been designated as a Center of Excellence for our weight loss surgery program, meeting nationally recognized standards and providing outstanding care to our patients. And all of this extraordinary care exists right here in Plant City. Learn more: SouthFloridaBaptistSurgery.org
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JULY 2021 VOL. 17 • ISSUE 9
CONTENTS HARRIS CITRUS NURSERY: An Admirable, Very Interesting and Continuing Family Legacy
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Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 305 S. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL. Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Insurance Services: 813-685-5673 Member Services: 813-685-9121
Cover Photo by Karen Berry PAGE 10 State Officer
PAGE 30 News Briefs
PAGE 14 Rain Garden
PAGE 32 Business Up Front
PAGE 15 AG Grants PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 35 Mango PAGE 36 Inovation Challenge
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
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Crest Fishing PAGE 24 HSWCD Poster Contest
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John Dicks
PAGE 26 Ferguson Farms
PAGE 46 Endangered Species
PAGE 28 HCSO
PAGE 50 Longleaf Pines PAGE 52 Activity PAGE 53 A Closer Look
PAGE 56 Scott Angle PAGE 57 Travis Council PAGE 58 Mosquito PAGE 60
Turner Citrus PAGE 61
Rain Barrel Contest
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
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OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dennis Carlton, Jr.....................President Jake Raburn................Vice President Tony Lopez..............Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary DIRECTORS FOR 2018 - 2019 Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes
Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813-685-9121 Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents
Valrico Office 813-685-5673
100 S. Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, FL. 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, ChFC, CASL, CPCU Agency Mgr. Julie Carlson, Amy Engle
Plant City Office 813.752.5577
305 S. Wheeler St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer Artis Griffin
Tampa Office 813.933.5440
6535 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL.33625 Greg Harrell, Jared Bean
AGENCY MANAGER Thomas O. Hale WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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STAFF
Letter from the Editor I do love mosquito season. Not that it’s never “non mosquito season” in Florida. Maybe the hottest June on record, followed by Elsa’s rain, ramped up, at least in my neck of the woods. I got bit this morning as I walked out the door. These critters just love me. In this issue of In The Field, you will learn how to identify “container mosquitos.” These are the lovely little blood suckers that can live and breed basically anywhere water “collects.” Plants, a large leaf, a hole in a tree, these are all possible locations. So, check out the article for more information. Why do mosquito bites itch? Well, as if they aren’t annoying enough buzzing by your head, when they do get you, they inject a small amount of saliva to keep the blood from clotting. Our bodies react to the foreign substance by producing a protein called histamine, which can trigger inflammation and itching. On another note (see what I did there?) this song has been going through my head lately
I’m in a hurry to get things done Oh I rush and rush until life’s no fun All I really gotta do is live and die But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why. ~Alabama
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor Patsy Berry Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols George Domedion Veronica Opitz Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders
It seems to describe my life in 2021. I always seem to be in a hurry to do things, getting anxious about getting everything done that I need to do. But guess what? I don’t actually need to be in such a hurry. So the second half of the year is going to be about slowing down a bit and enjoying life.
Who’s with me?
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909
Until Next Month
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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SUPPORTING AGRICULTURE AND THE COMMUNITY -Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
Dear Readers – Farm Bureau outreach involves farmers and ranchers taking action that supports our industry and the communities where we live and work. There are a number of interesting examples in this edition of IN THE FIELD and I encourage you to read each of them. The cover story about Harris Citrus Nursery and husbandwife team of Paul and Rebecca (Becky) Harris began here in Florida, then moved on to Alaska and back to the Sunshine State. From homebuilding and construction work to businesses serving Alaskan communities and their current focus, they bring special meaning to community and industry support that continues today. We then have the story of Brad Turner and his recognition as a recipient of an Agricultural Environmental Leadership Award from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for his commitment to promoting soil and tree health that he is now sharing with others in the citrus industry. Travis Council is next. He has just joined our Hillsborough County Board to support and engage in outreach activities our industry needs to help assure its sustainability. His family’s agricultural legacy spans a century.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
processes of the Federation currently and over the near term. Important work that also assures compliance with Florida law. Each of these stories is different, but they all support our industry and communities and would not take place without the engagement of these individuals. Advocacy is multi-faceted as depicted by the mix of stories presented here. I ask that you mark your calendars for Thursday, October 7. That’s our annual meeting date and we will be gathering at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds and hope to see you there. There will be more information as that date draws near. This is an evening activity that will begin at 6 p.m. In the meantime, if you need more information about us, our programs or how to become involved with Farm Bureau, please call us at 813/685-9121 or email: info@hcfarmbureau. org. Thank you
Dennis Carlton Jr. Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
There’s also a story on Jake Raburn and his appointment to the Florida Farm Bureau Federation‘s Bylaws Review Committee to ensure accurate reflection in the structures and
305 SOUTH WHEELER STREET • PLANT CITY, FL 33566 • 813-685-9121 Board of Directors
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Dennis Carlton, Jr. , President; Jake Raburn, Vice-President; Tony Lopez Treasurer; Buddy Coleman, Secretary; Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv,Jay Marty Tanner, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes Judi Whitson, Executive Director
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July State Officer Column
By Emma Poole and Christian Bentrovato
And just like that, it’s over. I cannot believe that my time as a State FFA Officer has come to an end. This year has allowed me so many amazing opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime. I have learned more about myself and the members of Florida FFA than I thought I would ever know, and more importantly, I have been able to learn about agriculture and demonstrate my passion for the industry. I think it is so amazing just how far the reaches of Florida FFA can go and I hope that this year, I was able to encourage or inspire someone to write their own chapter in our organization’s history. There is so much that I could say about the FFA, but I will just expand on two of the things that made our state convention so special to me. The first of which was so fulfilling and an amazing way to round out my competition career. Those of you who know me personally know just how passionate about and in love I am with the Parliamentary Procedure competition, something I started competing in way back in 2014 at Tomlin Middle School. We finally won the state competition my senior year, only for the national contest to be cancelled. So, in order to have a chance to qualify for nationals again, the Board of Directors reinstated my competition eligibility and I once again set out to compete in Parliamentary Procedure, except this time, as a state officer. After hard, diligent work, we were crowned the state champions the Thursday night of Convention. A special shoutout goes to my teammates Will Haxton, Carter Howell, David Ferrell, Lisee Griffin, and Casey Lane. You guys have shown me what passion and determination truly is, and I’m so thankful for each of you. The other thing that was truly special about convention was being able to pass down the title of State Secretary to one of my best friends and someone who I have served and competed alongside for many years, Carter Howell. Carter, I wish you nothing but the best during your year of service. I am proud of you!
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Of course, I’ll miss this chapter of my life, but I’m excited to begin a new journey at Florida Southern College this fall to major in Multimedia Journalism. So, who knows, maybe writing for a magazine isn’t a far cry from what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life. Thank you all for reading along this year and for always supporting us!
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Signing off for the final time, Emma Lauren Poole 2020-2021 Florida FFA State Secretary
Now that state convention has ended, the stage and lights have been taken down, us past state officers have gone home and the new state officers have zipped up their new jacket, there is a sense of calmness. For a short period of time everyone in Florida FFA can relax (especially after this not so average year). Us retired state officers are allowed to take a breather before college starts and the new state officers can spend some time on vacation before their non-stop year of service begins in a few short weeks. It was a great sight to watch so many of our Hillsborough County chapters walk across that stage after their year of hard work! Just as some of us are preparing for college and the new state officers are preparing for their year, our chapters and advisors are already working hard to make this next year a success and I know I can’t thank them enough for all that they do each day! I would like to give the best of luck to our new state officers. This journey you have already embarked on will be the best year of your life. You all have worked so hard throughout your FFA career to be in that jacket today, so don’t ever underestimate yourself and think you can’t do something because you can. It’s hard to sum up eight years of being in an organization that has shown me and given me so much. When I first joined FFA in the 6th grade at Tomlin Middle School, I knew I wanted to be active and participate, but I had no idea how far I would eventually go. I can remember being on that first officer team and how much fun I had and journeys I went on, I remember going to my first competition, and I definitely remember going to my first state convention. If it weren’t for this organization so much would have never happened. To everyone that has helped me along the way thank you, thank you, thank you. I know I wouldn’t have ever become a state officer if it wasn’t for the support of everyone that surrounded me. Now it’s onto the next journey. -Christian Bentrovato Area V State Vice President
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Good Time to Create a Rain Garden Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Agent University of Florida Extension Hillsborough County
It’s that time of year again where we are generally fortunate to receive rain frequently. If you are looking for a way to capture rainfall when it arrives, consider creating a rain garden in a low area in your landscape or at the bottom of a downspout where water puddles. The purpose of a rain garden is to capture stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces (roofs, driveways, sidewalks) and allow the captured runoff water to percolate through the soil. Rain gardens are beneficial. They decrease flooding and erosion while attracting wildlife and beneficial insects. They filter runoff that would otherwise carry pollutants (grass clippings, pet waste, fertilizer) to storm drains and ultimately into Tampa Bay, contributing to algae bloom and killing fish.
tyberry, dwarf palmetto, Walter’s viburnum, swamp hibiscus, river oats, tickseed and muhly grass. For more information, please see Marina D’Abreau’s Rain Garden Manual, https://gardeningsolutions.ifas. ufl.edu/pdf/articles/rain-garden-manual-hillsborough.pdf, from which this article was adapted. Have horticultural questions? Call 813-744-5519 and check out our calendar of events, https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ hillsborough/upcoming-events/. When we are fully open, stop by 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, where you can see our rain garden in the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden located in our courtyard. Remember to reduce, reuse, recycle and repeat!
To create a rain garden, first, determine the size and location. It should be at least ten feet from your foundation, in an existing low area that drains quickly after a heavy rain, in full sun, not within 25 feet of a septic system or well, away from tree roots and within 30 feet of a water source. Next and before you start digging, be sure to call 811, Sunshine State One Call of Florida Inc., for underground utility marking. Then, design the shape of your rain garden by laying out a garden hose in the manner you desire. Information about construction is contained in the publication cited below.
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Select plant materials after you have determined the site conditions (sun, mature height, spread). If you install a rain garden in sandy soil, it will only hold water for a few hours, adding to your maintenance duties: watering, weeding, using sphagnum/peat moss to decrease weed growth. Select plants that like wet feet and are drought tolerant for times when rainfall is infrequent, such as: bald cypress, river birch, beau-
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USDA SETS JULY 30 DEADLINE
By Jim Frankowiak
FOR URBAN AG GRANTS The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting grant applications for Urban Agriculture and Production (UAIP), a grant that is designed to allow community organizations to plan for and implement urban agriculture strategies. The deadline for grant applications is July 30. Urban Ag projects are ways to build community, food security and nutrition efforts. The grant also supports production efforts, including high-yield hydroponics, shipping containers and vertical growing. There are two categories under the UAIP competitive opportunity: Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. Planning projects initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools and other stakeholders in urban and suburban areas. Projects may target areas of food access, education, business and start-up costs for new farmers, urban agroforestry or food forests and development of policies related to zoning and other needs of urban production.
Implementation projects accelerate existing and emerging models of urban, indoor and other agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers. Projects will improve local food access and collaborate with partner organizations and may support infrastructure needs, emerging technologies, educational endeavors and urban farming policy implementation. This grant opportunity does not require a cash match. Planning grant awards range from $50,000 to $100,000, while Implementation grant awards can range from $50,000 to $300,000.
More information is available by visiting: www.usda.gov INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Tampa Bay Fishing Report Capt. Woody Gore
Snook, Redfish & Spotted Sea Trout: Good action this month as the water temperatures heat up. It’s not likely you’ll find Redfish, Trout, or Snook in skinny water, except perhaps early in the mornings. Instead, you’ll find them probably suspending at different levels depending on the thermoclines. If you do find them shallow, you’ll see them heading into the mangroves’ shade line. Check around passes separating the Mangrove Islands. Artificial lures and early mornings work well this time of year. MirrOLure’s - Top-Dog Series or the MirrOMullet Surface Walker. The color selection is white, silver with black, green with white, and red-head and white are good choices. PAGE
Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Mackerel fishing in Tampa Bay is semistrong (good days – bad days), and there are some big drag screamers chasing schools of threadfins. These are some exciting fish to catch on light tackle, with the larger ones average from 3 to 5 pounds. Try to find the hard bottom, and you’ll usually find vast schools of threadfins. Hang a couple of bags of chum over the side and use greenbacks or threadfins with small wire leaders and long shank hooks. I use 50# Seaguar Fluorocarbon leader, with Daiichi long shank hooks. Mangrove Snapper, You can find them on every rock pile, marker, structure, and bridge pilings around Tampa Bay. A light line and smaller hooks should produce a nice meal. They’re really partial to the new hatch greenbacks or Threadfins but always take shrimp. Cobia are being seen around markers, especially those holding bait. Occasionally, some are cruising, the grass flats following giant rays or manatees. When you fish markers, keep a chum bag over the side. If fish are in the area, this should attract them. Toss them a pinfish, greenback, or threadfin and hold on. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
813-477-3814
Capt. Woody Gore operates Tampa Bay’s #1 Outdoor Fishing Guide Services. Guiding and fishing Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater areas for over fifty years, he offers first-class customer service, family-oriented charters, and a lifetime of memories.
Visit his website at www.captainwoodygore.com or send an email to fishing@captainwoodygore. com or give him a call at 813-477-3814. Member: FOWA-Florida Outdoor Writers Assoc., MemberSEOPA Southeastern Outdoor Press Assoc. CEO/Pres. Sport-Fishing Unlimited & Outdoor Communications, Outdoor Writer & Speaker
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We are eating 900% more broccoli than we did 20 years ago. The most popular sweet pepper in the United States is the bell pepper. Pancakes have become so popular, that people don’t just eat them for breakfast anymore. Many people like to eat pancakes for dinner! Darker Green lettuce leaves are more nutritious than lighter green leaves. Americans eat about 30 pounds of lettuce every year. That’s about five times more than what we ate in the early 1900s. In the United States, lettuce is the second most popular fresh vegetable. The name asparagus comes from the Greek language and means “sprout” or “shoot.” Peaches are the third most popular fruit grown in America.
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Sponsored by:
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971
HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the July 2016 issue
I have always enjoyed putting together puzzles and solving riddles. They say it keeps your brain alert. Guess it first goes back to the time when I was a child and my dad asked me if there were five blackbirds sitting on a telephone wire, and two decided to fly off, how many would be left? My answer was three, but he said I was wrong. There would still be five because they just decided to fly, but had not flown off the wire. His favorite was one I still have not been able to solve. Three men go into a motel. The man behind the desk said the room would cost $30.00. So each man paid $10.00 and went to the room. A while later the man behind the desk realized the room was only $25.00, so he sent the bellboy to the three guys room with five $1.00 bills. On the way the bellboy couldn’t figure out how to split $5.00 evenly between three men, so he gave each man a $1.00 bill and kept the other two dollars for himself. This meant that the three men each paid nine dollars for the room, which is a total of $27.00. Add the two dollars that the bellboy kept and you have $29.00. The question is, ‘Where is the other dollar?’ Now, try this one! Think of a number from 1 to 10. Multiply that number by 9. If the number is a 2-digit number, add the digits together. Now subtract 5. Determine which letter in the alphabet corresponds to the number you ended up with. (Example: 1=a, 2=b, 3=c, etc.)
1 – Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends. 2 – What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward? 3 – Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables? 4 - In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn’t been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle? 5 - Only three words in English begin with the letters ”dw” and they are all common words. Name two of them? 6 - Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh. 7 - Name six or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with letter “S.” 8 - How many sides are there on a standard pencil? 9 - How many hot dog buns are in a standard package? 10 - On the back of a $1 bill, what is in the center? 11 - How many curves are in a standard paper clip? In closing let me tell you the story of the little old Christian lady living next door to an atheist. One morning the lady came out on her front porch and shouted, “Praise the Lord!” The atheist yelled back, “There is no God.”
Think of a country that starts with that letter. Remember the last letter of the name of that country. Think of the name of an animal that starts with that letter. Remember the last letter in the name of that animal. Now, think of the name of a fruit that starts with that letter.
She does this every morning with the same result. As time goes by the lady runs into financial difficulties and trouble buying food. She goes out on the porch and asks God for help with groceries, then say’s “Praise the Lord.”
Are you thinking of a Kangaroo in Denmark eating oranges? If you didn’t, you are among the 2% of the population whose minds are different enough to think of something else. About 98% of people will answer with kangaroos in Denmark when doing this exercise.
The next morning she goes out onto the porch and there’s the groceries she asked for, and of course she says “Praise the Lord.”
Now a quiz for people who know everything! (Don’t peek-answers at end of article)
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ANSWERS TO “BRAIN TEASERS” #1 - The third. The lions that haven’t eaten for three years are dead! #2 – The woman was a photographer. She shot a picture of her husband, developed it, and hung it up to dry. #3 – Sure you can name them: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
3 – Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday?
The lady looks at him and smiles. She shouts “Praise the Lord…not only did you provide for me Lord, you made Satan pay for them!” 3 - Asparagus and rhubarb. 4 - How did the pear get inside the brandy bottle? It grew inside the bottle. The bottles are placed over pear buds when they are small, and are wired in place on the tree. The bottle is left in place for the entire growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems. 5 - Dwarf, dwell and dwindle. 6 - Lettuce. 7 – Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes, stockings and stilts. 8 - Six. 9 - Eight. 10 - One. 11 - Three.
2 – In 1958 a woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over five minutes. Finally, she hangs him. Two minutes later they both go out together and enjoy wonderful dinner. How can this be?
The atheist jumps out from behind a bush and says, “Ha, I brought those groceries – there is no God.”
ANSWERS FOR THOSE WHO KNOW EVERYTHING 1 - Boxing. 2 - Niagara Falls (The rim is worn down about two and half feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.)
Now lets do some “Brain teasers”! (Answers at the end of this article) 1 - A man is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven’t eaten in three years. Which room is safest for him?
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2021 HSWCD SUMMER POSTER CONTEST
2021 HSWCD Summer Poster Contest
Theme:
“Why Conservation Matters” Contest Opens: Tuesday, June 1 Entry Deadline: Friday, Aug. 20
Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District CONTEST CATEGORIES / PRIZES / SUBMISSION & INQUIRIES
JUNIOR CATEGORIES:
Kindergarten - 1st Grade 2nd Grade - 3rd Grade 4th Grade - 6th Grade
PRIZES:
1st Place — $25 2nd Place — $15 3rd Place — $10
Honorable Mention — $5
SENIOR CATEGORIES:
Betty Jo Tompkins, Exec. Dir. 201 S. Collins St., Suite 202 Plant City, FL 33563
7th Grade - 9th Grade 10th Grade - 12th Grade
813-477-8332 or 813-752-1474, Ext. 3
PRIZES: 1st Place — $50 2nd Place — $30 3rd Place — $20
bjt6890@yahoo.com or tompkinsb@ hillsboroughcounty.org
Honorable Mention — $10
A Hillsborough 100 Conservation Challenge Action Awareness Project PLEASE FOLLOW THE CONTEST RULES BELOW TO ENSURE ELIGIBILITY: RULE 1: All posters must be created by an individual student, rather than a team of students. Entry must be the contestant’s original work. Judging Criteria is as follows: Uses and Reflects Conservation Theme (50 percent), Visual Effectiveness (30 percent), Originality (10 percent), and Universal Appeal (10 percent).
The 2021 Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District Summer Poster Contest is underway, with the theme “Why Conservation Matters.” All students in Hillsborough County public, private, parochial, charter, home and virtual school programs are eligible and poster entries are divided into grade groups: K – 1st grades, 2nd – 3rd grades, 4th – 6th grades. 7th – 9th grades and 10th – 12th grades. Cash prizes will be awarded for 1st,2nd,3rd and honorable mention within each grade group.
RULE 2: “Why Conservation Matters” (the Summer 2021 Contest Theme) must appear on the front of each poster submission. RULE 3: The 2021 Poster Contest Registration Form must be attached to the back of each poster contest entry. Entry deadline: Friday, Aug. 20, 2021
RULE 4: Any media may be used, including paint, crayon, colored pencil, charcoal, stickers, paper, or other materials. Poster size must be 14-inches by 22-inches, which is half the size of a standard poster board. Entries
will be displayed at the 2021 Hillsborough County Fair Fall Festival, Oct. 29-31. Each entry receives one free, festival ticket.
Visit: HillsboroughSWCD.com
“Conservation Is Everybody’s Business” Thank you to our printing sponsor: Odiorne Insurance
All posters will be exhibited at the Hillsborough County Fair’s new Fall Festival, October 29 – 31, and every student will receive a free admission to the Festival. Posters must be 14x22 inches (one half the size of a regular poster board) and may use any media, including paint, crayon, colored pencil, charcoal, stickers, paper or other materials. The purpose of the contest is to encourage students to learn more about the role and scope of conservation in their daily lives and how that aligns with the district’s theme that “Conservation is Everybody’s Business.”
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For additional information: Hillsboroughswcd.com, bjt6890@yahoo.com or call Betty Jo Tompkins, HSWCD Executive Director,813.477.8332.
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WATCH THE WEATHER, WAIT TO WATER
By Jim Frankowiak
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rainy season and “watch the weather, wait to water.” During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than ½ to ¾ inch of water every two to three days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, turn off the irrigation system and turn it back on when needed. The simplest way to determine if your yard needs water is to look for these visual clues: • Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise on at least one-third of your yard. • Grass blades appear blue-gray. • Grass blades do not spring back, leaving footprints on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it. Follow these tips when you “watch the weather, wait to water”: • If your yard is showing signs that it needs water, check your local forecast to see if rain is on the way. • Use a rain gauge to determine how much rain your yard has received. • If you have a rain sensor, make sure that it is working properly. • Take full advantage of the rain. Make sure gutter downspouts are directed into landscaped areas or lawn. • Install a rain barrel to capture excess rainwater.
For more information, please visit: WaterMatters.org/WatchTheWeather. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Small Family Farm
Starting anything off small can lead to bigger and better things. Michael and Penni Ferguson would definitely agree with this statement. They are the owners of Ferguson Farms in Plant City. “We began our farming experience with a small backyard garden,” Penni said. “We started gardening to provide ourselves healthier eating options. We were not happy with the research we had been doing about where our food comes from, the lack of nutritional value and the link that poor eating has to the pharmaceutical and medical industries.” Their small backyard garden was the beginning of their desire to eat healthier foods. “Years ago, we made a commitment to stay healthy and not participate in the mad cycle of illness and medications for high blood pressure, heart disease, inflammation and obesity,” Penni said. “After watching a couple of documentaries about the farming industry and how food is produced and distributed, we wanted to take steps to be healthier. We didn’t like the idea of fillers and fake ingredients being added to the food we buy in the supermarkets. We started out with a garden in the backyard and quickly decided we wanted to make a bigger commitment than veggies alone.”
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The couple found some local businesses that specialized in chicken and beef and they loved the idea of supporting local farmers. “After selling our home in a subdivision, we purchased land in the country and we were able to expand to chickens and cows of our own,” Penni said. “We fell in love
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By Libby Hopkins
with raising our own food and decided to make it a business. Now, several months later, it is a full-time passion.” Ferguson Farms’ mission is to glorify God by helping busy, informed consumers gain access to safe and ethical foods they can eat with confidence. Their goal is to provide the peace of mind that comes from having a direct relationship with a farmer you can know and trust. They farm with the benefit of the land in mind, increasing fertility with each animal rotation, which allows them to raise animals without medications. “They get organic feed, grass, weeds, hay, bugs and that’s it,” Penni said. “We feed our animals GMO-free and soy-free products.” If you ask the Ferguson’s what makes their farm different from other farms in the area, they will tell you convenience, simplicity and confidence. “We offer convenience in ordering and taking delivery of your meat should be easy and convenient,” Penni said. “We have a curbside pickup in all the counties we serve and easy home delivery. Simplicity, because Ferguson Farms website pairs you with the closest pick-up location or sets up home delivery for you. You’re in control of your order from start to finish, receiving notification of the status of the order through the fulfillment process. Confidence, because it’s our goal that our customers eat with confidence knowing that your food was ethically raised and harvested.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
If you ask the Ferguson’s what they like most about what they do, they will tell you helping their customers stay healthy. “Helping customers take control of their lives by eating healthy nutritious beef and poultry,” Penni said. “We also like seeing how happy customers are when they receive their food.” Keeping things local is very important to the couple as well. “Keeping things local is so important to us,” Pennis said. “Your meat should not have frequent flyer miles. Our goal is to provide the peace of mind that comes from having a direct relationship with a farmer you know and trust.” Ferguson Farms will soon be growing as big as the state of Florida because they soon will be offering their products across the state. “We will soon be expanding our service to the state of Florida,” Penni said. “We will be shipping our grass-fed meat via FedEx ground.” If you’d like to learn more about Ferguson Farms or if you’d like to try some of their products, you can visit their website at www.fergusonfarms.farm or call The Ferguson’s at 813-658-8401. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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HABITUAL OFFENDER ARRESTAED AGAIN FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING Sheriff Chad Chronister
A suspect with an extensive criminal history within Hillsborough County is back behind bars and facing multiple felony charges after he dumped waste onto county property. In May, Christopher Manning, 49, asked a friend to assist him with renting a truck from a local home improvement store. He Christopher Manning told his friend he wanted to use the truck to start a business removing and disposing of trees in local neighborhoods. Manning was unable to secure a rental on his own because his license had been revoked due to the several traffic violations on his driving record.
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Days after Manning secured a rental truck, witnesses told deputies they saw him dumping debris on Garland Court in Tampa. HCSO’s Environmental Enforcement Unit (EEU) conducted an investigation and found that he had willingly and intentionally placed 48 cubic feet of tree debris at the aforementioned location. They also learned Manning never returned the rental truck. The individual who rented it for him
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had accrued $3,000.00 in charges to the home improvement store. Motor Unit deputies later located Manning and arrested him on charges of littering and theft, stemming from an active warrant. “This defendant deceived the person who rented him the truck, but because of the quick detective work by our deputies and the Environmental Enforcement Unit, they further prevented him from doing so to others as well,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “On top of that, littering is a felony offense, and he will pay for his criminal acts by serving jail time once again.” Anyone with information about an agricultural/environmental crime or a loose animal is asked to call (813) 247-8200. You can also stay updated with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office by following @HCSOSheriff on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
DISTRICT SCHEDULES PRESCRIBED BURNS FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns through September on the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (LHFDA) in Hillsborough County. The Area is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Morris Bridge Road near Thonotosassa. Approximately 100 acres will be burned in small, manageable units to reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control.
FLORIDA AG EXPO THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18 The 2021 Florida Ag Expo will take place Thursday, November 18, at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Wimauma. More information, including registration, will soon be available on this one-day event for Florida’s Ag community.
LIVESTROCK EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION COURSE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STATE AGENCY STAFFERS SET FOR DECEMBER 6-10
Law enforcement and state agency personnel have an opportunity to receive training needed to make sound decisions in the field and during litigation proceedings during a weeklong session at the University of Florida December 6 – 10. Training is provided by industry experts with an emphasis on species specific production practices. Classroom instruction and hands-on experiences will be featured. Registration information is available at: https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/courses/lecale). The fee is $350.
FARM BUREAU MEMBERS ELIGIBLE FOR FORD BONUS CASH
GCREC Returns to Full-time Operational Hours The UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Wimauma is back to pre-pandemic hours of operation for faculty and staff.
FARM BUREAU SEEKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS Florida Farm Bureau Federation is seeking nominations for its advisory committees that play a vital role in policy development and implementation process. Fifteen different committees are seeking nominees from Apicultre and Equine through water and natural resources. Nominations may be submitted online. The deadline is August 27. Visit: www.floridafarmburea.org for more information.
Farm Bureau members are eligible for $500 Bonus Cash on the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2020/2021/2022 Ford Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. Must be a Farm Bureau member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase or lease and take new retail delivery from an authorized Ford dealer stock by January 3, 2022. Visit: FordFarmBureauAdvantage. com or your Ford dealer for more details.
HELP FOSTER AG LABOR REFORM
UF Offers New Weed Video ID Series
Florida Farm Bureau is encouraging its members to help support Ag labor reform by contacting U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, seeking their help in having Congress address this need. Visit this link to send a personalized message: https://www.floridafarmbureau.org/legislative-actioncenter/
COVID-19 Resources on Florida Farm Bureau Website Florida Farm Bureau has developed a COVID-19 resources website page that includes a variety of agricultural and state and federal links related to the pandemic. The site is continually updated and can be accessed at: floridafarmbureau.org/ covid-19-resources/.
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (UF/IFAS) has introduced a new video series to help hobby gardeners and professional horticulturalists identify weeds in their gardens and greenhouses. Proper identification helps lower herbicide use and more successful weed management. Once identified, growers can utilize askIFAS to find management strategies for whatever weeds plague their gardens or greenhouses.
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The free, on-demand video series consists of 25 videos and is accessible by visiting the Landscape Weed I.D. for Florida Yards You Tube page.
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Business Up Front The enduring legacy of Russell’s Western Wear
Russell’s Western Wear continues to weave its family spirit into an unparalleled shopping experience.
By Breanne Williams
the family-owned, small business mindset of Russell’s as it echoed so closely what Southside had provided for all those years.
Scott Meister II. There’s a sense of nostalgia that greets each customer that walks in the door of Russell’s Western Wear. For a moment time seems to almost stand still as rows and rows of handcrafted, carefully tailored boots welcome the new shopper to the store. There’s a history evident in every detail of the place, but there’s also a nod to the future and a specifically tailored inventory that reflects each community that surrounds the store. Russell’s is a household name for many in Florida now after sixty years of making its mark in the community. It began in the 1960s in Tampa in a small store on Dale Mabry Highway. Catering toward its dedicated clientele, it slowly carved its spot into the hearts of those searching for western wear that would hold up in Florida’s unique ecosystem. The original owner ended up passing on the business to Henry Meister, a friend of his who managed the building. When Henry died in 2006 his grandson Scott Meister II took over. “My first day at Russell’s was in 1992 when I was a teenager,” Scott Meister II said. “That was the same day my grandfather took over the business. I was there for a while until I went away to school. Then I went to work in D.C. and when I came back I just fell in love with this business all over again. There’s nothing else like it. Not only are the products top quality, but the entire environment is so welcoming. We treat people, both our staff and our customers, like they’re a part of our family and you can feel that when you walk in the door.” Once he took over the store he recognized the need for a business like this throughout Florida. So he made it his mission to bring Russell’s to communities that were searching for a family-owned business that offered products specifically designed to be worn in Florida. Now there are eight stores open throughout the state, with Plant City being the most recent. A ninth location is on the way.
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When the Lopez family decided they were ready to sell Southside, they reached out to Meister and asked if he would be interested in taking the reins. He had a Russell’s on 60 and having grown up in Tampa and visiting his mother’s side of the family in Plant City often, he knew this market would fit well with the store. He called moving to the building at 3014 James L. Redman Pkwy a “no-brainer” and said that while many were sad to see Southside go, they quickly have learned to love
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“It’s hard to keep that feeling alive in companies that are expanding so rapidly,” Meister said. “We made a commitment that we will never outgrow our culture. The other big thing is that we know Florida. With these big box stores they’ll bring you an assortment of boots and accessories that people like to wear in Texas and Oklahoma. And that’s fine, but the numbers are skewed because that’s not necessarily the same products customers want in Florida. We are often buying and building items that fits the lifestyle of a Floridian. We will go out of our way to design and make sure that those are the products we have on our shelves.” Some of the obvious differences are the focus on having waterproof boots both for the workforce and even in some of the designer boots. Because of the heat, Russell’s focuses on making sure many of the boots have the vent tech products that essentially have a mesh in the shaft of the boot to let air flow through. Meister said you also see a lot of 13 inch or 14 inch tall boots out west whereas in Florida we mostly sell 11 inch or 12 inch tall boots. Another thing that has often set Russell’s apart has been its dedication toward styling. “We look at dress boots here that will have unique features people in Texas will feel a little different about,” Meister said. “In Texas there’s a big emphasis on flair. We have found a lot of our customers prefer something more subtle. We have the flair, but we also have a lot of the other styles. When we go and build our products we have data that is specific to Florida and we use that. We get items specially built for our customers and that just adds to the experience when you come and shop here.” The boot selection is remarkable at all eight locations and Meister said often people will feel overwhelmed by the amount of products available. Each store has thousands of pairs of boots from over a dozen brands. Luckily, Russell’s has always emphasized heavy education and training for staff so they can seamlessly walk customers through the process. There’s always evolving technology in the boot business so even those who are lifelong experts will more than likely learn something new. “It really is an experience to come buy boots and when you start to learn about the intricacies about how they’re made you realize it is an art,” Meister said. “Some of it is handmade and you can get a feel for what they were thinking when crafting that specific boot. Sometimes you put one on and you’re out the door. But on average our customers spend 30 minutes trying them on and walking around. Especially with our all-leather products. This isn’t like you’re pulling on a sneaker and flexing for a moment and then throwing it back in the box. These are leather products, you let it stretch. The first impression is not the right impression. I joke a lot with guys that don’t like shopping, then they come in here and they love shopping. It’s pretty fun to watch, but it’s even better to experience.”
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On top of boots Russell’s sells a variety of other products as well. Ranging from clothes to hats and belts and other accessories the goal is for the store to act as a one-stop-shop for those wanting to gear up. Meister said he tells all of their employees to focus on the three ‘P’s. - People: The people that work for the company as well as the customers - Product: There are so many unique options for customers to peruse - Purpose: Russell’s purpose is simply to develop people and to give back beyond what they do in the store. Generosity is a massive part of the company’s culture, as is evident by the many charities it supports including its partnership with the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Shopping at Russell’s is an experience that keeps customers coming back time and again. Meister added that sometimes they see products they want to have in the store and buy it, but a lot of times if they find something is missing they’ll have it built. Sometimes that includes subtle changes to a design that’s already made and sometimes that’s starting from the ground up. “There are 100 to 110 steps to make the average pair of leather cowboy boots. More than 90 percent of those are hand guided. There’s not much automation to the process. That’s the difference between a higher quality handcrafted boot and your other products. With smaller production runs, we can get what our customers want.” For more information or to find a Russell’s near you visit russells.com or follow the company on Instagram and Facebook.
APPOINTED TO FARM BUREAU BYLAWS REVIEW COMMITTEE Former Florida House of Representative member and Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Director Jake Raburn has been named one of 16 appointees to the Florida Farm Bureau Bylaws Review Committee by Florida Farm Bureau Federation President John L. Hoblick. The review committee is established every five years as a best practice to ensure the bylaws: • Accurately reflect the structures and processes used by the Federation • Anticipate and adequately address conflicts that may lie in the future; and fully comply with Florida law The committee is seeking input from all County Farm Bureaus. Recommendations can be sent via email to: Staci.Sims@ffbf.org or Kevin.Morgan@ffbf.org. They may also be faxed: 352/3741501 or sent by mail to P.O. Box 147030, Gainesville, FL 32614; Attention: Staci Sims.
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JAKE RABURN
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FLorida ATAULFO MANGO
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Summertime in Florida means fresh, sweet, delicious mangos. There are many different types of mangos. Some of the most well-known ones include Haden, Kent, Tommy Atkins, and Ataulfo. According to the Tropical Plant Society, mangos are the most popular fruit in the world and over 20 million tons of this fruit is grown each year. One of the newest varieties is the Ataulfo mango, also called honey, champagne, or yellow mango. This type of mango is flatter and smaller than other mango varieties. The exterior is green-yellow in color when unripe, and deep golden yellow when fully ripe. The flesh is sweet, a little spicy, and contains notes of citrus. The flesh is golden yellow and very smooth and soft with a buttery consistency and no stringy fibers. The interior pit is very thin.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE Fresh Florida Ataulfo mango is not only juicy and delicious, but also quite nutritious. Compared with other types of mangos, the Ataulfo type contains almost five times more vitamin C. This fruit is also high in vitamins A and B6, as well as folate. According to the USDA, a one cup (140g) serving of fresh mango contains 110 calories, 27 g of carbohydrate, 3 g of fiber, 0.1 g fat and 0.2 g protein. It also contains 320% of your daily requirement for vitamin C, 50% for vitamin A, 70% for folate, and 10% for vitamin B6.
Vitamin C A single serving of Ataulfo mango contains over three times your daily needs for vitamin C! This vitamin is needed for growth and repair of all tissues in your body, including skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. It helps your body maintain healthy cartilage, bones, and teeth, as well as promotes wound healing. Vitamin C also helps you absorb iron better. There is some research to support that vitamin C may also reduce the duration and severity of the common cold.
Antioxidants Fresh Florida mangos are full of antioxidants in many forms, including flavonoids and carotenoids. These compounds help provide anti-inflammatory effects, which is beneficial in warding off many major diseases. Other antioxidant nutrients high in mangos include vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin A. These antioxidants are particularly beneficial in protecting blood vessels from oxidative stress, which results in atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. Vitamin A and the carotenoids are especially important for good eye health, offering protection to the retina and macula.
How to Select and Store Select fresh Ataulfo mangos that are yellow in color if you desire a ripe fruit. Those that are green are unripe but can ripen on the counter at room temperature over a few days. Choose mangos that are heavy for their size and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Once mangos are ripe, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to several days. Wash immediately before use.
How to Enjoy
Mangos can be peeled from top to bottom or sliced with a knife and scooped out with a spoon. Discard the outer peel and the inner pit. Fresh Ataulfo mangos are delicious eaten out-of-hand. They can also be sliced and added to fruit salads or blended into smoothies or cooked into chutneys. Other ways to enjoy this nutritious fruit include: • Slice thin and toss into salad • Dice and make mango salsa to accompany fish or meat • Chop into pieces and add to cake or muffin batter • Puree and make into sorbet or ice cream Fresh Florida Ataulfo mango is a spectacular summertime treat. Enjoy more of this nutritious and delicious tropical fruit today.
SELECTED REFERENCES http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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EXCELLENCE IN CROP ADVISING AWARD
FARM BUREAU AG INNOVATION CHALLENGE APPLICATION DEADLINE AUGUST 20
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT
By Jim Frankowiak
The Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge is accepting applications from U.S. startups developing innovative solutions that address challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. American Farm Bureau Federation in partnership with Farm Credit, is looking to identify top entrepreneurs who are addressing traditional challenges farmers face on their operations, such as access to labor, optimizing yield and reducing operating costs, to entrepreneurs who are addressing new challenges facing farmers and rural communities. Farm Bureau will award $165,000 in startup funds to 10 businesses, culminating at a live pitch competition and networking event at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Atlanta in January of 2022. The winner will be awarded $50,000 in startup funds provided by Farm Credit, Bayer Crop Science, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services and FMC Corporation. More information regarding the application and
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timeline is available at: https://www.fb.org/related/Ag+Innovation+Challenge The Application deadline is August 20, 2021.
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Florida Farm Bureau, in partnership with the Florida Certified Crop Advisors Board of Directors, is seeking nominations for the 2021 Excellence in Crop Advising Award. The award recognizes an individual Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) who has performed outstanding service for farmer clients in nutrient, soil and water and integrated pest management, as well as crop production. Nominated CCAs must meet the standards set by the American Society of Agronomy and maintain their Crop Advising Certification through continuing education. He or she must also sign a Code of Ethics pledging to work in the best interests of their clients. The award winner will receive a $500 cash prize and plaque that will be presented at Florida Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting. Nominations are due September 3. Questions may be directed to Scot Eubanks by phone: 352/374-2633 or via email: Scot.Eubanks@ffbf.org.
The nomination form can be accessed at https://floridafarnbureau.formstack.com/forms/2020_excellence_in_crop_advising_award_nomination_form_copy. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
THE
AMERICAN
TRACTOR
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Former Strawberry Crest fishing team takes third place at Bassmaster High School Classic
By Taylor Jenkins Two former members of the Strawberry Crest fishing team traveled to Fort Worth, Texas last month for the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Classic. Chase Hubble and Brent May took third at the competition, competing as one of the top 10 teams in the country, with a five-catch limit weighing in at a total of 10 pounds, seven ounces. “The lake we fished for the Bassmaster Classic is set up like Florida,” Hubble said. “There was a lot of reeds and grass that we’re used to fishing, so it felt like home.” While at Strawberry Crest, Hubble qualified for two Bassmaster High School National Championship tournaments with his teammate Chase Givens before teaming up with May — who had never fished competitively before joining the high school team — as a senior and qualifying for a third in 2020. “My senior year is when I got more into the competitive side and that’s when Chase and I teamed up,” May said. “Since then, I’ve been participating on the competitive side of it.” But prior to the 2020 National Championship, Hubble and May took to Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina as a part of Bassmaster’s High School Series. At Lake Hartwell, the top two teams from a field of 96 in total qualified for the High School Classic in Fort Worth. Hubble and May finished the day with three bass caught for a total weight of nine pounds, 11 ounces, narrowly edging out third place by just four ounces. So, despite Hubble finding competitive success of his own with Givens, the partnership with May was a long time in the making and has certainly paid off for both thus far. “Chase and I have known each other since we were like eight years old and we’ve just been friends all along,” May said. “We would fun fish, I knew that he would do the competitive fishing, and we said that during our senior year of high school we would do a competitive tournament together. And that tournament happened to be the one in South Carolina which led us to fishing nationals and the classic.” But before the teammates could head to Texas, the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the event and it was rescheduled for June 12, 2021.
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In the year since originally qualifying for the tournament, Hubble and May both enrolled at Florida Gateway College
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where they continue to compete as teammates at the collegiate level. “There’s a lot of hours on the road,” May said about fishing collegiately. “A lot of tournaments in Alabama, Tennessee, back to South Carolina,” Hubble added. “It’s a lot different than high school. In high school it’s pretty much just in the state of Florida unless you make the national championship or [participate in] those open tournaments that we went and fished like at Lake Hartwell. In college, there’s no tournaments in Florida, or hardly any.” Adding on to the grind of a collegiate fishing schedule, Hubble and May compete in two separate affiliations of tournaments. One being through Major League Fishing (MLF) and one through Bassmaster, similar to the series they participated in at the high school level. As freshmen with Florida Gateway, Hubble and May finished fifth in the 45-team Southeastern Conference of MLF’s Abu Garcia College Fishing. The Southeastern Conference features a number of major universities such as Auburn, Georgia, Florida State, Clemson and Tennessee, among others. And while they didn’t find as much success within Bassmaster’s College Series, the duo turned in their best finish late in the year at a Bassmaster College Series Wild Card event at Lay Lake in Columbiana, Alabama. At the event held on June 23 and 24, just days after their third place finish in the delayed High School Classic, Hubble and May finished 14th out of 103 teams with a 10-fish limit weighing in at 24 pounds, eight ounces over the two-day tournament. “I think that we’ll do a lot better next year,” Hubble said about what they’ve learned after one year of fishing at Florida Gateway. “We learned the lakes a lot better and we’re fishing against schools that have had many years of experience on these lakes. The more time we have on them, I think the better we’ll compete.” Hubble is currently in the business program at Florida Gateway and is looking to eventually transfer to the University of Florida where he plans to study Agribusiness. May is currently studying physical therapy. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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HARRIS CITRUS NURSERY: AN ADMIRABLE, VERY INTERESTING AND CONTINUING FAMILY LEGACY By Jim Frankowiak Harris Citrus Nursery – you may have seen the sign just south of the intersection of Lithia Pinecrest Road and State Road 39 – passing Pinecrest Elementary School. It’s like the introduction to a diverse story of a family that had its beginnings here in Florida a century ago and included several decades in Alaska before returning to the Sunshine State. The leaders of the family-owned business are husband and wife Paul and Rebecca (Becky) Harris. There are two associated companies: Harris Citrus Nursery and Harris Partnership Citrus Nursery, a requirement and technicality required by the Florida Department of Plant Industry. The divisions of the family-owned company had to keep separate records and could not have the same name. Paul’s exposure to farming began in the early 1920’s. His father Jack, a Tennessee native, had a vegetable farm that also produced strawberry starters. His mother, Ethel, was born in Keysville. The farm was located on Jameson Road in Lithia. He helped his Grandfather Hunter, who had a citrus grove, by hoeing around the trees for weed control. Paul’s father built a school to provide an education opportunity for the families of his farm hands. They also had to build a bridge named “Lily Bridge” to provide shorter access to the main road for shipping produce to market. The farm was self-sufficient with cows for milk, which provided yogurt, butter, buttermilk, chickens for eggs and food pigs.
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Paul had asthma and went as far as his first year in high school before going to the shipyard in Tampa to become a welder during World War II. At 17 years of age, he became a mariner and two years later a seaman, delivering fuel globally in the aftermath of the war. He then joined the U.S. Marine Corps,
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serving for two years before being discharged and then drafted into the U.S. Army until November of 1959. Following his military service, Paul became a contractor in the early 1960’s, building homes throughout Hillsborough County. There was a downturn and a number of his homebuilding crew members found work in Alaska and encouraged Paul to join them there. “Good pay with many opportunities, plus the chance to hunt and fish,” he noted. He relocated to Anchorage, Alaska and then on to Kotzebue to complete the construction of public schools and other public structures, all of which continue in operation. He became an employee of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, retiring after 30 years of service. While living in Alaska, Paul met Becky (Towksjhea), an Eskimo from Point Hope, Alaska in 1963 as they shared a cab in Kotzebue. She was a college student on summer break attending Arkansas City Junior College in Kansas and Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Paul and Becky married January 1, 1965. They have three children: Ruth, Robert and Rachel. Ruth has been associated with the family business since 2001 and now serves as General Manager. While in Kotzebue, Paul developed several businesses, a fishbuying company called EON, Inc. with partners Ron Hogan and Ed Robb, a Valu-House department store, hardware store and Dairy Queen, which at the time it was opened, set a record for grand opening attendance. It’s important to note that small towns in Alaska are typically accessible only by air or water. There are no interconnecting highways and meeting the needs of community members through businesses such as those noted here are vital. That dependence on community support also led Paul to become a search and rescue piWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
then processed fresh fruit, juice – whatever the industry need. Our process is ongoing,” she said. “We cater to anyone who walks in the office, whether it’s one tree or by the 100’s or 1,000’s. We have contracts with grove owners to cover all of their needs as long as they are in business. So, we offer our services to individuals, ‘mom and pop’ nurseries, wholesale, retail – anywhere our product is needed, we provide it. This has enabled us to make a lot of lifelong friendships over the years,” said Becky. “Harris Citrus Nursery ships to all states with the exception of California, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Hawaii and other locations with restrictions in place. We also ship to International locations.”
lot, flying his own airplane to aid members of the community in need. After receiving her undergraduate degree Becky became a director of a Parent Child Center under Ruralcap. She then moved on to teach at the Kotzebue Elementary School under early childhood education, then first grade and as a substitute teacher in all classes as the need arose. Once the department store was started, it was determined a local manager was needed so Becky took over and began a new profession, learning all aspects of purchasing for a business that served all male and female age group clothing needs, as well as shoes, boots and winter gear. The “general store” also offered major appliances, TV’s, lumber, flooring and a range of hardware needs. ”Name it, we had it available,” said Becky. When their son Robert graduated from Kotzebue High School in 1983, he was accepted at the University of South Florida and the family opted to move from Alaska to southeastern Hillsborough County. “At that time we had a 16-acre citrus grove at Porter Road,” said Becky. “There was a need for resets since none were available due to the freeze and citrus canker.” Resetting is the replacement of dead and diseased trees in Florida citrus groves, and it has always been an important part of the total citrus production program. Today, tree replacement is more important than ever since overhead and production costs are escalating and a full stand of productive trees is essential to maximize production and profits. Diseases have been particularly troublesome to Florida citrus growers for many years. In recent times, Huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening has accelerated tree loss rates as well as the ability for growers to bring young citrus trees into production. Extensive tree losses coupled with the economic necessity of regular resetting has caused many growers to investigate ways to achieve new efficiencies in reset management. Once the Harris family identified this need “Paul determined we could grow our own so we studied the ins and outs of the citrus industry,” said Becky. “We became certified and acquired our citrus business license in 1985.” “We have gone out to feed the multitudes in our own way. To feed humanity, we grew the starter then the new seedling, found homes at any grove owner plot. We grew, developed
“Proper labeling is needed for the outside of boxes and all of that is done by a special, print program,” noted Becky. “There is no room for errors. Individual labels are printed and attached as soon as a tree is unwrapped. Each is specified, noting variety, clone, rootstock, parent tree, greenhouse origin, table and nursery location. Accuracy is a top priority and plays a major part in all labeling along ongoing critiquing at each stage in the overall process.” Daughter Ruth has worked in the family business for more than 20 years and is now General Manager, overseeing nearly all aspects of the nursery business from training employees to shipping and just about everything in between. Ruth’s husband, Steve, is also an important part of this family process. He oversees shipping needs of the nursery and orders needed containers along with plastic bags needed to ship each tree. “Steve and Ruth’s son Chris maintain all of our nursery equipment,” said Becky. “They keep our operation ‘ship shape.’” Chris also handles the upkeep of the grounds for all three properties that comprise the nursey, including major and minor building repairs such as ongoing repair of any plastic roof holes or total roof replacement, a team effort involving Chris and his father. “Our citrus commitment is still very strong,” said Becky. “Passing the torch on to the open-minded, vibrant entrepreneurs is important to us. In addition to our family members, we work with citrus teams at high schools under the FFA, providing expertise, trees and more. Our business is also committed to feeding the multitudes. We do our share to grow the product and the farmer continues and completes and shares the product as fresh fruit, juice – whatever the industry provides. We have done this for 38 years and will continue through younger generations. Our daughter Ruth has added vegetables, spices and herbs to the process.” More information about Harris Citrus Nursery, 10721 County Road 39, Lithia, FL 33547, is available visiting: harriscitrus.com. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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The nursery has 11 greenhouses along with 17 buildings, including a 3 ½-acreshard cloth unit originally for Budwood and then converted to a dooryard service site and a 16-foot double door location for loading trees destined for delivery to out-of-state customers. There is a seed processing building as well that was designed by Paul and the developer that enables seed processing with rotating blades that cut and then separate the rind. This is a fast operation that keeps all varieties separated on sorting, drying, mesh tables then treated and containerized before stored in a cooler until planted for rootstocks. All operational facets are done by employees and they include seed planting, plant liners, budded liners and preparing products for shipping.
FLOWERS AND COUNTRY MUSIC By Libby Hopkins
Flowers and music are both beautiful and powerful things that play an important role in our lives. Music lifts us up when we are sad. It makes us happy during times of celebration and it gets us through our day. People around the world use flowers to mark rites of passage, festivals and significant life events. Lilies and tulips represent renewal during spring and Easter; marigolds are believed to guide the dead to their ancestral homes on Dia de Los Muertos and a bunch of roses on Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day conveys love. Year-round, no wedding or funeral is complete without flowers. Danielle and Russell Guzzetta both have a love of farming and Country Music. “We both really enjoy gardening and nature in general and wanted to bring a little more beauty to the area as flower farmers,” Danielle said. “Russell has a college degree in Biology and a love for cooking and I have grandparents that were nurserymen and farmers. We say that it’s in our blood.”
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The couple made constant jokes and references to how many songs fit and describe their lives. “Russell jokes that Thomas Rhett’s What’s Your Country Song came from us,” Danielle said. “It absolutely did not, but we feel the same way he describes in his song for sure.” The couple mixed farming and County Music to create Country Song Farm in Lithia.
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Country Song Farm is a small family cut flower farm that has provided quality local grown flowers since it opened in 2018. The Guzzetta’s grow, cut and arrange farm-fresh bouquets and sell them to the local community, who happen to also be their friends. They also grow flowers in bulk for restaurants, boutiques, weddings, or anyone who has a love for making their own arrangements. “One of the reasons we started Country Song Farm in early 2018 is, we were disappointed in the lack of flower farms in our near vicinity,” Danielle said. “There are so few in Florida compared to other states and we figured that could work to our advantage. We grow high quality flowers and sell bouquets directly to the consumer so people in our area can get florist quality blooms and arrangements at a price competitive to most grocers.” Russell is a Marine Corps Veteran who severed in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He loves the connection with the earth, getting to spend time outside, watching the result of his work. Country Song Farm is a member of Farmer Veteran Coalition and Homegrown by Heroes (www.farmvetco.org). These organizations cultivate a new generation of farmers and food leaders. They develop viable employment and meaningful careers through the collaboration of the farming and military communities. They believe that veterans posWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
sess the unique skills and character needed to strengthen rural communities and create sustainable food systems. They believe that agriculture offers purpose, opportunity, and physical and psychological benefits. “We love giving people tours, even though that isn’t part of our business model, and have helped other veterans reaching out who want to start flower farms here in Florida,” Danielle said. “We think that sharing information and a love for agriculture can go a long way and is important to help keep future generations interested and successful in farming enterprises.” Danielle is kindergarten teacher at a nearby elementary school in Lithia. “I love watching things grow and change, too, but for me the best part is the artistic part,” Danielle said. “I love putting colors and textures together to make something beautiful. I’ve always felt like I had an artistic side but was never really good at much artistically. Flower arranging is it for me.” The couple are huge advocates of supporting local. “We have and support many friends with small businesses and we sell to an amazing local pub restaurant regularly,” Danielle said. “We prefer to buy anything we can made in the U.S.A. and preferably from a local craftsman. We believe in the environmental benefit of shopping local and in the economic benefit of supporting local small business too.” Country Song Farm is constantly changing colors because of all the flowers they grow, which makes the farm a great backdrop for photography. “Photographers are also welcome to enjoy the beauty with their clients,” Daniele said. “Come out to the farm and see us, the colors are always changing, and the view never looks the same. Our goal is to provide both a superior customer experience and tremendous value for our customers.”
If you’d like to learn more about Country Song Farm, you can visit their website at www.countrysongfarm.com. The farm is located at 18640 Dorman Road Lithia. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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What’s Wrong With Florida?! by John Dicks
What’s wrong with Florida?! Well, not much, really, is wrong with Florida. At least not so much as far as I am concerned. Can you think of any other place you’d rather live? Sure, there’s lot’s of amazing spots in this world that are wonderful to visit, but are they so great that you’d rather switch places? Granted you might be longing for the cooler temps of the mountains right about now, especially during our annual blistering summer heat. The view of those majestic peaks is stunning, too. The question, though, is whether you’d be willing to make an even exchange. Particularly so when you remind yourself that the pleasant mountain summer weather will soon give way to cold, wintry and dreary days, noted for days short on sunshine and nights too long to enjoy. One of the many fine things about travel is that it is gives you a great perspective on how things are “back home.” It lets us look at life and where we live without the jaded lens of daily living. We begin to appreciate things rather than taking them for granted. Consider, for example, warm water beaches. We’re surrounded by them. Our pretty little peninsula of Florida just dangles in the seas of our gulf and ocean. Head in any direction from where you start and within just a couple of hours you’ll be dipping your toes in water precisely the temperature for pleasure. Try that anywhere else! The water’s not warm in the ocean off of Georgia, or the Carolinas. Even beautiful California, where my son flies fighter jets in and out of San Diego, the Pacific ocean water feels to me to be about 45º! OK, I’m exaggerating; but only a bit! The point is, all things considered, Florida is great, and there’s just not much wrong with it! Thank goodness, of course, but it’s the very reason why each year I am astounded at the thousands of proposed
pieces of legislation offered up as new laws needed to solve problems here in our Sunshine State! Yes, literally thousands of bills are filed each year for consideration by the 160 member collective body of Legislators in Florida’s Senate and House of Representatives. Some sneak through and get passed, most of which become effective July 1st, as we begin the last half of the year. Here’s a few worth noting. Right to Farm - A measure was passed to expand Florida’s “Right to Farm” law by including additional legal protections to farmers. Its goal is to reduce “nuisance” lawsuits by creating new, stronger liability protections for farm operations that comply with best practices. “Nuisance” is defined in the law as “any interference with the reasonable use and enjoyment of land, including, but not limited to, noise, smoke, odors, dust, fumes, particle emissions, or vibration.” Vaccination Passports: One perceived priority of the Governor was to convince lawmakers to approve legislation which would prevent businesses, schools and government agencies from requiring people to show documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccinations before gaining entrance. It’s a concept referred to as requiring “Vaccination Passports.” Likely it will be fought in the courts since many businesses, including the cruise lines, had taken steps to implement the practice in an effort to provide a level of safety to consumers. Tax Collections for Online Sales: This proposal, which had been discussed for many years, found a majority of lawmakers ready to require out-of-state online retailers collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians. It’s estimated that more than $1 billion will be paid by Florida purchasers on online transactions. The additional revenue is earmarked to be used in replenishing an unemployment trust fund, with future collections being applied to reduce a commercial rent tax. As you would imagine, it’s still a controversial topic amongst consumers. Regardless, legislators still sought to appease taxpayers by once again offering a “Back-to-School Tax Holiday.” The popular tax savings event was scheduled to run this year from July 31 until August 9.
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John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!”. John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.
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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
WEE BIRDS BIG VOCAL CORDS: CHIMNEY SWIFTS By Ginny Mink
June was a whirlwind on this end of the page! Your endangered species writer got to see so many amazing things as she traveled through the Midwest all the way to the Badlands of South Dakota. So, when she got home, she was enthusiastically looking forward to the peace and quiet there while the kids were still gone with their dad. Sadly, this is not what she found. Ever heard of a Chimney Swift? She hadn’t either. But now she can definitely tell you when she hears them because while she was off traveling 7000+ miles in June, they swooped in and took up residence in her chimney. She asked a neighbor about the now-built-in, chirping, alarm system. She was told something about them being protected and thusly she was introduced, personally, to Chimney Swifts. Are they endangered? Not yet. But they are really close to being listed as threatened in much of their migration areas. And, since Florida happens to be one of their stop-off points, just ask this writer, it seemed pretty worthwhile to inform everyone else about the plight of these kind-of-cool-though-annoyingly-loud birds. So, without further ado, let us learn a little about these wee things with seemingly big vocal cords.
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According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Chimney Swifts are small birds averaging about five inches in length. Some people have called them “cigars with wings” due to their physical appearance. Since the cat in this writer’s home happened to catch one of these lovelies during their time in her chimney, she can testify that they are indeed stubby with short, blunted tails, and brown or black bodies with giant black eyes. A cigar with wings is a fairly accurate description. Also, their wings are curved, long, and narrow.¹ They are strange looking birds.
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Audubon reveals that Chimney Swifts are the only kind of swift that occurs in the East. Historically, these swifts nested in hollow trees but because mankind has been rapidly destroying the forests they call home, the swifts have been forced to adapt and therefore found that the inside of a chimney is very much like the inside of a hollow tree. It is this adaptation that has allowed the Chimney Swift to be one of the most thoroughly studied neotropical avians. Shockingly, in the summer thousands of these birds can roost inside a large chimney.² Imagine that noise! Maybe you are thinking that this writer is “geeking out” a little too much about a tiny bird that hangs out inside chimneys. But this bird and its habits here are even interesting in Chicago, as proven by a 2019 article in the Chicago Tribune. In this article, Nancy Moreland, the author, talks about a seasonal show that happens every summer in Wakulla Springs State Park. Apparently, the swifts put on quite a show as they spiral in the air down into the chimney at the lodge there.³ Since these precious birds eat our beloved mosquitoes, among other insects, we should be very supportive of their existence. They capture the insects midflight and according to the FWC they are, “one of the fastest birds in the world and are entertaining to watch as they fly out of structures in large, chattering flocks to hunt insects and skim surfaces of ponds, lakes or streams.”¹ It’s that chattering in the chimney that ends up being far less entertaining. When the swifts decide to court there are a lot of aerial antics. In one of these displays of affection and interest, they will fly close together following one another as they glide with their wings in a V. The breeding pairs often have an adult helper as they nest inside a chimney fairly far away from the opening. Both the male and female WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
will help construct the nest which is shaped like half a saucer that consists of saliva glued twigs. The birds will break off small dead sticks while they are outside flying around. Their eggs are white and there’s usually 3 to 6 of them. Both parents will incubate the eggs for 19-21 days. Twenty days after birth the babies will explore by creeping up vertical walls and will make their first flights at about 28-30 days old.² That’s a bad time to be in a chimney in a house where a cat lives. Poor baby! Probably would have been better for the Chimney Swifts that found their way into this writer’s chimney to have remained on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. This network of more than 500 sites is designed to preserve wild places and Wakulla Springs State Park is one of the locations on the trail. The Chimney Swifts are there now and will provide you quite a sight as well as respite from the mosquitoes you would expect to encounter. Apparently, two adults and their babies can eat 12,000 flying bugs every single day!³ Maybe this writer should reassess the presence of these birds!
Resources: ¹Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Chimney Swift. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/ profiles/birds/chimney-swift/ ²Audubon. Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica. https:// www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/chimney-swift ³Moreland, Nancy. (2019). Spiraling swifts put on a seasonal show at Florida state park. Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/sc-trav-chimney-swifts-wakulla-springs-0326-story.html Photo Credits: McFarland, Kent. (2011). Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica). (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/9JTVqD -Three birdsSchechter, Greg. (2010). Chimney Swifts. (Flickr). https:// flic.kr/p/8H1Hg4 -Birds in chimneySchipul, Ed. (2007). Chimney swift. Houston, TX. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/KwG9L -Bird in hands-
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Chimney Swifts may not be endangered, yet, but they are still protected. It is illegal to kill them. Should you be so fortunate as to have them visit inside your chimney, it’s suggested that you wait for them to leave and then screen around the top of your chimney to prevent reentry. However, the reality is, their habitats are dwindling, they eat mosquitoes, and though they might be noisy while they are around, you could be doing something to actively prevent the decline of a species that visits Florida every summer. Think on that as you consider your role on the planet our Maker entrusted into our hands.
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VolunteersPlant
20,000 Longleaf Pines
By Betty Jo Tompkins The glistening early morning summer sun welcomed over 200 volunteers to the Lower Green Swamp Preserve in Plant City recently for the county’s largest individual tree planting event. Enthusiastic volunteers planted 20,000 longleaf pine seedlings on an 80-acre tract within the 12,800 acre preserve. Presented by the Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District as part of its Hillsborough 100 Conservation Challenge Action Awareness projects, the 20,000 pine seedlings were generously donated by the Sustany Foundation. Other supporters included TREE, Inc., Mosaic, Winthrop Town Centre, Odiorne Insurance, Brandon Global Eco Rotary Club, Florida Strawberry Growers Association, staff of Hillsborough County’s Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department and Hillsborough County Sustainability, among others.
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Longleaf pine forests once encompassed over 90 million acres throughout the Southeast and offer some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems, representing over 600 plant and animal species. Today the ecosystems range has been reduced by over 90 percent. With this in mind, restoration efforts are critical.
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Children from 7 to seniors in their 70’s joined forces to make the planting efforts a success and enjoyed the excitement of creating “a new forest.” Using tools called “dibbles,” teams of three worked systematically to plant the Pinus palustris seedlings, also known as tubelings. Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District provided participants with colorful t-shirts blazoned with “Let’s Plant Some Trees!” and the National Association of Conservation Districts theme “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities” graphic. In addition, multiple groups and agencies provided complimentary items for gift bags presented to all participants. Refreshments were provided by the Democratic Environmental Caucus, the Hillsborough Republican Executive Committee and HSWCD. As a result of the event’s success, HSWCD and the Sustany Foundation are planning future plantings. For further information, please contact: HillsboroughSWCD. com or call (813) 477.8332. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Naturally A Closer Look Amazing Activities
by Sean Green
DIY Portable Air Cooler Summertime has only just begun and it’s HOT! This is the time of year the AC unit is most likely to fail and I can tell you from personal experience that it does not take long for the temperature and humidity to rise to “uncomfortable” in the middle of a summer day. If you have access to ice, a simple and fairly effective portable air cooler can be made for less than $20 and can be used as a back to cool a small room when the main AC goes out, keep the car cool in the heat of the day, or keep the tent cool for summertime camping. With ordinary ice, the cooler will output air temperatures of around 40°F for several hours. It is well known that adding salt to ice will not only melt the ice, but actually lower the temperature of the resulting slurry to well below freezing (32°F), more salt results in colder temperatures.
Materials:
Utility Knife Styrofoam Cooler PVC Elbow (2” or 3”)
Fan (4 to 6 inch) Water Salt Ice
1
Trace the circumference of the PVC elbow onto the top lid of the cooler.
3
Cut a hole for the fan in the top lid of the cooler Cut at 45° angle to create a smaller interior diameter and provide a better seal.
2
Cut a hole for the PVC elbow (exhaust) in the top lid of the cooler. Cut at 45° angle to create a smaller interior diameter and provide a better seal.
4
Fill 1/3 of the cooler with tap water
6
Fill another 1/3 of the cooler with ice * leaving 1/3 air space for circulation *
5
Add at least 1 pound of salt to the tap water *more is better* (table salt works better than rock salt)
7
Plug the fan in to circulate air through the cooler, cold air should exit the exhaust PVC
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As an alternative to an AC powered fan, consider looking for fans that can be powered with batteries or solar panels, so it can be used for camping or power outages.
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ANaturally Closer Look Amazing
by Sean Green
Golden Tortoise Beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata) by Ann Pettigrew
by Andreas Kay
by insect.org
I am not a gambling man, but I bet some of our readers have a little gold hidden in or around their gardens. Please forgive my “Dad Joke” play on words, but the statement is true enough for our part in describing this month’s featured insect. The gold we are discussing is a small beetle in the leaf miner family (Chrysomelidae) and is commonly known as the Golden Tortoise Beetle. It’s charming name alone hints at how special it really is. This beetle can change its color from metallic gold to red and black depending on its mood. Fortunately, these beetles do not damage plants enough to be considered a pest, therefore, if you can find them in your garden, let them stay so you can enjoy a closer look, I hope you will find them as fascinating as I do. The taxonomic name Charidotella sexpunctata comes from the Latin “Sex” (six) and “Punctum” (spots) to describe the six black spots found on adults. The adult beetle has a hard shell shaped like that of a tortoise shell and when undisturbed and happy, its shell has a metallic gold coloration. It is these physical characteristics that give it the common name of Golden Tortoise Beetle. When disturbed however, the brilliant golden color changes to warning colors of red with 6 black spots. The color change is a form of Bastian Mimicry in which a harmless species (the beetle) mimics a harmful species (ladybug). Predators such as birds know to avoid ladybugs because these insects produce toxins in their body that get the bird that eats them sick. When the Golden Tortoise Beetle changes its color to red and black, it looks like a ladybug and birds are less likely to choose it as a meal. The Golden Tortoise Beetle has a couple of cool superpowers, the ability to change colors is only one of their tricks. They change colors with a stealth like technology that scientists are only beginning to understand. Researchers call the ability “Hydrochrome” (water color) and the way it works is nothing short of brilliant. In simple terms, the beetle, like many insects, has an exoskeleton made of hard plates. The protective exoskeleton of the beetle is made of layers of clear plates, the thickest of which are on the bottom. This arrangement of clear plates creates a broadband reflector capable of reflecting the visible spectrum as well as the Ultraviolet and Infrared spectrum. The beetle can pump fluid in between the layers of clear plates and this fluid refracts visible light to give the clear
The shell is just as functional as it is beautiful and the Golden Tortoise Beetle has another card to play if mimicry is not enough. Its feet have rings of ridges, like that of the Gecko, that look like a soft honey dipper. This structure creates enough friction for it to climb smooth surfaces. The feet can also distribute a glue-like oil that is released when a predator, such as an ant, is on the attack. Once the oil is released from the feet, the beetle lowers its shell into the oil to glue itself to the ground and remains glued into its protective shell fortress until the threat is gone. This strategy is effective for many, but not all predators. The wheel bug, for example, would simply pierce the beetles shell with its powerful proboscis to quickly make a meal of the beetle right through its shell. The larvae of this beetle are just as creative in their defenses as the adults. At their rear end, the larvae have what is called a fecal fork and it is of course used to collect its own fecal matter and debris. The fecal fork can be moved to a position over its back, like that of a scorpion. The beetle larvae collect their own dung and mix it with leaf litter. Allowing this concoction time to dry results in a hardened shell that is above its body like a helmet to serve as both a deterrent and hard-shell protection. The sporty helmet this critter creates is not just a fashion statement, but is also used to intimidate any would be attackers. The larvae will flap its dung helmet around in a feigned attack to throw the assailant off long enough to make a quick escape. I cannot help but giggle at the thought of shaking a collection of dung at an attacker as a means of self-defense. It seems to work for these beetles and who knows, it may work for humans too; if nothing else, it certainly makes for an entertaining observation. Adult beetles are active in Florida all year but will be particularly abundant this month and can be found on the underside of Morning Glory leaves. If you get the chance, take a closer look, I think you will be amazed.
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shell a metallic gold appearance. When threatened or stressed, the beetle pumps the fluid out of the shell to reveal the base colors of red and black. In this way, the beetle can change its color without pigment, but rather by reflecting and refracting light waves at will.
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we get better at protecting our environment.
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Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.
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CROP INSURANCE: IT PAYS TO MANAGE YOUR RISK When you purchase risk management coverage with Farm Credit of Central Florida, we return a portion of our commission as patronage dividends to eligible stockholders. Patronage dividends could help lower the cost of insurance premiums, saving you money as you manage your risk. Farm Credit of Central Florida is glad to discuss how we can save you money on your crop insurance with patronage dividends. Feel free to contact our crop insurance specialist, Regina Thomas, at 407.721.4687 or rthomas@farmcreditcfl.com. Patronage dividend distribution is subject to eligibility. Certain limitations, conditions, and exclusions apply for crop insurance. Please refer to the policy for more details.
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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD
Blue tangs at the Tropical Aquaculture Lab
By J. Scott Angle
Geomatics students and faculty at Sign at entrance to UF/IFAS Gulf Coast UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Plant City Research and Education Center
Growing food means growing Florida’s economy. Science The university launched a $100 million AI initiative last year. UF/IFAS is already tapping it to hire the first of its allotment helps grow them both. of faculty from the 100 university-wide who will help us make At the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultur- courses and experiences in AI available to all undergraduates. al Sciences we hear it from farmers and ranchers again and Recently, we jumped on one of the state’s biggest challengagain: Without UF/IFAS, I wouldn’t be in business. es—determining the right fertilizer rates for your crops, starting The 2,265 farms in Hillsborough County and the 2,080 in Polk with tomatoes and potatoes—with experiments at dozens of County succeed in part through innovation supplied by UF/ farms across the state powered by AI. IFAS scientists: labor-saving mechanization, techniques that lower farmers’ water and fertilizer bills, and new better-tasting The next generation of UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences AI-literate graduates—including those from and easier-to-grow varieties of fruits and vegetables. our program in Plant City--will help address a talent shortage Those new varieties can launch job-creating Florida industries. providing high-tech, high-paying jobs. A recent study reports For example, UF/IFAS plant breeders have for decades devel- 59,400 annual job openings in food, agriculture, and the enoped strawberry cultivars that are the foundation for a $300 vironment nationally, but only 36,000 new college graduates million industry, much of it in Hillsborough County. About 85 with degrees in those fields. percent of Florida’s strawberry acreage is planted in UF/IFAS The value of UF/IFAS degrees is also boosted by our concultivars. sistently high rankings—4th in the nation among ag schools The nation’s ornamental fish industry is centered around Tam- as measured by U.S. News and World Report, and first in the pa Bay, and UF/IFAS science is right there in the middle of it. world in entomology by one ranking. The Tropical Aquaculture Lab in Ruskin has demonstrated a 16-to-1 return on investment in its research and science, which Taken together, the agriculture, natural resources and food innot only helps area producers but makes the case for pub- dustries account for more than 120,000 Hillsborough County lic support for the science that makes production agriculture jobs, nearly 19 percent of all county employment. In Polk, it’s nearly 52,000 jobs—more than 26 percent of all jobs in the profitable. county. We know this because UF/IFAS economists issue a We reach so many farmers because we’re their neighbors. report documenting your economic Farmers lend their land for experiments. They volunteer as 4-H impact. leaders. They serve on advisory councils to guide research. This farmer-scientist relationship ensures that state funding is As I travel the state, I often tell producers, my job is to help keep agriput to use solving relevant problems. culture profitable. That’s a big part The state’s consistent and impactful investment in agricultural of what sustainability is. Support for science helped UF/IFAS attract $141 million in research fund- publicly funded science pays off in ing to Florida last fiscal year, much of it from the federal gov- healthy food and a healthy econoernment and other out-of-state sources. Millions of dollars of my. that goes to the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma to support research.
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UF/IFAS is on the cusp of helping usher in an era of growing even more food with even less environmental impact through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
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Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
TRAVIS COUNCIL JOINS FARM BUREAU BOARD Travis Council of Council Growers, Inc. has joined the Board of Directors of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau. He replaces former Director Sambahv who has relocated to Washington State.
Florida Farm Bureau advocates on behalf of farm families on the local, state and national levels, representing farmers and the rural communities. By advocating for the programs and policies that help farmers and ranchers prosper, Farm Bureau helps to protect domestic food production and Florida’s natural resources. Farmers and ranchers help to generate an annual statewide economic impact of $137 billion. They maintain green space, conserve water and preserve wildlife habitat. Federation members are instrumental in helping to accomplish legislative goals that benefit all Floridians. Much of this takes place at the county level through various local board initiatives. The Council family has been farming in the Ruskin area for more than a century and in the sod business since the 1980s. The family-owned business grows 13 varieties of sod and groundcover for the Tampa metro market. Since the Council family began growing everything in the “fruit or vegetable bowl at one time or another” over the last 100 years, “the bigger crops have been cattle, tomatoes, citrus and sod,” said Council whose parents Pat and Jean founded the current farm “are our sounding boards and sources of wisdom and experience and in the past the occasional tractor driver or bookkeeper when called upon.”
“The chance to become involved with the Farm Bureau board has appeal to me,” said Council. “The timing was right and the need to become involved in advocacy for a number of areas of concern to our industry continues to grow.” Though this is Council’s initial appointment to the Farm Bureau Board, he has a history of industry support, serving as the current president of the Turf Producers of Florida and long-term involvement with the Florida Turf Growers Association, Perennial Peanut Growers Association and Dundee CGA along with other industry groups. Additionally, the Council family has and continues to support Ag-related community groups such as FFA through various plant, steer and swine sales. “Amber is very active with Lennard High School in this regard,” said Council. When not involved in farming operations or advocacy, Council enjoys the opportunity to be outside relaxing. “I really enjoy my work and am trying to learn to relax more,” he said. Welcome to the Board – Travis, and thank you Sambahv for your service!
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Married to Amber, the Council’s have two children: Elijah, a student at Beacon College and Rebecca, who is attends Abraham Baldwin in Tifton, Georgia. Amber is also involved in the family business. Council is an alumnus of Florida Southern College.
CONTAINER MOSQUITOES ON YOUR PROPERTY? UF/IFAS SCIENTISTS HELP YOU IDENTIFY
By Lourdes Mederos A water fountain to decorate a garden, a cluster of colorful plant pots and saucers on a patio, and a bird bath on a terrace can each delight the eye. However, if these simple yard accessories hold standing water, they may also be habitats for the immature stages of mosquitoes. Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have released “Florida Container Mosquitoes1” (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1315), a guide designed to bring awareness to container mosquitoes and the types of habitats and water-holding vessels where mosquito aquatic stages can occur. To the unsuspecting, a discarded tire left unattended behind a garage, a large fallen palm leaf that collects rainwater on a lawn, an unchecked tree hole, and even an ornamental bromeliad plant can hold water. Such vessels may be attractive for mosquitoes specialized to occupy such habitats and serve as the perfect home for their developing stages.
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Known as container mosquitoes because of the small aquatic habitats they dwell in until adulthood, they include several invasive species that may transmit viruses such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika. Published in the UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS), which hosts peerreviewed publications by faculty and Extension professionals, the document lists and illustrates 15 species of mosquitoes, 11 native and four exotic, that scientists classify as preferring to occupy containers.
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“We hope that readers of this guide will appreciate the types and breadth of containers that Florida mosquitoes may occupy and, where appropriate, reduce the potential for mosquito pests and disease vectors by emptying or draining manmade containers in their yards,” said Philip Lounibos, a distinguished professor emeritus of ecology and behavior at UF/ IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach.
Adult female container mosquitoes lay their eggs in small vessels that hold water. After the larvae hatch, they spend their aquatic stages in these containers until they emerge as adults. According to the document, container mosquitoes represent approximately 20 percent of the 90 mosquito species currently known to occur in Florida. “It is only relatively recently, following the increased prevalence of exotic viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, vectored by the invasive container species Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, that mosquito control efforts in Florida have begun to focus intensively on mitigating the impact of these two species, especially in densely populated areas of the state,” said Lounibos.“On the other hand, many of Florida’s native container mosquitoes such as the pitcher plant specialist Wyeomyia smithii are not interested in biting humans and carry no known pathogens.”
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A closer look at your property may also reveal natural container habitats used by mosquitoes which include plant cavities such as bromeliad tanks and axils, tree holes and flower bracts of tropical plants, or decorative rocks with depressions that hold rain or irrigation water.
medical entomology UF/IFAS Extension specialist at the research center in Vero Beach, also detail how to control container mosquito pests at a time when the rainy season provides the optimal environment for filling their small aquatic habitats.
The document also considers which species are identified as “true” container mosquitoes in contrast to species that may occasionally seek these water vessels to lay eggs in, said Lounibos.
The document carefully distinguishes between mosquito control methods that can be used by homeowners and property owners versus large-scale control methods reserved for governmental
“True container mosquitoes are those that use this habitat faithfully and should be differentiated from other species of Florida mosquitoes, such as Culex quinquefasciatus, the Southern House Mosquito, which may occasionally be found in large containers, such as discarded auto tires, but do not favor such habitats,” said Lounibous.
or nongovernmental organizations potentially requiring scientific oversight and community participation.
Lounibos and co-author Eva Buckner, an assistant professor and
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In the guide, Lounibos and Buckner explain that among control methods that can be easily applied by homeowners, the most efficacious is the reduction of container mosquito numbers by eliminating their aquatic habitats, such as by draining plant trivets or bird baths, favorable for mosquito growth.
BRAD TURNER RECEIVES FDACS AG ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
By Jim Frankow
Brad Turner with Turner Family Groves in Lithia has been named a 2021 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award. He is one of three 2021 award recipients announced by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Recipients share a commitment to protecting and preserving Florida’s resources while producing commodities that keep our food supply and economy strong. Turner is being recognized for his commitment to promoting soil and tree health through the implementation of regenerative management practices, reducing the need for fertilizer, pesticides and increasing water retention. The Turner family has a legacy of growing, harvesting, packing and shipping citrus in eastern Hillsborough County for a century.
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In recent years Brad has purchased a parcel of land to trial and research regenerative growing principles. These principles include ancestral practices such as cover cropping and applying compost while expanding to include more innovative methods like mineral balancing the soil in addition to extracting, multiplying, and applying microbes.
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This is the primary focus of Sand to Soil Services, which provides soil and plant testing, consulting and quality products to the citrus industry. The farm also includes a seasonal retail market where consumers can sample and buy regeneratively grown fruit as well as vegetables from the cover crop. Typically, the market opens after Thanksgiving. Award nominations are evaluated by a committee composed of representatives from FDACS, The Nature Conservancy, Florida’s Water Management Districts, the Florida Farm Bureau, the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, the Florida Dairy Association, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Florida’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Florida Citrus Mutual, the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association and the Florida Forestry Association. More information about Turner Family Groves is available at: turnerfamilygroves.com. Sand to Soil Services may be accessed at: sandtosoilservices. com. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
County Fair Features New Rain Barrel Decorating Contest Hillsborough County students will have a terrific opportunity to test their art skills and learn about water conservation in the County Fair’s 1st Annual Rain Barrel Decorating Contest. Featuring the theme, “Enriching the Environment,” this new competition is sponsored by the Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District. Contest participation will be limited to the first 15 registered youth groups. Groups may include, but aren’t limited to: Scouts, 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, schools, school clubs and other youth organization and church groups. Each pre-registered group will receive a free food-grade rain barrel to decorate for functionality, creativity, use of materials and interpretation of theme. Additionally, groups must complete the “Rainwater Harvesting Workshop” offered by the Hillsborough County Extension Service via zoom, online PowerPoint or live workshop. Awards are 1st Place- $200; 2nd Place - $100; 3rd Place - $50; and Honorable Mention - $25. All barrels will be displayed at the County Fair, and winning barrels will also be eligible to be displayed at the Florida State Fair in February 2022. Decorated barrels may also be entered into a silent auction for the second weekend of the Fair. Sale proceeds for the barrels will be paid directly to the group creating each barrel. Results will be presented at the HSWCD Great Plant Auction on October 3 during the Fair. For further information visit: HillsboroughCountyFair.com or Hillsboroughswcd.com or call: 813.737.3247 or 813.477.8332.
1st Annual ‘Enriching the Environment’
RAIN BARREL DECORATING CONTEST Contest open to Scouts, 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, schools, clubs and other youth organizations Judging, Display and Silent Auction at the 2021 Hillsborough County Fair* Contest limited to first 15 group entrants. Each entrant will recieve a free food-grade plastic barrel. Entrants must pick up their barrels at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds on Sat., Aug. 28, from 1-5 p.m. Decorated barrels must be returned Sat., Sept. 18, from 1-5 p.m. Fairgrounds Address: 215 Sydney Washer Road, Dover. Entrants must complete the “Rainwater Harvesting Workshop” offered by the Hillsborough County Extension Service. Three options are available: Zoom meeting, online PowerPoint presentation, or live workshop. To register, call: Lynn Barber, Florida Friendly Extension Agent, 813-744-5519, Ext. 54105
CASH PRIZES & SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER 1st PLACE $200 2nd PLACE $100 3rd PLACE $50 HONORABLE MENTION $25
Entrants can enter their decorated rain barrels into a Silent Auction. Bidding will occur the second weekend of the fair. Sale proceeds for each barrel will be paid directly to the group that creates it. Judging will take place prior to the fair’s opening. *The fair runs Sept. 23 - 26 and Sept. 30 - Oct. 3 RAIN BARREL JUDGING CRITERIA: — Functionality — Creativity
— Use of Materials — Interpretation of Theme
*Rain barrels receiving cash awards will automatically be accepted for display at the HSWCD booth at the 2022 Florida State Fair.
Hillsborough County Fair / Email: HillsboroughCountyFair@verizon.net Visit: HillsboroughCountyFair.com / Call: 813-737-3247
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Sponsored by: Hillsborough Soil & Water Conservation District (HSWCD)
Classifieds BUILDING SUPPLIES METAL ROOFING Thousands of 8ft. & 10ft. sheets. In Stock. Prices from $6 and up. Custom lengths available. 813-752-7088 ask for Ferris. ALUMINUM We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378 WINDOW SCREENS We make window screens of all sizes available in different frame colors. Call Ted(813) 752-3378 CABINETS All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Chris 813-752-3378 VINYL SIDING Many colors and styles to choose from. Ask for Ted. 813-752-3378 MOBILE HOME SUPPLIES Everything you need under ONE roof! Call Blake 813-752-3378 NEW, USED & ABUSED. CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE. We are a MI Windows dealer. Our windows are energy star, lifetime warranty. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
FARM EQUIPMENT I4 POWER EQUIPMENT Trade-Ins Welcomed, Service Department Available. Exit 22 • S. Frontage Rd. Plant City 813-752-4459 TAYLOR WAY TILLER DISC Plow - good condition. $1750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 JOHN DEERE Looking for your new tractor? Come see us at Everglades Farm Equipment. evergladesfarmequipment.com 2805 SR 60 West, Plant City 813-737-1660 OVERSTOCK SPECIAL Barn doors starting at $80.00 Call Ted 813-752-3378 OWER UNIT JOHN DEERE Power unit John Deere, 500 hp pump gear. Turbin complete set for 16" well Excellent condition. Will sell separate. Selling Property, MUST SELL. Call 813-361-2806 LUCAS METAL WORKS DRAG Ground hog arena drag. $1,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
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MILL CREEK ARENA SPIN GROOM Mill Creek arena spin groom grader. $1,000 Ask for Alive 813-759-8722
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CITRUS PACKING HOUSE Citrus packing house equipment for sale. Mikey Fertilizer Spreader, two wind machines. Call 863-324-2833 BAD BOY ROGUE 61” cut with 35hp Kawasaki engine. 58 hours. Warranty. Sold new 6/2020. Equipped with lights and canopy. Comes with trailer. $11,000 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 2002 GMC (Isuzu) 16 ft flat bed, diesel, 142,174 miles. $5,500. Call Tony at 813-205-6145 ALLUMINUM SKINS Staring at $30.00 Call Ted 813-752-3378 MILLCREEK SPIN GROOMER Millcreek arena spin groomer. $1,000 Call 813-759-8722 ask for Alvie. 2014 MAHINDRA 4530 Mahindra 4530, 44hp, 4x4 tractor loader with 900 hrs, for $16,500. 813-759-8722 ask for Alvie. MAHINDRA 1635HL Mahindra 2020, 95 hours, with warranty. $17,500. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
WANTED WANTED If you need a place to dump clean wood chips/leaves from your tree trimming business etc. I need about 10 loads. Located on Dorman Rd near Fishhawk, no gate. Call John at 239-821-1253
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES USED SCAG ZTR 52” Liberty zero turn with Kaw engine. $3,500. Call Jeff 813-752-1066 USED BAD BOY OUTLAW XP Zero turn mower. 61” cut, kawasaki engine. $4,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
PRODUCE FRESH PRODUCE Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
MISC. FREE Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722 24 HOUR SERVICE Coggins Plumbing licensed • bonded • Insured. www.cogginsplumbing.com 813-643-7173 FARM BUREAU INSURANCE We have you covered! Call us today. 813-752-5577 LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL? Call Rhonda Wetherington, P.A. Realtor, GRI. 813-933-1761 ALAN’S AIR CONDITIONING Residential, Commercial Sales SVS & Repair. Legendary service for over 20 years! 813-752-0821 FOR RENT Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mulcher. For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
FOR SALE OLD ANTIQUE BLUE STOVE Bread warmer, chrome trim. You have got to see it to believe it! Call Ted for more details. 813-752-3378 DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
JOBS MECHANIC NEEDED Agricultural equipment. Pay with benefits based on experience. Call David 863-537-1345
TRADE • BUY • SELL? Since 2004 In The Field has been Hillsborough and Polk Countys #1 Agriculture Magazine. Call Us at 813-759-6909 to place your Ad Today!
PARTS COUNTER HELP Wanted for parts look up and sales. Experience in the agriculture equipment service. Speak with Alvie. 813-759-8722
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