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Business Up Front Photo by Dennis Schroeder / NREL
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Royalty You can Count on Page 70
VOL. 11 • ISSUE 5
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 100 S. Mulrennan Rd. Valrico, Fl. Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Insurance Services: 813.685.5673 Member Services: 813.685.9121 OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Contents MARCH 2016 Cover Photos by: Stephanie Humphrey
Changing the Tides
John Dicks
Vina Jean Banks
Kidz Outdoors
Recipes
Turkey Creek Middle Wins State
Page 10 Page 14
Page 46 Page 48
Fishing Hot Spots
Walden Lake Carwash
Rocking Chair Chatter
Literary Time Machine
Page 18 Page 22
Endangered Species
Page 28
Farm Night
Page 32
Florida Cilantro
Page 35
New UF Academic Advisor
Page 40
Jack Payne
Page 42
Page 50 Page 54
Youth Group Garden
Page 56
Bay Mulch
Page 77 Page 78 Arbor Day
Page 79 Activity
Page 82 A Closer Look
Page 83
Page 60
FSGA Ulele
3rd Annual Strawberry Picking Contest
State Fair Results
Page 66
Page 84 Page 88
Meet the Minks
Bromeliads
Growums Update
Blueberry Convention
Page 74 Page 75
Page 92 Page 93
Kenneth Parker....................President Will Womack................Vice President James Tew..........................Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary DIRECTORS FOR 2015 - 2016 Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Bradley Ferguson, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Tony Lopez, Lawrence McClure, Rep. Jake Raburn, Emeritus, Sambahv Sambahv, Marty Tanner, Vincent Tort, Ron Wetherington
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. Juile Carlson, John McGuire
Plant City Office 813.752.5577
1302 S. Collins St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer Bill Williams
Tampa Office 813.933.5440
13103 W. Linebaugh Ave. Tampa, FL.33626 Greg Harrell, William Clarke
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AGENCY MANAGER Tommy Hale INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2016
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Letter from the Editor
STAFF
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry Sales Manager Danny Crampton
March is National Nutrition Month! This month is sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and is a campaign to focus attention on making informed decisions about food choices, developing sound eating, and physical activity habits.
Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Nolan Lewis
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “Food preferences, lifestyles, cultural and ethnic traditions and health concerns all affect our food choices.” So savor the flavor of eating right!
Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez
Why is this important to our readers? Because the most nutritious foods you can find are Fresh From Florida! The Academy encourages a return to the basics of healthy eating and emphasizes the advantages of a healthful eating plan, incorporating individual food choices and preferences. Eating healthy does not mean giving up your favorite foods. Incorporate the foods you love into a healthful eating plan that suites your lifestyle, traditions, health needs and taste. If you are like me, you have followed a healthy eating plan throughout the Florida Strawberry Festival. Just know it is never too late to get on track! Shop locally, support your local farmer and rancher. You will be healthier and happier for it! Be sure to pick up next month’s issue of In The Field. It will be full of coverage of the 2016 Florida Strawberry Festival. Until Next Month
Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Stephanie Humphrey Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Libby Hopkins Nick Chapman Vanessa Caceres Contributing Writers Woody Gore Les McDowell John Dicks
Sarah The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
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 335630042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
1 in 20
The number of people who will develop colorectal cancer.
No. 2
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
At age 50, you should begin having colonoscopies and other methods of screening on a consistent basis. Regular screenings and early detection are crucial in detecting colorectal cancer. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms: n Changes in bowel habits n Cramping or abdominal pain n Rectal bleeding n Unexplained weight loss n Weakness and fatigue
90%
For a physician referral: 1-800-BayCare (1-800-229-2273) or BayCareCancer.org
More than 90 percent of cases occur in people over age 50.
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BC1601133-0216
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
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100 South Mulrennan Road • Valrico, FL 33594 • 813-685-9121
This and That Dear Readers: As I write this letter to you, we are approaching the end of the state legislative session and we are just a few days away from the start of the Florida Strawberry Festival. Both are important to us. All indications are that the legislative session has once again recognized the importance and value of agriculture in Florida with legislation enacted that is helpful and supportive to our diverse industry. For this, we owe our gratitude to our Florida Farm Bureau Legislative team, many of you for your outreach to our state lawmakers and to our elected officials, who have come to understand and agree with our industry’s position on the various legislative items that came under their consideration during the session. For the latest information on the results of this legislative session, visit Florida Farm Bureau’s Legislative Action Center at www.floridafarmbureau.org. The Strawberry Festival is very special for the enjoyment it brings to our families, our children and the many visitors from out of the area who come to the festival every year. The entertainment options seem to get better and better and the varied competitions for our young men and women is most rewarding for the recognition it brings to them for their months of hard work. Yes, the rides and varied food and beverage offerings are delightful, as well. Overall, the festival is a great way to showcase agriculture in the greater Plant City area. Thanks to the festival staff and the many volunteers who make the Florida Strawberry Festival one of the very best opportunities for family fun.
with the theme: “Caution, Safety is no Accident.” Part of that educational effort includes videos, social media posts and a safety toolkit. You can still access all of those resources by visiting the AFB website at: http://www.fb.org/programs/healthandsafety.home. Please take a few minutes to review those resources. The time you spend doing so could help prevent a serious accident or worse. If your family does not belong to Farm Bureau, please join so you can help us continue our multifaceted support of agriculture. The fee associated with family membership in Farm Bureau is modest and your active involvement will be beneficial to your family and to our industry. If your family is already part of our Farm Bureau family, please consider suggesting membership to your friends and don’t hesitate to get involved in the many different things we do on behalf of our industry. To learn more, please visit: http:// hcfarmbureau.org or call 813/685-9121 for more information.
Kenneth Parker Kenneth Parker - President
Earlier this month America Farm Bureau held its weeklong Agricultural Safety Awareness Program
Board of Directors
Kenneth Parker, President; Will Womack, Vice-President; James Tew, Treasurer; Buddy Coleman, Secretary; Member-at-large; Glenn Harrell; Board members: Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Bradley Ferguson, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Tony Lopez, Lawrence McClure, Rep. Jake Raburn, Emeritus, Sambahv, Marty Tanner, Vincent Tort, Ron Wetherington Judi Whitson, Executive Director 8 8
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Changing The Tides By Libby Hopkins
There is an old saying that says, “Take care of the earth and she will take care of you.” The Florida Aquarium, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Tampa Electric are doing their best to take care of the earth’s oceans and marine life. In 2013 they joined forces and broke ground on The Florida Aquarium’s Center for Conservation. The center is being built near Tampa Electric’s existing Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach. When completed, the park will include The Energy Technology Center and the Center for Conservation in addition to a camp and educational facility, animal rescue, research and holding facility. “This unique blend of environmental education and cutting-edge energy technology will become a year-round destination for Florida visitors,” said Tom Hernandez, Tampa Electric’s Vice President of Energy Supply. “It will complement the award-winning Manatee Viewing Center and will become a showcase the whole community can enjoy.” Even though the facility will be a destination for visitors, its main focus is conservation. “We focus our conservation efforts on three areas, coral, sea turtles and sharks,” said Florida Aquarium’s Communications Manager, Katherine Claytor. “The Aquarium both at the downtown facility and at our Apollo Beach site focuses on conservation efforts. For us it’s not a matter of choosing between coral conservation, shark conservation or sea turtle conservation, we focus on all three.” In the marine environment, different species of sea turtles play different roles. Most scientists agree that sea turtles often act as keystone species. They eat jellyfish, which prevents large blooms of them from happening. Large blooms of jellyfish negatively impact fisheries, recreation, and other marine activities. Sea grass beds grazed by green sea turtle are more productive than those that are not. Hawkbill turtles keep sponge populations low by providing more habitats for growing corals. This means sea turtles are a major contributor to maintaining species diversity, and ultimately, the health of our oceans. “We have rescued and rehabilitated over 140 sea turtles since opening and we are making tremendous strides in our coral propagation work,” said Claytor. Since 1995, the Florida Aquarium has worked closely with state and federal agencies to rescue rehabilitate and release sea turtles. Subsequently, the aquarium has become an important facility working in the Southeast 10
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Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems that provide us with an incredible number of benefits, both for leisure and income. Most often associated with the stunning beauty that coral provides us when diving and snorkeling, coral reefs also play important critical roles in protecting our coasts and habitats and act as nurseries for both commercial and recreational fisheries. Coral also provides critical habitat for other species such as sea turtles, dolphins and sharks, all key species for maintaining a healthy, resilient ecosystem. The aquarium works on the conservation of coral in the Florida Keys and in the nearby Gulf of Mexico reefs. Since 2000, the aquarium has been working with the Coral Restoration Foundation to ensure the survival and resiliency of coral in the Florida Keys. With the help of movies like Jaws and Sharknado, many people have a fear of sharks. The only thing we have to fear about sharks is their extinction. We are losing our shark populations because of what we eat, including sharks. This threat could cause a disastrous unraveling of our ecosystem with an enormously large negative impact on our world, both land and sea. In 2013 the aquarium decided to tackle the question of how to breed tiger sharks. They are not only a rare animal in the wild, they are also a favorite shark for public aquariums because of their calm demeanor around humans. They are powerful agents of change when aquarium guest see humans in the water with them and with no threat of being harmed. The aquarium began to focus their conservation efforts on unlocking the reproductive secrets of this vulnerable species. Currently, the aquarium has one female and three male sand tigers that live in a 500-gallon coral reef tank shared with green sea turtles, nurse sharks, Southern rays and a large variety of fin fish. “We hope our Center for Conservation continues to grow and become a leading institute that utilizes the expertise of our talented and knowledgeable staff and volunteers who address the challenges that face Florida aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems,” said. Claytor. “We also hope it inspires all the guests who visit and see the important work we are doing at the site. If you would like to learn more about the conservation efforts at the Florida Aquarium, you can visit their website at www.flaquarium.org. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Kidz Outdoors
By Nick Chapman
Waking up before the dawn on a crisp spring morning and putting on your camouflage gear, all the while anticipating your first hunt. Many of us have fond memories of our father, uncle or grandfather taking us on our first hunt, fishing trip or camping outdoors. Unfortunately, there are many children who either through physical limitations, economic reasons or terminal illnesses never get the joy of experiencing the great outdoors. Luckily for many such children, there is Kidz Outdoors. Kidz Outdoors is a charitable organization whose mission is to pass on the love of the outdoors to future generations, and in the process, they raise funds to help battle childhood cancer and other terminal and debilitating diseases. And even more fortunate is that Kyle Gooding has become involved with Kidz Outdoors and has established the South Central Florida Chapter in Polk County, serving all of Central and South Florida. Kyle explained, “The national office of Kidz Outdoors in Alabama organizes the “Dream Hunts” for terminally ill and special needs children.” A Dream Hunt is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a terminally ill child to fulfill an outdoor hunting wish. Once a child has met the criteria set by the national office for a hunt, then the wheels are set in motion and Kidz Outdoors makes it happen. “National Kidz Outdoors funds everything. If they need to fly, they fly them out. They cover all the expenses for the trip, including any needed food or boarding. The child shows up gets to fulfill their dream. Whether it’s a hunting trip or a fishing trip or something else outdoors, it will be taken care of free of charge.” “Last year in March, I was asked by a good friend, Brandon Barrows to come to a dream turkey hunt he was doing in Alabama,” Kyle said about his initial introduction to Kidz Outdoors. “They were short on turkey callers so he called me and asked me to come up.” Unfortunately, Kyle was going through a rough financial time and told his friend he would try his best, and prayed God would provide a way. His prayers were answered as transportation and funds became available. Through that interaction with Carol Clark, the founder of Kidz Outdoors and the joy he felt helping needy children, Kyle decided he was being called for this work. 14 14
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Kyle was so enthused, that he called Carol and asked if he could be an ambassador and start establishing chapters across the country. Carol told him, “That’s great, but how are you going form chapters somewhere else, when we can’t even start one in Florida.” So Kyle took the challenge and starting January 2016, the South Central Florida Chapter officially started with Kyle as President, and he shares those responsibilities with a board of business leaders and outdoor enthusiasts. The local chapters raise awareness about the benefits of getting this generation of children to enjoy outdoor activities. They also sponsor fundraising events that help support research, dream hunts and the operations of the national and local chapters. South Central Florida Chapter’s event will be October 21 and 22. They have slots to take 30 children on a hog hunt, and will be special needs and terminally ill children, underprivileged kids and healthy children as well. “They will be local kids from the Polk, Hillsborough and surrounding areas, because I want the benefits for the kids in this area. And we’re looking for local support from the community, individuals and business owners,” Kyle explained. The event will be held at Heritage Baptist Church at 4202 Pipkin Creek Road in Lakeland. The Sheriff’s department will be participating with their airboats and swamp buggies, Stones Outhouse Bait & Tackle will be there and Off The Wall Adventures will be setting up activities. Kyle added, “Folks are calling me to participate. Southern Life Apparel said they’d be setting up their stuff. It’s just going to be Ginormous!” On Friday evening, October 21 the vendors will be set up and the live and silent auctions will take place. Everyone is invited to come out and support the chapter by bidding on the auction items and shop the vendors. Florida Fish and Wildlife will come in and do a safety briefing for the children going on the hunt and the kids will be paired up with their guides. On Saturday, the hunting children will go on a morning and afternoon hunt. “The outpouring of this community just chokes me up.” Kyle said. “And that’s what is all about, joining our community together. I want this area to get together and get our kids off the video games. My friend Brandon told me, ‘If you can take a kid hunting now, you won’t have to hunt them later.’ If we can get these kids outdoors, it will WWW. THEFFIELD IELD AGAZINE.COM WWW. ININTHE MMAGAZINE.COM
open doors to a whole new spectrum of activities, and maybe we can get them away from the problems kids in mainstream America face today.” “I just got word from Carol that one of our kids condition has worsened, and he wants to go on a turkey hunt for his “Dream” hunt. So I’ve been scrambling all day to see if we can make that happen, and there’s a season opening up in South Florida this weekend. So tomorrow I’ll be there with him and hopefully get him a bird,” Kyle mentioned as a part of his already hectic schedule. Kyle speaks of a hunt he did with a young lady named Amber, and said afterward she hugged him and said, “If I die just know, I’ll die happy because you made this come true.” There are many stories just like that because of the impact Kidz Outdoors is having on young people’s lives. And Kyle hopes he can get that message out because he needs even more help from the community at large. Any individual, corporate sponsor or land owner who would like to get involved in helping the local chapter of Kidz Outdoors off to great start, contact Kyle at (863) 581-4251 or email him at kyle.Kyle@yahoo.com. You can also visit their Facebook page, or get additional information at the National Kidz Outdoors website at: www.kidzoutdoors.org. (Special note: the interview for this article was done at Off The Wall Adventures, and before it ended, they made a generous donatoin to Kidz Outdoors.)
Kyle Gooding WWW.IIN NTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
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provides a full line of
Organic Products and Systemic Nutritionals for the Strawberry Industry.
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Don’t Get Scammed!
Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
Since the beginning of time certain people have always looked for an easy way to steal money from other unsuspecting folks. Centuries ago a well-known con-artist could fleece you out of your life saving and make you think he was doing you a favor. These charlatans would ramble into town steal people’s money and personal belongings, and abscond out of town before anyone realized they were gone. Today it’s gotten easier because they don’t even have to meet you to steal your money. They’re called scammers and they are located all over the world. These cyber thief’s use any means possible to gain your confidence and trust and then steal your money. It’s happening every day, all over the world to thousands of unsuspecting folks just like us. Here’s a situations that happened to a friend of mine that happens to be a fishing guide here in the state of Florida. It started out when he received an email from someone wanting to charter his guide service. They claimed to be coming from England and wanted to charter him for four full days of fishing for four anglers. They agreed on a price and date which was set for four weeks away at the end of the month. The price of the charter was $4,000.00 for the four days of fishing which included a gratuity. The Prospective client told the Captain they would mail him a cashier’s check for the full amount. The client sent a Cashier’s Check from Regions Bank in Tennessee via express mail to the Captain, which he deposited into his Wells Fargo bank account. Two days later he received an email from the client indicating there had been a death in the family. The husband of one of the persons making the trip had suddenly suffered a heart attack and passed away. Unfortunately they were not going to be able to make the trip. They were terribly sorry for the inconvenience and wanted to know if they could get a refund of their monies? Because they needed money for funeral expenses right away, they were willing to allow the captain to keep $2000 for his inconvenience if he would send the balance via an American Express Money Order right away. 18
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To make their frauds work, scammers depend upon trust and gullibility. Not realizing it might be a scam and that he could realize a profit, trustingly the captain had a money order made out for $2,000 and sent it off as requested. Three days later, his bank sent him a letter informing him the cashier’s check for $4,000 was invalid and the monies had been deducted from his account. This captain was left holding the bag for $2,000 of his own money with no way recover his money. Once you send an American Express Money Order or any Money Order, in fact, it’s gone. There are thousands of fraud cases registered each year with the FBI and State of Florida. This can happen to anyone, not only charter captains. Whether you’re selling a car, home, boat, trailer or anything; the best thing to remember is the old saying: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Things to watch for:
• An offer to send a cashier’s check for more than the purchase price • Never send money back until you’re certain it has cleared your bank • Communication via odd-sounding email addresses • If they are demanding fast payment or refund • It can often take months to clear all banks So how can you protect yourself from a phony check or money order? First, if it’s for a relatively small amount like a charter, ask for cash or a credit card number. If it’s a long-distance transaction and you receive a cashier’s check or money order, call the issuer it’s drawn on and verify it’s good. Remember, never call the numbers printed on the check, because scammers often have people answering those numbers. Look up the bank’s number yourself. If they insist on paying by cashier’s check, you can have them use a bank with a local branch, which can ensure it’s valid. The U.S. Postal Service money orders are hard to beat for smaller amounts; although, they’re limited to $1,000. You can take it to a local post office or call the toll-free number (866 459-7822) to verify. WWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT MARCH 2016 LET’S GO FISHING feet deep you might give MirrOlure’s MirrOdine and MirrOdine Snook: As the water temperatures begin rising snook should five (heavy) a try. These are great trout catchers.
start moving into their spring and summertime patterns. As the greenbacks start showing up and live bait anglers have to begin tossing that cast net to load up on the legendary snook candy. Look for snook to pattern along outside edges and points, along mangrove islands and shorelines and especially where tidal flows move bait. Tampa Bay’s miles of grass flats with sandy potholes offer excellent ambush locations. Live bait, suspending lures, topwater’s and soft plastics produce excellent opportunities to catch snook.
Redfish: There’s nothing more exciting to a redfish angler
than easing onto a shallow grass flat and seeing fish tails with that ever pronounced black dot waving in the air. The first thing is to identify whether it is redfish or sheepshead, once you’re sure it’s reds; figure out which direction they are feeding and approach quietly from the other. Mother Nature provided redfish with exceptional eyesight and even better hearing. Always present a low profile; often times a serious angler will slip over the side then slowly and quietly wade to within casting distance. Then comes the tricky part; making that perfectly placed cast to pick off the outside fish. You never want to cast directly into the school.
For diehard live baiters use live shrimp, greenbacks, or fifty-cent size pinfish free-lined or under a popping cork, find a deeper broken bottom grass flat and you’ll find trout.
Cobia, Mackerel, Sharks: As the bait shows up
these should follow. Check markers and cans holding bait and be ready to toss something in the path of a circling Cobia. Not picky about food, Cobia will readily take large shrimp, small crabs and pinfish or toss them an artificial jerkbait or plastic eel. Mackerel will eat greenbacks, threadfins, silver spoons and of course shrimp.
If you’re scouting for redfish you will notice in my reports that I mention mullet schools; that’s because it bears repeating. When locating feeding redfish, remember they follow schooling mullet eating the baits they stir up. Therefore, it stands to reason that fishing mullet schools usually produces reds. Some anglers use the dead stick method with cut ladyfish, mullet or chunks of crabs; other still prefer artificial lures or live bait.
Spotted Sea Trout: March incoming or outgoing
tides and overcast skies should produce good catches of trout. I cannot emphasize the excitement of using topwater lures on calm early morning trout grass flats. One of the top lures is the MirrOlure Top Dog Jr. and MirrOMullet. Twitch or “walk-the-dog” type action where you stop the lure momentarily after each series of rod twitches and reel cranks. The anticipation is un-nerving. If the water’s three to
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” 813-477-3814
Kim Big Trout
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA AG
Captain Woody Gore has been guiding and fishing the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years; his level of customer service, experience and attention to detail allows him to offer world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Single or Multi-boat Group Charters are all the same. With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done.
Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give him a call at 813-477-3814 WWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
Photo by Dennis Schroeder / NREL
Produce your own electricity for less Eliminate energy cost increases forever Eliminate all taxes on the energy you consume Improve your cash flow with a 30% federal tax credit Increase your property value without increasing your property tax COMMON SENSE AG ENERGY SOLUTIONS
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• Spanish moss used to be used for stuffing mattresses. • Coriander/cilantro has been around since biblical times. • Pineapples are the only bromeliad fruits that are sold commercially throughout the world • The ancient Egyptians believed coriander could be used in the afterlife as a food for the departed. • Because of the shape of the leaves, most Bromeliads are able to hold a lot of rainfall. • Because of the constant moisture, a food chain is created with the growth of algae, making them a small self-contained ecosystem. • Bromeliads include about 2,700 species, with the most well-known the pineapple. • Flowers are red, orange, purple or blue. • A bromeliad can grow in soil, on rocks and in other plants and trees. Because the plant can gather nutrients and moisture from its surrounding atmosphere, the plant has the nickname “air plant.”
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The first of December me my wife, Patsy, went to Doctor Salvato’s office in Plant City for our annual flu shot. No problem, In and out in about ten-minutes. Three months later, no flu. They must be working for both of us. Ferris Waller, owner of the Flea Market north of Plant City, sent me an email from a friend of his on how to avoid the flu without taking a flu shot. In case you don’t want to take a shot next year you might want to follow his instructions. Ferris says the first step is to eat right. Take your vitamins and bump up your vitamin C. Get plenty of exercise because it builds your immune system. Walk for at least an hour a day, go for a swim, and take the stairs instead of the elevator. Wash your hands often. If you can’t, keep a bottle of antibacterial stuff around. Get lots of fresh air. Open doors and windows whenever possible. Try to eliminate as much stress from your life as you can. Get plenty of rest. OR, take the doctor’s approach. Think about it… When you go for a flu shot, what do they do first? They clean your arm with alcohol… Why? Because alcohol kills germs! So, why not walk to the bar (exercise) put lime in your vodka (fruit), Celery in your Bloody Mary (veggies). Drink outdoors on the patio…(fresh air)! Tell jokes and laugh…(eliminate stress), then pass out (rest). Ferris’ friend said, “The way I see it, is, if you keep your alcohol levels up, flu germs can’t get you!” If you’re hard of hearing, you will enjoy this story. An old man went to the Doctor complaining that his wife could hardly hear. The Doctor suggested a test to find out the extent of the problem. “Stand far behind her and ask her a question, and the slowly move up and see how farm away you are when she first responds.” The old man excited to finally be working on a solution for the hearing problem, runs home and sees his wife preparing supper. “Honey” the man asks standing around 20 feet away, “what’s for supper?” After receiving no response he tried it again 15 feet away, and again no response. Again at 10 feet, still no response. Finally he was 5 feet away “Honey what’s for supper?” She replies, “For the fourth time its lasagna!” Did you hear the story about Fred, who was in the hospital on his death bed? The family called Fred’s preacher to be with him in his final moments. As the Preacher stood by Fred’s bed, his condition seemed to deteriorate, and Fred motioned for someone to quickly 22
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give him a pen and paper. The Preacher quickly got a pen and paper and lovingly hand it to Fred. But before he had a chance to read the note, Fred died. The Preacher feeling that now was not the right time to read the note he, so he put it in his shirt pocket. It was at the funeral while speaking that the Preacher suddenly remembered the note. Reaching deep into his pocket the Preacher said, “You know what, I suddenly remembered that right before Fred died he handed me a note, and knowing Fred I am sure it was something inspiring that we can all gain from. With that introduction the Preacher unfolded the note that read “HEY PREACHER, YOU ARE STANDING ON MY OXYGEN TUBE!” Gertrude suddenly realized she was alone. For years she had been taking her husband to the doctor, then one day she realized she was all alone. Her husband had passed and she felt she could no longer move on. “Listen here Gertrude”, said her good friend Barbara, “Maybe you should go see a psychic. One of my friends did it after her husband died and it made her feel so much better knowing that her loved one was happy.” A few days later Gertrude found herself in a dim room with a crystal ball and a psychic talking in a calm voice. “Is he here?” Gertrude asked. “Yes, I sense him,” was her reply. “Please ask him if he is happy?” Gertrude hesitantly asked. “He’s putting his hand to his mouth like he wants to smoke,” said the psychic. “Oh, of course,” Gertrude said, “He wants a cigar. Fred can never last more than a few hours without a cigar. I guess they don’t have cigars up there. Did he say where he is or how I could get one to him?” Gertrude asked. “Hmm,” said the psychic. “I can’t seem to get that question across to him. But then again,” said the psychic after a short pause, “he didn’t say anything about needing a lighter.” I am sure most all of you have heard of John Hoki, the inventor of the Hoki Poki. While John’s life is well known, what’s not so well known is the story that happened at his funeral in the early 40s. Being that John was quite a popular fellow, mostly due to the Hoki Poki, which spread like wildfire through his small Alabama town, thousands showed up for his funeral, all coming to bid him farewell. Well it happened right before the ceremony was about to begin, when the undertake gently lifted John up to place him in the coffin. The problem that arose was that as soon as they put his right foot in….. (I’m sure you can figure out the rest.) WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Stop by our produce stand and pick up some delicious strawberries. We’re sure they’ll make any occasion Berry Special! Located at the corner of Rice and County Line Road | 813.478.3486 or 813.754.4852 | FancyFarms.com WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Florida’s Wading Birds: Waiting for your help
By Ginny Mink My Mammaw lives in a retirement community in Plant City. She has the luxury of owning a home on the water. From her back porch she is often greeted by an array of birds. Sometimes she knows what they are, but most times the birds are unfamiliar. So, I recently ordered her a book on water birds published by the Audubon Society. It’s not exactly what I had in mind, but I’ll keep looking.
herons, tricolored herons and snowy egrets prefer wooded areas like those found among cypress, willow, red maple, buttonwood, mangroves, and Brazilian pepper. On the other hand, roseate spoonbills and the reddish egrets tend to stick to island locales among the Brazilian pepper and mangroves. They can be found in Tampa Bay and the Mosquito Lagoon regions.
Anyway, this experience led me to this month’s endangered and threatened species focus. Apparently there are a number of wading birds (water birds as Mammaw likes to call them) that are imperiled. Of course I immediately wondered if Mammaw was seeing any of these birds from the comfort of her back porch. So, without further ado, let’s see which wading birds in Florida are in need of our help!
When it comes to food, the reddish egret and tricolored heron stick to small fish. In fact, the reddish egret is quite the predator pursuing the wee fish while in their schools. The tricolored herons and snowy egrets aren’t passive about their food either. They stalk fish, vertebrates and invertebrates in the wetlands they inhabit. Blue herons use more stealth in their attacks and are open to a wide variety of prey: amphibians, fish, crustaceans, insects, worms, and snakes.
After a little research, I discovered that the list includes: little blue heron, reddish egret, roseate spoonbill, snowy egret and tricolored heron. The white ibis used to be on the list but recent research has determined that its populations have increased enough to be removed from the list altogether. This is great news for the ibis, but leaves us wondering what can be done for the other five species still included. Since all these birds live in similar habitats and face comparable threats, it makes sense to include them in one piece and address the needs simultaneously. These birds are dependent upon the existence of healthy wetland areas, which include mangroves and other island structures. They are foragers and need well vegetated areas for breeding and nesting. They all require fresh water, marine or brackish sites like those found in tidal pools, mudflats, marshes, mangrove pools, sloughs, and manmade ponds. Specifically though, the blue heron requires freshwater sites to raise its young until they reach a better state of salt tolerance. Reddish egrets tend to stay near coastal lines with little grass because their foraging occurs mostly in shallow marine areas on sandbars and shorelines. These birds nest in colonies, typically. Sometimes the reddish egret will build solitary nests or join small single species groups. The blue 28
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So what has hindered their success in Florida? Apparently in the 19th century there was a desire for the collection of plumes, which led to over hunting. People also utilized wading birds as a food source at that time. Thusly, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was put into place in 1918. It prohibited taking these birds, their nests and eggs. Protection of their nesting and feeding habitats has certainly helped these birds. With the institution of site specific protections, the places these birds return to nest each year are being cared for and maintained. The Tampa Bay area’s bird population is being protected by Audubon’s Florida Coastal Island Sanctuaries program. It protects the reddish egret and roseate spoonbill whose largest population can be found at Alafia Bank Bird Sanctuary. Additionally, the Everglades National Park, established in 1947, has offered significant protection to those birds who choose to nest and forage in the southern part of Florida. Of course there are other entities that offer similar protections for these beautiful wading birds as well: the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Aquatic Preserve Program, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Florida National Wildlife Refuges and Important Bird Areas. There are plans in place to help conserve the habitats these birds call home. One such plan is called the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan. They have delineated goals and priorities for the WWW. ININTTHE FFIELD M WWW. HE IELD MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
protection of Florida’s wading birds and other endangered birds in the United States. In truth, most of the habitats frequented by these wading birds fall into protected state and federal wetlands. Permits are required to dredge or fill these areas as a means of conserving their wetland status. Sadly, heavy metals and other contaminants continue to pollute these same protected areas. In 1972 DDT was banned and this aided in some revival of the bird populations as this chemical contributed to contaminated food sources and eggshell thinning (which promoted a significant drop in reproduction success). Even with all these protections and conservation methods in place these birds are still in danger. The threats are still intense: loss of
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habitat, more native and non-native predators, lowered water tables, and water toxicity, just to name a few. We need to be hyper-cognizant of how we treat this planet. Mammaw wants to continue enjoying her water birds and that enjoyment will cease if we fail to act on behalf of Florida’s wading birds. Pictures Courtesy of: Susan Young and Alan Schmierer Resources: http://myfwc.com/media/2738289/Wading-Birds-Species-ActionPlan-Final-Draft.pdf http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw309 http://www.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/portal/xrepository/sfwmd_repository_pdf/wadingbirdreport_2013.pdf
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M&B PRODUCTS FARM NIGHT BBQ CELEBRATES AGRICULTURE Proceeds Benefit Temple Terrace Parks and Recreation Department By Jim Frankowiak
Agriculture was the star of the evening at the first-ever Farm Night BBQ held last month at M & B Products, once the home of Sunny Brook Dairy Farm on the east side of Temple Terrace off of Harney Road. More than 600 community members of all ages attended the event, which may become an annual affair for Temple Terrace. M & B Products owner Dale McClellan hosted the gathering “to be part of the community and to teach about agriculture and its importance to everyone.” The festivities began with a dinner featuring barbecued ribs, pulled pork, smoked brisket, collard greens, baked beans, a wide choice of ice cream flavors, strawberry shortcake and other goodies. Entertainment was provided by the Dan Story Band from Central Florida. The country western group has performed as an opening act for many big-named entertainers at county fairs and festivals across Florida. Local talent, 15-year-old Sarah Morey, opened for the band and performed during its breaks. She sang cover songs and some of her own, original pieces. There was also a cash bar. There were a variety of ag-related exhibits, including a butter-making display, cracker whip and roping demonstrations, hayrides and open-fire metal forge along with corn shelling and grinding by Steve Melton. There was also the chance for attendees to see some very sophisticated farm tractors and other items up close and personal. Hillsborough County Farm Bureau was on hand, too. Executive Director Judi Whitson and many of her volunteers offered children a variety of experiences from the Ag-Venture educational program for kids, a partnership with Farm Bureau, the Florida State Fair, and Hillsborough County Extension Service in cooperation with the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “Many youngsters and others have no idea where the food they eat each day comes from,” said Whitson. “Ag-Venture helps to address this and an understanding of the importance of agriculture for all of us. Farm Night BBQ is an enjoyable way to reach out to the community and help everyone understand why farmers and ranchers are so important. We hope Farm Night BBQ becomes an annual event.” Ag-Venture is held annually at the State Fairgrounds for third-graders 32
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in Hillsborough County who tour a series of stations, each depicting different aspects of agriculture with the chance for students to participate in hands-on activities at each. Representatives from the Temple Terrace Farm2School Program at Greco Middle School were also on hand with some hands-on to help kids learn about agriculture. “Temple Terrace Farm2School was pleased to partner with M & B Products and Hillsborough County Farm Bureau at this event,” said Farm2School found and director Elizabeth Leib. “Teaching kids about the way healthy food is grown and prepared is a shared value for everyone involved,” she said. Additional event partners and sponsors included the City of Temple Terrace, Temple Terrace Lodge #330 Free and Accepted Masons, the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce, Premier Signs, The Bank of Tampa, Synergy, Ace Contracting, All-Steel Buildings, Gulf Coast Thermo King along with numerous others. Proceeds from the event which total nearly $10,000 are to be given to the Temple Terrace Parks and Recreation Department for some needed improvements at various locations. A dairyman all of his life, McClellan is also a past president of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau. His company, which includes many of his family members, employs 174-people at its operations in Temple Terrace and a 320-acre dairy farm near Lecanto, Florida. M & B Products provides milk, frozen yogurt, juice and pouches of water to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and prisons through Central Florida. “Florida farmers face many challenges like weather, development, the economy and others,” said McClellan. “One of our most daunting is the average Floridian’s perception of agriculture. For many people the source of their food is not the farm or ranch, but rather the grocery store. Events like Farm Night BBQ gives us the chance to both celebrate agriculture and help people understand its importance. “We are very pleased with the attendance at this first-ever Farm Night BBQ and hope we can make it an annual event.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Florida Cilantro By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is a bright green annual plant with many culinary uses as both an herb and a spice. Known for its distinctive, fresh taste, cilantro is a key ingredient in salsa and Latin and Southeast Asian dishes. Cilantro is sometimes called coriander, but most refer to the leaves of the plant as cilantro and the seeds as coriander. Both parts of the plant are highly nutritious with plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Cilantro is also referred to as Chinese parsley, and while it has similarities to parsley, cilantro has a tangier and more citrus-like taste. Ground coriander seeds are used in a variety of dishes and desserts but may be best known as the main ingredient in the Indian spice mix garam masala. Cilantro thrives in the cooler months of Florida and grows easily in sunny, well-drained areas. When the weather warms, the plant will develop pink-white flowers and then produce seeds about three months after planting. To harvest the seeds, remove the brown, fruiting parts of the plant and allow to dry. Once dried, remove the seeds from the fruiting parts and store in a dry, sealed container.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
Coriander seeds contain a variety of disease-fighting phytonutrients. They are a very good source of dietary fiber and a good source of copper, manganese, iron, magnesium, and calcium. Cilantro leaves are also a great source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as the minerals copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and potassium. Cilantro is high in beneficial flavonoids and volatile oils which function like antioxidants in preventing diseases. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, a half cup (8 g) of fresh cilantro contains 1.8 calories, 0.2 g protein, 0.04 g fat, 0.3 g carbohydrate, and 0.22 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 28% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin K, 3% for vitamin C, and 3% for vitamin A. In other words, a tiny portion of cilantro provides almost one third of your entire day’s vitamin K requirements and other nutrients for almost no calories.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Research studies on animals have demonstrated the powerful health effects of cilantro and coriander. In diabetic rats, coriander helped lower blood sugar and decreased the amount of damaged fats in the cell membranes. Coriander also lowered levels of total and LDL (the “bad” kind) cholesterol, while raising HDL (the “good” cholesterol) levels. The volatile oils in cilantro leaves also have antimicrobial properties, which can help fight illness. Interestingly enough, researchers found that cilantro and coriander contain dodecanal, a compound that may fight the bacteria Salmonella as effectively as some antibiotics.
VITAMIN C
Cilantro is an excellent source of vitamin C, a water-soluble antioxidant that helps support the immune system. This vitamin is important for maintaining a healthy immune system, cancer prevention, healthy blood circulation and wound healing. Cilantro and other foods high in vitamin C may help reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms. This vitamin also acts as a potent antioxidant in the body, neutralizing harmful free radicals and preventing its damaging effects in cells. As a result, vitamin C has anti-inflammatory properties and has been associated with reduced severity of asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Several large scientific studies have shown that a high consumption of vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes including heart disease, stroke and cancer.
VITAMIN A: FIGHT MORE FREE RADICALS
Vitamin A, in the form of beta-carotene, is a fat-soluble antioxidant WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
that fights free radicals and cell damage much like vitamin C. Required for optimal functioning of the immune system, this vitamin helps to maintain the integrity of cells in the skin and mucosa, which function as a barrier to germs. It is also involved in the development and differentiation of white blood cells, which are part of the body’s immune response to infection. In addition, vitamin A is well known for its important role in maintaining healthy vision. Inadequate retinol available to the retina may result in “night blindness.” This vitamin also acts as a hormone to regulate gene expression in a number of physiological processes, including the production of red blood cells.
HOW TO ENJOY
Fresh Florida cilantro leaves are delicious eaten raw in salads or a salsa. Other ways to enjoy cilantro include • Garnish grilled fish or poultry with fresh cilantro before serving • Combine chopped cilantro with garlic and lemon juice and use as a marinade or rub for meat • Chew on cilantro after eating to freshen your breath • Mince and add to coleslaw, potato salad, spreads, or salad dressing • Add chopped cilantro to soups or tomato sauces for an extra punch of flavor Coriander seeds can be enjoyed in savory and sweet dishes: • Sauté coriander seeds with olive oil, garlic, spinach, and garbanzo beans, and season with ginger and cumin. • Add coriander seeds to soups and broths. • Use coriander seeds in the poaching liquid when preparing fish or chicken breast • Put coriander seeds in a pepper mill and keep on the dinner table so that you and your family can use them at any time. • Combine and heat coriander, cinnamon, honey, and milk for a warm beverage
HOW TO SELECT AND STORE
Choose fresh cilantro that is deep green in color with fresh, crisp leaves. Avoid those that have wilted or yellow or brown spots. Buy whole coriander seeds instead of coriander powder for more potent, fresh flavor. Store coriander seeds and powder in a tightly sealed container in a dark, cool place. Whole seeds will stay fresh for up to one year, while ground coriander has a shelf life of four to six months. To use coriander seeds, soak in cold water for ten minutes, drain, then grind with a mortar and pestle. Soaking in water is an optional step, but will give them a more fragrant aroma. To store cilantro, wrap a damp paper towel around the leaves and place in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to six days. If it wilts, sprinkle water on the leaves to refresh them. Wash leaves immediately before using. Cilantro can also be dried by laying it out at room temperature. After it is dried, store it in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark place. Cilantro leaves also freeze well and can be added to soups and dishes without thawing first. One simple way to freeze cilantro and other herbs is to chop the leaves, place in ice cube trays, and cover with water. When cooking soups or stews, just drop in as many frozen cubes as you need. Enjoy fresh, flavorful Florida cilantro today. With its fresh, vibrant flavor and exceptionally low calories, cilantro makes a nutritious addition to any raw or cooked dish. Or, grow your own plant in your yard and enjoy an herb and a spice all in one plant!
SELECTED REFERENCES
http://www.whfoods.com http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/cilantro.html http://www.almanac.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Try it
CRAVE IT TOMORROW.
The Boneless Wings Meal With Spicy Honey BBQ Sauce. Enjoy the sweet taste of honey with a little bit of kick. It’s two great flavors on one plate of wings. Served with Crinkle Fries and a Small Beverage. Try them today! 2901 1/2 James Redman Pkwy. Plant City • 813.752.1971 1060-1390 cal.
© 2016 Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc. “Zaxby’s” is a registered trademark of Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc. Each Zaxby’s restaurant is independently owned and operated under a license agreement with Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc. DR PEPPER is a registered trademark of Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.
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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PLANT CITY NAMES NEW ACADEMIC ADVISOR
By Jim Frankowiak
Debra M. Barry
Lithia native and former Agriscience teacher Debra M. Barry has been named Academic Advisor at the University of Florida (UF) Plant City Distance Education Center located on the Hillsborough Community College campus on North Park Road. Barry is responsible for the promotion of the University of Florida among prospective students in the surrounding area on admission, financial aid, scholarships, program of study, registration and internships and career planning. She also functions as the Advisor for the Plant City Collegiate FFA Chapter. Most recently an Agriscience teacher at Braden River High School in Bradenton where she had taught since 2005, Barry is “pleased with the opportunity to have a significant impact on a greater number of students enabling me to make a difference in agriculture, an industry I love.” The Agriscience Program at Braden River High School had the largest enrollment in Florida, according to 2012 statistics. Barry was co-lead for the school’s Science Technology & Health Academy for six years. In 2006, she was named Manatee County Career & Technical Education (CTE) “New Teacher of Excellence” and also received the Florida Association of Ag Educators (FAAE) “Teacher Turn The Key” award. In 2012 she was honored as Manatee County CTE “Teacher of Excellence.” Barry has also served as a consultant for Small Learning Communities (SLC) and as Manatee Schools District FFA Advisor. Prior to joining the faculty at Braden River High School, Barry was an agriscience teacher at Palmetto High School where she also served as a consultant to Braden River High School on its Agriscience land-lab use. She interned at Southeast High School before her faculty appointment at Palmetto High School. Barry holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from UF. Her cum laude Bachelor of Science degree is in Agricultural Education & Communication with a teaching specialization, while her Masters of Science is also in Agricultural Education & Communication. While a student at UF, Deb was very active in many CALS Organizations. Her senior year she was President of both Collegiate FFA and Sigma Phi Alpha. Growing up in Lithia, Barry grew a love for agriculture, becoming a member of FFA at Turkey Creek Junior High School, as then an FFA Officer at Durant High School. While at Durant High School, she was also a member of the National Honor Society, an officer in Junior Civitans , a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Academic Editor of the yearbook her senior year. She plans to pursue a doctorate in Ag Education in the near future. As part of UF’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, the Plant City Distance Education Center accepts junior level status or graduate level students. The degree programs offered include Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership Development, Geomatics and Environmental Management. Agricultural Education & Communication offers two specializa40 40
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tions, agricultural education or communication and leadership development. Geomatics is the field of study that uses advanced technology to detect how and where things are located on the Earth’s surface, while environmental management in agriculture and natural resources integrates the mix of agricultural and environmental issues which must be addressed in modern agriculture. “Distance education gives students the flexibility to further their education while maintaining other responsibilities such as a job or family,” noted Barry. “Our focus is to reach out to surrounding communities, schools and junior colleges to help generate awareness of the opportunities the University of Florida has here in Plant City and once they decide to transfer, help them make the transition and succeed. “In addition to making prospective students aware of our programs, we also want them to understand that a 4.0 grade point average is not required to transfer,” said Barry. Barry and her husband Jason are the parents of four-year-old Abby. For more information about programs and enrollment at the UFPlant City campus, email Barry at: dmbarry@ufl.edu or call: 813757-2280. The UF-Plant City campus is located at 1200 North Park Road, Plant City, FL 33563. WWW. WWW.IIN NTTHE HEF FIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
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Swings for the Fence
By Jack Payne
The hunt for the next great Florida agriculture success story is unfolding in Wimauma. The storybook ending the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences hopes to write is one in which our state becomes a major hops producer.
Deng and his collaborators will be taking a few hundred swings at once, thanks to local brewers’ donations of root bulbs and equipment. A hit, if it comes, won’t happen immediately.
That would provide a local supply to match the explosive growth of the craft brewing industry. Along the way, it would create jobs, increase growers’ and brewers’ profits, and give Tampa-area residents a chance to drink local.
But 20 years ago a thriving Florida blueberry industry didn’t seem all that likely either. Our breeders changed that. Florida growers now produce more than $75 million worth of blueberries annually – more than 95 percent of it in UF/IFAS-created varieties.
Like so many previous success stories, it starts with science. Specifically, this story will be set in a new hops yard that’s being created in the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. Our local protagonists are environmental horticulturalist Zhanao Deng and plant physiologist Shinsuke Agehara, who work at Gulf Coast REC. Environmental horticulturalist Brian Pearson will also contribute from our Mid-Florida REC in Apopka.
The hops experiments are also an example of how our research agenda is crafted with the input of the communities we serve.
Deng may be best known for his work on developing sterile varieties of lantana. Homeowners love the plant, but it’s an invasive species that quickly spreads and can wreak havoc on other species in the neighborhood and beyond.
The Hillsborough County Agriculture Economic Development Council quickly realized that the value-added production potential for local farmers from hops was promising, but the AEDC needed proof of concept. That is where the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast REC came in. It has a team of scientists that is essentially the discovery and innovation arm of agriculture throughout the area.
Deng’s work as a breeder is so respected that his lantana is also being tested in Africa for its potential to repel malaria-carrying mosquitoes. He’s game to test it as a repellent to Zika-virus-carrying bugs as well if there’s a call for it. Hillsborough County brewers import their hops all the way from Washington State and foreign countries because we can’t grow good hops in Florida – yet. The subtropical climate and local pests and diseases conspire against it. It’s a heavy lift to overcome those obstacles. If it were easy, it would have been done years ago in tandem with the launch of Florida’s craft brewing industry. As Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” The hops project is an example of how UF/IFAS sometimes swings for the fences. That comes at a cost. You have to have the stomach for striking out. Again, Edison described the innovator’s predicament well when he said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Simon Bollin, the Hillsborough County agribusiness development manager, helped identify the opportunity. There are about 20 breweries in Hillsborough County and more than 60 in the greater Tampa area.
Bollin brought brewers and breeders together, and they decided hops were worth a try. Bollin arranged for the donations of plant material and equipment. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences is lending its support through a $158,000 grant. We have high hopes for hops, just as we do for peaches, pomegranates, and olives. You just can’t know ahead of time which crop will figure in the next success story. We just know that UF/IFAS scientists are likely authors of it, and right now they’re scribbling away in Hillsborough.
Jack Payne is the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. jackpayne@ufl.edu • @JackPayneIFAS 42
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Fuel your growing season with propane. Irrigation Incentives Available Now
Florida Propane Gas Safety Education & Research Council For more information, visit www.oridapropane.org/peff-incentives/irrigation/ or email info@FloridaGas.org
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INTRODUCING THE BEST-IN-CLASS
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My Best Flight Ever … Jumping With the Army’s Golden Knights! by John Dicks
It is not often that your life on this Earth quite literally hangs in four harness hooks and the two hands of a guy you met less than an hour ago. Fortunately, the four hooks were amazingly secure and the two hands belonged to the patriotic and professional U. S. Army Staff Sgt. Rich Sloan, who is a tandem jump instructor with the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team. The Golden Knights comprise America’s premier skydiving demonstration and competition teams. Since 1962, they have conducted more than 16,000 shows in 50 states and 48 countries, reaching an average of 60,000 people per show. Earlier this month, as a state committeeman for the Department of Defense’s ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) I was selected to jump (or rather step) out of a perfectly good airplane nearly 14,000 feet in the air while securely tethered to my new best friend, Sgt. Sloan. Granted, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be flying through the air at 120 mph before spiraling and then floating safely back to the ground; but this was more than just a thrill ride. The tandem jumps are used by the Golden Knights to demonstrate through firsthand experience the skills and capabilities of our modern day paratroopers. It was warm in Miami on March 2nd. On the ground, at Homestead Air Reserve Base, it felt like spring had finally sprung. But up high, when the plane’s jump door slid open and in surged the chilled air of 14,000 feet, there was no denying that this leap of faith from a height about half that of Mt. Everest to the ground below us was soon going to happen. 46
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The time was 1:03 pm when I stood in the doorway, toes hanging over the edge. How do I know the time? I checked later with my Apple watch and noticed that my heart rate jumped instantly from the 70’s to 121 beats per minute. Technology on my wrist was amazing, but at the moment I was focusing on the technology secured to my back. We had inched towards the door in a crablike movement since I was now tightly tethered to Sgt. Sloan through those four harness hooks I was relying on for survival. The thought flashed through my mind that these hooks were probably procured by the government in a low cost bid award. Not much confidence was inspired with that revelation. I did, however, take satisfaction in reminding myself from our morning briefing that our parachute system, an extra large one so designed to carry our collective weight, cost nearly $16,000 and was rigged with every conceivable safety strap, handle and clip available. I had even watched it being carefully packed by Liz Hoffman, the expert parachute rigger, who by her own estimation had packed nearly 250,000 parachutes over the last 15 years. I declined to ask her (wisely, I think) whether there had been any issues with any of those quarter of a million packs. It is an interesting feeling to crouch in the doorway of cruising plane, staring at the proposed landing zone nearly three miles down, while the pilots are no doubt impatiently awaiting your departure so that they can return to their runway for landing. It is one of those situations in life when time slows down. Everything seems in slow motion. I had earlier that morning wondered whether when standing there, about to take that “one small step for man” out of the plane, would I instinctively shut my eyes and miss the moment. Instead, I found it strangely impossible to keep them WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
closed, as if wanting to visually capture every second and found that they were mimicking my smile below, which was fixed in an especially wide grin. Probably all of us have wondered, perhaps even dreamed, of what it must be like to fly. And here, now, it all seemed to be happening. Granted, it was Sgt. Sloan who was really doing the flying, but he demonstrated how our hand motions in the air could change the direction of our flight in free fall. That was even more pronounced when I noticed SFC Jimmy Hackett, another tandem instructor who was serving as our videographer. He was zooming in front of us and perfectly positioning himself to record our flight. That alone was amazing, but he kept making slight hand and foot movements to both maintain his position and fly completely around us for different angles and viewpoints.
Sgt. Sloan handed me the toggles to our gigantic chute overhead and let me tug one and then the other to change the direction of our falling flight. Fortunately he took over and expertly spiraled us downwards before heading into the direction of the wind in order to flare the canopy, which slowed us even more to our landing that had us softly sliding to a stop. Still grinning from ear to ear, I excitedly jumped up from the ground and declared this to be “my best flight ever”. Sgt. Sloan politely, yet enthusiastically agreed. It was, of course, simple to pass such judgment since, as he already knew, this had been my first and perhaps only skyjump, thus indeed making it “my best flight ever”!
Despite hurtling towards earth in near terminal velocity, there was no real sense of falling. Only the velocity of the wind was giving any sense of speed. But the objects on the earth were growing larger and that meant it was time to terminate the free fall and transition into the actual parachuting. When the ripcord was pulled and the wind inflated the canopy overhead, there was a dramatic sensation of braking. It was combined with the almost instant change in direction of our fall since now we were drifting downwards, hanging vertically in the harness rather than flying horizontal with the horizon as we were doing just moments before. The transition was sudden and surreal. With the speed of our descent slowed significantly, the wind quit howling and there was only a soft hiss of our drifting in stable air. So quiet it became that really nothing could be heard until the silence was broken by my lifesaver, Sgt. Sloan. Our conversation was remarkably clear and calm, which was a good thing since he was giving directions regarding our landing. I was, as you would imagine, paying rapt attention to his instructions.
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John Dicks is both a lawyer and a farmer. He and his family own 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. He and his wife, Sharon, live in Plant City, where he served nine years as City Commissioner, including three years as Mayor.
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Recipes
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Chef Justin Timineri
White and Dark Chocolate Mousse with Florida Strawberries Ingredients
12 large strawberries, rinsed, hulled and sliced fresh mint, for garnish White Chocolate Mouse Ingredients 3 ounces white chocolate for baking, broken into pieces 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, divided 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Dark Chocolate Mousse Ingredients 3 ounces dark chocolate for baking, broken into pieces 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, divided 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS In a small saucepot, combine 1/4 cup heavy cream and the white chocolate pieces. Cook over medium heat until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from heat and cool completely. Beat remaining cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract in small mixing bowl until stiff peaks
form (do not over beat). Fold melted baking bar mixture into whipped cream; refrigerate. Spoon into serving bowl or individual dishes. To assemble dish, layer the two mousses with the strawberries in four wide-rim glasses. Keep cold and garnish with fresh mint.
Florida Strawberry Mascarpone Panini INGREDIENTS 1/2 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced thin 8 slices fresh bread (1/2 inch thick) 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese confectioners’ sugar for dusting 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
DIRECTIONS Heat a panini press or griddle over medium heat. Spread a thin layer of mascarpone on top of each of the 8 bread slices. Add an even layer of fresh sliced strawberries to 4 of the bread slices. Use the other 4 slices of bread to top the sandwiches. Brush the sandwiches with butter and grill or press until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer the panini to a cutting board and dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serve warm. 48
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Business Up Front
& Service Center
By Nick Chapman What started five years ago as a visit to check out a business opportunity, ended up with Frank and Dolly Cummings falling in love with Plant City and opening Walden Lake Car Wash & Service Center. “I came across Plant City because this location was advertised and I visited the same time the Pig Jam was here,” said Frank. “I decided to check out the Pig Jam and thought it was the best thing ever. Then I said I needed to check out this car wash, and that’s how we started here in Plant City.” Since their opening almost five years ago, Walden Lake Car Wash & Service Center has become a favorite of many of Plant City’s residents. Frank laughed and said Coleman Davis calls his business ‘the other meeting place.’ That’s because there is something special about this car wash. It’s not just the spacious waiting room, or the kid’s play area, or the coffee bar. It’s the personal touch and care that’s given to every customer that passes through their door. The car wash is the busiest portion of the business, with several washing packages to fit your needs and budget. Frank also offers fleet accounts for businesses with monthly billing options. There are monthly service plans where you pay one price and you can come in six days a week and get your car washed. Walden Lake Car Wash & Service Center is a one-stop auto care center for vehicles. On top of the automated washing services, customers can get an oil change and all of their filters replaced if needed. They can also service the power steering and transmission, and can even change your wiper blades. “We specialize in light, quick maintenance. We will check brakes and tires, even though we can’t do that work, just to let our customers know if repairs or replacement is needed,” Frank said. “We try to do more personalized service.” This is what really sets Walden Lake Car Wash & Service Center apart from its competitors. “We do take five minutes longer on the vehicles, there’s no doubt about it. Our employees are instructed to vacuum between the seats and under the seats, and to look over the car to do a better job. We spend more time.” Frank said they are not like a fast-food chain trying to get people in and out. “People are paying good hard-earned money, whether it’s retirement money or cash from working, so we want to give them a better job.”
There is also a detail shop for the customer that wants a manicured cleaning of their vehicle. “We can do anything from carpets and seats, to polishing the interior leather or vinyl and cleaning all the nooks and crannies.” For the exterior care, they provide full compounding and clay bar. “Clay bar will lift off any paint and road debris that is stuck to the paint, and will remove most stubborn materials. And we do the hand waxing.” Frank Cummings is very active in the Plant City community as well. He has been an Ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce for the last four years, and received the “Good Egg” award for the good work he does on that front. “I felt very honored to receive that award,” Frank admitted. He’s been amazed how Plant City has embraced he and his wife. Frank also belongs to the Plant City Lions Club and serves as its 2nd Vice President, the Food Booth chairperson and the Sight chairperson. The Food Booth is their largest and most intense fundraiser, and has kept Frank busy leading up to the Strawberry Festival. Frank originally got into the car wash business with the help of his brother Tommy and a good friend Andrew Breimann. They pooled their resources to find a business that had steady income, and the car wash became a great investment for them. Frank bought out his brother’s share, but Andrew is still active in the business. “When I return to visit family in New York, they say I’ve changed,” Frank confessed. “The Southern way has changed me.” And Frank and Dolly Cummings are doing their part to change Plant City into a better community with their quality business, personalized customer care and heartfelt community service. Walden Lake Car Wash & Service Center is located at 1414 S. Alexander Street in Plant City, and is open Monday through Saturday, 8:00am to 6:00pm. They are closed on Sundays. You can reach them at (813) 752-7226 or visit them online at WaldenLakeCarWash.com.
“A unique service we offer is customer pick up. We have bonded and insured drivers pick up vehicles from businesses and bring them back to our location where we’ll clean it, and return it to their parking lot and bill them accordingly. We can also give customers a ride home if they don’t have time to wait, then pick them up later when the car is completed.” 50
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Part 18 Ornamental Gardening in Florida By Ginny Mink The Literary Time Machine has taken us on some interesting adventures over the past year and a half. We’ve learned all sorts of information about ornamental gardening, to include those things we should certainly not do to our plants today. This month we will join Mr. Simpson in an exploration of his chapter entitled: Catalog of Plants. Which he begins by reminding readers, “This list is merely intended as a rough guide and not a complete catalog of all the things that have been or are being cultivated in the state.”¹ His devotion to all things green is to be admired. His research is worthy of consideration and we wonder now which plants he has found valuable enough to include. We also wonder what the state of those plants in Florida is. So, let us hop aboard and find out. He warns, “I have not attempted to follow the nomenclature used by any one. A ruling has been adopted by the systematists of using the first properly described and published name for a plant or animal, which, in theory, is fair and reasonable. But it turns out that many of the earlier names were so poorly described that we cannot be certain as to what their authors meant and one scientist may use a name which another says is not valid.”¹ Obviously the names of these plants is an issue for him because he continues, “A considerable number of naturalists spend most of their time searching old scientific literature in the hope of finding some prior name so that they can use it and throw out the well known one. For these reasons the names of animals and plants are constantly being changed, resulting in endless and hopeless confusion.”¹ This seems like a desire to one up one another. It is apparently both sad and frustrating for Mr. Simpson. He is pretty bothered by it as he states, “The condition of our names 54
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is a disgrace to science and enough to utterly discourage any one who attempts to learn anything about plants. I have simply used a name which has been applied to the species in question, generally one which is well known and that has been commonly accepted.”¹ His dirge doesn’t stop there though. He further expounds, “The descriptions in many of the botanies and encyclopedias are often lamentably brief and insufficient and in some cases I have been unable to satisfactorily identify the plants I have listed as a consequence.”¹ This, he explains, is the reason why he didn’t attempt to describe the plants in his list. He then divides the list of plants into several different chapters. We will look at his Catalog of Indigenous and Naturalized Plants: Native Palms this month, and will further explore the other lists in the months to come. Obviously palm trees are a staple in Florida and therefore it is no surprise that they would be the first plants on his list. He writes, “Florida is rich in palms for a region lying wholly outside of the tropics, for some sixteen species are listed from the state… The common coconut which was once believed to have originated in the Old World is doubtless American in origin and is now fully established in a wild state in Florida… First among our native palms, and for that matter, one of the first in the world, is the royal palm. It has been found growing wild abundantly from the back of Cape Romano on the southwest coast down to and along the south shore of the mainland as far as Paradise Key in the Lower Everglades, occurring as individuals or in groves.”¹ The royal palm is apparently one of great appreciation for Mr. Simpson because he adds, “Whether growing singly or in groups it more fully conveys to my mind the idea of kingly majesty than any tree I know… Ordinarily it does not succeed on high pineland but I have a specimen with a trunk a foot in diameter in such a situation with WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
its base and roots well shaded and it is in perfect health.”¹ Royal palms are indeed desirable and Mr. Simpson is obviously proud of his ability to grow one in an area in which it would normally be unsuccessful. He continues, “Although the coconut (Cocos nucifera) is fully established beyond the limits of cultivation on the Florida Keys it is generally supposed that it is an escape and that it should not be classed as a native. I have talked with a very old man who lived nearly all his life on the Keys and who told me that he was informed by those who had been there from the earliest settlement that the coconut was growing on these islands when the first white man arrived.”¹ Mr. Simpson’s research has led him then to believe that the general supposition about the coconut palm is incorrect. He states, “There is no reason why nuts should not float in from Cuba or the Bahamas and become established on our lower border. This story is corroborated by Mr. Dexter Hubel, an old man who has spent much of his life on the Keys. This, then, would make the coconut as much a native of Florida as the royal palm.”¹ He adds the Sabal palm to the list stating, “…the cabbage palmetto, is one of the commonest trees growing in the state, preferring the hammocks and lowlands. To northern eyes, --yes, to the eyes of all who are really in harmony with nature, --this strange tree is always wonderful. It is in no sense graceful, neither can I call it beautiful but it has a character entirely its own, it is bold and strong and it cuts the skyline with astonishing effect. In some places it grows in great clumps of a hundred or more, especially on low islands, and in such situations it is particularly striking.”¹ Later he writes, “The despised saw palmetto (Serenoa serrulata) is fine for planting at the edge of a large group of palms or for working in along a border. In lowland where no fire runs over it, it becomes almost tree-like, sometimes attaining a height of fifteen feet.” He concludes the chapter by stating, “All the Floridian palms are attractive and would be well worthy of cultivation, there being little doubt that any of them would do well in a proper location.”¹ We find his description of the saw palmetto as “despised” a bit intriguing. What’s so hated about them? Do you know? Share your story with us and join us again next month as we explore his chapter on Native Ornamental Trees. Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 85-92). WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Youth Garden
By Libby Hopkins
Gardening can be very therapeutic and relaxing, but it can also be educational and a way to fight childhood obesity. Recently, the Sigma Beta Club, the National Sigma Beta Club Foundation and The Crescent Foundation, Inc. got together this past January to form their Community Garden Imitative. “On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Sigma Beta Club adopted three garden platforms at the Tampa Heights Community Garden,” said Daniel Smith, The Crescent Foundation’s President. “We were given a grant where we would be able to harvest vegetables and fruits. Once our young men grow the fruits and vegetables, they are able to either donate them to a Whole Foods Store or keep it for themselves.” By harvesting their own fruits and vegetables, it allows them to understand how to grow their own food. It also provides them with a better understanding of the cultivation of the soil for growing crops and the rearing of animals to provide food and other products. “These young men attend the garden twice a month to ensure they are taking care of the food and keeping their food beds free of weeds. The Crescent Foundation, Inc. was created by the Tampa Alumni Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., which is a professional civic and social organization. The foundation promotes education and social programs targeting young males between the ages of 1318. It is designed to instill positive reinforcement, scholastic standards along with broad exposure to professional career choices through Phi Beta Sigma’s Beta Club. “The National Sigma Beta Club was created in 1950 by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. under the direction of Dr. Parlette Moore,” Smith said. “The Fraternity became the first Greek Letter organization in the U.S. to create a youth auxiliary. The Tampa Alumni Chapter of the fraternity established the local chapter of the Sigma Beta Club in 2005.” The community garden project came about because healthy eating and childhood obesity is a focus for the Sigma Beta Club. “One of the initiatives of the Sigma Beta Club is healthy eating and childhood obesity,” Smith said. “The idea of the garden came about due to this initiative and we wanted to ensure that our members had an understanding of healthy living. We thought what better way to accomplish that by having them participate in the community garden and learn about growing their own organic food.”
flexibility and an increase in perceived energy.” Gardening is also considered a moderate to heavy intensity physical activity and it has been linked to major changes in total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure. Community gardens also help to fight local crime. They give youth a safe place to interact with their peers in addition to being involved with positive activities. The gardens can also increase neighborhood surveillance because garden volunteers usually live close to the gardens. Garden volunteers are considered an “extra pair of eyes on the street” because they are proud of their gardens and want to make sure they are safe and free of vandals. “The students were eager to get involved with the project,” Smith said. “Community service is one of the biggest aspects of our clubs and our kids get a lot of hours each year working with the club. Most of our kids are at-risk but for the most part we have a well rounded group of kids from all types of backgrounds.” Smith and The Crescent Foundation hope to keep the community garden project thriving in the upcoming year. “My hope is that the garden project will continue and we will be able to teach the kids how to prepare the vegetables grown into salads and other types of healthy meals,” Smith said. “One thing I can definitely say is that they learned gardening is hard work. You just can’t walk out and sprinkle some water on the plants and they grow.” If you would like to learn more about The Crescent Foundation, you can visit them on the web at www.thecrescentfoundation.org.
Some of the benefits of working with a community garden are that it allows those who work in the garden an opportunity to produce food, in addition to providing a place for gardeners to share their knowledge and skills. Community gardens provide access to fresh and organic produce in low-income neighborhoods, where healthy foods are not readily available. Community gardens can also be areas for recreation and exercise. According to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, “The creation of or enhanced access to places for physical activity, combined with informational outreach produces a 48.4 percent increase of frequency of physical activity in addition to a 5.1 percent median increase in aerobic capacity, reduced body fat, weight loss, improved 56
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9th ANNUAL 4-H STRAWBERRY U-PICK SET FOR MARCH 26 AT FANCY FARMS
Proceeds Support 4-H Youth Programs and Area Food Banks By Jim Frankowiak
For the ninth consecutive year, Fancy Farms will host the annual 4-H Strawberry U-Pick from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on March 26. All proceeds from the event will support 4-H youth programs scholarships and awards, as well as food banks operated by Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon and the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO), which is also located in Brandon. Both serve residents of eastern Hillsborough County. “In addition to the Nativity and ECHO food banks, we support several other small ones, as well,” said 4-H Foundation Representative Mike McKinney. The annual U-Pick Event is a joint effort of Fancy Farms and the 4-H Foundation. “Last year, over 10 tons of berries were picked and that included over a ton that was donated to the food banks for distribution after they were picked by 4-H’ers and the public on that date,” he noted. “Berries will again sell for 50-cents a quart and containers will be provided in the field at no charge by Fancy Farms.” Bulk orders of 50-quarts or more will be delivered anywhere in Hillsborough County for $1.25 per quart. 4-H is an educational program for boys and girls aged 5 – 18. It encourages diverse groups of youth to develop their skills and talents to the fullest by participating in activities, events, competition and projects that develop and strengthen life skills. 4-H is open to all youth in Hillsborough County. 4-H offers diverse programs and opportunities, including day camps, residential camps, eligibility for some fair and other contests, leadership, judging teams, scholarships, volunteerism and working with youth and adults throughout the county. There are currently more than 45 project areas available in Florida. The U-Pick Event will include participation by 4-H members serving as Ambassadors who will provide berry picking assistance for the elderly and disabled. The Hillsborough County 4-H Foundation has as its mission “to develop financial resources to support Hillsborough County 4-H Youth Development by establishing an endowment of $100,000 for future support of 4-H and to give back 10 percent of our annual earnings for current 4-H expenditures, including scholarships and grants. We are currently half way to our endowment goal of $100,000,” said McKinney. “Since we started this project, Carl and Dee Dee Grooms have helped us raise over $45,000 for 4-H projects and activities, and it just gets bigger every year,” said Betty Jo Tompkins, 4-H Foundation president. “We’re blessed to have their help and support.” For the Grooms’ family the annual U-Pick event at their farm “is a way to help assure future generations will have the skills and guidance to carry on the important role of agriculture. We also see this as a way to give back to the community that has supported us in many different ways over the years,” said Carl Grooms, co-owner of Fancy Farms with his wife, Dee Dee. “We also hope that this event inspires those who have benefitted to pay it forward,” said Dee Dee. Fancy Farms is located on County Line Road, three miles south of Interstate-4 (Exit #25) with field access off of Rice Road. The event will take place “rain or shine and participants will have access to restrooms in the field,” said McKinney. For more information, call: 813-477-8332 or email: mckcar@msn.com. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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New Horizons for BAY MULCH: Recycling Food into Organic Soil By Jim Frankowiak
It is disappointing to discover that in the U.S., on average 40 percent of the food which makes it to grocery stores, markets and restaurants goes uneaten, according to The Natural Resources Defense Council which tracked this data in 2015. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports the number one largest percentage of disposed waste in the U.S. comes from food, estimated to account for 21 percent. That makes it pretty easy to see why Bay Mulch Inc. is focused on “Recycling to Save the Earth.” This March marks the two-year anniversary that Bay Mulch Inc. has been operating a 42-acre farm in Plant City with a budding Organics Recycling Division that successfully converts food scraps into nutrient-rich soil. Company Founder and President Tom Kirkland developed the business with the expressed aim to recycle vegetative food material into organic soil that is high-quality, low cost, nutrient rich, pH balanced, peat and bark free, earth-friendly, chemical-free and he has been able to achieve each of those objectives. Kirkland first started Bay Mulch 19 years ago as a land clearing and grinding company. In 2002, his Pasco County facility was opened for yard waste recycling and mulch production. For almost two decades it was pretty much business as usual, until 10 years ago, when Kirkland learned about a new composting method, which involved the recycling and composting of vegetative food waste. The most important ingredient in the soil produced by Bay Mulch is recycled produce -- fruits and vegetables, cores and peels, and other organic materials that are no longer edible, and would otherwise go to landfills. This food material is picked up by Kirkland’s fleet of trucks and brought to the farm. Using innovative technology, readily biodegradable food is mixed with ground, green yard trimmings and composted into dark rich soil in only eight weeks. Next, Kirkland’s crew combines the soil with finely ground hardwood and soft wood, oak and pine, to make custom blends of soil, ideal for growing everything from blueberries, tomatoes and strawberries, to flowers, shrubs and trees. “It is recycling in its purest form, using old food to grow new food, and using old trees to grow new trees,” said Kirkland. “Our method is EPA-approved and our farm is fully licensed as a composting and yard waste facility,” noted Kirkland. What results from his approach is a nutrient-rich material which he has aptly
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named Bio-Natural Soil or BNS. “We also lab test our soils to prove that the nutrients found in the recycled fruits and vegetables are actually retained inside of the soil we produce. The laboratory confirmed that our soils are full of naturally-occurring elements such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, carbon and nitrogen, all of which are vital to germinating seeds, strengthening root systems and helping plants grow,” said Kirkland. Glen Stewart was hired by Bay Mulch to manage quality control and increase sales. He submitted soil samples to authorities and earned official status that Bio-Natural Soil and BNS Blends meet all of the stringent requirements of being 100 percent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Organic. “Our Soils are also Florida State Certified free of harmful nematodes, and do not contain weed seeds,” he added. Products referenced by Stewart and produced at the two Bay Mulch facilities, include colored mulches in red, gold, dark brown and black; an Enviromulch which is a hardwood/softwood mulch and contains no color additives; a selection of Bio-Natural Soil and Custom Soil Blends, including 80/20 Enriched Topsoil; 50/50 Potting Soil; and a Berry Mix, specially developed to grow blueberries, which, as Stewart explained, “…was proven in side-by-side testing to produce higher crop yields of blueberries at a much lower price than Pine Bark.” Having focused on quality and consistency, Stewart reports, “BioNatural Soil also causes no harmful chemical run off, so this can mean better growth for plants, greener turf with less thatch, more absorption requiring less water and higher crop yields for farmers. Using our soil on the front end of planting, can mean that over time less water, fertilizer and pesticides may be required, and this equates to significant financial savings for growers. Our soil is also safe to use during the blackout period that several Florida Counties follow, from June 1 through September 30.” Eve Spengler, who was hired to increase the supply of vegetative food material brought into the supply chain at Bay Mulch, points out, “Since we began food recycling operations two years ago, Bay Mulch, together with the grocery stores, and other environmentally-conscious partners, such as Amalie Arena, have diverted over 16.8 million pounds of unused, uneaten and in-edible food out of the waste
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stream, and put it into productive positive use, by transforming it into organic soil,” said Spengler, “No matter how rotten food gets, it is never really garbage; it’s a valuable resource, that is compostable, and contributes to a healthy food lifecycle,” explained Spengler during a recent speech at a Sustainability Tour held at Amalie Arena, attended by members of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). So far, in just two years, the new Bay Mulch operation in Plant City has created 15 full time jobs. “Bay Mulch is giving our community exactly the kind of economic development and job creation we need,” said District 58 State Representative Dan Raulerson. “Composting fruits and vegetables, instead of landfilling them or burning them, make perfect sense. This is a great business model,” he said after a visit to the Bay Mulch farm in Plant City earlier this year. Together, the Pasco County, and Hillsborough County locations of Bay Mulch serve thousands of satisfied customers across a five county region. A number of these relationships have been achieved through a highly competitive selection process. The USF Tampa Facilities Committee was also impressed by the quality of Bay Mulch’s products and decided to discontinue using Pine Bark, and remulch the USF
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Tampa campus using Enviromulch by Bay Mulch. “The USF Tampa Campus Dining Services has also become a new supplier of vegetative food waste to be recycled into soil. It’s a win-win for everyone,” said Spengler. Bay Mulch and its products have also been selected for use at Mac Dill Air Force Base and its Enriched Top Soil was recently approved for use by the Army Corps of Engineers. The start-up of the Bay Mulch organic composting operation required a major investment in the latest technology, team training and specialized equipment (some custom-designed by Kirkland) for pick-up, mixing, grinding, windrow formation, turning and delivery. The company provides collection containers, 65-gallon rolling totes, to its grocery store and restaurant customers at no charge. For more information about Bay Mulch Inc, visit its Hillsborough County Organics Recycling Division at 1603 South Forbes Road, Plant City, FL 33566. Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 a.m. until noon on Saturday. Closed on Sunday. For more information about starting a food recycling program, or buying mulch and blends of Bio-Natural Soil, contact: info@baymulch.com.
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JOIN THE “FRESH
FROM FLORIDA”
PROGRAM “Fresh From Florida” is a program administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It is designed to connect distributors and retail buyers with Florida growers to increase sales of Florida products. To learn more about the program benefits, visit FreshFromFlorida.com/Join or call 850-617-7399.
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3rd Annual Bright House Networks Strawberry Picking Challenge By Nick Chapman
The 3rd Annual Bright House Networks Strawberry Picking Challenge occurred on February 6 at Wish Farm’s strawberry fields off Futch Loop in Plant City. The event offered a chance for corporate teams to pit their best pickers against one another, in an effort to raise money for Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA). The fun-filled event already raised over $150,000 in its first two years alone. The event was actually a two day affair, with a Kick-Off dinner and silent auction on February 5 at TPepin’s Hospitality Centre in Tampa. Wish Farms had initially done a tennis tournament for several years to raise funds for U.S. F. scholarship programs for migrant children, then the third year of the tournament they shifted to benefitting RCMA. After eight years Wish Farms decided to try something new, since the tournament only drew the corporate sponsors, but not the community as a whole. “We wanted to have an event that showcased the industry and the work that the pickers do,” said Gary Wishnatzki, president of Wish
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Farms. And so the Strawberry Picking Challenge was born. “We thought it made a lot of sense since we were able to get a lot of the strawberry growing community involved. There are a lot of industries that are tied into strawberry production, and we’ve gotten a lot of industry support.” There’s an added benefit to the picking challenge, Gary explained, “It’s a great opportunity for people to see the hard work that everybody does and experience it first-hand.” He went on to explain the average shopper in the grocery store has no idea of the amount of work and effort there is when they pick up a quart of strawberries. Gary joked about one of the corporate picking contestants coming out after the first round after picking a flat, which is two pounds of berries and saying, “I’m tired!” Gary told him, “That’s two pounds, the good professional pickers pick 800 pounds in one day.” Eighteen corporate teams put up $2,500 to compete in the challenge this year. And although the weather turned a little soggy, it didn’t dampen the spirits of the competitors. There are two parts of the
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competition. The first part occurs as the teams pick in the field and are watched to see if they leave any ripe berries on the plants. They are also timed to see how quickly they are able to pick them. Each member of the four person team must pick a two pound “clam shell” in relay fashion to fill the flat. The second part is when they turn their berries in to be judged using criteria for quality and presentation. Gary said, “Each of the judges puts a score on the team’s flat, and then they’re tallied for the final score. The speed of picking just counts for 20% of the total score, so it’s not just about who is the fastest. Most of the emphasis is placed on the quality and packing.” This year’s corporate winner was International Paper. Other activities during the day included a Upick field for $5.00 a quart, with proceeds also going to RCMA. There was face painting, craft stations, balloon artist and the opportunity to purchase other strawberry related merchandise. RCMA provides quality child care and early education for children of migrant farm workers and rural, low-income families throughout Florida. The largest non-profit child care provider in Florida, RCMA is a leader in highquality early childhood services. More than half of RCMA’s child-care centers are nationally accredited. For more information on RCMA, with their website at: rcma.org. To learn more about Wish Farms, visit them on the web at: wishfarms.com.
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You Can Count On By Erica Der Hall
In Plant City, Florida, there are certain things you can count on. You can count on there always being a line at the Maryland Fried Chicken window. Their chicken is just too good. You can count on being stopped by a train in downtown whenever you’re running late. You can count on Ray Clark cracking jokes on all his former students at the Strawberry Festival steer show. You can count on seeing Carl Grooms on your television set when the temperature drops below freezing. That beard and that strawberry expertise are just too good not to put on TV. And since 1930, you can count on every January bringing a brand new Strawberry Queen and Court; five young ladies who will represent Plant City, the strawberry industry, and a timeless piece of Americana. Strawberry Queen is a coveted title that many Plant City girls dream of achieving. The position is more than a crown - it is an opportunity to represent all the things that make Plant City great. It is a chance to go down in the community’s history books. And it’s a chance, if only for a moment, to be famous in a small town. This year, the Plant City Lion’s Club packed the Grimes Haley Riley Family Agricultural Center and hosted the 2016 Queen’s Scholarship Pageant. Twenty-three young ladies competed in personal interview, public speaking, casual wear, and evening gown, all for the chance to be named the 2016 Strawberry Queen. At the end of the night, five beautiful young ladies were selected by the qualified judges to reign over the 2016 Florida Strawberry Festival: Queen Haley Riley, First Maid Morgan Gaudens, and Court Members Alex Aponte, Ashtyn Steele and Ashlyn Yarbrough. 70
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Almost immediately, the girls hit the ground running as they began to make appearances and prepare for the year ahead. “We’ve done a lot of shopping,” laughed Ashlyn Yarbrough, a junior at Plant City High School. The girls are always seen in matching outfits that typically include something red or strawberry related. It is, after all, their signature. The young ladies will make more than 35 appearances before the Festival gates even open. They have already been to everything from luncheons to news broadcasts to Plant City Little League Opening Day where Queen Haley had the privilege of throwing out the first pitch. Not only do the girls make numerous appearances, they also go through extensive training to learn how to be the very best Queen and Court possible and to represent themselves with beauty and grace. One of the most beloved trainings is called Miss Manners. The girls gather in the home of a Festival Director and his wife to enjoy a five-course meal where they learn how to how to hold a spoon, how to butter your bread and how to give a proper handshake. They also go through other trainings, which include how to apply eyeliner, how to curl your hair, and how to apply the perfect shade of red lipstick - all in an effort to make their hometown proud. For each girl, this is a chance to be an integral part of the community they have grown up loving. None of them are what you would call Festival newbies. They have been coming to the Festival with their families and friends since they were knee high to a grasshopper. And WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
through the years, they have taken home the Strawberry Festival’s best souvenir - memories. Queen Haley’s favorite memory, “Watching my friend, Clay, win Grand Champion steer. I was amazed that I knew someone who had won such a prestigious award! I have many great memories from the livestock shows where our community truly comes out to support youth in agriculture.” “I found Martina McBride’s cell phone!” Court Member Ashlyn Yarbrough recounts the time she stumbled upon a cell phone after a Martina McBride Festival concert, only to find out that the phone actually belonged to Martina herself! All the girls recall fond memories of seeing the Strawberry Queen and her court and hoping to one day stand in their same shoes. “I remember watching the Queen and Court during the Grand Parade,” recalls Court Member, Morgan Gaudens, a freshman at Hillsborough Community College. “They would get off their float at the end of the parade and watch as the rest of the floats passed by. They always let the little kids sit in their laps and now we get to do that!” Those childhood memories run deep and give the girls a strong understanding of how impactful their reign can be on children. From the midway to the livestock barns, the girls are destined to encounter little ones in every part of the Festival grounds.
Court Member Alex Aponte, a Newsome High School senior, will be exhibiting her final steer, Sprout, at this year’s show. “I am excited to see the Festival from two different perspectives; both as a youth livestock exhibitor and as a Court Member,” Alex said. You are also certain to see the girls each night as they introduce the headline entertainment. From Donny and Marie to The Band Perry, the ladies will meet, greet and welcome all of the musical superstars as they grace the Festival stage. “I love going to the concerts every year so I am very excited to introduce all of this year’s musical entertainers,” Morgan said. Once Plant City’s signature event winds down, the Queen and Court continue to serve their hometown. They can be seen at sports events, community gatherings, civic groups and even on television. The Queen and Court will make more than 100 appearances during their reign and most of them will be in high heels. Their job is not what you would call easy. But serving as the Florida Strawberry Festival Queen and Court is an opportunity that many young girls wait their whole lives to achieve. It is a small town tradition that, in the eyes of Plant City, is anything but small.
“I have a huge heart for kids,” said Court Member Ashtyn Steele, a junior at Plant City High School. “I’m excited to interact with kids at the Festival, ride the rides with them and see the Festival from their point of view.” So just where do you find the Queen and Court when you visit the Strawberry Festival? The answer is, everywhere. They start out their 11 day run at 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 3 as they appear on local news stations and serve as the strawberry alarm clock for much of Central Florida. Soon after, they can be seen dancing the polka with Jimmy Sturr at Senior Citizens’ Day. They’ll snap photos with festival-goers, visit exhibitor booths, sign cookbooks in the Neighborhood Village and rub elbows with country superstar Josh Turner. And that’s only the first day!
Morgan Gaudens
This year, the honor has been bestowed upon five beautiful, smart and well-spoken young women who are having the time of their lives. They will spend the next year promoting the town, the Festival and the fruit we all know and love. Haley, Morgan, Alex, Ashtyn and Ashlyn will represent Plant City with elegance and grace and will go down in the history books as an incredible Strawberry Festival Queen and Court. That, dear friends, is something you can count on.
The ladies will be going non-stop for 11 days as they make the most of this special time and strive to serve their community well. They will take more pictures, flash more smiles, shake more hands and eat more strawberries than anyone can even begin to imagine. And they will stop only briefly, to reapply their red lipstick, of course. Speaking of lipstick, many may wonder where does this group of Plant City beauties go to powder their nose and apply a bit more hairspray? Where else other than the Palace? The Palace is a special location that is hidden away inside the Festival grounds and allows the girls to take a quick break. It comes complete with couches and pillows, rows of closets for all those strawberry outfits, vanity stations for each girl, and photos of former courts.
Ashlyn Yarbrough
Alex Aponte
Ashtyn Steele
“Our moms have decorated each of our stations and all their beautiful work will be revealed to us just a few days before the Festival begins,” Ashytn said. There are a few places you can be certain to find this year’s Festival royalty. Queen Haley and Court Member Alex will be exhibiting their steer projects at the 2016 Steer Show and Sale. These projects are a part of the girls’ experience as members of FFA. They have put in a great deal of hard work and effort in raising their steers and now it’s time to show off their projects. “I’m so excited to sell my steer while serving as Strawberry Queen,” Haley, a junior at Durant High School, said. “What two better things to combine than a crown and a steer?” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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By Ginny Mink
At the FSGA
“What is this place?” Hazel asked as we pulled through the gates. We parked in the shade and when we got out I directed the kids to go stand by the sign at the front of the property. “What does it say?” Hazel demanded. Jaidyn (J) answered, “FSGA.” Of course that meant nothing to her. So I explained, “It’s the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. What do you think that means?” “Strawberries!” Zeke squealed and clapped his hands. Hazel laughed with great thrill and then asked me to take a picture of them with the other sign she saw. I informed her it said, “No Parking,” and therefore wouldn’t make a great picture. “Oh,” she giggled and ran off after Zeke who had decided that he should take off towards the front doors of the building. We were greeted by Sarah Williams and two dogs. Zeke freaked out and J had to pick him up (because I had the camera). Dogs are not Zeke’s favorite things. If you’ve followed our story for any length of time you will remember that pretty much all small animals that approach him make him cry. I hope he toughens up as he gets older, I mean really, baby goats scare him! “They’re biting you!” He hollered as he pointed at the two shitzu looking dogs sniffing my pants leg. “They’re not biting her!” Hazel cackled, “They’re just sniffing her.” Zeke would have nothing of it, he climbed up J like he’d rather sit on J’s head than be anywhere near their noses. Sarah came bearing gifts though and that seemed to calm things down. She handed the kids stuffed strawberry toys, hats and coloring books. The kids have definitely adopted their mother’s adage, “If it’s free it’s for me.” So they were happy to take her handouts. She then led us out to the strawberry research field behind the front office. Unfortunately, they were spraying at the time so we didn’t get to really check it out. She informed us that there were roughly 120 test varieties from the University of Florida out in the field. Then she asked if the kids had seen the Jammer movie. I had no clue what she was talking about so I just asked them if they wanted to see a movie and they squealed, “Yes!” in unison. Well, the two little ones did anyway, J was back to holding Zeke as we’d gone inside again and he seemed none too thrilled about that situation. Thankfully, the movie was in another building and J was given a reprieve. We walked over to what used to be the old laboratory before it was moved to Balm. They had transformed a tractor shed into another 74
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room with a large screen and fancy meeting tables. The kids were just as enamored by the leather chairs as they were with their stuffed strawberries. Between spinning in the chairs, Zeke and Hazel acted out little storylines with the strawberries as Sarah prepared the movie. J put the hats on his head and managed to get the bills pointing in different directions. He looked ridiculous but everyone was entertained and I suppose that’s what mattered. When the movie started Zeke was the most actively engaged. He laughed out loud many times quoting what Jammer had said, or told us what he’d done. Of course, we were watching the movie as well so we didn’t need a play by play but Zeke seemed to think we did. “That’s a bug!’ He squealed when Polly took Jammer into the field (if you haven’t seen the movie check it out at an AgVenture tent sometime). I asked J what he learned, when the movie was over, and he said, “That they water the strawberries when it’s going to freeze.” I told him I learned that eight strawberries contain enough vitamin C for your daily requirements. That’s pretty impressive. I guess I’ll need to be more conscientious of Hazel’s intake because she can stuff those strawberries in, believe me! J says, “Eight is like an appetizer.” We prepared to leave, having thanked Sarah. Then she came up to the van and pointed out the drone in the sky. It took a minute for us to see it because there were some trees in the way but when it came into view the kids were in awe! Apparently they use the drone once a week to take pictures of the strawberry fields. We sat and watched it until it disappeared behind the building. Then I pulled up so the kids could see the guys working on it on the tailgate of their truck. That was pretty cool for sure. We’d never had the experience of seeing a drone in action. It made me think about all the negative publicity surrounding their usage. I’m glad that we were able to see something positive about them. The kids were a wee bit disappointed that they didn’t get to eat any strawberries, but they were thrilled by the stuffed Jammer dolls. So thrilled, in fact, they both wanted to take them with them to the slumber party they were attending the next day. We thank the FSGA for showing us around and for doing what they do to provide us with some of the best strawberry plants and cultivars in the world. If you’re ever in the area you should check them out. Tell ‘em the Minks sent ya. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
We Still Hope
By: Ginny Mink
UPDATE We started this Growums project not certain how it would go, and not much has changed there. Since we planted our seeds, there have been many cold days and lots of rain. This has done little to alleviate our gardening concerns.
We headed outside, then, to see how they were doing. Zeke refused to put his socks and shoes on and was therefore being held by Jaidyn. The thrill over the wee little green stalks pushing up through the dirt was certainly tangible.
We couldn’t keep our precious seedlings in the house to grow because there are no window sills large enough to hold them, or sunny spaces safe enough from Zeke’s exploration. So, we stuck them outside; which means they have been exposed to the cold and rain. And the wind, let us not forget the wind.
Unfortunately, Zeke’s thrill over the plants initiated a massive amount of squirming. That wouldn’t have been too big a deal, except we ended up at the after-hours doctor’s office. Somehow Zeke’s squirming ended in the acquisition of nursemaid’s elbow, which the doctor promptly popped back in place, and sent us on our way.
I’ve checked on them throughout this last month. Some days have looked better than others. My husband has reminded me to water them, and there have been times I have had to pour the excess water off. The wind (told you not to forget about it) has wreaked havoc on the little labels, so I’m no longer sure which plants are which. There is good news though, some of them are growing! It appears, actually, that Zeke’s are doing the best. From what I can tell, we have now reached the time of transplant. We will need to take the plants out of their individual feeders and move them into the bigger planting trough.
However, while he was screaming about his arm hurting (prior to our doctor’s visit), Hazel managed to dig some holes and plant the little green stalks. We will hope for the best. Thankfully, if things don’t go as planned, Judi Whitson has offered to provide us with a couple more Growums’ kits. We’ll get these things working one way or another! And, we’ll keep you updated on all our gardening endeavors. You can check out Growums at: http://www.growums.com.
But first, we had to watch the videos. Growums sends me emails to remind me to check on the plants so I called the kids in to watch Duke the Cuke. He told us that if the plants had 2 to 3 leaves they were ready to be transplanted.
Previous Photos
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THANK YOU VINA JEAN BANKS!
“Great Ride” Coming to an End
Vina Jean Banks, director of agribusiness for the Florida State Fair Authority, is ending what she calls “a great ride” that’s taken place at the Florida State Fair for the past 25 years as she retires in just a few weeks. Banks has held her current position, since 2006, when she took over from retiring Lisa Hinton, who was named the 2015 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Woman of the Year in Agriculture. She began her tenure at the fair on a part time basis in the early 90’s, devoting the rest of her time to her other part time job the Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction in Tampa and Lakeland. It was a natural fit for Banks, who with her husband Windy, operates a cow-calf operation in the southern part of Hillsborough County and a sister operation near Chiefland in Levy County. Vina Jean, an Iowa native, met Windy on a blind date while a senior at East Bay High School. After graduation and a proposal from Windy, Vina Jean joined the work force and Windy joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving a 13-month tour of duty in Viet Nam. After Windy returned from Viet Nam, they married in1968 and are the parents of Cleve and Clay, both who are still actively involved in agriculture. Vina Jean and her family moved to Florida in 1960 to take advantage of an opportunity in the Riverview area. After marrying Windy, the newlyweds bought land in Balm and continue their operation there and in Levy County with plans to continue. She has been a member of the Hillsborough County Cattlewomen for more than three decades and has served as president, vice president, treasurer and chair of many committees. Vina Jean is also very active in the Florida Cattlewomen’s Association having served as the 1991 state President, as well as other offices. Vina Jean has also been active in 4-H, FFA and other youth organizations, tracing back to her youth in Iowa where she was a 4-H Club member. She has served on the board of the Florida Ag in the Classroom program for many years, serving as board chair from 2009 – 2011. The job description for the Fair Authority’s Agribusiness Director seems to have no end. Suffice it to say that if it has to do with livestock and agricultural programs, it falls under the position’s job description. “If I had to zero in on a single task, it would be the sponsorships that are vital to our Champion of Champions Program,” said Banks, who most recently helped raise $180,000 with “the help of many individuals and sponsors. While there are many sponsors, we are deeply indebted to Mosaic, Publix, the Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation, Mr. Doyle Carlton and his family, the New York Yankees Foundation and, of course, Commissioner Adam Putnam.” Along the way Banks has earned designation as a Certified Fair Executive (CFE), the only current member of the State Fair staff to have earned that mark of achievement. At the recent State Fair, young farmers and ranchers exhibited more than 5,000 animals, including cattle, poultry, rabbits, sheep, goats, llamas, dogs, swine, steers and dairy cows. The competition at the fair is the final stop for 4-H and FFA members who have spent many WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
by:Jim Frankowiak
hours, days, weeks and months preparing their animals for this competition. “It’s not only a matter of care and feeding, but recordkeeping, as well, of the costs associated with raising their animals,” said Banks. “While ribbons are great, these market animal competitors also want to sell their animals after the competition for a profit.” The overall lesson from the cost of animal acquisition, care and feeding to its ultimate sale is the path to success that sets a foundation for life. “Many of the youth who have competed have gone on to very successful careers both in and outside agriculture,” said Banks. In addition to the competitive aspects of the Fair, Banks has been instrumental in introducing attendees to other aspects of farming and ranching like the “Florida Cattle Ranching Exhibit” museum at the fairgrounds. In 2012 the Florida Cattlemen’s Association was seeking a permanent location for its traveling museum. “They came to us,” said Vina Jean, “and with the support of the Department of Ag we were able to transform our forestry building to house the Cattlemen’s museum and a refurbished Florida Forest exhibit. I am extremely proud to have been instrumental in this addition to the Fair,” she said. The other accomplishment that she takes pride in is the creation of the “Florida Learning Garden.” This garden was developed with an ongoing partnership with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful. “The one aspect of our Ag Program that was missing was horticulture,” said Vina Jean. “So when Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful came to us with a need for a one-acre parcel to develop a learning garden, I just knew we had the perfect location, and so the garden came to be. It is a garden that continues to grow and change daily, just a great addition to our Agriculture program.” Banks has been recognized for her efforts and years of service. She has received the FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer Award, the Florida Outstanding Cattlewoman Award, the Hillsborough County Outstanding Women in Agriculture Award and the 4-H Leadership Award from the Hillsborough County Extension Service. In 1999, she was named Woman of the Year in Agriculture by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “Vina Jean has done an outstanding job as Director of Agribusiness,” said her predecessor Hinton. “Her dedication to the youth programs and her passion about agriculture have left an impact on many young people that will be seen for years to come.” Banks’ duties will be taken over by Lynann Hudson, who has been associated with the Fair for two decades. Retirement for Banks will mean “enjoying a slower pace of life” that will include spending more time with her two granddaughters, Jade and Ashlyn, and her 97-year-old mother, as well as visits to Levy County. As to her legacy, Banks hopes to be remembered as always “being fair and honest with everyone.” Thank you Vina Jean for all that you have done for agriculture and the very best to you and Windy. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Turkey Creek Middle Wins State Competition Turkey Creek Middle School Dairy Judging team won the state FFA dairy judging competition on Saturday, February 13, 2016, held at the Florida State Fair in the Charlie Lykes Arena. The team consisted of four members: Austin Holcomb (6th), Lisee Griffin (6th), Emily Linton (6th), and Siera Linton (8th). Their journey started back in September, a few weeks after school started, preparing for the preliminary part of the competition. They had to study the Virginia Tech Quiz Bowl material and know as much as possible of the material in the first nine chapters of the manual, the PDCA score card, and know how to read and judge dairy cow pedigrees. They met three times a week for an hour before school to study all the material. They had to place in the top 10 to move on to compete in the state competition. They took the preliminary test on November 17 after school. They did very well and placed first in this part of the competition, which meant they got to move on. They were excited and inspired by this win. After placing first in the preliminary’s, they then had to not only continue to study the quiz bowl and score card material that they had been since September, but now they had to add in judging actual live cow’s and giving a set of oral reasons of why they chose to place a particular class the way they did, and learn how to read a DHIA report and answer questions on it. To prepare for the judging portion of the contest they gave up a day over their Christmas break to travel to Webster to a dairy farm, to judge cow classes. This enabled the team to see what traits were desirable in an actual live dairy cow instead of one on paper. It also gave them the opportunity to hone their ability to give a set of reasons to a judge. This was very nerve racking for some, as they had never done anything like this before. In January they also traveled to the Manatee County Fair and the South Fl. Fair to practice judging. At the South Fl. Fair they competed in the dairy judging competition there and placed first again. Another boost to their confidence. Over the next few weeks they still kept the same practice schedule. The day finally arrived for them to put all of their hard work to the test. They were nervous, but very excited. Afterword, before scores had been posted, they all said that they felt that they had done a good job and were very hopeful. When the scores were posted and the team learned that they had place first in the state, they all said it was surreal for them. They were happy, excited, and sad at the same time, happy and excited for the win, but sad that they could not compete 78 78
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again together until high school. This was a very happy end to all of their hard work and dedication.
Quotes from the team: What was your favorite thing about dairy judging? Austin: I loved being able to evaluate cows and learn more about the dairy industry. My favorite part was giving oral reasons and telling the judge why I placed the cows the way I did. Lisee: My favorite part of this whole experience would have to be all of the wonderful memories I have made with the team, but I have a feeling that when we are standing on the stage this summer at state convention and all those lights are shining in our eyes as we are handed our trophies and the crowd starts to scream…. That will be my absolute favorite memory. Emily: You always learn something new each time you open the packet. You can always improve your oral reasons and make yourself better no matter what. Siera: I got to learn more about what I show and care for every day. It took a lot of commitment but as you can see in the end it all pays off. How does it feel to be a state champion? Austin: It was a really exciting experience. It was great to be a part of a team that worked so hard all year and I felt proud to be a part of the team Lisee: It feels amazing to be a state champion because four months ago I knew nothing about dairy cows and with the help of my coaches and teammates we are now at the top. I guess those early mornings and late nights were really worth it. Emily: It feels good because as a team we set a goal to be in the top 5 so that we could at least be on stage at the state convention, but we not only met that, we exceeded it to become the state champions. I still can’t believe we did it. It almost doesn’t feel real Siera: It feels really good because this is my third year doing this contest and all my hard work has finally paid off. WWW. WWW.IINNTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
ARBOR DAY MAIL ART CELEBRATION CONTEST INTRODUCED Tree Planting Kits to Top Three Winners By Jim Frankowiak
Celebrate Arbor Day this year by blending your creative talents and love for trees in mail art you produce and send to the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Hillsborough County Extension office. “Mail art is the creation of unique, small works of art, including mixed media, that once produced is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service to our office in Seffner,” said Urban Horticulture Extension Agent Nicole Pinson. “Make your own drawing, collage, painting or photo that completes the phrase: I appreciate trees because… and send it in the mail to our office so that it arrives no later than April 15 of this year.” The Extension Office address is 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, Florida 33584. Pinson said all entries must have the entrant’s name, age and phone number. The Mail Art competition will have three age groups: children age 11 and under, youth ages 12 – 18 and adults for those over 18 years of age. Winners will be selected for each category and each will receive a planting kit comprised of one, 7-gallon tree, pruners, a shovel, gloves and fertilizer. The kits are valued at $100 each. Winners will be announced at Kerby’s Nursery at 6 p.m. April 29, 2016. Kerby’s is located at 2311 South Parsons Avenue, Seffner, FL and is one of the sponsors of the Mail Art competition along with UF/IFAS and Florida Forest Service. Winners must be present at the April 29 event to receive their prize. “This is the first time we have had a mail art contest,” said Extension
Urban Forester, Rob Northrop, “and we look forward to using this art to promote an appreciation and celebration of trees in support of national Arbor Day.” Entries will be displayed in the Extension lobby and may be used in Extension programs such as blogs, flyers and workshops. Entered artwork will not be returned, nor will it be for sale. A panel of independent judges will select winners in each age category. Extension reserves the right to omit work from the contest that is deemed offensive. The first Arbor Day took place April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. It was introduce by Julius Sterling Morton, a Nebraska journalist and politician who worked to improve agricultural techniques throughout the United States when he served as Secretary of Agriculture under President Grover Cleveland. He felt Nebraska’s landscape and economy would benefit from the wide-scale planting of trees. In the years since the first Arbor Day, the event has been embraced by all 50 states and became federally recognized in 1970 and is celebrated the last Friday in April. Arbor Day is also celebrated in other countries throughout the world. Further information is available by contacting Pinson by phone: 813744-5519, Extension 54145 or by email: pinsonn@hillsboroughcounty.org. You may also visit the Extension website for information about all of its programs for county residents: http://hillsborough.ifas.ufl.edu.
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Naturally Amazing Activities
By Sean Green Photo by Jennifer Pohlhaus
April Fools Prank: Lamp Shade Insects Remember the notion that seeing is not always believing. We explored the function of biologic mimicry in this month’s article: “A Closer Look.” Human beings are similarly programmed to respond to visual cues, this month we will exploit that characteristic by making a simple but hopefully effective April Fool’s Day prank that leverages the natural fear of large ugly insects. Simply print out or trace and shade the insect silhouette and fasten it to the inside of a table lamp. We have provided a couple samples, but more can easily be found on the Internet by searching “insect silhouettes.”
Supplies: Printable contact paper (if printing) Permanent Marker (if tracing and coloring) Spray adhesive (that will not harm the lamp shade) Scissors (or craft knife)
Directions: Print or trace image onto contact paper Color image black (if tracing) Carefully cut out the silhouette
Adhere the image to the inside of a lampshade
813-767-4703 301 South Collins Street, Suite 101, Plant City, Florida 33563
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P ortrait P h o tograp h er Spe c ializ ing in H igh Sc hool Se niors
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A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Biological mimicry Synemosyna formica by Katja Schultz
Batesian mimicry by Brenda Arnold
Giant swallowtail caterpillar by April Green
If seeing were believing, most of us would find ourselves in a hopeless state of delusion. With 3D modeling and photo manipulation tools, it’s fairly easy to create a convincing image for a hoax. However, there are creatures in our natural world that have mastered the art of illusion for millions of years. In the spirit of the upcoming April Fool’s Day, we will celebrate mimicry in nature by taking a closer look at its biologic function and feature examples of Florida insects that may fool you should you come across it in the coming weeks. In evolutionary biology, mimicry is the outcome of a group of organisms evolving to share common characteristics with other organisms; an adaptation that benefits one or both groups involved in the mimicry. The species doing the imitating is called the mimic and typically imitates a separate species that has evolved to have a real biologic defense against would be predators such as toxicity, foul taste, or venom. The species that is imitated by the mimic is called the model. The predatory species is usually a common predator of both the mimic and the model and is known as the dupe, and is the species that gets fooled by the mimicry. There are many types of mimicry, each is influenced by the behavior of the dupe and classified by the evolution of a biological function of the mimic through natural selection, or survival of the fittest (eg., avoiding harm, finding food). Batesian mimicry is when harmless species mimics a harmful species, these are the sheep in wolves clothing. An example of a reptile species of Florida that leverage Batesian mimicry is the harmless Florida scarlet snake (Cemophora coccinea coccinea) that mimics the venomous Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius), in which case, the Florida scarlet snake (mimic) displays Batesian mimicry of the Eastern coral snake (model). Müllerian mimicry is expressed when two or more harmful species share similar “Warning Colors” that advertises to potential predator that both species have real defense mechanisms such as a foul taste, toxic body fluids or noxious odors. In Müllerian mimicry, a predator may attack an unfamiliar harmful species at some point in its life but will soon thereafter associates the bad experience with the coloration of the mimic and avoid all species with similar coloration in the future. This mimicry is unique in the sense that it is benefits all species involved. The predator species benefits by learning to avoid specific coloration and thus avoids harmful encounters. Likewise, any mimic WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
species with similar colors benefit from the lesson learned by the predators earlier bad encounter. Many butterfly species of Florida leverage Müllerian mimicry, for example the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), the Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), and the Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) all share common “Warning Colors” to signal a potential of the toxicity it derives from its milkweed host plant. Mertensian mimicry is characterized by the unusual instance of deadly species imitating the “Warning Colors” of a less dangerous species. If a predator attacks dangerous prey and dies as a result, the learning opportunity for the predator species is lost; the predator species does not live to teach other predator members not to mess with the dangerous prey and attacks will persist with the same results. A better strategy for the dangerous prey would be to mimic an unpleasant, (but not deadly) species so after an attack, the predator species has the opportunity to pass the information on to the next generation of predators. Aggressive mimicry describes predators that imitate their prey, the preys host, or a neutral or beneficial species of which, allow the predator to get close to its prey without detection. This is the polar opposite of Batesian mimicry, and a classic example of the wolf in sheep’s clothing. This form of mimicry is common in spiders, for example, the Ant-mimicking Jumping Spider (Synemosyna formica ) disguises itself as Twig Ants (Pseudomyrmex gracilis). Mimicry is associated with camouflage in that it renders a species difficult to recognize among other similar species. When the mimic imitates a specific object or organism to which the dupe is indifferent it is loosely termed mimesis and is one of the most fascinating forms of mimicry. For example, the all familiar Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila clavipes), is thought to spin a web with a golden (yellow) hue to discourage bees from avoiding the web. Bees associate the color yellow with nectar bearing flowers, it would be unproductive for a bee to avoid the color yellow, therefore, bees would have a hard time associating the Yellow web with danger. The larva of the Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) is the most fun, as it mimics bird droppings. With a closer look, you may actually find one of these caterpillars in the coming weeks, imagine the April Fools jokes you could pull off with one of these caterpillars (but please bring no harm to the caterpillar). INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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In recogni�on of your commitment to offer delicious, innova�ve and tradi�onal dishes featuring fresh Florida strawberries, the growers and members of the Florida Strawberry Growers Associa�on proudly present this Award of Apprecia�on� Thank you for your con�nu�� �u��or��
Sue Harrell Director of Marketing
Kenneth Parker Executive Director
Strawberry Fields Ulele and the Florida Strawberry Growers Association celebrated the triumphant second annual “Strawberry Fields” promotion. From cocktails to beer to entrees and desserts even a visit by Ulele staff to the strawberry fields - this delicious effort had it all. Celebrating the conclusion of a very successful second annual Strawberry Fields promotion at Ulele, FSGA, Ulele team members and strawberry growers joined together for an afternoon party in the beer garden. The last two weeks of February Ulele featured locally grown strawberries in ice cream, sorbet, beer, drinks and entrees. Thanks to Chef Eric, Tim Shackton and the wonderful staff at Ulele for another successful partnership.
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Say Hello to Candy O!
A gorgeous little puppy that was abandoned at an apartment complex. We are so impressed with this little girl! She is smart and is learning all of her commands. Candy gets along well with her brothers and sisters and her humans! She is approximately 4 months old and is almost potty trained! That’s a huge plus!! We aren’t quite sure of her breed, but we think she’s a mix between Perfect & Awesome! If you are looking for a puppy to add to your family, look no further because Candy is sweeter than honey! To find out more about Candy, visit us at www.saveaboxer.org
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CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS “The Best of the Best” 1ST Place - $1500 Cash Award – Bailey Sloan, Deland 2nd Place Champion of Champions - Cady McGehee, Okeechobee 3rd Place Champion of Champions - Emily Jennings, Dade City 4th Place Champion of Champions - Rebecca Urbonas, Land O Lakes 5th Place Champion of Champions - Michael Fioretto, Bradenton 6th Place Champion of Champions - Mason Bishop, Orange City Mosaic Scholarship Winners The winner of the $1,500 Scholarship - Jacob McGehee, Okeechobee Florida State Fair Foundation Scholarship Winners The winners of the $1,000 Scholarship are William Jameson, Lake Panasoffkee Kellie Zambito, Lutz Jordan Olson, Parrish Rachel Barthle, Dade City John McGehee, Okeechobee Jan Dillard Memorial Scholarship Winner The winner of the $1,000 Scholarship is - Cassidy Hasting, Plant City CHAMPION YOUTH WINNERS Youth Dog Junior Champion – Isabela Ibarra from Bryceville Intermediate Champion – Genevieve Cruickshank from Seminole 4th place Senior Champion – Kathleen Wann, Lakeland 3rd place Senior Champion – Hope Potteiger, Lakeland 2nd place Senior Champion – Hannah Reeder, Lakeland Champion Youth for Dog Show – Kayla Byrd, Auburndale Youth Llama Junior Champion – Maggie Jordan from Nokomis Intermediate Champion – Savan88
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nah Morgan, Tampa 4th place Senior Champion – Caitlin Farquhar, Zephyrhills 3rd place Senior Champion – Victoria Tinney, Zephyrhills 2nd place Senior Champion – Autumn Tinney, Zephyrhills Champion Youth for Llama Show – Jacob Lehman, Wesley Chapel Youth Rabbit
Intermediate Champion – Conner Harper, Sorrento 4th place Senior Champion – Javier Balceiro, Miami 3rd place Senior Champion – Lindsay Flynn, Seffner 2nd place Senior Champion – Kayleigh Fredrickson, Odessa Champion Youth for Poultry Show – Zoe Tallman, Tampa
Junior Champion – Kally Henson, Winter Haven Intermediate Champion – Colton Nichols, Land O Lakes 4th place Senior Champion – Elizabeth Ladkani, Beverly Hills 3rd place Senior Champion – Emma Smith, Tampa 2nd place Senior Champion – Hannah Gillette, Wesley Chapel Champion Youth for Rabbit Show – Michael Fioretto, Bradenton
Youth Goat
Youth Steer Intermediate Champion – T.J. Hubbell, Lutz 4th place Senior Champion – Emily Jennings, Dade City 3rd place Senior Champion – Robert Corrales, Tampa 2nd place Senior Champion – Christian Rodriquez, Live Oak Champion Youth for Steer Show – Rachel Barthle, Dade City Youth Dairy Junior Champion – Logan Shoop, Ruskin Intermediate Champion – Austin Holcomb, Lithia 4th place Senior Champion – Sydni Sinka, Dade City 3rd place Senior Champion – Hunter Fioretto, Bradenton 2nd place Senior Champion – Jozef Heijkoop, Webster Champion Youth for Dairy Show – Cady McGehee, Okeechobee Youth Poultry Junior Champion - Nathaniel Harper, Sorrento March 2016
Junior Champion – Melina Perdomo, San Antonio Intermediate Champion – Isabel Perdomo, San Antonio 4th place Senior Champion – Andrew Forbes Jr, Edgewater 3rd place Senior Champion – Bailey Sloan, Deland 2nd place Senior Champion – Austin Dykas, Dade City Champion Youth for Goat Show – Ashlyn Greer, Edgewater Youth Swine Junior Champion – Macie Waller from Inverness Intermediate Champion – Taylor Waller from Inverness 4th place Senior Champion – Casey Wingate from Myakka City 3rd place Senior Champion – Brianna Edwards from Deland 2nd place Senior Champion – Christian Rodriquez from Live Oak Champion Youth for Swine Show – Baleigh Oliver from Deland Youth Beef Junior Champion – Gabe Mitchell, Trenton Intermediate Champion – Camryn Farquhar, Zephyrhills 4th place Senior Champion – Ryan Beany, Fort Pierce 3rd place Senior Champion – Mason Bishop, Orange City 2nd place Senior Champion – Rebecca Urbonas, Land O Lakes Champion Youth for Beef Show – Diana Courson, Bradenton
Youth Sheep Junior Champion – Ashlyn Miller, New Smyrna Beach Intermediate Champion – David Austin, Deland 4th place Senior Champion – Emily Rohde, Deland 3rd place Senior Champion – Bailey Sloan, Deland 2nd place Senior Champion – Trevor Rosso, Deland Champion Youth for Sheep Show – Brooke Miller, New Smyrna Beach Youth Beef Show Junior Showmanship Ryleigh Locke Intermediate Showmanship Bailey Harden Senior Showmanship Mason Bishop Youth Angus Grand Champion Female Samuel Torrence, Newberry Dmaeron Blackcap Brandi 4153 Reserve Grand Champion Female Taylynn Williamson, Dade City EXAR Frontier Gal 4862 Grand Champion Bull Gabriel Hernandez, Wellington R2 New Frontier xo 74 1253 Reserve Grand Champion Bull Gabriel Hernandez, Wellington R2 New Frontier xo 74 1133 133 Youth Grey Brahman Grand Champion Female Mason Bishop, Orange City GS Ms Junebug 06N Reserve Grand Champion Female Lindsey Wilder, Micanopy Moreno Ms Lady Kate Calver Grand Champion Bull Natalee Trimble, Okeechobee NC Polled Eli WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Emily Ralston, Bradenton, FL Homewrecker
Intermediate Showmanship Isabel Perdomo, San Antonio
Youth Red Brahman
Reserve Grand Champion Female Cara Zeveney, Parrish, FL Gem 9150
Senior Showmanship D’Ayn Sayre, Umatilla
Grand Champion Female Sorrel Panaro, Indiantown Moreno Ms. Lady Rocksi
Grand Champion Bull Will Childers, Old Town, FL EX Commander 22C
Reserve Grand Champion Female Sorrel Panaro, Indiantown Moreno Ms. Ritzy Look
Reserve Grand Champion Bull Morgan Blommel, Dade City, FL Blommel SI 1615
Grand Champion Bull Ryan Beany, Fort Pierce 5M Ice House 704/4
Youth Limousin/Simmental Show
Reserve Grand Champion Bull Bethalyn Bishop, Trenton IS Mr Snowflake 111
Reserve Grand Champion Bull Sydney Honeycutt, Micanopy Moreno Mr Rexie Bob Youth Brangus Grand Champion Female Cassidy Polston, Lakeland R3P Ms Coal Trains Karma 36B Reserve Grand Champion Female Kaleb Williams, Haines City KSW Miss Kalypso 284B Grand Champion Bull Cassidy Polston, Lakeland R3P Mr Next Step 36B Reserve Grand Champion Bull Dundee Ridge FFA, Dundee BT Knights PJ 617B2 Youth Santa Gertrudis Grand Champion Female Carley Jones, Lake City CJ’s Miss Fancy 404 Reserve Grand Champion Female Trayce King, Altha Lady Aphrodite 140 Grand Champion Bull Jakob Jones, Lake City OLC Grande
Grand Champion Female Savanna Jerrels, Bronson, FL Baby Girl Reserve Grand Champion Female Elijah Briar Mitchell, Trenton, FL CM2 Dilly Grand Champion Bull Kylie Bartlett, Hawthorne, FL JNHS Blaze 320B Reserve Grand Champion Bull Gabe Mitchell, Trenton FL Roadie YOUTH BOER GOAT Junior Showmanship Alaina Blair, High Springs Intermediate Showmanship Hunter Raulerson, Pierson Senior Showmanship Andrew Forbes Jr., Edgewater Grand Champion Percentage Doe Andrew Forbes,Jr. , Edgewater Biscuit Reserve Grand Champion Percentage Doe Alaina Blair, High Springs Hotter than a $2.00 Pistol
Grand Champion Recorded Grade Spencer Shinner, Osteen Mullins Croft January Frost Reserve Grand Champion Recorded Grade Hunter Goodson, Intercession City Ruby’s Roost Ranch Joy Starr Grand Champion Alpine Crystal Robinson, Miami Edderly Supreme Elsa
Youth Brown Swiss Grand Champion Female Gracie Lee, Plant City, FL Hug-M-All Coll Buzzin Reserve Grand Champion Female Blane Rogers, Plant City, FL Hidden Paradise Candy Youth Guernsey Grand Champion Female Austin Holcomb, Lithia, FL C&S Caesar Misty Reserve Grand Champion Female Austin Holcomb, Lithia, FL Up River Mtn Man Abyssinia Youth Holstein
Reserve Grand Champion Alpine Emily Morgan New Life Acres R Alyana
Grand Champion Female Terrah Henderson, Live Oak, FL Shenda Colt Penny 5212 RC
Grand Champion LaMancha Kyle Weaver, Crawfordville The SW Strawberry Shortcake
Reserve Grand Champion Female Jozef Heijkoop, Webster, FL Heijkoop Viable Divas Disco
Reserve Grand Champion LaMancha D’Ayn Sayre, Umatilla SG Country Caprines Atomaria
Youth Jersey
Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Mattie Weber, Groveland Dudley’s Girls GR Sand Storm Reserve Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Jacob White, Lee Painted Feather Bella Butternut Grand Champion Nubian Katlyn Carney, Weirsdale Summer Reserve Grand Champion Nubian Katlyn Carney, Weirsdale Henise Grand Champion Toggenburg Emilee Brown, Crawfordville Tad-mor KST Champagne Gala
Grand Champion Female Hunter Fioretto, Bradenton, FL Morris Eclipse Sophie Reserve Grand Champion Female Austin Holcomb, Lithia, FL MLF Mals Riled Malaun YOUTH LLAMA Junior Showmanship Kylie Morgan, Tampa Intermediate Showmanship Kristy Herbon, Sarasota Senior Showmanship Victoria Tinney, Zephyrhills Champion Non-Breeding Llama Victoria Tinney, Zephyrhills PVL Maverick Blue Waves Reserve Champion Non-Breeding Llama Jamie Sampson, Deltona Black Berri
Grand Champion Purebred/Fullblood Doe Alaina Blair, High Springs Sweet Tater Delight
Reserve Grand Champion Toggenburg Emilee Brown, Crawfordville Tad-mor LD Peppermint Fudge
Reserve Grand Champion Purebred/Fullblood Doe Alaina Blair, High Springs Ain’t Nothing But a Thing
Grand Champion All Other Purebreds Samantha Quirie, Archer Devonshire Briana
Reserve Grand Champion Female Dundee Ridge FFA, Dundee FX Bar Kari Lyn
Grand Champion Purebred/Fullblood Buck Hunter Raulerson, Peirson SOJ Gaston
Reserve Grand Champion All Other Purebreds Samantha Quirie, Archer Devonshire Captain Mary Crickett
Grand Champion Bull Dundee Ridge FFA, Dundee CC MF Black Raider
Reserve Grand Champion Purebred/Fullblood Buck Emily Acevedo, Live Oak Show Me Boers Phenomenon
YOUTH DAIRY Senior Showmanship Cady McGehee, Okeechobee, FL
Reserve Champion Male Ashley Herbon, Sarasoa Oaks Rest Gold Rush
Intermediate Showmanship Aleah Burrill, Sarasota, FL
Junior (Age 8 - 10) Youth Performance Champion Maggie Jordan, Nokomis
Reserve Grand Champion Bull Kelsi Edenfield 5-E 9mm Youth Zebu Grand Champion Female Dundee Ridge FFA, Dundee Kade’s Critters Buttercup
Reserve Grand Champion Bull Colton Nichols, Land O’ Lakes Flying P Sweet Lazarus
Grand Champion Wether Leighton Ketcham, Lake City
Junior Showmanship Savannah Jarrels, Bronson
Reserve Grand Champion Wether Amber Rogers, Ft. White
Intermediate Showmanship Owen Skinner, Odessa
YOUTH DAIRY GOAT
Senior Showmanship Cara Zeveney, Parrish
BEST DOE IN SHOW Emilee Brown, Crawfordville Tad-mor KST Champagne Gala
Youth All Other Breeds Show
Junior Showmanship Melina Perdomo, San Antonio
Grand Champion Female WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Junior Showmanship Libby Sutton, Sun City, FL Youth Ayrshire Grand Champion Female Sarah Carter, Lithia, FL Aprill’s Jeremy Petals Reserve Grand Champion Female Nicholas Hammer, Odessa, FL JSB-Acres Trista INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
Grand Champion Female Kristy Herbon, Sarasota Peruvian Maiden Voyage Reserve Champion Female Joey Newcomb, Zephyrhills HRC Miss Butterfly Champion Male Miranda Tyler, Wesley Chapel Bolero’s Music
Junior (Age 8 - 10) Youth Reserve Performance Champion Kylie Morgan, Tampa Int. (Age 11 - 13) Youth Performance Champion Lincoln Middle FFA (Emma Radley), Ellenton
continued on pg.96 March 2016
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Stuff You Didn’t Know:
Bromeliads
I have to tell you, Tracie Goff is great at finding Ag related things to write about. She suggested that I get in touch with Stephen Preston about his bromeliads. Since I’d recently completed a chapter about bromeliads out of Ornamental Gardening in Florida (via our Literary Time Machine series), I figured this would be an excellent recap. Perhaps you are at least a little like me. If that’s the case then you probably don’t know much about bromeliads. Stephen wasn’t very well versed in them either until he received some plants from his mother. She collected plants over the years as an IFAS staff member and decided to give him a few. He brought them down from Gainesville to his home in Brandon in 1995. Stephen shared, “We moved from Brandon to our Plant City address in ’04 and in the move I lost a lot of tags but still was able to move my collection. Of course, when you go from a subdivision to five acres you have a lot more room to play with. So, I basically put them down and let ‘em go. They have multiplied. I brought them out in ’03 and they’ve been sort of on their own because I was still working. I retired last year so I’m still trying to get a handle on getting all those projects done that you put to the side until you, quote, retire.” He has no problem giving credit where credit is due. In fact, he’s particularly impressed with Herb Hill. He told me, “I worked with Herb Hill, and he actually does hybridizing for some of the big firms in Europe where bromeliads are, in a way, more popular than they are here. Just rubbing elbows with Herb, seeing how he hybridizes, he is just amazing with what he has done over the years. A lot of the stuff you see in Home Depot is his work.” I asked him to tell me some facts about bromeliads since I’m pretty much a dunce in that arena. He explained, “They’re basically aeroids, they live in trees, mainly, and you’ll find them through Central America and South America living in different eco-niches from the rainforest to beaches to mountains to just different areas that they have adapted themselves. They have a beautiful range in terms of how they look and how they grow. Florida’s got 13 native bromeliads. You’ll see them all around you. For instance Spanish moss is a Tillandsia usneoides; that is a bromeliad. Some of the moss type stuff you see on the trees are actually bromeliads.” I was shocked by that revelation. I know people are often irritated by Spanish moss claiming that it’s stifling the growth of the trees in inhabits. Apparently, people have other problems with bromeliads as well. Stephen said, “They are sometimes unfairly associated with mosquitoes because they do collect water in their cups. Any time you have something that collects water in the cup like that, if you’re not spraying with insecticides, usually the native mosquito’s natural predators take care of that. I’ve never had problems with mosquitoes and I have, I would say, probably 2000 bromeliads.” I asked him if he had that many trees on his five acres. He chuckled and explained, “Trees are their natural habitat, but they are very similar in an environment as orchids would be. Actually an orchid mix works well, but different people have their own special mix of 92
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March 2016
By Ginny Mink
what they use. But it’s pretty much a mulch with perlite. Some have more soil, some have peat moss in them. Different people have their own specialty. You’ll see people discussing, ‘What’s the best mix?’ Of course, a lot of it depends on what your environment is. It all depends on sun, rain and circulation. You have to have those three in balance to get them to perform really well.” He added, “Of course temperature helps. This year I tried an experiment. I did not cover my small shade house and during the cold periods I just used water misting irrigation to develop a micro climate. Even though it got down to 29 here, I did not lose anything. Mostly my orchids got hit but I haven’t really lost any. Now that March is coming in, that’s when we usually have our last freeze, I’m going to put them back out in their little happy spaces. Even though most people think they’re cold tender. They are really more hardy than people think. It’s fun to play with them and discover what they can and can’t do.” Perhaps the most intriguing piece of information happened in this part of the conversation. He told me, “It’s fun, it’s enjoyable. They multiply nicely. Some I’ve got growing up in the sides of trees. If you go to a part of a national park, where it’s summer, and the Spanish moss is blooming. It’s a real tiny green bloom, and there’s no breeze; it’s early in the morning, and everything starts to smell like vanilla, that’s the Spanish moss blooming. But most people walk by it and never realize they’re walking by a bromeliad.” Spanish moss blooms smell like vanilla? What? I am so going to have to check that out. Yes, he assured me, bromeliads are all over the place. In fact, he said, “If you walk by the Alafia or Hillsborough, where you have a warmer microclimate, you’ll find probably about seven species of the natives. Of course the natives are Tillandsias so they’re not really spectacular foliage but they do have some interesting blooms. But, most people go right by them and never notice them.” I asked him a little about hybridizing and he told me, “To bring a cross into fruition, where you actually see it, if you’re not forcing them and really pushing their growth, it will take anywhere from four to seven years to see your results. At my age I’m not going to be able to do too many of those. Of course, Herb can bring his to fruition in about two to three years. You can force a bromeliad to bloom if you put it in a brown bag with an apple, the gas from it will actually force it to bloom within about three months.” Then the true reveal occurred. He expounded, “That’s why you can see the ones in Home Depot might be six inches high, but if you take them home and you grow ‘em for three years, the next generation and the next generation will actually get closer to their full size which may be 24 to 30 inches. I just can’t get into that type of competitive stuff. It’s a phenomenal operation at the commercial level. I just enjoy them because they’re fun and they’re beautiful and unique.” Oh and by the way, at the end of the interview he told me, pineapples are bromeliads! Cool. I’ve got a bromeliad in my flower bed! Do you? WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
BLUEBERRY GROWERS AND COPING WITH CHANGE By Jim Frankowiak Change is a constant in life. For Blueberry growers in Florida, this season has seen a dramatic change in weather that deviated markedly from prior seasons and historic temperature averages. More than 400 gathered at the spring meeting of the Florida Blueberry Growers Association for an update on industry happenings, especially the dramatic weather departure from the past. The meeting was held last month at the Trinkle Center of Hillsborough Community College – Plant City Campus. University of Georgia Horticulture Professor Emeritus Gerard Krewer began his presentation identifying himself as one asked to give to the “Dr. Doom” talk as he set the stage to detail this season’s marked change in weather and how growers will have to anticipate future seasons. The shift in weather does not mean the “doom” of the industry Krewer said, but it does demand the need for growers to adapt and adjust their planting and production actions going forward. “The climate seems to be getting warmer, and we are going to have to deal with it,” Krewer said. Attesting to that statement is the fact that “there were zero chill hours recorded in central Florida prior to Christmas.” And while it is most advantageous for crops to experience a preconditioning of natural chill hours followed by an application of Dormex/Budpro, this season there were “no natural chill hours prior to Christmas and that is resulting in a delay in blooming of about three weeks.” Evergreen varieties of blueberry that require almost no winter chilling or Dormex are becoming more attractive and Dr. Krewer encourages growers to consider these varieties and how they perform in the area as winters become warmer. “The University of Florida has introduced new varieties, such as the Chickadee and Arcadia, that are doing well in this warm year without Dormex. However, they do require additional fungicide and fertilizer applications in the fall and early winter.” “We are also working to determine how to use Dormex better,” he said. “That includes trialing different rates of Dormex in early December to determine the sensitivity of the blueberry plants to the chemical when applications are made in late December. The lowest rate of Dormex on Jewel and Emerald that produced good defoliation resulted in the best Dormex response with the least flower bud injury.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Given the continuing change in weather and prediction of warmer weathers, Krewer strongly suggested growers stop “planting varieties of blueberries that are too high chilling for their location Florida.” Dr. Jim Olmstead, University of Florida blueberry breeder, shared information about two new varieties for growers in Florida: Keepcrisp (Fl06-556) and Patrecia (52-20). The former is a low-chill, midto late maturing best suited for North-Central Florida and South Georgia, while the latter matures earlier. Multi-county Extension Agent Gary England gave growers an update on the utilization of blue dye for tracking irrigation water movement in blueberry and UF graduate student Tori Bradley and Dr. Al Wysocki, associate Dean of the UF College of Agriculture and Sciences presented findings on a survey of eastern U.S. consumers and their thoughts and opinions about blueberries grown in Florida. Following an update from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council given by Promotion Committee member Ken Patterson, a brief business meeting presided by second term FBGA President Dudley Calfee and preview of the 2016 Florida Blueberry Festival (April 16-17) by Festival Coordinator Ms. Michael Heard, Shawn Foster of the Sunrise Consulting Group provided growers with an update on the current Florida legislative session as it relates to the industry. Dr. Oscar Liburd, UF small fruits entomologist, then discussed the utilization of integrated tactics for effective management of blueberry pests and his presentation was followed by postharvest Extension specialist Dr. Steve Sargent and his presentation regarding postharvest handling and packing of fresh Florida blueberries. The session ended with remarks from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Environmental Specialist, Pollinator Protection, Jeanne Klopchin regarding honey bees, blueberries and bee protection in the Sunshine State. Additional information on each of the presentations given at the FBGA Spring Blueberry Short Course is available at: http://floridablueberrygrowers.com. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Results Int. (Age 11 - 13) Youth Reserve Performance Champion Amy Hedgepath, Lithia Sr. (Age 14 - 18) Youth Performance Champion Johann Rey, Wesley Chapel Sr. (Age 14 - 18) Youth Reserve Performance Champion Victoria Tinney, Zephyrhills
Champion Duck Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred Champion Turkey Rachel Taris, Tampa Reserve Champion Turkey Hunter Fraccica, Spring Hill Champion Guinea Eric Zimmerman, Lithia Reserve Champion Guinea Eric Zimmerman, Lithia
YOUTH MARKET LAMB SHOW
Champion American Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred
GRAND CHAMPION Trevor Rosso, Deland
Reserve Champion American Sage Lonergan, Christmas
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION Shawna Clay, Deland
Champion Asiatic Kayleigh Frederickson,Odessa
YOUTH POULTRY
Reserve Champion Asiatic Kayleigh Frederickson,Odessa
Best Purebred of Show Kayleigh Fredrickson, Odessa Reserve Best Purebred of Show Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred Best Commercial of Show Breanna Smith, Tampa
Champion Commercial Male Danielle Miller, Plant City Champion Commercial Female Breanna Smith, Tampa Reserve Champion Commercial Female Samantha Wells, Lakeland Champion Large Fowl Kayleigh Frederickson, Odessa Reserve Champion Large Fowl Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred Champion Bantam Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred Reserve Champion Bantam Christian Bentrovato, Plant City Champion Waterfowl Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred Reserve Champion Waterfowl Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred 96
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Champion Continental Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred Reserve Champion Continental Jacob Bentrovato, Plant City Champion Mediterranean Hunter Sharp, Chiefland Reserve Champion Mediterranean Hunter Sharp, Chiefland Champion AOSB Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred Reserve Champion AOSB Austin Carey, Deland Champion English Sage Lonergan, Christmas Reserve Champion English Eric Zimmerman, Lithia Champion Heavy Duck Pieper Jaehn, Tampa Reserve Heavy Duck Pieper Jaehn, Tampa Champion Medium Duck Jonah Green, Lakeland Champion Light Duck Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred Reserve Light Duck Jonah Green, Lakeland March 2016
Reserve Champion Duck Pieper Jaehn, Tampa Champion Heavy Goose Pieper Jaehn, Tampa Champion Goose Pieper Jaehn, Tampa
Raymond Walter, Christmas Reserve Brown Dozen Raymond Walter, Christmas Best Green Dozen Kathleen Wann, Lakeland Best Non-Commercial Class Kathleen Wann, Lakeland Herdsman Awards
Champion Old English Christian Bentrovato, Plant City
Senior Alex Montalvo, Arcadia
Reserve Champion Old English Ryan Bentrovato, Plant City
Intermediate Faith Montalvo, Arcadia
Champion Modern Game Kelsey Orlando, Lakeland
Junior Connor Harper, Sorrento
Reserve Champion Modern Game TJ Bond, Lakeland
YOUTH REGISTERED SHEEP
Champion SCCL Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred
Junior Showmanship Ashlyn Miller, New Smyrna Beach. FL
Reserve Champion SCCL Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred
Intermediate Showmanship Ally Rae Black, Plant City, FL
Champion RCCL Alexis Yahre, Lutz
Senior Showmanship Brooke Miller, New Smyrna Beach, FL
Reserve Champion RCCL Alexis Yahre, Lutz Champion AOCCL Alex Montalvo, Arcadia Reserve Champion AOCCL Jonathan Montalvo, Arcadia Champion Feather Legged Gabby Weinstein, Valrico
OVERALL SUPREME CHAMPION EWE Emily Rohde, DeLand, FL OVERALL SUPREME CHAMPION RAM Volusia Show Pride, De Leon Springs, FL All Other Sheep Breeds
Reserve Feather Legged Donna Carroll, Lakeland
Grand Champion Ewe Erin Israel, Geneva, FL
Champion Bantam Duck Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred
Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Sarah Redditt, Winter Garden, FL
Reserve Champion Bantam Duck Philip Shaske, Lake Alfred
Grand Champion Ram Erin Israel, Geneva, FL
Youth Egg Show
Reserve Grand Champion Ram Connor Compton, Geneva, FL
Best Overall Dozen Eggs Raymond Walter, Christmas
Cheviot
Best White Dozen Raymond Walter, Christmas
Grand Champion Ewe Turkey Creek FFA, Plant City, FL
Reserve White Dozen Raymond Walter, Christmas
Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Barrington FFA, Lithia FL
Best Brown Dozen
Grand Champion Ram WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Turkey Creek FFA, Plant City, FL
Producer: C & B Cattle
Braxton Young, Branford
Reserve Grand Champion Ram Barrington FFA, Lithia FL
GRAND CHAMPION Cody Donaldson, Alachua Producer: Barto Farms
Youth Rabbit American Fuzzy Lop Best of Breed Bianca Rafflo, Gibsonton
Hampshire Grand Champion Ewe Erin Israel, Geneva, FL Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Volusia Show Pride, De Leon Springs, FL Grand Champion Ram Volusia Show Pride, De Leon Springs, FL Reserve Grand Champion Ram Erin Israel, Geneva, FL Katahdin Grand Champion Ewe Rachel Morris, De Leon Springs, FL Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Rachel Morris, De Leon Springs, FL
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION Taylynn Williamson, Dade City Producer: Lightsey Cattle Company Intermediate Showmanship T. J. Hubbell, Lutz Senior Showmanship Cheyenne Donaldson, Alachua Class 1 Winner Christian Rodriguez, Live Oak Producer - Barto Farms Class 2 Winner Cheyenne Donaldson, Alachua Producer - D.H. Ranch Class 3 Winner Taylynn Williamson, Dade City Producer - Lightsey Cattle Company
Grand Champion Ram Edward Maddox, DeLand, FL
Class 4 Winner Cody Donaldson, Alachua Producer - Barto Farms
Reserve Grand Champion Ram Edward Maddox, DeLand, FL
Charlie Moore Scholarship Winner Rachel Barthle, Dade City
Natural Colored
Bill Carey Sportmanship Award Winner Kailee Triner, Balm
Grand Champion Ewe Brooke Miller, New Smyrna Beach, FL Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Cole D’Angelo, DeLand, FL
Cindy Revels Memorial Scholarship Winner Cheyenne Donaldson, Alachua
Grand Champion Ram Sarah Morris, De Leon Springs, FL
A.L. “Buddy” McCullough Award Winner Christian Rodriquez, Live Oak
Reserve Grand Champion Ram Sarah Morris, De Leon Springs, FL
YOUTH SWINE
Best of Breed Alexis Yahre, Lutz Holland Lop Best Opp of Breed Samantha Langsam, Lutz
Champagne D’Argent Best of Breed Jennifer Caldwell, Dover
Hototo Best of Breed Patience Cribber, Brandon
Champagne D’Argent Best Opp of Breed Corey Newcomb, Seffner
Jersey Wooly Best of Breed Hunter Fraccica, Spring Hill
Dutch Best of Breed Eliana Holt, Plant City
Jersey Wooly Best Opp of Breed Dixie-Lee M. Bailey, Wimauma
Dutch Best Opp of Breed Tiffany Gerst, Holiday
Lionhead Best of Breed Dixie-Lee M. Bailey, Wimauma
Dwarf Hotot Best of Breed Kally Henson, Winter Haven
Lionhead Best Opp of Breed Dixie-Lee M. Bailey, Wimauma
Dwarf Hotot Best Opp of Breed Laura Bober, Lithia
Mini Lop Best of Breed Brooke Johnson, Lithia
English Angora Best of Breed Hunter Fraccica, Spring Hill
Mini Rex Best of Breed Emily Poznaniak, Riverview
English Angora Best of Opp Breed Kailey Mesmer, Spring Hill
Mini Rex Best Opp of Breed Emily Poznaniak, Riverview
English Lop Best of Breed Aleah Webster
Mini Satin Best of Breed Justin Ferrell, Riverview
, Hudson
English Lop Best Opp of Breed Katlynn Mesmer, Polk City
Netherland Dwarf Best of Breed Emily Poznaniak, Riverview
English Spot Best of Breed Patience Cribber, Brandon
Netherland Dwarf Best Opp of Breed Emily Poznaniak, Riverview
Flemish Giant Best of Breed Montana Rose Smith, Zephyrhills
New Zealand Best of Breed Logan Valenti, Tampa
Flemish Giant Best Opp of Breed Colton Nichols, Land O Lakes
New Zealand Best Opp of Breed Katryn Johnson, Valrico
Oxford
GRAND CHAMPION Michael Austin, Deland
Grand Champion Ewe Madison Shipley, Zephyrhills, FL
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION Mallory Albritton, Sarasota
Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Turkey Creek FFA, Plant City, FL
Junior Showmanship Hayden Fowler, Apopka
Grand Champion Ram Turkey Creek FFA, Plant City, FL
Intermediate Showmanship Madyson Keim, Lakeland
Florida White Best of Breed Lacy Grooms, Lithia
Polish Best of Breed Renee Carpenter, Wesley Chapel
Reserve Grand Champion Ram Turkey Creek FFA, Plant City, FL
Senior Showmanship Baleigh Oliver, Deland
Southdown
Division 1 - Champion Sydnie Bracknell, Gibsonton
Florida White Best Opp of Breed Corey Newcomb, Seffner
Polish Best Opp of Breed Elizabeth Ladkani, Beverly Hills
French Lop Best of Breed Hunter Fraccica, Spring Hill
Rex Best of Breed Jocelyn Hellier, Lithia
Division 2 - Champion Michael Austin, Deland
Havana Best of Breed Aleah Webster
, Hudson
Rex Best Opp of Breed Jocelyn Hellier, Lithia
Division 2 - Reserve Champion Mallory Albritton, Sarasota
Havana Best Opp of Breed Aleah Webster
, Hudson
Satin Best of Breed Sarah Young, Orlando
Himalayan Best of Breed Catie E Hashem, St. Petersburg
Silver Fox Best of Breed Hannah Lee, Lakeland
Division 4 - Champion Kelsey Steller, Lakeland
Himalayan Best Opp of Breed Jordan Olson, Parrish
Silver Fox Best Opp of Breed Kiona Blake, Lakeland
Division 4 - Reserve Champion
Holland Lop
Grand Champion Ewe Emily Rohde, DeLand, FL Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Emily Rohde, DeLand, FL Grand Champion Ram Erin Israel, Geneva, FL Reserve Grand Champion Ram Emily Rohde, DeLand, FL YOUTH STEER Premier Steer Gairson Breeden, Alachua Producer: Doyle Carlton III Reserve Premier Steer Zoe Vogt, Lutz WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Division 1 - Reserve Champion Baleigh Oliver, Deland
Division 3 - Champion Lyndsee Phillips, Inverness Division 3 - Reserve Champion Casey Wingate, Myakka City
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ANIMALS & NEEDS ANIMAL & BIRDCAGES
Equipment serving the fur bearing animal & exotic bird industry! Cages built to order. Wire by roll or foot. (813) 752-2230. Call Don Ammerman. www.ammermans.com July 17, 2016, Nov. 27, 2016
7X15 LAWN TRAILER Used Lawn Trailer with aluminum plate tool RUBBER MULCH box. 5ft tongue & heavy duty gate. $1,650 Call All Colors, buy 10 bags, get 1 FREE! $8.99 a bag. Call Ted (813) 752-3378 Alvie 813-759-8722 FORD 600 GAS TRACTOR Good Condition. $2,750 813-759-8722 Ask for Alvie
HUSTLER RAPTOR
CHICKEN MANURE FOR SALE
42” cut, 21 hp Kohler engine. 3 year warranty. $2,799 Call Alvie (813) 759-8722
Dry and available IMMEDIATELY! Call Tim Ford (863) 439-3232
BRAND NEW BUSH HOG ES2052 zero turn mower. Price reduced from $5,425 to $5,000 Call Alvie 813-750-8722
BRAND NEW HUSTLER X1
60” cut price was $10,356 buy now for $8,800. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
PRODUCE
FOR RENT
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.
Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mullcher. For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
FRESH PRODUCE
Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
REAL ESTATE
ALUMINUM
We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378
1988 F350 7.3 diesel flatbed dually, 5 speed with granny low, will haul whatever you put on it. $3,000 Call Chad 813-508-8128
FOR SALE - 45 ACRES VACANT LAND (Pasco County) 45 acres are comprised of gently rolling hills with big trees & solid ground, A great setting for residential development. To the east of the property is a 60 acre parcel (Lake Gilbert) that adds significant aesthetic value to the 45 acres. Zoning: AR (Agricultural-Rural) Call Heidi Cecil for more information (863) 899-9620
MAHINDRA 5010L TRACTOR
HOME FOR SALE
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 Blake 813-752-3378
SIDING
Ext. Siding 4’X7’ sheets stucco texture & 12” on center. $18.95 Call Blake 813-752-3378
TRUCK
2011 Mahindra 5010L, 49hp, 4x4, hst transmission, 958 hrs., with cab, a/c, & loader. $19,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FOR SALE
Home, barn 10+ acres with stream, green belted. See Zillow listing: 8219 Valrie Lane, Rivervies or call Bob 813-924-3385
METAL WAREHOUSE
2400 sq. ft. Metal Warehouse for lease. In close proximity to CSX industrial area. Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the Located in east Bartow. For more details call 863-221-0986 BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
MOBILE HOME TUBS
KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES
CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE. We are a Simonton/Amcraft dealer. Our windows are energy star, lifetime warranty & accidental glass replacement at no extra charge. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
PROPERTY AVAILABLE DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER 10 - 30 acres of property available
Metal brand new in bo 54” Mobile Home Tubs Call Ted (813) 752-3378 $185.00
No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
JOBS
FARM EQUIPMENT
GROVE EQUIPMENT SERVICE
for farming in Pasco County. Call Nick 813-967-3858
SERVICES CALLER ON HOLD
Brand new, 200 gallon, 9 row hydraulic boom sprayer, never used. Brand new Hypro pump Output is 19 GPM Pressure is 290 PSI Speed is 550 RPM Just needs to have plumbing hooked up, which we have most of too big for our small farm. $3,000 Call Chad 813-508-8128
is looking for agriculture/tractor mechanics at both the Bartow & Plant City locations. Having own tools is a plus. Pay based on skill and experience. Call Bartow at 863-537-1345 or Plant City at 813-759-8722
A low cost service that enables you to communicate important information about your business to customers while they are on hold. No monthly payments or annual payments. Call today and ask for Al (813) 763-2220
2015 MAHINDRA 1533
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES
MISC.
BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR
BOOM SPRAYER
Tractor 33hp, 4X4 w/ loader. 40 hours. $17,900. Has warranty & Financing available. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL?
Call us today! 813-759-6909 or email us: info@inthefieldmagazine.com Let us help you get rid of it!
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Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722
POLK FURNITURE
Polk Furniture Consignment Store. Purchase $637.00 worth of furniture & receive two tickets to a 3 day, 2 night cruise. 863-332-3954
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