WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
1
813-752-2379
Mon. - Sat.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
I T F M T F Redman M A 2016 3014 S.I Jim Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • www.southsidestores.com
2
N HE IELD
AGAZINE
pril
WWW. N HE IELD
AGAZINE.COM
Lumps & Bumps? What to do? By Christy Layton, DVM Many of you know about Relay For Life and how the funds raised help out with human cancer research. Luckily, much of this research eventually crosses over to our four legged family members as well. Have you ever found a lump or bump on your pet and wondered what to do? Hopefully, this article will help you to know exactly what to do next time! Cancer is one of the most common causes of disease and death in our older pets. While it can happen in any age of animal, 33% of older cats and over 50% of older dogs may die of cancer. Cancer is an overgrowth of a particular cell type that overwhelms the immune system. Cancer can cause a variety of symptoms from a bump on the skin to nausea and weight loss. Today, we will focus on the tumors visible to you on your pet’s skin and what needs to be done about them to help your pet live a long happy life! Many tumors/masses you see on your pet can be benign (non-cancerous) and will not cause any issues with your pet and therefore can be left alone as long as they do not rapidly change in size or firmness. The main problem with skin tumors is that many of them can look and feel alike to even the most astute veterinarians and the determination whether it is cancer or not can only be determined by either having a needle aspirate or biopsy of the mass performed. The sooner a cancerous mass is identified and removed, the better the prognosis is for your pet just as it is in humans. Therefore, any new masses you find on your pet should be examined by your veterinarian, measured and recorded in their medical chart as well as aspirated with a needle and the cells reviewed under a microscope or biopsied and sent to a laboratory for a histopathology review of the tissue architecture. By doing these things, your veterinarian can put a plan in place for you to continue to watch the mass and re-measure at future WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
visits or to have them removed if cancer is confirmed. Many skin tumors, even cancerous ones, can be treated by surgical removal alone and do not require any follow up chemotherapy or radiation treatments to prevent recurrence. The determination of long-term prognosis and the need for follow-up care would be based on: the size of the mass at the time of removal, the tumor type and grade and if it has metastasized at the time of removal (i.e. has it spread to lymph nodes or other organs). Diagnostics that may be performed to look for signs that a cancerous mass has spread would be: radiographs of the chest, abdominal ultrasound and bloodwork to evaluate internal organs. If your pet is found to have a cancerous mass, your veterinarian may decide to send you to a veterinary oncologist for further care. Veterinarians board-certified in oncology have undergone specialty training, demonstrated their knowledge by passing a challenging examination, and contributed to knowledge of veterinary oncology through scientific publication. These doctors are best trained to manage challenging cancer cases. Board-certified veterinary oncologists can be found in your area at ACVIM.org. So, take a good look and feel of the skin of your dog or cat tonight and if you find anything that doesn’t belong, make sure you contact your veterinarian to learn more about it!!
~Dr. Christy Layton is the owner/veterinarian at Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort in Plant City. ~ INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
3
Chris Walmsley Page 70
VOL. 11 • ISSUE 6
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 APRIL 2016 Cover Photos by: Stephanie Humphrey
Lumbs & Bumps
Moquito Control
Growums Update
C.A.R.E.S.
Jack Payne
Navy Summit
Ranch Rodeo
John Dicks
Tidal Boar
Fishing Hot Spots
Recipes
Activity
Rocking Chair Chatter
Grand Champion Swine
Activity
Collegiate FFA
Geomatics
Festival Results
Steak
Bay Mulch
Agritech
Meet the Minks
FSGA
Page 3
Page 10
Page 40
Page 42
Page 14 Page 18 Page 22
Grand Champion Steer
Page 26
Endangered Page 28 Farm Credit Express
Page 32
Florida Culantro
Page 35
Page 46 Page 52 Page 56 Page 61 Page 64 Page 60 Page 74
Page 75 Page 77 Page 78 Page 82 Page 82 Page 86 Page 87 Page 91
Page 92
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
4
AGENCY MANAGER Tommy Hale INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW. WWW.IN NTHEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
IN NTHEFIELD IELD MAGAZINE
A APRIL pril 2016 2016
5
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
In this issue you will find the results of the FFA and 4-H events that were held at the Florida Strawberry Festival. Every single participant deserves kudos for the hard work they put in to their projects for the various events. These shows should be kept in proper perspective. They aren’t cow shows, swine shows, sheep shows or plant shows, they are KID SHOWS! These shows give the youth the opportunity to “show” the hard work they have put in to get to the competition. These projects teach so much more than just feeding livestock or watering plants. The youth learn life skills that will follow them as they continue their education and on into future careers. Along with learning responsibility from the daily chores involved with these projects, participants learn decision making, attention to detail, and communication, among other things. April is here and you know what that means! It’s National Gardening Month. It is time to get outside and get your hands dirty. If you don’t have available land you can use a variety of containers and have it as part of your yard, porch or balcony. All you need is a spot and a little sun. The reward? Fresh vegetables and herbs to add to your meals. Ag Literacy Day is April 26. Those involved in the agriculture industry are encouraged to read Florida Agriculture in the Classroom’s newest book to elementary students. For more information on the event visit www.agtag.org. Remember when shopping for your family’s food to buy Fresh From Florida. You will be purchasing fresh, wholesome, delicious food from local people that you can trust.
Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez 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
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker and a FREE In The Field T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner! 6
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
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. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW. WWW.IN INTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
IN INTTHE HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE
AFpril ebruary 20162016
77
100 South Mulrennan Road • Valrico, FL 33594 • 813-685-9121
Thank You Dear Readers: The 2016 Strawberry Festival and the Florida legislative session have both ended. The festival enjoyed good weather and great attendance. The legislative session was particularly helpful and productive for Florida agriculture. We owe our thanks to so many for these most beneficial outcomes. Florida Farm Bureau and agriculture in the Sunshine State had an excellent legislative session this year. My thanks to those of you who recognized the opportunity for advocacy with our elected leaders. My appreciation, as well, to our Florida Farm Bureau staff for their hard work before and during the session and to our elected leaders for supporting our industry. Most of Florida Farm Bureau’s legislative agenda passed the Legislature during this session. I will not go into detail on each as legislative issue briefs are available on the Florida Farm Bureau website: www.floridafarmbureau.org. I would like to note the breadth of the agenda, however.
As I said at the outset, my thanks to many for their hard work with our elected officials in support of our industry. This is an important dimension of Farm Bureau, its professional staff and the countless volunteer members who both “talk the talk and walk the walk” when it comes to ongoing outreach to our elected leaders both at home and in Tallahassee during session. 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
The bills that successfully passed this session included: • Water Policy • Farm Vehicles • Agritourism • Fire Safety • Agriculture • State Lands • Special Assessments on Agricultural Lands Tax Relief
Kenneth Parker - President
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
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016 April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Stay To the ER You Trust
The ER You’ve Always Depended On No matter how serious your emergency, you want an ER you can trust. From minor injuries like broken bones, cuts or scrapes to more serious issues such as heart attacks or stroke, the Redman Emergency Center at South Florida Baptist Hospital delivers health care for adults and children. Also, because our Emergency Center is attached to a hospital, we can take patients into surgery or provide additional medical care right away if needed. For all of life’s minor and major emergencies, choose the Redman Emergency Center at South Florida Baptist Hospital.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Watch Dr. Brooke Shepard talk about the quality care at South Florida Baptist Hospital ER: PlantCityEmergency.org
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
9 BC1601571-0216
Buckhorn Nursery: Planting a Seed of Stewardship for Future Generations We all know that agriculture is the second largest economic driver in Florida, but did you know that of the 300 different commodities produced, Florida is the second largest state in nursery sales behind only California? There are currently over 4,700 commercial nursery and greenhouse farms in the state, and for one of Florida’s oldest and largest production nurseries, four generations are working together to produce over 200 varieties of woody ornamentals for consumers from Virginia to Texas. For more than 57 years, Buckhorn Nursery and the Lambert family have been involved in the nursery business. What started in Hardee County with Ronald and Margaret Lambert in 1959, continued in 1994 when their sons Ron, Harold and Brian took over and shifted the company’s focus to wholesale production. In 1997, grandson Corey Lambert joined his father and uncles on the nursery and since then, the family-run business has grown from 15 acres to over 120 acres. While the company has grown over the years, environmental stewardship has been a priority in their planning and implementation of management practices for more than 20 years. “It’s important for us to protect the environment because it’s directly responsible for allowing us to make a living,” said Corey Lambert. “We are constantly looking at how we do things to see if we can make any improvements.” Part of the Lambert’s plan includes the implementation of Best Management Practices (or BMPs). These BMPs are science and researchbased, field-tested practices that have been determined to be the most effective and practical means for improving water quality and conservation. Producers who implement BMPs highlight agriculture’s commitment to fostering water conservation and land protection through their continued efforts. Lambert said, “Implementing BMPs helps us cut cost while improving efficiency and maintaining or increasing production.” Some of the BMPs that have been implemented include the use of a tail water recovery system, which allows them to reuse some of the run off from previous wetting cycles, and the use of freeze cloth for cold protection, which minimizes the use of water as an alternative for freeze protection. They also implemented an irrigation system that works with an on-site weather station to make better decisions on when to water. 10
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
“The irrigation controls are initiated by weather conditions. It takes into consideration temperature conditions on site, so we irrigate what the plant needs instead of a general timed watering,” said Lambert The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has determined that Florida farms conserve more than 10 billion gallons of water per year through the implementation of BMPs, and as a result of their dedication to the preservation of Florida’s natural resources, Buckhorn Nursery was recognized by the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) program in 2014. The CARES program was founded in 2001 by the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and a coalition of farmers, commodity groups, agricultural associations and state and federal agencies to provide public recognition for farmers and ranchers who have voluntarily implemented outstanding nutrient stewardship practices on their operations. Lambert said, “The CARES program is important because it gives us the chance to educate people on what we’re doing to protect the land.” Raising awareness and educating Florida’s consumers on outstanding conservation efforts in agriculture were important points of emphasis for Florida Farm Bureau when they established the CARES program. To date, the CARES program has recognized over 850 farmers and ranchers across the state, and the “This Farm CARES” sign that was presented to those families serves as a tool to demonstrate that Florida’s farm families are actively involved in protecting our environment and sustaining the beauty and natural habitats of our state. When asked why Buckhorn Nursery is a farm that CARES, Lambert responded, “It comes from our upbringing. We were taught to be mindful of others, to take care of our employees, and to take care of our land.” For more information on the CARES program, including recipient profiles and highlight videos: go to www.thisfarmcares.org.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
11
12
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
13
2016 The Real Deal By Jim Frankowiak | Photos by Lacey Waters
There are rodeos and then there are rodeos. Many will be familiar with the televised events, pitting one competitor against another in a series of events. The cowboys, remember that just cowboys, will be dressed to the “9’s” and many will have corporate sponsors. Quite a display, but distant from the daily routine at cattle ranches across Florida and the U.S. A decade ago the Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Foundation formalized a circuit of ranch rodeos in the state to help “preserve a way of life and connect cowboys and cowgirls to cattlemen and the general public,” according to Fred Waters, who heads the Arena Crew that oversees the statewide FCA Ranch Rodeo circuit. Yes, you read it correctly, the circuit includes cowgirls. In fact, every five-member team in the competition must have at least one cowgirl and in Polk County two members must be from the county for each team entered in that county event. Additionally, all participants must be FCA members. There are 16 qualifying ranch rodeos annually in Florida. Each represents an opportunity for participating teams to win and thereby gain entry to the state finals which will take place this year at the Silver Spurs Arena at Heritage Park in Kissimmee September 30 – October 1. Venues for this year’s qualifying ranch rodeos include Ocala, Tampa (in conjunction with the State Fair), Bartow, Labelle, Manatee County Fairgrounds, Moore Haven, Orlando, Sumter County Fairgrounds, St. Lucie County Fairgrounds, Fruitland Park, Kenansville, Williston, Wauchula, Okeechobee and the Arcadia Rodeo Arena “This is a chance for real cowboys and cowgirls to connect with cattle owners and landowners,” said Waters. “These are the unsung heroes who get the work done every day, and they do that daily as teams, not individuals. That work is an important early step in the process that leads to provision of beef for our markets and restaurants in the quantity and range of choices we have in this country. 14
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
“In addition to preserving this part of Florida’s heritage, the events involve competing teams using the skills they use on the ranch every day,” said Waters. “The proceeds from these qualifying events support local county fair associations and 4-H clubs.” Winning team members win buckles or saddles, but no money. Team entry fees range from $350 to $500. Waters estimates that there are some 100 ranch rodeo teams competing in Florida. County events include calf branding, double mugging, wild cow milking, colt riding and team sorting. The events involve multiple teams competing at the same time under tight timing. “None of this is about individual performance, but all team members working together to get the job done just like they do every day,” said Waters. “Competing cowboys and cowgirls do it because they love what they do and want to showcase their skills.” In addition to the FCA Foundation the circuit receives ongoing support from the cattle industry and those companies and individuals allied to the industry. Waters and the other members of the FCA Arena Crew support the circuit, assisting with coordination of event judges and organizing the state finals. “County ranch rodeos are organized locally and that ranges from setting up the venue, securing and paying for insurance, assembling event calves, cows, steers and horses, and holding the actual event. Our crew takes responsibility for all of that at the state finals.” That means sufficient animals for the state finalist teams. Waters is also heavily involved in the qualifying ranch rodeo held in Polk County. The public is welcome to attend all of the FCA Ranch Rodeo events at the county and state levels. Additional information on the FCA Ranch Rodeo competitions is available by visiting: www.floridacattlemen.org. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
15
QUALITYProducers Trust AgroLiquid
16
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
17
How About Eye Protection, How Important is it?
Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
Whether a weekend angler or a commercial fisherman one of the most important things you can do is wear good eye protection. Something as simple as polarized sunglasses helps protect against Ultraviolet Rays or a possible Hook to the Eye. The simplest and easiest solution is to make sure you’re educated on the consequences of not wearing the proper sunglasses or eye protection. The huge benefits of wearing the proper eye protection while boating or fishing justifies spending a little extra money on a good pair of sunglasses. Regardless of whether you’re fishing or boating picking the right pair of sunglasses is important. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays without them can and will damage your eyes. Here’s something many folks do not realize, when you’re on the water you get a double dose ultraviolet rays, because they are intensified as they are reflected back off the water’s surface. Studies show that anglers and boaters not wearing proper sun protection are more likely to develop skin cancers in and around the eye.
Today, “Our world is filled with warnings for everything,” but I have to raise one more voice in this symphony. The necessity of protecting our eyes becomes paramount, especially when people, often only a few feet away, are unintentionally casting sharpened hooks through the air. If not careful someone can take a hook to the eye. Talk about ruining a fishing trip. A very common fishing-related face or eye injury occurs when a hook, under tension, becomes dislodged from a fish, and whips back striking someone, often in the hand, face or eye. This occurs most often as the captain attempts to boat or release a fish. As the captain grabs the line or leader, most anglers continue pulling up on the rod keeping the line very tight. What happens next if the fish comes off the hook the hook shoots straight up usually into the captain’s hand, face or into the boat and into someone else? This happens so quickly there is little or no reaction time to avoid being hooked in the hand, face or worse the eye. Here’s what should happen; once a fish is within six feet of the rod tip the angler should stop reeling and swing the line toward the captain. Once the captain grabs the line or leader the angler should relax the rod (rather than keeping tension on the rod tip he should allow some slack line), then if the fish falls off, the hook does not shoot straight up, and no one gets hooked.
Tampa Bay Fishing Report April 2016 What’s biting in Tampa Bay?
There are plenty of manufacturers making eye protection. However, I’ve been wearing Ono Sunglasses (http://onos.com/) for the last several years and love the way the fit and offer me the eye protection I need. These sunglasses are great, especially with the built-in reader powers available. I use their +250 readers, they are sharp, clear and do not distort the horizon. If you’re looking for a quality pair of 100% UVA and UVB Polarized mirrored or non-mirrored glasses you should check out a pair of Ono’s. (http://onos.com/) Very reasonably priced and Lifetime Warranty. While talking about eyes let’s talk about something we take for granted, fishing-related eye injuries. Eye injuries can be prevented by using protective eye wear, either sunglasses or safety glasses, especially if you’re working commercially. 18
NTHE HEFIELD IELD MAGAZINE AGAZINE IN
pril 2016 April
Expect good things this month, especially as the winds lighten up. The fishing will keep getting better and better. Looks like the best fishing days will be the first and third weeks of May. Make sure to check your tide charts for moving water.
Snook are everywhere and if the last two months are any indication they should continue to bite. Good tidal grass flats, passes or cuts from upper Tampa Bay all the way to Sarasota will prove productive. Live baiters remember to use caution when chumming with greenbacks, too much and they get full. When you fill them up, they stop eating. Free lined greenbacks always seem to do the trick along with dead bait on the bottom. And of course artificial lures are always fun for the true fishing enthusiast. Spotted Sea Trout & Southern Flounder should continue improving especially as bait moves onto the flats. Look for lush broken bottom grass flats with plenty of sandy potholes. These potWWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
holes should produce some good size fish using small popping corks or free-lined. Live shrimp or greenbacks seem to be the bait of choice. We’ve also been finding some really nice trout in deeper rocky bottom water. If you target them Tampa Bay has some really big flounder in the 20 to 25 inch range, you’ve just got to look and fish for them.
Redfish should start settling in for the summer. Check your favor-
ite oyster bars, cuts and broken bottom grass flats on the last of an outgoing tide and the first of an incoming. Don’t forget those large schools of mullet, as redfish feed in mullet schools. Greenbacks and silver dollar size pinfish work well as cut bait on the bottom. And of course artificial lures are always fun for the fishing enthusiast. One of my favorite lures is the soft plastic jerkbait around the mangroves and mullet schools.
Cobia should start cruising the sandy flats and markers looking for easy meals and they will eat just about anything tossed their way. I see them a lot of times while mackerel fishing when using a chum bag, so be ready with a heavier rod rigged. Threadfin Herring throughout Tampa Bay means Spanish mackerel and they should be in full swing this month. Good catches already reported, some ranging in the four to six lbs category. Chum them up with some live threadfins or greenbacks, free-line with at least 50# leader and a long shank silver 2/0 hook and hold on.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” 813-477-3814 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.
NTHE HEFIELD IELD MAGAZINE AGAZINE IN
pril 2016 April
19
20
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Florida has: • 12,133 square miles of water • Approximately 12,000 miles of fishable rivers, streams and canals • About 7,700 lakes (of 10+ acres), covering 3 million total acres • More than 200 native species of freshwater fish • More than 500 native species of saltwater fish • Freshwater fishing has an annual economic impact in Florida of $1.7 billion, 14,000 jobs. • Saltwater fishing has an annual economic impact in Florida of $7.6 billion, 109,300 jobs. • Boating has an economic impact in Florida of $10.4 billion, 82,800 jobs. • There are five different species of snook that inhabit Florida waters: common snook, small-scale fat snook, large-scale fat snook, swordspine snook, and tarpon snook.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
21
Chickens I remember when I was growing up my mother always had a yard full of chickens and one big red rooster. My job every afternoon was to gather the eggs. I didn’t mind, but I had to keep my eye on “Dummy” the big red rooster. For some reason he did not like me. It could be because I kicked him across the chicken yard when dad first brought him home to be the “King of the Roost!”
for himself.”
Dummy’s main problem was he always was fighting the hens. He actually killed a couple of them before we tied a heavy three-foot string around one leg with the other end to a post in the middle of the chicken-yard. If a hen got anywhere close he would lunge at them. Over a period of time we noticed one leg was about an inch-and-ahalf longer than the other one. Feeling sorry for him we turned him loose, and every time he tried to corner a hen he would fall over. A week or two of this cured him from chasing all the girls in the chicken yard.
So the two roosters go over to the hen house to start the race with all the hens gathering around to watch. The race begins and all the hens start cheering the roosters on. After the first lap, the old rooster is still maintaining his lead. After the second lap, the old guy’s lead has slipped a little but he’s still hanging in there. Unfortunately the old rooster’s lead continues to slip each time around, and by the fifth lap he’s just barely in front of the young rooster.
I was reading up on this “pecking habit” of chickens, and found that farmers would do what they called beak trimming. They would remove approximately one-third of the beak with a cold or heated blade when chicks were only a couple of days old. This was effective in reducing pecking injuries, but cased great pain and had significant effects on the chicken. According to an article in a 1953 issue of the National Road Traveler newspaper, someone discovered that red-tinted lenses was effective in reducing the urge for a chicken to peck another. They are held on the chicken’s beak with a cotter pin through the nostrils of the bird. Chickens are provoked by the sight of blood and will peck at each other, eventually killing off much of the flock. These red lenses prevented chickens from seeing the red blood and calmed their behavior. According to the information I found the glasses have not been made for years. These glasses are now considered a collector’s item! There’s the story of an old farmer who decided it was time to get a new rooster for his hens. The current rooster was still doing an okay job, but he was getting on in years. The farmer figured getting a new rooster couldn’t hurt anything. So he buys a young cock from the local rooster emporium, and turns him loose in the barnyard. Well, the old rooster sees the young one strutting around and he gets a little worried. ‘So, they’re trying to replace me?’ thinks the old rooster. ‘I’ve got to do something about this.’ He walks up to the new bird and says, “So you’re the new stud in town? I bet you really think you’re hot stuff, don’t you? Well, I’m not ready for the chopping block yet. I’ll bet I’m still the better bird. And to prove it, I challenge you to a race around that hen house over there. We’ll run around it ten times and whoever finishes first gets to have all the hens 22
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
Well, the young rooster was a proud sort, and he definitely thought he was more than a match for the old guy. “You’re on,” said the young rooster. “And since I know I’m so great, I’ll even give you a head start of half a lap. I’ll still win easy,” said the young rooster.
By now the farmer has heard all the commotion. He runs into the house, gets his shotgun, and runs out to the barnyard figuring a fox or something is after his chickens. When he gets there, he sees the two roosters running around the hen house, with the old rooster still slightly in the lead. He immediately takes his shotgun, aims, fires, and blows the young rooster away. As he walks away slowly, he says to himself. . . “That’s the third bad rooster I’ve bought this month.” One day the Library was lonely with no one in it for the librarian to help. These two chickens came through the door screeching “cluck cluck.” The librarian quickly got up and gave them each five books. The two chickens left satisfied. Just a few minutes later the same two chickens come through the door with no books screeching “cluck cluck.” The librarian once again jumps up and gives each chicken 15 books this time. The chickens leave satisfied once again. Then again for the third time the chicken return screeching “cluck cluck” But this rime being suspicious the librarian gives each chicken only one book because they have still have not returned the other books. As the chickens leave the librarian slowly follows behind to see where all the books are going. The chickens come to a stop and start throwing the books into a pond where some frogs grab the books and throw them behind their back croaking “red-it red-it” As if the story above was not bad enough here’s one more, and I’ll close with this one: There are three guys named Manners, Shutup, and Crap. They were really bored, so they decided to run a race. During the race, Crap fell down, and Manners stopped to help him. But Shutup ran so fast the police caught him. Here’s how the conversation went: Police Officer #1: “What’s your name?” “Shutup” “Police Officer #2: “Where’s your Manners?” Shutup said, “Back there picking up Crap!” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Smokin’ WE’RE
WWW.johnsonbarbeque.COM winter haven • plant city
small ads 3.56x4.8.indd 1
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
3/28/14 10:15 AM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
23
24
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
25
Jonathan Rowell By Leslie Buchanon
Beef & Berries
Even though Florida has sunny weather most of the time, we do have seasons that can seem to change from one day to the next. Spring seems to be the favorite season of most Floridians, and even those who don’t call Florida home. The nights are cool, days are warm, the humidity is lower, and a personal favorite…….Spring gobbler season opens! However, if you live in Plant City Spring signals the beginning of an event like no other, the Florida Strawberry Festival. The 2016 Strawberry Festival is one that will live forever in the memory of 18 year old Jonathan Rowell of Plant City. Jonathan achieved something only one person has the honor of earning each year; he raised and exhibited the Grand Champion Steer for the 44th annual Strawberry Festival Market Steer Show. Jonathan is the son of Mark and Stacy Rowell of Plant City. He is a senior at Durant High School where he is an active member of the FFA. Throughout his senior year Jonathan has acquired a few other accomplishments to add to his resume. This school year Jonathan competed in the FFA State Forestry Judging Career Development Event and the FFA State Nursery and Landscape Judging Career Development Event. Jonathan’s team won the Forestry Judging CDE and will compete at the national level in October at the National FFA Convention. Not only did Jonathan’s team win the State Forestry Judging CDE, Jonathan was named as the High Point Individual for state at the competition. He then repeated this achievement by being named the High Point Individual for the State Nursery & Landscape Judging CDE, too. Jonathan’s interest in cattle began when he exhibited a heifer in the 7th grade. This led him to raise and exhibit four steers throughout high school. FFA and 4H members learn many skills while raising market animal projects. One of the main goals of this type of project is for students to learn life skills that will help them to eventually become productive members of society. Through these projects students learn responsibility, communication skills, record keeping, and leadership skills, just to name a few. Students are also given an 26
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
opportunity to practice some of the skills learned in their agriculture classes. For example, livestock judging techniques can be honed as students evaluate and select livestock projects in real world settings. Jonathan estimates his final steer project weighed approximately 400-500 pounds when he purchased him. He purchased the steer from Michael Paul, a local cattle producer. His market steer project began in March 2015 and would last an entire year. Jonathan named his final steer project Mikey. He states he chose Mikey because “he was a good looking steer with strong bone, he was well-muscled, and had lots of hair.” Jonathan felt it was important to give his steer many opportunities to become accustomed to the sights and sounds that can only be experienced in the show ring. To achieve this goal he exhibited Mikey at many prospect shows to prepare him for the Strawberry Festival show ring. Mikey placed very well at the prospect shows by placing either first or second in his class at each show. Due to the success he had experienced at the prospect shows Jonathan felt confident his steer would place well at the Strawberry Festival. Mikey’s final weight on check-in day was 1272 pounds. He was one of 70 steers that met the requirements necessary to enter the competition. Jonathan’s steer won Grand Champion in the Heavy weight Division and was able to come back into the ring and compete for Overall Grand Champion. Jonathan explained he was very nervous standing in the ring as the judge awarded the Grand Champion slap to Mikey. With a standing room only crowd, the judge slapped Mikey on the rump signaling he’d won the show. Jonathan was elated to have achieved his dream of winning Overall Grand Champion Steer at the Florida Strawberry Festival. What a way to top off your senior year of high school! Jonathan has been accepted to attend the University of Florida in the Fall and will attend the Pre-Pharmacy program. Congratulations Jonathan on your many achievements, and we are confident you will succeed in all your future endeavors. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
27
Foxy Tails: Florida’s Fox Squirrels are in Danger
By Ginny Mink If you are from Florida, or have lived here any length of time, you are certainly well acquainted with the plethora of squirrels. I have lived in Florida the majority of my 40 years, and in the Plant City area for approximately 24 of them. Yet, only recently have I been exposed to the anomaly that is the fox squirrel. I recall driving out to Donna Smith’s house in Lakeland for an interview and seeing this very large tailed entity darting around the front pasture/field. “What is running around in your yard?” was probably the first question I asked when I met her. Answer: fox squirrels. Well, as you know, I write about endangered and threatened Florida animals every month so imagine my surprise when my research revealed the fact that the fox squirrel is on Florida’s protected list as a species of concern. Maybe we only know about them because of corn mazes that bolster the name, but I suppose it’s high time we get a little better educated on these fluffy bundles of intrigue. Currently there are two species of special concern in Florida, the Sherman’s fox squirrel and the Big Cypress fox squirrel. One species is in worse shape that the other, but because I was so fascinated by them upon my first introduction I felt it would be best to keep you abreast of the situation on both counts. Maybe we can do something to aid in their protection and rehabilitation. So what’s the difference? I’m sure you are wondering (since I am too). First though, let’s understand the similarities. Fox squirrels are known for their exorbitantly bushy tails and their super strong hind legs which allow them to leap very far (and sit up like Meerkats in a field). They are pretty small, only weighing between one and three pounds. They both have white noses and ears while their faces are black. One interesting difference between fox squirrels and the grey squirrels that chew on your roof, is that they have less teeth. A fox squirrel has 20 teeth while a grey squirrel has 22. Maybe that’s why they can do so much damage, those two extra teeth! That said, the Sherman’s fox squirrel, Sciurus niger shermani, likes central and Northeastern Florida’s open piney woods, turkey oak, flatwoods and sand hills. However, the Big Cypress fox squirrel, Sciurus niger avicennia, is found from the southern part of Dade County to the Everglades region located in Lee County. They prefer cypress swamp forests, oak woodlands, mangrove swamps, pine forests, and coastal broadleaf evergreen hammocks. Their diets are slightly different though they will both eat longleaf pine seeds. The Big Cypress fox squirrel also enjoys: pond apple fruit, pond cypress seed cones, bromeliad buds and leaves, cabbage palm fruit, Eastern lubber grasshoppers, purple thistle flowers and berries, and a number of other fruiting vegetation. The Sherman’s fox squirrel sticks mostly to the pine seeds and turkey oak acorns but they have been known to consume: fruit, buds and fungi, too. Now that we know where they live and what they eat, the real question I suppose is, “What’s the problem?” I wish I could say that it was 28
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
something unique to these super cute mammals but instead, it’s the sad truth that we humans have a propensity to want to occupy every possible inch of land. We plow down infinite numbers of wilderness habitats without any regard for the flora and fauna that call those areas home. Such has been the case with the fox squirrels. Estimates say that the decimation of habitat has left the Sherman’s fox squirrel with somewhere between 10 and 20 percent of its native habitat. We have logged it and converted it to pasture lands. We’ve added residences and commercial establishments. And in some instances we have failed to utilize proper burning techniques in longleaf pinelands. These misused burns are preventing the seeds from reproducing properly on the ground. Additionally, these squirrels are a little on the slow side and are readily hit by cars where roads and highways have invaded their turf. On the other hand, the Big Cypress fox squirrel has a rather interesting history of destruction. Between the 1950s and early 1970s (up until 1972) the Big Cypress fox squirrel was on the hunting menu. There are still those engaged in poaching these threatened cuties. However, like the Sherman’s fox squirrel, the biggest threat to their continued existence rests in the hands of developers. From May 2007 to April of 2011, biologists who specialize in the Big Cypress fox squirrels conducted a study to examine range and habitat of 20 of these creatures. The study was equally distributed among males and females within the Big Cypress National Preserve.⁴ If you are interested in what they ascertained via their radio-telemetry endeavors, you can find a link to the published piece in the resources section below. Obviously we are limited in our abilities to help these creatures but as GI Joe says, “Knowing is half the battle.” Now that we know they are in need, we can pay attention to areas in which they live, we can help plant trees that will provide them homes and food. Maybe we could stop being so greedy with the land we’ve been given as stewards and realize that it’s their land too. Resources: ¹ http://myfwc.com/media/2211899/Shermans-Fox-Squirrel.pdf ²https://www.nps.gov/bicy/learn/nature/big-cypress-fox-squirrel.htm ³http://myfwc.com/media/2738253/Big-Cypress-Fox-Squirrel-Species-Action-Plan-Final-Draft.pdf https://www.nps.gov/bicy/learn/nature/upload/Kellam-et-al2013-Big-Cypress-Fox-Squirrel-Home-Range-and-Habitat-Usein-Cypress-Dome-Swamp-and-Pine-Forest-Mosaic-Habitats_-REVISED-March-2014.pdf Photo Credits: Picture of Sherman’s fox squirrel- FWC photo by Patrick Delaneyhttps://flic.kr/p/e9wFgu Picture of Big Cypress fox squirrel- Vincent P. Lucas- https://flic. kr/p/8uA1u2 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
29
X-550M
For Sale or Rent
Available late May/June 2016
Machine Specifications
24-Volt Electrical System Cummins QSL9 Tier4F Final Ultra-VU 13’ Mast Side Shift Carriage - 100” Wide 5 x 10 x 96 Forks 39.5” Fork Positioner Air Conditioner and Heater
Additional Sizes Available From 3,000 to 100,000
Contact Information
w.smith@readsforklift.com 888-362-7626
Contact Read’s and ask about our leasing options
30
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
31
By Erica Hall When it comes to farming, one thing is for certain – time is of the essence. Planting, harvesting, propagating, fertilizing, watering and many other tasks can quickly consume the day and leave little time to think about how to obtain new and necessary farming equipment. Farm Credit of Central Florida has launched a new program called Farm Credit Express to help both full time and part time farmers quickly obtain a loan for the purchase of new and used equipment. The program officially launched in Central Florida in February 2015. The process is simple. A farmer or rancher looking to purchase equipment visits one of the 24 participating dealer locations in Central Florida. Once the equipment is selected, the customer’s application is submitted online by the dealership and, within 15 to 20 minutes, the loan can be approved. “This is a point-of-sale dealer credit program,” said Regina Thomas, Senior Vice President/Chief Business Development Officer for Farm Credit Central Florida. “Customers can go into a participating dealership, ask for a Farm Credit Express loan and they complete everything right there at the dealership. Once the loan is closed, the customer is then assigned to a local Farm Credit loan officer for personalized assistance.” The loan officer is just one more way that Farm Credit provides unique and individual service. Any time a customer might have a question regarding their express loan, the loan officer is ready to assist. They are also able to provide information regarding all of the services Farm Credit offers including agricultural lending, real estate, residential mortgages, crop insurance and more. To help provide quick and accessible information about Farm Credit Express, visit their website at www.farmcreditexpress.com. Once on the site, customers are able to utilize the many tools associated with the program. Options are provided to locate one of the many partici-
pating dealerships within Central Florida as well as a loan calculator, which helps customers to determine approximate payments. In addition, a dealer log-in is included for quick and easy use by all participating equipment and machinery dealers. Another benefit to the program is possible dividends. “Farm Credit is a locally operated, member owned cooperative,” Thomas explained. “Therefore, by participating in the Farm Credit Express Loan Program, the customer is eligible to receive patronage dividends, covering their cost of borrowing.” This is just another advantage to utilizing Farm Credit Express. Not only does it save time, it can also reap financial returns from the Farm Credit Association. As if all these benefits were not enough, Farm Credit wants to ensure this program is the best fit for customers. Therefore, on any piece of machinery or equipment that is less than 10 years old, they offer 100 percent financing for up to seven years. This gives the customers many options regarding which kind of equipment to buy, age of equipment, duration of the loan and payment size. And because so many Central Florida dealers are a part of the program, a customer can find the brand and type of equipment that suits their individual farming needs. In addition, Farm Credit offers monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual payments to match the farmer’s harvest income cycle. Whether you’re farming on a large scale or small scale, the Farm Credit Express Loan Program offers a variety of options to help you obtain the right equipment at the right price at the right time. Your time will be well spent by visiting a participating dealership and asking for a Farm Credit Express Loan. And your loan will be completed in such a quick and efficient manner, you will find yourself asking, “What will I do with all this extra time on my hands?”
For more information regarding the Farm Credit Express Loan Program, please visit www.farmcreditexpress.com or contact Regina Thomas at RThomas@farmcreditcfl.com or (407) 721-4687. 32
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
As our favorite season comes to a close, we would like to take a moment to thank those who have supported our industry, this season and every season, for the last 41 years. This season has been another memorable addition to the Farm’s history.
Thank you! Carl and Dee Dee Grooms
813.478.3486 or 813.754.4852 | FancyFarms.com
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
33
34
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
pril 2016 FAebruary 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Florida
Culantro By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Culantro is a lesser-known relative to the herb cilantro, which was covered in last month’s issue. Compared with cilantro, culantro is stronger in flavor with tall, stiff, serrated leaves. Culantro thrives in the warmer months and for a longer lifespan, while the more delicate cilantro grows better in the cool winter months of Florida. Culantro is native to Latin America and the Caribbean and is used extensively in dishes in Thailand, Malaysia, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Culantro is also known as Puerto Rican or Mexican coriander, Black Benny, saw leaf herb, long coriander, spiny coriander, spiritweed, fitweed and recao. Culantro belongs to the family Apiaceae which includes carrots, parsley, celery, and parsnip. Culantro is produced in Puerto Rico, Southeast Asia, Hawaii, and Florida. Culantro is very hardy and easy to grow either in pots or in the ground. Unlike other herbs, culantro is relatively free of pests and disease. Culantro leaves are chopped and used in salsa, softrito, chutney, ceviche, sauces, rice, stews, and soups. The leaves can be easily dried or frozen for longer usage.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
Culantro is rich in calcium, iron, carotene, and riboflavin. Like its relative cilantro, culantro is also very high in beneficial flavonoids and volatile oils which function like antioxidants in preventing diseases. Fresh culantro leaves are composed of 87% water, 3.3% protein, 0.6% fat, 6.5% carbohydrate, 0.06% phosphorus, and 0.02% iron. This herb is an excellent source of calcium and vitamins A, B1, B2, C, and K. Culantro contains high levels of vitamins and minerals for very few calories.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Traditionally, culantro leaves are boiled and made into tea that can help treat flu, pneumonia, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some say that the herb is also eaten to cure seizures in children, which is why it is called “fitweed” in some countries.
CALCIUM
Culantro is an excellent source of calcium, an important mineral in human metabolism. While calcium is associated with dairy foods, other foods like leafy green vegetables or soy products are also high in this nutrient. Calcium comprises about 1-2% of an adult human’s body weight. In addition to its widely known role in bone and tooth structure, calcium is used to help control muscle and nerve function, as well as to manage acid/base balance in our blood stream. Roughly 99% of our total body calcium stores are found in bones and teeth and plays a critical role in maintaining structural integrity of our skeleton. Calcium also plays a critical role in regulating acid/alkaline balance, or pH, in the blood. Whenever blood pH drops, calcium is released from the bones to bring acid/base balance back into balance.
RIBOFLAVIN
Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, plays a key role in energy production. Riboflavin and the other B vitamins help transform fat molecules into energy that the body can use. Vitamin B2 also plays a role in the metabolism of folate and vitamin B6. Riboflavin is also involved in the metabolism of glutathione, one of the most important antioxidants in the body. Additionally, vitamin B2 helps promote iron metabolism. Getting enough vitamin B2 in the diet is needed to make red blood cells. Having too little red blood cells is known as anemia.
HOW TO SELECT AND STORE
Choose fresh culantro that is deep green in color with fresh, crisp leaves. Avoid wilted, spotted, or broken leaves. To store culantro, wrap a damp paper towel around the leaves and place in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to eight days. If it wilts, sprinkle water on the leaves to refresh them. Wash leaves immediately before using. Culantro 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. Culantro leaves also freeze well and can be added to soups and dishes without thawing first. One simple way to freeze culantro is to rinse and chop the leaves, place in ice cube trays, and cover with water or olive oil. When cooking soups or stews, just drop in as many frozen cubes as you need.
HOW TO ENJOY
Culantro is very popular in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore where it is commonly used as a topping over soups, noodle dishes, and curries. In Latin America, culantro is mostly associated with Puerto Rico, such as in salsa or sofrito. Sofrito usually contains culantro and cilantro, garlic, onion, green pepper, and mild peppers that are blended together. It can be used as a seasoning or sauce or as an ingredient in pasta sauce, soup, and salsas. Other ways to enjoy culantro include: • Garnish grilled fish or poultry with fresh chopped culantro before serving • Combine chopped culantro with garlic, salt, and lemon juice and use as a marinade for meat • Mince and add a small amount to coleslaw, potato salad, egg salad, or salad dressing • Add chopped cilantro to soups or tomato sauces for an extra punch of flavor • Serve culantro leaves with pho, a Vietnamese beef broth that is garnished with herbs and bean sprouts. Enjoy fresh, flavorful Florida culantro today. Though lesser known than its cousin cilantro, culantro’s vibrant flavor lends a unique flavor to any dish.
SELECTED REFERENCES http://www.whfoods.com http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/herbs/culantro.html http://worldcrops.org/crops/culantro https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-506.html
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
35
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
36
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
37
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.
38
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.IIN NTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE IINNTTHE
pril 2016 2016 AApril
39 39
Zika Virus, Mosquito-Borne Diseases and Mosquito Control
Recently there has been a lot of publicity regarding the Zika virus. Zika is a virus that recently spread to the Americas and is transmitted by mosquitoes. There are a number of mosquito borne diseases that affect humans, dogs, cats and horses that may or may not have vaccines, however preventative measures and prudent mosquito control practices can greatly reduce exposure.
The Zika Virus Jorge Rey, Ph.D. of the University of Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory reports that the Zika virus was discovered in Africa in 1947. It is named after the Zika Forest in Uganda (zika means “overgrown” in Lugandan), where the virus was first recovered from a sentinel rhesus monkey that was being used in a yellow fever research project. It was eventually described as Zika virus in 1952. It was first isolated from a human in Nigeria in 1954. Until 2007, Zika was confined to a narrow area around the equator in Africa and parts of Asia. In 2007, a disease outbreak on the Yap Islands, in the western Pacific Ocean, was found to be caused by the Zika virus. Later, outbreaks of Zika occurred in Polynesia, Easter Island, the Cook Islands, and New Caledonia. In 2015 a large outbreak started in Bahia, Brazil and spread throughout South and Central America and the Caribbean. Large outbreaks of the disease have been reported from many countries in the area including Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, and probably others that have not yet reported accurate statistics. In the continental United States, travel-related cases of the disease have been reported 40 40
HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE IINNTTHE
pril 2016 2016 AApril
by Susan Haddock, Commercial Landscape/IPM/Small/ Farms Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
from several states, including Florida. As of this writing, there are 67 confirmed cases in Florida, all related to travel outside the United States. This means that so far the disease has not been transmitted directly by a mosquito in Florida, although one case was transmitted by sexual contact. The mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus have been implicated in the transmission of Zika virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the first week of infection, Zika virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to a mosquito through mosquito bites. An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people. The CDC also reports that the virus can be spread by a man to his sex partners. The virus can be present in semen longer than in blood and may be spread before, during or after men have symptoms. Dr. Rey also reports that the Zika virus infection in pregnant women can result in serious, even lethal consequences for the fetus. During the current Zika pandemic, a very high incidence of babies born with abnormally small heads and significant brain damage, a condition known as microcephaly, is being documented in mothers that were infected with the virus during pregnancy. Various health organizations, including the CDC, recommend that pregnant women avoid travel to destinations where Zika is found. As of January 27, 2016, the following countries were included in the advisory: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, and Venezuela. In the Caribbean: Barbados, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, St. Martin, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Also, Cape Verde, off the coast of western Africa; and Samoa in the South Pacific. For more information on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and areas to avoid travel to, go to the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/
How to Avoid Mosquito Transmitted Diseases Preventative measures are the best way to reduce mosquito populations. Mosquito lay their eggs in water and need water to complete larval development so, emptying or removal of all standing water is very important. WWW.IIN NTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
• Empty, remove and/or turn over all water holding sources including: flower pots with saucer bases, tires, bottles, bottle caps, cans and lawn equipment such as wheel barrows. Hillsborough County Community Collection Centers accept up to 12 tires per tax paying household; additional tires must be taken to a landfill location and disposal fee paid. For information call: (813) 744-5533. • Flush and replace water every 3-4 days in bird baths and pet dishes. • Cover water harvesting containers, such as rain barrels, with netting to prevent mosquitoes from entering. • Keep gutters clean. • Check for and repair leaky faucets. • Use mosquito dunks, granules or bits in rain barrels and vase plants such as Bromeliads. These products contain Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti) which is safe in fish habitats and standing water near households, but not in water for human consumption. It will not harm butterflies, bees, frogs or fish. Another option is Methoprene, which is a larvicide that prevents the mosquitoes from developing into adults. Always read and use products according to labeled instructions. • Inspect yards once per week and remove any sources of standing water. • Educate your neighbors and clients on the importance of removing water holding containers.
Protecting Yourself from Mosquito Bites Again, preventative measures are the best way to avoid mosquito bites. 1. Use air conditioning or window/door screens. Fans on high can be used to keep mosquitoes away since mosquitoes are weak flyers. 2. Wear protective clothing that covers as much of the body as possible. 3. Use mosquito repellents that have been shown to be effective on exposed skin and clothing. The CDC recommends using products that have been registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as repellents applied to skin and clothing. EPA registration of repellent active ingredients indicates the materials have been reviewed and approved for efficacy and human safety. Products containing the following active ingredients typically provide reasonably long-lasting protection: • DEET • Picaridin • Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus* or PMD ; this is the synthesized version of oil of lemon eucalyptus. “Pure” oil of lemon eucalyptus (e.g. essential oil) has not received similar validated testing for safety and efficacy, is not registered with EPA as an insect repellent • IR3535 Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus • In general, higher concentrations of an active ingredient provide longer duration of protection, regardless of the active ingredient. Note that concentrations above ~50% do not offer a marked in-
WWW.IIN NTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
crease in protection time and that products labeled for children provide protection for shorter periods of time. • Off Deep Woods 23.8% DEET 5 hours • Off Skintastic 6.65% DEET 2 hours • Off Skintastic for Kids 4.74% DEET 1-5 hours • Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus 7.5 % IR3535 less than 25 min • Precautions when applying repellants: • Do not allow young children to apply to themselves. Check the label for safety of applying to children. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years of age. • Do not use under clothing. • Cover cuts, wounds and irritated skin prior to applying. • Do not apply to eyes or mouth. • Do not spray on face; apply to hands and then apply to face. • Wash treated skin after going indoors. • If rash or other reaction, wash off immediately and seek medical attention. • Do not spray skin products onto the soil or water. • Do not rely on products that have not been found to be effective, such as: devices that emit sound, bracelets, bug zappers, bug patches or consumption of garlic, bananas or Vitamin B. 4. There are some products containing permethrin that are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed-nets and camping gear. These products can repel and kill mosquitoes, ticks and can retain their effect after repeated laundering.
Other Mosquito Control Products Aerosols, foggers, coils and misters contain the insecticides pyrethrins (plant derived which alter nerve functions in insects) or pyrethroids (synthetic, but still paralyze the insect and it dies). These products must make contact with mosquitoes to knock down populations. These products are often formulated for general garden use or for use on pets and livestock for flea, fly and mosquito control. They have low mammalian toxicity, but are toxic to bees and aquatic life, and can cause an allergic reaction in some humans and cats. They also degrade rapidly in sunlight. These products may provide temporary relief from biting mosquitoes and may be useful for a party or special event. The treatments only last a day or two because mosquitoes migrate, so should be used the day before or morning of an event. Overall, these products will not work as a long term control strategy. Insecticide sprays labeled for treating vegetation should be directed to tall grass, flower beds, undersides of decks and areas where mosquitoes may rest. Ideally, the mosquitoes will pick up the insecticide on their body. Overall, you need to decide whether it is the larval stage or the adult stage that needs to be controlled and buyer beware if purchasing a fogging service or installing a misting system. If your neighbor has the breeding sites, spraying your yard will provide only temporary relief.
Article references and for more information: 1. Zika, A Mosquito Transmitted Virus: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN112000.pdf 2. Florida Resident’s Guide to Mosquito Control: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN104500.pdf 3. Container Mosquitoes: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in851 4. UF/IFAS Mosquito Information Website: http://mosquito.ifas.ufl.edu 5. How to use Repellents Correctly: http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/index.cfm
HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE IINNTTHE
pril 2016 2016 AApril
41 41
IFAS: The Discovery and Innovation Arm of Florida Agriculture
By Jack Payne Innovation can spread like wildfire through conversation. The people who deliver new ideas need to talk to the people who can benefit the most from them. A case in point is citrus health management areas. Now that we have 55 of them – at least 10 in Polk and Hillsborough counties -- they look like an inevitability, a no-brainer that had to happen. But we went from 0 to 55 through a years-long conversation. It started with growers asking us at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to help them establish CHMAs. We didn’t have to waste time establishing communication with the citrus community. It was already there: • UF/IFAS Extension agents are in your groves, on the phone with you, or peppering your inbox with responses. • We run field days. • We present and listen at the Citrus Expo and other industry gatherings. • Your participation on advisory committees provide a regular forum for formal conversations. • The board of the Citrus Research Development Foundation, based in Polk County, is stocked with growers and industry reps with whom we talk out the research agenda. When the calls for CHMAs started coming in, we set up meetings so we could provide growers with step-by-step instructions on how to proceed. Together, we mapped out the details of how to get started, how to successfully run a CHMA, and Florida citrus growers were on your way.
The business side of IFAS never forgets who the client is. We’re here to serve, and we can only serve if we know what the client needs, whether it’s citrus or any other commodity. That requires constant contact and conversation. That’s what we strive for in extending so many invitations for input. Good conversation leads to good science, too. Our impact will be limited if we just talk to ourselves. Good science operates on a feedback loop. That assures that we remain relevant and that we hear from you about what we can’t necessarily see in the lab. With CHMAs, once we heard about the grower interest, our strong communication helped us help producers answer questions of when, where, and how to establish them. When the very concept of the innovation depends on cooperation as a CHMA does, dialogue is particularly important. I’d say the rapid spread of CHMAs indicates that we’ve got a good thing going with growers as far as two-way communication. However, if you don’t agree, let’s talk about it! That’s why I’m in this space every month. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t an IFAS-only proposition. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture help the program succeed, too. But it’s really driven by you, working together with us, that’s made us so responsive. I often describe IFAS as the discovery and innovation arm of Florida agriculture. That innovation rests on a tradition: Talking with those we serve.
When citrus growers in Southwest Florida found themselves in a giant CHMA that made coordination difficult, they talked to us about it. And we helped reorganize the mega-CHMA into nine smaller ones to give those growers a better handle on coordinating spraying. Today, just a little more than five years since the first CHMA was established, more than 90 percent of the state’s commercial citrus acreage is in a CHMA. That’s what I mean by spreading like wildfire.
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
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
43
44
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTRODUCING THE BEST-IN-CLASS
6-YEAR
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY ON COMPACT UTILITY TRACTORS
Introducing the Best-In-Class Standard 6-Year Warranty*, available on all Compact Utility Tractors*. You expect the highest quality when you buy a Deere, now expect it longer... We take pride in working with those who work with the land. With superior customer support through leasing, rentals, in-field service support, technology, the best parts availability, and loyalty programs just to name a few, we’re ready to be your equipment partner for the long haul. And with the Best-In-Class Standard 6-Year Warranty*, your partner for the long-er haul… Give us a call or visit us online today EvergladesFarmEquipment.com
ShopEFE com
John Deere Parts/New/Used Equip.
Plant City
2805 SR. 60 West Plant City, FL 33567
Leesburg
1800 US HWY. 441 Leesburg, FL 34748
813-737-1660
352-315-1016
Odessa
2240 Success Drive Odessa, FL 33556
Okeechobee
727-842-8618
820 US Hwy. 98, North Okeechobee, FL 34972
Clearwater
863-763-1921
5090 Ulmerton Road Clearwater, FL 33760
727-828-8200
Fort Pierce
6150 Orange Ave. Ft. Pierce, FL 34947
Palmetto
772-461-5568
906 US HWY 301 North Palmetto, FL 34221
941-722-3281
Loxahatchee
13295 Southern Blvd. Loxahatchee, FL 33470
Fort Myers
561-784-4000
9501 State Road 82 Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-332-5045
Belle Glade
Corporate Headquarters
Immokalee
775 E. Main St. Immokalee , FL 34142
239-657-4413
2017 N. W. 16TH Belle Glade, FL 33430
561-996-6531
Naples
1945 Pine Ridge Road Naples , FL 34109
239-260-8800
Beginning 1/1/2016 all Sub-Compact and Compact Utility Tractors purchased new from Everglades Farm Equipment come standard with a 6 year/2000 hour (whichever comes first) WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM INEquipment THEFIELDforMcomplete AGAZINE Aprilwww.EvergladesFarmEquipment.com 2016 45 Powertrain Warranty. See the Manufacturer’s Warranty Statement for New John Deere Turf & Utility Equipment at Everglades Farm details.
Farmers Fared Well With The Florida Legislature by John Dicks
Maybe it’s because 2016 has an election on the horizon, but this year (unlike 2015) the Florida Legislature finished its annual session on time and with its members, seemingly, in a good mood of camaraderie.
ida’s citrus industry. The 2016 general agricultural package allows farmers who participate in the Citrus Health Response Program to retain their Greenbelt agricultural classification for up to five years after the removal of diseased citrus trees from their land.
Of course the major objective of the annual deliberations in Tallahassee is to pass a budget. It generally appeared that there was agreement on this too with the fiscal year spending plan coming in at over $82 billion and being passed with a strong majority.
Lawmakers also saw fit to carve out a $1.1 million sales tax exemption for machinery and equipment used in agricultural post-harvest activities in packing houses. Another measure to remove the tax from fencing materials did not meet with the same success.
The Ag Industry found favor with legislators in several areas, including issues of water, agritourism, farm vehicles and agricultural land and taxation.
One final piece of legislation drifting down from Tallahassee needs a bit of editorial comment. This year, after being considered for at least a couple of years, the Legislature added a new item to our list of state symbols. Now, in addition to the state flower (orange blossom), tree (sabal palm), animal (panther), bird (mockingbird) and mammal (manatee), among others that I have no room to mention, we now have an official state honey. It’s the Tupelo.
The topic of water drew significant attention and after three years of repeated attempts to create a statewide policy, lawmakers finally reached consensus early in the session. With the Ag Industry being a large consumer of water, this legislation appears to have developed a smart and reliable policy that balances the needs of agriculture with business, tourism and the population as a whole. Florida is already the third most populace state in the nation and it is expected to grow by an additional 30 percent, or six million new residents, over the next 14 years. Such growth will create even more challenges to Florida’s water concerns. This legislation appears to provide a long-term water policy plan for Florida and ensures an adequate supply of water for agricultural production.
Yes, tupelo honey is especially sweet and it is a bit rare, generally produced for only a few weeks in April and May and coming from the tupelo trees growing near the rivers of the Chipola and Apalachicola rivers of northwest Florida. But for my taste, I prefer the homegrown stuff you can get from local beekeepers like Tommy Sparkman. Legend has it that local honey is even good for preventing, or at least comforting, allergy symptoms. I can attest to that. For my taste, the Florida Legislature got it flat wrong on its choice of honey!
The Legislature also continued to focus on the growing phenomenon of agritourism, which has become progressively more popular with both farmers and the public. It’s an additional way of making farms more profitable by having people actually visiting them for events such as weddings, reunions and for educational opportunities. These agritourism activities help consumers get an up close and personal perspective on where their food comes from and what it takes to grow it. Three years ago the Legislature first began paying attention to the activity. This year it sought uniform statewide oversight by prohibiting local governments from enforcing existing ordinances on operations and clarifies that the definition of agritourism includes on-site civic and ceremonial events. Farm vehicles also got a look-over by lawmakers. Legislation was passed to finally bring Florida regulations in line with Federal standards, which were adopted four years ago. The most significant provision is an exemption from the requirement of having a commercial driver license (CDL) for drivers of certain farm vehicles while transporting agricultural products. Regarding taxes, which always get much attention though not always much action, the Legislature continued to express concerns over Flor46
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
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. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
47
48 48
IINNTTHE HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE
A April pril 2016 2016
WWW. WWW.IIN NTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
WWW. WWW.IIN NTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
IINNTTHE HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE
A April pril 2016 2016
49 49
CONGRATULATIONS
to the 4-H and FFA students who participated in youth livestock shows in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
This year, Mosaic purchased seven steer and seven swine at the Strawberry Festival and Pasco County Fair, allowing us to donate 8,700 pounds of meat to community and hungerrelief organizations. Our support of the Florida State Fair Champion of Champions program recognizes youth selected as champions based on their participation, achievement and knowledge of livestock. We’re proud to carry on the tradition of supporting local agriculture and hunger-relief efforts in the community. We help the world grow the food it needs.
ÂŽ
mosaicco.com/florida
50
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
51
Recipes
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Chef Justin Timineri
Pan-Seared Red Snapper with Cucumber Relish and Spicy Yogurt Sauce Ingredients
Pan-Seared Florida Red Snapper 4 (6-ounce) snapper fillets sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste 2 teaspoons olive oil Cucumber Relish 2 large Florida cucumbers, diced 2 large Florida tomatoes, seeded and diced Âź cup fresh parsley, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped fine
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon olive oil sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste 1 lemon, juiced Yogurt Sauce 1 cup Greek-style yogurt 1 lemon, juiced 1 tablespoon seasoning mix (blackened or seafood spice) sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS Pan-Seared Florida Red Snapper In a large sautĂŠ pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Lightly coat the skin side of each snapper fillet with cornstarch. Carefully add the coated snapper fillets to the oiled pan. Cook snapper fillets for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until completely cooked throughout. Remove fillets from pan and serve with cucumber relish
and yogurt sauce. Cucumber Relish In a medium-sized bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Season the relish to taste with salt and pepper. Yogurt Sauce In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
Black Eyed Mullet INGREDIENTS 1/2 pound smoked, grilled, or broiled mullet meat 2 (15-ounce) cans black-eyed peas 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped green pepper 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon liquid hot pepper sauce 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup cider vinegar
DIRECTIONS Break fish into bite-sized portions; set aside. Mash peas lightly, just until all are broken. Combine peas, onion, pepper, garlic, pepper sauce, salt and vinegar in a saucepan and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add mullet and cook until heated through. Serve immediately as a side dish. 52
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
53
Ornamental Gardening in Florida By Ginny Mink
Given the fact Mr. Simpson does not tarry as he begins his next chapter, Native Ornamental Trees, we’ll follow suit. He first introduces us to, “the maples.” He specifically points out that the A. dasycarpum, which is apparently also known as the swamp or silver maple, grows all over the Eastern United States and is most often utilized as a shade tree. He advises that since it’s native in northern Florida it would make a great ornamental tree in that area. Additionally, he suggests the A. rubrum and the aforementioned maple both grow in wet land areas but will, “flourish on much drier soil when cultivated.” He lauds the “fine red” flowers that appear on the A. rubrum. He then moves on to what he calls the, “tree of heaven,” a Chinese native that, “has escaped cultivation and grows wild in northern Florida.” Its large leaves give it, “a tropical appearance.” However, he adds, “The whole plant has a disagreeable smell and in places it is given to sprouting.” Sounds like something he might have been better leaving out of his list of ornamental trees. By the way, that is the: Ailanthus glandulosus. From there he briefly mentions an alder, Alnus rugose, but quickly moves to, “Two species of beautiful, small, tropical trees growing on the Florida Keys and southeast mainland. They have delicate, usually trifoliate leaves and are well worthy of cultivation. The common name is torchwood.” Having spent most of our lives in Florida this was an unfamiliar tree. Further investigation revealed that it is of the citrus family! They produce fragrant tiny flowers and fruits that the birds seem to like. Yet another tree worthy of consideration, thanks to its white flowers and red berries, is the Anamomsis, A. simpsoni. It grows to heights of 70 feet and is, “found scattered for a long distance up and down the east coast.” Mr. Simpson believes, “It is well worthy of cultivation.” Along those same lines is the 54
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
Part 19
Aralia spinosa, or Hercules club. He explains, “It is a striking small tree with large bipinnate leaves which, with the trunk, are armed with spines.” We suppose these trees would make a great border to keep unwanted intrusions away. We come then to the Black Olive, or Bucida buceras. This is a tree that has garnered special attention from Mr. Simpson as he writes a good deal about it. He tells readers, “This is an example of a tree which naturally grows in swamps that succeeds admirably when planted on high, dry land. It is found in the mangrove swamps of tropical America and has been seen on Elliott’s Key of the upper chain. Several years ago a Catholic priest brought it from Jamaica and two fine specimens grew at a church of this denomination in Miami. From these, seed has been distributed and now we are beginning to use it for a road tree. It has small, dark green leaves and is a rapid grower, forming a fine round-topped tree somewhat like a sugar maple.” We love getting a glimpse of the history behind some of the plants we deem common today. Of course, reading about the Catholic priest’s cultivation of Jamaican trees, “several years ago,” makes us wonder when these trees actually made their appearance in Florida. While we couldn’t find out any years of arrival, we did discover that IFAS reports that the fruit of the black olive does not attract wildlife and can in fact (along with the leaves) be a litter problem. They also recommend treating it with caution and managing it properly as there may be some concern over invasive properties.² Bet he didn’t realize that in 1926! Returning to his brief descriptions he mentions the Gumbo limbo, a “striking tree…having smooth, shining, copper colored bark which peels off in thin layers.” And, the Canella winteriana, which he says is, “a beautiful, rather small everWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
green tree with fine glossy leaves having a strong peppery, aromatic flavor.” Then he adds, seemingly pleased with himself, “I have a handsome specimen growing in pineland.” Herein we discover yet another of Mr. Simpson’s favorites, the Carica papaya, “the common pawpaw of the tropics.” He elaborates, “This striking plant may be classified as a tree or a giant herb for although it sometimes has a trunk a foot in diameter it is composed mostly of water…It is a handsome plant with a head of immense, palmate leaves and a clean, rather smooth trunk. It is dioecious, the male plants bearing rather small yellow flowers on long branching stems and the females having much larger ones on the upper trunk which develop into rounded fruits in wild plants but into much larger, melon-shaped edible ones when it is cultivated. Although the trees is short lived it is eminently worthy of cultivation, either as single specimens, in groups, or mixed in with a border.” We are of the belief that if plants can be multifunctional then they are all the more welcome in our yards. So when we can plant a tree/giant herb that will act as ornamental artistry to decorate our surroundings while also providing us with fruit to eat, then it’s a go to plant in our book. If you are thinking about growing some Carica papaya trees we discovered a very useful website: Tropical Florida Gardens. They revealed the fact that you can grow these trees from seed and if you do it right you can see fruit in 6-12 months.³ Check out the resources section below to get more information. While this is only the intro to Mr. Simpson’s chapter on Native Ornamental Trees, we feel confident that we are on a voyage to learn a lot. Please join us next month as we continue this study aboard the Literary Time Machine! 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. 93-104). ²University of Florida IFAS- Bucida buceras: Black Olive https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st102 ³ Tropical Florida Gardens- Growing & Caring for Papaya Trees http://www.tropicalfloridagardens.com/2011/06/27/ growing-caring-for-papaya-trees/ Photo Credits: Black Olive, Bucida buceras- Forest and Kim Starr - https:// flic.kr/p/Dv9FgQ Carica Papaya- Forest and Kim Starr - https://flic.kr/p/DHo8Do Torchwood (thorns)- Bernard Dupont - https://flic.kr/p/ q8LR3m WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
55
Swine Grand Champion winner takes top honors in her first-ever pig show by: Emily Topper
Emma Stephens proudly wore her Grand Champion shirt and belt buckle after being declared the winner of the 2016 Florida Strawberry Festival Swine Show. Photo by Emily Topper.
Emma Stephens’ pig, Cow, weighed 284 pounds and sold for $14.50 per pound. Courtesy photo.
Moments before she stepped into the arena to show her pig at the 2016 Florida Strawberry Festival Swine Show, Emma Stephens was quivering in her boots. “I was freaking out,” Stephens said. “My brother was in there with me. I was sweating I was so nervous.” Despite her nerves, it wasn’t the Tomlin FFA student’s first time ever showing an animal at the festival: she showed a lamb a few years back. But after watching her older siblings, Gresham and Mary-Catherine, show swine, the 12-year-old sixth grader decided she wanted in on the action. “My brother is five years and five days older,” Stephens said. “He’s gotten to do things earlier. And I would always want to do stuff with my sister’s pig.” Stephens attended the Florida Strawberry Festival’s annual swine drawing. Her name was one of the final 10 to be drawn for a pig. Both Stephens and her sister were selected for swine. They kept and cared for their animals in the Tomlin Middle School barn. “It’s so much more work than you realize,” Stephens said. “It’s a lot more involved.” Every day after school, Stephens and her sister would care for their pigs: feeding and cleaning them, brushing them and walking them in the corral. By the time of the Florida Strawberry Festival, Stephen’s pig weighed 284 pounds. She named him after another animal she wanted to show in the future: Cow. “I really wanted a name that stood out,” Stephens said. She hoped Cow would stand out to the judges at the swine show on March 3. In the eighth class, Stephens’ pig was declared the first place winner. “She didn’t realize she got first place,” Stephens’ mom, Jamie, said. 56
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
The championship round brought even more surprises. Stephens was declared the overall grand champion when her pig was shown alongside the other nine class winners. “These were all really pretty pigs,” Stephens said. “I had no idea. I heard my brother scream.” Stephens started spinning in circles. In all of the excitement, she ran out of the ring toward her family and almost left Cow in the arena. Though she had competed against her sister, Stephens’ siblings were still proud of her accomplishments. “They’re competitive but supportive,” Jamie Stephens said. Jamie Stephens noted that the rest of the Plant City community had also been supportive. “There are times when people are ... discontent toward the winner,” she said. “We had nothing but well-wishes and congratulations. That really is a testament to Plant City.” Stephens sold her pig for $14.50 per pound to Farm Credit, giving her a total of $4,118 dollars. She’ll reimburse her parents for the cost of the animal, and most of it will go into savings. “We fund their first project,” Jamie Stephens said. “They pay for the animals and we pay for the feed after their first project.” As the Grand Champion winner, Stephens had the honor of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the Livestock Banquet on April 7. “I’m excited,” she said. In the meantime, she’s already preparing for the 2017 Florida Strawberry Festival, where she’ll show a steer -- one who, fittingly, is named Pig. Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
57
58
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
59
Strawberry Festival FFA Exhibit Winners 1.
1st Plact: Strawberry Crest FFA 2nd Place: Brandon FFA 3rd Place: Durant FFA 4th Place: Plant City High School Awards of Distinction: Marshall FFA Tomlin FFA Turkey Creek FFA
1.
2.
3.
2.
4.
3.
Bring Sophie Home!
Sophie was Stolen from her yard off of Coronet Rd near Medulla in Plant City on March 23rd around 3pm. Witnesses saw her in an old wood brown colored two door pick up truck. There is a Reward for Sophie. She is a sweet baby and if you call her and you have food/ treats she will probably come. She is not used to leashes and will run if you try to put one on but she will just jump in your car. Sophie is Microchipped. If you have information call 727-534-4644 60
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
UF-PLANT CITY COLLEGIATE FFA CHAPTER Community Service, Networking and Much More
By Jim Frankowiak It’s been more than 15 years since the Gator Nation came to Plant City and its campus adjacent to Hillsborough Community College on North Park Road. Officially the University of Florida, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences as part of the Gulf Roast Research and Education Center-Plant City, students have Bachelor, Master’s and PhD degree options with courses offered online, hybrid or on-site to accommodate their schedules. Degree areas include: • Agricultural Education and Communication • Agricultural Education • Leadership and Communication • Environmental Management (B.S.) • Geomatics Students seeking admission must transfer at junior status with an AA degree or 60 transferable credit hours, plus completion of prerequisite coursework for each degree program and a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) from every post-secondary institution attended. They must also meet the GPA requirement for their desired degree program. But there’s more and it’s not just for UF-Plant City Ag majors. The “it” is the UF – Plant City Collegiate FFA Chapter, a growing organization that helps students become active in FFA and community events. “There are opportunities for chapter members to work with industry leaders within the private and public sectors as peers while helping to judge FFA Career Development Events at the subdistrict and district levels, as well as participate in Ag-Venture and 4-H programs,” said Professor Jim Dyer. “When you think about career development and the importance of networking you would be hard-pressed to find anything that matches the opportunities of our varied Collegiate FFA activities. These activities also assist educators through community service in agriculture.”
said Dyer. “Our chapter is relatively small, so we assure our members of involvement at all levels, fostering leadership and organizational skills that will benefit their individual career plans.” “Overall Collegiate FFA is a continuum of FFA with enhanced networking and social activities at the college level,” noted UF- Plant City Academic Advisor Debra Barry. “We also network with other organizations throughout the University of Florida and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, fostering education, Ag appreciation, community service and the growth of our members.” Formed in 1931, Collegiate FFA has as its vision to “empower values driven pre-professionals to lead and serve in schools, businesses and communities” through a mission “that makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.” Collegiate FFA is one of four FFA membership categories. The others are Active, Alumni and Honorary. FFA was founded nationally in 1928 and was known as Future Farmers of America until 1988 when the name was changed to the National FFA Organization, now commonly referred to as simply FFA, to recognize that the organization is for those with diverse interests in the food, fiber and natural resource industries, encompassing science, business and technology in addition to agriculture production. It is the largest youth organization in the United States with more than 610,000 members in over 7,660 chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. FFA in Florida has more than 17,000 middle and high school student members in over 300 local FFA chapters statewide. For more information about the University of Florida – Plant City Campus and its Collegiate FFA Chapter, contact Barry via email: dmbarry@ufl.edu or call: 813-757-2280.
The whole focus of CFFA is service. In addition to providing judges for career development activities, the chapter also sponsors events and helps active area FFA chapter and members on an as needed basis. Added membership benefits include: scholarships, service learning, leadership development, travel, networking and fun. “It’s important to note that any student with an interest in agriculture –not just Ag majors – is welcomed to join the chapter and assist with its activities and enjoy the various benefits that are available,” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
61
62
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
63
2016 Florida Strawberry Festival Results Beef Breed Show Patterson Companies Livestock Arena Grimes Family Agricultural Center Bailey Buchanon, All Breeds Grand Champion Heifer Madi Conrad, All Breeds Reserve Grand Champion Heifer Cassidy Polston, All Breeds Grand Champion Bull Kathryn Springfield, All Breeds Reserve Grand Champion Bull. Madi Conrad, Grand Champion Bred and Owned Heifer Kendall Locke, Reserve Grand Champion Bred and Owned Heifer Clayton Brock, Grand Champion Bred and Owned Bull. Kendall Locke, Grand Champion Angus Heifer Weslee Howell, Reserve Grand Champion Angus Heifer Kathryn Springfield, Grand Champion Angus Bull Jesse Bibby, Reserve Grand Champion Angus Bull Kylee McMullen, Grand Champion Brahman Heifer Reserve Grand Champion Brahman Heifer Julia Norman, Grand Champion Brahman Bull Kaylee Hudson, Reserve Grand Champion Brahman Bull Blair Buchanon, Grand Champion Maine-Anjou Heifer Clayton Brock, Reserve Grand Champion Maine-Anjou Heifer Tiffany Schneider, Grand Champion Simmental Heifer Johnny Blackwelder, Reserve Grand Champion Simmental Heifer Kaleb Williams, Grand Champion Brangus Heifer Stephanie Ruff, Reserve Grand Champion Brangus Heifer Cassidy Polston, Grand Champion Brangus Bull Casey Harper, Reserve Grand Champion Brangus Bull Madi Conrad, Grand Champion Other Breeds Heifer Shalee Conrad, Reserve Grand Champion Other Breeds Heifer 64
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
Jesse Bibby, Grand Champion Other Breeds Bull Clayton Brock, Reserve Grand Champion Other Breeds Bull Hunter Dupre, Grand Champion Commercial English Heifer Anna Conrad, Reserve Grand Champion English Heifer Hanna Scionti, Grand Champion Commercial Brahman Heifer Maggie Clark, Reserve Grand Champion Brahman Heifer Senior Showmanship Cassidy Polston, first place Anna Conrad, second place Clayton Brock, third place Intermediate Showmanship Madi Conrad, first place Amanda Clark, second place Kendall Locke, third Junior Showmanship Kylee McMullen, first place Shalee Conrad, second place Payge Dupre, third place Junior Herdsman Sophie Aten, first place Trevor Hinton and Elijah Lassiter, tied for second place Paige Dupre, third place Intermediate Herdsman Wyatt Hinton, first place; Owen Skinner, second place Senior Herdsman Hunter Dupre, first place Katie Lopez, second place Kaleb Williams, third place Greenhand Award Madison Mastro Bill McClelland Scholarship Anna Conrad Jim Thompson Senior Award Jacob Burnette Justin Gill Memorial Scholarship Jacob Burnette Dairy Show Patterson Companies Livestock Arena Grimes Family Agricultural Center Sarah Carter, Ayrshire Grand Champion Gracie Lee, Brown Swiss Grand Champion Nicholas Hammer, Guernsey April 2016
Grand Champion Nicholas Hammer, Holstein Grand Champion Cierra Ellis, Jersey Grand Champion. Aubrey Cook, Ayrshire Reserve Grand Champion Blane Rogers, Brown Swiss Reserve Grand Champion Shaylee Tackitt, Guernsey Reserve Grand Champion Gracie Lee, Holstein Reserve Grand Champion Gracie Lee, Jersey Reserve Grand Champion Aubrey Cook, Ayrshire junior champion Aaron Bingham, Brown Swiss junior champion Garrett Linton, Guernsey junior champion Chase Braglin, Holstein junior champion Carlie Braglin, Jersey junior champion. Sarah Carter, Ayrshire reserve junior champion Kyle Lay, Brown Swiss reserve junior champion Jake Braglin, Holstein reserve junior champion Andrew Hammer, Jersey reserve junior champion Sarah Carter, Ayrshire senior champion Gracie Lee, Brown Swiss senior champion Nicholas Hammer, Guernsey senior champion Nicholas Hammer, Holstein senior champion Cierra Ellis, Jersey senior champion. Aidan Heidt, Ayrshire reserve senior champion Blane Rogers, Brown Swiss reserve senior champion Shaylee Tackitt, Guernsey reserve senior champion Gracie Lee Holstein reserve senior champion Gracie Lee Jersey reserve senior champion.
Cierra Ellis, Richard Kahelin All-Breeds Champion Award Gracie Lee, Premier Exhibitor Sarah Carter, Junior All Breeds Bred-By Exhibitor Award Nicholas Hammer, Senior All Breeds Bred-By Exhibitor Award. Jake Braglin, 1st junior herdsman Anthony Bouchard 1st place senior herdsman. Kyleigh Glenn, Charlie Hunter Memorial Sportsmanship Award. Showmanship Johann Cloete, first place pee wee division Kaleigh Gonzalez, first place novice division Carlie Braglin, first place junior division Nicholas Hammer, first place intermediate division Gracie Lee, first place senior division Jennifer Linton, first place adult division. Gracie Lee, Premier Showmanship Award. Costume Ball Reagan Messick, funniest category - “Cops and Robbers” Aiden and Finley Heidt, prettiest category - “Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Witch of the West” Blane Rogers, most original “Ghost Rider and His Cowasaki” Aubrey Cook, most colorful - “A Girl at the Strawberry Festival on a Carousel Ride” Kyle Lay, overall winner - “Jack Sparrow and His Pirate Ship” Mosaic Youth Steer Show Patterson Companies Livestock Arena Grimes Family Agricultural Center
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Jonathan Rowell, Overall Grand Champion T.J. Hutchinson, Overall Reserve Grand Champion
4th Place: Chase Lingo 5th Place: Luke Williams 6th Place: Reagan Messick 7th Place: Joshua Lewis
Ethan Vaughan, Grand Champion Lightweight Division Alexa Diaz, Reserve Grand Champion Grand Champion Lightweight Division Dakota Allen Grand Champion Middleweight Division Garrett Gould Reserve Grand Champion Middleweight Division Jonathan Rowell, Grand Champion Heavyweight Division T.J. Hutchinson, reserve grand champion Heavyweight Division
Class 5 1st Place: Jake Stines 2nd Place: Jacob Burnette 3rd Place: Kiersten Struth 4th Place: Chesley Campbell 5th Place: Levi Edwards 6th Place: Ashlynn Flack
Class 1 1st Place: Ethan Vaughan 2nd Place: Alexa Diaz 3rd Place: Ramsey Bowers 4th Place: Jake Fitzpatrick 5th Place: Madison Smith 6th Place: Brooke Varn 7th Place: Albert
Class 6 1st Place: Dakota Allen 2nd Place: Garrett Gould 3rd Place: Cassidy Hasting 4th Place: Cameron Diem 5th Place: Tanner Jurnigan 6th Place: Haley Flack Class 7 1st Place: Clay Joyner 2nd Place: Morgan Lee 3rd Place: Matthew DelCastillo 4th Place: Allison Lane 5th Place: Dustin Jacobs 6th Place: Nathan Hood 7th Place: Dalton McMath
Class 8 Class 2 1st Place: Jonathan Rowell 1st Place: Alex Aponte 2nd Place: Chase Campbell 2nd Place: Autumn Tarlton 3rd Place: Esperanza (Espi) Van 3rd Place: Dylan Smothers Vleet 4th Place: McKenzie Wheeler 4th Place: Amaiah Williamson 5th Place: Mitchell (Bryson) 5th Place: Reagan Brown Parker 6th Place: Jenna Keely 6th Place: Gresham Stephens 7th Place: Madi Conrad 7th Place: Cade Fitzpatrick 8th Place: Noah Rebman Class 3 1st Place: McKenzie Shelby 2nd Place: Amber Boykin 3rd Place: Gabriell Taylor 4th Place: Ashley Sanchez 5th Place: Gregory Berrios 6th Place: Kailee Triner Class 4 1st Place: Clayton Brock 2nd Place: Jace Hardee 3rd Place: Abigayle Almon WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Class 9 1st Place: T.J. Hutchinson 2nd Place: Cheyenne Lopez 3rd Place: Chloe Tew 4th Place: Jessica Tillis 5th Place: Ethan Fernandez 6th Place: Jacob Bessey 7th Place: Raelyn Hudson 8th Place: Angelic Alex Class 10 1st Place: Megan Todd
2nd Place: Jacob Ross 3rd Place: Coley Riley 4th Place: Claire Gill 5th Place: Meridith DelCastillo 6th Place: Clay Lingo 7th Place: Cole Harrell 8th Place: Haley Riley Mosaic Youth Swine Show Patterson Companies Livestock Arena Grimes Family Agricultural Center Emma Stephens, Grand Champion Swine Shalee Conrad, Reserve Grand Champion
3rd Place: Chase Farris 4th Place: Haley Bell 5th Place: Trevor Hinton 6th Place: Maddox Connell 7th Place: Will Haxton 8th Place: Hannah Simmons Class 5 1st Place: Elise Griffin 2nd Place: Haley Courtney 3rd Place: Rachel Carter 4th Place: Chance Christie 5th Place: Gracie Gainer 6th Place: Haleigh McDaniel 7th Place: Shawn Connell 8th Place: Sierra Francis
Class 1 1st Place: Julianne Ream 2nd Place: Cecily Llauger 3rd Place: Dixie-Lee Bailey 4th Place: Wyatt Hinton 5th Place: Ryan Gardner 6th Place: Jessica Harris
Class 6 1st Place: Cole Hanson 2nd Place: Hayley Duckson 3rd Place: Brooklyn Zajac 4th Place: Morgan Chancey 5th Place: Jenna Baker 6th Place: Payten Christie 7th Place: Zachary Salter 8th Place: Brooke Callis
Class 2 1st Place: Kaylee Devane 2nd Place: Mary-Catherine Stephens 3rd Place: Katrina Fehrenbacher 4th Place: Taryn Storter 5th Place: Cooper McDonald 6th Place: John Thompson 7th Place: Reno Holt 8th Place: John Banks
Class 7 1st Place: Shalee Conrad 2nd Place: FFA Federation Shown by Kenneth Hattaway 3rd Place: Chelsea Woodard 4th Place: Zachary Bozeman 5th Place: Paige Schelb 6th Place: Lynzi Butler 7th Place: Brady Helmer 8th Place: Jessica Strom
Class 3 1st Place: Morgan Gill 2nd Place: Elizabeth Ford 3rd Place: Joel Lopez 4th Place: Corbet Wyatt 5th Place: Mark Jordan 6th Place: Dalton Vanderford 7th Place: Hannah Jacobe 8th Place: Mathew Diem
Class 8 1st Place: Emma Stephens 2nd Place: Charlotte Byrnes 3rd Place: Eli Swint 4th Place: Dallas Stoy 5th Place: JessicaReasor 6th Place: Madison Morris 7th Place: Shelby Stone 8th Place: Charles Watson
Class 4 1st Place: Samuel Shiver 2nd Place: Raegan Tucker
Class 9 1st Place: Emma Miller 2nd Place: Emma Leiss continued on next page
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
65
3rd Place: Ashlyn Barror 4th Place: Emma Grace Futch 5th Place: Delaney Flowers 6th Place: McKenzie Weeks 7th Place: John Aubrey Class 10 1st Place: Rhet Conyers 2nd Place: Ashley Boock 3rd Place: Shayde Robbins 4th Place: Tristan Simmons 5th Place: Gracie Rae Dyer 6th Place: Sierra Haight 7th Place: Jade Banks Showmanship Senior Division 1st Place: Cole Hanson 2nd Place: Jade Banks 3rd Place: Rachel Carter Intermediate Division 1st Place: Julianne Ream 2nd Place: Emma Grace Futch 3rd Place: Gracie Gainer Junior Division 1st Place: Shalee Conrad 2nd Place: Samual Shiver 3rd Place: Haley Bell Sheep Show Patterson Companies Livestock Arena Grimes Family Agricultural Center
3rd Place – Carter HerndonStalvey Intermediate 1st Place: Brenna Sturgis 2nd Place: Chase Farris 3rd Place: Avery Surrency Senior 1st Place: Savannah Strickland 2nd Place: Aubrey Davis 3rd Place: Abby Davis Jumping Contest Short-Legged Division 1st Place: Jordan Zimmerman 2nd Place: Sierra Haight 3rd Place: Alayna Tiffany 4th Place: Morgan Higgins Long-Legged Division 1st Place: Frankie Vitelli 2nd Place: Sarah Faichney 3rd Place: Tiffany Henry Jasmine McWhite, Grand Champion Black Face Ewe Tiffany Henry, Reserve Champion Black Face Ewe Chase Farris, Grand Champion Black Face Ram Corynn Richie, Reserve Grand Champion Black Face Ram
Showmanship Beginner 1st Place – Savannah Jenkins 2nd Place – Carly Steward 3rd Place – Jackson Sturgis
Aubrey Davis, Grand Champion White Face Ewe Ava Hasting, Reserve Grand Champion White Face Ewe Aubrey Davis, Grand Champion White Face Ram Brian Zimmerman, Reserve Grand Champion White Face Ram
Junior 1st Place – Ava Hasting 2nd Place – Emma Leiss
Elizabeth Eakins, Grand Champion Crossbred ewe Marlene DeBoben, Reserve
66
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
Grand Champion Crossbred ewe Samuel Sands, Grand Champion Crossbred Ram Charli Davis, reserve Grand Champion Crossbred Ram Milee Hasting, Grand Champion Rare Breed Ewe Abigail Steward, Reserve Grand Champion Rare Breed Ewe Shalee Conrad, Grand Champion Rare Breed Ram Sarah Malloy, Reserve Grand Champion Rare Breed Ram. Aubrey Davis, Supreme Grand Champion with her white face ewe Costume Contest Sarah Faichney, “funniest” category with her “hula girl under the palm tree” Cassidy Hasting and Emma Leiss, “most original” with “Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.” Riley Buttorff, “most elegant” with “princess and the frog” Sarah Malloy, “most creative” with “biker Sarah and her hog” Elizabeth Eakins, “most colorful” with “peace and love to ewe” Morgan Higgins, “best overall” with “make America great again” Youth Plant Show Sponsored by Gulf Coast Turf & Tractor Swindle Family Pavilion Kaden Palmer, Grand Champion Taryn Storter, Reserve Grand Champion Taryn Storter
Jared Sweat, Champion Woody Ornamentals Jack Browsky, Champion Foliage Plants Jessica Harris, Champion Hanging Planters Jessica Harris, Champion miscellaneous plants Chloe Murphy, Size No. 1 Champion Plant Savanna Glover, Size No. 3 Champion Plant Kendall Guadens, Size No. 7 Champion Plant. Awards of Distinction Adrianna Lane Riley Buttorff Estrella Quirino Youth Poultry and Rabbit Show Swindle Family Pavilion Youth Poultry Kyle Holland, Grand Champion John Banks, Feserve Grand Champion Colton Skinner, Best Opposite Sex exhibition Frankie Vitelli, Best Opposite Sex production. Rabbit Show Elizabeth Ford, Grand Champion Dalton Vanderford, Feserve Grand Champion Carley Cotnoir, Best Opposite Sex commercial Tianna Roberts, Best Opposite Sex fancy WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA AG
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
THE SOLAR PROFESSIONALS (813) 716-3392 info@nasolarpro.com
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
67
68
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
69
CHRIS WALMSLEY CUSTOM FISHING RODS: More Than Fishing Equipment By Jim Frankowiak
Chris Walmsley makes custom fishing rods for both fresh and saltwater fishing enthusiasts. He’s been doing that for more than 10 years. He doesn’t advertise his rods, building them one at a time for his customers. It’s word of mouth that has led to the design and construction of more than 150 rods.
at the Yuengling Brewery in Tampa where his focus is sanitary welding of equipment critical to the brewing and bottling of beer.
But let’s start at the beginning. The beginning involves Chris’s father, Jeff, and how he learned about fishing years ago in Pennsylvania from his grandfather. “I was about eight years old when my grandfather introduced me to fishing,” said Jeff. No pun intended, but he was “hooked” from that day on and he has passed that love of fishing on to his sons. Chris is the middle of three sons of Jeff and Nita.
Chris lives in Dover with his wife Heather and their boys: 9-year-old Wyatt and Eli, 1. Chris and Heather met through a mutual friend while in their early teens when he was a student at Durant High School and Heather was in middle school.
Chris readily admits to fishing all of his life. “My family always said I could catch fish in a toilet and recalls me trying to do just that with my Snoopy fishing pole while I was still in diapers,” said Chris. Jeff has passed on much more than a love for fishing to his sons. “I’ve told my boys your work shows yourself,” he said. “Always work hard and do your best. It will pay off in many different ways,” and Jeff has been right. His boys worked alongside him when he ran his land development company, learning everything from operating heavy equipment to welding and more. “My sons are all good men and I am confident they will always try to do the right thing.” “I was 10-years-old when I first learned how to operate an excavator,” said Chris. While working with his dad Chris learned about welding too, and according to his dad, he learned the hard way. “I told him not to touch some of the things he was welding because they were hot,” said Jeff. “He learned that lesson and has gone on to learn even more.” For the past five years or so Chris has been a welder-mechanic 70
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
“My dad has always been my greatest influence,” said Chris. “I love fishing with my dad or spending time with him.”
While dating, Chris and Heather attended a fishing rod building class at Bridgemasters Fisherman’s Candy Store in Lake Wales. “That set the stage for my interest in building fishing rods,” said Chris. “I like building my own rods because I hated buying ones everyone had. I wanted a particular feel and a certain look so I made my own. I’m good at it and word got out. My rods are made of graphite composite and fiberglass with components based on my customer’s particular preferences.” It’s not unusual for one of Chris’ customers to request a favorite college or pro sport’s team logo on their rod, and he’s happy to oblige. The fishing rods Chris makes range in price from $60 to several hundred. “I help my customers decide what they want in their rod based on where they fish and what they want to catch. Also, if they’re a beginner or a professional.” The most expensive rod he has built to date was an offshore rod for catching marlin. “It was $890 and that’s because the cost of the components the customer wanted was pretty high.” Chris hopes to pass his rod building business on to his sons, if they so WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
choose. He has already introduced them to fishing. “I fish whenever and wherever I can and we like to do it as a family,” said Chris. That includes tournament fishing and one just held on Lake Kissimmee which marked the first ever tournament for Chris’ son Wyatt. “With about 30-minutes left in the tournament, Wyatt caught two bass, the biggest he’s ever caught and that pushed our team up in the standings. I am very proud of Wyatt and how his catches made a big difference on how our team did.” The Walmsley team’s catch totaled just under 12-pounds while the tournament winners recorded catches that equaled 27-pounds. Entrants ranged from amateur teams like Team Walmsley to hard core tournament competitors who devote full-time to this effort. Chris likes “working with my hands, making things and being creative.” Heather has picked up on those skills and asked Chris to create some artwork by cutting and welding horseshoes together a few years ago. “I saw that on Pinterest and showed it to Chris and asked him to add it to his honey do list and he did,” said Heather. True to the lessons his dad taught him, coupled with his skills, Chris has been making very attractive and well-constructed crosses out of horseshoes for more than five years. Most sell for $50 “That keeps me busy when I’m not making fishing poles,” he said. The proceeds from both the rod-making and horseshoe cross work helps the Walmsley family income, too. Heather had been a dental assistant at the Community Health Center in Ruskin, but decided to forego that job and raise her sons. “Once Eli gets older I hope to advance my health care education and return to the workforce,” said Heather. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
In addition to having Wyatt compete in his first fishing tournament, the venue for that competition at Lake Kissimmee, where Jeff and Nita live, also provided the Walmsley family with the opportunity to display and sell some of Chris’s horseshoe crosses. A portion of those proceeds will be used to help defray some of the substantial medical costs Jeff has these days. He has a significant healthcare challenge that he approaches in the same manner he taught life lessons to his three sons. “I am going to give it the very best I can,” said Jeff, who has signed up for several medical trials designed to help meet his condition. “While I hope it will help me, I am confident the experience will be beneficial to others.” Jeff continues to work fulltime as a Job Superintendent with Ajax Paving where he oversees multiple projects at different locations. “I am comfortable with my time remaining,” he said. And that, no doubt, includes fishing when he can with his kids and grandkids, helping to carry forward the love of that sport and the work ethic he has instilled. For more information about Chris Walmsley’s custom fishing rods or his horseshoe crosses; email him at: cjwcustomz@yahoo. com. His website is under construction, but there’s no hurry since word-of-mouth advertising has worked very well for him for over a decade. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
71
813-752-2379
Mon. - Sat.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Western & Outdoor Wear, Farm, Ranch & Pet Supplies
72
3014 S. Jim Redman Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • www.southsidestores.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
813-752-2379
Mon. - Sat.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Western & Outdoor Wear, Farm, Ranch & Pet Supplies
3014 S. Jim Redman Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • www.southsidestores.com
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
73
By Ginny Mink
In the Slimy Underworld
I hope you aren’t squeamish because if that’s your natural inclination you might want to skip this month’s Meet the Minks storyline. Here’s why: I took the kids to Repticon! I hope you instantly understand that this means I subjected Hazel (my oh so precious soon to be 5 year old princess) and my scared of everything soon to be 3 year old, Zeke, to a room full of snakes, lizards, spiders, and the like. Of course Jaidyn (the 12 year old) was not even faintly disturbed. I’ve taught him well. If you know me then perhaps you are aware of the fact that one of my BFFs in high school bought me a ball python for my birthday during my senior year. Her name was Wilemina and she loved to wrap herself around my wrist and hang out there all day. Sadly, when I went away to college she got handed over to a family friend and well…I’m not sure what the story is there. Anyhow, I’m not afraid of snakes. I used to catch ring-necked snakes in our backyard when I lived in Fort Lauderdale as a kid, and one of my father’s friends payed my siblings and I $0.25 for every lizard we caught because he’d feed them to his snakes. Reptiles and I have a long history, actually, now that I think about it. So, that fascination was something I wanted to share with my wee ones. It was raining when we arrived at the fairgrounds. Zeke was thrilled at an opportunity to jump in puddles as I tried to keep him dry. We stood in line to buy our tickets and when the girl at the table gave Hazel and Zeke their hand stamps, the elation on their faces was pretty hysterical. I mean, is a black inked picture of a tree frog really that amazing? It is to them, let me assure you. Enamored by their hand stamps they missed the plethora of people walking past them with scaly creatures draped around their necks. No worries, I thought, they’ll catch on soon enough. And indeed they did. “What is this place?” Hazel questioned with wide eyed amazement (bordering disgust) as she approached the first table bedecked with cylindrical snake housing Tupperware containers. Zeke wanted to touch everything. I was kind of shocked by Zeke’s seeming fearlessness. I don’t know how many snakes were on that first table but I’m pretty certain Hazel can’t count that high and she’s a pretty smart kid. She seemed to really appreciate the vast array of colors in each round enclosure. I mean some of these snakes were gorgeous, serious works of art (yes, snakes can be beautiful, God doesn’t make ugly after all). We traversed the area checking out every table possible. There were so many wee snakes and so many huge ones. There were lizards too, geckos, salamanders, iguanas, chameleons, you name it. Then there were frogs: pacmans and darts. Interestingly enough Zeke was most 74
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
drawn to the turtles. Perhaps it was because they were generally in enclosures without lids. While I didn’t let him touch any, that doesn’t mean he didn’t try his hardest. Everyone was doing just fine in the sea of snakes until we came to tables full of spiders. That was where Hazel drew the line. She covered her face and wouldn’t get anywhere near those eight legged fiends. She was not even remotely interested in how fuzzy they were, big or small, nope she wasn’t having anything to do with them at all. Jaidyn asked, “I thought this was Repticon? Spiders aren’t reptiles they’re arachnids. Why are they here?” I told him that the same weird people who liked snakes also liked spiders. I think the people buying stuff there were unamused. Ah well, the truth often hurts. Hazel had just gotten over her spider freak-out when a man walking a pit bull stopped within our view. Ordinarily the dog’s presence would have sent Zeke and Hazel over the edge but the fact that the man had a snake around his neck that was as thick as a tree trunk captivated their attention far more than the measly seeming pit bull. Herein lies the craziest moment of that adventure. Zeke walked up to the man and touched the snake. The man held the tail out for him and he petted it like it was his friend. And then, craziness on top of craziness, he petted the dog too! Later, I took them to eat at the ever popular Taco Bell and while sitting in the booth munching on triple layer nachos (and spitting out the refried beans- he’s gross, you don’t want to eat with him) I asked him, “You touched that giant snake, what did it feel like?” Without batting an eye, spitting out that lovely brown mash of refried beans he answered, with all seriousness, “Poop!” Then he continued, “It was $60 so we can’t get one.” Since that poop answer had us all snickering, we kind of ignored the rest. However, he seemed a little bummed about not being able to acquire a snake who was four times his length and just about as big around. So I trudged on and asked, “What did you think about the iguana?” He responded, with equal sincerity, “It was very honja.” At that point we all started cackling. Then out of the blue, Hazel took a turn towards intensity, looked right at me and stated, “If you don’t know what that is, it’s probably not real.” I think I laughed so hard I cried. While I appreciate my daughter’s estimation of my lexicon, the resolute manner in which she declared truth as she knew it was hysterical. Even Jaidyn was teary over that one. It’s safe to say that we had a great time at Repticon and would invite all who enjoy the slimy underworld to visit the next time it’s in town. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
They Ain’t Dead Yet By: Ginny Mink
UPDATE So, I’m not gonna lie. We lost a lot of the plants. They didn’t make it to the Growums container because my husband declared their death and removed them from all hope of being late bloomers. Prior to that, Jaidyn was able to rescue a few stragglers, some that appeared they might have a chance of attaining more leaves. He planted them in the self-watering container and has aptly forgotten to check on their survival.
course, he just wants to pick it, most of the time he thinks they are too sour to eat.
I had hoped that last week’s rain would prove fruitful for our wee little plants but they are indeed still wee little. Some look better than others, but I guess that’s to be expected when they are somehow surviving in full sunlight with minimal attention or water. The Growums gang sends me regular emails reminding me to check on our little gardens. And if I’m honest, I haven’t really been reading them. This is, though, due to the fact that we planted three different gardens and therefore I get three of the exact same emails.
Zeke: “It’s good. I watered it. It’s growing.” He did, and it is, slowly.
Hazel and Zeke are still interested in the animated stories and if pushed they will take part in checking on the plants, bringing them water and cooing at them. Well, that part is mostly Hazel, she’s just that kind of kid I guess, the kind who talks to plants. I think once the plants get bigger and actually start to produce things that Zeke can see as valuable (though he really doesn’t like vegetables) his interests will perk up. I’ve seen that with the strawberries that have somehow survived in the flowerbed in our front yard. He’s all about letting me know when one (because there are so few) is turning red. Of
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Anyhow, I sat down with the kids to discuss the garden and this is how that went: Me: “Zeke, what do you think about the garden?”
Me: “What about you, J?” J: “I think that I don’t want to have to dig in it anymore because it’s gag-worthy.” He went on to explain his position but it wasn’t worthy of inclusion here. Me: “Ummm, ok… What do you think about it, Haze?” Hazel: “When’s it gonna have stuff to eat in it?” Patience is a virtue, but it’s a hard one to attain. Since I’m not even sure what is growing in it at this point I couldn’t begin to offer her a time frame. Needless to say, we enjoyed our time of cleaning out leaves and watering the little green things in its midst, but since there’s not much going on it’s a little bit blah this month. Hopefully next month we’ll know a little more!
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
75
76
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY VETERAN AND WOUNDED WARRIOR HIRING/SUPPORT SUMMIT IN TAMPA By Jim Frankowiak
Ag Industry Employers/Veterans Interested In Ag Encouraged to Attend Each year 600 to 800 men and women transition out of military service from Mac Dill Air Force Base in Tampa. “Of that number, 400 to 500 choose to make Hillsborough County home upon separation,” said Simon Bollin, Hillsborough County Agribusiness Development Manager. “Most have managerial experience in operations, maintenance, logistics and technology areas, expertise that should be attractive to farm operations and agribusinesses in the area.” To help match veterans and wounded warriors with meaningful career opportunities, the Department of the Navy (DON) has scheduled a two-day Veteran & Wounded Warrior Hiring & Support Summit in Tampa June 1-2 to bring together government, military and industry leaders and human resource professionals committed to hiring these men and women to discuss the challenges and solutions associated with veteran hires and their transition to the civilian sector. The summit’s second day will provide an opportunity for veterans and Wounded Warriors to participate in workshops and a career fair. Employers from the Department of Defense, various federal agencies and the private sector will participate the in the two-day event. The summit will take place at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, 4500 West Cypress Street. There is no charge to attend the summit and “walkins” are welcome. “This is a great opportunity for prospective employers in agriculture and related industries to learn more about this source of qualified and committed prospective employees,” said Bollin. “It also provides veterans and Wounded Warriors the chance to explore civilian careers in agriculture.” Mosaic is a strong supporter of the veteran community. “We firmly believe in hiring our veterans,” said Laura Sehres, a Mosaic Recruiting Manager. “In 2015, Mosaic hired veterans to support supply chain, engineering, skilled trade and operations positions. “We are focused not just on employing veterans, but also with helping these heroes to transition into the civilian workforce,” Sehres said. “Mosaic has a strong relationship with MacDill Air Force Base and we regularly participate in transition workshops aimed at educating veterans and their spouses on resume writing and interviewing techniques. We also support the Veterans Services group at CareerSource Tampa Bay and recently our staff participated in the Wound Veteran and Caregiver Conference.” Former Navy officer Amy Entress settled in Tampa “because of its location, educational institutions and job opportunities. After earning my professional degree, I started a project management company with another Navy veteran and we found ourselves interested in the Florida agriculture industry. Simon Bollin made introductions to key players in the ag world that have been instrumental to our latest projWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
ect, building an Individual Quick Frozen (IQF) processing facility in Plant City called AgFreeze. The selection of Tampa to host the summit provides veterans with invaluable opportunities to transition into an agriculture operation.” Entress’ partner Rob Rieke retired from the Navy and entered the civilian job market in Tampa. “I knew the options that were important for me and what I wanted for a second career. Often times, I believe that veterans benefit greatly from change and entering the civilian workforce is a great opportunity for getting the change they need,” said Rieke. “All veterans have a basic skill set, taught by each service, that translates into the civilian workforce. If they have an opportunity that has been forged by other veterans, I think the transition can be incredibly smooth. We have found that self-discipline, problem solving and working under pressure relates to the agriculture industry. All facets of the agriculture industry involve making strategic decisions based upon historical data and scientific forecasting to achieve a desire outcome. This concept is a daily part of military life and for that reason alone, I feel very comfortable in this type of atmosphere and think other transitioning veterans will as well.” “Rob and I, as veterans with 30 years of combined military service, see how our backgrounds in the Navy afforded us a seamless transition into the agricultural industry,” said Entress. “As we are getting AgFreeze up and running, we have focused on some key objectives to ensure success such as the hiring and training of a local workforce and offering great compensation that not only helps them, but also serves as an investment to sustain our company’s future. Our founding principles of honesty and transparency guide us in our interactions with suppliers and distributors to ensure everyone is successful and diligently committed to achieving the highest possible quality product and customer service. As a Veteran-Owned business, we bring tradition and dependability to the growers in Florida and together we will work to eliminate waste and provide significant economic development for the region and the state. We are the first IQF facility solely dedicated to freezing fruits and vegetables to open for production in the state. We look forward to remaining involved with helping military veterans transition into the Florida workforce.” The summit is being sponsored by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (ASN M&RA) and co-hosted by the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command, U.S. Naval Air Systems Command and the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. The conference is supported by the DON’s Office of Civilian Human Resources, Navy Safe Harbor Program, Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment and the Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service. For additional information and registration, visit: www.HireAVet. navy.mil INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
77
Market Watch: Tidal Boar By Libby Hopkins
I have to admit, the more I visit the artisan and farmers’ markets around the Tampa Bay area, the more I become impressed with how small businesses are on the rise and becoming a driving force in the local economy. I also love some of the creative names these small businesses come up with for their businesses. On recent visit to the Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market, I had the honor and the privilege to represent In The Field Magazine as a judge in the market’s Mac and Cheese Cook Off. I had the best time judging 10 different macaroni and cheese creations made by local residents. It was a chubby girl’s dream come true! Thank you Tampa Bay Markets and Tiffany Ferrecchia-Maietta for inviting me to be a judge. While Tiffany and her staff were tallying up the votes for the mac and cheese cook off, I took a few minutes to rest my taste buds as I walked around the market in search of something to drink. I came across one of the small local businesses/vendor with a really cool name, Tidal Boar. I have to admit, the name had me totally intrigued. What is a Tidal Boar and how would it taste? “The name Tidal Boar is a play on words,” said owner Lyuba Malone. “Having studied tidal bore, a tidal phenomenon in which the incoming tide forms a standing wave of water that travels against the current of a river or narrow bay, we decided to create a fictitious character, a tidal boar. The tidal boar is the guardian of the shores and occasionally makes a presence.” The 78
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
full story of the tidal boar can be read on the side of their growler that holds their yummy non-alcoholic ginger beer. Malone, along with her husband Richard started Tidal Boar Ginger Beer in 2015. “Our ginger beer is a non-alcoholic, refreshing beverage handcrafted in St. Petersburg,” Malone said. “We brew our ginger beer from scratch using fresh ginger, citrus, spices and Florida cane sugar.” The Malone’s started brewing their own ginger beer after realizing many products in the stores contain artificial ingredients that are high in sugar. “Our aim was to create a natural product where you taste the crispness of the ginger first to finish with a touch of cane sugar,” Malone said. “To us it’s about creating a lightly carbonated beverage that emphasizes the quality of its ingredients.” In addition to their original ginger beer, they brew seasonal flavors like key lime, hibiscus, blueberry mojito, cranberry, pineapple and strawberry mint. I tried the original ginger beer while I was at the market and it was delicious. Ginger beer has quite an interesting history. According to the website, Q Ginger (www.qginger.com) “Ginger beer goes back over 500 years, when the underground stem or root of the wild ginger plant was first used by healers in Southeast Asia to treat indigestion and joint pain. In the nineteenth century, ginger beer was first made and soon thousands of local taverns and breweries across the United Kingdom, Canada and the U.S. were brewing their own varieties. Some had an alcohol content of up to 11 percent.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
The website also said that in 1852, an unfermented, non-alcoholic version of ginger beer was first made for children and non-alcoholic drinkers by Dr. Cantrell in Belfast, Ireland, a well-known manufacture of aerated and mineral waters. He called it “ginger ale” and the concoction tasted more intensely like ginger than the ginger-flavored beers of the day. The Malone’s love being a part of the artisan and farmer’s markets in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area. “We received a tremendous amount of support and encouragement from the first day on,” Malone said. “Keep St. Petersburg Local, a local non-profit business alliance has helped us find and join local markets that benefit our business the most. Being a part of the Saturday Morning Market and Indie Market in St. Pete, as well as Indie Flea, Hyde Park and Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market in Tampa, has helped us grow our business and allow us to introduce our products to a great amount of ginger fans out there.” If you would like to learn more about Tidal Boar Ginger Beer or if you would like to visit them at one of the markets they attend, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TidalBoarGingerBeer.
813-767-4703 301 South Collins Street, Suite 101, Plant City, Florida 33563
•
P ortrait Ph o tograp h er Spe c ializ ing in H igh Sc hool Se niors
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
• 79
80
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 2013
93
We are licensed & insured. We offer our tree service to you at the lowest prices. Good, honest work done to your satisfaction.
198641
Lifetime experience. Free estimates.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Bo Savary 813 - 412-0023 | Dana Savary 813-775-5587 SavaryDiscountTreeSrevice.com
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
81
Naturally Amazing Activities
By Sean Green | Photo Credit: Christina Sittinger
Milk Paint If you like recreating history and love creating new works of art, this activity is for you. Milk paint has a history that dates back thousands of years. Cave drawings ranging from 8,000 to 20,000 years old were painted with a mixture of milk, lime, and earth pigments and are still intact. Many of the artifacts found in King Tutankhamen’s burial chamber had been painted with milk paint. In our own Colonial America, artisans and craftsmen would roam the countryside carrying with them an assortment of pigments with which they could make milk paint. Most households in the pioneer days of America would have had their own cow or goat for milk and the community would have had a lime pit, especially in Florida, considering our entire state is composed largely of limestone. This month, we will make our own milk paint in much the same way that it was done in 19th century America. The pigment itself is
“lampblack” which is still one of the deepest shades of black available and very easy to acquire. Lampblack is composed of tiny particles of carbon that are left over from incomplete combustion of an oily flame such as that of a cheap candle or oil lamp. The black soot that forms on the glass of an oil lamp (or in the smoke of a cheap candle) is the pigment known as “lampblack,” hence the name. Lampblack, like milk paint, has a prehistoric history and is one of the oldest pigments known to humanity. This activity is by no means the only recipe for using pigments such as Lampblack, if you are interested in making ink for writing, or stain for woodwork, leather, or cloth, there are various historic recipes that can be found on the internet. For our purpose, we will make a very simple and durable paint suitable for application with a paint brush on any substrate you desire to paint on.
Milk Paint Materials:
Lemon or Lime 1 Qt Skim Milk Sieve Cheesecloth Lampblack (or any dry color pigment) • Mix 1 Qt skim milk with the juice of 1 lemon • Let the milk and lemon mixture set overnight at room temperature for the milk to curd. • Pour the milk curd through a sieve and cheesecloth to strain the curd from the milk mixture. • Stir the Lampblack pigment (a little at a time) into the curd until it is completely mixed and the desired shade of black. • Apply the paint with a brush, * when dry, rub with a wet cloth for a distressed finish*
Lampblack Materials:
Candle (cheapest you can find) or Oil lamp Any Oil (vegetable oil, kerosene, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, etc...) * if using an Oil Lamp Spoon (if using a candle and making small quantities of pigment) Light the Candle or Oil Lamp (outside recommended) Situate a spoon, fireproof plate, fireproof glass, or any fire proof object above the flame to collect the soot from the flame. When you have collected a good amount of soot on your collection plate, remove it from the flame and let it cool Scrape the collected soot into a small bowl or vial, this is the pigment that will be mixed into the milk paint.
PARTS & EQUIPMENT IN STOCK AT KENNCO YEAR ROUND!!!! You know what works... and we’ve listened to you. Kennco’s new line of Strawberry Equipment is compatible with your current equipment and proven to form rounded beds on 48” row centers, lay tight plastic and drip, resulting in the best berries.
KENNCO MANUFACTURING, INC. P.O. Box 1158 | Ruskin, FL 33575 800-645-2591 | Fax 813-645-7801 Sales@KenncoMfg.com | www.KenncoMfg.com Hear about specials and deliveries in your area.
82
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Saint Bill, The Patron Saint of Lost Dogs By Libby Hopkins
I have often said that dog rescuers are the angels who walk among us. Bill Gray of Second Chance Boxer Rescue is one of those angels. I refer to him as “St. Bill” because every time he finds out about a dog in need or abandoned, he is there to rescue it. He makes sure the dog has a foster home, is vetted and safe from harm. He even pulls dogs that people won’t adopt from the local animal shelters. “I’ve never told a dog in the shelter, ‘You’re too sick, I can’t take you’,” Gray said. Gray and his rescue have a strong social media presence and he is constantly tagged in Facebook posts about stray dogs. “I was tagged in a post by the Lost and Found Pets of Hillsborough County about a dog someone saw running in a strawberry field in Plant City,” Gray said. “I kept an eye on the post that night and the next day I drove out to the area to see if I could find the dog.” He didn’t see the dog. Gray doesn’t give up that easily, so he kept checking Facebook and saw that people were posting that they kept seeing the dog in the field. He went back out to the strawberry field and passed out his business card to people living near the field. His persistence paid off, he got a call from one of the people he gave his business card to saying that they saw the dog again. “I drove out there again and they were calling the dog a he when really it was a she,” Gray said. “I saw her and started calling every girl’s name I could think of, but she would run off.” The dog wouldn’t let Gray get but a few feet close to her before she would turn and run. “I thought maybe she had been hit a car because her back end was a mess,” Gray said. Gray tried everything he could think of to catch the dog. He set coyote traps to catch her. She would trip them but the traps didn’t catch her. “I got a call from a farmer saying she had pulled the blankets off of the trap and made a bed with them next to the trap,” Gray said. He would drive his car close to her, open the door and put out dog food, then back up. She would gobble the food and then run away. “I kept thinking to myself, this dog is going to drop because she didn’t have food or water,” Gray said. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
He decided to call animal services to see if they could help him catch the dog. “I asked them if they could come out and dart her so I could catch her and get her some help,” Gray said. Animal services agreed to help him. “They came out to the strawberry field with me and we spotted her,” Gray said. “They darted her with a tranquilizer and it took about five minutes for her to go down. Animal services were great with her and the took care of her like I would. They were very compassionate.” The dog was taken to Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort in Plant City. “Dr. Trotter and Dr. Layton were wonderful to her,” Gray said. They x-rayed the dog and found out she had some congenital issues. “She was born without her last three vertebrae,” Gray said. “She doesn’t have any issues getting around but her condition can’t be corrected.” Gray decided to be a foster for her. He also gave her a name, Lola. “I named her after an artist friend of mine who recently lost her dog,” Gray said. Lola has adjusted to living with Gray and the rest of the dogs he fosters at his home in Plant City. “She is adoptable and someone is going to get a prize if they adopt her,” Gray said. “It’s going to take a special person to adopt her because of congenital issues.” Second Chance Boxer Rescue rescues about 120-150 dogs a year. It cost Gray and is rescue about $700-$800 a month just to feed all the dogs they have in foster care through their rescue, not to mention if they need extensive vet care. The adoption fees the rescue charges helps to cover some of the costs Gray and his rescue incur but the rest of the time they rely on donations from the community. If you would like to learn more about Second Chance Boxer Rescue or if you would like to make a donation to the rescue, you can visit their website at www.saveaboxer.org. Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort is located at 1704 Walden Village Ct. in Plant City. If you would like to learn more about the services offered at Timberlane, you can visit their website at www.timberlanevet.com or call 813-754-7387. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
83
84 84
IIN NTTHE HEF FIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE
A April pril 2016 2016
WWW. WWW.IIN NTTHE HEF FIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
4031 US HWY 129 Live Oak, FL 32606 386.362.7626 Read's Forklifts has been serving Live Oak Florida and the surrounding areas for over 30 years. We are an authorized dealer for Taylor Forklifts, SSI, Cummins B&C series, Multisweep, Heli, Perkins and more. Some of our services include: Trained Industrial A/C Repair Cummins Off Road Certified Friendly Sales Department Taylor Forklift Repairs Industrial Tires Available
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
85
PLANT CITY GATOR GEOMATICS PROGRAM ATTRACTING DIVERSE ATTENTION AT UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE LEVELS By Jim Frankowiak
The University of Florida “Gator” brand is well known, not just in the Sunshine State or U.S., but around the world, as well. If you think that’s an overstatement, think again and take a look at one program that’s offered at the UF’s Plant City Center, adjacent to the campus of Hillsborough Community College on North Park Road. This particular degree program is Geomatics which encompasses many survey related disciplines, including conventional land surveying, geographic information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS), laser scanning (LIDAR), mapping, cadastral principles, remote sensing and photogrammetry, including unmanned air systems. The Geomatics undergraduate program reaches out to students in the Tampa Bay area, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Sarasota, Citrus and Manatee counties. This program offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Geomatics and “has led to many diverse and well-paying professional career opportunities,” said Dr. Abd-Elrahman who supervises the Geomatics undergraduate and graduate programs at the UF Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Plant City Center. “We also have a number of scholarships and internships available to help our students advance their educations and careers.” He has been at the Plant City Center since 2007. “Our undergraduate students have graduated from community colleges with an Associate of Arts degree or other colleges with different backgrounds such as Engineering,” Abd-Elrahman said. The Geomatics program also offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. A distance education is also available within the program. Additionally, certifications are also offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels. “I had a great experience in the UF Geomatics program as a doctoral student and graduate research assistant,” said Roshan PandeChhetri. “I did my PhD research mostly from the Plant City campus under the guidance of highly accomplished and caring teacher Dr. Abd-Elrahman. The program is of high value which provided me with a strong foundation in Geomatics sciences and hands-on training on the latest technologies in the field that prepared me to further my professional career,” he said. Pande-Chhetri is a Geomatics Engineers with Picketts and Associates, Inc., a 50-year-old Bartow-based business surveying and mapping firm serving clients throughout the Southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean Islands. “At present we have graduate students enrolled in our Plant City Geomatics program from India, China and Turkey,” noted AbdElrahman. “That reflects very positively on the University of Florida not just locally, but internationally. The overall popularity and growth of our program also reflects what the industry told us 86 86
HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE IINNTTHE
April pril 2016 2016 A
when UF was assessing the institution of a Geomatics program here a number of years ago.” Dr. Abd-Elrahman’s research focuses on utilizing remote sensing techniques to provide information needed in natural resources management/monitoring and precision agriculture applications. It involves multispectral and hyperspectral image classification, LIDar data processing and geospatial analysis. He has worked on developing mobile hyperspectral image sensing system; using space-borne hyperspectral imagery to model vegetation biophysical and soils parameters; classifying submerged aquatic vegetation; modeling water quality parameters using airborne and ground-based hyperspectral imagery and utilizing segmentation techniques to classify unmanned aircraft system imagery. Dr. Abd-Elrahman teaches several undergraduate and graduate courses in the geographic information system analysis, image processing and surveying and mapping areas of study. The Geomatics program stresses a hands-on approach using the most advanced technology in the industry, helping to make the overall academic experience giving students the opportunity to both broaden their horizons and hone specialized skills that are valued in the marketplace. Added benefits of enrollment in the Plant City Geomatics program include access to the full resources of UF, significant industry support such as ongoing internship opportunities and a historic 100 per cent job placement record with annual salaries in excess of $40,000. “Private sector career opportunities include small, local firms to top national engineering firms,” said AbdElrahman. “Public sector positions are available at the city, county, state and federal levels, and our discipline offers practitioners the opportunity to work both inside and outside. “More than half of our graduates either own or have achieved partner status in a company within five years and two-thirds manager or supervise a department in survey and mapping.” The program has a flexible schedule, permitting full-time undergraduate Geomatics students to earn a degree in as little as two years with evening classes and weekend labs designed to fit most any student schedule. UF offers the state’s longest-running fouryear, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) accredited degree program in Geomatics. To learn more about the UF Geomatics Program and why students from local and distant locations are enrolling; contact Dr. AbdElrahman via email: aamr@ufl.edu or Academic Advisor Debra Barry at dmbarry@ufl.edu. Dr. Abd-Elrahman or Ms. Barry may be reached by phone by calling 813-757-2287.
WWW.IIN NTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
Steak: It’s What’s For Lunch, thanks to The Hay Exchange The Hay Exchange, with cooking help from the Florida Beef Council, provided a steak lunch to 4-H and FFA students who participated in the Florida Strawberry Festival’s Youth Beef Breed Show. By: Emily Topper
Glisson estimated that about 320 people enjoyed sizzling steaks at the March 11 luncheon. 4-H and FFA members who participated in the 2016 Florida Strawberry Festival’s Youth Beef Breed Show got a tasty treat on Friday, March 11. The Hay Exchange, a hay and animal feed store located on U.S. Highway 92 in Plant City, has been sponsoring the Youth Beef Breed Show for the last four years. But this year, the family-owned business decided to do something extra special for the kids. Before the show started, kids and two of their family members, along with Beef Breed committee members and volunteers, enjoyed a catered lunch, including steak, baked potato and drinks. The dinner was served on the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds, just behind the Grimes Family Agricultural Center where the show was held. “We wanted to do something more,” Hay Exchange Owner Bill Glisson said. “We asked the festival if we could feed them lunch.” The Florida Beef Council joined forces with The Hay Exchange to serve the lunch. The council’s catchphrase is “Beef: It’s What’s For Dinner.” For the event, the slogan was altered to “Steak: It’s What’s For Lunch.” The council contributes to a number of notable meals, including feeding the University of Florida’s Gators football team. But on March 11, their support was all geared toward the kids. “They came because of the legacy of the strawberry festival,” Glisson said. “In honor of the kids and all their hard work, they picked this lunch.” In total, the Hay Exchange and the Florida Beef Council served about 320 people. But kids got to enjoy more than just a catered lunch. The Hay Exchange put together gift bags for each child, complete with a drawstring backpack, product catalogs and coupons. Kids who attended the lunch also had the opportunity to join the Junior Florida Cattleman’s Association. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Bill Glisson, right, with sons Dillon and Cody. The family runs The Hay Exchange, and has sponsored the Youth Beef Breed Show at the Florida Strawberry Festival for the last four years. “The kids seem to be excited,” Glisson said. “They all get gift bags and educational literature.” Glisson added that the luncheon was a way for the Hay Exchange to directly impact the students in a positive way. “First and foremost, we want to sponsor and promote youth in agriculture,” he said. “We’re firm believers in 4-H and FFA. Our sponsorship is a small way to contribute to that.” Students, along with their friends and family, expressed their gratitude to the Hay Exchange and the Florida Beef Council. “I think it’s awesome they provided this for us,” Denise Aten, an FFA parent, said. The catered lunch was the first time such an event had happened. Longtime volunteer Tom Lay said that the lunch and the continued support of the Beef Breed show were all due to the support of organizations like the Hay Exchange. “My daughters showed for six years in junior high and high school, and I stayed involved with the program,” Lay said. “These are the best kids out here. We have the best kids. It’s just family-oriented. All of this is possible because of the sponsors.” Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
87
“Farm Credit is easy to work and meets “Farmwith Credit is easyour toneeds.” work — Shad and Billy Simmons
with and meets our needs.” — Shad and Billy Simmons
“Farm Credit is easy to work with and meets our needs.” — Shad and Billy Simmons
Shad and Billy Simmons grow strawberries on land Billy’s grandfather bought in 1920 — both are past presidents of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association.
Loans made for farmers by farmers, since 1916. Farm Credit is the nation’s leading provider of Shad andcredit Billyto Simmons grow strawberries on land agriculture andgrow Shad and Billy Simmons land Billy’s grandfather bought in 1920 strawberries — both areon past rural America. Billy’s grandfather bought in 1920 —813.719.7341 both are past presidents of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. FarmCreditCFL.com presidents of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association.
Loans made forland, farmers by farmers, since Loans made forhomes farmers by farmers, since1916. 1916. Loans for & country living FarmisCredit is the nation’s leading provider Farm Credit the nation’s leading provider of of credit to agriculture and credit to agriculture and rural America. 813.719.7341 813.719.7341 rural America. FarmCreditCFL.com
FarmCreditCFL.com
Loans for land, homes & country living
Loans for land, homes & country living 88
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
89
90
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
AGRITECH
FSGA’S 34TH ANNUAL APRIL 19-20 Earlier Dates to Help Grower Planning for Next Season By Jim Frankowiak
The Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) is holding its 34th annual Agritech Trade Show April 19-20 at the Charlie Grimes Family Agricultural Center located at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds in Plant City. This important, two-day meeting is being held earlier this year “to enable growers to receive information and updates on research, policy and pertinent industry information as the current season is ending, so they can get an earlier start on planning for next season’s crop,” said FSGA’s Director Member Services/Community Relations Tiffany C. Dale. In addition to receiving updates on government regulations, pollinator programs, fumigant alternatives and the latest information on research and technology, growers will be able to participate in the trade show portion of Agritech, where they will have the opportunity to learn of the latest advances in equipment, products and services for potential use in the upcoming strawberry season. Following a welcome and opening remarks by FSGA President Todd Jameson and FSGA Executive Director Kenneth Parker, the first day’s sessions will include compliance presentations by Jeremy Wharton of JW and Associates, followed by Dan Botts of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association who will present “Pollinators: The New Regulatory Framework.” “Management of charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina” will be discussed by Dr. Natalia Peres, Plant Pathologist at the University of Florida, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center UF/GCREC. Dr. James Mertely, also a plant pathologist at UF/GCREC will present “Strawberry Plant losses in 2015-2016 and how to reduce them.” Dr. Peres will also present an “Update on anthracnose and botrytis management” during afternoon presentations. Economist Dr. Zhengfei Guan, also of UF/GCREC, will review “Economic Impacts of imported strawberries from Mexico.” Dr. Vance Whitaker, Plant Breeder, UF/GCREC, will begin the afternoon sessions with “Strawberry Breeding Highlights from 20152016.” His colleague at UF/GCREC, Dr. Seonghee Lee will detail “Application of molecular tools to develop superior strawberry cultivars.”
gist, UF/GCREC and his discussion of “New tools for monitoring and managing spotted wing drosophila in Florida strawberries,” followed by Entomologist Dr. Hugh Smith, also of UF/GCREC, who will present “Effect of insecticides on thrips number and species composition.” Dr. Joe Noling, a nematologist at the University of Florida/Citrus Research and Education Center (UF/CREC) will present “Vertical Management Zones: New Considerations to control sting nematode in Florida.” UF/GCREC Weed Scientist Dr. Nathan Boyd will follow with his discussion of “Herbicides for nutsedge, kyllinga and broadleaf weed control in strawberry.” Dr. Larry Duncan, Nematologist, UF/CREC will end the morning session with “Half century and counting: the evolution of Diaprepes root weevil as a pest in Florida.” Horticulturist Dr. Shinsuke Agehara, UF/ GCREC will begin the second day afternoon session with “optimization of growth-stage specific nitrogen fertilization to maximize strawberry yield and quality” and Dr. Kelly Morgan, Soil Scientist, University of Florida, Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (UF/SWFREC), will provide attendees with a “BMP update and strawberry irrigation app demonstration.” Extension Agent Alicia Whidden, University of Florida/Hillsborough County Extension Service, will close Agritech’s formal presentations with “Do you know Core?” Attending growers will also have the opportunity to earn CEU and CCA credits. CEU’s Day one and two include private applicator, Ag Row Crop and Demo & Research while Day two will also include CORE. CCA’s offered the first day of Agritech are Pest Management and Crop Management. Day two CCA’s include Pest Management, Nutrient Management and Soil and Water. Agritech registrants will be provided with educational materials, lunch both days, refreshments and the opportunity to tour the trade show exhibits and engage with representatives during presentation breaks, lunch and at the conclusion of each day’s sessions.
“A comparison of physical and chemical attributes between strawberry cultivars ‘Florida Radiance’, Sweet Sensation® and the 12.121-5 advanced breeding selection from the University of Florida” will be presented by Dr. Cecilia Nunes, Biologist, University of South Florida (USF). Agritech’s second day will include Dr. Justin Renkema, EntomoloWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
91
STRAWBERRY GROWERS ASSOCIATION CONTINUES TO BUILD CONSUMER BERRY DEMAND By Jim Frankowiak
More than a century ago Henry Plant’s decision to build a railroad to Tampa made it possible for local strawberry growers to market their berries to the entire east coast of the U.S. While much has changed since that time, more than three-quarters of strawberries grown in the Plant City area are still shipped to markets east of the Mississippi. In other words, that market is just as important today as it was when Mr. Plant decided to build his railroad through Plant City and on to Tampa. Hillsborough County produces about 15 per cent of the nation’s straw berries and just about all of the berries grown in the winter. That results in an overall economic impact on the local community that exceeds $700 million annually. If you laid the 20 million flats of strawberries grown each year in the Plant City area end-toend, you would have a line of berries to Seattle and back. That’s a lot of berries with high economic impact. To nurture the local strawberry industry in many different ways, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) was formed in 1982. The association represents the vast majority of growers in the area and since its founding has become their “voice and partner in research, promotion and member/community service.” The FSGA serves as the parent company of two sister organizations: Florida Strawberry Patent Service (FSPS) and Florida Strawberry Research and Education Foundation (FSREF). FSPA promotes the patented varieties of strawberries developed on behalf of the FSGA and its members domestically and internationally. The majority of those patent royalties have been targeted for research, primarily at the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) primarily at its Gulf Coast Research and Education Center under a program overseen by Dr. Vance Whitaker. But there’s more. That east coast market for Florida strawberries has changed, too, since Mr. Plant’s railroad began operation. There are more residents, their interests and habits and ways to reach them have all changed. “Our growers have all that it takes to keep their operations moving forward and addressing the various challenges they face each season from Mother Nature and other sources,” said FSGA Executive Director Kenneth Parker. “It’s our job at the association to help them effectively address other areas critical to them and our industry, while keeping them fully informed.” To keep tabs on east coast Florida strawberry consumers, both existing and potential, the FSGA has underwritten several studies with the University of Florida Center for Public Issues Education (PIE). The center’s mission is “to conduct and disseminate objective interdisciplinary research and educational programs to increase public understanding and engagement in agricultural and natural resources issues.”
92
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
“Those studies have helped us develop and implement highly costeffective and effective outreach programs that respond to consumer needs and desires keyed to our berries,” said FSGA Marketing Director Sue Harrell. PIE’s most recent work on behalf of the FSGA involved 10 focus groups in five cities: Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Columbus, Ohio: New York City and Boston. The research time sought to determine consumers’ purchasing intent so they could develop marketing strategies for Florida strawberries in competitive markets. What they determined was that the majority of out-of-state consumers enjoys the high quality and freshness of the fruit and wants to buy them, but some mistakenly think Florida strawberries are not available at the markets where they shop during winter months. “This means marketers must focus on communicating with consumers that winter strawberries come from Florida in their outreach,” said Joy Rumble, an assistant professor of agricultural education and communication at UF. “Eastern U.S. consumers’ lack of awareness or misperceptions about Florida strawberries is likely due to our growing season and consumers looking primarily at the quality and price of the fruit when considering a strawberry purchase, rather than growing location listed on the label,” said Rumble. “Several consumers were surprised to learn that our growing season was in the winter because they are used to strawberries being available in the summer, or they thought that Florida should be able to grow strawberries all year round because of our warm climate.” Those consumers also reported not regularly looking at the growing location on strawberry packaging, she said. “This information will be very helpful to our ongoing social media programming,” said the FSGA’s Harrell. “It will also help guide some of the local promotional activities we undertake in the eastern markets and the marketing advice and counsel we provide to our members. “This also helps to further the case that we made with our grower members in the past about considering their involvement in the state branding campaign, Fresh from Florida, as a way to enhance awareness and foster the positive attitudes they already have about our berries” she added. While it has been more than 100 years since Plant’s railroad opened the eastern markets to Plant City area strawberries, local growers and their association continue with their efforts to reach those markets and maintain and grow their desire for strawberries from Florida.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
FSGA MARKETING AT-A-GLANCE
Marketing initiatives of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) are highly targeted and cost-effective activities that are designed to increase consumption and to help keep strawberry production profitable for its more than 75 grower members farming over 10,000-acres of strawberries in Florida. “We also work to support higher education through scholarships and programs,” said the FSGA’s Director of Marketing Sue Harrell.
and engage their followers. We also educate and support chefs and restaurants and retailers.”
“The focal point of our digital media campaigns for the last two seasons and on into the future is to create Florida strawberry growing season awareness in those areas of the country where our strawberries are available,” said Harrell. Those markets include Florida and states east of the Mississippi. “Our audience consists of bloggers and social media influencers and we use a variety of marketing activities to engage those audiences and the consumers they reach through their own outreach.”
“We also ran three different in-store audio commercials in 1,174 supermarkets in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Missouri yielding more than 30-million impressions among adults while they were shopping where our berries were available,” Harrell noted. Those 20-second audio commercials featured nutritional value of strawberries and the chance to experience: Florida Strawberries, A Taste of Summer All Winter Long.
The FSGA’s awareness activities are broad-based and include paid, earned, shared and owned initiatives that embrace both traditional media engagement plus participation in varied social media endeavors. “This ranges from print and electronic media coverage, live events and myriad web-based actions via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and more,” said Harrell. “And this is not just the FSGA talking but hundreds of bloggers, as well, enabling us to reach
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
This past season alone, the FSGA’s social media results via Twitter and Instagram resulted in a reach of 19.9-million with 186.5-million impressions. “#FlStrawberry over the last six months reached nearly 7-million consumers via 74.8 million impressions.
“The recent study we commissioned the University of Florida Center for Public Issues Education (PIE) to undertake will help us enhance and refine our messaging as we continue to strive to increase consumer of Florida strawberries grown by our members,” said Harrell. For more information about the FSGA, Florida strawberries, including recipes, and other information, visit: www.FLStrawberries.com.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
93
Classifieds
Tel: 813.759.6909 Info@inthefieldmagazine.com
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
CHICKEN MANURE FOR SALE
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
Dry and available IMMEDIATELY! Call Tim Ford (863) 439-3232
42” cut, 21 hp Kohler engine. 3 year warranty. $2,799 Call Alvie (813) 759-8722
USED HORSE BLANKETS
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
$50 each, $20 Hoods & wraps $5 a package. Call 813-986-6337
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.
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.
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
JOHN DEERE 457
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
Roundbaler, used hay equipment Call Alvie 813-759-8722
HESSTON 3710 TEDDER
Priced to sale. Call Alvie 813-759-8722 KUBOTA TRACTOR G5200 Ground driven manure spreader. $1900 Call 813-986-6337
KRONE AM 2835 DISC MOWER Call Alvie 813-759-8722
Ext. Siding 4’X7’ sheets stucco texture & 12” on center. $18.95 Call Blake 813-752-3378
ROSSI CADDY 8 HAY RAKE Call Alvie 813-759-8722
MOBILE HOME TUBS
Metal brand new in bo 54” Mobile Home Tubs Call Ted (813) 752-3378 $185.00
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
FARM EQUIPMENT
FOR SALE
HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL?
Call us today! 813-759-6909 or email us: info@inthefieldmagazine.com Let us help you get rid of it!
METAL WAREHOUSE
DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER PROPERTY AVAILABLE No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
GROVE EQUIPMENT SERVICE
Tractor 33hp, 4X4 w/ loader. 40 hours. $17,900. Has warranty & Financing available. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
Home, barn 10+ acres with stream, green belted. See Zillow listing: 8219 Valrie Lane, Riverview or call Bob 813-924-3385
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 BIG Box STORES! Call Today! call 863-221-0986 Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
JOBS
2015 MAHINDRA 1533
HOME FOR SALE
KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES
2000 KUBOTA 6800
4X4, cab & air. 48 inch rows. 1100 hours. $25,000 Call 813-737-1163
GENTLEMAN’S FARM 30 acre Gentleman’s farm with home and pond. Excellent home and property for a variety of owners. Outbuildings include a Bunkhouse with full kitchen, stable with 6 stalls, and Pole Barn. 4,950 sq. ft. metal building, three overhead doors and 50amp service. $550,000 2562 208th St. Lake City, Fl. Call 386-752-8653
10 - 30 acres of property available for farming in Pasco County. Call Nick 813-967-3858
SERVICES CALLER ON HOLD
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
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES
MISC.
BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FREE
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 94
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Jack & Jill
Jack and Jill were found abandoned on the streets together, and SCF took them in. Unfortunately, due to a lack of an available foster home at the time, they were put in what we hoped would be a very temporary boarding situation. We would love to get them out of there and into a home environment where they could truly thrive, but we are still in need of a foster home or homes for these babies. Jack and Jill were originally thought to be littermates, but after veterinary exams, we now believe this is not the case. Jill is 26.7 pounds and they think she is around 6 months old. Jack is 39 pounds and they think he is about 1 year old. Neither can be in a home with small animals, but both love people! While we would love to find them a home together, they can also be separated. They do have skin issues, but are already improving and all medical expenses will be covered by the rescue. We simply need YOU to supply the love. If you can help, PLEASE send us a message or put in an application at www.saveaboxer. org. There is nothing in the world that is more rewarding than seeing an abandoned puppy blossom, and what better day to begin the process!
Sponsored by:
WOOD • CORRUGATED • PLASTIC & OTHER PACKING MATERIALS STRAWBERRY FLATS • PACKAGING FOR ALL YOUR FARMING NEEDS
Homestead, FL Office: 305-248-2635 Fax: 305-248-2652
Hendersonville, NC Office: 828-698-5736 Fax: 828-698-5738
Plant City, FL | Office: 813-752-2867 Fax: 813-754-5896 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Kent Howell, Sales 813-478-9286 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
95
96
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM