INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
November 2021
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November 2021 VOL. 18 • ISSUE 1
CONTENTS RCS – TAMPA: MEETING CUSTOMERS REFRIGERATION NEEDS
40 Cover Photo by Karen Berry
PAGE 10 Florida Cracker Horse PAGE 14 Education Grants
PAGE 50 Hobby Farm
PAGE 35 Sugar Pumpkin
PAGE 52 Bella Ballard
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PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots
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PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
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Produce Safety
Hiking Spree
John Dicks PAGE 46 New Agent
PAGE 24 First Flat
PAGE 47 Closer Look
PAGE 26 In The Garden PAGE 28 Historical Garden
PAGE 56 Scott Angle PAGE 58 FSGA PAGE 62 HCFB Annual Meeting PAGE 64
Hops Field Day
PAGE 48 FFB Annual Meeting
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
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Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Insurance Services: 813-685-5673 Member Services: 813-685-9121
OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PAGE 32 State Officer
PAGE 15 Recycle Yard Art
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 305 S. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL.
Dennis Carlton, Jr.....................President Jake Raburn................Vice President Tony Lopez..............Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary DIRECTORS FOR 2018 - 2019 Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes
Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813-685-9121 Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents
Valrico Office 813-685-5673
100 S. Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, FL. 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, ChFC, CASL, CPCU Agency Mgr. Julie Carlson, Amy Engle
Plant City Office 813.752.5577
305 S. Wheeler St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer Artis Griffin
Tampa Office 813.933.5440
6535 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL.33625 Greg Harrell, Jared Bean
AGENCY MANAGER Thomas O. Hale WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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STAFF
Letter from the Editor
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor Patsy Berry
The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us. – James E. Faust
Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols George Domedion
It’s a time of Thanksgiving. Do you count your blessing every day? Or just one time each year when we are reminded to give thanks? We are entering that most wonderful time of year when we gather with family and friends, eating and sharing stories of the past year, all while making new memories.
Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez
When shopping to prepare for your Thanksgiving meal, watch those labels! Look for the Fresh From Florida logo to ensure you have the freshest food available. As always, it is important to follow safe food preparation all year, but especially during the holiday season when larger meals are prepared. Often buffets are set out for guests and leftovers are used for later meals. I mean, who hasn’t had a turkey sandwich on Friday, maybe even Saturday. A few tips to follow include: • Thaw turkey in the refrigerator, not on the countertop • Cook the stuffing separate from the turkey • Don’t interrupt the cooking process • Carve the turkey into serving slices before refrigerating
Photography Karen Berry Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders
• Make sure cooking temperatures are high enough to kill bacteria • Wrap food properly to prevent freezer burn
I am thankful for many things in my life. I am thankful for the freedom I experience every day and for those we sacrificed to make that freedom real. I am thankful to live in country that has an abundant, safe food supply and for the farmers and ranchers that work so hard to feed this nation. I am thankful for each day I am given. I try to remember to count my blessings every day. Until Next Month
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The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
Sarah Holt 6
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.
November 2021
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Important “FARM BUREAU MONTH” Activities HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
-Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
Dear Readers – Although Farm Bureau is very active throughout the year, we just completed a month of especially important work, locally and statewide, as both Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Florida Farm Bureau Federation held their annual meetings. I suggest you read the story in this edition of IN THE FIELD Magazine about our county’s 79th annual meeting, especially noting the well-deserved recognition for our Executive Director Judi Whitson and her 30 years of service. Our annual meeting provides a great opportunity to foster member appreciation, fellowship, and awareness of new initiatives to be undertaken as we fulfill our role at the “Voice of Agriculture”. My thanks, too, to outgoing board members Carson Futch, John Joyner and Dr. Chip Hinton. Our state organization held its 80th anniversary in Orlando late last month. While all of the proceedings of our state organization are important of special note this year was the election of a new president Jeb Smith of St. Johns County. Smith began his Farm Bureau career as a local leader and volunteer. He is taking over the position held by John L. Hoblick who retired. We sincerely appreciate John’s quarter century of leadership and service to Farm Bureau and wish him well in retirement.
I was pleased with the Florida Department of Agriculture Ag Environmental Leader recognition given to Brad Turner with Turner Family Groves here in Hillsborough County for his commitment to promoting soil and tree health through the implementation of regenerative management practices, reducing the need for fertilizer, pesticides and increases in water retention. Congratulations to Brad and his family. Thanksgiving Day is upon us. We all have much to be thankful for and I wish a Happy Thanksgiving to each of you. Psalms 69:30 reads “I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” My thanks to those of you who have become involved in the activities of Farm Bureau, and my encouragement to get involved for those of you who are not. Also, I ask those of you who are not members of Farm Bureau to give it your consideration. Your support and involvement would be appreciated and most helpful as we meet our multi-faceted mission as the “Voice of Agriculture” here in Hillsborough County. Please give us a call at 813/685-9121 for more information about Farm Bureau membership and involvement. You can also email us at: info@hcfarmbureau.org.
Dennis Carlton Jr. Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
305 SOUTH WHEELER STREET • PLANT CITY, FL 33566 • 813-685-9121 Board of Directors
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Dennis Carlton, Jr. , President; Jake Raburn, Vice-President; Tony Lopez Treasurer; Buddy Coleman, Secretary; Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes, Judi Whitson, Executive Director
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ENDURING FLORIDA: THE FLORIDA CRACKER HORSE By Libby Hopkins
The Florida Cracker Horse is a breed of horse from Florida. It is genetically and physically similar to many other Spanishstyle horses, especially those from the Spanish Colonial horse group. The Florida Cracker is a gaited breed known for its agility and speed. The Spanish first brought horses to Florida with their expeditions in the early 16th century; as colonial settlement progressed, they used the horses for herding cattle. These horses developed into the Florida Cracker type seen today. Horses first arrived on the southeast North American mainland in 1521, brought by Ponce de León on his second trip to the region, where they were used by officers, scouts and livestock herders. Later expeditions brought more horses and cattle to Spanish Florida. The breed’s survival during the 20th century is owed to a few families who continued to breed the Cracker horse and kept distinct bloodlines alive. Another reason the breed is still thriving is because of The Florida Cracker Horse Association (FCHA). The FCHA was organized and chartered in 1989 as a non-profit Florida corporation, with the purpose of searching for the remnant herds of Florida Cracker Horses. Its purpose is the preservation and perpetuation of the Florida Cracker Horse as a distinct and unique Colonial Spanish breed of horse. Since then, a registry and blood type have been established, and the stringent application process has resulted in a very consistent breed. Today, the Florida Cracker Horse is promoted as a valuable and vital part of Florida’s heritage. While still rare, there are now over 1,000 registered horses and the number continues to grow each year. “I was first exposed to the Cracker Horses out at the Doyle Connor Ag Center here in Tallahassee in the early 90’s and then again at the Great Cattle Drive of 95,” said FCHA’s Executive Director James Levy. “After that, I was determined to own one.”
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The mission of FCHA is to preserve and promote the breed. “We have a website (www.floridacrackerhorseassociation. com) that provides information concerning the Cracker Horse to the public along with a list of breeders and upcoming
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events,” Levy said. “We haven’t done much overt advertising, instead depending on word of mouth. You can only do two things with horses and that is try to make money with them or simply enjoy the ownership and riding of them. The horse market seems to be improving some, but anytime the economy takes a down turn, so does the expendable cash for luxuries. The FCHA is trying to promote the ownership and breeding of Cracker Horses and presently we are doing that by providing a place for FCHA members and guests to ride and enjoy their Cracker Horses.” The Cracker Horse suffered a reversal of fortune in the 1930s. The Great Depression led to the creation of a number of relief programs, one of which encouraged the movement of cattle from the Dust Bowl into Florida. With the cattle came the screwworm, which, in turn, led to changes in the practices followed in raising cattle. The breed’s survival over the last 50 years resulted from the work of a few families who continued to breed Cracker Horses for their own use. It was these ranching families and individuals whose perseverance and distinct bloodlines that kept the Cracker Horses from becoming extinct. The family names include the Ayers, Harvey, Bronson, Matchett, Partin and Whaley. “We’ve been members for a long time and for my wife and me and the association are like an extended family that we enjoy visiting. We no longer ride, but we enjoy watching others having the same kind of fun that we did. Not to mention that the four annual gatherings on the property offer up some mighty good food. I also like seeing the new horses and meeting the new members, too. We have members from all over the state and some out of state. Most Cracker Horses are located in Florida, but a few are out West and in the North East. The number of Cracker Horses is slowly growing, which is probably better than explosive growth.” If you would like to learn more about the FCHA or if you’d like to become a member, you can visit their website at www.floridacrackerhorseassociation.com. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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9 out of 10 consumers are more likely to purchase products labeled “Fresh From Florida”
Go with The Logo They Know
Join the “Fresh From Florida” Program Membership Fee is $50/year For more information, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services IndustryMKT@FDACS.gov | 850-617-7399 | FDACS.gov INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
November 2021
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District Awards Grants to Schools in Hillsborough County for Water Resources Education Projects The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $104,941.81 in grants to 48 educators within the district as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.
ematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns. Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the district to support the Splash! grants in their county.
Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and math-
The district awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in Hillsborough County:
Belmont Elementary School - Rebecca Foster Buchanan Middle School - Walter Watts and Monique Guerard Chiles Elementary School - Lori Hanson East Bay High School - Michelle Laycock Greco Middle School - Jennifer Butler Hill Middle School - Michelle Guagliardo Ippolito Elementary School - Theresa Graves Lomax Elementary Magnet School - Sarah Henix Pivot Charter School - Debra Gwyn Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School - Jacob Gill Terrace Community Middle School - Elizabeth Mila Grants are available for freshwater resources field studies, water-conserving garden projects, community or school awareness campaigns and on-site workshops. For more information, please visit the district’s
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THE RESULTS ARE IN! 2021 Hillsborough County Fair – Recycled Yard Art Contest Winners! Lisa Meredith and Lynn Barber
Twice each a year, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County sponsors a Recycled Yard Art Contest, one at the Florida State Fair and one at the Hillsborough County Fair. The purpose of the Recycled Yard Art Contest is to increase environmental awareness and encourage reuse/recycling of materials into yard art. The competition involved two- and three-dimensional artwork creations made from items already used for their original purpose. During the eight days of the 2021 Hillsborough County Fair, attendees voted for the People’s Choice award on one of several entries submitted. After counting 1,065 votes, the People’s Choice Award Winner is Andy Hamilton, for his “Hungry Mouse,” which he created using a canister, pressure gauge, horse shoes, nails, cat food can, marbles and scrap metal. Susan Ferrell won the Judge’s Choice Award for Adult Submissions. Her creation, “Happy Gnomes,” included plastic bottles, bottle caps, Target bags and transparency sheets.
All contest-winning entries are on display at the UF/ IFAS Extension Service, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584, until January 2, 2022. We hope you will stop by to view these creations, stroll through the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden and see what we have to offer. This year we welcomed yet another group of creative residents! In every contest, there are items we would love to have in our landscapes. Our challenge to you is to put on your creativity hats now! We hope you will consider submitting an entry for the Florida State Fair, held from February 10-21, 2022, and the Hillsborough County Fair Recycled Yard Art Contest next fall. Contact Lisa Meredith for more information about this upcoming contest at meredithL@hcflgov.net or 813-7445519, extension 54146. Thanks for Reducing, Reusing, Recycling, and Repeating!
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The Youth Judge’s Choice Award, “Fairy Bells,” was created by Madison Koch. She used leftover quilt fabric, a broken necklace, tree branch, bells and an old key.
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Nighttime Capt. Woody Gore
NOT JUST FOR GHOULS, GREMLINS & VAMPIRES, BUT DIE HARD ANGLERS PROWLING THE NIGHT SHADOWS FISHING DOCKS AND BRIDGES FOR SNOOK, REDFISH, AND TROUT. portant to know structures also create current eddies. And all provide a feeding direction for fish. So why not take advantage of this “fish in a barrel” scenario Get into your boat and do some daylight scouting. Hopefully, if you plan on doing some night fishing, you don’t go about it haphazardly. Take time and learn the areas you intend to fish. During the day, you can plan an attack by identifying the necessary things you should know, like shallow areas and unlighted obstructions.
Growing up in the Seminole Heights area of Tampa, I lived only a few blocks from the Sligh Avenue Bridge crossing the Hillsborough River. I recall spending endless hours fishing from the river banks, the bridges, and my homemade plywood boat. I’m sure our style of bridge fishing had other names, but us old Tampa boys remember it as “swishing.” Regardless of the name, it was an effective method for catching large snook at night. It was a simple technique rarely used today. Just bend over the top bridge railing and point the pole, and lure down toward the water. Then working the lure around the bridge pilings and fenders in a figure-eight pattern. It usually didn’t take long before a large snook would blow up, grab the lure and nearly pull the pole from your hands. Then depending on its size, we’d often just lift and swing the fish onto the bridge; but, for the huge ones. We work it over to the shore. I do not remember the last time I saw anyone on a bridge at night with a long cane pole “swishing.” Nevertheless, many anglers still enjoy night fishing, especially during summer when the heat makes it almost unbearable during the day. This all leads to fishing around structures and, most importantly, structures with lights. Why lights? That’s simple light draws bait, and bait draws fish; not only snook, reds, trout, and sheepshead, but just about anything swimming. Not to say that structure without lights isn’t essential because everything in nature feels safe when it’s not exposed. And realistically, the structure offers protection, and lights on structures attract food.
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Like many coastline bays, our canals and inter-coastal waterways offer hundreds of bridges and many more docks. Most bridges and docks have lights that residents have provided for security; however, anglers think they want to help us catch fish. Our waterway has thousands of docks and bridges with lights. It’s im-
November 2021
What kind of tackle is recommended for nighttime structure fishing? Targeting snook at night is not for the faint of heart. They strike hard and run long. I use a medium to heavy spinning rig, Seaguar, 30 to 40 lb braided line on spinning reels with approximately 12 to 14 inches of 40 to 50 lb. Seaguar leader. I also change to 3X Daiichi treble hooks on my lures. And for live bait, 3X Daiichi circle hook. You need every advantage with the power to turn a fish when it heads toward the structure. Plan your trip carefully and be Quiet! Nighttime is usually the new and quiet part of the day. Everything is resting or sleeping except the fish. The wind has calmed. And the fish around docks and bridges acclimate to this, and any sudden noise or commotion will send them running. Try making your approach using a trolling motor, drifting, or push poling into position. Stay a least 100 feet away or just within casting distance. Sometimes you may need to anchor up or down current when using live bait. Fish, especially snook, face the current, so any bait or lure presentation should always come in that direction. Examine and study the water as you approach a bridge or dock. Study the layout and lighted areas looking for shadows. Often you’ll see fish darting in and out of the light lines. Here’s where patience pays off. Watching and waiting for a few moments gives you time to identify the feeding patterns. This also allows you to decide on the best bait or lure presentation. When using artificial lures or soft plastics, make sure you present them from WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
the same direction as natural bait. Actively feeding fish requires little coaching to bite. The fish usually strike the moment bait or lure hits the water. But for those requiring a little more encouragement, toss the bait or lure up current into the shadows, let it sink for a moment, then twitch it into the light. Here’s a final thought about night fishing, especially around residential docks. Not everyone is nocturnal. Remember, many folks are sleeping and probably could care less that you caught a 20-pound snook, so keep the hooray’s down to a dull roar. Take your photos and quietly return them to the water. Making loud noises, especially late, might discourage the property owners and force them to turn off the lights. Just a little common sense are all it takes to keep a good thing going.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
813-477-3814
Guiding and fishing Florida waters for over 50 years, Capt. Woody offers charters in Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. For more information: see his ad, call 813-477-3814 or visit his website at
WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM
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The state with highest percentage of people who walk to work is Alaska. The city with most Rolls Royce’s per capita is Hong Kong. The Hawaiian alphabet has 13 letters. Jean Harlow was the first actress to appear on the cover of Life magazine. Every time you lick a stamp, you’re consuming 1/10 of a calorie. A rhinoceros’s horn is made of hair. Money is made of woven linen, not paper. Cleopatra used pomegranate seeds for lipstick. Armadillos are the only animals besides humans that can get leprosy. The seven rays on the crown of the Statue of Liberty represent the seven continents; each measures up to 9 feet in length and weighs as much as 150 pounds. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is the mostvisited museum in the U.S. There are 182 places in the U.S. that have the word “Christmas” in their names.
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Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the November 2017 issue 289704-1
Old Sayings I remember while growing up my mother would use all sorts of sayings like, Dirt Poor, Saved by the Bell and He’s a Dead Ringer and many others.Remembering those days I decided to do some checking and find out how those sayings started. In the good old days they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. People would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes the stew had food that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: “Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.” Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, “bring home the bacon.” They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat. Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous. Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust. Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the drinkers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom “of holding a wake.” England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins, take the bones to a bone-house and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, one out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift) to listen for the bell, thus someone could be “saved by the bell” or was considered a “dead ringer.”
However, since they were starting to smell, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married. Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children, last of all were the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water!” Houses had thatched roofs, thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, “It’s raining cats and dogs.” There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. So, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That’s how canopy beds came into existence. Back in the 1500s and maybe even before then, some people could afford to sleep on wooden framed beds so they were off of the floor. These frames had heavy ropes tied from side to side that supported the mattress. Over time the ropes would stretch so they’d have to tighten them. Hence the saying, “Sleep tight.” Later added to that was: “Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite.” The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, “Dirt poor.” The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, It would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance. Hence: a thresh hold. There is an old Hotel/Pub in Marble Arch, London that used to have gallows adjacent to it. Prisoners were taken to the gallows (after a fair trial of course) to be hung. The horse drawn dray, carting the prisoner, was accompanied by an armed guard, who would stop the dray outside the pub and ask the prisoner if he would like “one last drink.” If he said YES it was referred to as “One for the Road.” If he declined, that prisoner was On the Wagon.
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Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and they still smelled pretty good by June.
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THE FIRST FLAT OF THE SEASON ! We are excited to announce that the First Flat of the Season has been reported from Sweet Life Farms on Friday, October 29.
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Congratulations to Sweet Life Farms. They will be recognized at the 2021 Jam Banquet on December 11, 2021.
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FISCHBACH LAND COMPANY WELCOMES OFFICE MANAGER, JESSICA ECKAUS Reed Fischbach, Broker and owner of Fischbach Land Company, Brandon, FL, has announced the hiring of a new office manager, Jessica Eckaus. Jessica supports The Fischbach Land Team in all aspects of the Real Estate deals processes and business cycle from beginning to end; monitors the CRM – Customer Relationship Management system - and the company real estate internal controls. She is biliterate in English and Spanish and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration Specialization in Management from Saint Leo University. She is a CoachNet Global Certified Coach; a Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Certified Agile Leadership – Essentials (CAL-E), and Certified Agile Leadership for Teams (CAL-T).
Reed states, “Jessica’s role within our company is the hub, keeping our agents and staff moving forward. Her value to our clients and staff is unmistakable.” ABOUT FISCHBACH LAND COMPANY Fischbach Land Company is a fullservice real estate firm specializing in agricultural real estate land sales, leasing, and development opportunities in the Central Florida region. Located in the heart of Central Florida, the land professionals are known for their knowledge of Central Florida land market trends. The dedicated team of land professionals offer years of land brokerage experience and expertise in the land real estate industry.
Sign up
for a FREE On-Farm Readiness Review The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspections have begun. Sign up now to request a free On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR), offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an educational opportunity to help individual farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements in preparation for inspections.
For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FDACS.gov/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900. To take full advantage of the OFRR and for PSR compliance, one farm representative should first attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. Upcoming trainings can be found at: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/events
This publication is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007446 totaling $1,179,719 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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In the Garden: Abigail & Zach
By Rhonda Samuels
our community than most of us “grown-ups.” So, what’s the draw? They aren’t young enough to just be enthralled by playing in the dirt! Though I am sure mud pies might still be kind of fun for those of us who are young at heart.
With winter close at hand, one might think life at the Garden would come to a standstill. And, sure, there are plenty of plots looking more brown than green at the moment; but that’s to be expected. Even Plant City gets a little changing of the seasons. When I first introduced you to the Garden, I was so sure you’d fall in love with the concept I endeavored to share some of its stories. One of those stories revolves around Abigail Ortiz and Zachary Hunter. It was this young couple that brought the Garden into my life. But I couldn’t share their story before you knew about the Garden in general. Now, I would like to… Abigail and Zach met in high school. When I asked about their background, she laughed and said, “Honestly, you can make up a fake teen romance story.” But I know you all want the truth, so I dug a little deeper for you. Since she’s my neighbor, that makes the needling a little easier on my end. She finally shared, “We met our sophomore year at Plant City High School. We had an AP History class together and we had mutual friends. We became best friends and created an adventure list to complete together. Then we fell in love.” She was still kind of tight lipped, as you can tell, but since I’m her mom’s friend I don’t guess I can blame her. Anyway, the beginning of their story was nearly three years ago. So, what brought this brilliant pair to the Garden? After all, that’s what you really wanted to know, right?
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Maybe you haven’t been on the planet as long as I have, but these kids are only 18 and are already doing more in and for
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Initially, Abigail tells me, “We started because we were looking for new hobbies.” They both are avid exercise devotees, and Abigail works at Olde Towne. So, it’s not like they don’t have other things to be doing with their lives. Thusly, the idea of needing new hobbies may truly be for the young at heart. I don’t think the rest of us have that kind of energy. At least they wanted hobbies with purpose. Abigail says she really, “wanted to plant, grow, a sunflower.” Several other people in the Garden found that concept captivating too. Make sure you visit when they are in bloom! She continued, “And we had never gardened before so we thought it would be cool.” Having had that idea, they decided to check out the Garden because it was close to HCC where Abigail was attending college at the time (she was still in high school and going to college!). They “walked around the Garden to look at plants,” and then she adds, “we decided we wanted to be a part of the plant community. We were interested in growing food we could eat.” I think, while they found a place to see the fruits (real ones) of their labor, they realized they had found something more. Abigail wants people to know that the Garden offers people, “New friendships! You can learn from other people who specialize in certain plants. It’s a peaceful place to enjoy nature and you’ll find new ways to connect with your community.” I couldn’t agree more. I know in the brief time I’ve known about the Garden I’ve met several new people. One of those, Karen Elizabeth, I introduced you to last month. And, since she kind of runs the place, I asked her for an update on future events, so you can join in the joy! WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
She told me, “Garden members, volunteers, and friends are invited on December 8, at 6pm for a Holiday Potluck and an optional white elephant gift exchange ($15-$20 wrapped item).” She added, happily, “Bring a dish to share, along with your own non-disposable dinnerware.” Plus, she’s really excited about the new Girl Scout Silver Award Project installation at the foot of the entrance bridge.
Make sure you mark the 8th of December on your calendar. I am sure it’s going to be a super fun time! Now, I have to find out if Zach and Abigail are going. Maybe I’ll see you there?
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“It’s a pretty amazing welcoming center,” she explained. I will have to go check that out soon! Perhaps that’s a good way for you to experience the Garden prior to the Holiday Potluck?
Historical Garden By Libby Hopkins
Garden Clubs have been a part of our society since the late 1800s. The first garden club meeting in the United States took place in Athens, Georgia in 1891. It occurred during a time when women were seeking knowledge about a variety of subjects in study clubs of those with like interests. They felt they needed more knowledge, as they had not had the benefit of a formal higher education. The idea to have a garden club came from Dr. Edwin Dorset Newton, an Athens physician who had a keen interest in horticulture. Twelve women met in the home of Mrs. Edwin King Lumpkin on a January day in 1891 to form the Ladies’ Garden Club of Athens. The primary purpose was to study plants with each member studying a particular variety. These members dedicated themselves to the study of horticulture and the exchange of plants and ideas for the betterment of their community. Members were encouraged “to carry out experiments with different vegetables, flowers, seeds and so forth to find out which varieties were best.” The first flower show grew from the exhibitions of their flowers and vegetables. (www. gardenclub.org/history-and-mission)
Park and monuments at Richardson and Rome for the holidays. We focus on gardens and yards in the neighborhood, recognizing a yard of the month each month. We also have been very busy lately with a lot of turnover in our neighborhood, welcoming each new neighbor with a succulent planted in a mug or teacup.” The programing for their members has focused on enhancing their knowledge. “We have had speakers on trees, orchids, and Florida friendly and native plantings,” Durdin said. “We have also visited a number of local small businesses to familiarize ourselves with their offerings and learn about subjects such as making our yards more butterfly and pollinator friendly. We also like to do field trips to both well known and not so well known locations, including an olive grove in Brooksville, Selby Gardens and Bok Tower. This year, we plan on going to an area winery and sunflower field.”
A lot has changed since the first days of Garden Clubs. With the help of social media, clubs get to expand and share the fruits of their labor with the world. The Historical Hyde Park Garden Club is one of Tampa’s better known clubs and it has been in existence since for more than 15 years. “The Historic Hyde Park Garden Club is an exemplar of many similar clubs around the area,” said club president, Kathy Durdin. “We are a small group of about 20 people who generally live in the Historic Hyde Park neighborhood. People join by word of mouth, and we have regular member dues. We are fairly informal and not associated with the Tampa Federation of Garden Club Circles.”
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When the club started years ago, the Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association was working with the City of Tampa to create Bern’s Park on Howard. “We were involved in doing planting in part of the park,” Durdin said. “For years, we have been involved in planting in Bern’s Park as well as in bulb-outs at Morrison and Rome. The city has recently taken over the planting of the bulb-outs, but we are hopeful to get back to planting in Bern’s Park. In addition, we decorate Bern’s
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Why do members love being part of the Historic Hyde Park Garden Club? If you ask Durdin and club member, Judy Welhoelter, they will tell you it’s because of camaraderie the club has to offer. “I arrived in Tampa as a newbie, knowing no one, after living in another town for over 40 years. In my late sixties, I wanted to become part of something where I could meet my neighbors and get involved in my neighborhood,” Welhoelter said. “Over the years, I have learned that the club is so much more than just a garden club. Yes, we share plant cuttings, discuss both our successes and disappointments in the garden, plant public spaces made available to us by the city, and open our homes and gardens to each other. Our members, invited speakers and field trips are a source of knowledge for those who join as inexperienced gardeners. We share our varied talents and experiences in many areas, including art, cooking, design, and volunteering in other neighborhood-centered programs.” As a group, the club supports each other in navigating the ups and downs of life. “Our purpose extends beyond gardening and the public spaces we beautify for the neighborhood,” Welhoelter said. “We are a wonderfully varied and talented group of women who are actively connected to each other and to our neighborhood community through our love of gardening.” If you would like to learn more about The Historical Hyde Park Garden Club, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HistoricHydeParkGardenCircle.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
and priorities for their county. Florida State Conservationist Juan Hernandez said access to these meetings is available via Zoom for those unable to attend in person. More information is available at: nrcs.usda.gov.
USDA RAISES LIMIT ON GUARANTEED FARM LOANS
NOAA PREDICTS ABOVE-AVERAGE TEMPERATURES THIS WINTER THE National Weather Service’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is forecasting higher winter temperatures across the South and most of the eastern U.S. this winter. Drier-than-average conditions are also anticipated for the Southeast.
UF RESEARCHERS USE AI TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF MEAT AND DAIRY For a century, researchers have tracked genetic traits to find out which cattle produce more and better milk and meat. Now, two University of Florida scientists will use artificial intelligence to analyze millions of bits of genetic data to try to keep cattle cooler and thus, more productive. Raluca Mateescu, a UF/IFAS professor, and Fernanda Rezende, a UF/IFAS assistant professor – both in animal sciences -- gather hundreds of thousands of pieces of information about cattle genetic traits. They plan to use UF’s supercomputer, the HiPerGator, to analyze that data. With the information Mateescu and her team get from the HiPerGator, they can give ranchers better recommendations on which animals to keep and breed for improved quantity of beef and dairy.
DUNGAREES SAVINGS FOR FARM BUREAU MEMBERS
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Florida Farm Bureau members can save on orders for Dungarees brands such as Carhartt, Timberland, Ariat, CAT and Yeti. Ten percent discount on orders under $200, 15% on orders over $200 and free shipping on orders over $55. Visit dungarees.com and use the member customer code: FLFRB.
The USDA has announced higher loan limits will be available for borrowers seeking a guaranteed farm loan. The limit is now $1,825 million. Guaranteed farm loans offer access to funding for a range of producer needs, from securing land to financing the purchase of equipment. More information can be accessed at fsa.usda.gov.
DISTRICT SCHEDULES PRESCRIBED FIRES FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns through December on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Hillsborough County. The Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Morris Bridge Road near Thonotosassa. Approximately 150 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
UF/IFAS EXTENSION OFFERS NEW GUIDE TO PLANT SELECTION A new guide developed by UF/IFAS Extension Seminole County outlines which plants to avoid and which plants to embrace in a Florida landscape, providing protection from invasive and potentially destructive species. The $14.99 guide can be purchased through the UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore.
EPA, ARMY SEEKING COMMUNITY INPUT ON “WOTUS” The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army are asking communities to propose roundtables to provide input on implications of the new “WOTUS” rule. These regional roundtables will engage shareholders in important conversations designed to help the agency work to develop an enduring definition of the “Waters of the U.S. Rule” that supports public health, protects the environment, agricultural activity and economic growth. For more information on the guidelines, visit: www.epa.gov/wotus.
NRCS LOCAL WORKING GROUP MEETINGS AVAILABLE VIA ZOOM
EVERY FARM BUREAU MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES A FREE, ACCIDENTAL DEATH BENEFIT
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is reminding landowners about access to Local Working Group Meetings. At these meetings, farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, conservation partners and the public can discuss natural resource needs
Each Florida Farm Bureau membership comes with a free, limited Accidental Death Benefit that starts at $1,000 and increases annually by $100 to a maximum of $3.000. For more information, visit: https://www.floridafarmbureau.org/.../accidental-death.../.
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Florida FFA State Secretary Carter P. Howell
October was an excellent month for not only me personally but for the Florida FFA Association as well. It is unbelievable to think that the State Officer Team and I are now five months into our year of service. While we are not quite yet to the halfway point, I can confidently say that my time so far has been full of experiences with the best individuals working hard each day to advance the mission of agricultural education and developing young people. Some of my favorite experiences thus far as a State Officer have been the unique opportunities in which I am honored to represent the Florida FFA Association in an official capacity. Being a voice for the 20,000 FFA members across the state is humbling, empowering, and rewarding. This month I had the opportunity to represent those students at the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Plant City. Farm Bureau and the FFA have a rich and longstanding partnership in the pursuit of developing this nation’s next agriculturalists and leaders. We could not be more thankful for the continued support from the Farm Bureau and the work that they are doing to provide farmers and ranchers a level playing field in the ever-changing world of global agriculture. If you are familiar with the yearly FFA cycle, you may be aware that the first competitive events of the year have now been hosted. District Forestry events were hosted across the state on October 12 and 14 in cooperation with the Florida Forest Service. In the Forestry Career Development Event, students identify common Florida trees, pests, diseases, and tools. They take a General Knowledge exam and are tested on their ability to interpret topographical maps. Those FFA Chapters that won their respective district contests across the state advance to compete at the State Forestry competition in Perry, Florida.
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National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, brings together more than 50,000 FFA members from across the country each year to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of members in their agricultural, scientific, and academic pursuits. Serving as a State Officer provides the unique opportunity of serving as a National FFA delegate on behalf of the Florida FFA Association. National Delegates are responsible for serving on committees that are formed based on suggestions from stakeholders, agricultural educators, and State
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FFA Associations. Six Committees were created at the State Officer Summit in July, encapsulating important discussion topics within the National Organization. Delegate work then commences in July and carries into late October, with the final committee reports coming to fruition at the Convention itself. Committees met before the Convention began for two straight days of deliberation to present a finalized report to the entire delegate body. Once introduced to the body, those reports are subject to review and changes while governed by parliamentary procedure on the floor. After months of hard work before the Convention and two business sessions at the Convention, all six reports were put in their final forms and passed by the delegate body as suggestions to the National FFA Board of Directors. Although the Delegate process was an important one, my favorite experiences of the week came during the general sessions of the Convention as we sat on the front row of the first National FFA Convention in two years. During the general sessions, we heard the inspiring remarks of the National FFA Officers, who serve over 700,000 FFA members across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. This year was particularly special as Florida was the home state of one of the six National Officers. Artha Jonassaint from the Okeechobee Brahman FFA chapter served as the National Southern Region Vice President. One of the most rewarding experiences was watching Florida FFA members’ success on the National stage. Florida was well represented with two National Agriscience Fair Champions, two Reserve National Agriscience Fair Champions, one National CDE Champion, two National Reserve Champion CDE Teams, and 57 American FFA Degree Recipients. As we move past National FFA Convention, we begin one of the year’s busiest periods as a State Officer. Over the following several month’s State Officers will be conducting Chapter Visits across the State as we continue to spread the message of agricultural education through premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. As society continues to present challenges, I firmly believe that the young individuals in the National FFA Organization will be the ones to tackle the most significant problems that we as a world are facing. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Big or small, we have toys for all this holiday season!
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FLORIDA SUGAR PUMPKIN By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Pumpkin season is now, during the cooler autumn months surrounding the holidays. This fruit is not only famous for its yearly holiday appearance as decoration and dessert but is also astoundingly nutritious. Pumpkin has been made into pie, soup, bread, cookies, and smoothies. Eighty percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October. Pumpkins grown domestically are used primarily for processing, with a small percentage grown for ornamental sales through farms and retail. Pumpkins are grown in some parts of Florida. Researchers at the University of Florida have been experimenting with different Florida-friendly varieties.
tains over 250% of your daily needs for vitamin A! In a study of over 50,000 women, those who consumed the highest dietary amount of vitamin A had a 39% reduced risk of developing cataracts. In another study that looked at the incidence of cataract surgery and diet, researchers found that those people who ate diets that included carrots had half the risk of cataract surgery. Beta-carotene also provides protection against macular degeneration and protects night vision. Vitamin A plays an important role especially in night vision and being able to see black and white. Additionally, this nutrient helps to maintain skin health, both when ingested and when used topically.
In particular, sugar pumpkins are delicious eaten when cooked, either as a side dish or entrée, as well as in dessert. Sugar pumpkins, also called pie pumpkins, are smaller, sweeter, and have less fibrous strands. They grow to about six to eight inches in diameter. A single pumpkin will yield about the same amount of flesh as a 15 oz can of pumpkin. They are a member of the winter squash family which includes butternut squash, kabocha squash, and acorn squash. They are much smaller than the larger pumpkins typically used to carve jacko-lanterns, which tend to be more watery, fibrous, and bland. Pumpkins are almost entirely edible, including their flesh, seeds, and flowers. Pumpkins are full of nutrients, including beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, dietary fiber, potassium, and many other minerals. Sugar pumpkins have a bright orange flesh surrounded by an orange rind, and their solid texture becomes creamy once cooked. The flavor is mildly sweet and is delicious served as either a savory or sweet dish.
Antioxidants
Nutrition Information
How to Enjoy
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one half cup of fresh boiled, drained pumpkin (245 g) contains 49 calories, 1.7 g of protein, 0.17 g of fat, 12 g of carbohydrate, and 2.7 g of fiber. It provides 245% of the recommended daily requirement for vitamin A, 19% for vitamin C, 8% for iron, and 4% for calcium. Pumpkins are also a good source of magnesium, folate, phosphorus, and dietary fiber.
Pumpkin can be enjoyed in many ways. Try roasting it with spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, or as a savory dish with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Or try one of these ideas: • Blend pumpkin puree with apple cider for a delicious autumn drink • Mix chunks or puree into yogurt, oatmeal, soups, stews • Use puree in pancakes, breads, cookies, or pie • Roast pumpkin seeds for a healthy snack high in amino acids and zinc • Cut out the top, scoop out the seeds, and roast the entire pumpkin. Then use it as a serving bowl for soup, stew, or chili • Toss pumpkin seeds in salads, casseroles, and baked goods • Roast pumpkin, then toss chunks into a salad with balsamic dressing • Stir small cubes into wild rice or cornbread dressing Enjoy fresh sugar pumpkins today!
Lung Health Pumpkin and other foods rich in vitamin A may be beneficial to lung health. Researchers at Kansas State University discovered that carcinogens in cigarette smoke may deplete the body’s stores of vitamin A and increase the likelihood of developing emphysema and lung cancer. They also discovered that a diet rich in vitamin A can reduce the risk of emphysema in animals exposed to smoke.
Eye Health With very high levels of beta carotene and vitamins A and C, pumpkin is great food for your eyes. One cup of pumpkin con-
Choose heavy pumpkins for their size and look for one that is free of blemishes or soft spots. Look for one that’s smaller, rounder, and smoother on the exterior than jack-o-lantern pumpkins. Pumpkins can usually be stored for up to four months in a dry and cool place, although this may be more challenging in Florida. Keep individual pumpkins spread out to avoid spread of decay.
Selected References http://www.whfoods.com http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://urbanext.illinois.edu/pumpkins/facts.cfm INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Antioxidants are compounds with the ability to neutralize free radicals, which are harmful by-products of metabolism that can lead to disease. Antioxidants may reduce the risk of some diseases, including several forms of cancer. Pumpkin are bursting with vitamins A and C. High levels of these vitamins in the body have been linked to a decrease in cancers of the breast, bladder, cervix, prostrate, colon, and esophagus. How to Select and Store
PRODUCE SAFETY INSPECTIONS ARE HERE By Kirby Quan
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is currently conducting produce safety inspections in partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Farms that grow, harvest, pack or hold produce should expect to be contacted by FDACS for the scheduling of an inspection. The goal of FDACS is to work collaboratively with growers to promote a culture of food safety within their operations. FDACS Produce Safety Inspectors are responsible for enforcement of farm compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). This act was signed into law on January 4, 2011 and is the most sweeping reform to United States food safety regulations in over 70 years. The law includes seven rules related to food safety and public health, all intended to create a culture of prevention, as opposed to reaction to foodborne illnesses and outbreaks. Among those seven rules is the Produce Safety Rule (PSR). This rule was created in an effort to assist the produce industry in developing a proactive approach to food safety. The focus of the rule is to ensure safe produce in the marketplace. The PSR establishes, for the first time, science-based minimum standards for the production of fresh fruit and vegetables. To determine if their farm operation is ready for a PSR inspection, growers are encouraged to take advantage of the educational opportunities FDACS offers in partnership with University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Together, FDACS and UF/IFAS provide produce safety training for growers and industry professionals as well as on-site farm reviews to help farms align their practices with the regulatory requirements. The PSR requires at least one representative from a farm to attend the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. This training helps growers to understand each part of the regulation and how to comply. An On-Farm Readiness Review allows growers to walk through their operation with produce safety experts and discuss how to meet FSMA requirements.
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To sign-up for these offerings or to find additional resources for Florida farms and growers, visit www.FDACS.gov/ FSMA.
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UF/IFAS TROPICAL AQUACULTURE LAB CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Tropical Aquaculture Lab (TAL) located at Ruskin is celebrating 25 years of providing support to the unique tropical fish farming industry in Florida. Initially, some research was conducted at the Gainesville campus, where most of the effort was focused on extension programs in fish health, pesticide usage, and general production management. Within a few years the industry and IFAS started exploring opportunities together to create a research and extension facility in the heart of the industry, which is the Tampa Bay region. In 1996, using a surplus building from the National Weather Service, an adjacent fish farm that was for sale, and seed funding from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), the University of Florida Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin was created. Hillsborough County provided clerical help, the Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association (FTFFA) funded a veterinarian and disease lab, and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services stationed a regional manager at the lab. From these beginnings, the program and facilities have grown into today’s internationally recognized powerhouse.
serve each project’s needs. As part of the Land Grant mission, the programs at TAL have always focused on research and extension to solve problems or create opportunities and have provided millions of dollars each year in savings or new profits to farms. Working closely with industry and other partners, the faculty, staff, and facilities development have all been strategically planned and implemented. Today there are over 20 UF employees, including faculty, staff, and graduate students at TAL. USDA continues to maintain their Wildlife Services regional programs office at TAL. Additionally, USDA has added veterinarians from USDA APHIS Veterinary Services, including the Aquaculture Program Leader and the Aquaculture Import/Export Coordinator. Industry-driven applied research, extension outreach programs, and teaching of future aquaculture leaders are key avenues to achieve our mission of supporting the tropical ornamental aquaculture industry in Florida. More information about the TAL is available at: tal.ifas.ufl. edu.
Today’s TAL comprises a 5,000 square foot office and disease lab, where faculty, staff, and students can work, and a meeting/conference room that can seat up to 100 people. Immediately adjacent is a 6.5 acre fish farm with 48 ponds, 5 greenhouses, and a fish quarantine space, and a building which houses tanks and lab space for a wide range of projects. Hillsborough Community College utilizes one of the greenhouses for their hands-on aquaculture production facility. Aerated well water, seawater, and reverse osmosis water is plumbed throughout the facility to allow for research in fresh, brackish, or seawater with an unlimited variation available to INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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RCS – TAMPA: MEETING CUSTOMERS REFRIGERATION NEEDS By Jim Frankowiak
RCS Company of Tampa, also known as RCS, which stands for refrigeration construction services is a family-owned and operated company. RCS provides refrigeration freezer warehouse and cold storage facility construction and services walk-in freezers and coolers and low temperature door. The company of founded in 1996 by Alfred Estrada. “We believe our long-term success is based on the simple concept of treating others the way we wish to be treated,” said Estrada, “and that is at the core of our mission and commitment to each of our clients.” This is reflected in RCS’ mission statement, “We are committed to our clients needs and are driven by our passion to develop enduring relationships.” Estrada has been working in the cold storage refrigeration industry since 1978. With more than 40 years of experience, he has the experience and understanding of every aspect involved with commercial and industrial refrigeration. In addition to his extensive knowledge of the industry, Estrada is a Florida Certified Licensed Building Contractor, Florida Certified Licensed Class A Air-Conditioning Contractor, and Universal CFC Certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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There are two components to the RCS model in which they serve their customers. “The cold storage, turn-key, design, built, refrigeration, IMP, and brick and sticks,” said Estrada. “The second component is our refrigeration service department that handles and repairs all of our new installs, warranties, and existing refrigeration client base. Within the service department we have a door department that services
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the doors including any damaged doors at the cold storage facilities.” The structural size of refrigerated freezer warehouses and cold storage facilities RCS builds are limitless. “We have extensive experience with construction projects of all sizes from large cold storage warehouse to grocery stores,” said Estrada. “This experience and turnkey assembly provide our clients with the convenience of working with one contractor. “RCS has the in-house ability to conceptualize, design, engineer, construct and maintain refrigerated environments for diverse types of cold storage facilities.” The company counts Florida and Georgia agricultural titans such as Wish Farms, Astin Farms, Patterson Trucking (Sweet Life), among its vast industry customer base. RCS also serves the aquaculture, medical, restaurant, and various other markets. “We meet those needs from the field to the end user or consumer,” he noted. “Our turnkey operation improves coordination of delivery, installation, and maintenance management, saving our customers’ time and money. RCS’ refrigeration expertise strengthens our capabilities from the conceptual stages through building and installation ensuring customer’s refrigeration needs are thoughtfully planned and given careful consideration,” said Estrada. RCS’ new construction specialties include pre-engineered building concepts and construction; insulated cooler and freezer and dock doors, dock equipment, traffic flow analysis WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
and conventional structural steel concepts and construction. Additionally, freezer floor and floor warming systems; concept development, construction, and maintenance of refrigerated environments for diverse applications and commercial/industrial maintenance design, including Freon® and ammonia systems. The company’s diverse refrigeration experience “enables us to tailor our services to meet customer needs whether assisting with cooler and freezer or ice machine repairs,” said Estrada. “We have a team of dedicated professionals on call 24/7 to help with refrigeration repair requests. Refrigeration never sleep,” said Estrada, who oversees a full-time staff of 32 dedicated professionals. Included among the RCS staff is Estrada’s daughter, Amanda Estrada West, who holds a mechanical engineering degree and licensure similar to her father’s. She will ultimately continue ownership and operation of the family-owned business. RCS’ services also include the design and installation of rapid precooling systems. “Precoolers are used to prolong the shelf life of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers,” said Estrada. “Using a precooler drastically decreases the cooling time of harvested produce such as avocados, bananas, blueberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupes, carrots, cherries, cucumbers, grapes, grapefruits, honeydews, kiwi fruits, nectarines, oranges, okra, peaches, bell peppers, plums, squashes, strawberries, tomatoes, cut floral, root stocks and much more,” he said. “The installation of precooler handlers and tunnels, consisting of static cooling palletized bulk produce, quickly and efficiently cools the produce while minimizing storage. Custom precooler rooms accommodate 6-32 pallets.” “While we are proud of our many long-term client relationships that have evolved from new construction to ongoing service and expansions, RCS looks forward to meeting the needs of new customers drawn to the I-4 corridor,” said Estrada. “We are grateful for these growing opportunities and look forward to expanding our customer base, striving continuously to understand and meet their needs as if they were our own. This has proven to be a simple, but effective way to maintain and grow our business.” While the majority of RCS’ work is in west central Florida, the company also serves customers with new construction projects and services throughout the Sunshine State, Georgia, and the Southeast.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RCS is available by visiting: rcs-tampa.com.
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Ahhh…Fall in Florida – at last! Take advantage of the wonderful weather and discover natural Hillsborough by joining in the annual Hiking Spree. Twenty-two parks and preserves have been chosen for this year’s event which runs from November through March. Visit eight of the 22 sites and earn a patch or medallion featuring this year’s mascot – the Southern Fox Squirrel. Take your dog along and he/she will be awarded a bandana. It’s easy to participate no matter your (or your dog’s) level of hiking experience. Seven Neighborhood Parks throughout the county are on the list and are ideal for family outings. Most provide restrooms, water, picnic tables, and playgrounds. Some have special amenities such as the 2.6-acre dog park at Bertha and Tony Saladino Park (divided for small and large dogs), the adaptive playground at All People’s Life Center, the splash pad at Northdale Park, or fishing at Stephen J. Wortham Park. Five Conservation Parks offer amazing outdoor opportunities. At Alderman’s Ford, you can camp, launch a canoe/kayak, or hike the paved trail (among other activities). Boat and fish on the 700-acre reservoir of Edward Medard Park. This park also has a disc golf course, a beach volleyball court, and a 3-mile equestrian trail; bring your own Frisbee, volleyball, and horse! Scenic views of the Hillsborough River can be enjoyed from the observation tower at Lettuce Lake – a favorite park among birders. At nearly 600 acres, the Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park provides protected habitat for coastal and freshwater plants and wildlife.
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Four sites not managed by Hillsborough County are included in this year’s Hiking Spree; three of which are State Parks lo-
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cated on nearby rivers – the Hillsborough, Alafia, and Little Manatee. A myriad of activities can be found in these beautiful parks as well as miles and miles of hiking trails. The fourth site is the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, a designated state and federal manatee sanctuary. The free environmental education center is a must-see as well as the walkways and Florida-friendly landscaping. Seven Nature Preserves offer a deep-dive into wild and pristine Florida. Three of them offer equestrian as well as hiking trails. Trails are marked, but few other amenities exist. Take water, wear proper shoes and sun protection, and be sure to download and print a trail map before leaving home. Then immerse yourself in a quiet getaway from the hubbub of traffic and development. The 2021-2022 Hiking Spree sites are listed online at HCFLGov.net/HikingSpree. Lengths range from less than a mile to five miles and each is rated from easy to strenuous; some are accessible to bicycles, strollers, in-line skates, or wheelchairs. Most sites are open from sunup to sundown but check out the details for each site before a visit. Note: Some require the nominal purchase of a daily pass or, if boating, a launch pass. Sign up at HCFLGov.net/HikingSpree. Remember, only complete eight of the 22 sites to earn a badge, medallion, and/or bandana. Once completed, log your hikes online to register for your prize. The annual Hiking Spree is organized by Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation and the Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
With every generation,
we get better at protecting our environment. Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.
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®
Thanksgiving A 400 Year Old Tradition! by John Dicks Thanksgiving is, for many people, their very favorite holiday of the year. It’s a special one, enjoyed with a feast of food, family, and friends. This year, though, Thanksgiving really is a special one, and should be noted as such since it marks the 400th anniversary of this most remarkable celebration. Frankly, it seems most appropriate, too, that this year is so notable since we have much to be thankful for, having suffered through these many months of the COVID pandemic. That alone is enough to cause us to pause a moment to count our many blessings. Of course, from the time we were school children we have always celebrated Thanksgiving. Fortunately, it’s one of those holidays we all can celebrate, just as Americans, reminiscing over a piece of history from our country’s founding days. Granted there are some who seem annoyed or frustrated over the sight of youngsters dressed as Pilgrims and Indians. On that particular point, I’ll just pass over, and focus instead on the celebration of that first feast of Thanksgiving, which scholars actually agree did take place 400 years ago, in the fall of 1621 near a spot named by the settlers as Plymouth, Massachusetts. Historians are a bit blurry on the exact date of the gathering, as well as many other specifics concerning the occasion, but most seem to concur that it happened sometime between September and November of 1621. It was autumn in New England, which accounted for celebration and thanks for the bountiful harvest that the Pilgrims had enjoyed. They had arrived in the “New World” nearly a year before when their ship, the Mayflower, landed many miles off course and north of their hoped for destination which they had planned for the mouth of the Hudson River. The spot upon which they stepped ashore was instead near the tip of Cape Cod, Settling not far from there, they established a village and named it Plymouth, which was in honor of and named after the port on the southern coast of England from which they had set sail. They
survived what was, by all accounts, a very dangerous voyage of some 66 days across the rough and windy Atlantic. Exhausted from their trip, they now faced a particularly cold and harsh winter, which ultimately took the lives of nearly half those who had set off to find both religious freedom and economic prosperity and opportunities which had escaped them from where they came. You’ll recall, of course, that their very survival in this new land was with thanks to the skills of fishing and crop cultivation learned from the friendship and alliance made with the indigenous people. Yes, the Pilgrims referred to them as Indians; and they did so with no disrespect, as they became particularly close with the local Wampanoag tribe. Together they celebrated the successful first harvest of the settlers in the new land. No doubt it was an amazing first Thanksgiving, precisely 400 years ago, making it, indeed, one for the record books. The legend of the “Pilgrims and Indians” has grown over the years, and some of the details have certainly been debated if not argued over. It is true, too, that the holiday has been recognized at different times throughout the year by the various states of our union. George Washington, in 1789, issued the first national Thanksgiving proclamation. However, it was Abraham Lincoln, during the midst of the Civil War, who actually pronounced a national day of Thanksgiving to be held every November. Now officially recognized annually on the 4th Thursday in November, it has morphed a bit to include other activities scattered over a long weekend Football has become a focus and, of course, for many others, it’s the now the kickoff to Black Friday shopping. Nonetheless, and however you celebrate, I hope you’ll pause a moment to reflect upon this very uniquely American holiday. Regardless of all the woes, trials and tribulations we are witness to, still we have lots to be thankful for. Cheers to a very Happy Thanksgiving!
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John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!”. John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.
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A Closer Look NEW SMALL FARMS/ALTERNATIVE ENTERPRISES AGENT JOINS EXTENSION By Jim Frankowiak Photos Courtesy of Images By Blair
Allison “Allie” Williams has joined UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County as the new Small Farms & Alternative Enterprises Agent. ‘In my role, I work with small farmers and livestock producers in Hillsborough County to provide education and resources to help them meet their needs and develop a sustainable business,” said Williams. “I do this through delivering educational programs, farm visits, newsletters and other methods. I cover many topics, including best management practices, steps to start a farm and business and marketing. There are a lot of people moving onto a couple of acres that need guidance on how to start their small farm, what to produce and where to market their product. I also get questions about soil sampling, pasture management, pest control and business planning.” The alternative enterprises served by Williams include beekeeping, aquaculture and other unique crops or livestock. “These alternative enterprises open new market opportunities for farmers to sell specialty products,” said Williams. “My favorite part of my job is meeting the farmers and ranchers and getting to know them. I get to teach them, but I also learn so much from them, as well. I work with so many amazing people in the industry.” Williams grew up in Polk County. A Lakeland resident, ‘I actually don’t come from an Ag background. My mom often had a vegetable garden and we would ride horses when we visited my grandparents. When I was young, Lakeland had a bit more citrus and cattle around, but that was the extent of my exposure to agriculture growing up.” Williams attended primary and secondary schools in Lakeland, coincidentally she was the agriculture teacher that brought back the Ag program to Lakeland Highlands Middle School in 2018 “but realized I prefer informal teaching over the classroom,” she said. She graduated from George Jenkins High School as a member of the Class of 2013.
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She always loved being outside and working with animals, “so that’s part of what led me to an interest in agriculture. I remember when I was in middle school, the high school students in FFA came to talk to us about electives and I couldn’t wait to get to high school to be part of it. Once I was in agriculture classes in high school, it sparked a fire in me that led to pursuit of a degree in agriculture.”
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“That led me to Tifton, Georgia, 4.5 hours from home, attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), where I continued to grow my passion for agriculture,” said Williams. “I loved everything about it – the knowledge, the hard work, the peacefulness at the farm. I took every opportunity given to me to continue to grow and learn. “Through ABAC, I have had the opportunity to gain hands on experience through classes – we learned the concepts in class then went out to the beef unit or farm and applied them. I also volunteered at the ABAC Beef Unit and worked at the University of Georgia Coastal Plains Experiment Station. The experiment station was where I became interested in Extension. I think some of my greatest experiences were on trips I took while at ABAC.” Williams is currently pursuing an advanced degree in Agriculture. “I have traveled through Florida, Georgia, and the Midwest on the ABAC Agronomy Club farms tours, touring feedlots, processing facilities and seedstock operations with my senior beef production class. I also took an internship in Oklahoma where I worked at the Noble Research Institute – all of these experiences, further strengthening my love of agriculture.” As noted previously, Williams spent a year as a middle school Ag teacher and FFA advisor before joining Farm Credit of Central Florida, but she longed for a position “where I could be producer-facing, utilize my degree and continue learning. Extension is it. I have always loved the quote ‘Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire’ I try to live by it and continue to chase my goals. I feel I am doing that in this new role,” she said. You can reach Allie by phone: 813/744-5519, Extension 54119 or email: williamsall@hcflgov.net or allisonwilliams@ufl.edu. Welcome Allie and best of luck! WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
ANaturally Closer Look Amazing
by Sean Green
Joro Spider (Trichonephila clavata) There have been “scare” articles posted in popular social media recently that deserve attention and clarification. Though not “breaking news” there has been a sudden resurge in the publication of articles about the Jorō spider in Georgia. Some of the headlines are calling these spiders “Invasive” and portray them as horrifying villains that should be killed on site. This slant persists despite nearly a decade of published observation from the science community that contradicts such interpretation. This month, we will take a closer look at the Jorō spider (Trichonephila clavata) and shed light on the dark reputation imposed on it. The Jorō Spider (T. clavata) is an Asian relative of our native golden silk orb-weaver (Trichonephila clavipes), both species are also commonly called a banana spider. This spider is native to East Asia (Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan) and is thought to have been introduced to North America by way of Georgia. Reports from the University of Georgia suggest the first sightings may have occurred as early as 2013 but the first official discovery is credited to Wesley Huffmaster of Colbert Georgia in Madison County, September of 2014. Huffmaster collected the spider from his own back yard, snapped a picture of it with his cell phone and proceeded to try to identify it himself over the internet. When he thought he had identified the spider, he sent his pictures to the Department of Entomology at the University of Georgia which later confirmed that he had found (T. clavata), aka a Jorō spider. A press release was published “Madison county man captures spider never seen north America” at onlineathens.com on Oct 30, 2014 to solicit the reporting of other specimens. Within 10 days of publishing the press release, researchers had confirmed sightings and specimens from three counties. The data revealed that the population was most abundant along the I-85 corridor around Hoschton and Braselton and is thought to be the core of the introduced population. Specimens were gathered and used for genetic analysis; The results further confirmed the species was the Jorō Spider (T. clavata). The population of spiders has been closely monitored and studied since it was first discovered. According to Richard Hoebeke, an entomologist and curator at the Georgia Museum of Natural History at the University of Georgia, reports of the Jorō Spider (T. clavata) have increased in the northern part of Georgia this year (2021). Despite reports of increasing populations, Hoebeke affirms that “there has not been any data to suggest the Jorō is taking food away from native spiders or otherwise upsetting the balance of the state’s ecosystems”. The Jorō Spider (T.clavata), like its native counterpart is an effective predator of pest insects. Unfortunately, the trouble with invasive pests is that it sometimes takes a long time for a native predator to evolve to feed on an invasive species. The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) is one such example; very few native spiders will actively prey on this species. The Jorō Spider (T.clavata) however, seems to prefer this species over our native species of food insects and will eagerly feed on H. halys as a home town meal in a strange new land. In dire situations the introduction of an exotic species as a biologic control method is a calculated risk. Scientists use data to determine the potential for an introduced species to become “invasive” before the intentional introduction of a non-native species is implemented as a solution.
From Section 2 Executive Order 13751 of December 5, 2016 (d) ‘Introduction’ means, as a result of human activity, the intentional or unintentional escape, release, dissemination, or placement of an organism into an ecosystem to which it is not native. (e) ‘Invasive species’ means, with regard to a particular ecosystem, a non-native organism whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human, animal, or plant health. (f) ‘Non-native species’ or ‘alien species’ means, with respect to a particular ecosystem, an organism, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species, that occurs outside of its natural range. Sometimes, such species are introduced by accident, without the benefit of calculating the risk and if we are lucky, we end up winning the hand. This seems to be the case with the Jorō Spider (T.clavata). We do not yet have any confirmed populations of Jorō Spider in Florida; I suspect we will soon. I can promise that I will be eagerly looking for this beautiful new species, not to kill them, but to admire and learn more about them. The Jorō spider can be distinguished from our native species by coloration. The abdomen of the Jorō Spider is bright yellow with blue stripes on the top and red blotches on the bottom. It has black legs with yellow bands. Our native Golden Silk Orbweaver has a tan cylindrical abdomen, brown legs with orange bands and distinctive tufts of hair on the legs. If you share my sentiment for science and you’re up for a hiking trip, contact me and let’s take a closer look together. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Presidential Executive Order 13751- Safeguarding the Nation from the Impacts of Invasive Species, published 8 Dec 2016 clearly defines the term “invasive” for the National Park Service and USDA. In short, the species must demonstrate evidence of harm or the potential for harm to be considered “invasive.” By this definition (see below) the Jorō Spider (T. clavata) is an introduced, non-native species and based on scientific observation is not an “invasive species” because in nearly a decade of observation “there has not been any data to suggest the Jorō is taking food away from native spiders or otherwise upsetting the balance of the state’s ecosystems”.
NEW FEDERATION PRESIDENT ELECTED AT FLORIDA FARM BUREAU 80TH ANNUAL MEETING
Delegates at the 2021 Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting elected Jeb Smith of St. Johns County to a two-year term as president of the organization. Smith has served on the state board continuously since 2012 and currently serves on the Putnam/St. Johns County Farm Bureau board of directors. He assumes the position held previously by John L. Hoblick who announced his retirement earlier this year. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve as your president. This position will be pursued and fulfilled with prayer, fervor, and enthusiasm. I appreciate your support and am humbled to assist you and our beloved industry,” said Smith. A lifelong resident and business owner in St. Johns County, Smith and his family produce cattle, hay and sod. Smith’s family has farmed the land in St. Johns County for more than one-hundred years. His current family farm will be recognized as a Century Pioneer Family Farm in March of 2022. Smith began his Farm Bureau career as a local volunteer leader and has received the Florida Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award and Discussion Meet Award. He has also served on American Farm Bureau’s advisory committees. Locally, Smith is serving his second term as St. Johns County Commissioner for District 2 and serves on the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch Board of Directors. He has served on multiple local boards including, the Hastings Drainage District, the Farm Service Agency, St. Johns County Overall Extension Advisory Committee and the 4-H Association Board of Directors. Smith studied at Ambassador Baptist College in Shelby, NC and is the founding pastor of God’s Way Baptist Church in Hastings. Jeb and his wife, Wendy, have been married for more than 27 years. They have four grown children: Jared (m. Kamryn), Cady, Jeremy and Cayla.
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Voting delegates at the meeting also discussed and approved policy resolutions submitted by county Farm Bureaus
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from throughout Florida. The resolutions were adopted as policy for 2021. The theme for the annual meeting was “Cultivating Tomorrow” and how members had been doing so during the year. The meeting also included award and recognition programs to honor outstanding young farmers and ranchers, state lawmakers and the accomplishments of county Farm Bureaus and individual members for their distinguished service to agriculture. Hillsborough County’s Brad Turner with Turner Family Groves in Lithia was given an Ag Environmental Leadership Award for his commitment to promoting soil and tree health through the implementation of regenerative management practices, reducing the need for fertilizer, pesticides and increasing water retention. Overall, the Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s mission is “to increase the net income of farmers and ranchers, and to improve the quality of rural life.” The vision of the FFBF is “Florida Farm Bureau will be the most effective, influential and respected Farm Bureau in the nation. To truly be recognized as Florida’s Voice of Agriculture.” With more than 136,000 members, Florida Farm Bureau is Florida’s largest agricultural organization. Sixty county Farm Bureaus constitute the grassroots structure of the organization. The federation represents farm owners who produce all 300 of the state’s agricultural commodities, regardless of their scope of operations or location.
Jeb Smith WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Family Hobby Farm By Libby Hopkins
The Hott Family moved from Valrico to Plant City in July 2019. They wanted to get out of the subdivision life and have some space. “We knew we wanted chickens so one month after we moved in we started our flock,” said Nicole Hott. “We currently have 19 chickens. We knew we wanted more animals and we fell in love with the Nigerian Dwarf Goats so we have five males named Penguie, Boots, Porkchop, Wayland and Kobe. Our youngest son Logan is involved in FFA so we then added Abbey and Jade to the mix. They are our female sheep. They are both black face sheep. We then added our sweet Holland Lop Rabbits Foxy and Roxy. We also planted a few vegetable gardens. We are extremely happy where we are, we are blessed with wonderful neighbors and friends. We love Plant City.” The Hott Farm was born. The Hott Farm is a small Hobby Farm, which have become quite popular. A hobby farm is categorized as less than 50 acres. Anything between 50 to 100 acres is considered a small-scale farm. A Hobby Farm can have different definitions, but the basic idea is that a hobby farm is a small-scale farm that is primarily for pleasure instead of being a business venture. The owner or owners of a hobby farm typically have a main source of income, like an off-farm job, or a pension or retirement income. Whatever the source, the point is that the farm does not have to make money, it can be engaged in on a hobby level. (www. treehugger.com/what-is-a-hobby-farm).
When you’re the one growing your food, you know exactly what goes into it and can ensure that it’s as healthy as possible. Because of the physical activity that comes with running even the smallest of farms, hobby farming is also a great way to get your exercise in every day. In addition to the purely physical effects of hobby farming on health, running your own small farm can also have mental health benefits. Many hobby farm owners find it to be a source of relaxation and stress relief. Given the fast pace of modern life, it’s perhaps unsurprising that people often discover that slowing down and getting back in touch with nature is a great way to keep stress under control. Aside from providing healthier foods, small agriculture can also be better for the environment than the large industrial model of farming that provides most of the world’s food at the moment. (www. openaccessgovernment.org/hobby-farms-popularity) “Keeping things local is important to our family,” Hott said “It is always great to support small business. That is why we buy all our hay, feed and supplies from G-Five and Bliss II.” If you’d like to learn more about The Hott Farm, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Hott-Farm.
Hobby farmers typically aren’t driven by the primary goal of self-sufficiency. They may be very content to continue their jobs and farm on the weekends or to use their retirement income to invest lavishly in the farm animals they choose to keep. The farm may add value to their homes, so minimal upkeep is all they need to retain that value. “We feel people want to become more self-reliant, create their own food,” Hott said. “It gives them the satisfaction of raising your own food and taking care of your animals. What we do here at Hott Farm is for our enjoyment.”
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Hobby farming can help a person’s health in several different ways. The most obvious of these, of course, is the access to fresh, organic vegetables and animal products that hobby farmers have. “We love eating the farm fresh eggs,” Hott said. “I love going out to the barn and spending time with animals. They love to nuzzle.”
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BELLA BALLARD
By Jim Frankowiak
COUNTY FAIR GRAND CHAMPION: A Reflection of Mutual Trust
Sixth grader Bella Ballard and her steer “Risk It” took Grand Champion Steer and Grand Champion Junior Showman honors at the recent Greater Hillsborough County Fair. She is the daughter of Amber and Daniel and sister of four-year-old Baylee. Such an achievement reflects and requires “mutual trust and the bond that has to happen between the animal I have at the end of my halter and me,” said Bella. “I’ve done gymnastics, played baseball and softball and dance, but I like showing. It’s not really a team like I had when I did sports, but the steer or heifer that I have and show is my teammate. They don’t do well in the ring unless I work with them and I can’t do well unless they cooperate with me and trust me,” she said. Bella’s link to showing is her father. “My dad has been the one most involved in agriculture and FFA and motivated me to do this,” said Bella, who is home-schooled. “I started out showing sheep and to see if I liked it, and I did. My dad said we should try to show cattle instead so he bought me my first heifer, Darla. “I was really scared of her and intimated at first as she pushed me around a lot and I was only 7 so that didn’t work out to great. Then we got my second heifer, Honeybun. She was so fluffy and hairy and sweet and she won me a lot of buckles and money. She really got me hooked on showing,” said Bella. “I love showing because it’s fun for me, but I’m also very competitive,” she said. “I love going to shows on the weekend and traveling all over the south where I meet new people and make new friends. I also love getting to see my little sister show in peewees. “Showing cattle has helped build my confidence,” said Bella. “I used to be shy, but not anymore, because I have to speak to a lot of judges when I show and to people in the cattle industry. I’ve learned a lot of responsibility. I’ve been taught work ethic, never to give up and stay motivated and focused, lots and lots of patience, a lot of life lessons that I wouldn’t have learned from other things I’ve been involved in.
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“Not every kid my age really knows what having responsibility is or what it takes to take care of animals and have the full responsibility of having one,” she said. “It’s not easy. There’s a
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lot that goes into it and a lot of early mornings and late nights that goes into their daily care – feeding, working them, washing them, blowing and working their hair, conditioning them, cleaning stalls and practicing showmanship. It’s hard work, but it’s worth it when all the hard work pays off and I do well and win. I don’t have just one animal in the barn to work with. I have 3 - 5 heifers and steers I work usually and spend many hours a day in the barn getting the daily chores done.” Bella’s recent win was not her first. “My very first time winning showmanship and my first buckle was with Honeybun. My first year showing at the Strawberry Festival in 2019 I was eight-years-old and won Grand Champion Commercial Heifer then went back to win overall Supreme Champion Heifer with Honeybun. This win at the county fair is very special, too. Risk It is super hairy and always hot so I had to rinse him and blow him out early in the morning, in the afternoon and at night. I put so much work, time and effort and countless hours into trying to keeping him looking his best for the show. When I won, it made me feel so good and that all my hard work had really paid off,” said Bella. “My room is full of banners, plaques, trophies and hardware that I have won. I have two full buckle cases with over 20 buckles, and I have won lots of money, too.” Bella, who is a member of the Hillsborough County Junior Cattlemen’s Association and Junior Florida Cattlemen’s Association, makes goals she hopes to achieve every year. “I want to continuously get better in my showing ability and improve every time I enter the ring,” she said. “We’re producing our own cattle now, so I’ll have a homegrown steer to show at the Strawberry Festival for my first festival steer and knowing that I helped produce it makes it that much better and more special. “Long term, I plan to continue showing cattle until I graduate, continuing competing at a high level and giving it my all,” said Bella. “I want to be a large animal vet when I grow up. Large animal vets are hard to come by around here so that’s something I really want to do. I’ve helped my dad a lot with our own herd. I help vaccinate cattle; I’ve helped calves be born. I even have helped in the A.I. (artificial insemination) process with our females, so I’m always learning new things. I’m pretty much my dad’s ‘right hand man’ when he needs help with our cattle.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Bella is most appreciative for the support of her parents – her biggest mentors and fans. “I couldn’t do this without them and all of their sacrifices so I am able to do what I love,” she said. “Also, I appreciate my little sister Baylee who has always been on the side of the ring cheering me on at every show. She makes me want to do my best because I’m her big sister, and I want to set a good example for her. I want her to see that even if I don’t get the results I want or win, never quit. That’s my motivation to go home, work harder and get better.” As to advising those interested in competing like her, “there’s really no secret,” she said. ”Practice makes perfect, hard work does pay off and never give up!” Congratulations Bella and best of luck as you continue your competitive involvement and pursue your long term plan to become a large animal veterinarian.
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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD
By J. Scott Angle
berry industry leader and former Hillsborough County Farm Bureau board member Kenneth Parker as well as UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Director Nicole Walker. Their endorsements were important factors in my decision to hire Dr. Johnson. Other local Farm Bureau leaders participated in the virtual town halls we held to evaluate the candidates. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Director Jack Rechcigl also visited with Johnson via Zoom and concluded he’d be good for local agriculture. He wants your agent to stay your agent. We have long had too much agent turnover. Dr. Johnson has a vision for removing the university-based drivers of attrition. He plans to beef up support so agents are not bogged down in administrative duties instead of the programming they’d rather be doing. He’ll advocate for higher salaries to retain high-performing agents. And he’ll work to improve the promotion process that ultimately gives an agent freedom to determine in concert with stakeholders how best to serve the local community as well as job security to build years-long relationships.
Dr. Andra Johnson Two words come up repeatedly in Dr. Andra Johnson’s vision for how he’ll lead University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension: “serve” and “partner.” Johnson, who started as dean of Extension on Nov. 1, will continue to instill in our 650 agents and specialists statewide that our job is serve growers and the wider agricultural community. We’ll also continue to do it with you as our partners, fully participating in the search for solutions to your challenges. Here’s why the new dean is good news for you: He’s an aggie. Dr. Johnson pledges to keep a focus on production agriculture. The vision he presented for modernizing Extension includes an expansion of service to production agriculture. Dr. Johnson grew up in rural Louisiana in a family that raised cattle, cotton, corn and wheat. His aunt has served for more than 30 years at USDA. He has previously worked at three land-grant universities and earned three academic degrees from land-grants.
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Florida ag leaders supported his candidacy, including straw-
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He’s a triple threat. In addition to Extension administration experience, he has taught extensively, and he has a record securing funding for research. His skillful integration of the three major land-grant mission areas bodes well for HillsboroughPolk, which not only have two county Extension offices but three research centers (Gulf Coast REC, Citrus REC and the Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory) and an academic program in Plant City. One of my few directives to the dean will be to get out of the office and visit you. As of this writing, I’ve visited 52 of our 67 Extension offices. I want Johnson to get to them all before I do, and to visit with stakeholders like you while he’s at it. Please invite him to your farms as well. Johnson has been emerging as a national leader who represents the future of Extension. At UF/IFAS, we’re in the business of getting you to the future first, ahead of your national and global competitors.
Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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FSGA ANNOUNCES STAFF ADDITION, SHIFT IN ROLE FOR EXISTING TEAM MEMBER By Jim Frankowiak
The Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) is announcing the addition of a new staff member and shift in role of an existing member of its management team, both as a result of former Business Manager Sarah Williams’ decision to join Florida Pacific Farms. “We are pleased to welcome Brianne (Bird) Reichenbach to the association as Director of Member Services and Community Relations,” said FSGA Executive Director Kenneth Parker. She was most recently District 5 Field Services Representative for Florida Farm Bureau Federation. In her position with the FSGA, Brie’s primary responsibilities include assisting grower/members in finding the right resources to solve issues from a regulatory perspective and assist with educational efforts on behalf of the FSGA about the industry.
Farms met this goal," she said. Florida Pacific Farms is a blueberry-strawberry partnership with operations here in Florida. “These changes will help us continue to serve the challenging and ongoing needs of our members and the industry,” said Parker. “Strawberries have a major role in the agricultural economy of Hillsborough County and the State of Florida. It is essential that we as an association support our members and help them and the industry going forward.
Brianne (Bird) Reichenbach “I anticipate my role to expand as I adapt to the new post and ever-changing needs that impact the industry and our growers,” said Brie. The wife of Matt Reichenbach and mother to Paislee, “I am passionate about helping our growers minimize and overcome the barriers they face in the day-to-day activities of growing strawberries,” she said. Former FSGA Director of Member Services and Community Relations, Tiffany Dale has taken the post of Director of Business Administration and Finance. “Tiffany’s primary responsibilities in this new post include managing the finances for FSGA and its affiliates, overseeing licensing for nurseries and work with researchers, Florida Foundation Seed Producers and Ekland Marketing, an international marketing company,” noted Parker
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Dale has been with the FSGA since 2015. She was previously Ag Communications Program Coordinator and Lecturer at the University of Florida, Plant City Campus from 2013 – 2015. Williams had been with the FSGA for 13 years, joining the association while completing her undergraduate degree in Business Administration at the University of South Florida. “I always had a desire to work on the farm and the opportunity with Florida Pacific November 2021
Sarah Williams “I also wish to express my appreciation to Sarah for her years of service at the FSGA and wish her the very best as she advances her career,” said Parker. Formed in 1982 by a group of strawberry growers, the FSGA has as its mission “to partner in research, promotion and member/community service.” This voluntary organization now supports over 11,000-acres of strawberries with an economic impact of more than $700 million. Hillsborough County is recognized as the “Winter Strawberry Capital if the World.” The FSGA has two, sister organizations, the Florida Strawberry Patent Service Corporation (FSPS), which provides a turnkey service for royalties associated with the sale of patented strawberry varieties domestically and internationally, and the Florida Strawberry Research and Education Foundation, which provides funding for research and community support. More information https://floridas-
about
the
FSGA
is available at: trawberry.org
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FARM BUREAU’S 79TH ANNUAL MEETING
By Jim Frankowiak
Carson Futch, John Joyner and Dr. Chip Hinton completed their terms on the board.
Also pictured, Executive Director Judi Whitson
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau held its 79th annual meeting in October, fostering fellowship, appreciation and recognition for those who help make “The Voice of Agriculture” heard by all, achieving some very noteworthy milestones while doing so. Such an honor was given to the premier county agricultural organization for Ag Venture in a box, an innovative adaptation of an educational program, permitting it to continue during the pandemic. The evening also provided an opportunity to recognize and thank the “Champions of Agriculture,” Florida State Representatives Andrew Learned, Lawrence McClure and State Senators Darryl Rouson and Jim Boyd for their efforts on behalf of Farm Bureau at the state legislative level. Retiring board members Carson Futch, John Joyner and Dr. Chip Hinton were also honored for their years of service and efforts in support of our members and industry. Hillsborough County Farm Bureau President Dennis Carlton, Jr. addressed the decades of service and achievements of Executive Director Judi Whitson noting, “this year marks 30 years Ms. Judi has served in her post. When I think of HCFB I can’t help but picture Ms. Judi and all the ways she has been involved with every facet of our organization. Through this, she has made a monumental and lasting positive impact on our county as a whole.”
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“As our organization’s slogan reads, HCFB strives to be the “Voice of Agriculture” for our county. One of the many ways we accomplish this is through education. Ms. Judi is a pioneer in agriculture education in Hillsborough County through the creation of the nationally accredited program: Ag-Venture,” said Carlton. “Since its inception in 1994, thousands of third grade
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students have had the opportunity learn about where their food comes from. Although Ms. Judi has a knack for teaching children about agriculture, she has also created several different programs all around the county to teach adults the many different ways our farmers and ranchers work to have a safe, affordable and abundant food source. “In the same way, Ms. Judi has also assisted HCFB with being the “Voice of Agriculture” from an advocacy perspective. She is a constant presence in the local community, standing up for agriculture, even in our more urban areas. She has contributed to making HCFB the go-to source for elected officials to turn to, especially on key issues facing our county, state and even the country. “This is certainly not the first time Ms. Judi has been recognized. Ms. Judi’s heart for service, agriculture and education were only a few of the qualities of her which surfaced as the winner of the 2016 Woman of the Year in Agriculture, which was presented by the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. Most recently, she was recognized as the recipient of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Ag Educator of the Year for her work in the Ag-Venture program.” “Ms. Judi, we cannot thank you enough for all the ways you continue to serve our organization and agriculture in Hillsborough County. Given the legacy you created and continue to display, the board and I felt it was only fitting to name our Plant City office “The Judi Whitson Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Building.” Carlton concluded by presenting Ms. Judi with an award “as a small token of our gratitude.” “Thank you for your 30 years of service, and all the ways you continue to serve farmers, ranchers and consumers in Hillsborough County!” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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HOPS FIELD DAY
DRAWS BREWERS, GROWERS, OTHERS AND MEDIA By Jim Frankowiak
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) at Wimauma recently hosted a hops field day for those interested in the latest information about this potential alternative crop for Florida growers. Of the estimated 60 in attendance, half were brewers and growers with the balance researchers, Extension agents, students and representatives from television stations: Bay News 9 and Fox News. Attendees had the opportunity to see and smell ripe hop cones ready for harvest, tour the GCREC hop yard and view a harvest demonstration. The field day also featured the latest research findings and a panel discussion with Florida hop growers and brewers. The gathering essentially provided the opportunity for an update on the study of hops as an alternative Florida crop that started six years ago. Following a field tour and demonstration of field research trials and harvesting operations the group heard a variety of presentations on pest management, including Florida hops disease updates by Dr. Gary Vallad, GCREC plant pathologist, and the management of spider mites by Dr. Hugh Smith, entomologist, and nematodes, unseen parasites in Florida hops, by Nematologist Dr. Johan Desaeger. Production and cone quality presentations were given by Dr. Shinsuke Agehara, plant physiologist, who also covered the latest information on production costs and labor for growing Florida hops, followed by hop variety trials and new hop selections by Dr. Zhanao Deng, plant breeder. Graduate student Mariel Gallardo addressed hop trellis trial updates.
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“To date, the Cascade variety of hops does best in Florida,” said Simon Bollin, Agribusiness Development Manager for Hillsborough County’s Economic Development Department. He has been involved in this project since its inception six years ago, working with all involved. “The viability of hops as an alternative crop demands consistent quality of the varieties grown here along with associated costs that permit a return to the growers.”
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Researchers at the GCREC use LED supplemental lighting to extend daylight to the time that is close to matching that which is prevalent in the Pacific Northwest where most hops are grown. This also provides Florida hops growers an extra growing season, one harvested in June and another in November. This means two fresh crops for brewers to work with annually. For brewers that freshness means more acid in the hops that brings intensity, flavor and aroma to their beer. “Gator Pale Ale, the pale ale brewed by Swan Brewing with Cascade hops harvested at the GCREC, has showed unique flavors. “Typically, Cascade is known to have a classic citrus aroma, but “Gator Pale Ale” had notes of cantaloupe and honeydew with a hint of ripe citrus,” said Agehara. Dr. Deng’s breeding program includes other varieties – Comet, Nugget and Zeus - that produce larger cones with higher alpha acids and oil content and stronger aroma than Cascade. “Producing a hops variety unique to Florida that meets the desired requirements of growers and brewers on a consistent basis would be a great conclusion to this multi-year effort,” noted Bollin. The field day concluded with a panel discussion that included Florida hop growers and brewers detailed the challenges and opportunities for Florida hops. They included representatives of Florida Sun Hops, Fox Valley Farm and Hopyard and 3 Daughters Brewing. “Dr. Agehara continues to refine costs associated with the production of hops in Florida,” said Bollin. “The marketability of Florida grown hops is the primary focus of research underway at the Food and Resource Economics area of UF/IFAS in Gainesville.” “Another challenge this effort faces is funding for additional work,” noted Bollin. “This program has been supported by private donations from brewers and from UF, as well as USDA block grants, but more is needed if we are to determine the viability of hops as an alternative crop for Florida.” For more information, follow the UF/IFAS hops-growing project on Facebook and You Tube. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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