In The Field magazine Hillsborough edition

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Mon. - Sat.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

813-752-2379

3012 S. Jim Redman Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • southsidestores.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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October 2021 VOL. 17 • ISSUE 12

CONTENTS Cover Photo Courtesy of TraxLtd and Berry Sweet Memories by Dee Dee

HILLSBOROUGH COUNT FAIR

Results

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PAGE 14 Water Wise PAGE 15 Rain Barrels PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots

PAGE 28 HCSO

PAGE 48 Business Up Front

PAGE 32 Endangered Species

PAGE 50 Market Life

PAGE 35 Shishito Peppers PAGE 36

Kale

PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter

PAGE 52 Harvest Awards PAGE 56 Scott Angle

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John Dicks

PAGE 24 HCFB Meeting

PAGE 46 Closer look

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PAGE 47 State officer

In The Garden

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

Photo Courtesy of Charles VanSistine Photography

PAGE 10 Flowers

Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 305 S. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL.

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dennis Carlton, Jr.....................President Jake Raburn................Vice President Tony Lopez..............Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary DIRECTORS FOR 2018 - 2019 Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes

Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813-685-9121 Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents

Valrico Office 813-685-5673

100 S. Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, FL. 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, ChFC, CASL, CPCU Agency Mgr. Julie Carlson, Amy Engle

Plant City Office 813.752.5577

305 S. Wheeler St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer Artis Griffin

Tampa Office 813.933.5440

6535 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL.33625 Greg Harrell, Jared Bean

AGENCY MANAGER Thomas O. Hale WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


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STAFF

Letter from the Editor October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This annual campaign from The National Breast Cancer Foundation is to increase awareness of the disease with a mission to help those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support services. Here are just a few of the statistics from the website www.breastcancer.org. • About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. • In 2021, an estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 49,290 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. • About 2,650 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2021. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 833. • About 43,600 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2021 from breast cancer. Death rates have been steady in women under 50 since 2007 but have continued to drop in women over 50. The overall death rate from breast cancer decreased by 1% per year from 2013 to 2018. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances and earlier detection through screening.

Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor Patsy Berry Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols George Domedion Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams

• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.

Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks

• As of January 2021, there are more than 3.8 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment.

Social Media Victoria Saunders

• Breast cancer became the most common cancer globally as of 2021, accounting for 12% of all new annual cancer cases worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. • A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Less than 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it. • About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations. Be vigilant about breast cancer detection. There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But you can certainly reduce the risk by making healthier choices.

Sarah Holt PAGE

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.

Until Next Month

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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.

October 2021

Published by Berry Publications, Inc. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


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“Two Very Important Meetings” HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

-Dennis Carlton Jr. - President

Dear Readers – These are very important times for both Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and our state organization. This letter was written just before our county meeting and several weeks in advance of the shortened state annual meeting. I look forward to reporting on the results of both meetings next month and updates with our local leadership and the election of a new state president. Continuity is essential, as is ongoing membership involvement so that the “Voice of Florida” remains loud and clear. It was great to see the return of the Greater Hillsborough County Fair. That annual gathering showcases our industry and its heritage.

In addition to voting for new county and state leadership, continued growth and involvement of membership are also essential to the well being of our industry. People need to understand the critical role agriculture plays in the provision of our food supply. They must understand the importance of agriculture and where our food comes from. Helping educate others about ag’s importance is another opportunity for Farm Bureau family participation. We would welcome your help.

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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FLOWERS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY By Libby Hopkins

Kali Rabaut will be the first to admit she doesn’t have a farming or agriculture background. “I don’t,” Rabaut said. “I come from a background in musical theatre and education. I grew up singing and dancing and not really wanting to get too dirty and sweaty outside. But my family always had a garden or fruit trees growing at our home. Honestly, I wasn’t really ever into plants, though I always loved flowers. Who doesn’t?” Fast forward to 2016, Rabaut had been teaching for a bit and doing musical theater. But after her daughter was born, she left teaching so she could spend time with her. “My husband is a biologist and we had been doing some serious gardening at our home, so we decided to start a compost company,” Rabaut said. “While I was running the compost company, our farm partner at A Simpler Place Farm and Market planted a wonderful flower field. That led me to Google ‘local flowers Florida’ and I came across Eileen at Farm Gal Flowers in Orlando. I was then introduced to the term ‘farmer florist’ and I thought ‘Wow, I would love to do that when I retire.’” Sunrise Florals was born. Over 70 percent of the flowers in the US are flown in from overseas, mostly from South America, but even as far away as the Netherlands and Africa. “I am just part of a larger movement of a renaissance of locally grown flower growers,” Rabaut said. “Besides having a lower carbon footprint, locally grown flowers are more fresh and long lasting. You’ve probably heard of the slow food movement, well now there is the slow flowers movement. Flowers grown with care for the planet and the people who grow them. The name Sunrise Florals came about because of the fact that you have to get up before the sunrise to get anything done once you’re a parent. But the Sunrise is also the promise of a new day, a new beginning, and yet a return to how we used to do things.”

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Sunrise Florals grows its flowers on residential lots in Tampa Heights just blocks away from the Tampa Riverwalk and downtown. “It honestly feels like a very radical act to be growing amid this urban landscape,” Rabaut said. “But it’s such a wonderful way to meet my neighbors and connect with folks.”

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Rabaut’s gardens are on the ancestral lands of the Tocobaga and Seminole people. She realized this after doing research on her property. “It’s so cool to find out this information,” Rabaut said. “I would encourage everyone to look up who lived on the land before them as a practice of acknowledging those who came before us. Having this honest understanding resists the erasure of native people who were pushed out of the land I now claim as home. I recognize the Tocobaga and Seminoles as the original and best stewards of the land.” If you ask Rabaut what makes Sunrise Florals different from other floral businesses in the area, she’ll tell you her growing practices. “Another thing that makes me different is that I’m a zero waste florist,” Rabaut said. “So that means I take great thought to make sure I am not creating unnecessary waste. Second, I don’t use floral foam, wire, or floral tape. Instead, I use only compostable and reusable materials. There is also a lot of packaging that happens with most florists. All the flowers come in boxes, often wrapped in plastic. I don’t have any of that waste since I am growing just about everything from seed. It goes from the garden, into my bucket, to the customer in about 24 hours. Since I am using locally grown flowers and foliage, all my designs are truly seasonal. Designing with seasonal blooms makes for the freshest, most beautiful arrangements. My weekly flower subscription is one of the best ways to be truly connected to the changing seasons here in Florida.” Supporting local is also important to Rabaut. “Local is so very important,” Rabaut said. “I love collaborating with other local businesses to support our community. That has been an unexpected joy to create new friendships with other small business owners.” If you’d like to learn more about Sunrise Florals, you can visit their website at www.sunriseflorals.com. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


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Swine Exhibitors 2022 Florida Strawberry Festival

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Bridges, Hayley Runkles, Bryce COOK, BRODY Brewer, Madison Swindle, Ava Connell, Reid Wood, Jaylynn McArthur, Alexys Wood, Kaygenn Corson, Madison Sturgis, Jackson Newman, Cooper Smith, Parker Ashley, Avery Rodriguez, Matthew Peacock, Hallie Dudzinski, Chloe Knight, Aleese Kmetz, Karoline Lane, Jaxson Mahoney, Makayla Macki, Alainah Hanson, Kayla Chancey, Blake Chancey, Alyssa Messick, Layla Swilley, Kash Hall, summer Kimbrell, Georgia Wink, Chesnee Keys, Brayden Karnowski, Brandon sabik, gabrielle Monzon, Sara Schneider, Caris McNabb, Noah Spangler, Emma Martineau, Zoe

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Woody, Annslea Mohn, Kyslynn Mullis, Abigail Hinson, Reece DeBlasio, Elissa Grant, Mason Smith, Hannah Hancock, Skyler Willis, Braxton McCay, Isaac Davis, Cooper Durrance, Chase Durrance, Carter Holcomb, Colby Wright, Brooke carlin, Ethan Potter, Lila Layton, Declan Claussen, Nicholas Ogden, Jacob Peak, Tyler Parke, Sara McDonald, Knox Comas, Josiah Comas, Isabella Pippin, Bella Scott, Parker Griffin, Eli

Purcell, Jacob Drawdy, Kyndell Simmons, Hannah Ivey, Sevena Sanchez, Paige Franson, Emily Rogers, Jaden Boyette, Kaitlyn Boyette, Kourtney Futch, Ava Lanier, Ryan Steward, Carly Merrell, Lacey Bent, Lena Bailey, Perry Garner, Ivy VanEepoel, Hayden Hyder, Raegan

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2021 Community Water Wise Award Winners

LYNN BARBER, FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING™ AGENT

The Community Water Wise Awards, sponsored by Tampa Bay Water, a regional municipal water provider, recognize individuals and businesses committed to conserving our water resources and protecting the environment by using FloridaFriendly Landscaping™ (FFL) principles. There are nine FFL principles which include: right plant right place, water efficiently, fertilize appropriately, mulch, attract wildlife, manage yard pests responsibly, recycle, reduce stormwater runoff and protect the waterfront. Many of these principles are used as part of the landscape evaluation process for this award program.

native adaptive plants and their landscape designs - which were amazing and completely different. As you can see from the photos, these landscapes are water wise and fascinating. With fifteen entries submitted this year, it was difficult selecting the 2021 Community Water Wise Award Winners. We hope each of you will consider entering the contest, which you can do any time at: https://awards. tampabaywaterwise.org/. The deadline for entries is June 30 each year, so you can complete an application now, submit it and get a head start on the 2022 contest!

View our calendar of events and Florida-Friendly Landscaping TM Facebook page on the internet at Hillsborough County Extension. For assistance with horticultural questions, call: 813-744-5519, or visit us at the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL. We hope to There are several positive examples of Florida-Friendly Land- see you at an upcoming workshop soon. Remember to reuse, scapingTM water wise practices. These include the planting reduce, recycle and repeat. of drought-tolerant trees and plants, self-mulching areas under trees, and plants selected were appropriate for their site Barber is the Florida-Friendly Landscaping ™ agent with UF/ conditions. Plants with similar water and maintenance needs IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. Contact her at labarare grouped together, organic and alternative mulch was ber@ufl.edu. used. Each landscape had gutter downspouts and roof runoff directed onto mulched/planted areas, harvested rainwater, minimal to no turfgrass. I’m pleased to announce the winners for the 2021 Community Water Wise Award Contest. For unincorporated Hillsborough County, the winner is the landscape of Beth Alence. The City of Tampa winner is Allen Feldman.

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We are excited about Beth and Allen’s commitment to water and environmental conservation, the use of native and non-

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HSWCD WINNING RAIN BARRELS REVEALED

What does a dragon fly, portrait of Dr. Earl Lennard reading under a tree, a beautiful butterfly and sunflower have in common? They represent some of the winning designs on the Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District’s winning rain barrels in at the recent Hillsborough County Fair. Twelve youth groups representing 4-H, FFA and area schools competed in the first annual event.

calco K – 8, Southshore Charter School Shark Club Elementary and Middle School Divisions, Tampa Bay HEAT Elementary Science and Turkey Creek FFA.

First place honors and $200.00 went to members of the On-target 4-H Club, whose barrel featured a dragonfly made of old paddle fans from a youth size ceiling fan. The whimsical design was a favorite, receiving the top score from three of the five judges. Close behind in second plac, and receiving $100.00 was a barrel painted by the Lennard High School FFA Chapter. It featured a day to night theme with sunshine on one side and evening on the other. That barrel was designed in honor of the late Dr. Earl Lennard, the school’s namesake.

According to HSWCD Executive Director Betty Jo Tompkins, “The rain barrel competition proved to be such a big hit that I’m sure we’ll be sponsoring this competition again at next year’s Hillsborough County Fair.”

All competing groups participated in an educational presentation by Hillsborough Extension Agent Lynn Barber to gain a greater understanding of the positive impact of using rain barrels in yards and gardens.

Third place ended up in a tie between J.F. St. Martin FFA Chapter of Durant High School and students from Lutz K – 8. The FFA barrel was designed and painted by 14-year-old Grace Merrell with a beautifully decorated butterfly, while brightly colored flowers adorned the Lutz barrel, created by Gregory Manelli’s students. Each of the 3rd place barrels received a $50.00 award. In addition to the cash awards for first, second and third place, the barrels were sold at the HSWCD Plant Auction, with the winning bids being paid back to the student groups. Rounding out the twelve-barrel competition were barrels from Barrels of Fun 4-H, Learning Gate Community School, Lopez Elementary, ManisINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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WAKE UP – DO YOU KNOW WHAT M.P.A. MEANS Capt. Woody Gore IN OUR AREA, IT'S ALREADY BECOMING A REALITY. M.P.A'S = NO ENTRY, NO FISHING, AND NO BOATING ZONES. In early 2000, President Clinton signed an executive order directing the departments of Commerce and Interior to develop science-based Marine Protected Areas known as M.P.A’s. While the order did not establish specific funding, it did call for citizen input. As usual, the evervigilant environmental watchdogs immediately took the meaning of citizen input as giving them full authority. They immediately began pushing for closures of all recreational and commercial fishing in coastal areas around the country. Knowing how fast specific issues become law, as anglers, we must understand how political and environmental groups often band together to accomplish self-interest agendas. Although M.P.A.’s only currently affects only marine waters. However, freshwater anglers are not home-free. It does not require much stretch of the imagination to see the concept of fishing bans applied to troubled freshwater fisheries. Marine Protection Area plans are in discussion for several states, including Florida. They can be unfavorably affecting the lives of millions of recreational anglers and the economy. Taking the monetary impact or lack thereof by an estimated 44 million anglers, one can easily see the adverse and economic impact. For example, the projected 12 million saltwater anglers spend an estimated 20 Billion dollars on fishing annually. If the politicians we send to Washington are unaware of the tremendous combined voice recreational anglers represent, they should be. Every angler’s responsibility is to be heard when it comes to protecting our rights and the rights of generations to come. To demonstrate the significance of congressional appointments, you must know your candidates and what they stand for.

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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)

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Most anglers agree and advocate scientifically based management of our resources. Further, agreeing that protecting our fish and environment is vital to providing healthy fisheries and clean water. However, it should not surprise anyone that it should not come at the expense of restricting public access to engage in fishing. Advocates of no-fishing zones often overlook the significant difference between a family fishing on holiday and commercial fleets hauling millions of tons daily from our oceans.

October 2021

Recreational anglers are required to follow strict rules and regulations, which for most, have proven effective in protecting our fishery. There are always those with uncontrolled self intentions who disregard the rules and regulations. Consequently, it becomes our responsibility to police ourselves reporting those individuals to the proper authorities. Anglers usually support and respect scientifically based closures involving seasons or specified time-frames. However, they will not stand for unreliable data closures, mainly when less drastic and equally effective options exist. Perhaps it is time to take our freedoms seriously, speaking up for what we consider essential. Hunters took up arms in speaking and fought the gun lobbyist for their right to hunt and bear arms. While the main topic is not blatantly receiving major headlines, many anti-fishing groups work silently behind the scenes preparing to strike without warning. We must not become blinded by good intentions, remaining vigilant about the future of M.P.A.’s in Florida. Similar to never surrendering our firearms. We certainly should not give up our rods and reels, either. Because someone without the correct data or political aspirations thinks recreational anglers are the problem facing diminishing fish populations. An M.P.A. seems redundant, primarily when the National Marine Fisheries Service reports that only 8 percent of marine fish stocks are actively overfished. And many species are on the road to recovery, according to recent commercial fishing studies. This indicates that commercial fishing is responsible for 97 percent of all marine fish landed, while recreational anglers land only 3 percent. If you do not think it’s not coming, look around the next time you’re on the water. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


Since 9/11, someone may be young enough and might not know what happened; here you go. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the attacks, often referred to as 9/11, were a series of four organized terrorist attacks by the militant Islamist terrorist al-Qaeda against the United States of America. Shortly afterward, in Tampa Bay, they closed the MacDill grass flats, restricted access to waters around many long-time fishing locations. i.e., Tampa Electric and other Electric Power facilities and marine ports, I am all for security. However, some common sense goes a long way in determining whether someone is fishing or planning to attack an installation. While in the military, I surrendered many hours of guard duty. Protecting many governmental installations and security areas. Perhaps the ports and power plants could spend some of our money on extra security, primarily to determine if someone was fishing or planning an attack. Get involved and protect your “Rights to Fish.”

“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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2022 FLORIDA STRAWBERY FESTIVAL QUEEN’S SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT

November 9, 2021 at 5:00PM

Pageant January 22, 2022. 6:00PM

• Life is simpler when you plow around the stump. • You should always drink upstream from the herd. • Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in. • A fool and his money are soon parted. The rest of us wait until income tax time. • The man or woman that invest all your money is called a BROKER. • In 1908 the average wage was 22 cents an hour. ONLY NEED TO ATTEND ONE!!!! 3:00 PM Sunday 5:30 PM Monday 5:30 PM Tuesday • If you lend someone $20 and never see that person October 24th, 2021 October 25th, 2021 October 26th, 2021 MILTON E. HULL BUILDING (ARMORY) again, it was probably a wise investment. Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds • You should never test the depth of the water with both feet. 2202 West Reynolds Street, Plant City, Florida 33563 • You can avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop. Candidates under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. (Photo by Deanna Hurley Photography)

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Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the October 2016 issue 289704-1

Newspaper Since my daughter, Karen, has taken over as publisher of the Plant Observer, I have gained an appreciation for those that put each edition together. You have to hand it to them. They have a small space to cram their huge attention grabbing headlines, and always being on a deadline, very little time to think about them.

I enjoy the way the Plant City Observer uses headlines in their police report each week. I wonder what heading they would have given this story if it had happen in Plant City?

Some headlines that slip past writers and editors are down right hilarious. For example, “Unopposed Candidates Win.” Well now, can you imagine? What else would be the outcome? I gave the writer a pass, as I am sure he was past deadline for printing. Let me share some of the headlines I have collected over the years. “Enraged Cow Injures Farmer With Ax” “Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over” “Two Sisters Reunited After 18 Years In Checkout Counter” “Milk Drinkers Are Turning to Powder” “Include Your Children When Baking Cookies” From a police report in Georgia, “Crack Found In Man’s Buttocks.” Some of the stories are beyond belief too; “Super-rats are being genetically modified to sniff out land mines for the Army.” There’s the story of a guy that saw red and in a road rage attacked victims by squirting them with ketchup. He doused both a driver and cyclist. The judge gave him 220 hours of “high level” community unpaid work.

“There’s definitely someone going to get shot. Please, please,” a man says on the 911 call released by officials. “There’s a man with a gun. I see him looking at me, but I don’t think he sees I am on a cell phone. I swear I am so scared I might get myself killed!” Police officers were sent to the scene, but the officer who originally pulled the man over stayed put. The 911 dispatchers had, in the meantime, tracked down the name of the caller and announced it over the police radio, which alerted the officer standing next to the man. Now, instead of a $150 speeding ticket he got a year in jail!

There’s a story going around that many world leaders will reveal before the end-of-the year that aliens are visiting us. (I think they are already in Washington) Some activists are stepping up calls now for governments around the world to formally acknowledge that extraterrestrials are contacting the human race. You can expect Washington to hold “World Disclosure Day” to raise the awareness of the so-called Roswell incident more than 70 years ago. They claim an alien spaceship crashed on a remote ranch in New Mexico in the first week of July 1947. The Roswell Army Air Force issued a press release saying the military had recovered the remains of a “flying disc” which made front page news around the world. A few days later General Roger Ramey made the announcement at a press conference that the found object was just a weather balloon. His report started claims of a cover-up. “World Disclosure Day” will be designated as a day to draw focus on the issue. However, on that day the nations will comes forward to finally and formally acknowledge the alien presence. Paul Hellyer, a former deputy Prime Minister and ex-defense of Canada, spoke out at the first Canadian National Inquiry into UFOs a few months back, claiming that a bunch of bankers, oil cartels, industrial corporations and military intelligence agencies were behind the cover-up.

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Many believe an alien craft did crash at Roswell and the US and Canadian governments signed a deal not to tell the public about the visitation.

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A south Florida man pulled over for speeding called 911 to report a potential murder in hopes of avoiding a ticket. He was stopped by a police officer in Melbourne for driving over the limit. When the officer who cited him turned his back the man dialed 911.

Then there’s the story of the man that goes to see the Rabbi. “Rabbi, something terrible is happening and I have to talk with you about it.” The Rabbi asked, “What’s wrong?” The man replied, “My wife is going to poison me.” The Rabbi being very surprised, asks, “How can that be?” The man then pleads, “I’m telling you, I am certain she’s going to poison me. What should I do?” The Rabbi replies, “Let me talk to her, I’ll see what I can find out and I’ll let you know.” A week later the Rabbi calls the man. He says, “I spoke with your wife on the phone for three hours. You want my advice?” The man said, “Yes” and the Rabbi replied, “Take the poison.” I’ll close with this story. An old farmer in Paso County had owned a large farm for many years. He had a huge man-made pond out back with a beautiful picnic area. For years it was the perfect place to unwind or hold a family get together. As the farmer grew older, his oasis was used less and less. It eventually became the local swimming hole and while his neighbors occasionally took advantage of the pond, he rarely made an appearance. One evening the old farmer decided to go down to the pond. He hadn’t been there in a while and felt the urge to pay a visit to check things out. As he neared the pond, he heard loud playful voices giggling and laughing. He came closer and was astonished to see that a bunch of young women had decided to skinny dip in his pond. He made the women aware of his presence and they all went to the deep end of the pond. One of the women shouted to him, “We’re not coming out until you leave!” The old man replied, “I didn’t come down here to watch you ladies swim or make you get out of the pond naked. I’m here to feed the alligator.”

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Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting The Hillsborough County Farm Bureau held their annual meeting Thursday, October 7th in the TECO building on the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds.

State Rep. Andrew Learned, State Rep. Lawrence McClure, Jake Raburn, Sen. Jim Boyd, Sen. Darryl Rouson

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Champions of Agriculture awards were presented to State Rep. Andrew Learned, State Rep. Lawrence McClure, Sen. Darryl Rouson and Sen. Jim Boyd.

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Carson Futch, John Joyner, Dr. Chip Hinton, Judi Whitson

John Joyner and Dr. Chip Hinton completed their terms on the board.

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FISCHBACH LAND COMPANY WELCOMES NEW PROPERTY MANAGER, KIRA CHRISTIANO Reed Fischbach, Broker and owner of Fischbach Land Company, Brandon, FL, has announced the hiring of a new property manager, Kira Christiano. Kira has over twenty years of experience in hospitality and project planning. She currently oversees the Commercial Real Estate Investment projects, maintenance, and operations for the company. Kira holds a degree in Marketing from Penn State University and is fully bi-lingual in English and Russian. Reed states, “Kira fills a critical and pivotal role for our company’s business. Her organizational and planning skills are exemplary.” ABOUT FISCHBACH LAND COMPANY Fischbach Land Company is a full-service 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.

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In the Garden: An Introduction

When you have lived in Plant City a considerably long time, it is shocking to discover that something exists within your community that you were completely unaware of. It is my hope that this series will inspire you to participate in the Community Garden that exists here in town, a place I have only recently been introduced to. But I think its story, and those attached to the people who are actively supporting it, will be worthwhile. I live in a small neighborhood in Plant City and we have some pretty unique neighborly behaviors. In that, I mean that I actually hang out with my neighbors, almost daily. So, one day, Esther asked me to go somewhere with her. While we were riding around, she asked if I had been to the Community Garden. I am sure I looked at her sideways, thusly she decided to take me. Esther Ortiz gets all the credit for me finding this place to write about. It was her family’s interest in the garden that made it known to me and thusly known to those of you who are finding out about it for the first time. Even one of the founders says, “We’re still a little secret garden so to speak, not everyone knows we’re here and we don’t charge anyone to come visit.” Since Esther’s family was the first to tell me about the place it seems fitting to me to write about their story. As the series continues, the goal will be to meet other people who are actively growing things in the garden. I want to know their tales about how they found out about the garden and what has propelled them to utilize the space.

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But maybe you need to know where this place is (2001 E. Cherry St. Plant City 33563) and who the contact person is, just in case you think it sounds like a place you’d like to visit or participate in. Therefore, let me introduce you to Karen Elizabeth. I met her the first time Esther took me to the garden. She was so cool that the second time I went back there, bringing another Plant City resident, Theresa Harvill, for her first time there, Karen gave us edible flowers!

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By Rhonda Samuels

Karen’s newest space (the original was part of St. Peter’s), on the HCC property, has been there since 2015. I shake my head at this revelation. Seven years this garden has been within traveling distance. I could have had my own raised bed in which to grow pineapples and tomatoes and spices! And, if you didn’t know about it until now, you are probably thinking the same things! But how does one acquire such a space? Once you start learning about Plant City Commons Community Garden and Botanical Treasure Gardens, you will definitely want to be part of this ongoing series about the people whose lives intersect thanks to the beauty of plants. So, before those raised beds sell out, we suggest you go to their website: plantcitycommunitygarden.com and get the necessary forms. You will pay $35 for a year and that will include your raised bed, soil, and access to compost and water. But the garden benefits from volunteer services and financial donations too. Consider sending your teenager to earn volunteer hours for graduation. Karen told me, “Maintenance here always needs done. You don’t necessarily have to be a gardener to come out here and volunteer.” I sat with Karen and talked about the idea for this piece and how I intended to have Esther’s daughter, Abigail, and her boyfriend, Zach, be my first story. Interestingly enough, when I sat with her at the garden, Steve Ross was there with us interjecting his amusing commentary. “You can come and work for therapy at any time and…it’s like sweating to the oldies.” When I asked what came with the $35 yearly fee he added, “All the free advice you can handle, and it’s such a diverse group.” The last part of his statement is exactly what I was hoping to find there. As a middle school reading teacher, I have had the joy of teaching the novella, Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. It’s a quick read, if you are interested, but the basis is the diverse characters that end up passionate about their community’s WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


garden. This is what I was reminded of when Esther introduced me to it and when I sat down with Karen and Steve it became all the more apparent that this is exactly what is happening here. I cannot wait to tell you all about Abigail and Zach and then probably Steve who joined about five months ago. This will be a place of incredible people and stories. Stories from retirees and recent high school graduates. People of all genders and ethnicities. It is my hope that you will enjoy the story of our own town, Plant City, and its community garden, as much as I will enjoy sharing it! The Fall Fest at the PC Community Garden will be held November 6 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. There will be children’s activities, vendors, food trucks, a plant sale and garden workshops. Check it out!

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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SHERIFF CHRONISTER HONORS MRS. DEBBIE GILL

Sheriff Chad Chronister

Debbie Gill is no stranger to the agricultural community. For decades, she and her family have worked in the pastures of Lonesome G. Ranch LLC, a commercial cattle operation that spreads across multiple counties. Mrs. Gill is the owner and operator of the ranch. To this very day, she and her family live on the same land in Fort Lonesome that served as the ranch’s old homestead during the 1800s. “Almost a quarter of Hillsborough County is dedicated to agriculture,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “The Gill family is a big part of that community, volunteering their time to future generations of ranchers and farmers.”

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Mrs. Gill is a member of the Hillsborough County Cattlewoman’s Association and has served as its Vice President for the last four years. She is also the current Chair for Beef for the Holidays for the Hope Children’s Home and served as a founding member of the Florida Agri-Tourist Association.

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For these reasons and more, Sheriff Chronister was proud to honor Mrs. Gill as the 2021 Outstanding Woman of Agriculture on September 23, 2021 during the Hillsborough County Fair. “Mrs. Gill also works with schoolchildren, sharing her knowledge of the beef industry and cattle families, and even helped create a scholarship in honor of her late son who passed away in an accident in 2004,” added Sheriff Chronister. “We cannot thank her and her family enough for their continued support of the agricultural community.” Anyone with information about an agricultural/environmental crime or a loose animal is asked to call (813) 247-8200. You can also stay updated with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office by following @HCSOSheriff on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

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NOW LOCATED IN HOMESTEAD

HOMESTEAD

Our team has expanded into the Miami-Dade area with a store location in Homestead, making this our 18th location. Homestead native, Bobby Doyle, will serve as the site manager. This move will bring a new level of customer service and equipment excellence to the area!

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“We are ready to serve the Miami-Dade community and show you the Everglades difference!” -Mike Schlechter, President 30

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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es

Enduring Florida: Four-Petal Paw Paw

Florida is the only state where you'll find the Four-petal Paw Paw, or its scientific name, the Asimina tetramera. The Fourpetal Paw Paw is an aromatic shrub belonging to the Annonaceae or custard apple family. It is found in coastal sand pine scrub habitats in Martin and Palm Beach counties in southeast Florida. The Paw Paw is a one to three foot tall, aromatic shrub that has one to several stems arising from a deep taproot. Leaves are oblong to oblanceolate, five to 10 inches long, arranged alternately on the stem, and are yellow-green to deep green. The leaves are narrow at the base and have broadly acute or blunt tips and lack stipules. The flowers are maroon and smelly. They occur singly in the leaf axil; however, if the plant is burned or damaged, two or three flowers may develop. Perianth parts are typically in coils of three but may vary. The petals usually form coils. The stamens are spirally arranged on an elevated torus or ball shaped receptacle, surrounding one to many separate carpels. It will survive when other plants overshadow it, but it puts more energy into growing bigger leaves needed for photosynthesis and less into flowering and fruiting.

By Libby Hopkins

flowers open before all the parts are fully developed and mature from the base of the stem toward the developing tip. They are protogynous, meaning that the stigmatic surface becomes receptive before anther maturation and pollen release. The petals fall from the flowers within one day of pollen release, and carpel development and receptacle enlargement follow successful pollination and fertilization. Flowers that are not pollinated fall soon after pollen is released. Beetles are the most likely pollinators, although flies, wasps and other insects have been observed visiting flowers. Most Four-petal Paw Paw populations currently exist on protected sites. In Martin County these include Jonathan Dickinson SP and Savannas State Reserve. In Palm Beach County it is found in Carlin Park, Juno Beach Park, Juno Hills and Jupiter Ridge, Jupiter Inlet tract and the Florida Power and Light headquarters office grounds. Although many of the known localities for this species are protected, the species may not be adequately preserved in the northern part of its range, as only four plants in this region lie on protected land. Of the protected areas, Jonathan Dickinson SP is the largest site in Martin County, with 220 plants. The proposed park with 224 plants is the largest site in Palm Beach County.

The four-petal pawpaw was discovered at Rio, Florida, in 1924 and subsequently named Pityothamnus tetramerus. This plant is extremely rare. So rare that the number of living plants has been counted, numbered and regularly monitored. The Paw Paw is so rare that both the federal government and the state list it as endangered in 1988. The problem is that it exists only in the coastal sand pine ridges of the two counties, land that is also extremely rare these days in an undeveloped state. The only chance for the Four-petal Paw Paw's survival, really, is preservation of as much of this land as is practical.

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Four-petal pawpaw flowers as early as February, peaking in May and June, but continuing through the summer. The

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If you would like to learn more about the Four-petal Paw Paw, you can visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at www.fdacs.gov.

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FLORIDA SHISHITO PEPPERS By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Shishito peppers have been featured on many trendy restaurant menus lately. What are these peppers? Originating from Japan, shishito peppers are prized for their mildly spicy flavor and ease of preparation. These peppers can grow easily in your home garden or can be found in many farmers markets and grocery stores. The pepper is slender, about the length of your fingers, and thin-skinned. Their name shishito means “lion’s head,” named for the shape of the bumpy blunt tip of the pepper. They are green when unripe and turn to red when ripe, although most commonly they are harvested when still green. They are prized for their sweet and mildly spicy flavor. Shishito peppers are much milder than jalapeno peppers. They are often served pan fried or roasted with olive oil and salt for a quick appetizer. Unlike most other vegetables, shishito peppers grow well year-round in Florida.

Nutritional Profile Fresh shishito peppers are highly nutritious and very low in calories. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, a 100 gram serving of dried red chili powder (about eight fresh peppers) contains 20 calories, 1.9 g of protein, 0.09 g of fat, 5g of carbohydrate, and 3 g of fiber. One serving also provides 135% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for vitamin C, 80% for vitamin A, and substantial amounts of carotene, of iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, choline, folate, and vitamin E. Since hot peppers pack such a potent punch, the serving size is small, but contains a large range of important vitamins and minerals. They can add a ton of flavor and nutrition with very few calories.

A Natural Anti-inflammatory Capsaicin, which gives hot peppers their pungency, is a compound that fights inflammation and lessens pain from conditions such as headaches, arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, and psoriasis. The hottest peppers contain the most of this compound. Capsaicin works by inhibiting substance P, a neuropeptide involved in pain perception and the inflammatory process. Capsaicin can be found in topical creams and patches as an over-the-counter pain-reliever.

Help Your Heart Fresh Florida shishito peppers provide not only flavor, but also cardiovascular benefits. They can reduce blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and platelet clumping. Additionally, compounds in peppers help dissolve fibrin, a substance involved in the formation of blood clots. Shishito peppers contain vitamins A and C, which also act as antioxidants, sweeping away

Increase your Metabolism Eating shishito and other spicy peppers can increase calorie burn for several hours after eating them. The heat you may feel after eating hot peppers and other spicy foods is a rise in body temperature as your body digests them. This increased heat production increases your calorie expenditure. Several research studies have shown a modest (about 100 calories) increase energy expenditure and fat burn following ingestion of capsaicin from raw, cooked, dried, or canned hot peppers. In addition to increased calorie burn, people who consumed hot peppers reported fewer cravings and suppressed appetite, which can also contribute to weight loss.

How to select and store Choose fresh shishito peppers that have glossy, deep colors, firm skin, and fresh stems. Unripe peppers are green and will turn to red when ripe. Avoid those that are wrinkled, have cracks near the stem, or have soft spots. Store unwashed peppers in a paper bag in the refrigerator for up to several weeks. Fresh peppers can also be dried by hanging in the sunlight or in a home dehydrator. Once dried, they can be ground into a powder and used as seasoning.

How to Enjoy Shishito peppers are delicious simply roasted or grilled with olive oil and salt. They can be used in a stir-fry or fried in a tempura. Ripe red peppers are sweet and can be sliced and eaten raw in salads or on sandwiches. Additional ways to enjoy shishito peppers include: • Roasted with olive oil and used to flavor dishes • Chopped and added to a stir-fry • Chopped and added to cornbread • Minced and added to yogurt for a spicy and cool dip • Diced and added to omelets, tuna salad or chicken salad • Roasted and used to top tacos or eggs • Roasted and mixed into a salsa Enjoy fresh Florida shishito peppers today!

Selected References http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.whfoods.org INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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free radicals which can damage cells and start the cascade of atherosclerosis (the accumulation of fatty substances such as cholesterol and triglycerides on the artery wall). Atherosclerosis can lead to heart attacks and stroke.


Kale a Super Food Kimberly Bragg-Armatrout, NDTR Hillsborough County Extension, Health and Nutrition Agent

WHY IS KALE A SUPERFOOD? Although there are no superfoods, kale is one of those foods with a lot of nutritional value. Kale has a high amount of vitamin A, K, B6, and C. It has minerals like calcium, potassium, copper, and manganese. All this in just 1 cup of raw kale. With all these nutrients, kale is also low in calories and carbohydrates. Making kale a diabetic and weight watcher’s dream, with only 33 calories and 7 grams of carbohydrates. Although kale has gained popularity in the last 4-5 years, it has been around for a long time. Tomas Jefferson had it on his plantation in the 1800s. Did you know that kale comes in different colors? It comes in the typical green, deep purple, and red depending on the kind. It can even have a very different taste.

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Kale is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family. This family

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of vegetables includes cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, collard greens, and many others. These vegetables offer health benefits, like anti-carcinogenic properties, heart-healthy flavonoids, omega-3 fatty acids, and reduce some types of cancer. The only people who may need to avoid or limit kale intake are those that form oxalate containing kidney stones or take the blood thinner Coumadin/ warfarin. How to prepare kale? There are many cooking methods; steam, stir-fried, roast, or eaten raw. You can put it into smoothies, make kale chips, or wilt it into soup. Just be creative. But no matter how you eat it, you should remove the center rib. It tends to be overly tough and has a bitter taste. You can remove the rib with your hand or by cutting it off. Kale holds up in the refrigerator for about five days. Any longer than that, it gets tough.

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Courtesy of Charles Van Sistine Photography

2021 Hillsborough County Fair Beef Heifers – light weight division Class 1 1st – Carter Manis 2nd – Morgan Messenger Class 2 1st – Peyton Eatman 2nd – Addison Johnson Class 3 1st – Logan Shoop 2nd – Megan Dempsey 3rd – Kendall Donaldson 4th – Kaylee Kudela 5th – Latef Wright 6th – Carter Manis 7th – Andre Pena Class 4 1st – Elizabeth Sutton 2nd – Raegan Hyder 3rd – Kaylee Hudson 4th – Alejandro Geel-Brown Class 5 1st - Spencer Price 2nd – Jayce Ware 3rd – Kendall Hall 4th – Raegan Richter 5th – Makayla Register Class 6 1st – Sawyer Price 2nd – Emilee Taylor 3rd – Kaylee Hudson 4th – Colton Taylor 5th – Kyleigh Glenn 6th – Adriana Ursetti

1st – Brody Bryant 2nd – Morgan Chancey 3rd – Ali Taylor 4th – Dylan Martin Class 10 1st – Sawyer Price 2nd – Caroline Crim 3rd - Raeleigh Morris Class 11 1st – Bella Ballard 2nd – Jayce Ware 3rd – Spencer Bayor 4th – Lauren Dowdell 5th – Makenna Svede 6th – Kamryn Colon 7th – Makayla Register

Intermediate Morgan Walls

Class 14 1st – Kaylee Kudela 2nd – Frank McBride

Sheep

Class 15 1st – Jayden Mathena 2nd – Morgan Pelham

Grand Champion/Grand Ewe Emma Leiss Reserve Grand Ewe Jessica Ferreira

Division Call Back 1st – Maddox Sewell 2nd – Case Watson 3rd – Bella Ballard

Class 8 1st – Bella Ballard 2nd – Morgan Chancey 3rd – Raeleigh Tilson

Light Weight Division Class 1 1st – Kendall Donaldson 2nd – Kaysie Kropik 3rd – Kyleigh Glenn

Division Call Back 1st – Morgan Walls 2nd – Kendall Hall Heavy Weight Division

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Class 9 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Division Call Back 1st – Spencer Baylor 2nd – Dakota LaPointe

Class 13 1st – Maddox Sewell 2nd – Case Watson 3rd – Kaylee Kudela 4th – Brady Manis

Class 2 1st – Morgan Walls 2nd – Kendall Hall 3rd – Levi Sampson 4th – Makayla Register 5th – Abigail Michnowicz

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Class 5 1st – Kendall Donaldson

Showmanship

Steers

Heavy Weight Division

Class 4 1st – Dakota LaPointe 2nd – Gillian Matheson 3rd – Drew Blanton

Class 12 1st – Ben Kanoza 2nd – Kaylee Kudela 3rd – Kaylee Hudson

Class 7 1st – Nathan Sewell 2nd – Kennedy Schrier 3rd – Alivia Knight 4th – Kaysie Kripik 5th – Madison Corson 6th – James Bayer 7th – Montana Campoamor

Division Call Back 1st – Bella Ballard 2nd – Elizabeth Sutton 3rd – Morgan Chancey

Class 3 1st – Spencer Baylor 2nd – Marissa Pelham 3rd – Brady Manis 4th – Nathan Sewell 5th – Emilee Taylor

October 2021

Senior Morgan Chancey

Junior Bella Ballard

E1 – Late Spring Ewe Lamb

1st – Emma Leiss 1st - Jessica Ferreira 1st - Briony Graham 2nd – Harleigh Clark 2nd – Gaither FFA 2nd – Chloe Howard 2nd – Kendall Donaldson 3rd – Reagan Richter 3rd - Lila Potter 3rd – Taylorr Stewart 3rd – Kayla Peacock 4th – Nadia Rhoton 4th – Clayton Raburn 5th – Brock Sampson 5th – Rebecca Holcomb 6th – Amilia Sault 6th – Rebecca Holcomb 7th – Anna Koch 7th – Kaysie Kropik 7th – Colby Holcomb E2 – Early Spring Ewe Lamb 11/1/20 – 2/28/21 Grand Ewe Brooklyn Ball

Reserve Grand Ewe Emma Leiss Reserve Grand Ewe Gaither FFA 1st – Emma Leiss 1st – Jessica Ferreira 1st – Marissa Pelham 1st – Brooklyn Ball 2nd – Gaither FFA 2nd – Logan Shoop 3rd – Reagan Richter 3rd – Brightyn Willis 3rd – Makinley Jensen 4th – Gracie Lopez 4th – Gaither FFA 4th – Kamryn Colon 5th – Levi Sampson 5th – Adelyn Jensen 5th – Adelyn Jensen 6th – Jazmine Patisaul 6th – Kendall Donaldson 7th – Cody Rice 7th – Makinley Jensen 8th – Julia Jones 8th – Savannah Rice 8th – Thomas Weaver E3 – Yearling Ewe Lamb 11/1/19 – 10/31/20 1st – Keely Wells 1st – Emma Leiss 2nd – Fessica Ferreira 2nd – Morgan Pelham 2nd – Shelby Southerland 3rd – Makinley Jenson 3rd – Gracie Lopez 4th – Leslie Simmons 5th – Adelyn Jensen 5th – Makayla Watson 6th – Makinley Jensen 7th – Jackson Sturgis E4 – 2 Year Old Ewe 11/1/19 – 10/31/19 1st – Nadia Rhoton 1st – Harleigh Clark 1st – Colby Holcomb 1st – Jackson Sturgis 2nd – Abigail Stewart 2nd – Chloe Howard 2nd – Brendan Flores 2nd – Brenna Sturgis 3rd – Julianne Lacey

5th – Nathaniel Wilder 6th – Anna Koch E5 – 3 Year Old Ewe 11/1/17 – 10/31/18 1st – Jackson Sturgis 2nd – Brendan Flores 2nd – Brenna Sturgis E6 – Aged Ewe Born before 10/31/17 and less than 6 years of age 1st – Meghan Hiers 1st – Sarah Menendez 2nd – Thomas Weaver L1 – Late Spring Ram Lamb 3/1/20 – 8/31/21 Grand Ram Emma Leiss Reserve Grand Ram Logan Shoop 1st – William Jones 1st – Emma Leiss 2nd – Logan Shoop 2nd – Julia Jones 3rd – Shelby Southerland 4th – Meghan Hiers 5th – Ruca Rhoton L2 – Early Spring Ram Lamb 11/1/20 – 2/29/21 Grand Ram Levi Sampson Reserve Grand Ram Ben Kanoza 1st – Alejandro Geel-Brown 1st – Levi Sampson 2nd – Ben Kanoza L3 – Yearling Ram Lamb 11/1/19 – 10/31/20 1st – Keely Wells 1st – Ruca Rhoton 2nd – Kendall Donaldson L4 – 2 Year Old Ram 11/1/18 – 10/31/19 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


Reserve Grand Ram Colby Holcomb 1st – Colby Holcomb L5 – 3 Year Old Ram 11/1/17 – 10/31/19 Grand Ram Kaysie Kropik 1st – Kaysie Kropik

1st – Shelby Southerland 1st – Emma Leiss 1st – Josie Clark 1st – Marissa Pelham 2nd – Adelyn Jensen 2nd – Reid Patino 2nd – Chloe Howard 2nd – Jackson Sturgis 3rd – Abigail Stewart 3rd – Logan Shooop 3rd – Clayton Raburn 3rd – Levi Sampson 4th – Harleigh Clark 4th – Danielle Miller 4th – Meghan Hiers 5th – Ruca Rhoton 5th – Makinley Jensen

Dairy Show Supreme Champion Kyleigh Glenn Junior Bred By Aubrey Cook Senior Bred By Austin Boyd Junior Bred By Nathan Wilhite Senior Bred By Andrew Hammer Class 01 – Summer Heifer Calf 6/1/2021 – 7/31/2021 1st - Riverview FFA 1st - Grace Salter 1st - Austin Boyd 2nd - Riverview FFA

Grand Champion Austin Boyd

Grand Champion Kyleigh Glenn

Reserve Champion Andrew Hammer

Reserve Champion Sarah Rogers

Senior Champion Austin Boyd

Senior Champion Kyleigh Glenn

Reserve Senior Champion Andrew Hammer

Reserve Senior Champion Sarah Rogers

Grand Champion Kaylee Kudela Reserve Champion James Bayer

Senior Bred By Sarah Rogers Clipping Contest Grace Salter

Class 07 – Winter Yearling 12/1/2019 – 2/29/2020

Senior Champion Kaylee Kudela

1st – Riverview FFA 1st – Logan Shoop 1st – Sarah Rogers 1st – Mya Salter 2nd – Andrew Hammer 2nd – Kyleigh Glenn 2nd – Colby Holcomb 2nd – Brianna Shepard 3rd – Joseph Neel 3rd – Ella Strickland 4th – Colby Schibler 4th – Alexis Evans 5th – Riverview FFA

Reserve Senior Champion James Bayer

Costume Ball Andrew Hammer Kyleigh Glenn

Junior Champion Grace Salter

Junior Bred By Austin Holcomb

Junior Champion Colton Shoop

Class 06 – Spring Yearling 3/1/2020 – 5/31/2020

1st – Mya Salter 1st – Logan Shoop 1st – Samantha Cisneros 1st – Anna Koch 2nd – Mya Salter 2nd – Logan Shoop 3rd – Brianna Shepard 3rd – Rebecca Holcomb 4th – Quiton Goike 4th – Briley Watson 5th – Colby Holcomb 6th – Jaylene Carey 7th – Taylor Carlisle 8th – Reid Patino Junior Champion Logan Shoop Junior Champion Anna Kich Junior Bred By Mya Salter Class 04 – Fall Heifer Calf 09/1/2020 – 11/30/2020 1st – Taylor Boyd 1st – Andrew Hammer 1st – Kenslee Heinke 1st – Austin Boyd 1st – Nathan Wilhite 2nd – Steven Ragan 2nd – Henry Salter 2nd – Makayla Watson 3rd – Kelsi Gray 3rd – Klytie Turner 3rd – Quinton Goike 4th – Kylee Rhodes 4th – Sarah Rogers 5th – Anna Kock Reserve Junior Champion Taylor Boyd

Class 02 – Spring Heifer Calf 3/1/2021 – 5/31/2021

Reserve Junior Champion Nathan Wilhite

1st – Logan Shoop 1st – Grace Salter 1st – Colton Shoop

Class 05 – Summer Yearling 6/1/2020 – 8/30/2020

1st – Henry Salter 1st – Mya Salter 1st – Brianna Shepard 1st – Aubrey Cook 2nd – Kenslee Heinke 2nd – Kaylee Cloete 2nd – Colby Holcomb 3rd – Colby Holcomb 3rd – Nico Commer 4th – Steven Ragan 5th – Jacob Hill 6th – Cloey Dale Reserve Junior Champion Henry Salter

Junior Champion Logan Shoop Reserve Champion Logan Shoop Junior Bred By Sarah Rogers Class 08 – Fall Yearling 9/1/2019 – 11/30/2019 1st – Kelsi Gray 1st – Austin Holcomb 1st – Brianna Shepard 1st – Amelia Sault 1st – Aubrey Cook 2nd – Kenslee Heinke

Class 13 – Three Year Old 9/1/2017 – 8/31/2018 1st – Kenslee Heinke 1st – Angela Suarez 1st – Kyleigh Glenn 1st – Austin Boyd 1st – Nathan Wilhite 2nd – Andrew Hammer Grand Champion Austin Boyd Reserve Champion Kenslee Heinke Senior Champion Austin Boyd Reserve Senior Champion Kenslee Heinke Reserve Senior Champion Nathan Wilhite Class 14 – Four Year Old 9/1/2016- 8/31/2017 1st – Kenslee Heinke

Reserve Junior Champion Aubrey Cook

Grand Champion Kenslee Heinke

Class 12 – Two Year Old 9/1/2018 – 8/31/2019

Senior Champion Kenslee Heinke

1st – Angela Suarez

Class 15 – Aged Cow INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

1st – Kelsi Gray 1st – Kyleigh Glenn 1st – Sarah Rogers 2nd – Kyleigh Glenn 2nd – Sarah Rogers 3rd – Taylor Boyd 3rd – Savannah RIe

Showmanship 1st – Henry Salter 1st – Logan Shoop 1st – Kenslee Heinke 2nd – Colton Shoop 2nd – Grace Salter 2nd – Kyleigh Glenn 3rd – Andrew Hammer 3rd – Briley Watson 3rd - Austin Holcomb

BROILERS Grand Champion Emma Zimmerman Reserve Champion Eric Zimmerman Market Lamb Grand Champion Mackenzie Paul Reserve Champion Emma Leiss Class 1 1st – Abigail McGuin 1st – Brock Sampson 1st – Levi Sampson 2nd – Annika Legg 3rd – Renata Blatt 4th – Gabriel Holt 5th – Ryan Rice 6th – Steinbrenner FFA 7th – Julia Jones October 2021

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Born before 9/1/2016

1st – Austin Holcomb 1st – Aubrey Cook 1st – Robert Campaomor 2nd – Thomas Campoamor 2nd – Kyleigh Glenn

Reserve Junior Champion L6 – Aged Ram – Born before Logan Shoop 10/31/17 and less than 5 Class 03 – Winter Heifer Calf years of age 12/1/2020 – 2/28/2021 1st – Kaysie Kropik

Showmanship

1st – Kaylee A Kudela 1st – Sarah Rogers 1st – Andrew Hammer 1st – Austin Boyd 2nd – James Bayer 2nd – James Bayer 2nd – Makayla Watson 3rd – Spoto FFA 3rd – Spoto FFA

2nd – Logan Shop 2nd – Ella Strickland 3rd - Riverview FFA 4th – Riverview FFA 5th – Andrew Hammer


9th – Cody Rice

Market Steer

Class 2

Grand Champion Bella Ballard

2nd – Kayla Hanson 3rd – Dylan Karnowski 4th – Brantley Newsome 5th – Turkey Creek FFA 6th – Kallie Moore Class 3 1st – Tomlin FFA 2nd – Gideon Miller 3rd – Reagan Richter 4th – Brady Bedenbaugh 5th – Brandon Karnowski 6th – Brandon FFA 7th – Makayla Watson Class 4 1st – Emma Leiss 2nd – Ian Mercer 3rd – Stevie Harrell 4th – Bentley Bridges 5th – Connor Kennedy 6th – Tyler Ferrell 7th – Chesnee Wink 7th – Kamryn Colon Class 5 1st – Logan Shoop 2nd – Jessica Ferreira 3rd – William Jones 4th – Esdras Vanegas 5th – Savannah Rice 6th – Sawyer O’Brien

Class 1 1st – Rebecca Holcomb 2nd – Shelby Lawrence 3rd – Eliana Holt 4th – Marshall FFA Class 2 1st – Morgan Simmons 2nd – Milee Hasting 3rd – Madison Parks Class 3 1st – Bella Ballard 2nd – Emily Johnson 3rd – Gracelyn Grooms 4th – Tylie Thompson Class 4 1st – Gabby Howell 2nd – Maddox Sewell 3rd – Jessie Parker Class 5 1st – Case Watson 2nd – Connor Scott 3rd – Morgan Walls

Best of Breed Faith Manis

Best of Variety Faith Manis

Grand Champion Lukas Hardesty

Best of Breed Aigail Buie

Reserve Champion Faith Manis

Best of Breed Emma Hoffman

Swine Show

Best of Variety Lukas Hardesty Senior Buck Best of Variety Katarina Bailey Best of Variety Shelby Lawrence Best of Breed Shelby Lawrence Best of Breed Ava Gelyon Best of Variety Elizabeth Buie Best of Breed Abigail Buie Best of Breed Aubrie Sullenberger

POULTRY

2nd – Jayde McConnell 3rd – Durant FFA 4th – Deira Tabacco 5th – Aubree Palmer 6th – Georgia Kimbrell

Market Turkey

Best of Variety Emma Hoffman

Grand Champion Mackenzie Paul

Best of Variety Abigail Buie

Reserve Champion Clayton Brown

Grand Champion Emma Hoffman

Bantam

Doe Intermediate

Grand Champion Jacob Hardesty

Best of Variety Jack Connor

Reserve Champion Joseph Boettger

Doe Senior

1st – Mackenzie Paul 2nd – Ruca Rhoton 3rd – Kenzie Palmer 4th – Savannah Jenkins 5th – Jacob Collins 6th – JG Smith FFA Class 8 1st – Bryan Ferrell 2nd – Braxton Willis 3rd – Chloe Howard 4th – Brylynn P Newsome 5th – Bailey Keys Class 9 1st – Addison Hoerle 2nd – Carter Herndon-Stalvey 3rd – Ethan Wilcox 4th – Faith Satterfield

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Champion Female Commercial-Egg Production Grace Jawulski Large Fowl Champion Large Fowl Emma Zimmerman Reserve Champion Large Fowl Ilka Santos

October 2021

Best of Breed Aubrie Sullenberger

Rabbit Show

Class 6

Class 7

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Reserve Champion Case Watson

Reserve Champion Female Commercial – Egg Production Tobias Price

Best of Breed Katarina Bailey Best of Breed Lukas Hardesty Best of Breed Jack Connor Best of Variety Ava Gelyon Best of Variety Katarina Baily

Grand Champion Ellie Smith Reserve Champion Jayde McConnell Class 1 1st - Ciera Diaz 2nd – Tucker Thomas 3rd – Hannah Rice 4th – Mallory Goodyear 5th – Brenna Sturgis 6th – Emma Futch 7th – Eli Simmons 8th – Hannah Simmons 9th – Alyssa Fletcher

2nd – Payton THoms 3rd – McCoy Price 4th – Turkey Creek FFA 5th – Hayden Vaneepoel 6th – David Bradley 7th – Steinbrenner 8th – Austin English 9th – Alex Griffin Class 6 1st – Tanner O’Neal 2nd – Chesnee Wink 3rd – Raegan Hyder 4th – Megan Dempsey 5th – Hillsborough County Federation 6th – Lola Strickland 7th – Lacey merrell 8th – Isaac McCay Class 7 1st – Jayde McConnell 2nd – Avery Ashley 3rd – Alafia Kids 4-H 4th – Danica Gill 5th – Emilee Taylor 6th – Savannah Brocksmith 7th – Madison Lefler 8th – Brantley Mullis

Class 2

Class 8

1st – Hunter Jones 2nd – Taylor English 3rd – Mia Peters 4th – Camryn Brown 5th – Randall FFA 6th – Keegan Smith 7th – Noah McNabb 8th – Eli Griffin 9th – Newsome FFA

1st – Brock Sampson 2nd – Cooper Davis 3rd – Brielee Bedenbaugh 4th – Chance Christie 5th – Lyla Bent 6th – Kinley Dix 7th – Taylor Stewart 8th – Brooklyn Ball 9th – Nathan Sewell

Class 3

Class 9

1st – Ella Strickland 2nd – James Cooper 3rd – Jackson Karnowski 4th – Lexi Naeher 5th – Rylee Davis 6th – Jacob Collins 7th – Chloe Crim 8th – Alexandra Jirinec 9th – Ryan Rice

1st – Ellie Smith 2nd – Durant FFA 3rd – Brylynn Newsome 4th – Haylee Morris 5th – Tayli O’Neal 6th – Aubrie Sullenberger 7th- Jackson Sturgis 8th- Gerald Michael Daniels 9th – Xavier Smith

Class 4

Class 10

1st – Nina Rizzo 2nd – Danielle Ricks 3rd – Taylor Smith 4th – Olivia Lawton 5th – Bryce Runkles 6th – Carlos Collins 7th – David Hudson 8th – Joel Bender 9th – Grace Merrell

1st – Ava Swindle 2nd – Gillian Matheson 3rd – Kash Swilley 4th – Plant City FFA 5th – Kaylee Hudson 6th – Wyatt Drawdy 7th – Tyler Gonser 8th – Brightyn Willis 9th – Gaither FFA 10th – Lloyd Mitchell

Class 5 1st – Mulrennan Middle

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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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®


A Walk In The Woods Florida Style!

by John Dicks Sometimes, it seems, you just need a reset on life. I’ve been hearing that a lot from people these days as this pandemic wears on and on. For many, including me, a trip back to nature is what best clears the air. Often, though, when you tell someone you’re going for a “walk in the woods,” it likely conjures the image of a journey to the mountains. Admittedly, that’s not at all a bad choice to make. Not long ago, there was even a book published, and, of course, a resulting movie, entitled A Walk In The Woods, which recanted a delightful and soul searching ramble with a trek along the Appalachian Trail. It inspired many to see how far they, too, could make it through the hills and mountains the AT covers from its relatively gentle start in Georgia before ending far, far north in the rugged and rocky part of Maine. Lucky for us, though, we’ve got many, many opportunities to hit the trail right here in Florida. It’s rather amazing to recognize that our lovely state has more than 17 million acres of forest land. That means the undeveloped land we all long for still encompasses about 50% of Florida’s total land area! Sometimes that number is hard to imagine when driving along the interstate from one megapolis to the next. It’s true, though, and just the thought of that much nature remaining in the Sunshine State should put a smile on your face. Granted, that some of those millions of forestry acres are being used commercially for a wide variety of building materials, paper and other items harvested from trees. Still, though, it’s a renewable and resilient source that by its very being adds to the betterment and quality of life. About a third of Florida’s forestry lands are publicly owned. Most fall under the protection of the federal government. A big chunk, though, rests in the hands of the state, making up its 38 state forests (and one ranch), totaling some 1,153,693 acres.

Fortunately, that makes for plenty of room to roam, and most times, if you want to, can be done with nary seeing a single sole along the way. The responsibility for all this largess of land is done by the Florida Forest Service. The agency has been in the business of playing public lands watchdog for more than 80 years. It lists its primary mission as one “to protect and maintain the forests’ biological diversity while integrating public use of the resources.” The good news, as it should be noted, is that Florida’s 38 state forests, under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, are in addition to the adventure we can enjoy with Florida’s “175 award winning state parks, trails, and historic sites,” all being managed by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection. It all adds up to plenty of places and lots of land for hiking, paddling, camping, and/or just convening with nature. Not to be outdone, the USDA Forest Service is busy in Florida with its administration of the ambitious project, successfully developed over time, known as the Florida National Scenic Trail which it boasts as including “some of the most beautiful, unique landscapes in the entire country.” While it’s probably better known as simply the Florida Trail, it was officially recognized in 1983 as a National Scenic Trail. It stretches more than 1,500 miles across Florida, running through both public and some 100 private “partner land management units.” It’s an ecological diverse route, stretching from the beaches along Pensacola in the Gulf Islands National Seashore all the way down south to the Big Cypress National Preserve. As you might suspect, very few people hike it all the way through as one long journey. Break it up, though, into sections, and it’s a doable adventure that will give you vivid, real world glimpses into the parts of Florida most people never experience, nor even imagine. It makes you hum while you wander, just as the song sings, “Happy Trails To You!”

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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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ANaturally Closer Look Amazing

by Sean Green

Harlequin Bug (Murgantia historica) I am very glad the Halloween season is here again. It’s one of my favorite holidays because I like role playing and dressing up in costumes. In the natural world there are many animals that also participate in role playing and dressing up in costumes. It’s not in a literal sense of course but for the sake of this article, close enough. When animals look or act or act like something other than what they really are, it’s called mimicry, because they are mimicking something else. For those of us that dress up to mimic, it’s all in fun. However, for animals to do this, it’s no game, it’s survival. This month to honor the Halloween season we are featuring an insect that looks like a tribal mask one might wear for Halloween. Lets take a closer look at an insect commonly known as the Harlequin bug. This bug has one of the coolest costumes of the insect world but may not be one you want to invite to the party. The Harlequin bug has many common names including the Harlequin cabbage bug, the calico bug, and the fire bug. It is a native of Mexico and Central America and was first identified in 1864 from a Texas specimen and began to spread throughout North America shortly after the American Civil War. Scientifically it is known as Murgantia histrionica, and it’s a member if the stinkbug family (Pentatomidae). Many introduced species are potentially devastating pest to local crops. The Harlequin bug is especially threatening to U.S. cruciferous crops (Brassicaceae) that include various staple crops of our Florida pioneers such as cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, mustard greens, kale, broccoli, and radishes. These insects are difficult to manage because they have few natural predators in the United States. Our Florida climate provides the ideal environment for this species to feed and reproduce all year long, making it especially challenging for Florida farmers. The spectacular coloration of the Harlequin bug resembles a tribal mask and may contribute to the insect’s survival by tricking (or scaring) a predator into choosing another treat. The Harlequin bug is a member of the stinkbug family (Pentatomidae). Most North American species in the Pentatomidae family are drab green or brown in color. The flamboyant colors of the Harlequin bug, however, make this species distinctive among other stink bugs in North America. It is well known that the bright color pattern of the insect is often a means of deterring predators. Consider the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) or the Eastern Lubber (Romalea microptera), both species sport similar bright colors to warn predators of their toxicity. Aposematism is the behavior of presenting warning colors that a species is honestly toxic or distasteful to a predator. Mullerian mimicry is when two or more species evolve to display a common color pattern, such as orange, black and yellow, to advertise an honest warning of their toxicity. The Harlequin bug, like the lubber and monarch, feed on toxic plants to become toxic to their predators, for the Harlequin bug, its host plants are those in the Brassicaceae family.

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Brassicaceae have evolved a fascinating defense mechanism. The sap within the plant contains enzymes and other substances that are separated by cell walls and harmless on their own, however, when the plant is attacked and the cell walls break, the compounds mix to produce a noxious repellent with insecticidal properties. This strategy works well to protect the plant from many predators, but the Harlequin bug is a pest of another color, and like the 16th century character that gives this bug it’s namesake, the Harlequin bug attempts to thwart the plans of the master in pursuit of its own hunger. The chemicals that are intended to protect the plant from insect predators are instead sequestered from the plant and stored within the Harlequin bugs body as a toxic response to its own predators. Ironically, when the Harlequin bug damages the plant, the chemicals released during the attack attract parasitoid wasps of the (Encyrtidae) and (Platigastridae) fam-

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ily both of which attack Harlequin bugs eggs. Formal studies have documented up to 50% control with parasitoid wasps. Spiders such as the crab spider and wolf spider have been shown to reduce crop damage up to 60% when mulch is provided as a spider habitat. In Mexico, where the Harlequin bug is native, people are effective predators of any bug in the stink bug (Pentatomidae) or leaf footed bug (Coreidae) family. This variety of bug as a food is called Jumiles. I have tasted several types of insects and have not yet tried Jumiles. They are typically roasted or fried but can be eaten raw and are reported to have a bitter cinnamon taste and odor because of the iodine content. Salsa and taco filling is often made with Jumiles. It should not be hard to find the Harlequin bug if you want to take a closer look. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


Florida FFA State Secretary Carter P. Howell

Like the prior month, September was an absolute whirlwind for the State Officer Team and me. However, with this busy schedule came some of the most amazing and memorable experiences to date. The first two weeks of the month were full of planning for the next big event on the Florida FFA Association’s calendar; Chapter Officer Leadership Training. COLT is the second conference in the Associations Leadership Continuum, and it caters to the largest number of students. Planning for this event was extremely challenging as each group of students we would be facilitating to would have about 200 students. My teammates and I had to devise a plan for activities that would keep students engaged and entertained. In addition to the tangible activities that would be completed we also planned for the conference to have the theme of a Safari Adventure and we titled the conference Expedition Advocacy. For the purposes of addressing the month in chronological order I will address the outcomes of the conferences last. September 13th was an early morning for the State Officer Team as we boarded a plane at dawn headed for Des Moines, Iowa. This was the first day of our American Agriculture Experience in Iowa. This experience is graciously put together each year by Mr. Denny Gienger and the Tama County Pork Producers. This weeklong experience is designed to immerse the State Officer Team in American Agriculture. Obviously, agriculture is prominent in our state and local communities however, our production is mainly specialty crops as opposed to traditional row crop operations of corn and soybeans in the Midwest. While on our trip we had many unique and impactful experiences. Our first visit was to the Iowa Pork Producers Association Headquarters in Des Moines, where we were hosted for dinner and had an excellent presentation on Iowa agriculture and its ability to feed the world. We were also able to discuss many of the challenges the pork industry is facing, such as guaranteeing that agriculturalists are being good stewards of the land and that we are educating consumers about American Agriculture and telling our story as agriculturalists. While on the topic of telling our story it only seems fitting to address our next stop on the tour at Cookies BBQ Sauce and Seasonings with Mr. Speed Herrig. Mr. Speed is the owner of Cookies,

As we continued throughout the week, we were able to visit several other agricultural entities. A day that was one of my favorites involved visiting New Century FS and Stine Seed Company. New Century FS is an agricultural cooperative with numerous locations in Iowa that provides crop protection services, seed, fertilizer and so much more to local farmers. It was interesting to see the connection between Florida and Iowa as much of the phosphate needed for their fertilizers is sourced from Central Florida. Stine Seed is such a compelling story of success. As the largest soybean breeder in the world and the most aggressive corn breeder they take a scientific and fair approach to their business. Stine strives to offer their customers the cheapest and highest quality product possible. Perhaps the most compelling day of the trip consisted of a trip to the Iowa State Meats Laboratory and then later to Brenneman Pork. Brenneman Pork is one of the largest family-owned pork producers in the nation. This operation farrows their own sows, and the State Officer Team was able to spend time in the farrowing unit to assist sows in delivering their litters of piglets. This was my absolute favorite experience of the trip! After returning home it was full speed ahead on Colt Conferences putting the final touches on for a great experience. Beginning on September 28th through October 5th we were able to equip nearly 2,000-chapter leaders with the necessary skills in teamwork, relationships, social media presence, and advocacy to make a difference in their chapters and communities this year. The conferences were nothing short of amazing and we all had an excellent time being able to facilitate to so many familiar faces. Lastly, I would like to thank the Florida FFA Staff for all their hard work in making sure that all our events run smoothly throughout the year. Without their guidance and support, none of the things we can do would be possible. I am looking forward to another exciting month ahead! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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and his story is a true representation of the American Dream that I still believe is alive today. A man that came from nothing was able to build a successful business that provides a quality product across the nation, he was able to do this through hard work, dedication, and a belief in the product he was selling.


endly

Business Up Front

Vestaron:

The Power of Peptides

By Tiffany Dale ®

THE POWER OF PEPTIDES

vestaron.com

Vestaron, a USA based crop protection company, is taking the market by storm with the power of peptides and continues ©2021 Vestaron All Rights Reserved. to expand registrations with theirCorporation. SPEAR family of products. Read Follow Labelcompany Directions. Vestaron originated as a Always research andand development 4717 Campus Drive, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008 and recognized an opportunity to bring their chemistry of solutions to growers. Since entering the crop protection market with their innovative solutions, the impacts and results have gained global recognition. Vestaron’s success is built on their value points which include: effective, non-toxic, flexible, and revolutionary, their efforts are gaining global recognition and traction. ●Effective: proven efficacy of a synthetic with the sustainability and benefits of a biological ●Non-Toxic: designed to be safe on honeybees, fish and mammals, and to work in coordination with natural enemies and biological control agents ●Flexible: unique mode of action on the insect nervous system (nicotinic acetylcholine receptor), showing no cross-resistance with other insecticides, rotational partner for resistance management with 4-hour re-entry interval and 0-day preharvest interval ●Revolutionary: proprietary platform and approach to generate peptide-based bioinsecticides that are yielding novel modes of action and a rich pipeline of new products for tools against major classes of insect and mite pests Vestaron’s SPEAR ® brand family of products, provides new technology with a unique mode of action in a biological solution, which often yields greater results than that of a synthetic option. New products include, Spear-Lep and Spear-T which have been granted approval for use in tobacco and hemp. Spear T was approved for field use on soft bodied insects such as mites, thrips, aphids, whiteflies and spotted wing drosophila. The SPEAR family is IRAC Group 32, a group of its own due to its unique mode of action, with a 4-hour re-entry interval (REI), 0 day preharvest interval (PHI), and also a beneficial and pollinator safe with no maximum residue limit (MRLs). Additionally, Vestaron will be launching its second active ingredient named BASIN late 2022 and like SPEAR, BASIN is active on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) at yet another new site, allowing it to be added to integrated pest management programs to fight insects and resistance. Basin will serve as a rotation tool, to combine with SPEAR, not as a replacement.

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The science behind the power of peptides produces the power of synthetics and the safety and sustainability of biologi-

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cals. Vestaron’s peptides overcome existing resistance issues while offering a desired safety profile for workers, beneficials and the environment. Vestaron selects peptides that are potent against well validated modes of insecticidal action, and are not inherently cross-resistant from synthetic insecticides. Through synthesis of genes and a fermentation production system, they yield an active ingredient that formulates a bioinsecticide for use in fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and other high-value crops. Additionally, these same genes can be put directly into plants to create plant-incorporated pesticides, which efficiently delivers insecticides to pest targets. Vestaron is a USA based company with R&D in Kalamazoo, MI and corporate headquarters in RTP, North Carolina, and has pending registrations in Canada and Mexico. Vestaron works with growers across the country to prioritize efficacy, the environment, and sustainability all through the power of peptides and the results that supersede those of synthetic products. Vestaron believes in sustainability. The peptide-based crop protection is effective and addresses proven targets while also bringing health and viability to the environment. The Vestaron pipeline is full of effective, peptide-based insecticides designed to fight troublesome insects and resistance with high safety profiles for workers and the environment. The success of this peptide-based science has brought global recognition and accolades to Vestaron. In 2021 Vestaron was included in the 2021 Global Cleantech 100 Company list, and previous to that, they were recognized for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program, the Thrive Top 50 Growth-Stage, the 2020 Global Cleantech 100, and the 2015 Bernard Blum Award for novel biocontrol solutions. Vestaron’s team of 50+ employees work together to continue to provide effective solutions for agriculture while prioritizing sustainability. Eric Hammons, Southeast Manager for Vestaron, is the local contact, and a resident of Hillsborough County. Eric attained a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture, a Masters of Science in Innovation Management, and served in the U.S. Navy as a Sonar Technician/Search and Rescue Swimmer during the Desert Shield and Desert Storm campaigns. To learn more about Vestaron and the SPEAR family of products, contact Eric Hammons or visit Vestaron online.

ERIC S HAMMONS

Southeast Territory Manager

EHammons@vestaron.com (813)9 67-4284

Vestaron.com WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


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Market Life Since 1948 By Libby Hopkins

The Lumley Family of Plant City has had numerous business endeavors together. “As a family we have had many business adventures from a whole nursery, landscape contracting company, while also working for Plant City Fire Department and even a restaurant, which was not our favorite endeavor, however, it made us realize what we missed most of all, the outdoors,” said Kevin Lumley. “These were all businesses we as a family started and operated, but the love for the outdoors and the agricultural world is only one of the many reasons for The Market at St. Martin’s Farm.”

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St. Martin’s farm was established by the St. Martin Family in 1948 when peas, strawberries and okra were their main crops. “Peas were shelled and sold in the red barn up front in what today is the Market at St. Martin’s Farm,” Lumley said. “We originally purchased the neighboring property and house next to the St. Martin’s Farm years prior. Austin Lumley and Tori Lumley had spent many days as kids in the field working, pulling plastic, weeding, irrigation work, playing and more playing. When Mike approached us about continuing the tradition in acquiring the St. Martin’s Farm it was a no brainer, this is where we all were born and raised, Plant City, right here on Colson Road. This would be a great opportunity for Tori and Austin to learn true life lessons and eventually have full responsibility of the farm and The Market and continue carrying on a dying tradition, ‘The Family Farm.’”

production occurs on large-scale and midsize family farm. America’s Diverse Family Farms report reveals that families remain central to our agricultural economy. (www.usda.gov/ media/blog/2020/01/23/look-americas-family-farms) The Market at St. Martin’s Farm is a local favorite. Visitors travel from all over the Tampa Bay area to check out what the market has to offer. “We have had great feedback from all our patrons, most are kind of shocked of the ambience inside,” Lumley said. “They also seem to love Simon the Donkey and the Cajun boiled peanuts.” If you ask any of the Lumley family, what is their favorite part of the market, they’ll tell you growing is the best part. “Growing, we like to see life start out as a seed and produce what you see here at the market,” Lumley said. “We love to see things grow.” “Keeping things local are truly important to our entire family,” Lumley said. “We understand how hard it is to survive in the small business world where corporate America has the upper hand. It saddens us to see small local businesses shut down. When all possible we try to support our local Plant City businesses. In the future when our wheels are fully turning, we will be out showing that support even more.” The Lumley’s have big plans for the market in the coming year. “We are planning on adding petting zoo, a food trailer, butterfly garden and great farm experience tour for kids,” Lumley said.

The more than 2 million farms in the U.S. vary greatly in size and characteristics with an annual gross revenue ranging from as little as $1,000 to more than $5 million. USDA research found that family farms remain a key part of U.S. agriculture, making up 98 percent of all farms and providing 88 percent of production. Most farms are small family farms, and they operate almost half of U.S. farmland, while generating 21 percent of production. Midsize and large-scale family farms account for about 66 percent of production and non-family farms represent the remaining 2.1 percent of farms and 12 percent of production.

If you’d like to learn more about The Market at St. Martin’s Farm, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheMarketatSt. MartinsFarm. The market is located at

Farming is still overwhelmingly comprised of family businesses. While most U.S. farms are small, most agricultural

4898 James Redman Parkway in Plant City.

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Florida Growers!

Want shoppers to choose your products? 9 out of 10 consumers are more likely to purchase products labeled “Fresh From Florida” Become a “Fresh From Florida” member to use the logo on your products

Go with The Logo They Know

Membership fee is only $50/year For more information, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services IndustryMKT@FDACS.gov | 850-617-7399 | FDACS.gov INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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The Hillsborough County Fair held the 2021 Harvest Awards Lunch, sponsored by Mosaic, on September 23, 2021. The event kicked off with a welcome by Mike McKinney, chair of the Harvest Awards Committee. Strawberry Crest JROTC Color Guard presented the colors and Brenna Sturgis, Hillsborough County FFA Federation, lead those present in the Pledge of Allegiance. Kenzie Wheeler sang the National Anthem and the invocation was given by Cooper Davis, Hillsborough County FFA Federation. Below are the recipients with bios as they were presented. Farm Family of The Year Glenn & Frances Williamson Presented by Nikki Foster with Mosaic. The 2021 Hillsborough County Fair Harvest Award Farm Family of the Year goes to Glenn and Frances Williamson. Both Glenn and Francis are fourth generation Florida farmers. Glenn was born and raised on the family homestead, which dates back to 1888. Together, they began their farming operation on 13 acres given to them by Glenn’s father. They were married in February of 1952 while attending Turkey Creek High School. Glenn and Frances have been partners in life as well as business for the last 70 years. While strawberries have always been their main crop, they have grown other vegetables, such as peppers, squash, beans and cucumbers. Glenn and Frances have always been active in the farming community. Glenn served on the Board of Directors for Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, was Secretary of the Hillsborough County Strawberry Marketing Commission and was recognized by the Plant City Junior Chamber of Commerce as Outstanding Young Farmer in 1962. Frances has been featured several times in the Tampa Tribune for her contributions as a Woman in Agriculture. In 1992, the couple was inducted into the Florida Strawberry Growers Hall of Fame. Over the years, Glenn and Frances have been involved in many ventures. They were shareholders in Walden & Sparkman, were founding owners of Ag Mart Produce with Marvin Brown and Rodger Blanco. Glenn and Francis began their affiliation with Driscoll Strawberry Associates in the late 1980s and began growing berries exclusively for this label. Having the same commitment to quality was important, so the partnership seemed natural. Glenn was an early adopter of water for frost and freeze protection, as well as plastic mulch and drip tape for growing the berries. These practices are now what prevails in the industry, but at the time were innovative. Glenn and Francis still have 88 acres of berries that they produce under G & F Farms and FranBerry Farms as well as 60 acres of blueberries and 750 acres of strawberries under Florida Pacific with partners, Kim Stickles and Garland and Miles Reiter. While retired from the day-to-day operations, they spend time back and forth between the homestead in Dover and their home on Tampa Bay. Glenn is still actively involved in overseeing the operation and mentoring younger farmers in the strawberry industry.

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They have three children, 7 grandchildren, and 14 greatgrandchildren.

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Photos Courtesy of Ron O’Connor

Lifetime Achievement in Agriculture Jemy Hinton Presented by Kimberly Overman, Hillsborough County BOCC The 2021 Hillsborough County Fair Harvest Award of Lifetime Achievement was presented to Jemy Hinton. Jemy is the daughter of former Lakeland mayor and physician James Robert West. She grew up with a love of animals and agriculture. Jemy attended the University of Florida where she met Chip, a Gator football player. They married and had three daughters. Jemy worked at UF while she pursued her AA degree in Agriculture for UF. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Natural Sciences from Florida Southern and began work towards a Masters of Environmental Education at UF. In 1972, Jemy began working at UF/IFAS Strawberry Lab in Dover as the Center’s first biologist. She has also co-owned and operated a production plant nursery. She joined extension in Hillsborough County as a Home Environmental Specialist, helping farmers and homeowners to resolve common problems. After nine years, Jemy became a 4-H extension agent. Jemy was later presented the opportunity to join the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as an Environmental Specialist and Agricultural Liaison with the newly formed Ecosystem Management Program. This position assisted farmers with questions and concerns about regulations and procedures. In 2006, Jemy had the chance to enhance her service to farmers in west central Florida as a team member of UF/IFAS, AG Best Management Practices (BMP) program, which is now housed by FDACS. Jemy has taken countless students to the Dean’s office in the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences at the University of Florida to educate and expose them to the opportunities in the industry. She invests in others and shares her knowledge and experiences. Jemy has served in officer and board positions with Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission’s Feedback Committee representing Ag, Hillsborough County 4H Foundation Board, Florida Ag Hall of Fame’s Youth Mentor & Scholarship Committee, and the UF Plant City Campus Scholarship Committee. She is also actively involved with Ag Abilities and Ag Venture. She has received the Woman of the Year in Ag Harvest Award in 2003, Ag Educator of the Year in 2019, is a Life Member of UF’s National Alumni Association, and is a Commissioned Kentucky Colonel by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She is constantly giving to the Redlands Christian Migrant Association, Farm Bureau, her church, 4-H, and the University of Florida. Outstanding Woman in Agriculture Debbie Gill Presented by Chad Chronister, Hillsborough County Sheriff The 2021 Harvest Award Outstanding Woman in Agriculture is WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


on the farm and ranch. She continues to share her knowledge of the beef industry and history of the cattle families of Florida. Outstanding Young Farmer Matt Parke Presented by Melissa Raburn, Hinton Farms.

Debbie Gill. Debbie lives in Fort Lonesome on the same land that has served as the ranch’s old homestead since the late 1800s. She is the owner/operator of Lonesome G Ranch LLC, a commercial cattle operation that spreads across multiple counties. She works in the office and pastures daily, alongside her husband Anthony of 36 years, and children Ryan and Kaitlyn. They regularly host farm tours on the L.G. ranch with the theme of “Farm to Table.” Along with the cattle, her family also operates a Florida U-pick peach orchard. She is a member of the Hillsborough County Cattlewoman’s Association and has served as Vice-President for four years. Through her involvement in her county cattlewomen’s, Mrs. Gill has volunteered and tabled at numerous events, including Ag Literacy Days, Beef Demos, Beef Station Ag in the Classroom, Junior Cattlemen’s Beef Cook-Off’s, and the Hillsborough County Fair Beef booth. She has also served as both a coach and a mentor for Quiz Bowl teams, marketing teams, and as advisor for the HC Junior Cattlemen’s Associations. Debbie was named Agriculturalist of the Year in 2016 and has been nominated for Farm Family of the Year for 2017 by Florida Farm Credit. She is current chair for Beef for the Holidays-Hope Children’s Home and served as a founding member of the Florida Agritourism Association. She has volunteered at the FCA State Convention, the FCW Beef Booth at the State Fair, Southern Women’s Show, Ranch Rodeo, The Florida Beef Council, FCW Clay Shoot, and lobbied at Boots on the Hill. Mrs. Gill is also involved in American National Cattlewomen’s Association. She is an honorary State FFA member. She is involved in the Fresh from Florida program and Florida Farm Bureau. In 2004, the Gill’s suffered unimaginable tragedy with the passing of their son, Justin in an accident. Many cattle families stepped in to support the family in their time of need. Debbie in turn, continued to be an advocate for the cattle industry and has gone on to create scholarships and beef shows in Justin’s honor. Debbie is a woman of faith and strong advocate in property rights

Matt is 34 years old and married to Kandice. They have a 10-year-old daughter named Sara. He has been working in the family farming operation since he was little and is well acquainted with all aspects of the business, having grown up in it. The family is a large strawberry grower and shipper and also does many vegetables. Matt has been managing the family’s farming operation solely for the last four strawberry seasons. He is also responsible for managing their cooler operation. In addition, Matt owns and operates CenFlo Organics, which grows organic strawberries. Matt has grown up in Dover and feels that this is the best place to live and work. Farming may be a hard job, but it is the lifestyle that he loves. He wants to see this way of life continue for the next generation. Matt is proud to be a part of this generation that is feeding America. Matt is on the board of the local USDA Farm Service Agency. He has worked with UF Extension when asked to host tour groups at his farms and packinghouse for visiting researchers and farmers from other parts of the country. He also has worked with UF Gulf Coast Research and Education Center researchers when asked if they can visit the farm to collect research samples. No matter what group has visited the operation, he as graciously taken time out to interact with them and answer their questions. Matt feels that whatever can be learned from his operation is good for contines on pg. 58 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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The 2021 Harvest Awards Young Farmer was presented toMatt Parke. Matt is a fourth generation farmer. He is a member of the well-known Dover Strawberry farming family- the Roy Parke Family- of “Parkesdale Farms.” They have been previously honored with the Farm Family of the Year.


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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD

By J. Scott Angle

At the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural take on leadership of yet another, and he joked, “Because Jack Sciences, we’ve got plenty of experts to find solutions for your asked me to.” His affectionate response indicates the level of groves, ranches and fields in Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk trust Rechcigl has earned. counties. We need experts on problems. That’s you. Rechcigl fortified the Council’s membership with industry repThat’s why I visited earlier this year with some of Hillsborough resentatives such as Mary Hartney and Sonia Tighe, an agriculCounty’s agricultural leaders. Kenneth Parker, Tony DiMare, tural economic development official and even a state legislaCarl Grooms, David Carson, Gary Wishnatski and Chip and tor. State Rep. Lawrence McClure was already one of our 2019 Jemy Hinton know all about the challenges of producing food legislators of the year and one of the great champions for the for a living. They’re among those who serve on the Gulf Coast UF/IFAS budget in this year’s session. Advisory Council, the voice of the grower inside the research Representative McClure offered his support for an AI/robotics station. center in Balm. This is part of what makes the Council more Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Director Jack Rech- than an advisory board. They are in leadership positions to accigl and UF/IFAS horticulturalist Nathan Boyd were presenting tually implement what they recommend. to the Council a proposed new direction for the center. The vision: a Silicon-Valley-meets-Cultivation-Corridor cradle of arti- Rechcigl and the GCREC faculty have become adept interficial intelligence and robotics innovation to retool the Florida preters of grower input. Feedback from growers helped guide several research endeavors at the GCREC, including Boyd’s refarms we need to feed the world. search that resulted in a prototype that can tell the difference The Council dove into a brass-tacks discussion of what needed between crop and weed and to spray herbicide only on the to happen to convert the vision into brick-and-mortar reality: latter. How much would such a center cost? What equipment would the scientists need? Would kind of faculty would we need to The overall vision is to develop an artificial intelligence center at GCREC that would develop new tools and technologies hire? What can we do to help? How do we fast-track this? that could easily be integrated into agricultural practices for all The Council also discussed what would make this tech hub commodity groups across the state of Florida. The Council’s relevant. DiMare brought up labor shortages and the compar- input and support makes this vision of accelerating ag tech so ative advantage low-wage global competitors enjoy. Grooms much more likely to become a reality. talked of the ongoing battle against pests. Wishnatski noted the need to further foster private sector-public science part- This is how the land-grant mission is supposed to work. A scientist brings a “What if?” to producers at its beginning stages, nerships to accelerate mechanization. not as a fait accompli. Producers identify what’s relevant and Parker used his prerogative as Council chair to advance the what needs to be refined. Together, they chart a course for scidiscussion toward next steps. He called for the Center to de- ence that serves agriculture, not just the academy. velop a written proposal, and the Council unanimously agreed. That’s why I’ll be back for the FloriIn 2017, Rechcigl revamped what had been an advisory board da Ag Expo at Gulf Coast REC next and reconstituted it as the Council. Rechcigl saw the advisory month. It’s an opportunity for you to board model as one that often resulted in commodity-specific learn more about Boyd and Rechcigl’s vision for artificial intelligence recommendations proffered on a project-by-project basis. at the research station. And for me Now, the Council addresses the big picture. Parker says the it’s an opportunity to learn from you Council’s job is to “look around the corner and see 10 years about what challenges we can apply this technology to. out.” One of the things that make Rechcigl an effective leader is how hard he works to bring the real world into the lab. He cultivates relationships with growers so that they’ll devote the time and talent to making GCREC relevant.

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The strength of those relationships is exemplified when you ask Parker, who is on so many committees, why he agreed to

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Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


Don’t let fear stop you from getting the care you need. Don’t delay getting essential medical care. We’ve put enhanced safety measures in place to help keep you safe. COVID-19 has stopped people from doing many things. But we can’t let it stop us from getting what we need most: medical care. BayCare is helping to keep our patients safe by following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for safety processes and cleaning procedures. This makes sure that everyone can feel secure getting the care they need. Don’t let fear of this pandemic make other health conditions worse. Learn more about how we’re keeping you safe: BayCare.org/Safety

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continued from pg. 53 all of agriculture.

add color, excitement and inspiration to the playgrounds of Gibsonton Elementary and Reddick Elementary, both Title 1 schools.

Outstanding Public & Community Service SouthShore Chamber of Commerce Presented by Cindy Stuart, Hillsborough County Clerk of Court The 2021 Hillsborough County Fair Harvest Award recipient of the Outstanding Public & Community Service Award for 2021 goes to the SouthShore Chamber of Commerce in Ruskin, Florida. As the committee read the works of the SouthShore Chamber of Commerce, they were inspired by their willingness to step into the lives of others and give to those in need. This Chamber is one that has taken on the task of bridging the gap in a community where a need is seen and there is no one else that can fill it. They have an Executive Director that saw this need and took it upon herself to begin finding the resources needed to fund and fill the needs. First came the needs of the Educational Partnerships that were formed to fill the needs of the public school teachers in the SouthShore area that weren’t covered by Hillsborough County Schools’ budget. The next were needs of the migrant community. The needs were many and the Executive Director sees those and goes to the community businesses and residents and gets the help that she needs. Each year, the Chamber hosts the Migrant Graduate Banquet to celebrate the achievements of the graduating high school seniors and to thank the family members who have supported them along the way. In 2016, this young lady, through the Chamber, rallied about 25 community volunteers and raised $10,000 to

There isn’t a Hispanic Chamber in Ruskin. Therefore, cross connections are taking several forms; basic language instruction for non-Spanish speakers, educational assistance for Latino youngsters, material contributions when the need arises, and translation of important information into Spanish when needed. Think about things such as Hurricane Preparedness. The Chamber provided this information on two separate nights. One in English, and one in Spanish. A similar format was used when HARTline announced its new flex bus services in the SouthCounty area. The Chamber works hard to collect things needed by the entire community, whether it is diapers for babies, school supplies for the beginning of the year for both teachers and students, clothing and supplies to send to other states after hurricanes or other disasters, helping raise funds or get coffee for the military, money for youngsters that are hurt, or helping to grant the wishes of high school graduates, SouthShore Chamber of Commerce works to lend that hand! Another example of the Chamber’s Latino-consciousness is familiarizing the English speaking business member/owner with some basic instruction in Spanish. What better way to help with transacting business with the best possible outcome? There was a memorial tribute to Dr. Earl Lennard presented by Pam Walden, Harvest Awards Committee. Master of Ceremonies – Melissa Raburn Sponsor Recognition Remarks from Presenting Sponsor – Nikki Foster, Mosaic

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