INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
1
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE
2
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Mon. - Sat.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
813-752-2379
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2013 1 3012 S. Jim Redman Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • southsidestores.com
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
3
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
CONTENTS
April 2021 VOL. 14 • ISSUE 7
28 CENTRAL FLORIDA YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE
PAGE 10 Scott Angle
PAGE 32 PCSO
PAGE 11 Agvocating for youth
PAGE 35 News Briefs PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 12 Ranchers Daughter
PAGE 37 State Officers
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots PAGE 16 The Stories I Heard
PAGE 38 Endangered Species
PAGE 18 Water Conservation
PAGE 40
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 41 A Closer Look
PAGE 25 Dandelion Greens
PAGE 42 CFYIA Results
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 44 RJ Farms
Activity
PAGE 30 Recipes
PAGE 47 PCCW
PAGE 31 Save Water
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
InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner! PAGE
P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – Dave Tomkow 3305 US Highway 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801-9623 (863) 665-5088 dave@cattlemens1.com Vice President – Ken Sherrouse 13475 Moore Rd Lakeland, FL 33809-9755 (863) 698-1834 kensherrouse@yahoo.com Secretary/Treasurer - Justin Bunch PO Box 849 Highland City, FL 33846 (863) 425-1121 justin.bunch@cpsagu.com
images by Blair
4
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
State Director - David Hunt 9699 Alt Bab Pk Cut-Off Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 287-1835 Dhunt285@aol.com Alternate SD – Orrin Webb PO Box 202 Bartow, FL 33831 (941) 916-5093 cwebbowebb@aol.com Ray Clark 4484 Swindell Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay.rr.com Donald Conroy 3882 Wolfolk Rd Fort Meade, FL 33841 (863) 412-0790 Stuart Fitzgerald PO Box 1437 Lake Wales, FL 33859 (813) 478-8141 stuartcattlellc@yahoo.com Kevin Fussell 4523 Fussell Rd Polk City, FL 33868-9676 (863) 412-5876 Scott Shoupe 6130 Allen Lane Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 581-7593 Scott_shoupe@hotmail.com Carlton Taylor 9875 Hancock Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 858-1771 L2brangus@aol.com
Dr. Lujean Waters 8750 Shreck Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 537-1495 Lujean.waters@gmail.com Standing Committee Chairs: Membership Events- Kevin Fussell Trade Show- Bridget Stice Rodeo- Fred Waters PO Box 463 Alturas, FL 33820-0463 (863) 559-7808 Website – Adam Norman 2115 West Pipkin Rd Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 944-9293 Adamnorman1977@gmail. com Cattlewomen – President, Missy Raney PO Box 453 Homeland, FL 33847 (863) 205-3977 Raney747@gmail.com Extension – Bridget Stice PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048 bccarlis@ufl.edu Sheriff’s Dept. – Lt. Paul Wright 1891 Jim Keen Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 557-1741 pw5281@polksheriff.org Sgt. Tim Sanders 1891 Jim Keen Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 656-6119 brusso@polksheriff.org Warner University – Casey Wingate 7155 Wauchula Rd Myakka City, FL 34251 (941) 600-5772 Casey.wingate@warner.edu
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
5
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
STAFF
Letter from the Editor
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols
It’s time for the Florida State Fair! After postponement, thanks to the COVID 19 pandemic, the Florida State Fair is set to kick off on April 22. Though the steer and swine shows have already been held there will still be plenty of agriculture events to see.
As I write this Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried just finished testifying before the U.S. International Trade Commission on the issue of unfair foreign trade. According to the release, a surge in foreign imports of fresh and chilled cucumbers and squash have caused an estimated 2,721 lost jobs, $944 million in lost cash receipts and $1.85 billion in negative economic impact for Florida’s domestic produce growers.
According to the release, Fried provided the ITC with reports from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services showing that while Mexico’s market share of these produce imports increased as much as 134 percent since 2000, Florida’s has decreased by 61 percent, while Georgia’s and Michigan’s decreased by 35 percent – and Georgia’s squash market share has decreased by 84 percent.
Of course, these aren’t the only crops suffering. Specialty crops have long been battling foreign imports. As a matter of fact, in the current testimony, Fried referred to the last time she testified virtually, of course, “Farmers from Florida and across the U.S. testified on the personal hardships they have experienced while Mexico’s blueberry market share in the U.S. increased over 2,000 percent since 2009.”
Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Melissa Nichols Blair Buchanon Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Anita Todd Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders
The battle against unfair foreign trade hits every sector of our agriculture markets. Where does it end? Do we get this under control so that our food is safely grown and harvested right here in our country and our state? Your guess is as good as mine. But the battle wages on.
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Polk 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 Polk County Catllemen’s Association.
Until Next Month
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
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
PAGE
Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
6
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Ready for Spring?
Supplement your cattle with the tastier trace mineral option!
Family owned and operated by Floridians just like you!
Our Minerals and Blocks are fortified with nothing but the very best!
FMS Super-Min Minerals and FMS Super-Pro Blocks with Fly Control
SUPER-MIN
Visit us
|
SUPER-MOL
|
www.floridamineral.com
SUPER-PRO 800-741-5450
Give us a call and let us EARN your business! Greg 813-765-4557 or Gary 863-559-3315 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
7
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Spring is upon us, but countywide we are in major need of some rain. Many of us are nearing the end of our hay supply. It is in times like this that we are reminded we are at the mercy of mother nature to provide for our cattle. Those of us who breed for spring bred have calves on the ground. Supplying an alternative protein source may be a good idea until we get some rain. This year is much like 2019 when water holes were drying out and producers were trying to provide not only nutritional support, but also water to cows. We are all in this together.
Even with drought the market is starting to get better than it was, and CFAP-2 extended to allow producers more time to claim FSA Assistance. Contact the Farm Service Agency for more info and about other programs they may have. As you begin to bring calves in to sell them remember a little goes a long way as far as worming and vaccinating. If you have any questions, I’m always here to help. Thank you
Dave Tomkow
PAGE
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
8
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
9
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD By J. Scott Angle
Eileen Hart has been traveling Hillsborough County for 40 years trying to put more flora in this part of Florida. Camellias in Lutz. Ferns in Valrico. Native plants in Ruskin. She talks in Tampa, Seffner, Riverview, Odessa.
Not all of them do it two or three times a month over the course of eight U.S. presidencies. Nor do they all branch out beyond a single activity to support an entire Extension office’s operation. Hart, for example, also serves on the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County Advisory Board and on the county’s 4-H Foundation board.
Hart has been teaching classes as a Master Gardener Volunteer as long as there has been such a thing in Florida. She sees her volunteer work as propagating flowers and with them We don’t need a 40-year commitment from you, but we do an ethic that she credits Extension with instilling in her: If you need you. Please consider contacting your local office at 813744-5519 or hillsborough@ifas.ufl.edu to learn about volunteer know something, pass it along, teach it. opportunities. Some of the most gratifying moments of her Master Gardener career are when students she has given clippings and instruc- At 78, Hart still returns to that family farm in Georgia to ride tions on how to nurture them return to her with a full-blown horses. And just like cataracts have limited the distance she’ll plant. It’s validation, and it’s an opportunity. She tells them their travel and the darkness she’ll drive in to deliver a talk, she says work isn’t finished, that it’s their responsibility to teach a neigh- her old bones limit how far and how fast she rides. But she has no plans to stop doing either. That family farm still has family, bor. namely a 103-year-old matriarch. Hart still calls it “Cooperative Extension,” just as she did as a 4-Her in rural 1950s Georgia. Back then, it was still an agrar- Hart volunteered while raising kids and working full-time in the ian America where neighbor helped neighbor. You shared the medical field. In fact, she fit that inaugural 1979 Master Gardenwork, and you shared what you knew, like when she stood be- er training class into her schedule by working all night, going fore a panel of 4-H judges and told them how she’d made the directly from work to the Extension office for an 8 a.m. start to class, and returning home for a few hours’ sleep before starting dress she was wearing out of two chicken feed sacks. her next shift. Why, she says, 14 years into retirement and with The Greatest Generation 4-H volunteers of her childhood her kids long since grown, would she stop? taught her another lesson that informs her own volunteerism to this day, that you learn by doing. Hart arrives for each talk Hart estimates that she volunteers approximately 100 per year, not only with a head full of knowledge but a trunk full of clip- and only keeps a tally because it’s a condition for maintaining pings. Each student goes home with a piece that can become her Master Gardener certification. She has no idea how many plants in Hillsborough County and beyond trace their provea plant. nance to her two acres in Odessa. But she hopes each carries She can do this because she grows and clips herself on her in its bloom the cultivation of the agrarian spirit of neighbor two acres in Odessa. Over decades of collecting, she’s curated helping neighbor. thousands of decorative plants she can cull from to turn her talks into hands-on demonstrations. When Hart speaks at a Hart isn’t trying to reclaim paved library or a garden club or a camellia society, dirt gets under Hillsborough for farming. But she does want to revive its agrarian spirfingernails. it. If your neighbor needs help, you During National Volunteer Month, the University of Florida’s In- give it. Share what you know. Grow stitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, which runs the state- something. And support your landwide Master Gardener Volunteer program, salutes volunteers grant university because it supports like Hart. The success of Master Gardener, 4-H and other pro- your community. grams depends on volunteers.
PAGE
This column is a public thank you to Hart and other volunteers who make Hillsborough and Polk counties better places to live, learn and labor.
10
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
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
Agvocating for Youth
by Payge Dupre
This past month I had the pleasure of speaking with an 8th grade student at Bok Academy, Clayton Keene. Clayton is one of our own youth in agriculture, except he has taken a route that isn’t seen very often. Clayton has a passion for bass fishing and giving back to others. When he combined the two, he came up with Casting Lures for Cures. Aside from his fishing tournament, Clayton serves as President of his FFA Chapter. “Clayton is a hard-working and outgoing student and FFA member here at Bok Academy. This year is his second year serving as President of our chapter and he is a great example of what leadership should look like. He truly lives the FFA motto daily by ‘learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live and living to serve.’ He never hesitates to lend a helping hand to anyone. I’m extremely proud of him and all his accomplishments so far,” said Emilyn Sharpless, his advisor. Clayton enjoys going hunting and showing market hogs at the Polk County Youth Fair. He has shown hogs at the Polk County Youth Fair for three years now. Casting Lures for Cures is a fishing tournament benefiting the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation in hopes to find a cure for cancer. The event was put together when he was asked to do a humanities project in 6th grade. This event has also taken a place as one of Clayton’s SAE projects for FFA. Clayton held the event for the first time on March 23, 2019. “On March 23, 2019 the very first Casting Lures for Cures Tournament took place at Guy Harvey Camp Mack Lodge and River Resort. We had 53 boats sign up and participate allowing us to be able to donate a significant amount of money to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. We also had several local businesses who donated raffle items adding to this donation as well. We are so grateful for the Community we
There are many ways you can support Clayton’s cause. Participation in the tournament has an entry fee of $60 for a 2-person boat and $20 big bass fee. You can also show your support by becoming a sponsor. The levels are bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. A bronze sponsorship is $100 with a small business size logo on the banner, business logo and tag line displayed on tournament social media and website, and honorable mention at weigh-in. Silver sponsorship is $200 with a medium business size logo on banner, business logo and tag line on tournament social media and website, and an honorable mention at weigh-in. Gold sponsorship is $300 with a large business size logo on banner, business logo and tag line displayed on tournament social media and website, one free boat entry, and an honorable mention at weigh-in. Platinum sponsorship is $500 with a prestigious business size logo on banner, business logo and tag line displayed on tournament social media and website, two free boat entries and an honorable mention at weigh-in. This year the tournament will take place Saturday, May 1 at the Guy Harvey Camp Mack Resort, Kissimmee Chain. Registration and check in will be at 5:30 AM and weigh in will be at 2 PM. Guaranteed prizes are $1000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place with the remainder of the proceeds going to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Make sure to go support Clayton with this wonderful cause! For sponsorship forms and pre-registration, you can visit castingluresforcures.com or his Facebook page, Casting Lures For Cures! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
11
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
live in and the love they show one another,” Clayton said. He was able to raise $6,000 just in his first year, and again the second!
By Marisol Tarango
CONFESSION OF A RANCHER’S DAUGHTER The life of the rancher’s daughter is full of high adventure. These adventures come from the same storeroom that the tales of the high seas and valiant knights come from. Risking life and limb to protect that which belongs to them, the heroes of the stories, and the rancher’s daughter, not only get a sense of fulfillment from these adventures, but they are also spared from the dullness of everyday life. The rancher’s daughter may not be braving roaring seas or fighting enraged dragons, but some of her adventures are just as daunting… and exciting.
CONFESSION # 22: Sometimes I wish I went on adven-
tures too.
My whole life I have been told how lucky I am to live the exciting life of a rancher’s daughter (and I do agree that I am pretty lucky to have this life), but there needs to be some clarification about the exciting part. I don’t know how many times as a kid I was told by other kids how boring and mundane their lives were with small backyards, school all day, and no horses. I often listened to their tales of woe with pity in my young heart, but after they went home, I started to reconsider my pity and also my life of excitement. While I did have open space to roam and my horse for company, there was still a lot of boring. Getting up and feeding the same animals every day, not leaving the house for a few days straight because we had no reason to go to town, and not even being within biking distance of a store or a friend’s house was pretty boring to me.
imagination. When looking for cows or checking fences, I was a messenger carrying information vital to the revolution because no one would suspect that a girl would be in possession of such valuable intelligence. Or, if it was a windy day, I was out on my dragon patrolling the skies for predators who might want to eat my herd. By now, you might be wondering if I was ever present and attentive to the task at hand, and you are probably also wondering where these ideas came from in the first place. To address the first question, I was present and attentive to my chores (most of the time) and there were chores that actually were exciting or detailed enough that I needed to have all of my brain fully engaged. To answer the second question, I was a binge reader as a child. I read everything that I could get my hands on, and I also loved to watch adventure movies with my family. My consumption rate of adventure material proved more than ample fodder for my imagined adventures, and I hung onto every exciting moment in an adventure story just as much as everyone else.
PAGE
Now, before I give you the wrong impression, ranch life is not entirely boring at all, it’s just that the excitement usually comes in strong spurts. Sometimes this is helpful because you need a little time to recover from an intense dose of excitement. When adventures do happen on the ranch, though, there are two possible reactions: 1) “Wow, that was fun!” followed by an adrenaline high rehashing of all the expert moves that were What my friends didn’t understand when we were kids, and employed to defuse the situation. 2) Stunned silence while evsometimes what the general public doesn’t understand now, eryone stands quietly gathering their wits and wondering how is that I dream about having adventures too. When I was a kid, no one died (probably followed by a whispered “Maybe I need and sometimes even now, when I had a long, mundane chore to change my profession.”). Yet, the next time a situation arises, ahead of me, I would often make up long adventures in my we are at it again, till death do us part. head, with me as the heroine of course. Sometimes I was a WWII fighter pilot hiding in the basement of a resistance fighter Daydreaming is a fun, safe hobby that keeps our minds enterbecause my plane had been shot down behind enemy lines. tained when we would rather be doing something else, but the Other times I was a lady of a small estate who enlisted the help jarring excitement of reality is a good wake-up call. It is easy to of a rogue knight to protect my dwindling castle from tyranny be heroic in daydreams because we can just make up a safe and return it to its former glory. Of course, I was an instrumen- way out. In real life, though, it is harder to be brave and persetal person in helping the knight accomplish his task and saved vere when there seems to be no hope, and you are running out him once or twice… and also possibly the day. Sometimes the of breath and ideas. It is much easier to live out adventures in nature of my chores lent themselves to the adventures of my our dreams, yet when we live in reality, the pain and fear is real, but so is the reward of holding fast.
12
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
13
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Tampa Bay Fishing Report May 2021 Capt. Woody Gore
The bait is finally showing up on the grass flats, and that means one thing, we’re finally going to catch fish. So now it’s time to get that bait net out and get it repaired. Because unless you’re an artificial angler, you’ve got some work to do before you can catch a few fish.
Snook: Tampa Bay snook seem to be
everywhere and they are chewing, especially when using live sardines. Almost any tidal grass-flat, mangrove shoreline, pass, or cut from upper Tampa Bay to Sarasota should prove productive.
Spotted Sea Trout: with the bay’s
warming, water should continue improving when free-lining live sardines, or shrimp, or under a popping cork. As we call them, whitebait/greenbacks begin to start moving onto the Tampa Bay grass flats. Look for flats with lush grass with plenty of sandy potholes. The potholes should produce some decent fish using sardines or shrimp under a small popping cork or freelined.
Redfish: Throughout Tampa Bay, the
PAGE
redfish should start settling in for the summer. Check your favorite oyster bars, cuts, and broken bottom grass flats on the last of an outgoing tide and the first of an incoming. Don’t forget those large mullet schools. Redfish feed right along with schooling mullet and usually follow larger schools.
14
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
Cobia: Many anglers consider cobia somewhat of a bycatch. You seldom hear of someone initially going cobia fishing. However, should they run across one cruising the sandy flats following giant rays and manatees or hanging around a marker, looking for easy meals and feeding, they will eat just about anything tossed in their direction. Spanish mackerel: When the threadfin
herring show up throughout Tampa Bay, bet your guns the giant mackerel will not be far behind and should be in full swing this month. Catches already reported some ranging up to 4 lbs. Chum them up with some cut-up threadfins or greenbacks, then toss both up-current. Now hook up a greenback or small threadfin on a free-line, leader, and hook. Mackerel are also excellent table fare. Either fried, baked, or smoked and used to make great smoked fish spread. Also, remember when the mackerel show up, so do the Sharks. If you like catching a few black tips, bulls, or shovelnose sharks, they should be around your boat, especially when the mackerel are feeding.
Tarpon: is showing up around the Skyway and the beach. Expect plenty of activity by month’s end and on through the summer. Try free-lining some threadfins or small crabs, and if you have them, use large greenbacks. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
813-477-3814
Capt. Woody Gore operates Tampa Bay’s #1 Outdoor Fishing Guide Services. Guiding and fishing Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater areas for over fifty years, he offers first-class customer service, family-oriented charters, and a lifetime of memories.
Visit his website at www.captainwoodygore.com or send an email to fishing@captainwoodygore. com or give him a call at 813-477-3814. Member: FOWA-Florida Outdoor Writers Assoc., MemberSEOPA Southeastern Outdoor Press Assoc. CEO/Pres. Sport-Fishing Unlimited & Outdoor Communications, Outdoor Writer & Speaker
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
15
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
The Stories I Heard By Marisol Tarango
I have grown up listening to stories from many different people. Most of the time it was an older family member or friend of the family, but sometimes I would hear stories from people I had never met before. Through those stories I was able to relive parts of their lives with them again, even if I hadn’t known them for very long. That is what I experienced with Peggy Mann. I was able to catch a glimpse of spending her young childhood days on Buck Mann Ranch and what it was like to live in rural Polk County in years past.
he [the family friend] said if I would give him the horse back, he had found a piano he would give me. I took piano lessons out here.
Childhood on Buck Mann Ranch:
Dundee:
[A family friend] gave me a horse. For some reason he wanted the horse [back], the horse was young at that time, he hadn’t been broke, but Daddy could lead me [on my horse] from his horse. So,
There was a little country store in Dundee called Hound’s Cash Grocery and two brothers had it. We lived across from it, and when I was a junior in high school, when I got off the [school] bus, I would go over there on Friday’s. If somebody had
PAGE
I was born down near Kissimmee River, my daddy worked for a ranch that was owned at that time by C.C. Peters. I was the late [in life] child in the family, I had a sister 22 and 20 when I surprised them. I was born in a house there and that was when [State Road] 60 was a dirt road. A nurse was supposed to come if Dr. Dunham didn’t get there cause I was gonna be born at home because my mama was still old school. When I was two years old, my daddy got a job with Buck Mann and we moved out here.
16
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
[One time] my Daddy was showing some of these Brahman [from the ranch] where the Youth Fair is. This cow that he was showing had a calf and I had him on a halter, and I was walking the calf around. My calf wanted its mama, and it goes tearing in there [the arena]. When it did, the whole arena stood up and clapped and cheered. We stayed here [at Buck Mann Ranch] until I was fixing to start the sixth grade. They had a split in [the] partnership and my daddy was going to have to transfer to the big ranch, that was the G.W. Mann Ranch on the Kissimmee River. When mama didn’t want to go there, Buck found Daddy another job, but it was way, way off and I was gonna have to ride a school bus a long ways and mama put her foot down. We moved into town, and I was raised in Dundee.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
an account there and they came in and bought some groceries, you’d just total it up on [the cash register] and throw it [the receipt] in their box. I did that because everybody came in to pay their bill on Friday and buy their groceries. I’d probably get off about 7, 8 O’clock, and then Saturday I was over there by 7 [and] I’d work there until closing time that night. I got my first [store] bought outfit making that $12 (the amount she earned over the weekend), I thought I was rich!
Back at the ranch:
I started working for Buck when my son was two years old, just cleaning his house. He had called my mama and asked her who he might find [to keep his house] and I needed a job, but I didn’t want to leave my son and go to work right then. When Buck asked me to start doing his bookkeeping, he looks at me and said, “Would you want to do the bookkeeping?” I said, “Yeah, I guess so.” [He answered] “If you can’t do it, if you’re not good at it would you still keep doing the house keeping?” One day we
were somewhere, me and him. I wasn’t married to him then, but I had to go because it was booking [business] that I was tending to. He was talking to this rancher [and] I piped up, “How many cattle you got?” I could see the look come on Buck’s face; he could’ve killed me. And the man just kind of hemhawed around [the amount of cattle]. We got away from there and he [Buck] said “Don’t you ever do that again!” I said, “What?!” “You don’t ask a cattleman how many cows he’s got. That’s just like asking somebody how much money you got in the bank.” He chewed me out and I’ve never asked another person how many [cows] they got.
What I heard:
While listening to Peggy Mann talk about her experiences in life, I got to catch a glimpse of how everyday life used to be in rural Polk County and how things have changed. “Your life makes a circle and turns around,” she says, “You never know what’s gonna happen in your life.”
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.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
17
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
®
Water Conservation Tips in and Around the Home Anne Yasalonis Residential Horticulture and Master Gardener Volunteer Extension Agent UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
Did you know that April is Water Conservation Month? There are many things we can do to conserve water in our homes and landscapes, and in honor of Water Conservation Month we are providing you with some helpful conservation tips. By following some (or all) of the tips you can conserve and preserve our valuable water resources, save money, and encourage a healthy landscape. Engage the entire family in the effort to conserve water and make it fun for kids. Learn more about water conservation this month at one of UF/IFAS Extension Polk County’s many webinars or contact the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program to obtain publications and resources listing water-saving tips.
Make it a fun family project by painting and decorating the rain barrel prior to installing it. Secure the lid with screen to prevent mosquitos. 4. Raise the mower blade. Mow your lawn at the highest setting to ensure strong roots and increase drought tolerance. This will also make the job a little easier.
1. Fix your dripping faucets. Be a water detective and search for dripping or leaking faucets—they can waste 300 gallons of water or more each month! You can also install low-flow faucets and showerheads, or, retrofit with aerators.
7. Use microirrigation to water your landscape plants. Microirrigation is the most efficient way to irrigate and the systems are easy to install. Learn more at one of our microirrigation webinars this month.
2. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
Everyone in the family can participate in saving water this way and it is easy to do.
PAGE
3. Use a rain barrel to collect rainwater off the roof. This water can be used to water plants both indoors and out.
18
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
5. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when you have a full load.
6. Take shorter showers. Make it a contest and set a timer to see who in the family can take the shortest shower.
8. Choose plants that are drought tolerant. Look for Florida-Friendly plants that will require less water after establishment. Our plant guide (found here: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/ media/fflifasufledu/docs/FYN_Plant_Selection_Guide_2015. pdf) can help. 9. Encourage everyone in the family to conserve water WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
by making a doorknob sign reminding them to conserve in high water use areas of the home. This can be a great craft project for the family.
10. Water early in the morning or late in the evening to
reduce evaporation and prevent potential pests and disease. For more information, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041 or visit us online at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. Give us a call, or email us at polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu. If you are not in Polk County, Contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic.
An Equal Opportunity Institution.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
19
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a volunteer-driven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program extends the vision of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, all the while protecting and sustaining natural resources and environmental systems, enhancing the development of human resources, and improving the quality of human life through the development of knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and making that knowledge accessible.
PAGE
20
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
AGRICULTURE FACTS • The sable palm is the official state tree of Florida? • Orange peels can be used by gardeners as a slug repellent. • Florida accounts for 99% of the nation’s supply of spiny lobster. • The flavor of carrots, squash and tomatoes can be enhanced by a dash of sugar. • Avocados were once called” alligator pairs.” • Avocados can replace oil or butter. • National Farmers day is October 12. • You can get more juice out of any citrus fruit by microwaving it for 20 seconds. • Mushrooms are 90% water. • Grapefruits got their name because they grow in grape-like clusters. • Unlike any other nut, peanuts grow underground.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
21
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Chickens
I remember when I was growing up my mother always had a yard full of chickens and one big red rooster. My job every afternoon was to gather the eggs. I didn’t mind, but I had to keep my eye on “Dummy” the big red rooster. For some reason he did not like me. It could be because I kicked him across the chicken yard when dad first brought him home to be the “King of the Roost!” Dummy’s main problem was he always was fighting the hens. He actually killed a couple of them before we tied a heavy three-foot string around one leg with the other end to a post in the middle of the chicken-yard. If a hen got anywhere close he would lunge at them. Over a period of time we noticed one leg was about an inch-and-ahalf longer than the other one. Feeling sorry for him we turned him loose, and every time he tried to corner a hen he would fall over. A week or two of this cured him from chasing all the girls in the chicken yard. I was reading up on this “pecking habit” of chickens, and found that farmers would do what they called beak trimming. They would remove approximately one-third of the beak with a cold or heated blade when chicks were only a couple of days old. This was effective in reducing pecking injuries, but cased great pain and had significant effects on the chicken. According to an article in a 1953 issue of the National Road Traveler newspaper, someone discovered that red-tinted lenses was effective in reducing the urge for a chicken to peck another. They are held on the chicken’s beak with a cotter pin through the nostrils of the bird. Chickens are provoked by the sight of blood and will peck at each other, eventually killing off much of the flock. These red lenses prevented chickens from seeing the red blood and calmed their behavior. According to the information I found the glasses have not been made for years. These glasses are now considered a collector’s item! There’s the story of an old farmer who decided it was time to get a new rooster for his hens. The current rooster was still doing an okay job, but he was getting on in years. The farmer figured getting a new rooster couldn’t hurt anything. So he buys a young cock from the local rooster emporium, and turns him loose in the barnyard.
PAGE
Well, the old rooster sees the young one strutting around and he gets a little worried. ‘So, they’re trying to replace me?’ thinks the old rooster. ‘I’ve got to do something about this.’ He walks up to the new bird and says, “So you’re the new stud in town? I bet you really think you’re hot stuff, don’t you? Well, I’m not ready for the chopping block yet. I’ll bet I’m still the better bird. And to prove it, I challenge you to a race around that hen house over there. We’ll run around it ten times and whoever finishes first gets to have all the hens for himself.”
22
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the April 2016 issue Well, the young rooster was a proud sort, and he definitely thought he was more than a match for the old guy. “You’re on,” said the young rooster. “And since I know I’m so great, I’ll even give you a head start of half a lap. I’ll still win easy,” said the young rooster. So the two roosters go over to the hen house to start the race with all the hens gathering around to watch. The race begins and all the hens start cheering the roosters on. After the first lap, the old rooster is still maintaining his lead. After the second lap, the old guy’s lead has slipped a little but he’s still hanging in there. Unfortunately the old rooster’s lead continues to slip each time around, and by the fifth lap he’s just barely in front of the young rooster. By now the farmer has heard all the commotion. He runs into the house, gets his shotgun, and runs out to the barnyard figuring a fox or something is after his chickens. When he gets there, he sees the two roosters running around the hen house, with the old rooster still slightly in the lead. He immediately takes his shotgun, aims, fires, and blows the young rooster away. As he walks away slowly, he says to himself. . . “That’s the third bad rooster I’ve bought this month.” One day the Library was lonely with no one in it for the librarian to help. These two chickens came through the door screeching “cluck cluck.” The librarian quickly got up and gave them each five books. The two chickens left satisfied. Just a few minutes later the same two chickens come through the door with no books screeching “cluck cluck.” The librarian once again jumps up and gives each chicken 15 books this time. The chickens leave satisfied once again. Then again for the third time the chicken return screeching “cluck cluck” But this rime being suspicious the librarian gives each chicken only one book because they have still have not returned the other books. As the chickens leave the librarian slowly follows behind to see where all the books are going. The chickens come to a stop and start throwing the books into a pond where some frogs grab the books and throw them behind their back croaking “red-it red-it” As if the story above was not bad enough here’s one more, and I’ll close with this one: There are three guys named Manners, Shutup, and Crap. They were really bored, so they decided to run a race. During the race, Crap fell down, and Manners stopped to help him. But Shutup ran so fast the police caught him. Here’s how the conversation went: Police Officer #1: “What’s your name?” “Shutup” “Police Officer #2: “Where’s your Manners?” Shutup said, “Back there picking up Crap!”
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Turn every job into a job well done.
The New MX Series
55.5-63.4 HP
Factory cab available
Come see the versatile, affordable new MX Series today. • Spacious operator platform • Comfortable climate-controlled cab with heat and air for yearround comfort
• Hydrostatic or gear transmission options • Excellent loader lift capacity (2,275 lb.)
Together we do more.
Polk Tractor Company 3450 Havendale Blvd Winter Haven, Florida 33881 863-967-0651
KubotaUSA.com © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2020. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For complete warranty, safety, incentive offer and product information, consult your local dealer or go to KubotaUSA.com.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
23
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE
24
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
FLorida
DANDELION GREENS
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Did you know that all parts of the dandelion are both edible and nutritious? Young dandelion leaves are mild in flavor and have more iron than spinach and more vitamin C than lettuce. Dandelion blossoms are sweet and crunchy and can also be eaten or processed into wine. The name dandelion comes from the French word for lion’s tooth, dent de lion, which refers to its tooth-shaped leaves. Dandelion leaves can be eaten raw, as well as steamed, stir-fried, or added to soup. The root can be dried and roasted or steeped into hot water and consumed as tea.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Dandelion greens rank high on the nutritional barometer, surpassing both spinach and broccoli in nutritional value. Dandelion greens are rich in Vitamin C, K and A as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and protein. They have also historically been valued for their medicinal qualities. Dandelion greens act as a natural diuretic and they help boost digestion. They also reduce swelling and inflammation and support healthy teeth, gums and skin. Fresh Florida dandelion greens are bursting with nutrition and are considered even more nutritious than superstars like spinach or broccoli. Like most other dark green leafy vegetables, dandelion greens are high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet rich in dark green leafy vegetables lowers the risk for developing a variety of cancers. According to the USDA, a one cup serving of raw fresh dandelion greens contains 25 calories, 5 g of carbohydrate, 2 g of fiber, 0.4 g of fat, and 3.6 g of protein. It also contains 535% of your daily requirement for vitamin K, 112% for vitamin A, 32% for vitamin C, 9% for iron, potassium, and calcium, and plentiful amounts of the B vitamins.
maintain healthy cartilage, bones, and teeth, as well as promotes wound healing. Vitamin C also helps you absorb iron better. There is some research to support that vitamin C may also reduce the duration and severity of the common cold.
Iron Dandelion greens are a great vegetarian source of iron. Iron is essential for blood production and many other important functions in the body. It is involved in carrying oxygen from the lungs to all the tissues in the body. Insufficient iron from the diet can lead to anemia, which is a reduction of hemoglobin in the blood. Iron is also required as a cofactor for a number of enzymes that converts the nutrients we eat into energy.
How to Select and Store Choose fresh leaves that have a deep, dark green color with no signs of wilting or yellowing. The leaves and stems should look fresh and tender and be dry to the touch. To store raw dandelion leaves, pat dry with a paper towel, place in a tightly wrapped plastic bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. Keep refrigerated for up to five days. Do not wash until immediately before use.
How to Enjoy
Vitamin K is essential for bone and blood health. This vitamin functions as a coenzyme for vitamin K-dependent carboxylase, an enzyme required for the synthesis of proteins involved in blood clotting and bone metabolism. Additionally, vitamin K may help you maintain a healthy blood pressure by preventing mineralization, or build-up of minerals in the arteries.
Dandelion greens can be enjoyed both raw and cooked. Younger leaves are milder in flavor and can be enjoyed raw in a salad. More mature leaves will have a stronger flavor that can be balanced by cooking with other foods. The flavor of dandelion greens is complimentary to the flavors of tomatoes, garlic, fennel, vinegar, cheese, and olive oil. Other ways to enjoy dandelion greens include: • Lightly steamed with garlic • Sauteed with olive oil and herbs • Stir-fried with onions and garlic • Tossed as a salad instead of lettuce • Baked with olive oil and salt into chips • Tossed into a stew or soup • Use as a sandwich topper Fresh Florida dandelion is a nutritious vegetable that is readily available during the spring months. Eat more of these leafy greens and blossoms and reap all of the health benefits they offer in one delicious package.
Vitamin C
SELECTED REFERENCES
A single serving of dandelion greens contains about a third of your daily needs for vitamin C! This vitamin is needed for growth and repair of all tissues in your body, including skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. It helps your body
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu
Vitamin K
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
25
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Perhaps you are a little like we are, and you have just returned from spring break. What a glorious time of year when things seem to miraculously come back to life, where flowers bloom, and birds fill their nests with their future families. It is spring time and time to take another voyage on the Literary Time Machine. Join us as we cruise down memory lane while adding new knowledge to our own gardening repertoires.
PAGE
Holding this book in hand, seeing from whence we have begun and through what we have traveled, it becomes apparent that this is our next to last voyage with Mr. Charles Torrey-Simpson. He closes out his chapter entitled Exotic Ferns and Fern Allies by writing, “Tree ferns of a number of species have been introduced into South Florida…Mr. John Soar and the writer have introduced some of them from Cuba but as far as I know they do not succeed very well here. Occasionally I see one or two among plant collections in Lower Florida but they do not look happy.”
Part 79
delicate fronds. They say it’s a giant fern whose trunk can reach heights of 30 feet. But, most importantly, they reveal that it’s “Great for shaded gardens in South and Central Florida…(where) these ferns are evergreen.”² This sounds like a good addition to our native flora and fauna. Which brings us to Cibotium schiedei, where one of our favorite gardening websites, Dave’s Garden, explained that, “Cibotium shiedei, or the Mexican tree Fern, is really more of a shrubby plant rather than a true tree fern, suckering and spreading in nature. But it is a very soft and user-friendly plant that tolerates even inland climates in protected gardens in southern California, as long as kept somewhat moist in hot summers.”³ We imagine that suggests it might still do well here too, if you want to give it a try.
He specifically mentions four different tree ferns that were introduced here, some of which he and Mr. Soar did themselves by route of Cuba. So, we thought it might be interesting to learn a little about the ferns that were brought over here and if they are still here, successful, invasive, whatever the story might be?
Blechnum braziliense, is next, which landed us on the Top Tropicals’ site where we learned that, “This is one of the better known and more common species of Blechnum in warmer climates. It forms a small trunk. On some forms, the new fronds emerge a beautiful pinkish-red, making the fern very attractive.”⁴ Now that we know it’s a good looking fern, the best news is that it can survive in USDA Zone 9 and warmer. That means, it’s more than likely still quite alive and well here!
So, the first one he mentions is the Alsophila australis. Better known as the Australian tree fern, UF|IFAS says it’s also known as the lacy tree fern because it has very
Finally, we arrive at Dicksonia antartica, which Charles Reynolds (2003) wrote about in a Lakeland Ledger article! He writes, “Florida’s summers…are hard on tree
26
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
its fronds blue green and bronzy.”¹ Thusly, if you have been in the market for some very unique and ornamental ferns, we think you have been provided with some excellent options; make sure you look that last one up, it’s incredible. Until next month, happy gardening!
ferns…if gardeners are willing to provide some extra care and put up with the intervals when the plants aren’t at their best….This graceful fern does well even in mild areas…”⁵ He does admit that it’s a little hard to find these ferns but that they can grow to fifty feet tall with eight foot long fronds that are three feet in width!⁵ That’s a serious tree fern.
Photo Credits: Slater, Amanda (2008). Dicksonia Antartica. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/5dTXaS Dave Pape (2008). Cibotium_schiedei. Flickr. https://flic. kr/p/55vuTx
THE
It is obvious that Mr. Simpson and Mr. Soar introduced some amazingly huge ferns into our state. And, for the most part, they all seem viable here. But before he closes this chapter, he reveals that “S. wildenovi is an old favorite, growing to a considerable height and having
Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 222-223). ²UF|IFAS Gardening Solutions. Australian Tree Fern. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/australian-tree-fern.html ³Stein, Geoff (2015). Introduction to Cold Hardy Tree Ferns. Dave’s Garden. https://davesgarden.com/ guides/articles/view/450 ⁴Top Tropicals. Blechnum Brasiliense. Red Dwarf Tree Fern, Red Brazilian Tree Fern. https://toptropicals.com/ catalog/uid/Blechnum_brasiliense.htm ⁵Reynolds, Charles (2003). Ferns Worth Extra Care. The Ledger. https://www.theledger.com/article/ LK/20030801/News/608110006/LL
Annual Termite & Pest Control
Cattle • Truck Farming • Citrus • Game Hunting
1401 Sam Keen Road Lake, Wales, FL 33853 863.692.1013
Frank Favuzza Jr. Owner Operator
Free Inspections • Free Estimates (863) 968-0292 (863) 298-0666 (863) 422-0881 (863) 802-0550 (813) 752-7775
We Support Agriculture.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
27
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WHY SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION MATTERS
A CENTRAL FLORIDA YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE BUYER’S PRESPECTIVE
PAGE
By: Sagan Skinner Rogers
The first occupation commissioned by God was to be a farmer. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15) At that moment Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and tend to the land. I don’t know about you, but to me, that speaks volumes to the importance of agriculture and how we should value it. Of all the things that had to be done at the creation of time, God chose farming.
margins. Rising debt from feed bills and equipment loans are just a fraction of what farmers and ranchers are up against all while market prices continue to dip lower and lower leaving them with fewer options. All these things undoubtedly have a crippling impact on agricultural operations across the nation. It is no surprise that today Americans working in agriculture make up only 10.9% of the nation’s workforce as opposed to the one-third of the population at the end of the 19th century.
Now more than ever the agriculture industry is under attack. Just recently at our inaugural Central Florida Youth in Agriculture Showcase and Sale the cattle judge, Ashley Judge, referenced the Colorado “Meat Out Day” and while I had not investigated the issue prior to that day, her demeanor and the disappointment in her voice was evident. It was just one more situation across our country that encompasses a larger issue; the lack of agricultural education, the lack of agricultural opportunities for youth and the impact it is having on the future of agriculture in our community.
Through the difficult times there is also a theme of perseverance intertwined throughout our agricultural history. With the Dust Bowl came advances in better irrigation methods improving crop productivity. Out of decreasing crop prices came the National Farmers Alliance and the People’s or Populist Party. The party worked out a deal allowing farmers the use of federal warehouses while providing loans to continue operations and await higher market prices. Even when faced with catastrophic scenarios the agricultural industry perseveres.
Throughout history agriculture has been “under attack” more than once. As with any industry there have been peaks and valleys. A grasshopper plague in Minnesota during the 1870’s, a boll weevil plague ravaging cotton fields in the 1890’s and The Dust Bowl across the southern plains in the 1930’s are just a few things that our country was once up against. Currently we are seeing more environmental and animal rights movements such as the Green New Deal. These movements are being promoted by organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, whose goal is complete industrial destruction. Everywhere you look there are small farms ceasing operations due to skyrocketing operational costs and plummeting profit
Fortunately, the theme of perseverance does not stop in crops and cattle pastures. Agricultural education has also adopted the theme of perseverance throughout history. Prior to the Morrill Act of 1862 opportunities for agricultural education were limited. This Act signed by Abraham Lincoln on July 2 of 1862 donated public land to colleges for the benefit of agricultural and mechanical studies. The donated land was then sold, and the profits were used to fund colleges focused on agricultural and mechanical arts. Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Clemson University and the University of Wisconsin at Madison were just a few of the collegiate institutions born out of the Land Grant College Act.
28
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Later, in the early 1920’s, the foundation of agricultural education for public schools would emerge. The establishment of both 4-H clubs and the National FFA Organization would surface with a goal of connecting public school education to country life and solidifying support for agricultural education. While growing up my parents placed an importance on mine and my sibling’s involvement in our local 4-H and FFA chapters. Sometimes when I tell people that I used to raise cattle they are shocked. They are even more shocked when I tell them that I was the president of my FFA chapter and an officer for Polk County. It was a huge part of my life growing up, but for whatever reason I do not ‘look like’ someone who has a history with agriculture. I think that is the point though, there is not a “look” necessary to be actively involved in agriculture. The opportunities provided through agriculture experiences infiltrate industries across the world as my fellow classmates are now in fields like education, health, engineering, real estate, forestry and community workers such as police officers and firefighters just to name a few. Our experiences helped to create our character which is now what we pour into our careers and families. Our involvement in agricultural education is responsible for that. Because agriculture has impacted me so profoundly, I know that as an adult it is my responsibility to support the upcoming generations of agriculturalists. To support them with my knowledge, to support them with my resources and to support them with my time. Youth prioritizing the industry starts with me prioritizing the industry. If we want to change the way that others value the industry, we have to come back full circle and “choose farming” just as God did at the very beginning. Let’s choose to prioritize agriculture. Let’s choose to support our youth involved in agriculture. Let’s choose to educate our youth in agriculture so that each year their project is more successful. Let’s choose to show up and cheer them on in the ring. In Central Florida we are fortunate to be among some elite showman and we have a reputation that spans across the country. While speaking about the struggles that cattle ranchers are facing in Colorado, Ashley Judge also commended our exhibitors, on their enthusiasm and the visible appreciation they had to be in that ring. She stated how you could “probably go anywhere in the country and not find kids that are this dedicated to showmanship” and how it was “so refreshing and nice to come to a place where showmanship was emphasized and where your kids are emphasized.” While those are wonderful compliments coming from someone who travels the country analyzing cattle and showmen, her largest compliment was when she shared how she could see that “what’s important is not showing cattle but raising your guy’s kids.” After only an hour and a half of being in the ring with our kids it was evident that CFYIA had done what it set out to do. To educate our youth on the importance of their involvement in agriculture while giving them a platform to showcase their hard work. The week of the Central Florida Youth in Agriculture Show was full of early mornings and late nights, attitudes and meltdowns, but it was also full of friendships forming, lessons learned, and memories being made. Watching all those kids in the midst of it I know exactly how they feel. They’re hot, nervous, a little agitated, hungry and more than likely exhausted. If you asked my parents today the word ‘appreciative’ probably would not have been a good descriptor of my attitude when I was their age (especially blowing out heifers before the sun came up during my summers). But as an adult looking back, I know that some of the times they will be most proud of themselves are going to come from these moments. Much of the work that goes into our livestock day in and day
So, to all the moms and dads who can barely drag out of bed the morning after a show, your babies will thank you. Even if they don’t say it as you’re waking them up the next morning to go clean out trailers and reorganize show boxes. One day, they’ll thank you. To the committee members and volunteers who helped pull off the very first Central Florida Youth in Agriculture Showcase and Sale, thank you. Your desire to provide a new platform for our youth and to support each child’s success on an individual level is admirable. Serving the youth in our community doesn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated even when it can sometimes feel that way. To all of the teachers and advisors, family members and friends who came to cheer on all those sweet little sweaty faces in the ring, thank you. To the owners of the facility, the sponsors that helped make it happen, and the network of people behind the scenes cleaning up messes and keeping kids fed, thank you. To the buyers supporting our kids financially so that they can come back next year, thank you. To the kids who have worked tirelessly on their projects this year, thank you. And finally, to the Lord for His provision in orchestrating all of this for good and for keeping our kids safe throughout this entire process, thank you. Congratulations to all of the kids that came out and to the committee for a successful first event.
Rults on Page 42 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
29
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
out is with the hope that we will be rewarded in the show ring. There is no feeling of success like when you are standing in that ring during a championship drive and the judge walks up and places their hand on the back end of a heifer that you have poured your heart and soul into. But outside of the ring is where the real reward is. The rewards come from knowing that you are supporting your community by helping to sustain agriculture, by the character that is formed while you congratulate some of your best friends when they just beat you in the ring and the way that you selflessly help those same friends in their time of need. Those are the rewards that you will carry with you forever.
Recipes
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Chef Justin Timineri
Pan-Seared Red Snapper with Cucumber Relish and Spicy Yogurt Sauce Ingredients
Pan-Seared Florida Red Snapper 4 (6-ounce) snapper fillets sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste 2 teaspoons olive oil Cucumber Relish 2 large Florida cucumbers, diced 2 large Florida tomatoes, seeded and diced ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped fine
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon olive oil sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste 1 lemon, juiced Yogurt Sauce 1 cup Greek-style yogurt 1 lemon, juiced 1 tablespoon seasoning mix (blackened or seafood spice) sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS Pan-Seared Florida Red Snapper In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Lightly coat the skin side of each snapper fillet with cornstarch. Carefully add the coated snapper fillets to the oiled pan. Cook snapper fillets for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until completely cooked throughout. Remove fillets from pan and serve with cucumber relish
and yogurt sauce. Cucumber Relish In a medium-sized bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Season the relish to taste with salt and pepper. Yogurt Sauce In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
Black Eyed Mullet INGREDIENTS 1/2 pound smoked, grilled, or broiled mullet meat 2 (15-ounce) cans black-eyed peas 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped green pepper 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon liquid hot pepper sauce 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup cider vinegar
DIRECTIONS
PAGE
Break fish into bite-sized portions; set aside. Mash peas lightly, just until all are broken. Combine peas, onion, pepper, garlic, pepper sauce, salt and vinegar in a saucepan and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add mullet and cook until heated through. Serve immediately as a side dish.
30
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
10 TIPS TO SAVE WATER FOR WATER CONSERVATION MONTH
While the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) encourages water conservation year-round, there is extra emphasis each April for Water Conservation Month. April is historically one of the driest months of the year and typically marks the peak demand season for public water suppliers. With these 10 simple tips, you can lower your monthly water bill and do your part to save hundreds of gallons of water: INDOOR • Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when they are full. • Use the shortest clothes washing cycle for lightly soiled loads; normal and permanent-press wash cycles use more water. • Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water. • Scrape, don’t rinse, your dishes before loading in the dishwasher. • Install high-efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets.
OUTDOOR • Check your home’s irrigation system for leaks. • Turn off your irrigation system and only water as needed. • Don’t leave sprinklers unattended. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn sprinklers off. • Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle when washing the car. • Consider installing a rain barrel with a drip irrigation system for watering your landscaping. Rainwater is free and better for your plants because it doesn’t contain hard minerals. Leaks are the biggest water waster, both inside and outside of your home. You can use your water meter to check for leaks. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances and make sure no one uses water during the testing period. Wait for the hot water heater and ice cube makers to refill and for regeneration of water softeners. Go to your water meter and record the current reading. Wait 30 minutes. (Remember, no water should be used during this period.) Read the meter again. If the reading has changed, you have a leak. For more information about water conservation, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/Conservation. Southwest Florida Water Management District
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
31
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
PCSO INTRODUCES GAME CHANGING 911 TECHNOLOGY
When I began my career with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office 48 years ago, I remember stopping in at the Mulberry police station and watching the dispatcher answer and dispatch calls from a radio room tucked away in a tiny corner of that police station. The entire process in those early years, from answering the call for help, to dispatching the patrolman to the scene via radio, took only a few seconds. Today, it’s more complicated. We have advanced computer software and follow accreditation mandatory protocols that enables us to professionally get help to people in need in a consistent, step-by-step process. And, of course, there are a lot more people. Our advanced technology has helped manage a complex process and it has no doubt saved lives, especially on medical calls. There is one negative thing modernization has done: it has slowed down response times. The time it takes for a 911 call center to receive and dispatch a call for service to a first responder in the field has increased dramatically nationwide. I posed this question to my team: How can we have the best of both worlds—manage a modern, high-tech E911 center, while also being able to dispatch calls with the same speed as what I saw in that small Mulberry radio room back in the 1970’s?
PAGE
Last year I was made aware of a new technology called Live 911 that had the potential to allow my emergency call center to virtually eliminate any delay in time from when a 911 call is received, to when it’s dispatched to a deputy in the field. Over
32
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
the past 10 months members of my team have beta-tested Live 911 and we are proud to be one of the first law enforcement agencies in the country to fully implement this type of life saving technology for our community. Live 911 is a web-based software that links to our emergency call center and allows patrol deputies to listen in on 911 calls – in real time – in their patrol vehicles while responding to the incident. Before Live 911, it could take several minutes for information to be collected, then typed into the Computer Assisted Dispatch (CAD) system, and then relayed to deputies in the field. Now, through Live 911, important information is heard by the responding unit before the information can be populated in the CAD screen or a dispatcher can relay it over the radio. This translates to a timelier, more direct, and more effective response based on nuances gathered from the call itself. Because the law enforcement officer is hearing the call first hand, he or she can gather key details that before was not available to them. For instance, by hearing the inflection of the caller’s voice, the responding officer or deputy can hear how calm or frantic the caller is, can hear a description of the suspect first hand, or hear background sounds of things occurring at the scene. Not only will deputies hear critical details as they are relayed in real time to the call taker, deputies will also be able to selfdeploy to a scene before the details are dispatched to them over the radio and through CAD. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
With this new system, deputies are arriving faster than ever before and with more information than they have ever had before. It truly is a game changer! Recently, my deputies were responding to a hit and run vehicle crash in our Northwest District. While patrol units were on their way to the crash location, the Sergeant, listening to the Live 911 call, heard the caller give a very detailed description of the suspects and the direction they were running. Armed with that information, he was able to locate and arrest the hit and run suspects before dispatch was able to relay the information to the responding units. On another occasion, a mother called 911 to report that her one month old child was choking. A nearby deputy monitoring Live 911 self-dispatched to the call and was able to get on scene and save the child before the call information was fully entered into our CAD system by the 911 call taker. For larger counties and service areas, the challenge of a single responding unit listening to the hundreds of 911 calls answered during a shift is managed with geofencing embedded in the Live 911 software. Geofencing is when GPS or RFID technology is used to create a virtual geographic boundary around the patrol car using the Live 911 program. This boundary helps to filter out calls within other zones or districts, allowing the deputy to focus only on the calls in close proximity to their current location. We manage this with a GPS device that plugs into the deputy’s computer.
Another benefit Live 911 has created for us is better teamwork between dispatchers and first responders as they now have better empathy and understanding of each other’s roles. I recently heard from one of my deputies that his respect for the role of the 911 telecommunicator has increased dramatically. He had no idea the crazy things people call 911 for – from potholes in the road to asking for contact information for the Governor’s Office. Live 911 is proving to be a valuable law enforcement tool, and allows our members to better serve the citizens and communities they love. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
33
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
DISTRICT PROCLAIMS
APRIL “SPRINGS PROTECTION AWARENESS MONTH”
By Jim Frankowiak
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board has declared April Springs Protection Awareness Month. The Governing Board has also emphasized that springs are vital to the environment, economy, citizens and visitors of the state.
There are more than 150 documented springs throughout the 16-county District, with five first-magnitude spring groups that collectively discharge more than 1 billion gallons of water per day.
The District, in partnership with various stakeholders, is committed to implementing studies, projects and programs to conserve and improve the ecological balance of these spring systems, supporting regional economies and quality of life. The District has been a lead technical agency in springs’ protection and improvement for more than a decade and has taken a comprehensive approach to protect the region’s springs, which includes water conservation, restoration, planning, communication and education, monitoring, research and development, regulation and land acquisition and management.
PAGE
You can find more information about springs on our website at WaterMatters.org/Springs.
34
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
2021 Florida AgExpo Set for November 18
Ford Offers $500 Bonus Cash
This year’s Florida AgExpo will take place Thursday, November 18 at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFA) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Balm. Updated information can be accessed at: https://floridaagexpo.net/.
Farm Bureaus in the market for a new vehicle can receive $500 Bonus Cash toward the purchase or lease of new Ford Ranger, F-150 and Super Duty trucks. Eligibility and guidelines: • A Florida Farm Bureau member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase/lease • Proof of FFB membership. Members must present Bonus Cash Certificate to dealer at time of purchase/lease. • Offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford private incentives or AXZD-Plans. • Eligible new 2020/2021/2022 Rod Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty • F-150 Raptor, F-600, F-650 and F-750 Super Duty are not eligible for this program To claim Bonus Cash Certificate, visit: www.FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com.
COVID-19 Resources on Florida Farm Bureau Website Florida Farm Bureau has developed a COVID-19 resources website page that includes a variety of agricultural and state and federal links related to the pandemic. The site is continually updated and can be accessed at: floridafarmbureau.org/ covid-19-resources/. FARM BUREAU MEMBERS SAVE 10% AT RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM TOPGOLF LIVE EVENT Topgolf Live will transform the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Raymond James Stadium -- to a unique golf experience June 3 – 6. Participants can hit golf balls from the concourse down to the field. To redeem this offer and for more information, contact Jewel Henderson with Topgolf Live at jewel.henderson@revelxp.com or call 214/884-2898. UF AMONG TOP 50 AG SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD; “ACES” ALL AG SCIENCES The University of Florida is among the top 50 agricultural schools in the world, according to the 2021 rankings released by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the London-based provider of services, analytics and insight into the global higher education sector since 2004. UF also garnered “A’s” among the best colleges for agricultural studies in America. Virtual Ag-Venture Wins National Award The Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP) recognized the Virtual Ag-Venture Program in Hillsborough County as one of its 2021 national Achievement Award recipients for “innovation in local agricultural education.” The program, which was introduced in 1994, is a “hands on” learning experience designed to teach the importance of agriculture to third grade students in Hillsborough County. Ag-Venture typically takes place at the Florida State Fairgrounds, but due to COVID-19 was changed in 2020 to “AgVenture in the Box.” Third grader teachers in the county were provided the opportunity to order informational materials for delivery to their classrooms. Program sponsors include the Florida State Fair, Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 4-H and Hillsborough County Extension. Sea Tow Special Offer for Farm Bureau Members Sea Two is offering Florida Farm Bureau members two free months of service when signing up or renewing an annual membership. Visit: https://loom.ly/lDqvroc to learn more about this offer.
Farm Bureau and Nestle Purina PetCare Company are looking for the best farm dog in the country. Desired attributes include helpfulness to the farmer and his/her family, playfulness and obedience. The grand prize winner – Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year – will win a year’s worth of Purina dry dog food and $5,000 in prize money. To apply, visit: https://submittable.com/submit. Questions and more information is available by emailing: support@submittable.com. COVID-19 Aid Expanded to Include More Ag Producers The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to distribute more than $12 billion under the Pandemic Assistance for Producers Program, which includes aid that had been put on hold as well as funds newly allocated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The program is to assist farmers and ranchers who previously did not qualify for COVID-19 aid and expands assistance for farmers helped by existing programs. Farmers will need to sign-up only if they are applying for new programs or if they are eligible for CFAP assistance and did not previously apply. USDA is now accepting applications. More information is available by visiting: www. farmers.gov INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
35
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
2022 Farm Dog of the Year Entries Welcomed
Vaccination Liberation by John Dicks It would be nice to think that this is the last article I will be writing about the Coronavirus pandemic.
me to dream that we are, indeed, getting closer to mastering the misery brought on by the pandemic.
How wonderful would it be if COVID-19 would simply just disappear and be gone for good?!
People are really ready to party. There’s no doubt about that. Even ones who have not had shots are gearing up to get going!
While I do default to positive thinking on life, I’m also relatively realistic and know that wishful thinking doesn’t necessarily make dreams come true. Nonetheless, I do get the feeling that we are turning a corner, so to speak, or at least soon will be approaching a life generally referred to as “back to normal.” I got an initial whiff of good things to come with my first of the two vaccination shots. Granted that I am not one who particularly likes being jabbed with a needle, nor frankly does anyone else that I know, yet I found it was an almost awkward feeling to be actually looking forward to the experience.
There’s a huge pent-up demand for a return to gatherings of family and friends. Already we’ve seen throngs of people in near record numbers racing to our parks and beaches, anxious to renew the good times that have sorely been missed. People who have been fully vaccinated are relishing the reduction in restrictions on travel. Places that previously have been off limits to visitors are now meekly putting back out the welcome mat. Such is just one more good reason for inoculation!
In fact, many of us spent hours, days really, on the computer and phone, working through the system just to get a reservation to endure the prickly piece of steel being gleefully stabbed into our arms.
As summer draws nearer we are certain to see lots of activity. Of course all of that mingling of people, both vaccinated and not, is what’s got the health experts worried about possible spikes, as well as new strains of the coronavirus.
When the appointment day and hour finally arrived, the whole process was quite mundane. It felt exactly like a flu shot. No better, nor any worse. Yes, my arm was sore for a day; and the second shot hurt a bit more.
So, let us not throw caution to the wind.
What I wasn’t expecting, though, and am still somewhat surprised at, was the onset of a strange sensation of liberation. Almost at the instant the needle pricked my skin, I seemed to feel “ten feet tall and bullet proof!” It was downright euphoric! Admittedly, the unexpected feeling of freedom, while not fleeting, was more of a sigh of relief than it was a manifesto of discarding my mask. I still wear one, and appropriately engage in social distancing, too. The inoculation, though, particularly with the second shot, brought about a deliverance of sorts that has caused
Masks will, unfortunately or not, still be on the front line of defense. It’s not so much that masks protect the wearer as it is that they prevent the virus, at least to some measure, from being spread by the person wearing the mask. That’s why it’s good to see people still wearing them. Whatever ailment they might have, you’ve got a better chance of not catching it when there’s a mask sitting between you and them, helping to stop it from it spreading your way. The good news is that now, after all of the fits and starts of the vaccination roll-out, all adults in Florida (and several other states) are now eligible for the inoculation. If you have not yet done so, go do it. It’s generally free, simple, quick, potentially lifesaving, and for some, like me, downright euphoric and liberating!
PAGE
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.
36
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
APRIL State Officer Column
The team had the opportunity to tour the University of Florida Dairy Unit and Calf Unit. We learned all of the stages of development for replacement heifers, as well as seeing the stages of milk processing. The UF facility is an amazing place where so much research and development is occurring for the dairy industry!
By Emma Poole and Christian Bentrovato With each passing week we seem to be getting busier and busier. We have been holding even more in person Career Development Events and have met so many astounding FFA members. It is simply amazing to see how far we have come this year and especially how much we have grown as an organization. On behalf of the entire state officer Team, I would like to congratulate all the wonderful FFA members that have competed so far this year and best of luck to all those that are preparing to compete. I can remember the hard work it took to prepare for a competition and with this year being even more challenging; I know our FFA members in our great state have worked even harder to be able to compete. Within the past couple weeks, the state officer team has had the opportunity to become students again as we take classes with The University of Florida! Over the next couple months, we will take two courses based on the development and philosophy of agriculture education, as well as a course designed just for state officers. On March 25, the entire state officer team had the opportunity to tour The University of Florida’s dairy teaching unit. It was very interesting being able to see a few of the different experiments going on at the research facility. The amount of work that goes into producing a glass of milk is astounding. One thing that I learned was that milk is one of the only agriculture products that goes straight to your table and doesn’t need any preparation (besides pasteurization). It’s also one of the fastest agriculture products to make it to your table, as after 48 hours it can already be on your table after leaving the dairy! As we move through our courses, we hope that we will have the opportunity to tour more facilities and learn even more about the research going into the agriculture industry! - Christian Bentrovato Area V State Vice President
At the end of the night, I felt that the whole experience was so rewarding. As someone who exhibited swine at the Florida Strawberry Festival in the past, I’m glad to see that so many FFA and 4-H members are continuing to be dedicated to their projects and have successful outcomes in the show ring. While I do miss showing, I think I might even like helping the judge more! Every time the festival comes around, I feel so thankful that we live in a community that supports young people in agriculture. Growing up in Plant City, I’ve always been surrounded by this kind of environment, and it’s not until I get outside my community that I realize – not everyone has what we have. Wonderful facilities, supportive community members, and generous businesses and families who act as buyers are something that is very special to Plant City. When we’re used to having something, we’re often times not as thankful for it as we should be. But every year, as our town comes together to show their support to young people, I’m reminded a little bit more how blessed we are to call this place home. As we start to prepare for state convention, even though it’s still just under three months away, I find myself reflecting more and more on this year and what it’s taught me. There have been so many unique experiences that I am forever thankful for. Thank you for following along with us on our journeys this year! I know the year isn’t over yet – I just wanted to maintain that attitude of gratitude I’ve been talking about. Until next month, find something in your life that you just aren’t thankful enough for, and learn to appreciate it a little more. - Emma Lauren Poole Florida FFA State Secretary
This month, we’ve been staying especially busy. Between the Florida Strawberry Festival, in-person competitions starting up again, and our college courses through UF, the entire state officer team has had a lot on our plates, but we have been enjoying every second of it! We started the month helping out at the Florida Strawberry Festival Swine Show. We were able to do some announcing, as well as helping the judge in the ring. I was especially thankful for the opportunity to shadow the judge. I learned so much about his selection process and stayed on my toes passing out all the ribbons to exhibitors. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
37
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
A LITTLE JOY AND A LOT OF HOPE:
By Ginny Mink
Having only recently returned home from an unexpectedly extended trip to the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, one finds it hard to erase the images of those first spring daffodils. What wondrous yellow flowers that seem to nod and smile at passersby, doling bits of sunshine and happiness at each sighting.
Linum Carteri
Which of course makes one consider the flowers present here in our own state. And, since that’s something we write about, it made sense to look for an endangered bright yellow flower, which landed us on the Linum carteri or Carter’s small-flowered flax. Carter’s small-flowered flax is an annual and it is considered an herb. As such, it produces small bright yellow flowers that will unfortunately shed their petals very shortly after they bloom.¹ If you have wondered why the sunshine makes you feel happy, note the color to describe it and then look at these little streams of golden joy! Still dreaming of daffodils, research reveals, “As daffodils are not native to Tennessee, the original bulbs would have been lovingly planted by someone many years ago…Archaeologists watch for patches like this as daffodils often outline foundations of structures long since lost…”² So, while the love of the daffodils that inspired this story is intriguing, they are unlike the Linum carteri, because these precious flowers are endemic to South Florida.³ According to NatureServe Explorer, this is, “A Florida endemic species with two endemic varieties.”³ There are Linum carteri carteri and Linum carteri smallii. However, both of them are acutely threatened by habitat loss thanks to fire suppression, land development, and the degradation of the remaining fragments of habitat they have left.³ And, believe it or not, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service ECOS’ system, there are “No Current Recovery Plans available for this species.”⁴ Thankfully, in June of 2019 there was an initiation of the 5-year status review, but that is now nearly two years ago.⁴ What’s to become of these precious and native flowers? Where do they even grow? Well, they are native to MiamiDade County and are generally found in the pine rockland habitats that are still available. These areas are composed of limestone that has been exposed and is supporting the saw palmettos and hardwood hammocks. Thankfully, the Carter’s small-flowered flax will gladly inhabit all of the pine rockland available in Miami-Dade.¹ While that sounds incredibly hopeful, the truth is, there are only 19 occurrences believed to be in existence. There are eight locations that are home to the L. carteri carteri variety and 11 that are residences for the L. carteri smallii one. Most of these groupings are small and it is estimated that there are probably less than 5,000 total plants alive today!³
PAGE
In truth, the more you read about the potential outcome for this flower the more depressing it gets. In fact, NatureServe Explorer writes, “Few, if any, occurrences likely have any good viability. Many are small and threatened by factors difficult to mitigate even on conservation lands…Approximately nine of the occurrences are on some type of conservation land, but current management methods on these lands are unknown.”³ So, even though we know they are endangered and that they
38
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
are living on some areas of conservation, we have no clue if anyone is even paying attention to them! Somewhere between 1975 and 1980 the Linum carteri became a plant of concern and thereby ended up an endangered one. So, what have we done in the last 40+ years to ensure that it doesn’t become an extinct one? If we’re honest, and the last filing attempt is accurate, we haven’t done much. And, in truth, we probably haven’t done much about any of the animals and other species we have written about here. So, what’s the point? Man, that’s such a good question, isn’t it? What’s the point about writing about endangered species when most people aren’t going to do a single thing about it besides go, “Aww, what a pretty flower.” Hope is the point. Hope is always the point in every single thing we do. We hope that an outcome will rectify any and all bad in our lives and the world. So, what’s the point about telling you about an endemic flower found in South Florida, where you don’t even live? It’s the hope that you will pay attention to the beauty of the world around you and appreciate its creatures and creations as much as their Creator intended you to. And that means, maybe, just maybe, doing something to protect those beautiful things, because we all need a little joy and a lot of hope! Resources: ¹Center for Biological Diversity. Natural History. Carter’s SmallFlowered Flax} Linum carteri carteri. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/plants/Carters_small-flowered_flax/ natural_history.html ²Conover, R. (2018). Point of View. The Tennessee Magazine. https://www.tnmagazine.org/point-of-view ³NatureServe Explorer. Linum carteri Carter’s Flax. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.142228/ Linum_carteri ⁴U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ECOS. Carter’s small-flowered flax (Linum carteri carteri). https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/7208 Photo taken from Center for Biological Diversity where credit is given to USFWS and Roger L. Hammer. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
BUILD YOUR FLEET W36M
652R
Z930M
•
•
• • • • •
Commercial Walk-Behind Mower
• • •
36-inch (91-cm) floating mower deck Smooth-running, 14.5 hp (10.8 kW) V-twin engine Self-propelled hydrostatic drive system Easy-to-use controls for operator comfort and convenience
• • •
Compact design for easy hauling Hydrostatic drive system Commercial-quality engine Easy to maintain
ZTrak™ Zero-Turn Mower 7-Iron™ PRO deck Mulch On Demand™ Available Gasoline Engine Propane Option Available Rear Discharge Deck
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
39
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
QuikTrak™ Stand-On Mower
Naturally Amazing Activities
By Sean Green
Dye Naturally
I hope you will pardon my play on words; I was just having fun and this month our activity is more about fun than expertise. I am still learning how to craft things with resources that can be found in nature. This month I am sharing an experiment in making natural dye. I used pine pollen that had fallen to the ground and probably could have added in pine cones for a potentially darker dye, but wanted a pure experiment. From what I have read, there are many roots and bark that can make a good dye. I did not want to harvest anything that was living, nor did I want to encourage our readers to do so, therefore I’m suggesting you experiment with what you can find on the ground.
Supplies: A Pot Natural plant material (pine pollen, pine cones, pine needles) Water Vinegar Alum cheesecloth Fabric (100% Cotton or Wool)
Gather stuff from the ground Place stuff in a pot Cover stuff with water. Simmer stuff to make a dark tea (12 -24 hrs) Strain solids out through cheesecloth Place fabric into the dye simmer for 1 hr Turn off heat, let fabric cool in the dye The longer the fabric stays in the dye the darker it will get. I kept mine in for 2 days and continued to get darker but not as dark as I would have liked. I might try pine cones next hoping for a darker color. I did not use a cast iron pot; I may try that next to see if the iron will darken the dye.
PAGE
Prep the fabric in mordant Add fabric to a clean pot Mix 1 part Vinegar to 4-part water covering fabric *Add Alum to brighten color *Add Iron to darken color (using a cast iron pot) Bring to a light boil, then simmer for an hour stirring frequently. Wring fabric (do not rinse)
40
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
ANaturally Closer Look Amazing
by Sean Green
Thistles (Cirsium spp)
I often lead interpretive hikes to share my Passion for insects with others. When I see thistles on a hiking trip, I get excited because that is the one place that I can guarantee there will be an assortment of insects.Thistles are packed with more nectar than most other plants and consequently are a popular stop for pollinating insects such as butterflies, bees, flies, and beetles. Thistles are one of the first springtime plants to flower and among the first plants to grow after a natural or prescribed wilderness fire. This adaptation gives thistles an upper hand when competing for habitat real estate. This efficiency can be a sad thing when the thistles are invasive, and many are. We do, however, have some native species of thistle that are cherished for their natural history in Florida, and I hope you’ll take a closer look with me to understand how to distinguish the native species from the invasive. Many of us recognize thistles on site. They are tall enough to be seen from a distance, and flowers can be white, yellow, red purple, and orange. Despite their beauty, they have a reputation of being a real pain in many ways. They can usually be found in open sunny areas such as a pasture or a prairie and even on the side of roads. Livestock cannot eat these weeds and they are not usually a welcome site for livestock farmers. They have horrible spikes that will certainly hurt if you step on them or try to remove them from the ground with bare hands. Thistles are a member of the Aster family (Asteraceae), commonly known as sunflowers. This family is one of the most diverse group of flowering plants consisting of over 24,000 species. The Aster family includes many genera that are commonly called “Thistle,” however (Cirsium spp.) is the only genera of the “true thistles.” True thistles are distinguished from other groups by sharing specific characteristics that make them a truly remarkable plant. In fact, botanist regard this family as an example of a flower that has reached its highest state of evolution. Considering the characteristics of a thistle, one could think of thistles as the Swiss army knife of flowers because these flowers have been outfitted with more tools in the same space than any other. It is no surprise this species is a premium choice for pollinators and a notable example of survival of the fittest. True thistles have composite flower heads of only disk florets while other groups in the Aster family have disk florets in the center of the flower that are surrounded with ray flowers for outer petals. The composite flower is pollinated more efficiently than other flowers. A visit from one insect can pollinate several of the individual flowers that make up the floret. Each flower in the floret can produce a seed that is cleverly equipped with a fluffy parachute that resembles down feathers and carries the seed in the wind for dispersal. In addition to these excellent features, the true thistle is generous in its bounty to pollinators. Some studies have demonstrated that the nectar of thistles have a higher concentration of sugar than other flowers; furthermore, the pollen, has higher con-
Human populations share a history with wildlife in benefiting from thistles. The thistle is the national flower of Scotland and has been the national heraldic emblem since the reign of King Alexander III (1249 – 1286). Legend has it that in the Battle of Largs (1263), the invading Norse failed in an attempt to sneak up on the Scottish army’s encampment when barefoot Norse soldiers suffered the tragedy of stepping on thistle and blowing their cover by crying out in pain. In the United States, Native American populations understood the benefits of thistle. Both the Houma tribe in Louisiana and our own Florida Seminole tribe brewed an infusion of thistle leaves and roots in whiskey to use as an astringent and breath in the steam to relieve a stuffy nose or clear phlegm from the lungs or throat. They may have sipped the whiskey as well; my sources did not confirm my suspicions. The blowgun darts of own Florida Seminole tribe were made from the native Horrid Thistle (C. horridulum). The young shoots of the thistle and parts of the flower can be boiled and eaten. The older stalks are too tough to eat, but could be used to produce fiber for weaving basketry and clothing. Thistle, like many wild edibles, have an assortment of medicinal properties that will not likely see FDA approval, but retain historic value and ancient wisdom, nonetheless. Thistle seeds can be used to produce lamp oil and the fluff that comes from the seed makes great fire tinder. There are both native and nonnative thistles in Florida, some of which are difficult to distinguish from each other. Horrid Thistle (C. horridulum) and the invasive Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) for example are both commonly called “Bull Thistle” and look almost exactly alike. Many journals confirm there are no reliable physical characteristics to distinguish native from nonnative, however, as a general observation, native species tend to be less spiny than their introduced counterparts and native species tend to have a thicker mat of white pubescence (hair like structures) on the underside of the leaf than nonnatives such as Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare). I do not encourage the harvesting of native species. If you want to harvest, please research, take a closer look, and be absolutely sure of the species before harvesting. If you want to just enjoy the show, take a camera, and see how many insect species you can find. I can literally spend an entire day in a field of thistles and not get bored. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
41
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
centrations of proteins, minerals, and vitamins. You will not have to stick around in a field of thistles long to see that they attract more fascinating insects than though possible in one stop. It is not just primary pollinators you will see; insect predators such as assassin bugs, spiders, and mantis seem to know that finding thistles is a buffet of meal choices for a predatory insect. Birds join the party as well not only eating the insects, but also the seeds, which are said to have higher protein levels than other plants. The plant itself provides great nesting material for birds with soft seed fluff for the inside of the nest and thorny leaves and stems to arm the outside of the nest from predators.
CENTRAL FLORIDA YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE LIVESTOCK SHOWCASE & SALE Photos by Cassidy Polston, Cassidy Nicole Photography and Blair Buchanon, Images by Blair
Quick Facts: Organization established June 2020 www.youthinagriculture.com www.facebook.com/CFYIAgriculture Why: To create a new opportunity for youth focused on raising and showing livestock in Polk County Show Facts: 180 Exhibitors and more than 420 entries registered Location: Koren’s Quarters Show Facility
Swine Show Results: Grand Champion – Tobey Price Reserve Grand Champion – Caleb Fletcher 3rd Overall - Carter Price 4th Overall - Max Keen 5th Overall – Raelyn Sowell Heavy Weight Division – Top 5 Champion - Tobey Price Reserve - Raelyn Sowell 3rd Place - Dallas Stephens 4th Place - Karson Russell 5th Place - Hadley Compton
SWINE – JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP Junior Champion – Camdyn Herman Reserve Champion – Haylie Jayde Stephens 3rd Place – Audrie Bailey 4th Place – Charley Palmer 5th Place – Addison Hill
Middle Weight Division – Top 5 Champion - Caleb Fletcher Reserve - Carter Price 3rd Place - Rilee Bennett 4th Place - Addison Hill 5th Place - Luke Kinard
SWINE – INTERMEDIATE SHOWMANSHIP Intermediate Champion – Madison Carlton Reserve Champion – Kendyl Sowell 3rd Place – Rilee Bennett 4th Place - Tobey Price 5th Place – Max Keen
Light Weight Division – Top 5 Champion - Max Keen Reserve - Charley Palmer 3rd Place - Kendyl Sowell 4th Place - Madison Carlton 5th Place - Max Keen
SWINE – SENIOR SHOWMANSHIP Senior Champion – Allyson Keim Reserve Champion – Karson Russell 3rd Place – Cameron Dicks 4th Place - Kelsey Wood 5th Place – Allison Jackson
Swine Showmanship Overall Supreme Showman – Madison Carlton Reserve Supreme Showman – Camdyn Herman
Swine Herdsman Madison Carlton Cattle Showmanship Overall Supreme Showman – Carlee Taylor, Intermediate Division Reserve Supreme Showman – Ansley Bryant, Junior Division
SWINE – NOVICE SHOWMANSHIP Novice Champion – Carter Price PAGE
Reserve Champion – Dallas Stephens 3rd Place – Cason Herman 4th Place - Raelyn Sowell 5th Place – Hadley Compton
42
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
Novice Champion – Easton Smith Reserve Champion – Brayden Cranor 3rd Place – Cash Walker 4th Place -Hadley Compton 5th Place – Addison Pilla Junior Champion – Ansley Bryant Reserve Champion – Brentley West 3rd Place – Caden Wingfield 4th Place – Hoyt Keller 5th Place – Truman Taylor Intermediate Champion – Carlee Taylor Reserve Champion – Lily Harwell 3rd Place – Raelan Sherouse 4th Place – Lillie Myers 5th Place – Emily Cason Senior Champion – Baylie Jones Reserve Champion – Taylor Gutmann 3rd Place – Sara Clanton 4th Place – Nolan Ballard 5th Place – Bayleigh Finney Top 5 Supreme Steers Overall Supreme Champion – Lily Harwell, Market Division Reserve Supreme Champion – Layne Walker, Market Division 3rd Overall – Baylie Jones, Prospect Division 4th Overall – Baylie Jones, Prospect Division 5th Overall – Taylor Gutmann, Bred & Owned Division
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Market Steer Grand Champion – Lily Harwell Reserve Grand Champion – Layne Walker Prospect Steer Grand Champion – Baylie Jones Reserve Grand Champion – Baylie Jones Brahman Influence Steer Grand Champion – Truman Taylor Reserve Grand – Alexis Pilla Bred & Owned Steer Grand Champion – Taylor Gutmann Reserve Grand – Truman Taylor Top 5 Supreme Heifers Overall Supreme Champion – Lily Harwell, European Influence Registered Division Champion Reserve Supreme Champion – Lily Harwell, Angus Champion 3rd Overall – Carlee Taylor, Ultra Brangus Champion 4th Overall – Sara Clanton, Brahman Influence Commercial Division Champion 5th Overall – Raelan Sherouse, Brahman Division Champion Beef Breeding Division Champions
Grand Champion Bull – Evangelina Garcia Reserve Grand Champion Bull – Dustina Garcia Commercial Bull Grand Champion – Briley West Reserve Grand Champion – Hubble “Junior” Keller Female Division Angus Grand Champion – Lily Harwell Reserve Grand Champion – Emily Cason Brahman Grand Champion – Raelan Sherouse Reserve Grand Champion – Brentley West Brahman Influence Registered Grand Champion – Caitlynn Robertson Reserve Grand Champion – Macy Bozeman Ultra Brangus Grand Champion – Carlee Taylor Reserve Grand Champion – Jayden Black
Simmental Grand Champion – Lillie Myers Reserve Grand Champion – Baylie Jones European Influence Registered Grand Champion – Lily Harwell Reserve Grand Champion – Adalyn Compton Commercial Heifer Division Brahman Influence Grand Champion – Sara Clanton Reserve Grand Champion – Bayleigh Finney European Influence Grand Champion – Taylor Gutmann Reserve Grand Champion – Ansley Bryant Cow/Calf Grand Champion – Taylor Gutmann Reserve Grand Champion – Annabell Candrell Bred & Owned Brahman Influence Grand Champion – Carlee Taylor Reserve Grand Champion – Sara Clanton Bred & Owned European Influence Grand Champion – Lillie Myers Reserve Grand Champion – Alexis Pilla
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
43
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Zebu Grand Champion Female – Dustina Garcia Reserve Grand Champion Female – Evangelina Garcia
MUSTANG LOVE By Libby Hopkins
Jennie Sloan started off her career as a nurse. She did this for more than 20 years and took care of lots of babies over the years and loved what she did, but there was something more she wanted out of life. “I’m a career student, so I went back to school a lot of times and got different degrees,” Sloan said. “I event taught college classes for a while as well. I realized none of this was what I wanted to do.” One day she received a call from her sister asking her to come help her with a horse show in Texas. “My sister is a horse trainer in Kentucky and in 2007 she asked me to fly to Texas and help her with this horse show,” Sloan said. “I thought I’ll go to Texas, help her with the show and then hang out with her for the weekend. It would be a lot of fun.” They went to Fort Worth Texas and her sister competed in the Extreme Mustang Makeover Contest. “This is a horse competition where the horse trainers take horses that are 100 days out of the wild and they have to make them tame enough to ride,” Sloan said. “After this competition, I was just stuck. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever done and I knew right then and there that it was something I wanted to do.” This is when RJ Farms Equine was born.
PAGE
RJ Farms was born out of the idea that all people should have the opportunity to connect with a horse and be
44
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
brave enough to step in the pen with a wild horse. RJ Farms Equine is a farm that is family owned and operated and open to students of all ages. They specialize in meeting special needs of clients from the weekend warrior to the experienced equestrian going outside of the norm or those with a need to connect with something as amazing as a Mustang. “High risk youth are welcomed on a case-by-case basis and will learn the concepts of hard work and compassion,” Sloan said. “Their self-esteem will improve and pride will surround your child. We are not a fancy show barn, we are a working family who cares about our misfit horses. You or your child will be welcomed into the wonderful world of mustang horsemanship. Nothing is more humbling that being in the presence of a horse.” Sloan also started a Florida chapter of the American Mustang and Burro Association. The American Mustang and Burro Association (AMBA) was incorporated in Texas in 1987 by a group of Mustang enthusiasts. They set up a registry for Mustangs, Burros, and Mustang or Burro crosses. The registry also allowed for Mustangs and burros bred in the wild but born domestic to be registered. AMBA is the only organization that works with the US Dressage and Western Dressage groups to provide awards for high points in English and Western dressage. In order to be eligible, the rider must be a member of AMBA and the horse registered with AMBA. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Being a part AMBA made Sloan want to work with rescuing horses. “I was contacted about a horse and they said it was hard to handle and they asked me if I wanted to give it a try to help the horse,” Sloan said. “I said, ‘Sure, why not? Let’s give it a try’ and it evolved and it’s still evolving today.” She went from helping one horse to now having a farm full of horses.
stages of turning. I work specifically with the Bureau of Land Management with their wild horses program and I’m what they call a ‘TIP Trainer.’ With their program, I work with the horses to get them where a person can ride them and to get them adopted.” Sloan loves what she is doing now and loves that her “patients” are now horses. “I loved the caring part of nursing,” Sloan said. “Just now I get to care for horses.”
“This is now my full-time job,” Sloan said. “I have 32 Mustangs on my property now. They are all in various
If you would like to learn more about RJ Farms Equine, you can visit their Facebook page a www.facebook.com/RjFarms or call Sloan at (813) 463-3298. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
45
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Classifieds BUILDING SUPPLIES METAL ROOFING Thousands of 8ft. & 10ft. sheets. In Stock. Prices from $6 and up. Custom lengths available. 813-752-7088 ask for Ferris. ALUMINUM We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378 WINDOW SCREENS We make window screens of all sizes available in different frame colors. Call Ted(813) 752-3378 CABINETS All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Chris 813-752-3378 VINYL SIDING Many colors and styles to choose from. Ask for Ted. 813-752-3378 MOBILE HOME SUPPLIES Everything you need under ONE roof! Call Blake 813-752-3378 NEW, USED & ABUSED.
Info@inthefieldmagazine.com
Tel: 813.759.6909
CITRUS PACKING HOUSE Citrus packing house equipment for sale. Mikey Fertilizer Spreader, two wind machines. Call 863-324-2833 2011 MASSEY FERGUSON 1529L Massey Ferguson Tractor 4X4 with loader. 200 hours. $11,000 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
SOLD
2014 MAHINDRA MAX24 HST Tractor with loader. 605 hours. $10,500 Ask for Alvie 813-759-8722 2020 MAHINDRA 3650 HST tractor 49hp, cab, loader, and 3rd function. Warranty. $39,900 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 KIOTI CK20S 4x4 tractor. 555 hours. $4,500 Give Alvie a call 813-759-8722 BAD BOY ROGUE 61” cut with 35hp Kawasaki engine. 58 hours. Warranty. Sold new 6/2020. Equipped with lights and canopy. Comes with trailer. $11,000 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
PAGE
WANTED CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE. We are a MI Windows dealer. Our windows are WANTED If you need a place to dump energy star, lifetime warranty. clean wood chips/leaves from your tree trimCall Broke & Poor 813-752-3378 ming business etc. I need about 10 loads. Located on Dorman Rd near Fishhawk, no FARM EQUIPMENT gate. Call John at 239-821-1253 I4 POWER EQUIPMENT Trade-Ins Welcomed, Service FOR SALE Department Available. Exit 22 • S. Frontage Rd. BETOMIX 320 Plant City 813-752-4459 3 pointy lift, pto driven cement TAYLOR WAY TILLER DISC mixer. Very good condition. Plow - good condition. $1750.00 $850 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 OLD ANTIQUE BLUE STOVE JOHN DEERE Bread warmer, chrome trim. Looking for your new tractor? You have got to see it to believe it! Come see us at Everglades Farm Equipment. Call Ted for more details. 813-752-3378 evergladesfarmequipment.com 2805 SR 60 West, Plant City DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER 813-737-1660 No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. MASSEY FERGUSON 3435 Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 Vineyard Tractor. 80hp, 1523 hrs. Cab with A/C. $23,500 KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES Call Alvie 813-759-8722 Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the BIG Box STORES! Call Today! OVERSTOCK SPECIAL Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 Barn doors starting at $80.00 Call Ted 813-752-3378 JOBS ALLUMINUM SKINS Staring at $30.00 MECHANIC NEEDED Call Ted 813-752-3378 Agricultural equipment. Pay with benefits based on experience. Call David 863-537-1345 2002 GMC (Isuzu) 16 ft flat bed, diesel, 142,174 miles. $5,500. PARTS COUNTER HELP Call Tony at 813-205-6145 Wanted for parts look up and 2014 JOHN DEERE 2025R sales. Experience in the agriculture 164 hours. With 62D mid mower. equipment service. Speak with Alvie. Excellent condition. $15,900 813-759-8722 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
46
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES
YEAR END SALE! On select models of Bad Boy, Hustler, and Bush Hog zero turn mowers. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
USED BAD BOY OUTLAW XP Zero turn mower. 61” cut, kawasaki engine. $4,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
PRODUCE FRESH PRODUCE Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
MISC. FREE Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722 24 HOUR SERVICE Coggins Plumbing licensed • bonded • Insured. www.cogginsplumbing.com 813-643-7173 FARM BUREAU INSURANCE We have you covered! Call us today. 813-752-5577 LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL? Call Rhonda Wetherington, P.A. Realtor, GRI. 813-933-1761 ALAN’S AIR CONDITIONING Residential, Commercial Sales SVS & Repair. Legendary service for over 20 years! 813-752-0821 FOR RENT Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mulcher. For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
TRADE • BUY • SELL? Since 2004 In The Field has been Hillsborough and Polk Countys #1 Agriculture Magazine. Call Us at 813-759-6909 to place your Ad Today!
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Polk County Cattle Women
S
pring has finally arrived! While we’ve had weather the rest of the country can only dream about, like all the rest of you, I am praying for rain.
On March 30 we had the privilege of preparing and serving an appreciation lunch to the amazing first responders of Polk County’s Sleepy Hill and Providence Fire Rescue Stations. We were able to fill their bellies with beef while sharing information about beef by-products and Florida’s beef cattle industry. It was a truly a humbling experience! The PCCW members are gearing up for the Florida State Fair! As you visit the fair, look for us manning the Florida CattleWomen Booth in the Ag Hall of Fame Building. Due to Covid restrictions we won’t be passing out beef samples, but we will have other goodies to share. Expect to see Ivan the Bull in the FCW booth, as well. We are currently accepting applications for our annual academic scholarship. The application can be found on the Polk County Youth Fair website and is due April 15. The application is only open to all graduating high school seniors. Additionally, high school graduating seniors pursuing a ca-
We always welcome ladies of all ages and walks of life to come and join us! You do not have to own cattle or live on a farm/ranch to become a member. If you have a desire to promote the Beef industry, you’ve found your tribe. Join us for our next meeting on May 4 at 6:30 in the Valencia Room at the UF/IFAS Extension Office in Bartow. If you’d like more information please feel free to reach out to me, buckld96@ gmail.com. Till next month,
Leslie Buchanon Polk County Cattlewomen President
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
47
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
reer in agriculture can also apply for Polk County Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Rancher’s Will Putnam YF&R Scholarship. These applications are due on May 7. Contact Carole McKenzie at carolem@pcfb.org for application information.
PAGE
48
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April
2021
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM