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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
CONTENTS
March 2021 VOL. 14 • ISSUE 7
28 GRAPE HAMMOCK RAISING CHAMPIONS
PAGE 5 Agvocating for Youth
PAGE 35 News Briefs
PAGE 10 Scott Angle
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 12 Ranchers Daughter
PAGE 38 Endangered Species
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 39 Youth Fair
PAGE 16 Scaelett Jackson
PAGE 40
PAGE 18 Spring Cleaning
PAGE 41 A Closer Look
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 42 Local Bites
Activity
PAGE 25 Golden Beets
PAGE 43 Hobby Farming
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 44 State Fair Results PAGE 47 PCCW
PAGE 32 PCSO
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
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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
Cover Photo By Karen Berry
PAGE 30 Recipes
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association
2020
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
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Agvocating for Youth
by Payge Dupre
This month, lots of our Hillsborough County Youth will have had the opportunity to participate in various events at the Florida Strawberry Festival. However, one thing that is not widely known is that Polk County Youth also have their own opportunities in the beef breed show, and as always, we are represented amazingly.
class with a lot of great steers which surprised me. I could not have been happier with how my State Fair had gone so far. Going into final drive, I really did not expect to place in the top two - yet I did! My steer was Reserve Grand Champion against some of the nicest steers in the state and I was over the moon! All of the hard work paid off and it was a great feeling. I felt so privileged to show such a great steer produced by an amazing ranch. The State Fair is such a fun place where everyone is like family. Every year is great, but this year was just a little more special for me!”
In the month of February, the Florida State Fair held our market livestock shows. Our very own Jessie Bennett participated in the Market Steer Show. She was able to win Reserve Champion Senior Showman and Reserve Champion Steer. This is a huge accomplishment for Jessie and a dream she has had for a very long time. Way to go Jessie and thank you for representing Polk County so well! We were also represented very well in the other market shows.
During our Spring Break this year, we will have a few individuals heading out to represent us at the International in Waco, TX. This show was created as a replacement for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Open Shows. We usually have these individuals representing us in Houston, but this year things had to be different. The show is open to American breeds and is expected to be a very fun show. If you are headed out to represent us, good luck!
I asked Jessie about her experience doing so well at the State Fair this year, and she said, “Showmanship has always been something that I have thoroughly enjoyed. This year I had a steer that was pretty nervous which made my job a little bit harder. I worked with him a lot in hopes of placing well at the State Fair. Going into showmanship, my goal was to get a blue ribbon. I never thought that I would’ve made it to the final drive after so many great kids had been in the ring that day. The judge took our show sticks away and asked multiple questions to add to the challenge. Placing reserve grand champion in Showmanship was such a great feeling especially with such competitive showman in the show-ring that day.”
We also have the Central Florida Youth in Agriculture show coming up. The show will be held at the Koren’s Quarters Show Facility in Plant City. This show will entail Polk County Youth with a swine, beef, and steer shows. The market projects can either be sold for slaughter or brought back home. Be on the lookout for buyer letters from these exhibitors for more information on how to support them at this new show! On Thursday, March 25 at 10 AM, they will have Swine showmanship with the show that afternoon at 2 PM. Friday, March 26 at 10 AM will be the cattle show, starting with showmanship, then going in this order: zebus, bulls, registered females, commercial females, bred and owned, steer show, and the supreme champion drive. The steer and swine sale will then be held Saturday, March 27 at 10 AM. Make sure to come support these youth who have worked tirelessly on their projects! This month will be busy for all of our youth, but it just goes to show how amazing they are!
Happy March and Strawberry Festival month! It was also this time one year ago that all of our lives changed with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Then to the show! My steer weighed 1178, which was on the lighter end of the steers at the fair. My goal, going into my class, was to place in the top three. I ended up winning my
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STAFF
Letter from the Editor
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez
Did someone say 2021 was going to change everything? All I know is 2021 has been a whirlwind for me. So much has been going on after a year of basically nothing, it’s been a bit hard to keep up. But I’m up for the challenge and I bet you are too. Don’t forget the brand new show coming up March 25-27, the Central Florida Youth in Agriculture Show to be held at Koren’s Quarters Show Facility in Plant City. It is open to all Polk County youth that are residents or go to school in Polk County. Remember, beyond the beaches and theme parks that most people associate with Florida, are ranchlands and crops, yet the majority of the population don’t see it or even understand where the food comes from.
March is National Nutrition Month, a campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This is a perfect time to spread the word that making informed choices about where your food comes from and developing good eating habits starts right here in Florida. This year’s theme is “Personalize Your Plate” and what better way to do that than to look for the Fresh From Florida label when you are shopping for your family. Your food is guaranteed fresh and you are supporting your local economy.
Photography Karen Berry Melissa Nichols Blair Buchanon Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Anita Todd Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders
Also remember to support our advertisers. They help us to continue to cover what is growing. 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
Sarah Holt
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
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.
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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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March is here and the grass is beginning to turn green but there is still a chance we could have a cold front move in and temperatures could drop so we cannot let our guard down yet. The brutal weather out west also had effects on the market here in Florida. Butcher cow prices were up quite a bit, which helped a lot of ranchers who were waiting on that market to go up. However, we need to keep the ranchers out west in our prayers. Many experienced unprecedented below zero temperatures and had losses that were sustained The Polk County Cattlemen’s board has decided not to have a spring dinner this year due to co-
vid concerns for all our members. We hope to announce a date for a summer dinner at a later date. March is the time of the year we switch from maintaining our herd to managing. Doing a little can go a long way to help the price your calves bring. Not only do the buyers appreciate calves being wormed and vaccinated, but they will usually pay a little more for these calves. Your overall herd health will increase the quality of your cattle. As always, I’m here to help in any way possible. Give me a call if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you
Dave Tomkow
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Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD By J. Scott Angle
The whole idea of the Gulf Coast Research and Education Field show great promise for HLB tolerance. We will deliver more Day is to give growers one-stop shopping for a whole panoply solutions to provide for a future for Florida citrus. of science at one time. When we did it virtually in February, we • Alternative crops. Diversifying our options is essential for the were able to condense time itself to give you even more. future of agriculture in a state buffeted by climate change, urOur scientists are great at what they do, but even they could banization, pests and disease, global competition, labor shortnot have shown you hops grow from seed to the top of an 18- ages and more. At Gulf Coast REC, we are researching whether foot trellis in just three minutes at a live in-person event. Shin- we can make Florida a hops-growing state so our craft brewersuke Agehara did it at the virtual event through the use of time ies can serve a home-grown product! lapse photography in a video (starting at the 1:30 mark www. youtube.com/watch?v=P0PBiDb8s4U&list=PLk3py1RNkc1Wc • Inclusion, diversity, equity and access. I asked all my department heads and unit leaders to devise plans for how to U27pXVoo6D3PXup2f7l1&index=19&t=36s). increase diversity in their section of UF/IFAS. This will directly Vance Whitaker looked like an anchorman behind the desk as benefit Florida growers because it will improve the quality of he presented visually appealing graphs on the performance of our science. Innovation comes from diversity of thought, and his new cultivars. And I was proud to kick off the field day via diversity of thought comes from diversity of people. As a result, Zoom and used what would have been my drive time back and we’ll have more ways of thinking about and solving the chalforth from Gainesville to pursue the resources our scientists lenges you face in the field, on the ranch or in the grove. need to do even more for you. • Updating BMPs. Some fertilizer recommendations are beWe had to cap entrance to our Zoom event at 300, and the ing applied to varieties of fruits and vegetables and to farmspots went fast. So if you missed it, here’s why you should go ing techniques that did not exist when UF/IFAS first did the research. This cannot continue. Even in this uncertain budget back and look at the recordings: time, I refocused funding internally to jumpstart work on to• Gulf Coast REC is among the most cutting-edge units in all of matoes and potatoes at four sites across the state, including UF/IFAS, so many things that will happen in coming years will GCREC. happen here first. The field day is an update from that cutting • Incentivizing ecosystems services. Partly through the use of edge. artificial intelligence, we will be doing research to quantify the ecosystems services agriculture provides, such as carbon seHere’s how I’ll help GCREC keep on the cutting edge: • Artificial intelligence. I have approved two AI-related positions questration. With that information in hand, we can then inform for Gulf Coast REC, one dedicated to mechanical harvesting, a public policy discussion of how we can incentivize you to precision ag and robotics, and another focused on turbocharg- continue and even do more of it. I don’t know yet what that will look like, but I advocate payment for ecosystems services. You ing our already outstanding plant breeding team. should get rewarded for all that you • Hands-on learning. Through the Vice President’s Promise, I produce, not just food. have pledged that all UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences undergraduates will have the opportunity for at least If you weren’t there, it’s worth going one meaningful beyond-the-classroom learning experience. back for a look. I hope to see you That could be undergraduate research, internships, study in person at the Florida Ag Expo in abroad, participation in professional conferences, and more. November. This is not a Gainesville-only thing. All our students at Plant City will have access to expanded and enriched real-world learning experiences.
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• Saving citrus. Every day I am working to ensure that Florida remains a citrus powerhouse for decades to come. We have learned more about HLB in the past decade than the rest of the world did in the previous century. Our advances in nutrition, for example, have kept infected trees productive, and some of the cultivars we’ve developed and are developing
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Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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By Marisol Tarango
CONFESSION OF A RANCHER’S DAUGHTER The principles of raising cattle are the same anywhere in the world, make sure they have proper nutrition, ample water, and tender loving care. Even though the rancher’s daughter has only raised cattle in one crease of the wide world, she is pretty sure that with some research and advice from locals she could ranch anywhere she found herself. (Except maybe Antarctica…unless she decided to pioneer in penguin ranching.) She has always felt a kinship to stock people all around the world because they understand the complexity, deep sorrow, and immense joy of tending to four legged creatures. From the Mongolian Steppe to the Scottish Highlands good stockmanship and animal husbandry is appreciated and admired by the rancher’s daughter, even if she has only seen pictures and videos of far-off places.
CONFESSION # 21: That’s not how we do it at home.
things differently, but as long as the cattle are calm and the cow crew is safe, there is no problem with different. If you want to see the pinnacle of the “that’s not the way we do it” bias, visit the ranching world. Ranchers do some things the same way over and over again because that is the only way it works in a certain area. In Florida, ranchers are often partial to Brahman cattle, it strikes a special spot in our hearts to see a nice looking Brahman bull grazing out in the pasture. But we do not breed Brahman cattle just “because daddy did.” Our cattle have to have some Brahman influence to survive as productive commercial mothers in a subtropical climate. However, our beloved Brahman cattle would not survive in Northern winters, with their thin coats and lean bodies, they would freeze. And in turn, pure European breeds from the North would be terribly hot and uncomfortable if they had to spend a summer in Florida with their fuzzy coats and small mouse ears.
There are also things that ranchers do just out of tradition and personal taste. For example, there are several different styles of ranching saddles that have different shapes and features, some have bigger fronts (swells) so that it is easier to grip with your knees, while others have a cantle (the top part of the seat) with a roll on it called a Cheyanne Roll, that they can grab onto. Both of these features help the rider to stay on a bucking horse, it just depends on where they like their grip. My personal favorite is the argument of whether a cowdog should have a bob tail or full tail. The dogs that cowboys used in Florida (cur dogs) can naturally have bob tails and it is not uncommon to Even though we had our own ranch, my dad often day-worked have a litter of puppies with full tails, bob tails, and any length for other ranches. This means that he would be hired by a ranch in between. Some cowboys swear long tails make too much to work cows for them for a day or for a few weeks, a freelance noise in the woods and get in the way. Others say that a full tail cowboy if you will. This also means that sometimes I would looks better on a dog than a bob tail. But I have seen a long get to go to work cows with my dad on these ranches. During tail dog be the best in the woods and I have seen many good these days I would be exposed to different ways that people looking bob tailed dogs. worked their cattle, most of it was the same, but sometimes there were small details that would have me giving wide-eyed Ranching is ruled by practicality and choices of survival. Somesideways glances to my dad. “Daddy that’s not the right way times those choices of survival turn into long term solutions to do it,” I would whisper as if they were about to get struck by that become a way of life, while others become outdated, but lightning. Often these comments would get a “Shh” with raised are kept around simply because people like the old ways… and eyebrows and an explanation later in the truck that people do that’s ok too… even if that’s not the way we do it at home. PAGE
Even though the core principles of raising livestock are the same around the world, how one goes about accomplishing those weight gain and production goals are vastly different. Not only from one side of the world to another, but there are differences even within the same county of how people raise and handle their cattle. Everyone has their own way that they like things done on their ranch and with their cattle. When it has been drilled into you from early childhood how to do something a certain way, it can be hard not to freak out when you see someone doing it differently.
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The tradition of the Florida State Fair continues this April with over 100 open and youth agriculture livestock competitions and shows, educational exhibits and animal experiences. Fair fun, thrills, deep-fried food, and entertainment for the whole family!
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
VISIT FLORIDASTATEFAIR.COM TO LEARN MORE
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Tampa Bay Fishing Report
Florida, what a great place to live, especially in the winter! All winter, if you can call it that, we’ve had plenty of comfortable fishing days. For the most part, the bite’s been strong, with the fish only slowing for the occasional passing front. For some reason, when the weather becomes unsettled, it usually means a front is approaching, bringing either cooler or warmer air temperatures. Suppose you’re looking to catch fish. Over the past 25 years, I worked as a saltwater charter captain, and during that time, I discovered the best time to catch saltwater fish is just before a front passes. Another good indicator is when barometric pressure begins to drop. Measurement of barometric pressure can be expressed in millibars(MB), inches, or millimeters of mercury (Hg). Normal-pressure at sea level is at or around 1013.3 millibars or 29.92 inches of mercury. I’ve concluded the better fishing days are when the pressure is dropping. Spring is here! So, Get Ready, Get Set, and Let’s Go fishing. Shortly the water will be in the 70s and 80s, and the fish will be coming out with their gloves off. They’ll be eating anything that moves or looks like bait, so be ready. Keep your eyes open as many species begin showing up in April. Kings, Mackerel, Permit, and Tarpon start heading our way looking for easy meals.
Snook: The snook bite should get stron-
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ger as the water continues to warm. It seems like the magic number is around 70 degrees. Deep passes early in the mornings, spreading out to the shallower waters as the day continues. Greenbacks, pins, and grunts seem to be the
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Capt. Woody Gore
baits of choice for those looking for live bait action. Suppose you like artificial topwater lures. Try any with a walk-thedog action MirrOlure Top Dog Jr.s, Heddon’s Zara Spook, and Spit’n Image work great. Soft plastics are always producers, especially when rigged on a 1/16th or 1/8th ounce jig-head. Try tossing these close to the mangroves and working them away slowly using a walk-the-dog action.
Redfish: Like snook, the redfish should
become easier to catch as the temperatures climb. They’ll cruise the outer flats, then travel into the mangroves as the tide gets higher. Look, for large schools of mullet, they are good places to find redfish mixed in together. If using live greenbacks, you can sometimes start them eating by tossing several baits around the flats or near the mangroves. Try keeping the baits within casting distance to draw the fish to you. Expect some good excitement when pitching soft plastics around the mangroves during a high incoming tide.
Spotted Sea Trout: April should pro-
duce good trout action on incoming or outgoing tides. Especially when using topwater popping plugs on a calm early morning grass flat. Try popping the lure several times and letting it float. Repeat until you get a strike. On the other hand, live shrimp or artificial DOA shrimp suspended under a popping cork should also produce nice trout. Since everyone wants to catch big gator trout, we must remember these large fish lay the most eggs, so fish responsibly, try putting the big ones back. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Cobia, Kings, Mackerel, and Sharks:
With the onset of Threadfins come the Kings, Cobia, Mackerel, and Sharks. Cobia usually cruise markers holding bait. Mackerel could be feeding on bait schools, and large kings and sharks will be feeding on the smaller mackerel.
“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
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Scarlett Jackson: Coming Full Circle By Leslie Buchanon
Erma Bombeck is famously quoted as saying, “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me’.” In using our talents in life, we’re often led in very unexpected directions. Scarlett McCullers Jackson is no stranger to using her talents, or to change. She’s been led in many different directions throughout her life, but she always ends up right where she’s meant to be, serving others. Last we heard from Scarlett, she had just been named the Executive Director of the Florida FFA Foundation, by way of serving as the Director for Agricultural Development at Warner University. Even before her time at Warner University, Scarlett used her God-given talents as a first-grade teacher and agriculture teacher/FFA advisor. The common theme throughout Scarlett’s adult life has been her commitment to inspiring students of all ages to become leaders.
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Most recently, due to changes in her personal life, Scarlett made the difficult decision to leave her position at Florida FFA and she returned to Warner University as the Interim Director of Admissions. While this was not an easy decision for her to make, life changes sometimes require hard decisions in order to do what you feel is best for you and your family.
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These changes included a big move for Scarlett and her family. They currently reside in Highlands County where Scarlett has jumped right in and involved herself in the local community. By serving on the Highlands Junior Livestock Committee, Scarlett is involved in all of the livestock shows at the Highlands County Fair, which was held this past February. Even though she is now a Highlands County resident, Scarlett continues to be actively involved in Polk County community service groups. At the Polk County Youth Fair, she heads up the Table Setting and Menu Planning contests. One area of community involvement that keep her very busy is her role on the Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Group. Florida Farm Bureau shares, “This selective group consists of young men and women who are interested in representing production agriculture and the farm families who make it successful. Candidates chosen for the Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Group develop and refine their leadership abilities by focusing on personal growth, public speaking, media training, issue advocacy, business management and service leadership.” As her life continues to evolve and change, Scarlett and her husband Kyle are looking forward to expanding their family in May by gifting their daughter Aubrey with a sister. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Scarlett’s passion to continue to be involved in agriculture, higher education, and serving others has led her to come full circle in her life. Through her education, background experiences and heart for students, Scarlett Jackson is a name you will surely hear for years to come. Here in Polk County, we look forward to cheering on our hometown girl as she uses all her talents to impact change in the world.
Faye and Ronald Wetherington.
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Spring Cleaning in Your Florida Yard Anne Yasalonis UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
Spring is a good time to clean up, plan, and prep your landscape for spring and summer planting. Even though we don’t experience winter in the same way they do “up north,” plants may be damaged from frost and/or freeze and there is still work to do in the yard to clean up after winter. Where should you start? 1. When the danger of frost and freeze has past, prune back all the damaged plants in your landscape. Don’t dig them all out of the ground as most of them will come back as the temperatures begin to warm. 2. After the pruning is complete, there will be more visible mulched areas in the landscape. Take the time to remove weeds and replenish mulch as needed. A clean, mulched landscape is a great way to start fresh! Remember to keep the depth of your mulch to 2-3 inches. If you have a lot of fallen leaves, you may even need to remove some to maintain a proper depth. Pull mulch away from the base of trees until the root flare is visible. 3. If you want to replace damaged plants, now is the time to start researching what to replace them with. Remember to take the time to make sure you are choosing the Right Plant for the Right Place. Download a copy of The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design to help you make the right choice.
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4. This is also a great time of year to make sure your sprinkler system is functioning properly. Routine maintenance and basic repairs will ensure a properly functioning system. Check your rain shut-off device and make sure it works. The devices
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need periodic maintenance and need to be replaced every few years. Check with your local water utility provider to see if they are offering any incentives or rebates for rain shut-off devices. Also, turn on your system and go through each zone to ensure that filters and emitters are not clogged, irrigation heads are not spraying impervious surfaces, and that they rise high enough to effectively water the plants. 5. While you are maintaining your sprinkler system, take this time to calibrate it as well. Do you know what it means to calibrate your sprinkler system? It means that you measure the water being applied and then make necessary adjustments to apply the correct amount. For each zone, distribute uniform cans (6-8 tuna cans will work perfectly) throughout the zone. Turn on the zone for 15 minutes. Turn the water off and use a ruler to measure how many inches are in each can. Take an average of those measurements to determine how many inches are applied in 15 minutes. Do this for each zone. Then, change your timer so that ½ inch is applied in each zone. If you need some assistance, we have an easy-to-use worksheet that can be downloaded here. https://fawn.ifas.ufl. edu/tools/irrigation_presentation/fawn_app_rate.pdf 6. Clean out bird feeders and birdbaths. If you haven’t been vigilant about these over the winter, make sure your bird feeders are cleaned out and refilled. Scrub birdbaths and refill them. Never use soap or bleach to clean them. 7. After your yard is ready for spring, you can start planning for new plants and other garden updates. Consider planting for pollinators, locate a spot for growing your own vegetables and herbs, add a shade tree, install a piece of garden art, or, WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
add a bench in a shady spot where you can sit and enjoy your yard. There are so many ways to incorporate the principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ into your yard. If you need assistance, ideas or tips consider attending a free informational webinar or workshop to help you make your yard FloridaFriendly! 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. The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a volunteerdriven 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. An Equal Opportunity Institution.
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AGRICULTURE FACTS • There are approximately 47,000 commercial farms in Florida • The average Florida farm size is 201 acres • Florida agriculture provided a total of 1.35 million jobs in 2010 • Florida produces nearly 300 different commodities, making it one of the most diverse production agriculture states in the nation • Florida agriculture generates an economic impact of $148 billion • Florida accounts for 45% of the total U.S. citrus production • Florida ranks second among the states in the value of vegetable production • Florida is the world leader in phosphate rock production •Florida ranks first among the states in the production of greenhouse and nursery products • In 2010, Florida ranked third among the states in agricultural exports with $3.1 billion • More than 140 countries imported Florida agricultural commodities in 2010 Source websites http://www.nass.usda.gov/ | http://www.florida-agriculture.com
Connecting our mission to our communities At the heart of every local fair are young people learning about responsible farming, ranching and food production. As a global leader in the production of essential crop nutrients, Mosaic takes pride in fulfilling our mission of helping the world grow the food it needs. We also produce high quality feed ingredients that provide the critical building blocks of animal nutrition – for farmers and ranchers here in Florida and around the world. Quality food on our tables begins with quality feed on farms. That’s why we’re proud to support our local FFA and 4H programs – where commitment to teaching responsible agricultural practices is about growing a safe and healthy future, for all of us. Mosaic extends its best wishes to local students who made the livestock shows a success, and to the supporters that help keep our communities growing, together.
www.mosaicfloridaphosphate.com
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Grave Robber I have discovered a number of famous people lived in the city of Zephyrhills. Stock car drivers, Buzzie and David Reutimann, Ramiele Malubay, American Idol finalist and Carl Tanzler (aka Carl von Cosel), best know for stealing and preserving the corpse of Elena Milagro Hoyos. I suggest if you have a weak stomach, you may not want to read this story. Most people never heard of Elena. She never did anything note-worthy, but died of tuberculosis. The story goes that Carl Tanzler, who lived for three years in Zephyhills, had a morbid obsession for a young Cuban-American TB patient, Elena Milagro, that carried on well after she died of the disease. The story goes, in 1933, almost two years after she died, Tanzler removed Hoyos’ body from its tomb, and lived with the corpse at his home for seven years. One evening in April 1933, Tanzler crept through the cemetery where Hoyos was buried and removed her body from the mausoleum, carting it through the cemetery after dark on a toy wagon, and transporting it to his home. He reportedly said that Elena’s spirit would come to him when he would sit by her grave and serenade her corpse with a favorite Spanish song. He also said that she would often tell him to take her from the grave. Tanzler attached the corpse’s bones together with wire and coat hangers, and fitted the face with glass eyes. As the skin of the corpse decomposed, Tanzler replaced it with silk cloth soaked in wax and plaster of paris. As the hair fell out of the decomposing scalp, Tanzler fashioned a wig from Hoyos’s hair that had been collected by her mother and given to Tanzler not long after her burial in 1931. Tanzler filled the corpse’s abdominal and chest cavity with rags to keep the original form, dressed Hoyos’s remains in stockings, jewelry, and gloves, and kept the body in his bed. Tanzler also used copious amounts of perfume, disinfectants, and preserving agents, to mask the odor and forestall the effects of the corpse’s decomposition.
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In October, 1940, Elena’s sister Florinda heard rumors of Tanzler sleeping with the disinterred body of her sister, and confronted Tanzler at his home, where Hoyos’s body was eventually discovered. Florinda notified the authorities, and Tanzler was arrested and detained. Tanzler was psychiatrically examined, and found mentally competent to stand trial on the charge of “wantonly and maliciously destroying a grave and removing a body without authorization.” After a preliminary hearing on October 9, 1940 at the Monroe County Courthouse in Key West, Tanzler was held to answer on the charge, but the case was eventually dropped and he was released, as the statue of limitations for the crime had expired.
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Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the March 2017 issue
Shortly after the corpse’s discovery by authorities, Hoyos’s body was examined by physicians and pathologists, and put on public display at the Dean-Lopez Funeral Home, where it was viewed by as many as 6,800 people. Hoyos’s body was eventually returned to the Key West Cemetery where the remains were buried in an unmarked grave, in a secret location, to prevent further tampering. Then there’s the story of Jean Stevens and her twin sister, June. They were so inseparable they married brothers. When June was diagnosed with cancer, Jean shared a bed with her and rubbed her back. And when June died in October 2009, she was buried in her sister’s backyard—but only for a few days. Lonely and claustrophobic at the thought of her sister trapped underground, Jean had June dug up and brought inside to live with her, just like she had done 10 years earlier with James, her husband of 60 years, who had been buried at a nearby cemetery. There they lived—well, she lived—with her husband’s body on a couch in the extended garage and her sister propped up in a spare room off her bedroom for almost a year before the cops were tipped off that the 91-year-old was not alone. In an interview shortly thereafter, Stevens was aware that her behavior appeared disturbing, but explained unapologetically that she “felt differently about death.” I’ve always loved reading the head stones in old cemeteries. Some folks have a great sense of humor for their loved one. Enjoy a few of the better ones I have collected: “Here lies Johnny Yeast, Pardon me for not Rising.” Memory of an accident in a Uniontown, Pennsylvania cemetery: Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake Stepped on the gas Instead of the brake. In a Silver City, Nevada, Cemetery: Here lays Butch, We planted him raw. He was quick on the trigger, But slow on the draw. In a Georgia cemetery: “I told you I was sick!” In a cemetery in Hartscombe, England: On the 22nd of June – Jonathan Fiddle –Went out of tune. The grave of Ellen Shannon in Girard, Pennsylvania: Born 1903 – Died 1942 Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the car was on the way down. It was. In a Ribbesford, England, cemetery: The children of Israel wanted bread, And the Lord sent them manna, Old clerk Wallace wanted a wife, And the Devil sent him Anna. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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GOLDEN BEETS By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Although the most well-known type of beets are the dark red type, other types of beets exist in colors of yellow, white, pain, and multi-colored. Golden beets, in particular, are sweeter and milder in flavor than their earthy red counterparts. The taste is mellow, mildly sweet and nutty. Its beautiful sunny yellow color can brighten up any salad or dish. Golden beets are very nutritious, high in heart-healthy compounds, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals. This humble root vegetable is high in fiber, iron, potassium, folic acid, as well as beta carotene, vitamin C and phytonutrients. Beets are members of the Chenopodiaceae family, along with Swiss chard, spinach, and quinoa. The entire beet is delicious and edible, including the ball-like root, leaves, peel, and shoots. Beets are commonly enjoyed raw, cooked, canned, or pickled. When raw, gold beets are crunchy, and when cooked, they develop a tender, smooth consistency with a very mild and sweet flavor. Beet greens are also edible, nutritious, and delicious. They can be eaten raw or lightly sautéed, much like spinach. Interestingly, beets are the second largest source of sugar next to cane sugar, making whole beets a good natural source for sweetness and a good way to boost your energy. There are many ways to enjoy golden beets, including roasted, baked, pickled, and juiced. While available year-round, fresh Florida golden beets are at their peak season now, during the spring months.
Nutritional Profile Golden beets are an excellent source of folate and a very good source of manganese, vitamin C, and potassium. They are also considered a good source of dietary fiber, copper, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of raw beets (136 g) contains 58 calories, 2.2 g of protein, 0.23 g of fat, 13 g of carbohydrate, and 3.8 g of fiber. It also provides 37% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for folate, 22% for manganese, 15% for fiber, 13% for potassium, 11% for vitamin C, 9% for tryptophan, 8% for magnesium, 6% for iron, and 5% for phosphorus and copper.
Disease-fighting antioxidants Both golden and red beets are full of antioxidants, in the form of betalain, vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, harmful compounds associated with cancer, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and arthritis. A one cup serving of raw beets contains 11% of your daily vitamin C requirements and 37% of your daily folate requirements. These nutrients also fight inflammation and may reduce the severity of inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and asthma.
Manganese Fresh Florida beets are full of manganese, with a one cup serving providing almost a quarter of your daily needs. Man-
Folate Beets are very high in folate, a B vitamin, with one cup providing more than one third of your daily requirement of this vitamin. Folate plays a role in reducing levels of homocysteine, a compound associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. In conjunction with vitamin B12 and vitamin C, folate helps the body use and make new proteins, form red blood cells, support normal cell growth and division. Perhaps folate is more famous for its important role in preventing neural tube defects and other birth defects.
How to select and store Select beets that are firm, with deep color and smooth, unblemished skin. If the greens are attached, look for fresh looking greens with a bright green color. Smaller beets tend to be more tender and have a better taste. Separate beet greens from the root. Store unwashed greens in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to three days. The greens are more perishable than the roots, which can be stored, unwashed, in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. The roots can be stored for longer when separated from the leaves. Cooked beets can be frozen for up to several months.
How to enjoy Fresh golden beets can be enjoyed raw, shredded, shaved, or grated and added to salads, slaws, and soups. They can also be grilled, boiled, steamed, pickled, pureed, juiced, or roasted. Beet greens can be boiled, sautéed, or steamed, with a similar taste and texture to spinach. Other ways to enjoy this nutritious root vegetable include: • Roasted with olive oil, salt, and pepper • Made into soup, such as in borscht • Grated raw and added to salads or as a topping for sandwiches • Juiced with other fruits and vegetables for a nutritious drink • Boiled and mashed with potatoes and other root vegetables • Grated and used in dessert recipes, such as chocolate beet cake. Enjoy fresh, sweet Florida golden beets today. Full of nutrients, these super vegetables add delicious flavor, beauty, and nutrition to any meal. Selected References http://www.floridata.com/ref/B/beta_vul.cfm http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.usda.gov http://www.whfoods.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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ganese is a trace mineral that has many important roles in the body. It helps maintain strong bones, helps the body synthesize fatty acids, promotes proper function of the thyroid gland, and helps maintain normal blood sugar levels. Manganese is involved in many enzymatic reactions in the body and helps the body efficiently use nutrients such as biotin, vitamin C, choline, and thiamin.
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Welcome back to this month’s voyage on the Literary Time Machine where we will, once again, join Mr. Torrey Simpson on a nearly 100-year-old experience with Ornamental Gardening in Florida (1926). We will be in his chapter entitled Exotic Ferns and Fern Allies as we take our journey. Let’s see what new wisdom we might glean.
Cuba and the Isle of Pines introduced by Mr. John Soar. It has large, finely cut bi- and tripinnate leaves which are glossy metallic above and is a splendid plant for a fern pool or moist hammock. This name was given to me and I do not have any reference to it in any of my literature.”¹ So, “What fern might he be talking about?” We are forced to wonder.
He describes the Maidenhair fern as “exquisitely delicate,”¹ but quickly moves on to Asplenium. “A large genus of tropical and temperate ferns that is widely distributed over the world. One of the most beautiful is A. nidus, Bird’s nest fern, with broad, entire, glossy leaves, from the tropics of Asia. I have had this a number of times and always it is attacked by a disease in which the leaves come to look as if they had been dipped in scalding water and the plant invariably dies.”¹
There really isn’t a lot of information, even now, about the fern he was given. However, we did find that it appears to have first been discussed in publication, by the Smithsonian, in 1916, ten years before Mr. Torrey Simpson published his book. We also found that Florida is included in its areas of distribution along with the West Indies in Greater Antilles, Central America, and South America in Ecuador. “Have warm climate, will travel,” appears to be this fern’s motto!³
If you have spent much time traveling with us, we are sure you know our next question… What disease was affecting his Bird’s nest ferns? Based on some research, it would seem that bacterial blight is the most common problem since these ferns don’t like soggy soil or having their leaves soaked. So that’s interesting, but we also learned that the Bird’s nest fern is different from other ferns because it has wavy, crinkly, and flat fronds instead of the normal airy, feathery, kinds associated with ferns in general.² Thusly, its unique appearance makes it a desirable plant for your home or yard.
And now for one that people will know… “Platycerium. Several species of very striking and handsome ferns usually epiphytic and natives of the Oriental tropics. They have two kinds of fronds, the sterile ones being rounded and usually entire, lying close to the tree on which they grow while the elongated and more or less fertile ones are lacerated and free. I have cultivated several of them in my hammock where they seem to be at home though they grow slowly. P. hilli from Queensland has the ends of the fertile fronds once or twice forked. P. alcicorne from the more temperate parts of Australia is somewhat hardy and is a fine fern. P. grande. A magnificent species from North Australia with fronds six feet or more in length, the sterile ones somewhat split up. They are all called Staghorn ferns
As we continue on, he makes some brief references to other ferns, but then pens a decent amount about Maxonia apiifolia. “A magnificent, half climbing fern from PAGE
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But, before this trip is over, we wanted to make sure you knew what tree fern would work for your yard. The answer, it would appear, is the Australian tree fern (Sphaeropteris cooperi). Its trunk can reach 15 to 30 feet tall! And these ferns are evergreen in both Central and South Florida.⁴ So, if you were looking for a tree fern that will “look happy” in your yard, but isn’t the typical Staghorn, here’s your answer! Until next time, happy gardening!
and all grow from offsets except grande which must be reproduced from spores.”¹
Photo Credits: Malone, Anika. (2007). Australian tree fern. Flickr. https:// flic.kr/p/PggVD Yarde, Therese. (2012). Bird’s nest fern. Flickr. https:// flic.kr/p/bmtytp
THE
He finishes up the chapter saying, “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.”¹ Maybe we need to do some research on Mr. John Soar?
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. 221-222). ²Duran, Martin. (2018). The Bird’s Nest Fern Care Guide (Asplenium Nidus). Big Boy Plants. https://bigboyplants. com/the-birds-nest-fern-care-guide/ ³Moran, R. & Christensen, C. (1916). Maxonia apiifolia. Flora of North America. http://beta.floranorthamerica. org/Maxonia_apiifolia ⁴University of Florida|IFAS. Australian Tree Fern. UF|IFAS Gardening Solutions. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl. edu/plants/ornamentals/australian-tree-fern.html
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GRAPE HAMMOCK: RAISING CHAMPIONS
Sarah Holt Senior Managing Editor/Associate Publisher In Polk County, beef cattle are considered big business and Grape Hammock’s impact is huge.
make our money,” said Barrett. “All my selection is based on raising a good carcass.”
Grape Hammock Fish Camp has been in the Chandley family since 1949 when Eddie and Martha Jeanne Chandley leased it and in 1950 decided to purchase it. In 1978, their son Curtis and his wife Barbie took over the operations with the help of their three children, Barrett, Kevin and Kristin. After retiring in 2007, Barrett and his wife Lori, and Kevin and his wife Lacey took over operations.
These “nice looking steers” have been making waves at the Polk County Youth Fair in the Commercial Steer Show.
Cattle have always been in the picture. “My grandfather, he had a few,” Barrett Chandley said. “They would just tinker with it, and my dad, he raised them and I took over. I just love it” Chandley’s parents had Belgian Blue cattle, but Barrett went a different route. “We are SimAngus,” Barrett explained. “We’ve got some brahma influence, but the majority of them are SimAngus cross.” While not a large herd by Polk County standards at 120, these cattle have a big impact. “We’ve got enough where it keeps me busy, but it’s still probably classified as a hobby,” he said. As with most producers, Barrett tracks his calves with ear tags. “If it’s an orange tag it’s going to be half Continental, half English, if it’s a red tag it’s going to be 3/4 English and a ¼ continental, if it’s a yellow tag it’s ¾ Continental ¼ English,” Barrett said. “My goal is to have an orange tag, half and half.”
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“Our goal is carcass quality,” Barrett said. Carcass quality translates into a nice looking steer. “We ship most of ours to Texas and we retain ownership on them so that’s where we
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Each year a select group of Polk County produces bring in around 8 calves to a selection day for the Commercial Steer Show. Participants get a number; those numbers are drawn and the kids get to pick a steer from the group in the order drawn. The steers are grouped together by producer and the producer talks about their group. “We originally did it because we like seeing our steers in that ring, how they develop,” Barrett said. “I had kids (he has two children, Peyton and Gabe) coming up and I wanted them to be able to show a tame steer. That was all I cared about.” When Gabe was 8 years old, Barrett selected his steer based on serious criteria. “When the steer walked out of the chute, it walked out with head down, did not run at all. I told him, that’s your steer. Didn’t look at it, didn’t care, and actually I didn’t think it was that great.” He won grand champion. Things have changed now and since Chandley is the only one of the producers with kids still showing, all he wanted was for his kids to be able to show a Grape Hammock steer. So, if there were 8 and 7 were selected, the eighth steer would go to his child. “That guaranteed that I wasn’t going to bring junk. I always brought good calves that I was happy with my kids WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
showing,” said Barrett. “And its worked. My daughter, she’s won reserve two different times. I think one of them she got last pick.” The Commercial Steer Show at the Polk County Youth Fair came about to even the playing field for the youth of Polk County. “We were noticing a lot of kids were just backing out of the whole thing because they might have a decent steer, walk in there in the open division and they don’t look like good calves,” Barrett explained. “They can’t compete and that’s no fault to the kids. So, we wanted to give every kid a chance to win something and to market those animals in a real market situation and not a show situation.” The producers agree to take current market value for their calves. That way, the kids have the chance to make money on their projects.
With one kid, Peyton, graduating this year and heading to the University of Florida next year, and the youngest, Gabe, at 16, Barrett isn’t going to slow down. They did AI on about 60 cows this past year and the kids were all in. “That’s my kids thanksgiving break. We have to time them and sync them. That’s pretty much what we do all Thanksgiving. I think Peyton may go to AI school this summer.” In addition to utilizing AI, Barrett had genomic testing done, which can help predict future profitability potential and allows producers to optimize. “We did 30 heifers. We bought 10 from one breeder and 10 from a breeder in Mississippi then we kept 10,” he explained. “The top 10 were from our herd. That tells me something.”
The calves have gotten better each year. “We’ve noticed with a lot of them, their calves have gotten better every year because it’s like a pride thing,” Barrett said. “It’s a friendly competition.” A Grape Hammock Steer has been at the top of the class in six of the last seven years. “Last year we lost,” Barrett said. “Up until then I think we won five years in a row and then we got it back this year.” Improving herd genetics is important and Barrett is staying on top of things. “I really enjoy AI (artificial insemination) and just crossing up the different breeds and see what you can get,” he explained. We can take them to the feed lot and we get the carcass quality date back and we see what we need to improve. It’s fun.” INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Recipes
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Chef Justin Timineri
White and Dark Chocolate Mousse with Florida Strawberries Ingredients
12 large strawberries, rinsed, hulled and sliced fresh mint, for garnish White Chocolate Mouse Ingredients 3 ounces white chocolate for baking, broken into pieces 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, divided 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Dark Chocolate Mousse Ingredients 3 ounces dark chocolate for baking, broken into pieces 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, divided 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS In a small saucepot, combine 1/4 cup heavy cream and the white chocolate pieces. Cook over medium heat until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from heat and cool completely. Beat remaining cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract in small mixing bowl until stiff peaks
form (do not over beat). Fold melted baking bar mixture into whipped cream; refrigerate. Spoon into serving bowl or individual dishes. To assemble dish, layer the two mousses with the strawberries in four wide-rim glasses. Keep cold and garnish with fresh mint.
Florida Strawberry Mascarpone Panini INGREDIENTS 1/2 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced thin 8 slices fresh bread (1/2 inch thick) 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese confectioners’ sugar for dusting 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
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Heat a panini press or griddle over medium heat. Spread a thin layer of mascarpone on top of each of the 8 bread slices. Add an even layer of fresh sliced strawberries to 4 of the bread slices. Use the other 4 slices of bread to top the sandwiches. Brush the sandwiches with butter and grill or press until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer the panini to a cutting board and dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serve warm.
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By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
WORKING TOGETHER DURING FIRE SEASON
There’s always been a long-standing, good-natured rivalry between cops and firefighters – but the reality is, we enjoy working together, whether it be on a medical call, during an emergency situation, or at fire scenes. Here in Polk County, our joint emergency communications center is responsible for answering 911 calls and dispatching for nearly every law enforcement agency in the county, and for Polk County Fire Rescue. One of the huge benefits to this joint operation is that oftentimes, law enforcement officers arrive at medical or fire calls before or at the same time as the fire trucks. Our deputies are also issued Automated External Defibrillators (AED) and have saved many lives over the years; and when they arrive at a scene where there’s a fire, they do everything they can to help contain or extinguish it.
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With Polk being so rural, you can imagine we face our fair share of wildfire concerns, especially during this time of year. So on behalf of our fire folks, we thought this would be a good time to publish a safety message about what you can do to help prevent fires or wildfires.
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Here are some tips: • Dispose of heavy accumulations of ground litter/debris. • Remove dead plant and tree material, along with smaller trees growing between mature trees. • Remove vegetation adjacent to storage sheds or other outbuildings within this area. • Trees 30 to 60 feet from the home should have at least 12 feet between canopy tops, and trees that are 60 to 100 feet from the home should have at least 6 feet between the canopy tops. • Clear vegetation from under large stationary propane tanks. • Create fuel breaks with driveways, walkways/paths, patios, and decks. • Keep lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of 4 inches. • Remove vegetation under trees so a surface fire cannot reach the crowns and prune them up to 6 to 10 feet from the ground. For shorter trees, do not exceed 1/3 of the overall tree height. We should all do our part to prevent fires from occurring, and keep Polk County a safe place to live, work, and play.
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NEWS BRIEFS Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
DISTRICT CONDUCTING PRESCRIBED FIRES
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is conducting prescribed burns through March on the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (LHFDA) in Hillsborough County. Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as well as provide additional benefits such as new plant growth, maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat and access for public recreation. The LHFDA is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Morris Bridge Road near Thonotosassa. Approximately 150 acres will be burned in small, manageable units. 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 SEEKING PROSPECTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS Florida Farm Bureau is seeking members who are willing to serve on their water management district governing board as a voice of Florida agriculture. Agricultural water use is very unique and often is misunderstood. A governing board member with this knowledge is critical to protect agriculture’s future use of water. Board members are appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis. All five governing boards in Florida have current vacancies. To find out more about the selection process, contact Curt Williams, email: curt.williams@ffbf.org. BMP PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS URGED TO COMPLETE RECENT UF/IFAS SURVEY Florida Farm Bureau is encouraging current agricultural producers who are enrolled in the Best Management Practices (BMP) program with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to complete a University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) related to the program. This survey is being conducted to better understand the informational needs and perceptions of the agricultural producers related to BMPs and the Clean Waterways Act. The survey goal is to create an “educational toolkit” to inform producers about BMPs and new regulations. FARM BUREAU MEMBERSHIP SAVINGS Farm Bureau members are reminded of the range of savings available to them. Among those savings are 20 percent at Choice Hotels, $500 Bonus Cash toward the purchase of eligible new Ford Ranger F-150 or Super Duty trucks after 30 days of membership and 5 percent savings on car rentals. Information on all member savings is available at www.floridafarmbureau.org/benefits/save/.
Florida farmers and ranchers ar e encouraged to cooperate with Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation verification visits by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service (FDACS) staff. These visits collect data that is collated and sent to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) - without identifying participating producers - in compliance with Florida Statute, quantifying contributions to help protect the environment. FDACS INTRODUCES BILINGUAL PANDEMIC VACCINE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN KEYED TO THE AG COMMUNITY The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services (FDACS) has introduced an education campaign to encourage COVID-19 vaccination among Florida’s farm workers and agriculture community. Created in partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the campaign includes a safety video, printable materials and events available in both English and Spanish. The educational campaign toolkit can be downloaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3yk3ub27gecwjv0/AAArekiZlclwNc_nOQxym0wxa?dl=0 GCREC on Social Media The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) is sharing its research via several social media outlets: YouTube.com, Facebook and UF/IFAS Blogs. New, social media highlights: * How to prune and prep hops for the spring season in Florida – https://youtu.be/vvMyN1117e04 * How to grow hops in the subtopics – https://youtu.be/POPBiDb84U * Horticultural Crop Physiology La b updates – https://www. facebook.com/UFHortLab * Hops research updates – https://facebook.com/UFHops Member Savings on Select Case IH Tractors and Equipment Farm Bureau members can save $200 or $500 on select CASE IH tractors and equipment. Tractor savings of $200 are available for Farmall Compact A and C Series, Farmall Utility A, C and U Series, Farmall 100A, N and V Series. Hay equipment includes Round Balers, Small Square Balers, Disc Mower Conditioners and Sicklebar Mower Conditioners. Members can save $500 on Vestrum and Maxxum Series Tractors, Large Square Balers and Self-Propelled Windrowers. To generate a CASE IH savings certificate , visit: www.floridafarmbureau.org/discounts/case-ih/. Questions may be emailed to Ali Baker at Ali.Baker@ffbf.org.
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PRODUCERS ENCOURAGED TO COOPERATE WITH BMP VISITS
A Season For Lawmakers by John Dicks
A new season is upon us.
FLORIDA’S BUDGET
Yes, springtime is here, of course. For that we can all be thankful, particularly this year when like new sprouts starting to shoot forth, hints of potential, at least partial, relief from the pandemic are beginning to peek brightly just a bit.
Governor DeSantis insists that our state’s economy is flowing along quite swimmingly. Even after having dealt for the past year with a punishing pandemic, the Governor is proposing a budget that is nearly 5% HIGHER than last year!
Our hope is that the vaccines are having an effect, particularly as the task of administering the program is slowly, yet surely, improving of getting shots in our arms to provide some protection.
The Governor proposes that a budget busting in at $96.6 billion is just about right, a solid increase of some $4.3 billion!
There is, too, right now, another season which will have effect upon our lives, if not our livelihood; and likely, too, like always, will attract our attention. It’s the 60 days of the Florida Legislative session which started March 2 and will run feverishly fast till April 30. Yes, now is the time for the annual rite of passage (or failure) of hundreds of bills filed by Legislators so convinced of so many wrongs which must be righted. Unique this year is that process has been tainted by the pandemic, requiring appropriate social distancing during debates on the floor of both the House and Senate chambers. Worth noting was the opening day ceremony, traditionally held in joint session, where the Governor delivers his annual State of the State message. This year, though, Gov. DeSantis spoke in person only to House members, while Senators stayed put down the hall of the Capitol watching the presentation on the big screen. Frankly, I had wondered whether there would be an effort to conduct this year’s Legislative session virtually, meeting by Zoom or some other of the high tech multi-party video sessions which have, during the coronavirus, become popular and so common place. Apparently the answer to that question of concern has been, thus far at least, a resounding “Nope.” It seems that in person camaraderie carries the day and better facilitates the occasional acquiescence for compromise. Here’s some significant issues and bills to keep into focus.
Legislators have already been downplaying that number, suggesting that Florida’s economy might be a little less rosy than would be hoped for. There are reserves available, but the consensus seems to reflect no desire to dip too deeply into those “rainy day funds.” ELECTION LAWS Most political pundits acknowledge that Florida’s 2020 election went smoothly. Legislators likely will not want to tinker too much with such success. There is, however, proposed legislation moving through the process that would make voting by mail more difficult. One bill getting attention would restrict vote-by-mail applications to one specific election. It would require voters to re-apply for their ballot for future elections. TAXES Sometimes legislative proposals take on a life of their own. They continue being re-introduced and debated every year, over and over again. One fitting that bill regards collecting sales taxes on internet sales. As you would imagine, local businesses in Florida pound their drums to the notion of equity and fairness. Why should they have to add on sales tax to a transaction when online outof-state companies skip the surcharge and effectively sells things at a lower price? Then again, no Legislator wants to be branded as the one responsible for tacking on taxes to a transaction. I suspect that unless there is strong legislative leadership, accompanied by support from the Governor, the proverbial kicking of the can down the road will likely continue as always.
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John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!”. John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.
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The Stories I Heard: Dr. John Crews By Marisol Tarango | Photos By Maribel Tarango
Many people in many different circles know Dr. John Crews. I first met Dr. Crews as a student in his animal production class at Warner University and enjoyed many classes with him throughout my time in WU’s Agriculture Department. Like many students, I quickly learned that Dr. Crews loved to tell stories about his experiences. Whether his stories were about his college days or his time in Tanzania, they always left students with the sweet taste of the past and encouragement for the future.
you want to do, what do you want to study while you are here at the University of Florida?” I said, “I want to go to veterinary school.” And he laughed… hard and said, “Son, if I look at these test scores, you’re going to be lucky to even get an Ag degree. So maybe you’ve got the bar set a little too high.” That really hurt my ego a bit, and it made me mad. I wish I had written down his name because I should have gone back and thanked him for doing it because it made me buckle down. I was accepted into vet school after three years.
Growing up…
The Mission Field…
I grew up, from age of ten, out in the Lake Buffum area; the nearest area to us is Booger Woods. I didn’t know what Booger Woods [was] when I moved there, and I still don’t know where that name came from. The very first summer [after they moved there] my dad just said, “OK guys, it’s time to go to work.” Every day, six days, a week you worked. My first job was driving a tractor. We did hand fertilization, we always had two or three guys that were working and [there] were 100 lb. bags of fertilizer on this flatbed trailer. I’d drive along, pull up, stop and they would fertilize the rows [of orange trees] on either side and then they would refill their buckets. I thought I had died and gone to Heaven, I figured I’d be the one with the bucket. Driving the tractor was a whole lot better than being at the end of a hoe because that was the other option.
My primary duty was to do community development. The term that they used for my position at the time was called “veterinary evangelist,” and I always told people “I bet you didn’t know that the mission board called people to witness to cows.” I’ve never had a cow, a dog, or horse come to me and say I hurt here, they always come with a person and by coming with that person it gives you a chance to dialogue with that person. My primary job was to set up clinics with cattle, sheep, and goats. It gave me an opportunity [to present the Gospel] because you always had an audience. Rarely did we have less than a hundred people. The most I have done in one of those clinics was deworm and vaccinate 3500 head of cattle, sheep, and goats in a 6-hour period.
Becoming a vet… I wanted to do something in agriculture, that was never a question. It just was trying to do what I felt what God had gifted me to do and what he wanted me to do and praying in the meantime that it would be something that I liked doing. Probably at that stage of the game I didn’t understand the scripture that says He’ll give us the desires of our heart. I think a lot of people misunderstand that scripture and think that [it] means He’s going to give us what we want. No, He’s gonna give us what He’s gifted us for; what He’s made us for, if we’ll just follow what He’s wanting us to do. I went to the University of Florida my second year [of college]. When I went there you had to meet with a counselor that helped you set up your course of study [after taking entrance exams]. The counselor said to me, “Ok son, what do
These are some of the stories that kept me engaged in class and brought life to the subject at hand. These are the stories I heard.
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One of the things that they would like to do [ the people of the area] was [to] take plantains and hominy and cook that, then they would start putting milk from their cows in there and let it clabber [in a gourd]. Well, I grew up drinking buttermilk, so I really didn’t have any problems with buttermilk, but when you know you’re going to get hot the last thing that you want to drink is a quart of anything, maybe water. So, I would usually drink about half of it. Then, so that I could save face in the thing, I would say, “Would you bring me my children [the children of the people I was visiting]. I want to share my cup with my children” and they loved it because I was identifying as a part of their community.
E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
MAKE A DIFFERENCE HERE: FLORIDA BOG FROG By Ginny Mink
You just never know what might hop across the lines here! This month we’ll be taking that leap with the Florida bog frog. Mostly, it was the rhyming name that caught our attention, but as we proceeded with the research we found out about some interesting legislation that could affect the Florida bog frog and eight other endangered/threatened species.¹
er than most other frogs. This is one of the distinctive qualities that separates the Florida bog frog from other “American congeners.”³ Unfortunately, not much is known about how these frogs develop. What we do know is that they lay their eggs in gelatinous masses near the surface of the water. Adults will stay where they breed.³
In January of last year, apparently, legislation was filed to “… require Florida officials to continue protecting endangered and threatened species, even after the federal government removes those classifications.”¹ If passed, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission would have to provide protection for nine endangered species, including the Florida bog frog, should the federal government want to delist any of them.¹
The best way for us to ensure that this breeding continues, and these frogs remain on the planet, is to take note of the threats they endure. So, these are the most popular threats: “fire suppression and habitat succession; erosion, siltation, and flooding (roads and borrow pits); impoundment; invasive nonnative species (principally hogs and plants); pollution; impacts of military training and testing; silvicultural operations; habitat fragmentation; and potentially hybridization.”⁴
Why is that important? Well, it’s important to the Florida bog frog because it is endemic to Florida. That means you can only find these “true” frogs here. The University of Florida calls the bog frog a “species of special concern.”² This is incredibly obvious when you discover that these frogs are literally only found in two Florida counties: Okaloosa and Santa Rosa. Both of these are located in Florida’s panhandle.²
That’s a lot riding against them.
The Florida bog frog is a very rare species. It lives near, or in, seeps that are both shallow and non-stagnant. However, you can also find them in the boggy overflows of bigger seepage streams. The water has to be somewhat acidic for them though. Meaning, ideally, that it has a pH of 4.1-5.5.³ “More than 90 percent of known Florida bog frog localities occur on Eglin Air Force Base.”⁴ They are the smallest frogs within their genus, at less than two inches in length. And, no one even knew they existed until 1982. The only two rivers they are associated with are the Yellow and East Bay rivers, along with the Titi Creek.⁴ These are frogs that need some serious help. According to Adam Hattersley, one of the politicians trying to pass this legislation, we have the highest population of endangered species in the US. He adds, “Maintaining our ability to protect and preserve the innocent creatures that call our state home is our duty, not only for their sake, but also for the vital role that Florida plays in our national and global ecosystem.”¹ So, what do you really need to know about these frogs? They have unmarked, yellowish-green or brown backs, but they have definitive raised ridges that go along each side of their bodies. Their bellies are yellowish and have a sort of black wormlike pattern while their lower sides have light spots. Their throats and upper lips are also a yellowish green. And because they are true frogs they have webbed hind feet and large eardrums.²
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While they are true frogs, the webbing on their hind feet is less-
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As a species endemic to Florida, the legislation that we shared with you is significant. We are talking about ensuring that living things, which only exist in our state and no where else in the entire world, are protected. We may not be able to change the life expectancy of all the endangered and threatened species, but we can make a difference here. This is where God put us, and these species are our responsibility. Let’s do what we can, where we can, whenever we can. Resources: ¹Nicol, Ryan. (2020). Jose Javer Rodriguez, Adam Hattersley seek to extend protections for endangered and threatened species. Florida Politics. https://floridapolitics.com/ archives/314860-rodriguez-hattersley-endangered-threatened-species ²University of Florida|IFAS. Florida’s Frogs. https://ufwildlife. ifas.ufl.edu/frogs/floridabogfrog.shtml ³Al Nasa’a, Marwa. (2003). Lithobates okaloosae Florida Bog Frog. Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lithobates_ okaloosae/ ⁴ Jackson, D.. (2004). Florida Bog Frog: Management Guidelines for Species at Risk on Department of Defense Installations. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. https://www.denix.osd.mil/nr/threatenedendangeredandatriskspecies/ candidatespeciesandspeciesatrisk/reports/florida-bogfrog-management-guidelines-for-species-at-risk-on-department-of-defense-installations/42_03-154-Florida-Bog-FrogManagement-Guidelines.pdf Photo Credits: Enge, Kevin. (2011). FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Florida Bog Frog. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/oR981t Enge, Kevin. (2012). Florida Fish and Wildlife. Florida Bog Frog. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/bYA8Rb WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
2021 Polk County
YOUTH FAIR RESULTS These results were inadvertently left out of the February magazine. We apologize for the oversight.
Grand Champion Commercial Sarah True – Frostproof Middle/Senior FFA Reserve Commercial – Caitlynn Robertson – Lake Gibson Senior FFA Grand Champion Open Market – Lily Harwell – Hoof n Horn 4-H Reserve Open Market – Baylie Jones – George Jenkins Senior FFA Carcass Grand Champion – Trinity Hilleshiem – Still Squealing 4-H Carcass Reserve – Alex Young Ft Meade Middle/Senior FFA Showmanship Jr 1st - Madilyn Nichols – Kathleen Cattle 4-H 2nd - Elizabeth McDowell – Orange Blossom 4-H 3rd - Lily Lambert – Be A Champ 4-H Showmandhip Int 1st - Lily Harwell – Hoof n Horn 4-H 2nd - Carlee Taylor – Hoof N Horn 4-H 3rd - Mckenzie Hollie – Rockin Riders 4-H Showmanship Sr. 1st - Sara Clanton – Ft Meade Community 4-H 2nd - Kyndal Sowell – Bartow Sr FFA 3rd - Harlie Rayborn – Kathleen Sr FFA Herdsman Award – Annabelle Crandall Barn (Eagle Award) Aden Lambert
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A Closer LookAmazing Activities Naturally
by Sean Green
Tooled Leather Flask Sleeve Festivities are upon us and what better way to toast than with a flask, and what better way to protect your flask than with a hand crafted and personalized flask sleeve. This project is always great fun and it can be done with small scraps of leather. Some retail leather tools were used for this project, but are not entirely necessary, once the concept is clear, you will be surprised at the number of common items laying around the house can be used in place of a commercially available tool. This project covers the basics but could easily be augmented with embroidery, carving, dyed leather, or even wet molding. Have fun with it and wear your flask with pride.
Materials:
• Flask • Vegetable tanned Leather (4 – 6oz) • Swivel Knife or razor • Ruler (steel) • Leather stamping tools (beveller, shading) • Sewing Awl • Nylon thread (waxed) • Mallet (rubber or rawhide) • Sponge
Measure the leather
* You may find the need to repeat the dampening process often while tool-
Wrap your leather around the flask and cut it to fit top to bottom with a seam at the rear of the flask (concave side)
soaking wet will relax the leather too much and the image will not stay.
Transfer an image to the leather There are several ways to do this ranging from readymade transfer patterns available at art supply and leather craft stores to manual transfers from a design found on the internet. For images printed on paper: • Print the image • Cut the paper to the same size as the leather sleeve • Lay the paper pattern in place on the leather. • Using a needle or razor, poke through the paper into the leather making a dot to dot type pattern • Remove the paper and scribe the image by connecting the dots with a smooth deep cut using a swivel knife or razor. * Note: cut about half way through the leather, the deeper cut will result in a taller emboss.
Wet the leather
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Leather tools better when it is wet. Using only a damp sponge coat the working surface of the leather (smooth side) with water. Allow the leather to absorb the water in for a few minutes until the leather has a dull appearance. When the leather begins to dry it’s color will begin to lighten, this is when the leather is in perfect condition to work.
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ing the leather to maintain ideal leather conditions. Never soak the leather,
Tool the leather Using a leather stamping tool (or anything that makes a mark) gently hammer the outer edges of the design. The portions that are hammered (tooled) will be the low portion of the design. The portions that are not hammered will appear raised in the finished piece.
Sewing the leather While the leather is still damp, poke holes on the sides of the leather for sewing the seam together. Sew the seam of the leather together with a sewing awl and waxed nylon thread. There are many types of stitching that can be done for seams, For this project, a simple baseball stitch was used because card holder was added to the back and the seam will not show.
Adding a card holder Cut a square piece of leather slightly larger than a business card to allow for stitching. Stitch the square leather onto the back of the flask sleeve to create a concealed and safe holder for business cards, credit cards, or identification.
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ANaturally Closer Look Amazing
by Sean Green
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Happy Springtime!! Looking forward to springtime just feels like looking forward to Friday doesn’t it? A lot of folks are finally getting outside to celebrate life and I’m glad to see it. The days are warm but not (yet) sweltering. We can open our windows at night to enjoy a cool breeze and the concert of bustling wildlife we tend to shut out all year long. The natural world is beginning to wake from a wintertime slump and the party has already started. We will soon experience and participate in a long awaited (and deserved) renewal of life. The Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is one of the first plants to erupt with flowers kicking off the coming of spring. Patches of red flowers dot the landscape like the first fireworks introduce a spectacular event. This month we are going to take a closer look at the Red Maple. Sometimes called the swamp maple, or soft maple, Acer rubrum is most often called the red maple. According to an old but still authoritative report published by the USDA Forest Service, the red maple was the most common and abundant of deciduous trees in North America (Elbert L. Little, 1953) and probably remains so because it is a highly adaptable species that tends to thrive in areas that have been disturbed by deforestation, and we have had plenty of that over the past two centuries. Historic records suggest that this species is more abundant today than it was when the first Europeans began settling in North America. Logging operations thinned our eastern woodlands in North America and with a reduced canopy, the red maple quickly filled the void by replacing the pioneer species. It’s really amazing how well nature takes care of us. I hate to think what would have happened if there were not a fast growing tree like the red maple to patch up what we clear out. The red maples success lies in its ability to adapt to a large variety of environments. The red maple has a high PH tolerance and can survive in nutrient deficient soils ranging from dry ridges to peat bogs and swamps. It can grow in either shade or full sunlight. Ideal conditions for this species are in well drained soil at low elevations, however, this species is commonly found in Florida along slow streams, swamps, and both wet and dry savannas. In addition to its tremendous adaptability, red maple can produce an enormous number of seeds. On average, a single tree can produce between 21,000 and 91,000 seeds
Native Americans have long understood the value of red maple for medicine and use the bark as an analgesic and wash for eye inflammation, cataracts, hives, and muscle aches. A tea made from the inner bark was used for treating coughs and diarrhea. North American colonists learned much from the Native Americans and from the 17th century onward made maple syrup by drilling holes in the maple tree to collect the sap in the same manner they would collect sap for turpentine from pine trees. Unlike turpentine collection, the sap from a maple tree typically only ran during a brief period when the temperature rose above 40 degrees following a freeze. Though the maple syrup was less expensive than sugar from cane or molasses, it was not as reliable as a source of income and was typically only used as a personal source for sweetener. By the 18th century, North American colonists used the bark of red maple with a vinegarroon mordant to dye worsted and linen fibers a slate blue-grey color and when used with an alum mordant, would produce a cinnamon-brown color. (Adrosko, 1971) Additionally, Iron sulphate was added to the tannin from red maple bark to make ink. Today, red maple is valued as a popular ornamental for its bright red coloration during the change of seasons. This species is easy to grow, it grows quickly, and because it is so adaptable a cultivar can be found that will work in nearly any environment. As an environmental solution, the red maple is a useful species for reestablishing disturbed natural habitats. It can grow in soil that other plants can not and while pioneer species are being reestablished, the red maple can thrive to provide food and shelter for animals such as various rodents, deer, rabbits, and cavity nesting birds. A word of caution however to horse owners, red maple is toxic to horses. If you own horses, please plan appropriately before planting red maple on your property. The red maple is a beautiful tree to look at, there is no doubt and if you take a closer look, I hope you will find it’s benefit as a species equally as beautiful.
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in one season and studies have documented larger trees producing nearly 1,000,000 seeds.
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SHELLS SEAFOOD
by: Sue Harrell and Tiffany C. Dale
If there is one thing Florida has to offer, it’s fresh seafood! We are so fortunate here in Florida to enjoy fresh seafood while sitting on a perfectly soft sand beach while sipping on a refreshing drink. Thanks to Shells, you can have that same experience, in your backyard! Shells has been serving the Tampa Bay area since 1985. With a focus on quality, service, and value, you will not be disappointed when you visit the great return of Shells in Lakeland. While Shells serves up that famous fresh seafood everyone knows, you don’t have to drive to the beach for a quality experience. If you’re not a seafood fan, they still have plenty for you! Their angus burger and Tropical Chicken Salad will blow your socks off. As we entered the restaurant, we had no idea what a surprise it would be as we both had been patrons of Shells years ago, and somehow drifted away. Needless to say, we are now Shells’ greatest fans! General Manager, Jason Gargiulo, showed us behind the scenes with a tour of the kitchen and an outstanding dining experience. Shells has created a great system in order to offer freshness, quality, and service. As we entered the kitchen, Gargiulo gave us a heads up that things might be crazy as it was the height of dinner time as he yelled, “I need runners.” The strategy blew us away in the kitchen. Each person had a specific job and executed it with great pride. Shells seafood arrives fresh and unbattered. The battering process alone is an art that must be learned. It is a process that ultimately produces a fried product that consumers can enjoy, but also taste the great quality of the seafood itself. Even the garlic bread that is served with every entrée has actual pieces of garlic on top. The entree sauces and cocktail sauce are also made from scratch. Shells has artfully created recipes and expectations so that each dish is prepared to a specified standard.
As quality is evident when you are served your meal, service is also bar none. Gargiulo began working at Shells as a teenager. He left Shells when ownership changed, moved away, and now is back in Florida and has served Shells in many capacities. His experience at many levels of the company has instilled in him a true passion for the Shells company. If you have the pleasure of meeting Gargiulo, you will not forget him. He is proud of Shells, passionate about service, quality, and the mission of Shells company. While the recipes are a sacred component of what Shells does, they were made famous from their Shrimp Scampi and the Shells Clam Chowder. The chowder was chock full of bacon, clams, potatoes, and flavor with each spoonful. Even if you don’t like clam chowder, we recommend a taste! In addition to a great dine-in experience, Shells also offers curbside and catering options. Curbside was critical to business with COVID-19. Now that the dining room is open, you can enjoy happy-hour all day, every day, and a hot, fresh meal for a great value. If you have corporate meetings, a party, or family dining, Shells will come to you with equally outstanding service and options. They take great strides to maintain the quality and freshness of their product even off site. Since 1985 Shells has been a neighborhood seafood favorite in the Tampa Bay area. Over the years, there have been transitions, but the original family is back in the business and better than ever! The Christen family is proud to offer quality, service, and value to all who enter their doors. A local company who supports local industry and of course, had Florida strawberries in the house, Shells is a renewed favorite for Strawberry Sue and Tiffany too.
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Shells is located at 5125 SOUTH FLORIDA AVE LAKELAND FL. 33813 Or give them a call at: Tel: 863-213-4889
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HOBBY FARMING WITH GOATS By Libby Hopkins
This is the story of a hometown firefighter and teacher who decided to be healthier and eat clean from their own land. They started with a small vegetable garden for their family, which then grew to having a few chickens for their eggs, as well as pets for their children. “My husband, Jason, researched the health benefits of goat milk and after recently tasting some delicious creamy Nigerian Dwarf Goat milk, we decided we needed our own little herd,” said Mindy Baine. “We're in the process of building our barn, have recently created a great little fenced in area for the goats, and purchased bottle babies. We're having a blast raising them and are looking forward to breeding this fall and winter.” Jason and Mindy Baine are the owners of Baine Family Farm, which is a hobby farm in Polk County. “Our neighbor and brother runs the small cattle operation,” Mindy said. “We have the two chickens and now our small herd of Nigerian dwarf goats.” So, what exactly is a “hobby farm?” Hobby farming is different from part-time farming in that the farming activities involved are primarily recreational. In most cases, these farmers have significant income outside their farm business and they're simply farming because it brings them pleasure. A hobby farm is categorized as less than 50 acres. Anything between 50 to 100 acres is considered a small-scale farm. (www.treehugger.com) In addition to being a firefighter, Jason Baine does have a little bit of a farming background. “The property where we live was originally my husband’s grandfather’s property and it was handed down to my husband and his brother when he passed,” Mindy said. “So, my husband and his brother have lived on this property their entire lives. His grandfather had a small cattle business and both my husband and brotherin-law raised cattle with their grandfather. They come from a hard-working blue-collar family that raised cattle. We brought the goats to the farm in 2017.” Nigerian Dwarf Goats are similar in origin to Pygmy goats, but they are two different distinct breeds. Pygmies are bred to be “cobby” and heavy boned. The best pygmies look like beer kegs with legs. Dwarfs are bred to have the length of
If you ask Mindy what she likes most about having a hobby farm is that she gets to do it with her family. “The family part is my favorite,” Mindy said. “Having our kids here with us and we get to experience all the aspects of farming together. Our kids get to have experiences that other kids their age don’t because they live in an agricultural family. These are the things we value as a family. When we come home we have so much here on our property that keeps us busy as a family and our kids are learning so much from living on a farm, too.” Keeping things local and supporting local agriculture is very important to the Baine Family. “We have been able to support local 4-H and FFA students as well as the Polk County Youth Fair with our goats,” Mindy said. “I work at Lake Gibson Middle School as an assistant principle and some of my students wanted to show goats, so some of the students came to our farm, bought some of our goats, or used our goats to learn how to show goats or showed them at the youth fair. It was a great feeling to be able to help with agricultural education in our community.” Mindy has also had some of Lake Gibson’s teachers out to Baine Family Farm to let their families learn about farming. “During winter and spring break, I’ve had some of our teachers and colleagues and their families come out to farm to do some agricultural education with them,” Mindy said. “We did milking demonstrations and everyone always has lots of questions about our goats and their babies. It was a lot of fun sharing our farm with them.” If you would like to learn more about Baine Family Farm, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bainefamilyfarm. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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body and structure in proportion to a dairy goat. Dwarf goats are gentle and loveable. Even breeding bucks are handled easily. They make wonderful pets and great animal projects for young children in 4-H or FFA. (www.goats.extension.org/ goat-breeds-nigerian-dwarf) “We were trying to find ways to give our children some responsibilities and my husband started researching the goats, so that’s how we got them,” Mindy said. “We then decided to get some more to add to our hobby farm. They are so sweet and we love them.”
2021 RESULTS
***Pictures provided by Berry Sweet Memories
STEER SHOW Showmanship Winners Intermediate Reagan Hancock of Morriston Senior Emile Limoges of Zephyrhills
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Show Premier Steer Jessalyn Balliet of Orlando Producer: West Cattle of Alachua Reserve Premier Steer Nick Hammer of Tampa Producer: Syfrett Ranch of Okeechobee Grand Champion Kylie Nemecek of Orlando Producer: Jones Cattle of Trenton Reserve Grand Champion Jessie Bennett of Lakeland Producer: West Cattle of Alachua Class 1 Winner Haley Murphy
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of Groveland Producer: Alachua Ranch of Alachua Class 2 Winner Jessalyn Balliet of Orlando Producer: West cattle of Alachua Class 3 Winner Zephyrhills FFA (Showman: Emile Limoges) of Zephyrhills Producer: Phillips Ranch of Morriston Class 4 Winner East River FFA (Showman: Olivia Smith) of Orlando Producer: AW & VJ Banks LLC of Balm Class 5 Winner Jessie Bennett of Lakeland Producer: West Cattle of Alachua Class 6 Winner Brady Ward of Williston Producer: Richardson Bros. of Evinston Class 7 Winner Gabe Mitchell of Trenton Producer: Roman III Ranch
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of Wauchula Class 8 Kylie Nemecek of Orlando Producer: Jones Cattle of Trenton Scholarship Winners Charlie Moore Anna Tsemba of Tampa Bill Carey Nick Hammer of Tampa A.L. Buddy McCullough Bryce Brown of Apopka Cindy Revels Charles Phillips of Morriston 2020-2021 FLORIDA STATE FAIR YOUTH STEER FUTURITY CALF DONORS A special thanks to the following producers for donating and providing calves for the 2020-2021 Florida State Fair Youth Steer Futurity. Roman Three Ranch West Cattle Phillips Ranch Richardson Bros.
C & B Cattle Co. Carlton & Carlton D.H. Ranch, Inc. Dixie Ranch B & B Land & Cattle Lykes Bros. Inc AW & VJ Banks LLC Patrick’s Cattle Co. Barto Farms Lightsey Cattle Syfrett Ranch Williamson Cattle Co. 3-B Ranch 3D Cattle Company P & H Cattle Alachua Ranch Usher Land & Timber Chiefland Barthle Bros. Jones Cattle Hines Cattle Co. Donations Oak Knoll Ranch Lake Wales 5 Amy Lawhorn Lithia Market Lamb WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Grand Champion – McKenna Burke of Osteen Reserve Grand Champion – Tyler Watson of Lake Helen Market Goat Showmanship Winners Junior – Hunter Roof of Oak Hill Intermediate – Grady Callahan of Osteen Senior – Alaina Blair of High Springs Grand Champion – Tyler Watson of lake Helen Reserve Grand Champion – Grady Callahan of Osteen Swine Show Showmanship winners Junior – Preston Woodham of Parrish
Division 1 Reserve Champion – Merissa Mahoney of Myakka City
Senior – Hayden Fowler of Deland
Division 2 Champion – Hayden Fowler of Deland
Purebred Division Reserve Champion – Taylor Waller of Inverness
Division Winners
Division 2 Reserve Champion – Lindsay Neal of Parrish
Charlie Moore Scholarship $300
Division 3 Champion – Delaney Deadwyler of Branford
Winner – Zak Miller of Dade City
Division 3 Reserve Champion – Macie Waller of Inverness
Herdsman Winners
Grand Champion – Delaney Deadwyler of Branford Producer: Lyon’s Show Pigs of Mayo, FL. Reserve Grand Champion – Macie Waller of Inverness Producer: Stolquist Show Pigs of Poplar Grove, IL. Division 1 Champion – Carley Bellamy of Morriston
Division 4 Champion – Brendon Turcios of Lakeland Division 4 Reserve Champion – Tobey Price of Bartow Purebred Division Champion
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Junior – Kiersten Sikes of Brooksville Intermediate – Lane Polson of Bradenton Senior – Wyatt Land of Brandon
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– Emile Limoges of Zephyrhills
Intermediate – Maggie Mosley of Green Cove Springs
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DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER ALAN’S AIR CONDITIONING No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Residential, Commercial Sales SVS & ReMany standard sizes in stock. pair. Legendary service for over 20 years! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 813-752-0821 FARM EQUIPMENT KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the FOR RENT I4 POWER EQUIPMENT Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mulcher. BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Trade-Ins Welcomed, Service For blueberry farms, six yard, Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 Department Available. Exit 22 • S. Frontage Rd. PTO drive need at least a 30hp Plant City 813-752-4459 tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details. HUNTER JUMPER SADDLE Marcel Toulouse Candice Double TAYLOR WAY TILLER DISC Leather hunter/jumper saddle. Size 17. Plow - good condition. $1750.00 Very little use. $650 813-323-0222 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
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2002 GMC (Isuzu) 16 ft flat bed, diesel, 142,174 miles. $5,500. Call Tony at 813-205-6145 FERTILIZER SPREADER 2019 Chandler 5-ton stainless steel fertilizer spreader never used. $15,000 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
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Polk County Cattle Women
S
pring is in the air! Spring is my favorite time of year! You just can’t beat the gorgeous weather, calves hitting the ground, and my personal favorite, spring gobbler season.
With the Polk County Youth Fair and Florida Strawberry Festival behind us, we’re looking forward to the upcoming Florida State Fair. Fair season escorts us into preparations for the end of the school year, as well. The Polk County CattleWomen offer an academic scholarship each year for graduating high school seniors. The application must be postmarked by April 15 and is available on the Polk County Youth Fair website. Some of our members have been participating in the Florida CattleWomen ranch tours. You may have seen some familiar faces in the Florida Cattlemen’s Journal featuring coverage of previous ranch tours. The most recent tour was held on March 6 at Adams Ranch in Fort Pierce. April’s ranch tour will take place at Blackbeard’s Ranch in Myakka City, while May’s ranch tour will take place at Deseret Ranch in St. Cloud. If you’d like more information about these upcoming ranch tours, please contact the Florida CattleWomen at floridacattlewomen@yahoo.com.
lected to serve as the 2021-2022 Polk County Cattlemen’s Association Sweetheart. Blair will represent PCCA at the Florida Cattlemen’s Association’s Sweetheart contest in June in Marco Island during their annual convention. We wish Blair the best of luck! If you’re interested in joining us, our next meeting will be Tuesday, April 6 in the main building at the Polk County Agriculture Complex. We will meet in the Valencia Room at 6:30. I hope to see you there! Till next month,
Leslie Buchanon Polk County Cattlewomen President
We would like to congratulate Blair Buchanon for being se-
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