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HEFIELD MAGAZINE May 2021 3012 S. Jim Redman Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City,INTFL • southsidestores.com
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CONTENTS
May 2021 VOL. 14 • ISSUE 9
28 ADAM BASS FIGHTING TO PRESERVE FLORIDA’S NATURAL BEAUTY
images by Adam Bass PAGE 10 Scott Angle
PAGE 33 Ag Deputy Luncheon
PAGE 11 Agvocating for youth
PAGE 34 Federal Grants
PAGE 12 Ranchers Daughter
PAGE 35 News Briefs
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 16 The Stories I Heard
PAGE 37 State Officers
PAGE 18 Goats
PAGE 38 Endangered Species
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 40 Activity
PAGE 24 Landscape
PAGE 41 A Closer Look
PAGE 25 Celeriac
PAGE 42 State Fair
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 44 Aquaculture
PAGE 32 PCSO
PAGE 47 PCCW
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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Polk County Cattlemen’s Association 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 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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STAFF
Letter from the Editor Commissioner of Agriculture, Nikki Fried, announced the winners of the second annual Florida Agricultural History and Creativity Award Essay Contest and we had some local winners!
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez
Elementary Winners are Landon Shirley, a fourth grader from Hillsborough County, Carter Poorman, a fourth grader from Pinellas County, and Avery Best, a fifth grader from Polk County.
Photography Karen Berry Melissa Nichols Blair Buchanon
Middle School Winners are Nicolas Bearzi, Daniela Fonte and Marina Sporleder, all eighth graders from Miami-Dade County
Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Anita Todd
High School Winners are: Tyana Tibby, a 10th grader from Hillsborough County, Ella Hoffmaster, a ninth grader from Sarasota County, and Asa Worden, a 12th grader from Charlotte County.
Each lucky winner will receive a $1,000 Florida Prepaid Scholarship.
The contest is open to all fourth through 12th graders enrolled in public or private school in Florida. Students write a 500 word essay about a variety of food insecurity topics and this year students were encouraged to discuss school gardens, nutrition programs, food inequities in communities of color and leaders helping fight chronic hunger.
Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders
Congratulations to the winners!
On another note, the 2021 Florida State Fair is one for the books. Though postponed by the pandemic, it was still a success, even with some seriously high temperatures. I am definitely looking forward to next year when, hopefully, things will be held at their normally scheduled times.
Until Next Month
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
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. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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May is here and summer heat is already on us. Some of us have received some much needed rain but we’re still waiting for the afternoon showers. Unfortunately, we had to postpone our spring dinner. Hopefully we can plan for summer and fall dinners. But due to the COVID we felt the safety of our members is more important. The cow and calf market has been staying mostly steady in the end of April and hopefully will hold thru May. Unfortunately, rising corn and fuel prices are not going to help.
On thing we can all do is to reach out to the different associations (FCA, US Cattlemen, etc…) and give our support to them on their efforts to improve our industry. Hopefully starting with the producer. And don’t forget do what you can to improve your own herds. Sometimes a little goes a long way. 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
In addition to doing research and running the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Range Cat- Nor is she a full-time rancher. She’s a pharmacist who needed tle Research and Education Center in Ona, Brent Sellers still a farm assist. She called Stice. Like that ranch manager in Lake Wales, what she got was a team of experts. does Extension house calls—in Polk County. A ranch manager had called with a weed problem. Namely, why was a weed spreading across his pasture, and why wasn’t spraying killing it? Sellers drove to Lake Wales and took samples. He has a UF/IFAS soil testing lab at his disposal and colleagues back in Ona with whom he could consult. Joao Vendramini is a forage agronomist with a keen sense of how grazing management affects the interplay between feed and weed. Maria Silveira is a soil scientist who can warn a rancher that fertility, pH and nutrients favor weeds and prescribe how to help forage fight back.
Stice showed up fast. She took a look at weeds that worried Giacomuzzi and then texted Sellers, who quickly texted back with an herbicide recommendation. When Stice got back to the office, she called Vendramini to ask whether it was advisable to plant a type of limpograss across an entire pasture or if a wet end and a dry end called for different forage varieties.
That’s how it usually works. Stice is the boots on the ground (Or sometimes dress shoes. She recently left a planning commission meeting to respond to ranch owners who feared a weed in their pasture was toxic. It wasn’t, but while Stice was there she found one that was.). She can then mobilize an entire team of That’s three tenured faculty members and soil lab testing for experts depending on the complexity of the problem. one call. It’s an example of how every rancher in Polk County— indeed every rancher across the state—has an entire Extension She also invites them to Polk. Philipe Moriel took his nutrition for beef females program to Bartow before the pandemic. He livestock team at his or her disposal. also shows up in Polk when the Florida Cattlemen’s AssociaWhile Extension grows to serve 22 million Floridians, many of tion holds quarterly meetings there. Beef cattle economist whom live hours from a ranch, our roots are in service to an Chris Prevatt has repeatedly called Polk producers to share industry as old as European settlement in Florida. We have as insights about marketing feeder calves. many Extension agents with full or partial focus on livestock as we have ever had. We have dozens of them deployed across Like Vendramini, Sellers and Silveira, Moriel and Prevatt don’t the state, sometimes grouped as the South Florida Beef- work in Polk—except when they do. Not only do we have as Forage team, the Central Florida Livestock Agents Group, the many livestock experts in ExtenNorth Florida Livestock Agents Group, or the Panhandle Ag sion as we’ve ever had, but they’re all connected by smartphones, lapExtension team. tops, and, when necessary, a mudIn Polk, your gateway into this array of experts is county live- splashed pickup truck. stock agent Bridget Stice. You know her from Polk County Cattlemen’s Association meetings, from AgriFest, from the six- They go where you are, and this session Managing Cattle Enterprises for Success Program at month that means Marco Island. You can count on seeing many of the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Office. them. Stice will be wearing dress You might even know her from the cover of the December is- shoes again, but hopefully this time sue of In The Field. That’s how rookie ranch owner Cheryl Gia- she’ll have her boots in the truck. comuzzi discovered Stice.
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Giacomuzzi is smart enough to know what she doesn’t know. In fact, she jokes that she runs the ranch on three rules: Improve the pasture, be a good steward of the land, and don’t do anything stupid.
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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
Agvocating for Youth
by Payge Dupre
HAPPY MAY AND HAPPY SUMMER! The 2021 JFCA Points Series is quickly approaching! This year’s series will kick off July 22-24 with the Hottest Show on Earth at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, then they will have the Okeechobee Cattle Battle August 27-29 at the Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center and Fairgrounds, the UF Judging Teams show will be September 17-18 with the location to be announced, Kowtown Klassic is October 1-2 at the KVLS Arena in Kissimmee, Big Chief Classic is November 19-20 with the location to be announced, Winter Showring Showdown will be December 3-4 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. This year they have also added two new shows to the series, the Florida Youth Livestock Expo will be held at the Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center and Fairgrounds toward the end of December, but with a finalized date to be announced, and the Cattle at the Cove show at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Green Cove Springs January 28-29. Make sure to watch for entry deadlines so you can be apart of this amazing series this year!
nior Cattlemen’s Association members will be representing us, we know you will do amazing as always – good luck!
Also, Junior Brangus members, the entry booklet and link has been released. If you are interested in participating in the 2021 National Junior Brangus show July 27-August 1 in Belton, Texas, make sure you check out juniorbrangus.com for more information – or feel free to reach out to me with any questions. The entry deadline this year has been extended to June 1 with no late fee. Returning exhibitors, there have been many rule changes this year so please make sure you read through the entry book and make sure everything is ready. We are expecting a large turnout in Belton this year.
As I was elected Secretary of the Polk County FFA Federation recently, I will be serving on the team with our President, Reanna Brown, and officers Dustina Garcia, Kylee Urbina, Allyson Keim, and Mykaela Billingsley. Hopefully, things will begin going back to normal for us in the upcoming year so that we can plan some amazing things for the county! We will also have FFA members from Polk County screening for the Florida FFA Officer Team. It is a huge accomplishment to have even made it this far in your FFA career – good luck to you all, we know you have what it takes and will represent us well, no matter the outcome!
This year they will be holding an in-person Florida FFA Convention. The dates are June 14-18 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando. There will also be an in-person Florida Cattlemen’s Convention June 14-16 in Marco Island. Our Polk County Ju-
As always, stay safe and healthy and cool as we endure Florida summer heat! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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As we round out the school year, I wanted to reflect on how crazy yet rewarding the year has been to me. This past year I was able to serve as Vice President of the Lake Gibson Senior FFA Chapter. This coming year I will serve as President as well as Secretary of the Polk County FFA Federation. While we were hardly able to do anything in person this year, I have had the opportunity to sit back watch the dedication of our members. Knowing that we wouldn’t be able to do as much this year, members have still showed up to meetings just to stay active within the chapter. We even have a 12-person officer team for the coming year – the biggest we’ve ever had! I don’t say this to brag on my chapter, I say this to show how amazing FFA members are, how dedicated they are, and how much they just want to be involved – even if there isn’t as much as a reward in the end.
By Marisol Tarango
CONFESSION OF A RANCHER’S DAUGHTER The ranching life is physically demanding and at times is hazardous, these two elements combined can sometimes leave their mark on the people who make their living ranching. Most of these marks are seen as battle scars and are often prized (mostly by the younger generation). Sometimes the battle scar is a nasty purple bruise or stitches from a wild bovine attack. Other times, the prized mark is a limp or sore shoulder from a young colt. Of course, these injuries are shown off at any chance offered, but concern for them is brushed off because it wasn’t so bad, or it doesn’t hurt that much (even if it was so bad and does hurt that much). While these battle scars are uncomfortable when we get them, and will probably haunt us in our old age, they are our scars that we earned during a noble campaign to feed our country and tend to our charges (who mostly don’t want to be tended to).
a week. I think my mom got tired of me pulling up my jeans to show off my bruise and I couldn’t understand why my greatgrandma was not impressed by the description of my bruise over the phone. Some of my scars (more than I care to mention) were received while doing low ranch work. There are plenty of times that I got some decent scrapes from barbwire while fixing fence (these can be played off as more serious injuries if, you are in need of a good story, because barbwire scratches always look worse than they are). Or there is the classic I-hurt-my-back-becauseI-picked-up-something-heavy in-an-awkward-manner injury. These low ranch work injuries are probably the most painful and also the most embarrassing because they are usually the result of clumsiness.
CONFESSION # 23: A lot of my scars were not earned he- But even hurting yourself doing low ranch work is better than hurting yourself not doing any ranch work at all, because even with low ranch work, you can still dress the story up a bit. The general public seems to have a mindset that if you are a rancher, all of your injuries involve cattle or doing some other ranch work. It’s usually best not to mention non-ranch injuries because you were probably doing something borderline immature, like chasing your four-year-old cousin around the church and getting rug burn on your knee. Or, maybe you got a hit in the head with a glass jar because someone crammed more cups in the cupboard than really fit in there.
roically.
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During my 20 plus years as the rancher’s daughter, I have earned my fair share of bumps and bruises. Sometimes when I was putting on my pajamas after a long, hard day of ranching I would look down satisfied at my scraped and bruised shins, because that was the mark of a well lived day. In my teenage years, this satisfaction turned into puzzlement as I looked down at my bruised shins, wondering how I even got those bruises and if I had a Sunday dress long enough to cover them. The truth was that I was still a little pleased by these bruises because to me they meant that I had had a productive day, People may wonder why ranching people are like this… somebut the only way I remembered getting these bruises was by times I wonder why ranching people are like this. Why do we tripping over the hitch on a truck or stumbling while getting have to have at least some shred of heroicness to our injuries? Why do we always play off how bad it really hurts or the conthe gate. cern that people show? Maybe it’s because if we acknowledge Some of my scars were actually earned doing high ranch work, that it happened on accident, it means that we were not in like the time I received a decent concussion as a teenager control of what was going on. Maybe it is because if we acwhen my horse tripped and rolled over me. I got to tout that knowledge that it hurts so bad and give into the concern that badge of courage for a while and it was pretty cool being the people show, it means that we cannot handle it ourselves and only ranch kid in the sports medicine department at the chil- we have to rely on others. When your profession requires large dren’s hospital. There was also the time that my dad’s mare ran amounts of self-reliance, it can be hard to accept that no one off with me and I fell off because I was in his saddle and my feet can be totally self-reliant, and that things can happen beyond couldn’t reach the stirrups. There was nothing serious, but I did your control. But when you are sure of who your Boss is and get a bruise on the whole side of my knee and a slight limp for what He is capable of, its ok if you are not self-reliant and that you are not in control of everything.
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Tampa Bay Fishing Report May 2021 Capt. Woody Gore
Greenbacks – Whitebait – Scaled Sardines or Threadfin
Probably the number one live bait used in the bay area is a scaled sardine. Anglers call them greenbacks, whitebait, or sardines. The proper angling name is Scaled Sardine, and the scientific name is Harengula Jaguana. A fast-growing, short-lived fish, it completes its life span in a little more than one year. They are common in both off-shore and near-shore waters. Your best bet is bridges and most Tampa Bay grass flats. The difference between a greenback and a threadfin? When you look at them side-by-side, it is not hard to distinguish one from the other. The Sardine has a slightly larger head and eye. And no ray from the dorsal fin. Olive to dark greenbacks, silver sides and belly and a faint dark spot on the upper gill plate. The threadfin is distinguishable by the prolonged last ray of its dorsal fin and with a bluish-black back, silver sides and belly.
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Now that we understand what they are, how do you catch them? Some anglers use a Sabiki Rig on a rod and reel. This method works, but it’s time-consuming and limits the amount of bait you’ll have. Others have learned to throw a cast net, allowing them to get several hundred in a single throw. Cast nets are not challenging to throw, but you will need onetime instruction and some practice.
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If you’re planning on netting your bait, what do you use to attract them? Chum is the answer. The number one ingredient for any chum is oil, not any oil, but Menhaden fish oil. Here is a simple twoingredient sure-fire mixture, and it works every time. It is a combination of 45 percent fish food and a little menhaden fish oil. Many feed stores carry fish food and your local tackle shop should have Menhaden oil. This mixture tends to appeal to greenbacks and not threadfins, and you’ll recognize the difference, as the greenbacks will be eating the mixture and threadfins swimming through it. Many of our local tackle retailers sell cast nets, fish food, and Menhaden Oil. And just about anything else you need in the way of tackle, bait, and riggings. Unlike discount or sports stores, if they do not have what you are looking for, they will order it for you. They are also a great place to get current fishing reports, information, and recommendations on tackle. If you just want to talk fishing, someone is usually around to spin a yarn or two. Stop in; visit your local tackle dealer soon.
Let’s Go Fishing in Tampa Bay: Snook: The Tampa Bay Snook bite’s been excellent. Greenbacks, Shrimp, Pinfish, and artificial lures by working, the WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
topwater lures early in the morning.
Redfish: Redfish are
popping up all over the bay and pushing into shallower water as the tide rises. As always, large schools of mullet are good places to find redfish. They are either inside the school or behind it. Greenbacks, small pinfish, shrimp, and those like pitching soft plastics and topwater around the mangroves can expect some great action on high incoming tides.
“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
Spotted Sea Trout
Some good catches on incoming or outgoing tides around deep water flats are producing fish to 22 inches. As always, live freelined greenback or shrimp are the best baits for trout. Using topwater popping plugs or soft plastic jerk baits while fishing broken bottom grass flats. Especially the grassy potholes can offer artificial anglers some excellent trout action.
Mackerel, Sharks, Cobia, and Kings
The giant Mackerel are in the bay, and fishing should only get better as the water warms and the Threadfins begin schooling. Capt. Kevin Overstreet caught a couple of excellent Cobias while fishing the bay towers and buoys.
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The Stories I Heard
By Marisol Tarango
Sidney Sumner
Have you ever wondered after meeting someone, how you had never met them before? Especially when you discover how much of influence he had on the county that you grew up in. That is how I felt after meeting Sidney Sumner. When he started to tell his stories, I began to realize that Sidney Sumner lived in two eras, he was old enough to go to one of the last strawberry schools in the area, but young enough to be a part of ushering in modern livestock practices.
Strawberry School:
I grew up in Hillsborough County, in Lithia, out in the country. We didn’t really have what you call a ranch, we had 40 acres and my dad had a few cows there and in other locations, and that’s how I got involved in cattle as a kid. Pinecrest was a [1st-12th grade] school at that time, later on it became just an elementary school. It was what they called a strawberry school. Back in those days, when I started school, it started in April and we got out through the fall and Christmas seasons. That’s when it was strawberry picking [season] and a lot of those kids picked strawberries for their parents. I think I spent one Saturday morning picking strawberries for a neighbor at a nickel a quart and picked 16 quarts. I decided that that really wasn’t for me. It was hot [when school was in session] and the school wasn’t airconditioned, they had big open window and screens, and the air flow was good. We never realized that it should be uncomfortable, it wasn’t bad at all. In the late fifties the last of the strawberries (strawberry schools) converted to [the] normal school year.
College:
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My brother and I just decided that going to college was just what we ought to do and that’s how we started. I went to college for the main reason that I, at that point, didn’t have anything else of interest. I went to Tampa [University] for a year and transferred to University of Florida. Dr. Cunha, who was the chairman of the Animal Science Department [at the University of Florida], came down to our community one Saturday for a field day that one of the ranchers was holding. I happened to be there and met him, and he said, “You might want to come up to the University [of Florida] and major in animal science.” Finally, when I was finishing up my degrees, a job became available in extension here in Polk County. I came down and interviewed, wound up taking that job, and stayed in that job for 30 years.
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Judging:
I was on the livestock judging and meats judging team [at UF]. We trained at the University and had coaches for each division. We went on trips to places like Memphis and Chicago. Between meats and livestock judging, over a couple of years, we did contests in six or eight different locations. I preferred livestock judging, but I think the meats judging was easier and more objective than the livestock judging. I enjoyed it being objective [because] if you really paid attention and followed the instructions you could do pretty well in placing. [After college], I was very active in beef cattle judging, I was on the approved list of Brahman, Angus, Brangus, and Hereford [show judges]. I’ve done shows here [in the U.S.] and in Central and South America.
Extension Agent:
I started as a 4-H agent and my specialty was in beef cattle. I worked with 4-Hers that had livestock projects that they showed at the fair. I would go out and visit them at their home and advise them on feeding and I would sometimes help them trim their animals. With a year or so passing with me working with the young folks on a one-on-one basis and also at the meetings, the beef cattle agent left, and the job came open. I applied for it and didn’t get the job, [but] when he [the person who got the job] retired, I again applied for the job and that time I got the livestock agent job along with 4-H. Back in the 80’s, along with several other agents from other counties we put together a beef forage program [where] we [taught] reproductive management and put on a several day school that is still going on today.
What I heard:
What I heard from Sidney Sumner was a story of someone who figured out what he wanted and went for it. When he said that he and his brother decided to go to college because they thought it was a good decision, I envisioned two brothers taking on the adventure of life together. When I heard that he decided to pursue animal science, I saw someone who combined prudence with something that made him happy. When I heard that he judged livestock shows all around the world, I saw someone who worked hard to be good at what he liked. And when I heard that he spent his career serving the people of his county, I saw a man who used his talents to help kids who came from a small town just like him. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Social Media Goats By Libby Hopkins
Megan Atkinson grew up in a family that raised cattle and kept bees, but she always wanted goats. “My husband didn’t come from a farming background, he kind of got into it from me,” Atkinson said. “Since I always wanted goats, when we found the property we live on, it was big enough for goats so, I said, ‘Let’s get some goats!’ It then went from let just have them as pets to let’s just raise them. This is how the Goats of Gerber Dairy got started.
this type can even be kept on a suburban homestead, using a dog box as a shelter and the fenced in backyard as its home.
By the name, Goats of Gerber Dairy, you would think the couple’s property was a dairy given Megan’s background, but Gerber Dairy is the name of the road where they live. “I created a Facebook page for our goats and our business kind of took off from there,” Atkinson said. “The goats have gotten quite a following on Facebook because they are little, cute Nigerian Dwarf goats.” I have to be honest, I follow her goats on social media because they are so cute!
The goats that were not fed to the big cats by the time they were transported to all of the zoos, were left behind as an added bonus, and soon to be popular little attractions.
Because of her goats, Atkinson’s home has turned into thriving hobby farm. “We are a hobby farm specializing in unregistered Nigerian Dwarf goats,” Atkinson said. “We do not disbud or band our kids. Doelings are $200. Bucklings are $125. Our goats are hand raised, very friendly and make excellent pets.”
It is becoming more common to see miniature goats among the animals taken to nursing homes, veteran facilities, and hospitals to raise the spirits of the patients or residents staying at the facilities.
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Nigerian Dwarf goats are very popular in Florida. They are an ideal livestock to keep on homesteads both large and small. A small stature or “mini goat” of
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These miniature goats first arrived in America during the 1950s by a dairy farmer from West Africa. The goats made the journey over on the ship basically a feeder animals for the big cats that were being transported to several zoos in the United States.
These little goats are widely renowned for their gentle nature and even temper. Nigerian goats are often so friendly they have been tapped to become companion animals.
The United States Department of Agriculture has classified the Nigerian dwarf goat as a certified livestock dairy goat breed. This designation makes these mini goats eligible for keeping by both 4-H and FFA club members. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Due to their small stature, easy to control demeanor, and kind nature, Nigerian dwarf goats are common sights at county fairs around the United States. Even the youngest of 4-H club members are typically able to raise, control, and show these goats. (www.newlifeonahomestead.com/nigerian-dwarf-goats) Like all other goat breeds, Nigerian dwarf goats are herd animals. They will not do well alone, and need at least one other animal as a companion. Goats of this breed also make great companions for an aging horse, llamas, and sheep. “We’ve had clients from all over Florida purchase goats from us because they are such a good breed to have as pets or to raise,” Atkinson said. Keeping things local is very important to Atkinson and her family. “I’ve never really had to promote our goats,” Atkinson said. “Our neighbors or the local feed shops we do business with have always told people wanting to buy goats about us,” Atkinson said. “Even with the goats’ Facebook page, it’s local people who contact us about buying them or raising them.” If you would like to learn more about Goats of Gerber Dairy or if you’d like to inquire about purchasing goats from Atkinson, you can visit the goats’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/goatsofgerberdairy or call Atkinson at (863) 559-1228.
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With every generation,
we get better at protecting our environment.
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Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.
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®
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2% Farm and ranch families comprise just 2 percent of the U.S. population. Today’s farmers produce 262 percent more food with 2 percent fewer inputs (labor, seeds, feed, fertilizer, etc.), compared with 1950. Farmers and ranchers receive only 16 cents out of every dollar spent on food at home and away from home. The rest goes for costs beyond the farm gate: wages and materials for production, processing, marketing, transportation and distribution. In 1980, farmers and ranchers received 31 cents. Careful stewardship by farmers has spurred a nearly 50 percent decline in erosion of cropland by wind and water since 1982. More than half of America’s farmers intentionally provide habitat for wildlife. Deer, moose, fowl and other species have shown significant population increases for decades. Farmers, ranchers and other landowners have installed more than 2 million miles of conservation buffers under farm bill initiatives. Buffers improve soil, air and water quality; enhance wildlife habitat; and create scenic landscapes. Farmers have enrolled a total of 31 million acres in the Conservation Reserve Program to protect the environment and provide habitat for wildlife. Since its inception in 1985, the program has helped reduce soil erosion by 622 million tons and restored more than 2 million acres of wetlands. In 2010, $115 billion worth of American agricultural products were exported around the world. The United States sells more food and fiber to world markets than we import, creating a positive agricultural trade balance. www.fb.org
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Technology I have been into electronics most all my life. To the best of my memory it started when I was about 12 years old. I recall stringing a copper wire with a tin can on each end between our houses over to Pat Sweeney, my next door neighbor. We would talk to each other by speaking into the can. I don’t think it really worked, but we made a project out of it. The best thing that came from it was the birds would perch on it, and we would then make a list of all the different ones. Over the years everything has change in the electronic world of communication. I was discussing the change with a couple of old timers at the Sawmill Restaurant in Blairsville, Georgia recently. Rufus Jasper had just purchased his first cell phone, and was trying to get some help from Buster McCraw, who knew as much about the phone as Rufus. Buster said he heard where some construction men dug a trench that was 12 feet deep in Ellijay, a neighboring city, and found pieces of comer wire dating back almost a hundred years. He said they concluded that the city’s ancestors already had a telephone network back then. Gertrude the waitress overheard the story and said she had just read where some archaeologists dug to a depth of 50 feet on Brasstown Bald, and found traces of old copper wire. She said her family had lived in Brasstown forever, and she believes that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communication network at least 100 years earlier than the one in Ellijay. Bubba, sitting at the next table downing four scrambled eggs, six pieces of toast, and at least a pound of grits, along with who knows how much bacon, joined in and said he had just read an article in the newspaper where someone was digging a well in Sam Johnson’s pasture off Old Owltown road there in Blairsville, and found absolutely nothing down to a depth of 100 feet. Bubba said they concluded that 300 years ago, Blairsville had already gone wireless. I have had some interesting things happen to me over the past few years with my cell phone. I recall stopping at a rest stop on I-75 to use the rest room. I went to the men’s room. The first stall was taken so I went to the second one. As soon as I sat down I heard the voice in the next stall say, “Hi there, how is it going?” Well, I am not usually one to strike up a conversation while sitting on a commode at rest stop on I-75. I paused a moment and said, “I’m doing okay.” He replies, “So, what are you doing?” Now this is getting a bit weird, but I replied, “I’m headed back to Plant City, Florida…” Then I hear the person get a little upset, and he said, “Look let me call you back. Every time I ask you a question this screwball in the next stall keeps answering me.” Here’s how to tell if you are addicted to your cell phone. Do you use the menu light as your nightlight? When getting into a car accident, is your first response, “Can you wait a minute, I’m bleeding?” Does raising your children interfere with programming your cell phone?
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I read the other day where a woman was buried with a cell phone in her casket to keep her connected to the departed world. They said it was put on vibrate in order to not disturb others buried nearby with the ringing. I suppose next the phone companies will have no roll-over
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Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the MAy 2014 issue minutes, unlimited casket conference calling and hands free dialing. I can hear the conversation now, “I can’t hear you, my phone went dead. Call me back you’re breaking up, I think I am in a dead zone.” And for a Jay Leno moment, “no roaming charges.” Did you hear the story about the man frantically speaking into his cell phone: “My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!” “Is this her first child?” the doctor asked. “No, you idiot!” the man replied. “This is her husband!” I can’t verify this next story or not, but it all started with a phone call to the Florida Department of Agriculture. A farmer was told he could get paid for not raising hogs by the government. So he called the Dept. of Agriculture, and they suggested he write a letter and explain to them what he wanted. The letter read: My friends, Arnie and Jessica, over in Bartow, received a check the other day for $1,000 from the government for not raising hogs. So, I want to go into the “not raising hogs” business myself next year. What I want to know is, in your opinion, what is the best type of farm not to raise hogs on, and what is the best breed of hogs not to raise? I want to be sure that I approach this endeavor in keeping with all government policies. I would prefer not to raise Razor Back hogs, but if that is not a good breed not to raise, then I can just as easily not raise Yorkshires or Durocs. As I see it, the hardest part of this program will be keeping an accurate inventory of how many hogs I haven’t raised. My friend Arnie is very excited about the future of this business. He has been raising hogs for 20 years and the most he ever made was $420 in 1978, until this year, when he got your check for $1,000 for not raising hogs. If I can get $1,000 for not raising 50 hogs, will I get $2,000 for not raising 100 hogs? I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding myself down to about 4,000 “not raised” hogs, which will give me $80,000 income the first year. Then I can buy a real big boat and a cottage on Lake Marion. Now another thing: these hogs I will not raise will not eat 100,000 bushels of corn. I understand that you also pay farmers for not raising corn and wheat. Will I qualify for payments for not raising wheat and corn not to feed the 4,000 hogs I am not going to raise? I want to get started not feeding as soon as possible, as this seems to be a good time of the year to not raise hogs and grain. I am also considering the “not milking cows” business, so please send me any information on that also. In view of these circumstances, I understand that the government will consider me totally unemployed, so I plan to file for unemployment and food stamps as well. Be assured that you will have my vote in the coming elections. Thank you, Jack & Arlene PS: Would you please notify me when you plan to distribute more free cheese? Until next month, remember to make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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THE SILVER LINING TO YOUR LANDSCAPE Julie Schelb UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
The garden is a place of work and rest, of challenge and success, and often a place to express an idea. Have you ever thought about transforming your garden with a silver plant theme? Well, if you are looking for some new sparkle and shine in your garden, look no further than silver plants! Yes, you can add a silver lining to your landscape with just a few plants. There are many plants that have a silver hue and work well in a Florida-Friendly Landscape. Check out a few of these “silver” plants along with details on each plant for selecting the right plant for the right place. Regardless of how unique or beautiful a plant is, the key to a successful garden is selecting plants that match the site conditions. Consider the amount of sun or shade, soil type, soil pH, and even space available for mature growth. With a little prep and planning, a silver landscape and its lining are within reach! Texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) A small shrub reaching about three to five feet in height and just as wide. It features, of course, silvery-green leaves and lavender flowers. This plant prefers full sun and is highly drought tolerant. In fact, the drier the site, the better! No need to worry about soil amendments or fertilizer, it will do just fine without. This plant is just the ticket for a low-maintenance, drought-friendly landscape.
Silver saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) Unlike iconic palms that stand tall, this palm is low growing with multiple trunks. The silver form and cultivars offer unique color in a landscape. Mature size ranges from three to ten feet tall and just as wide. Saw palmetto can be grown in full sun to part shade and is very drought tolerant. Also, this plant is a food source for wildlife from bees seeking pollen from the flowers to birds and mammals eating the berries. If located in an area prone to wildfires, keep saw palmettos at least 30 feet away from buildings.
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Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) While most people are familiar with the grand southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), this relative and Florida native offers just a hint of silver in the landscape. The silver color comes from the underside of the leaves that sparkle in the breeze. This tree grows to about 40-60 feet tall and about half as wide. Springtime flowers are a treat with their hint of a lemon scent. Sweetbay magnolia tolerates full sun to part shade. Best used in areas with moist soil as it naturally thrives in wetland areas.
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Sea lavender (Heliotropium gnaphalodes) This Florida native plant is found in south Florida and along the east coast of Florida from central to south. While not fragrant, this plant does get the common name, sea lavender, from its similar appearance to the herb lavender. Speaking of appearance, the silver hue comes from tiny gray hairs on the leaves. This plant is best suited for dry, sandy landscapes in full sun. Another low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant with no need for fertilizer. Allow room for this plant to grow as it averages five feet in height and can grow to be much wider. American century plant (Agave americana) When looking for a centerpiece, agave delivers. This stunning plant offers a bold appearance with sometimes silver or gray leaves and maturing to six feet, it can be hard to miss. Use caution as this plant does have sharp spines and may not be suitable near walkways or recreation areas. A low-maintenance, drought-tolerant addition to the landscape. However, a little patience is required since this plant is slow to mature, and although it will not take a century passing, it may take several years to see the towering bloom spike. Silver vase bromeliad (Aechmea fasciata) When looking to brighten a shady spot in the landscape, shine a little light with the silver vase bromeliad. In addition to the silver leaves, pink bracts on the flower spike compliment the foliage in spring. A small plant that grows to one to two feet tall and wide. Use in a container or plant in mass for a bold color choice. Jelly Palm (Butia capitata) Looking for a palm to add to the landscape? Consider the beautiful, slivery-gray, feather-like, curved leaves of jelly palm. Also known as pindo palm, jelly palm gets its common name from the fruit that can be turned into jelly. However, if you are not into jelly, leave the fruit for wildlife to enjoy. This palm grows to around 15 to 25 feet tall and nearly 19 to 15 feet wide. Choose a location with full sun for this palm to shine. For more tips and information on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ in Polk County, visit https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk/ or contact the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ coordinator at 863-519-1068 or j.schelb@ufl.edu. References: Brown, S., Frank, M., and Koeser, A. 2018. Sea Lavender (Heliotropium gnaphalodes L.): Identification and Uses (ENH1299). University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences EDIS. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://edis.ifas.ufl. edu/publication/ep563. Gilman, E., Klein, R., and Hansen, G. 2017. Aechmea fasciata: silver vase (FPS16). University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences EDIS. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/fp016. Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design. 2010, University of Florida. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
FLorida CELERIAC
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Celeriac, also called celery root, turnip-rooted celery, or knob celery, is a delicious root vegetable with a taste and texture that resembles potatoes with a hint of celery. The edible portion is the knobby stem that forms beneath the soil surface. The root is knobby and covered with a thin brown skin. It typically measures three to four inches in diameter. The edible portion is the interior white flesh, which is smooth and creamy in texture.
Iron is also required as a cofactor for a number of enzymes that converts the nutrients we eat into energy.
Antioxidants Fresh Florida celeriac is full of antioxidants in many forms, including vitamins A, E, and E. These compounds help provide anti-inflammatory effects, which is beneficial in warding off many major diseases.
Celeriac is available year round but at its best during the cooler months. The taste is delicious and mild, with a slightly sweet and mild celery flavor. Like other root vegetables, it can last for months if stored properly and not allowed to dry out. Celeriac can be enjoyed raw, roasted, stewed, blanched, or mashed.
These antioxidants are particularly beneficial in protecting blood vessels from oxidative stress, which results in atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. Vitamin A and the carotenoids are especially important for good eye health, offering protection to the retina and macula.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
Shop for firm, unblemished celery roots that feel heavy for their size, with a greenish blush. Store in the fridge, unpeeled, in an unsealed plastic bag, with a dry paper towel to absorb excess moisture, for up to three weeks.
Celeriac is not only delicious but also nutritious. It’s high in fiber and various vitamins and minerals. It’s also low in carbs, making it the perfect alternative to potatoes. According to the USDA, a cup serving of fresh celery root (156g) contains 66 calories, 15 g of carbohydrate, 2.8 g of fiber, 0.5 g of fat, and 2 g of protein. It also contains significant amounts of vitamin C, iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc and fiber.
Vitamin C A single serving of celeriac contains 21% of your daily needs for vitamin C. This vitamin is needed for growth and repair of all tissues in your body, including skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. It helps your body maintain healthy cartilage, bones, and teeth, as well as promotes wound healing. Vitamin C also helps you absorb iron better. There is some research to support that vitamin C may also reduce the duration and severity of the common cold.
Iron Celeriac is a great vegetarian source of iron. Iron is essential for blood production and many other important functions in the body. It is involved in carrying oxygen from the lungs to all the tissues in the body. Insufficient iron from the diet can lead to anemia, which is a reduction of hemoglobin in the blood.
How to Enjoy
Celeriac may be used raw or fresh. Since it has the celery flavor, it is often used as a flavoring in soups and stews. Wash immediately before use. Trim roots and peel celeriac before cooking or eating. Other ways to enjoy this nutritious vegetable include: • Roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper • Saute with olive oil and herbs • Boil and mash as you would potatoes • Sliced and cooked in an air fryer • Tossed into a stew or soup • Grated and eaten raw in salad or with hummus Fresh Florida celeriac is a nutritious and delicious root vegetable.
SELECTED REFERENCES http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu
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How to Select and Store
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Can you believe it’s over? Our trip on the Literary Time Machine ends this month! That means we have been reading a book from 1926 for more than six and a half years. It’s a sad moment, at least for us. But it is time for us to move onto new things. So, please join us, for our final voyage with Mr. Torrey Simpson and his phenomenal ornamental gardening advice. He writes, “I close the list of cultivated exotics with the brief mention of annuals. Not so very long ago it seemed as if they would never be any great success here but now that we are beginning to learn how to grow them we find that they are as rich and beautiful as they are anywhere, that they add as much to the success of our gardens as they do in the north…”¹ For nearly seven years we have adored his appreciation of beauty and the way he weaves his words. He then goes on to tell a story, “In April, 1925, I was fortunate enough to be present at the Flower Show of the women’s plant clubs in Jacksonville, and there I saw what absolutely astonished me in the way of a display of color such as I had never seen even in the north. While trees, shrubs and house plants were relied on for a considerable part of the decoration yet it was the annuals that gave the atmosphere of glory and triumph to the whole. It filled my heart with a new loyalty to Florida, with a splendid pride in what could be done here.”¹ Mr. Torrey Simpson was a man devoted to making Florida a beautiful place. He explains, “Here in the lower part of the state we are learning something about growing annuals and I have seen this winter in Dade County as fine a show of petunias, marigolds, zinnias, and Phlox drummondi as I ever did anywhere…Just now as I write (July 1st) a neighboring street is gay with salvias, marigolds, candytuft, petunias, and zinnias but most of the plants begin to look a little the worse for wear and will probably only last a short time.”¹
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He goes on to talk about something akin to global warming, which for some people is a sore spot, but kind of interesting to see him thinking about it in the 1920s. Here’s what he has to say, “Some experiments made here a few years ago in order to find out if possible why the ordinary garden vegetables… will do no good whatever during the hotter part of the year in Lower Florida would indicate that the long continued heat of the soil was the cause…”¹ That part is obvious, but then he continues.
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Part 80
“Here the water in a well on my place that is more than twenty feet deep is about 76 degrees all winter and only a fraction of a degree warmer in summer…I am very doubtful if many of the annuals will succeed here in late summer even if they could be shaded…In order to have good success with annuals in Florida it is necessary to either have naturally rich soil or to make it so by liberal fertilizing. Nothing is better than well rotted cow manure thoroughly worked in.”¹ He ends his advice on annuals with, “…as a rule if one is to have fine annuals it is necessary to have rich or well fertilized soil and plenty of water… I believe the time is at hand when these plants and some others of their class will give more of brightness and color to our gardens in the cooler part of the year than anything and everything else.”¹ And that ends his book. But, prior to his conclusion he lists some annuals and their levels of success. The ones he says do well all over the state are: petunias, sunflowers, sweet peas, phlox, salvia, marigolds, black-eyed susans, Madagascar periwinkles, and zinnias. In case you are interested in planting annuals at some point, these would be the first ones to consider as they have been doing well here for nearly one hundred years, if not longer. And, if you are really all about the concept of gardening, not just ornamentally, we would suggest that you check out the community garden here in Plant City. Yes, we have one and it is so cool. The pics in this article are some I took while visiting it. The bees need us to garden, to plant those annuals with their gorgeous flowers, to grow healthy vegetables and fruit. And even if you don’t have yard space, you can do that in the community garden. It’s behind HCC if you don’t know about it. Ask for Karen and tell her Ginny sent you! Happy gardening, wherever you are doing it! 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. 223-end). Photos: Mink, G. (2021). HCC’s community garden flowers growing there. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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FIGHTING TO PRESERVE FLORIDA’S NATURAL BEAUTY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS Adam Bass’s agriculture roots and passion for conservation are on full display as he works as the director of conservation for Conservation Florida
By Breanne Williams | Photos Courtesy of Adam Bass To outsiders Florida often comes across as a tourist haven, but locals know that the state’s true beauty lies in its natural wildlife and agricultural roots. Adam Bass spent his childhood running among citrus groves and helping his family grow blueberries and work cattle in Winter Haven. He fell in love with Florida’s natural beauty and now works as a director for Conservation Florida to help preserve the agricultural and wild land that is left. “Our primary tool for conservation is the conservation easement,” Bass said. “In layman’s terms, we essentially are buying development rights so that farmers or ranchers or landowners can continue to farm, ranch, hunt, recreate on their property. We just don’t want to see houses out there in the future. That’s kind of one of our unofficial mottos, ‘Ranches, not rooftops.’” Conservation Florida is a “statewide accredited land trust working to protect Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes for future generations.” The group was founded in 1999 as a Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust. Bass spends his days working with landowners to preserve Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes. Over the past few decades the group has helped protect more than 25,000 acres of land and is currently leading protection projects totaling more than 180,000 acres.
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Bass said it was something close to fate that drew him to the group. His strong roots in agriculture developed in him a deep love and appreciation for Florida’s environment. He was approached to consider joining Conservation Florida as a
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board member and simultaneously saw they were looking for a director of development. When the subject was broached that he might consider the position, it was a leap of faith, but one that seemed to mesh perfectly with his background. He said he’s thrilled he took the leap and was considered for the position as he now gets to spend his days working toward a cause he’s long been passionate about. His agriculture roots, passion for conservation and the eight years he worked in real estate made the transition into director of development a challenge he was eager to meet. He’s now been at the position for approximately a year and a half and said the group’s current focus has heavily been on the Everglade’s Headwaters and Northwest Florida. The clock is ticking to conserve the land and the group continues to foster partnerships with landowners, state and federal entities to keep Florida a natural and agricultural haven. Prior to joining Conservation Florida, Bass managed a 2000acre farm and cattle operation and served as a Corporal in the Marine Corps with two tours in Iraq. His love of Florida is a passion he strives to pass down to his children. Bass and his family live in Lake Wales and he said he, his wife Kim, his son Max and his daughter Haddie are constantly outdoors. “I raise my kids out in the woods,” Bass said. “We like to hunt, we like to fish. We’re just an outdoor family that loves to be outside. I’m teaching them to respect this land and they enjoy our time outside just as much as I do.” Florida’s beauty is one of many reasons people flock to live in the Sunshine State. The demand for development is overWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
whelming and creeping into every nook and cranny of the state. It’s a story every one has heard time and again: city’s cave to residential, commercial or industrial development and agree to tear up woods or carve over fields in order to make room for the onslaught of new business and residents. Many landowners feel at a loss for what to do to protect their property from future development. That’s where Bass and the team at Conservation Florida come in. He said he’s the guy that’s out in the field talking to ranchers, farmers and landowners to help them get a plan in place for conservation. There’s a variety of ways that can happen, including conservation easements or land donations, but at the end of the day the group shows landowners that there is a chance to preserve the property in its current form. “We are the only homegrown land trust that focuses on the state of Florida as a whole,” Bass said. “We work with all the land trusts in the state but we focus on particular regions and like the Everglades Headwaters, Central Florida, Northwest Florida, basically everything west of Tallahassee. There’s some great land trusts like Alachua County Trust, North Florida Land Trust, Tall Timbers and Conservancy of Southwest Florida. They really do a great job regionally of their areas so we don’t work in there unless we are asked to work there. But our goals are basically that we protect family farms and ranches and we also protect wild lands, that’s what we do. In fact, our mission statement is “conserving Florida’s natural and wild lands for the next generation.” Bass said he understood why people want to move to Florida. After all it’s the state he proudly calls home. But he wishes that the state could “grow a little smarter.” He mused that perhaps the better answer is redevelopment rather than pushing
If you’re involved in a nonprofit focused on conservation or Florida ranch advocacy odds are you either have met Bass or are aware of his hidden talent: wildlife and land photography. It started as a hobby, something he decided to dip his toes into as he was already spending so much time outdoors. His love for this land led him to try to capture some of its natural beauty and overtime his photographs have begun to spring up in groups all over the state. Conservation Florida, the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and a variety of other nonprofit groups have reached out to Bass in hopes of using his photos to further their fight toward preserving Florida. He said he gladly gives the photos for free to groups that he believes are aiming to protect these lands. Though he’s not one to speak much on himself Bass’ passion for Florida conservation is evident in everything he does. He’s a man that is using his talents to make the world a better place and his dedication bleeds into every aspect of his life. Whether he’s working tirelessly with Conservation Florida or taking his kids on a fishing trip he makes it a point to take a snapshot of the land we call home and hopes that the generations that follow will be able to see the same natural beauty reflected through the lens of their cameras. If you want to learn more about Conservation Florida or are interested in working with the group you can call 352-3764770 or visit conserveflorida.org. The group has offices in Gainesville, Orlando and Winter Haven and also has a preserve in Deltona. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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QuikTrak™ Stand-On Mower
By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
LANDSCAPING FOR SAFETY
Most people take pride in how their lawn and property looks, but did you know that it can also help keep you safe? Research indicates that well designed and maintained landscaping plays a quiet supporting role in preventing crime before it happens. A well-designed yard includes trimming bushes and trees to make sure nothing blocks windows. Bushes should not be higher than two feet. Lower tree branches should not be under eight feet. This creates more visual security, and eliminates possible spots where criminals can hide. Landscaping can also provide a clearly marked transitional zone to separate your property from adjacent ones. Planting hostile vegetation could also help keep criminals away. Prickly or thorny bushes, such as cacti, roses or bougainvillea planted beneath windows can discourage people from hiding behind them due to the length of their thorns, which can collect DNA.
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Lighting can be a great safety tool as well. Lighting helps prevent vandalism and other types of crimes before they happen. Criminals are always looking for those crimes of opportunity, and they hate being caught. Entrances should be bright at all times and provide a clear line of sight from both the inside and the outside.
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Technology provides ways to alert you when someone is on your property, even if you’re not at home. This feature can make the intruder feel that someone can see them and that it’s not worth committing a crime in the area. Those “doorbell cameras” that you can buy online or in most home improvement or tech stores are invaluable, and affordable. Gravel pathways create noise and can be another way to deter crime and keep intruders out. These are all great ideas, but here’s something you might not think about too often – when criminals see trash piles, cluttered gardens, and broken pavers or windows, they see a place that nobody cares about. When a home or property appears vacant, it encourages crimes such as graffiti, vandalism, and littering. Keep lawns mowed, hedges trimmed, and in general, your home in good condition. As always, ensure that you keep your windows and doors locked, and never leave any valuables visible. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office needs extra eyes and ears, so if you see something, say something. You never know if your information is the final link to complete a crime chain. Report suspicious activities or people by calling 863- 298-6200. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
CENTRAL FLORIDA AG DEPUTY LUNCHEON SHOWCASES BENEFITS OF TEAMWORK BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY By Jim Frankowiak
The 2021 Central Florida Ag Deputy Luncheon was again organized by Polk County Farm Bureau and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office as it has been over the past. This gathering fosters one-on-one interaction among law enforcement and the agricultural community that permits the sharing of information on crime-related trends, prevention techniques and an overall relationship that helps resolve agricultural crime issues.
more than 3,400 hours of investigative services plus an additional 1,000 hours rounding up loose livestock.
The event, which was held at Waters Ranch, has grown over the years to include Ag deputies from surrounding counties, representatives from the State of Florida, as well as national agencies. In addition to Polk County Ag deputies, this year’s luncheon included deputies from Manatee, Highlands, Sarasota, Hardee, Pasco and Osceola counties, along with enforcement officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s Division of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Luncheon sponsors were also recognized. They included Kelley Buck GMS, Lightsey Cattle Co. Magnatronix Corp., Polk Count Cattlemen’s Association and Stokes Cattle Co. Their support fully underwrote the luncheon’s grilled sirloin steaks, baked potatoes, fresh vegetables and beverages as well as dessert.
This ongoing partnership among Ag law enforcement and the agriculture industry began in 1978 with the formation of the Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit (FACIU), which was created “to develop and implement solutions to the unique crimes that affect agricultural production and rural communities throughout the State of Florida.”
“We are successful because we work as a team, and for that we are thankful,” said Judd. While the luncheon is an important networking event, the FACIU uses other tools to fight agricultural crime that impacts the industry. Those tools include training sessions and seminars.
Attendees were also given the opportunity to participate in raffles for a variety of items that included western memorabilia and artwork prints donated by Robert Cole. Those donations benefit the Ag Program at Warner University and Florida Ag youth
Polk County Farm Bureau board member Ellis Hunt noted in remarks to luncheon attendees the value of this relationship between Ag deputies and the agricultural community and even more. “We value the work of deputies. Dumping and theft have been reduced and things are more under control,” he said. “A realtor has told me that more new residents are coming to Polk County as a result of the efforts of Sheriff Grady Judd and his deputies.” Judd termed it in “an honor” for him and his deputies to work with Ag community. He noted this year alone his office has been engaged in 130 property theft issues that have required INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS UF/IFAS SOIL HEALTH AND CITRUS STUDY
A team of UF/IFAS researchers is looking into how changes in soil health impact citrus and other sub-tropical tree crops. Specifically, they will examine how quickly soil health can change in Florida’s sub-tropical sandy soils and how specific changes in soil health might impact yield. The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture is funding the nearly $500,000, four-year project.
crop will be planted in the same field. That’s not the case for a tree crop, and in Florida, we can keep cover crops growing in the middle of rows between the trees all year,” said Strauss, a faculty member at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. “So, metrics for how quickly things change in the soils for a tree with cover crops may be very different than in a vegetable or cotton field.”
“Our goal is to help producers by finding out what cover crops do to soil health in Florida groves,” said Sarah Strauss, assistant professor of soil microbiology in the UF/IFAS soil and water sciences department and the lead investigator on the grant project. “While there’s a lot of interest in soil health right now, much of the research and metrics for assessing it are not based on sub-tropical sandy soils like we have in Florida. In order to determine if soil health is improving, growers need to know what the best parameters are to measure. That includes determining which indicators are the most useful for monitoring the soil health of tree crops.”
Strauss said they will also compare results with some commercial soil tests to see how indicators relate to what is currently commercially available. Many commercial tests may not provide suggestions or recommendations specific to tree crops.
Improving soil health will hopefully improve productivity. However, sometimes impacts aren’t seen for several years. Strauss and her team want to know what indicators can be measured only once a year or more frequently that might show progress even if yield hasn’t changed yet. This would provide critical grove management information to growers faster. The team will first measure soil physical, biochemical and microbial parameters involved in carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling at two Florida citrus groves. This will provide a detailed assessment of the changes to the soil environment and microbial groups with cover crops. After measuring cover crop impacts on soil in the groves, scientists will see which soil health indicators can carry over to the non-citrus setting. They will also share Florida-specific information with producers.
“Ultimately, this study will provide a list of meaningful soil health indicators that Florida producers can use to meet their unique needs in sub-tropical tree fruit systems,” she said. Joining Strauss in the study are soil and water sciences department colleagues Gabriel Maltais-Landry, assistant professor of sustainable nutrient management systems and Allan Bacon, assistant professor of environmental pedology. In addition, Danielle Treadwell, associate professor in the UF/ IFAS horticultural sciences department, will help expand the scope of the proposed research beyond citrus. Antonio Castellano-Hinojosa, a post-doctoral associate in Strauss’s lab, brings expertise in plant growth-promoting bacteria and their linkage to soil nutrient cycling. “Growing crops in Florida’s sandy soils is challenging, so if we can give producers an efficient, useful management tool, we want to do that,” Strauss said. This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
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“In vegetable or row crop systems, cover crops are planted during the fallow season for a few months and then the cash
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NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
Gov. DeSantis Signs “Right to Farm” Bill into Law; Other Legislative Action
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/. EDIS Now Known as AskIFAS The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has renamed its Electronic Data Information Service (EDIS). The publication system’s public site is now known as AskIFAS and is accessible at https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu. The new site offers streamlined editing and reviewing EDIS editor processes; easier access to Extension publications, a side panel on EDIS article pages providing added information, including contact name (s), publication type and audience; and fosters seamless movement between Ask IFAS and other IFAS web resources. Lawsuits based on Odor, Flies, smoke or dust. Florida now has a very strong Right to Farm Law that -- once it goes into effect July 1 -- will provide broad protection from nuisance lawsuits and be a strong deterrent against frivolous legal actions in the future. This was Florida Farm Bureau’s highest priority for the just-ended legislative session. A bill updating the Bert J. Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection was also passed. It streamlines the process used by landowners who seek relief when their property is unfairly affected by government action. The bill also enables landowners who prevail in a Harris Act claim to recover attorney’s fees. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) received full funding for Workload, nearly $1.7 million for a Fertilizer Rate Study and full funding for the existing program in the education and programs in the education and agriculture budgets. Largemouth Bass legislation was passed that would allow the sale of Large-Mouth Bass to be sold as food fish by Florida aquaculture producers, allowing them to compete in a national market where demand for this species continues to grow. This change will also allow Florida restaurants to add this product to their menus. Farm Bureau Annual Meeting October 7 The 2021 Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting has been set for Thursday, October 7, and will take place at the Florida Strawberry Festival meeting facility. Please mark your calendar now!
John Deere is offering extra savings for Farm Bureau members who sign up for John Deer Rewards by May 31. This free temporary upgrade to Platinum 2 savings is valid for only 60 days after registration. Sign up for a John Deere Rewards account at JohnDeere.com/FarmBureau to take advantage of this offer and to learn of loyalty rewards that combine with national discounts. Farm Bureau 2021 Youth Speech Contest Topic and Rules Available The topic and rules for the 2021 Florida Farm Bureau Youth Speech Contest are now available. Contestants must be at least 14 years of age and not more than age 18 as of September 10, 2021. To learn of the topic, contest rules and other information, visit: https://www.floridafarmbureau.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/youth-speech-contest-packet-2021. pdf.
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John Deere Offering Extra Savings for Farm Bureau Members through May 31
Saddle-up!
by John Dicks Saddle up! Riders at the ready! Horse racing is leading us into re-opening and the post pandemic recovery.
who now has performed for some 26 consecutive years. No pre-recorded music can top tradition, even in a pandemic!
Probably you already know, but the first Saturday in May is a most important day for horse racing. It’s the day that Louisville gets to shine with its Kentucky Derby.
Reporters, workers, and even some jockeys themselves have remarked how strange things were at the Derby last year. The thunder of horses’ hooves racing along with only the shouts of their riders and the occasional crack of the whips made it a race to embrace for a Kentucky Derby.
This year, it came as soon as possible, opening the gates on the very first day of the month, and lighting up the late afternoon screens of millions of people worldwide. Unlike last year when things were eerily quiet, this 147th annual “Run for the Roses” was celebrated, seemingly, everywhere. Social media was set to a frenzy with pictures of neighborhood Derby parties, where revelers were decked out in local renditions of the ubiquitous big Derby Hat which has become a fashion staple for the main event. Granted it looked like “social distancing” was not perfectly practiced. Many made mention of vaccinations, though, so we’ll hope for only the best to come from the gatherings. Still, something seemed special about it all.
Strange it was. The good news, though, is that all of that was then, while this year is now. The Kentucky Derby in the new normal was most worthy of the modern day fist bump! There were records set, too. The winning jockey celebrated his fourth victory at the Derby. The trainer logged his seventh win, making him the all time champ so far.
Somehow, someway, it all looked normal.
Even the star of the race, Medina Spirit, became an instant fan favorite as the winning horse that next to no-one believed in and odds makers were making a long shot,. He’s a Florida horse, too, having been born and bred just up the road in Ocala.
Well, sort of anyway. The fancy folks in the crowd were back. The overall number of spectators was limited to about one third the normal. Still, it made for the largest live sporting event since the pandemic began, with more than 51,000 people who were cheering the horses, and really, just celebrating life!
Evidently the experts didn’t think much of him,. He was sold as a yearling for only $1,000 when zillions are paid for favorites. Yet this “little horse” as he was called by his trainer, took the lead at the start and all but for a second or two simply never letup, fighting off three challengers in the stretch to win by a half-length.
What a contrast it was to the Derby held last year, not in May as it should be, but in September to a virtually empty track with no fans in the stands. Only the owners were there, watching their multi-million dollar equine investments run as fast as their hearts and legs would carry them.
It was exciting. It was thrilling. It made people smile.
About the only thing normal in last year’s race was the ever familiar “Call to Post” by the Derby’s longtime bugler
The Kentucky Derby in 2021 truly lived up to its billing as the “most exciting two minutes in sports”. Maybe, just maybe, it also marked the time we all can get going again!
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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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May State Officer Column
By Emma Poole and Christian Bentrovato April and May are stacking up to be extremely busy months for the Florida FFA State Officer Team. Between preparing for State Convention, visiting chapter banquets, and working at the Florida State Fair, we have had our hands full, and we are excited to continue a successful year. Back at the beginning of April, my teammate, Parker Kruse, and I had the opportunity to attend the inaugural Taylor County Middle School FFA Banquet. We were able to speak to the attendees about the persistence and dedication that FFA members have shown throughout this year, despite the challenges that they may have faced. It is true – Florida FFA members are a great example for the rest of us of what it means to never give up, in spite of any circumstances. For the first part of the Florida State Fair, I had the opportunity to assist at shows, work with the Little Farm Hands program, and even attend a banquet. Our team was able to meet Nikki Fried, the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, and I was able to meet the Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent, Addison Davis at the Woman of the Year in Agriculture Banquet. The Woman of the Year Banquet is always one of my favorite events at the fair. This year was extra special because I was able to sing the National Anthem at the banquet! The Woman of the Year in Agriculture program seeks to honor one woman each year who has made outstanding contributions to the agricultural industry. This year’s honoree was Mrs. Veronique Sallin. Mrs. Sallin has helped to increase the global market for Florida citrus, specifically grapefruit. Together with her husband, she founded Cherrylake, Inc., and IMG Citrus, which are two parts of IMG Enterprises, which is a company specializing in agriculture and land management. She has been honored by the French President for her work in promoting French culture as well as promoting Florida Citrus.
took a lot of insight away from hearing her speak, but this is the thing that stuck with me the most: The future is bright, but only if we choose to make it that way. - Emma Lauren Poole Florida FFA State Secretary During one of our teams’ recent trips to The University of Florida, we had the opportunity to tour Frazier-Rodgers Hall. During the tour we were able to see what projects students were working on and get a glimpse at how The University of Florida is tackling issues that face agriculture today. One of the labs that we went in was called a wet lab and it was essentially suspended above a pool of water. We were able to see some of the irrigation experiments that they use the lab for, and it was cool to see how they can utilize a facility like that. As we are preparing for the end of our year of service, we have been preparing for the 93rd Florida FFA State Convention and Expo! We are all working hard to ensure that we have a successful convention and that it is one for the history books! We hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join us in Orlando from June 14th-18th. This convention is one of the most anticipated that we have ever had and know that we are very fortunate to be able to hold our convention in person. The entire State Officer Team is very excited for the end of our year but are sad it is coming to an end so soon. Congratulations to all of our wonderful Hillsborough County and Area V teams that have won this year and we hope to see you on stage! -Christian Bentrovato Area V State Vice President
Mrs. Veronique Sallin can truly be an inspiration for us all. Through her hard work and dedication, she has made the world a better place while working to promote Florida Agriculture. That is the true purpose of a state officer, as well. I INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
THE OCEAN’S NOT OURS: STAGHORN CORAL
By Ginny Mink
As a child, this writer was enamored by sea creatures. This was a time period in which Jacques Cousteau was busy making amazing documentaries we watched on our remote-less TV. At that stage of life, the idea of scuba diving with Great White Sharks and seeing all the amazing ocean creatures was on the bucket list. Of course, we all get old, and then we realize that we will probably never cage dive. Instead, we will write articles about creatures we once wanted to see in person, namely the Staghorn Coral this month.
searchers found that it looks like antlers based on the way it branches out. These are fast growing corals but having had 97 percent of their population wiped out puts them in serious danger. Often people think that coral is just a plant or a rock, but that’s not quite right. What we see as “coral” is actually a mass of tiny creatures called polyps that have grouped together to form colonies. Once in place, they secrete the shell, or what we see as “coral,” a hard calcium carbonate. They are not rocks, they are alive, guys.³
Perhaps you are unaware, but coral is related to sea anemones, made popular to so many thanks to Finding Nemo. Coral reefs are our oceans’ rainforests. They are home to so many sea creatures but are delicate and have been drastically affected by a number of human created problems. In 2006, the Center for Biological Diversity took a stand for elkhorn and staghorn corals and they were added to the Endangered Species Act at that time. In 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service began protecting the reefs from harm and in 2012, the corals were upgraded from threatened to endangered.¹
In 2015, a two-year restoration program for the staghorn coral was started in both Puerto Rico and Florida. They called it the staghorn gardening program. It was headed up by the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. What these individuals are doing is taking coral tissue and propagating it in a nursery. They then take these newly formed coral fragments and “outplant” them in areas that are in need of coral replenishing. It would appear, based on an article written in 2017, that these efforts are proving fruitful.⁴
Staghorn corals and other varieties can live for hundreds of years. Staghorns generally grow to heights of four feet tall with an eight-foot diameter. They form thickets, or dense groups, in shallow water areas. In the 1980s, there was a severe disease that attacked these corals, making those reefs now stand at less than 3 percent of their previously encountered abundance. The warmer the water, the worse the situation for the coral, because that warm water makes them release the algae that live within them and thusly they die.²
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Staghorn coral gets its name from its appearance. Re-
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To put the importance of staghorn and other corals into perspective for you, while these reefs only cover about one percent of the oceans’ floor, they are the support system for more than 25 percent of the marine creatures living within the oceans. We cannot ignore their plight. The Center for Biological Diversity is always ready for a fight when they see things being ignored, so they have sued to protect the corals from overfishing. This is necessary because the fish that are being caught are those that help maintain the algae balance within the reefs.¹ Inside the coral are the algae we talked about, zooxanthellae. These algae produce nutrients and, via photoWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
synthesis, they are able to pass these nutrients on to the coral. One extra cool thing is that staghorn corals will also eat zooplankton. They can’t move, so they have to wait for the zooplankton to get close and then they use their nematocysts, a stinging cell on their tentacles, to catch them. This explains their similarity to sea anemones.³ Currently, the coral colonies that are still present are isolated and mostly in small groups. Particularly when you compare the immensity of their reach in the past. Thankfully, there are still some thickets, but they are only known to exist in a handful of locations. And, sadly, successful reproduction for the staghorn coral is very rare which prevents them from growing back as they need to.² The reality is, that coral reef systems provide us with food and protect our shorelines from hurricanes and other crazy Florida weather. Thusly, coral restoration could be an effective method of fighting rising sea levels and storm surges on our coastlines. “Healthy coral reefs are essential to our everyday life and successful coral restoration has been proven as a recovery tool for lost coastal resources,”⁴ says a UM coral biologist, Stephanie Schopmeyer.⁴ Though we know far less than she does, we have to agree that staghorn corals are in need of our protection and recovery. The truth is that the ocean is not ours. We are simply here as stewards of all that He has created. Let us respect our positions on this planet and do our jobs as protectors. Resources: ¹Center for Biological Diversity. Staghorn Coral. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/invertebrates/staghorn_coral/index.html ²NOAA Fisheries. Staghorn Coral. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/staghorn-coral ³One Kind Planet. Animal A-Z. Staghorn Coral. https:// onekindplanet.org/animal/coral-staghorn/ ⁴Gaworecki, Mike. (2017). Critically endangered staghorn corals are benefitting from coral gardening in the Caribbean. Mongabay News & Inspiration from Nature’s Frontline. https://news.mongabay. com/2017/08/critically-endangered-staghorncorals-are-benefiting-from-coral-gardening-in-thecaribbean/ Photo Credits: FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. (2016). Corals after two years. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/GfmAxQ Ria Tan. (2015). Wild Singapore. Staghorn acropora coal (Acropora sp.). Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/xpXa2u INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Naturally Amazing Activities
By Sean Green
Treasure Map
This month we have a quick and easy activity for the treasure hunters (and hiders) in your family. Personally, I love dressing up and role playing, and Pirate is one of my favorites. What better way to embrace the spirit of the Tampa Bay area than to create your own treasure map, hide a treasure, and challenge your family to find it.
Supplies: Laser Printer Dark Dye (black shoe polish or black paint) Medium Brown Dye (dark brewed coffee, chili powder, cumin) Texture (Instant coffee grounds) Sponge
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• Create your map on the computer (or find an existing map) • Print the map out on a laser printer (Ink Jet will not work) • Tear the edges of the print to look ragged. • Darken the edges with Dark Dye • Wet a sponge with Medium Brown Dye and blot the print so it is wet. • Sprinkle Texture onto the print,.. (let the instant coffee dissolve) • Gently blot dry (do not wipe, it may tear the paper)
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ANaturally Closer Look Amazing
by Sean Green
Atala Butterfly (Eumaeus atala)
I love studying the natural history of insects. It’s even better when I discover a particular insect is a significant player in Florida’s history. The Atala butterfly is a species that was almost wiped out of our American History. It belongs to the sub family Theclinae, the hairstreaks and is commonly referenced as the Atala hairstreak, or Coontie hairstreak. Hairstreaks tend to be limited to a specific geographic location and the Atala butterfly is a rare neotropic species found only in specific parts of Florida. Its rarity is not a result of any particularly exotic habitat such as a tropical rain forest or isolated island but more because of the depletion of its host plant the Coontie (Zamia integrifolia), also known as Florida arrowroot. This month we’ll take a closer look at not only the butterfly but also its host plant and the historic significance that makes this species such a rare and exciting find. We can start this “long ago” story with the butterfly’s host plant the Coontie (Zamia integrifolia). If you have ever wondered what it would be like to live in prehistoric times, this is one of the plants that should be included in your prehistoric garden. The Coontie predate the dinosaurs. Fossil records dating back to at least the early permian period (280 million years ago) demonstrate that this plant has not changed much in its natural history and is regarded as a living fossil. The Coontie is a cycad, an ancient order of evergreen perineal plants. All cycads are gymnosperms (naked seed), meaning the seeds are open to the air for pollination. Wind pollination however, is not very efficient and specific beetles (Rhopalotria slossoni) and (Pharaxonotha zamiae) coevolved with the plant in a mutualistic symbiosis, so both the plant and the insect benefit. Consequently, the beetle became the plants primary pollinator about 150 million years before bees and butterflies came on the scene to pollinate the newer, more advanced plant species. The Coonti is the only native cycad in Florida; this is important because it’s also the only host plant for the Atala hairstreak (Eumaeus atala), the only species in it’s genera in the United States. Like the beetles that help pollinate the coonti, the atala caterpillars also have a mutually beneficial relationship with the plant. The coonti plant contains a mixture of neurotoxins, toxic glucosides and toxic amino acids that are all produced by cyanobacteria. The Atala caterpillar has evolved to tolerate the toxins consumed from eating the leaves and can store them in its body as a defense mechanism. In return, the caterpillars waste provides the plant with vital nutrients that it cannot get from the lime or sandy loom it likes to grow in. Like the
The Atala butterfly is still considered rare and so far the only reports of the butterfly being seen in the wild were seen in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward. I will note, that of the dozens of sources I looked at, I did find one that mentioned sightings in parts of St Petersburg. The photo I have included for this article was from a hiking trip my wife and I took in the everglades. All hope is not lost, the Coontie is becoming a popular choice for homeowners as an ornamental as well as a staple plant for urban butterfly gardens as it is the only plant that will serve as a host for the Atala butterfly. Both the plant and butterfly are still endangered but slowly on the rebound. If you want to help rebuild the population and have room for a cool plant, some nurseries will have a small stock of Coontie. I encourage you to take a closer look at the benefits of planting Coontie and attract these beautiful butterflies to your home, business, or public garden. It’s highly unlikely that the caterpillars will eat anything but the Coontie, and you will be doing your part to help prevent the extinction of a fascinating plant and beautiful butterfly. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Monarch butterfly, the toxins consumed by the caterpillar survive through its metamorphic transformation into a butterfly. Both the caterpillar and adult butterfly display bright red warning colors to advertise their toxicity to would be predators. The adult Atala butterflies are the most colorful and largest of the hairstreak butterflies with iridescent blue dots on black wings and a bright red caboose. The Atala hairstreak was at one time considered extinct, not because of natural predators or natural environmental change, but because of the over harvest of the Coontie, its host food source. This is where the Florida history gets interesting. Spanish sources from the 16th Century document methods that the Timicuan and Calusa people used to remove the toxins from the Coontie plant so the starch can be to made bread. Later, the Seminole people adopted the method for their own use and made a white bread they called “conti hateka,” which is where we get the common name for the plant, “Coontie”. The starchy stem of the plant was also used for a stew they called “sofkee stew.” Around 1825, early Florida settlers learned the technique from the Seminoles and capitalized on it. By 1880 several starch mills were in full production, some outputting up to 18 tons of starch per day for military purchase during WWI. By 1911, the industry had grown and what was once known as Coontie became commonly known as “Florida Arrowroot,” a marketing ploy I suspect. Shortly thereafter the industry failed as greed depleted the natural sources of Coontie. From 1937 until 1960, The Atala butterfly was thought to be extinct; no specimens could be found to collect.
2021
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS “The Best of the Best” 1ST Place - $1500 Cash Award AUSTIN HOLCOMB FROM LITHIA 2nd Place Champion of Champions Payton Davis from Ocala 3rd Place Champion of Champions Anna Tsemba from Archer 4th Place Champion of Champions Samantha Harper from Palatka 5th Place Champion of Champions Mary Babione from Brooksville 6th Place Champion of Champions Nathanael Monroe from Floral City Mosaic Scholarship Winners The winner of the $1,500 Scholarship is: Jacqueline Cupo from Dade City Florida State Fair Foundation Scholarship Winners The winners of the $1,000 Scholarship are: Austin Holcomb from Lithia Jamie LaPage from Orlando Hailey Peterson from Mayo Kelly Swain from Belle Isle Barrett Young from Branford Jan Dillard Memorial Scholarship Winner The winner of the $1,000 Scholarship is: Charlee Hines from High Springs Jeanette Barthle Memorial Scholarship Winner The winner of the $1,000 Scholarship is: Kallie Johnson from Palatka CHAMPION YOUTH WINNERS Youth Dog Junior Champion – Gemma Eldridge from St. Petersburg Intermediate Champion – Amaryllis Hallaert from Sarasota 4th place Senior Champion – Samantha Carr from Auburndale 3rd place Senior Champion – Elizabeth Vannoy from Dunnellon 2nd place Senior Champion – Hailey Jones from Sarasota Champion Youth for Dog Show – Danielle Miller from Plant City Youth Llama
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Junior Champion – Ireland Greeley from O’Brien Intermediate Champion – Daniel Greeley from O’Brien 4th place Senior Champion – Madison Young from Live Oak 3rd place Senior Champion – Karly Jameison from Wesley Chapel
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2nd place Senior Champion – Cydnee Jonas from Wesley Chapel Champion Youth for Llama Show – Maggie Jordan from Nokomis Youth Rabbit Intermediate Champion – James Kulman from St. Cloud 4th place Senior Champion – Nathanael Monroe from Floral City 3rd place Senior Champion – Samantha Harper from Palatka 2nd place Senior Champion – Mary Babione from Brooksville Champion Youth for Rabbit Show – Kelly Anne Swain from Belle Isle Youth Steer Intermediate Champion – Chloe Davis from Ocala 4th place Senior Champion – Anna Tsemba from Archer 3rd place Senior Champion – Gabe Mitchell from Trenton 2nd place Senior Champion – Jamie LaPage from Orlando Champion Youth for Steer Show – Payton Davis from Ocala Youth Dairy Junior Champion – Avery Best from Lakeland Intermediate Champion – Kathryn Montes De Oca from Okeechobee 4th place Senior Champion – Anna Tsemba from Archer 3rd place Senior Champion – Austin Holcomb from Lithia 2nd place Senior Champion – Jenna Larson from Okeechobee Champion Youth for Dairy Show – Keara O’Mahoney from Venice Youth Poultry Junior Champion – Amelia Zeleznock from Wesley Chapel Intermediate Champion – Imogen Lanzetta from Lithia 4th place Senior Champion – Ayden Evans from Tampa 3rd place Senior Champion – Jessica Balcom from Riverview 2nd place Senior Champion – Marisol De La Cruz from Tampa Champion Youth for Poultry Show – Mary Babione from Brooksvile Youth Goat Junior Champion – Nehemiah Perdomo from San Antonio Intermediate Champion – Dylan Walden from Dade City 4th place Senior Champion – Stephanie Johnson from Zephyrhills 3rd place Senior Champion – Amelia Sauls from Winter Garden 2nd place Senior Champion – Jamie LaPage from Orlando Champion Youth for Goat Show – Ashlyn Miller from New Smyrna Beach
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Youth Swine Junior Champion – Easton Howell from DeLeon Springs Intermediate Champion – Maggie Mosley from Green Cove Springs 4th place Senior Champion – Taylor Waller from Inverness 3rd place Senior Champion – Payton Davis from Ocala 2nd place Senior Champion – Megan Christopher from Deland Champion Youth for Swine Show – Charleigh Wood from Lakeland
USING DNA, UF RESEARCH SHOWS WHICH BATS BINGE ON CROP PESTS
Youth Beef Junior Champion – Julie Portillo from Deltona Intermediate Champion – Mia Portillo from Deltona 4th place Senior Champion – Payge Dupre from Kathleen 3rd place Senior Champion – Kamryn Poole from Winter Garden 2nd place Senior Champion – Austin Holcomb from Lithia Champion Youth for Beef Show – Spencer Baylor from Plant City Youth Sheep Junior Champion – Hunter Roof from Oak Hill Intermediate Champion – Mia Portillo from Deltona 4th place Senior Champion – Payton Smith from DeLeon Springs 3rd place Senior Champion – Tyler Watson from Lake Helen 2nd place Senior Champion – Ashlyn Miller from New Smyrna Beach Champion Youth for Sheep Show – Megan Christopher from Deland
By Brad Buck
Photo of a Seminole bat Courtesy, Kathleen Smith/FWC “Big bats binge bad bugs.” It’s a catchy, alliterative title, and it’s apropos for the This data can be crucial for growers latest research work by University of trying to control the pests that prey on their produce and row crops. Florida scientist Holly Ober. All bats in the Southeast eat insects and feed at night. They eat a varied diet, including mosquitoes, beetles, moths and more. Their pest-control services are estimated as high as $53 billion per year in the United States. Aside from controlling nuisance insects, some bats feast on insects that eat crops, Ober and her research team found in a newly published study. One of those species alone causes $350 million a year in crop damage. Another causes $1 billion a year. For the study, published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, Ober led a group that studied 180 bats in north Florida, south Georgia and south Alabama. Researchers found that the three most common bat species voraciously ate insects that otherwise cause major economic damage to several crops. In fact, 61% of the bats studied ate at least one agricultural pest. Harnessing the natural pest-control power of bats would help farmers and ranchers, said Ober, a UF/IFAS professor of wildlife ecology and conservation. “Research like this had been done in other regions of the country and other countries, but until now, we were guessing as to whether the bats here might play a role in pest consumption,” she said. “This study demonstrates not only that bats in this region eat pests, but that nearly all bats do so, and that these bats consume pests to a variety of crops.”
Scientists focused their study areas on Alachua, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion and Putnam counties in north Florida, five counties in south-central Georgia and six counties in south-central Alabama. They used nets to capture the bats and DNA technology to examine the bats’ waste. That’s how they found evidence of all those bugs the bats devoured. The DNA sequencing is a giant step for researchers. Years ago, scientists would collect bat guano, look at it under a microscope and guess what types of insects were present by looking for diagnostic parts, for example, beetle claws and fly antennae, Ober said. “Recent advances in technology allow us to determine the identity of insects to species, which allows us to say definitively that ‘Bat Species A’ consumes ‘Insect Species Z’ in ‘Location X,’” she said. “Therefore, we are now confident in stating that bats here are providing a valuable, though invisible service, consuming crop pests.”
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Because many kinds of bats roost in trees with cavities or peeling bark, farmers and ranchers can encourage the presence of bats by retaining or planting large trees in non-crop areas, said Ober, a faculty member at the North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy. In circumstances where this is not possible, bat houses can be installed as a substitute.
UF/IFAS TROPICAL AQUACULTURE LABORATORY HOSTS FFA/CDE STATE HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL FINALS
By Jim frankowiak
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory (TAL) in Ruskin recently hosted the state finals for the annual FFA Aquaculture Career Development Event (CDE) for high school and middle school teams from across Florida. TAL has hosted the finals since 2013. High school team winners were: 1. Durant High School (Plant City) 2. Orlando Colonial High School (Orlando) 3. Ocoee High School (Ocoee) 4. Bradford High School (Starke) 5. Hudson High School (Hudson) Individual high honors were awarded to Kyra Bandy of Orlando Colonial High School. Middle School teams: 1. Bradford Middle School (Starke) 2. Randall Middle School (Lithia) 3. Chiefland Middle School (Chiefland) 4. Deane Bozeman Middle School (Panama City) 5. Bridewater Middle School (Winter Haven) Reese Wainwright of Bradford Middle School took top individual middle school honors in the competition. Team and individual members will be recognized at the 93rd State FFA Convention & Expo to be held at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando June 14-18.
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The FFA Aquaculture CDE has as its purpose to stimulate student interest in the aquaculture industry, encourage aqua-
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culture instruction in the agricultural education curriculum and provide recognition for those who have demonstrated skills and competencies in the area of aquaculture management. “Florida has a unique and diverse aquaculture industry which includes the culture of tropical ornamental fish, aquatic plants, clams, shrimp, alligators, tilapia, catfish, live rock and other assorted aquatic animals,” said Deborah Pouder, Coordinator of TAL Research Programs and Services/Diagnostic Lab Manager as well as oversight provider of the competition. “High School and Middle School FFA teams take a preliminary test to determine if they qualify for the final,” said Pouder. “Usually, the top 10 High School and Middle School teams come to the TAL for the final. This year it was the top five of each category because of current COVID protocols. “When at the TAL for the final, they rotate through four practicum stations. Every year they have a written test and a species identification practicum. On even years, the other two practicums are water quality and disease, pests and predators. During odd years, the other two practicums are systems design and anatomy and physiology.” FFA is an intracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. FFA welcomes members who aspire to careers as teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners and more. The organization has more than 8,730 chapters in the U.S. and Puerto Rico with over 770,100 members, 17,000 of those members reside in Florida. The FFA Aquaculture CDE competition is one of 30 in which members can compete. The competitions cover job skills in everything from communications to mechanics and are designed to help students prepare for careers. Some of the events allow stuWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
My name is Hailee Seely and I am a senior at the University of Florida in Plant City studying Agricultural Communications. What started as a fun FFA speech contest about water dents to compete as individuals, while others are team comconservation at George Jenkins High School turned into my educational career at UF. In my time petitions.
as a Gator, I have learned many skills and techniques, but most importantly I have found my TAL was established in 1996 and now comprises a 5,000-square-foot office and disease lab as well as a meetpassion, advocating for agriculture. ing/conference room that can accommodate up to 100 people. The facility also has a 6.5 acre fish farm Iwith 48 ponds, am excited to begin my journey with In The Field Magazine to further my skills and five greenhouses, a fish quarantine space and building which houses tanks and lab space for a range of projects. meet many moreHillsboragricultural enthusiasts. When I am not in class or with In The Field, I can be ough Community College (HCC) utilizes one of the greenhouses for its hands-on aquaculture production found helping youfacility. find feed for your animals and the latest western fashion at Lays in Lakeland! Working closely with industry and other partners, TAL faculty, staff and facilities development have all been strategically planned and implemented as are applied research, extension outreach programming and teaching of future aquaculture leaders.
My name is Hailee Seely and I am a senior at the University of Florida in Plant City studying Agricultural Communications. What started as a fun FFA speech contest about water conservation at George Jenkins High School turned into my educational career at UF. In my time as a Gator, I have learned many skills and techniques, but most importantly I have found my passion, advocating for agriculture. I am excited to begin my journey with In The Field Magazine to further my skills and meet many more agricultural enthusiasts. When I am not in class or with In The Field, I can be found helping you find feed for your animals and the latest western fashion at Lays in Lakeland!
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Classifieds BUILDING SUPPLIES METAL ROOFING Thousands of 8ft. & 10ft. sheets. In Stock. Prices from $6 and up. Custom lengths available. 813-752-7088 ask for Ferris. ALUMINUM We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378
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JOHN DEERE Looking for your new tractor? Come see us at Everglades Farm Equipment. evergladesfarmequipment.com 2805 SR 60 West, Plant City 813-737-1660 OVERSTOCK SPECIAL Barn doors starting at $80.00 Call Ted 813-752-3378 ALLUMINUM SKINS Staring at $30.00 Call Ted 813-752-3378
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2002 GMC (Isuzu) 16 ft flat bed, diesel, 142,174 miles. $5,500. Call Tony at 813-205-6145
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LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES
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KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
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Polk County Cattle Women
A
s I’ve said before, I love springtime, and this spring has not disappointed! We have been blessed with spring weather all the way up to Mother’s Day, but I must admit, I’m looking forward to the summer rains as they are badly needed. Spring has been a pretty busy time for PCCW. Due to the rescheduled Florida State Fair, members were able to represent the Florida CattleWomen by working their booth in the Ag Hall of Fame building for three days. While attendance seemed to be lower than in past years, we had lots of engagement from the public and were able to share facts about the beef industry using “Ivan.” We are grateful, humbled, and so very appreciative for everyone that supported our Facebook Mother’s Day Dessert Silent Auction! The funds raised from the silent auction are used to support our continued mission of education and promotion of the beef cattle industry, including scholarships for young people in our community. Thank you to our buyers: Paula Elliott, Cindy Webb, Lausanne Walter, Cattlemen’s Livestock Market, Candy Grubbs, Donna Smith, Adam Bass, Bonnie Evans, Beth Hunt, Marcia Lightsey, Christie Shenefield, Kim Carter, Richard Kiddey, Renee Tomkow, and Doris Gukich. The FCA Annual Convention & Allied Trade Show will be held from June 15-17 in Marco Island. I hope to see many members
Mrs. Ellen Bryan will be representing the PCCW in the Outstanding Florida CattleWoman of the Year contest this year, as well. We wish her the very best of luck! As always, we welcome ladies of all ages and walks of life to join us! You don’t have to own cattle or live on a farm/ ranch to become a member. If you have a love and passion for Florida and Polk County’s beef cattle industry, you will feel right at home among like-minded ladies. Our next meeting will be June 1, 2021 at 6:30 in the Valencia Room at the Bartow Ag Complex on Highway 17 South. For more info be sure and reach out to me, buckld96@gmail.com. Till next month,
Leslie Buchanon Polk County Cattlewomen President
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out and about during the week. The Florida CattleWomen will hold their annual membership breakfast on Thursday morning, June 17th at 7:30 a.m. All FCW members are invited to attend.
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