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CONTENTS
NOVEMBER 2019 VOL. 13 • ISSUE 3
DYLAN AVERY WEBB: A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT A CHAMPION SHOULD BE
28 Cover Photo by Melissa Nichols PAGE 7 Extension Award
PAGE 32 PCSO PAGE 33 Recipes
PAGE 10 Fall/Winter Garden
PAGE 35 Jack Payne
PAGE 12 Business Up Front
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots PAGE 16 Highland Ag Solutions
PAGE 38 Endangered Species
PAGE 18 Rancher’s Daughter
PAGE 41 A Closer Look
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 42 Organics To Your Door
PAGE 24 Prickly Pear Cactus
PAGE 45 PCCW
PAGE 25 News Briefs
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! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – Carlton Taylor 9875 Hancock Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 858-1771 L2brangus@aol.com Vice President – Ray Clark 4484 Swindell Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay.rr.com Secretary/Treasurer - Justin Bunch PO Box 849 Highland City, FL 338460849 (863) 425-1121 justin.bunch@cpsagu.com State Director – David McCullers 1000 Hwy 630 W Frostproof, FL 33843 (863) 635-3821 crookedlakeranch57@ gmail.com Donald Conroy 3882 Wolfolk Rd Fort Meade, FL 33841 (863) 412-0790 Kevin Fussell 4523 Fussell Rd Polk City, FL 33868-9676 (863) 412-5876 Mike Fussell 4520 Barush Rd Bartow, FL 33830-2629 (863) 698-8314 fussell.flafarm@gmail.com Moby Persing 3380 Sam Keen Rd Lake Wales, FL 338989327 (863) 528-4567
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
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Ken Sherrouse 13475 Moore Rd Lakeland, FL 33809-9755 (863) 698-1834 kensherrouse@yahoo.com
Dave Tomkow 3305 US Highway 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801-9623 (863) 665-5088 Dr. Lujean Waters 8750 Shreck Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 537-1495 Lujean.waters@gmail.com Alternate – 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. – Sgt. Paul Wright 1891 Jim Keen Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 557-1741 pw5281@polksheriff.org Warner University –
Scott Shoupe 6130 Allen Lane Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 581-7593 Scott_shoupe@hotmail. com WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
From our family to yours, wishing you a
Happy Thanksgiving
Come see what’s NEW at Fancy Farms Market Delicious Strawberry Desserts - Using Family Recipes Full Selection of Produce and our Flavorful Strawberries And Much More
Produce Stand: 5204 Drane Field Rd. | 813.478.3486 or 813.754.4852 | FancyFarms.com
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Letter from the Editor “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy Happy Thanksgiving! We are entering that most wonderful time of year when we gather with family and friends, eating and sharing stories of the past year. When shopping to prepare for your Thanksgiving meal, watch those labels! Check for the Fresh From Florida logo to ensure you have the freshest food available. It is important to follow safe food preparation all year, but especially during the holiday season when larger meals are prepared. Often buffets are set out for guests and leftovers are used for later meals. A few tips to follow include: • Thaw turkey in the refrigerator, not on the counter top • Cook the stuffing separate from the turkey • Don’t interrupt the cooking process • Carve the turkey into serving slices before refrigerating • Make sure cooking temperatures are high enough to kill bacteria • Careful storage of leftovers minimizes food poisoning • Wrap food properly to prevent freezer burn It’s a time of Thanksgiving. Do you count your blessings every day? Or just one time each year when we are reminded to “give thanks?”
STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols
Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Melissa Nichols Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Anita Todd Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks
I am thankful for many things in my life. I am thankful for the freedom I experience every day and for those who sacrificed to make that freedom real. I am thankful to live in a country that has an abundant, safe food supply and for the farmers and ranches that work so hard to feed this nation. I am thankful for each day I am given. I try to remember to count my blessings every day. In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Polk County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Polk County Catllemen’s Association.
Until Next Month
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
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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EXTENSION COLLABORATIVE TEAM GARNERS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
By Jim Frankowiak Childhood obesity is a serious public health problem in the U.S. Today, nearly one-third of American children are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), A contributing factor to childhood obesity is general dependency on prepared food, which is somewhat fueled by our society’s dwindling cooking abilities. Many parents do not have the time, or they do not know how to cook, so they have not passed the skill of cooking on to the younger generation. Additionally, the average American knows little about the safe preparation of highly palatable animal protein entrees, which is beneficial to adolescent development. To help address these shortcomings, the Florida 4-H Tailgate Contest program was introduced in 2016. This program strives to promote enjoyable outdoor cooking experiences, encourage the incorporation of animal protein in the diet in order to combat child obesity, improve youth nutritional knowledge and cooking skills and impart knowledge about safe handling and proper degree doneness to produce safe and delicious meat dishes. The overall 4-H program is carried out by the Cooperative Extension Service in more than 100 universities in the U. S. and its territories. 4-H has a network of 500,000 volunteers and 3,500 professionals providing care and supportive mentoring to 6 million 4-H’ers, helping them grow into true leaders and in life.
“Our From Pasture to Plate Program was held at the UF/IFAS Extension facilities in Seffner and served as the foundation for future day camp programs,” said Rivera. The program had three primary objectives: • To help participants understand the beef production system and provide agricultural awareness of the food chain • Introduce participants to Florida’s Tailgate Grilling Contest with a purpose to promote the use of animal protein in their diet by teaching the art and science of safely preparing animal protein in an outdoor setting • Help participants identify various grazing patters, assign proper body condition scores (beef), demonstrate food, location and fire safety, identify wholesale beef cuts, gain knowledge of healthy beef recipes and name by-products from beef cattle. Program collaborators then entered a ”From Pasture to Plate” program poster in the Extension Education Category in the 2019 County Agricultural Agents Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference this past September. “A total of 100 posters were presented at the convention,” said Rivera. “We were awarded second place nationwide for our entry.” In addition to photos of the day camp, the team’s poster detailed objectives, materials and methods, results, as well as an overall conclusion
The “From Pasture to Plate” 4-H Day Camp program was developed and implemented by a collaborative group of area Extension professionals with added assistance from Jason Conrad of the Hillsborough County Cattlemen’s Association. The Extension professionals included Hillsborough County Small Farms Agent Francisco Rivera, Hardee County Extension Director Jonael Bosques, Hillsborough County Extension Director Stephen Gran, Hillsborough County 4-H Agents Brandi Yancy and Charlie Poliseno, Polk County 4-H Agent Shremoyee Gosh, Hillsborough County Food and Consumer Science Agent Allison Grooms, Multi-County Livestock Agent Laura Bennet, Hardee County 4-H Agent Jose Zayas and University of Florida Intern Maraha Hange.
More information about Extension programs and resources, visit: sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough, telephone: 813-744-5519 or visit 5339 South County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Dear PCCA Members, We would like to thank all the members that joined us for the Fall Meeting and Steak Dinner on November 14th. We heard from Florida Cattlemen’s President Matt Pearce, as he talked about the various issues facing our industry at the state level. Now more than ever, it is vital that members get involved and share their heritage, so we can make sure that future generations can continue to raise cattle in the sunshine state. During this time of year, we have a lot to be thankful for, but many people are hurting with sickness, and several friends in the north Lakeland/Kathleen area took a major hit from the recent tornado. I would encourage you to find a way to serve and give back during this holiday season.
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I would like to thank the many cattlemen and women who helped Mr. Mike Carey, owner of Polk County’s last commercial dairy operation, with the clean up from the tornado. Mike’s operation took
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a direct hit from the storm and had a tremendous amount of damage, but again thank you to the many people that came out and helped get his cows milking again. The servant heart of people involved in the agriculture industry is why many of us want to raise our family with this rural lifestyle. Until next time, enjoy more BEEF!
Carlton Taylor Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED ABOUT THE PUSS CATERPILLAR?
By Anne Yasalonis UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
This little guy has been all over the news recently and can be found in our yards in Polk County. The puss caterpillar, the larvae of the Megalopyge opercularis (or southern flannel moth) is one of the most well-known venomous caterpillars and can be found throughout the southeastern United States.
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While the adults are small moths covered in furry, orange setae, the larvae are the most well-known. They go through multiple instars, and each molt brings forth a more hairy, scary, larvae. In central Florida, the larvae are most commonly found on oak and elm trees, but they can be spotted on over forty-one different genera of plants! Remember that the caterpillar stage of both butterflies and moths are chewers—they will feed on the
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leaves of their host plants and the damage is usually visible. If your oaks and elms exhibit chewing damage, watch out for the puss caterpillars. WHY ARE THE PUSS CATERPILLARS SO DANGEROUS? They have venomous spines that can cause burning stings in humans. The toxicity of the venom increases as the size of the larvae increases, so the bigger caterpillars pack a more brutal punch. In addition to the localized sting, other symptoms that could be associated with contact include headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, low blood pressure, seizures and a few other rare symptoms. Get familiar with the symptoms, particularly if you are seeking medical assistance.
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Male southern flannel moth, Megalopyge opercularis (dorsal Puss caterpillar, Megalopyge opercularis (middle instar). view). Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO? Be cautious when outdoors during the early summer and fall brooding seasons of the southern flannel moth. Also, be aware of what the natural enemies of the puss caterpillar look like—they are the ones working to control the population for us, so we want to make sure that we protect them and allow them to do their job. Natural enemies include four species of the tachinid flies and at least two species of ichneumonid wasps. If you have any additional questions, reference this UF/IFAS Extension publication or call your local UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic.
Anne Yasalonis Residential Horticulture Agent Master Gardener Coordinator UF/IFAS Extension Polk County P: (863) 519-1047 E: anneanne@ufl.edu W: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk/ Landscape and gardening questions? Contact the Plant Clinic at (863) 519-1041 or email us at polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu
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In Polk County, contact us here or call us at (863) 519-1041.
Business Up Front
By Libby Hopkins
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Developing Better Housing for Those Who Work Our Lands President George Washington once said, “Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and the most noble employment of man.” Many migrants come to our beautiful state seeking employment to work in our agriculture industry. Jim Ashworth makes sure these workers have good, clean and safe places to live while they are here. “I worked for 18 years with State of Florida Department of Health in the Migrant Labor Camp program,” Ashworth said. “My duty, when I worked with the Health Department, involved the inspection of farmworker housing in Hillsborough County for compliance with health and safety standards. This includes review of site plans for the construction and development of migrant labor camps.” Ashworth retired from the State of Florida Department of Health four years ago, but is a consultant and project manager for the construction of migrant farm worker housing for area growers.
housing that meets or exceeds standards set by law. Regional consultants to county health departments ensure uniformity and continuity with the migrant labor camp program rule and procedures by providing technical assistance for on-site evaluations, evidence collection, investigations, county migrant program reviews and recommendations.”
According to the Florida Department of Health website (www. floridahealth.gov), “The objective of this program is to prevent the transmission of communicable disease among migrant farmworkers and the communities where they reside. One Hundred Thousand to 150,000 migrant farmworkers and their families annually travel and work in Florida. The migrant labor camp program currently issues over 650 permits in 31 counties assuring that migrant farmworkers and families live in
Migrant labor camps and residential migrant housing are at least inspected twice quarterly during periods of occupancy; except housing authorities, which are inspected twice annually. When a major deficiency is reported to housing permittees or supervisors, a maximum of 48 hours is given to make satisfactory corrections or provisions for correction that are satisfactory to the county health department. Continual or repeat violations of the same inspection items related to mi-
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The Migrant Labor Camp program is a Florida statute enacted more than 30 years ago that requires growers to provide safe and sanitary living conditions for field workers. “This came about due to some incidents years ago where workers were living in poor conditions,” Ashworth said. “In my years at the Health Department I never encountered, what the fake news reports as, deplorable living conditions. Our growers and farmers in Hillsborough County are good honorable people.”
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grant farmworker housing are cause for the issuance of a fining citation. “I have the knowledge and experience, along with my surveyor, engineers, and environmental professionals, to obtain the required permits to construct farm labor housing camps in a timely and cost effective manner for the grower or farmer,” Ashworth said. “In Hillsborough County locating off farm, single houses, mobile homes, is very difficult or non-existent for growers. For years a story has gone around that it would cost $1 million dollars to construct a migrant labor camp, which is a falsehood. For example, I received all the necessary permits, If you would like to learn more about the guidelines for migrant site development, septic system, drinking water well, etc., housing in Florida, you can visit the Florida Department of to construct a camp that included eight trailers with eight Health’s website at workers each for a cost of under $600k with $240k of the cost being the trailers. It’s important that growers house www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/migrant-farmtheir field workers in permitted dwellings. If not, fines worker-housing/migrant-farm-workers-guidelines.html. and lawsuits, from regulatory agencies and courts, await them.” call Jim Ashworth at 813-299-6051 or email: james.ashworthllc@gmail.com
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Tampa Bay Fishing Report December 2019 Capt. Woody Gore
Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Cobia, and can’t get greenies, buy shrimp and Sharks – Schooling fish action from your local bait house. They cerwill continue until the water temperatures cool, then you can expect them to move toward the power plants. Last year, the mackerel stayed into January. So, as you travel the bay, watch for diving birds and you’ve most likely found large bait pods and feeding fish. You can set up a drift near the activity, or if you prefer to anchor, then hang a couple of chum bags over the side. If you’re using live sardines, you can scatter some around the area and cut some up in the current around the boat. Watch the water, and when they start striking, toss a live greenie in that direction and it’s an instant hook up. Rig up by tying on some 60 lb. Seaguar leaders and long shank Diachii 2/0 or 3/0 hooks and get ready for some drag screaming fast and furious action.
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Cobia and sharks–(Believe It Or Not,
You Can Keep cobia and sharks) also show up around an anchored boat with chum bags over the side, so be prepared. Have a larger rig ready to toss a small pinfish or more substantial greenback to any passing cobia or shark.
Mangrove Snapper, Grunts, Sheepshead–(Believe It Or Not, You
Can Keep snapper, sheepshead, and grunts) The snapper bite continues, and sheepshead should start picking up as the waters begin cooling. Sheepshead and mangrove snappers will start pushing onto the grass flats. You can also look for them in the deepwater creeks, canals, and the many rivers opening into the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay has plenty of Sea Trout–(Still Catch & Release) will deep and shallow water rock piles show up in good numbers as we get and artificial reefs, all of which tend to some cooler weather. The cooler wa- hold plenty of sheepshead, snapper, ter temps should start attracting the and grunts this time of year. Fish with bigger “gator” trout to the shallower pieces of shrimp or small crabs and grass flats during the warmer parts of remember, once hooked, they are a the day. Target them on sandy “pot- spirited fish, having terrific power for holes” on broken bottom grass flats their size. throughout Tampa Bay. The beautiful thing about seatrout is, they like artifi- Snook–(Still Catch & Release) – The cial lures, sometimes as much as live Snook bite has been okay through bait. Try a topwater lure early in the November, however as the water morning, especially as the sun breaks temperatures start dropping, the bite the horizon, then try switching to soft might tend to slow down. You can still plastics later in the morning. Remem- catch this wily, sometimes unpredictber, live shrimp hooked in the cara- able fish, just start looking in differpace under a cork or popping cork ent places depending on the water always catch seatrout. The trout bite temperatures. Not very cold hearty, should be excellent, especially on snook will migrate to areas with more deeper water grass flats, and contin- tolerable water temperatures. As ue through the winter months. Here the water temperatures drop, their again, artificial lures work well, espe- metabolisms slow considerably, cially on those cold mornings when and they tend to exert only enough you can’t bring yourself to throw the energy to catch food. When using net, but if you’re a die-hard live baiter greenbacks during cold water tem-
Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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peratures, remember jumbo shrimp, bridges, docks, and deepwater structure results in a decent snook bite especially during cold water times.
Redfish–(Still Catch & Release) Live greenbacks, dollar-
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
size pinfish, shrimp, and cut baits also catch plenty of reds. The redfish action should continue into the colder months, and artificial lures are always productive and loads of fun Captain Woody Gore’s Guide Service: The area’s top-notch outdoor when fished around mangroves, oyster bars, and open wa- fishing guide service. He’s guided and fished the Tampa, Clearwater, ter grass flats. Topwater or soft plastics on light jigheads are St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years and offers first-class customer service, outstanding your best bet. fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Flounder–(Believe It Or Not, You Can Keep A Flounder) Single Boat, Multi-Boat and Group Charters: Flounder is another Tampa Bay winter species and unWith years of organizational experience and access to the areas doubtedly one of the best-tasting fish we have! Larger most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coorgroups of flounder will move onto sandy areas and broken dinate any size group, outing, or tournament. bottom potholes throughout Tampa Bay this time of year. Target them in potholes and creek mouths with substantial Website www.captainwoodygore.com tidal flows. Use the same rigs for flounder that you use for Email fishing@captainwoodygore.com sheepshead.
813-477-3814
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HIGHLAND AG SOLUTIONS: YOUR AG DATA IS YOUR NEW CURRENCY BY Jim Frankowiak
a continuous basis. While many physiological conditions, diseases and insects can be identified in the field, we take samples as further verification of our field observations and in cases where field identification is not reliable or possible. ITF: What kind of sampling do you do? CC: Our scouts collect environmental and biological data according to industry standard protocols for each individual crop. This includes pulling leaf tissue samples, soil samples, water samples for irrigation suitability and food safety, and pest or disease samples.
Digital data, ag data, big data – these are phrases that growers are hearing more often. But what does it mean to a grower in respect to his operation? In the world of farming, data is what drives decisions. If you are growing anything as a business, you know that your soil samples, your scouting results, and your food safety records are all clusters of information that are collected digitally, aggregated, and pushed back to you and other applications to perform analytics and run reports. It provides results that helps you and the software you use save time and money by operating more efficiently. Chris Crockett, Senior Business Systems Analyst and Technical Advisor at Highland Ag Solutions, sat down with In the Field to chat about what they are doing to make sure the data collected for growers is as good as gold. ITF: How do you define digital data to your customers and why you must collect them? CC: Data is the means in which we describe and classify the observable world in a systematic fashion. The primary means of data collection at Highland Ag Solutions is done through the HighlandHUB, the nexus point for all available data we collect and analyze for a grower. This can be data that is entered by the grower directly into our system, data that we enter into the system for growers through scouting, data that we pull from other entities that work with the grower and our system. That could be lab data, sensor data, public data, and data from other sources. ITF: When you say through “scouting” does that mean when you are pulling samples? Can you explain? CC: Data and sampling are two very large concepts that encompass of lot of what we do for our grower clients. Data encompasses all information that describe a customer or something that occurs on a customer’s operation. This can include anything from the location of a farm to the type of plants grown there, the types of fertilizer applied on farm crops, the information collected through scouting or sampling such as leaf tissue, soil, plant disease, water, insects, as well as food safety information and so on.
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ITF: Is it beneficial to be consistent with scouting and sampling? CC: Highland Ag Solutions offers growers the systems, staff, and tools needed to gather this important information on
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ITF: Why is it so important for the grower to see this data? CC: For any person, it is hard to be in all places at all times. For growers and their complex operations this is even truer. With all of those moving pieces on their operations, growers need compact and digestible information to make decisions quickly and effectively. Effective and accurate data from the field and digital records of farming operations, coupled with a strong analytics and reporting platform, can help a grower put their eyes on more aspects of the farm at once. ITF: How does the HighlandHub platform help with this? CC: Highland believes that a comprehensive data story is important to be able to make sound decisions. These decision points that are built into our system, and determined by the data that we collect, are all grower selected. The products Highland has, and continues to build, always have grower input as to what’s important and what ways make sense to enter data. Our team is highly adaptable and sensitive to grower needs and we create new updates to our software early and often to meet these needs. We take pride in resolving software issues brought to our attention by our growers within a day or two, a turnaround time that is uncommon in our industry. ITF: What other important points can be told to us about a grower’s data? CC: We believe that a growing operation’s system needs to incorporate data from all major segments of the operation, throughout the growing timeline. Highland believes in maintaining a grower’s data independence and security. Simply put, a grower’s data doesn’t move unless that grower wants them to. We do not sell, trade or give grower data away. Grower data is only used for purposes they authorize. ITF: How is data like currency to some operations? CC: Digital data is the new currency of the modern world. Growers have not always had the opportunity to use it to the fullest. The value is two-fold. First, they provide intrinsic information about a grower’s operation that is inherently useful in making day-to-day decisions. Second, farmers who own their own data can better leverage their data with outside partners to their operations. ITF: Highland stresses that growers should own their own data, why is that important? CC: Large agricultural corporations have made it no secret that they use the same aggregated data analytics that every other major industry utilizes to better position them in the market. While this is inherently understandable in a free enterprise system, it has created a disparity in the amount of large WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
data outside companies have to make decisions compared to the data that a grower has to make their own decisions in the marketplace. Grower’s owning their data and knowing how to leverage it allows them to make the best decisions about who to buy from, what products work, when market prices are fair, according to the industry as a whole. It levels the playing field for the grower in the greater Ag industrial complex.
ITF: What kind of outcomes? CC: One of the main things that is commonly promised in the Ag industry, but rarely justified or verified, is the notion of increasing yields. If there was ever a way to accomplish this, it would be collecting every piece of relevant information to determine the significant contributors to yield gain and how we can quantify their relative contribution to this goal.
ITF: What is on the horizon for growers as their data becomes more accumulated? CC: Overall, this is an important aspect of Highland’s commitment to help farmers and growers reach their full potential but, ultimately, our work doesn’t end here. At this stage we are building a foundation for a large-scale analytical platform that spans the entire farming operation for specialty crop growers across the nation. As this repository of data increases and diversifies, we will be able to mine and harvest more and more useful information with the ability to predict likelihood of outcomes.
ITF: Then there’s the issue of regulations, data must be a key factor in saving time there? CC: Highland believes the future holds the potential to help growers reduce their regulatory burden by making the farm a virtual entity that is transparent and accessible. The growers in this nation do an amazing job providing a bountiful and safe supply of food. By providing tools that instill daily disciplines in record keeping, showcase the high standard of grower practices, and reduce the amount of audit time going through pieces of paper in a binder, we can make the job of satisfying regulations easier as the regulations become increasingly more stringent.
For more information on the ways Highland Ag Solutions can help you reach your operation’s full potential, visit: www.highlandagsolutions.com
With every generation, we get better at protecting our environment. Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.
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CONFESSION OF A RANCHER’S DAUGHTER By Marisol Tarango A rancher’s daughter has a lot to be thankful for: a good calf crop, plenty of rain, and being able to ride her favorite horse. There are a lot of things she doesn’t have to worry about that most people do: loud next-door neighbors, finding specimens for a biology project, remembering to lock her truck when she gets home, and even getting in enough exercise (there is always plenty of chores to be done). When she gets home from classes and work, she has the opportunity to enjoy God’s nature without even having to get back in her truck and drive to a park. Yes, a rancher’s daughter has a lot to be grateful for, but she doesn’t always see it.
ends and still be a part of their everyday lives for a little while longer.
Since setting out on my college journey way in my senior year of high school, I realized that how my family lived was really different from the way most people lived. I grew up in the country with horses and cows; and yes, I was thankful. But as a kid, I didn’t always think to be grateful; I just took things as they were. I never thought that I may never have a horse or a pasture to run off in with my sisters. But when I had to sacrifice those freedoms to further my education, I realized how good I had had it as a kid. I was gone most days at school, and when I was home, there was homework to be done, admission paperwork to be turned in, and not much time for frolicking in the pasture.
After God takes the time to gently remind me to look up at Him and to look around at what He has given me, I start to feel like a spoiled child. I had all of these blessings and didn’t even notice them. And usually, by the time my blessings stop parading themselves in my mind, my problems seem to be a little less, my tasks a little more doable, and my God a whole lot bigger.
Even when I am at risk of suffocating in all my homework and obligations, I have a lot to be thankful for. My family willingly supports me even when they are busy themselves. My dad spent his whole weekend fixing my truck so that I could get to school on Monday. My mama never gets tired of encouraging me and reminding me not to quit, and my siblings even take on extra chores while I’m in school. I am not having to support a family and finish a college degree at the same time, like some of my aunts and uncles, who still find time to help me, their CONFESSION #6: I’m not always as grateful as I should be. grown niece, with algebra, my computer, …life in general.
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Even now, as a senior in college, I don’t even realize how good I have it all the time. Sometimes I get so busy with homework, work, club meetings, school events, and paying bills, that I forget to look around to see what God has blessed me with. It’s usually in the moments that I’m about to fall apart from the stress that God points out how much I actually have going for me rather than against me. For starters, I get to go home each night to sleep in my bed and eat food that my mama cooked instead of sleeping in a dorm far away from home. Then there’s the fact that I get to hang out with my siblings on the week-
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Be Thankful, Be Grateful.
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If you eat a polar bear’s liver, you will die of a vitamin A overdose. In 1977, researchers detected a strong radio signal from space that lasted 72 seconds. It has hasn’t been detected since. Pluto hasn’t completed a full orbit since its discovery, and won’t until March 23, 2178. Snoopy has made the most appearances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The first Thanksgiving was held in the autumn of 1621 and included 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians and lasted three days. Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who actually wrote the classic song “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” convinced President Lincoln in 1863 to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, after writing letters for 17 years campaigning for this to happen. Campbell’s soup created green bean casserole for an annual cookbook 50 years ago. It now sells $20 million worth of cream of mushroom soup. In 1953, Swanson had so much extra turkey (260 tons) that a salesman told them they should package it onto aluminum trays with other sides like sweet potatoes — and the first TV dinner was born!
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Elderly People A few months back I was having breakfast at the Hole-In-The-Wall restaurant on the square in downtown Blairsville, Georgia. Now eating at the Hole-In-The-Wall is an experience all in itself, but to visit with the hometown folks is something else. I was eating some of their famous thick country fried ham, eggs and grits and overheard the old folks next to me talking about why it takes older folks longer to answer a question. Gafford, as he is known to his friends, hit the nail on the head when he said, “Us old folks have so much information in our brain that it takes longer for us to access it. Older peoples brains don’t get weak, the problem is, they simply know more, and it takes more time to figure out what to say.” From there the conversation went on to what they did last week. Fred spoke up with a brilliant thought, “Last week I got to thinking about when I grew up. I drank my bottled water out of a garden hose. And that’s not all. I think this recession is just dragging on. I don’t give a rip what they say on TV, it’s still rough as a cob out there. I always ask if they have a senior discount.” Zeke jumped in with full agreement. He said, “As a rule, I try to avoid all the fast-food restaurants because I’m not a real big fan of explosive diarrhea or clogged arteries, but I have to admit some of them kick out a good breakfast real cheap.” “Did you hear Clovis’ wife left him?” Zeke said. “He told me the other day he asked his wife what she would do if he won the lottery!” She said, “I’d take half, then leave you.” “That’s good,” he replied. “I won $20.00, here’s $10.00…I’ll see ya.” If you’re ever passing through Blairsville, stop in at the “Hole-InThe-Wall” for breakfast downtown at the square around the historic courthouse. These guys are usually there for a couple of hours.
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Have you heard the story of the man that could never find the time to fix his lawnmower? His wife kept hinting to him that he should have it fixed. But, somehow he always had something else to do first, the boat, working in the shed, playing golf…he always had more important things to do. Finally, she thought of a clever way to make her point. When he arrived home one day from playing golf with his buddies, he found her seated in the tall grass busily snipping away with a tiny pair of scissors. He watched for a minute, and then went into the house, and came back and handed her a toothbrush. He said, “When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway.” The last I heard the doctors say he will walk again, but most likely will have a limp.
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I enjoy those clean and simple jokes, like George, the farmer, that had so many children he ran out of names. To solve the problem he started calling his kids after something around his farm. It was the first day of school and the teacher asked each child their name. When he got to farmer Georges’ son, the boy replied, “Wagon Wheel.” The teacher said, “I need your real name boy.” The boy replied, “Sir, my name is Wagon Wheel.” The teacher, rather annoyed replied, “Okay young man, take yourself right down to the Principal’s office this minute.” The young man pushed himself out of his chair, turned to his sister and said, “C’mon ‘Chicken Feed’, he ain’t gonna believe you either!” Have you ever wondered why men are seldom depressed? Think about it. Men are happier people. Your last name stays put. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to the water park. The world is your urinal. People never stare at your chest when you’re talking to them. Phone conversations are over in 30-seconds flat. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. The same hairstyle lasts for years. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can do your nails with a pocketknife. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24th in 25 minutes. If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Dave and Chuck go out, they will refer to each other as Fatboy, Bubba and Wildman. A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t. A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, but she does. I remember my mother telling me she was taught in a very small school, where several grades were often in the same classroom. There was no indoor plumbing in the building and the bathroom was an outhouse behind the school. There was one thing she said she could not figure out. She said, “We had to raise our hand and speak when called upon. But the funny part was when we wanted to go to the out-house, we raised our hand with one finger up for #1, and two for #2. For the life of me I never could figure out why the teacher wanted to know which bodily function was necessary, but that was the way it was!” In closing remember you don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair you stop laughing. Chatter was originally printed in the November 2014 issue WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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FLorida
Prickly Pear
Cactus By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Did you know that some types of cactus grow in Florida? The most common native cactus to Florida is the prickly pear, in the Opuntia genus. The prickly pear is also called cactus pear, Barbary fig, and spineless cactus. The prickly pear cactus is native to the southern United States and Florida has nine native prickly pear species. This plant grows up to 20 feet tall with flattened stems and branches. Once established, the cactus is very hardy and requires little care. The cacti thrive in hot, dry conditions and is tolerant to both drought and heat.
It has yellow blossoms in spring and red or purple fruit, called berries, in the autumn. The berries may grow to two to three inches. The cactus pear is high in water content and vitamin C, and is consumed as food around the world. Before consuming, the spines of the prickly pear are removed. The leaves are also eaten. They are sliced into strips and fried, usually with eggs. The texture and flavor is similar to that of string beans. The berry is usually eaten raw, but can also be boiled or made into jams and jellies. The flavor is both sweet and tart and resembles strawberries and watermelon. The outer berry is usually a gorgeous deep red to purple color, as is the flesh of the fruit, which contains seeds.
Nutrition Profile This super-juicy fruit is a fantastic source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and potassium. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one medium cactus pear (103 g) contains 42 calories, 0.8 g of protein, 0.5 g of fat, 10 g of carbohydrate, and 3.7 g of fiber. It also provides 24% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for Vitamin C, 22% for magnesium, 14% for fiber, 6% for potassium and 5% for vitamin B6.
Fiber Prickly pear cactus contains a surprisingly high amount of fiber. Research has shown that dietary fiber has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases, by lowering blood cholesterol levels and slowing the progression of heart disease in high-risk individuals. Fiber binds to the cholesterol-containing bile salts, excreting them out of the body. It also promotes bowel regularity and increases satiety levels, which can aid in weight control.
Antioxidants PAGE
Florida cactus pears are bursting with disease-fighting antioxidants, which neutralize destructive free radicals in the body.
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The vitamin C and vitamin A in prickly pear, as well as other compounds, have antioxidant qualities. Copper also supports the function of antioxidants, sweeping up free radicals. When healthy cells are damaged, they are more susceptible to disease and certain types of cancer, and antioxidants may help slow the progression of conditions like asthma, arthritis, and colon cancer. Diets that contain fruits high in antioxidants, including Asian pears and other fruits and vegetables, are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and multiple types of cancer.
Vitamin C Cactus pears are a good source of vitamin C, which has many important functions in the body. Eating foods high in vitamin C significantly raises the amount of iron your body absorbs, which is a good way to prevent anemia. Vitamin C also supports the body’s immune system in its ability to fight infections and viruses, and may possibly shorten the duration and intensity of a cold. Additionally, this vitamin is involved in keeping capillaries, gums, and skin healthy and supple.
How to select and store When ripe, the color of the cactus pear becomes a very vibrant, deep shade of red or purple. Before eating, remove the small spikes from the outer fruit, slice into it with a knife, and slip the peel off. The fruit inside can be sliced and eaten. The seeds can be swallowed or spit out. How to enjoy Prickly pear juice is often used to make jam or candy, as well as mixed in cocktails or used in salad dressing. Other ways to enjoy the cactus pear include: • Slice and add to fruit salad • Use the juice to flavor frosting, quick breads, or yogurt • Boil down the juice to make a sauce to top cake or yogurt • Blend into a smoothie or sorbet Enjoy beautiful, juicy cactus pear fruit during Florida’s peak season today. It’s a delicious way to get plenty of fiber and other nutrients.
Selected References https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp448 https://arboretum.ucf.edu/virtual/prickly-pear-cactus/
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NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
UF Receives NIFA Grant Supporting Specialty Crops The University of Florida (UF) is one of four universities sharing $11 million in research grants from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that will support specialty crop farmers. The investment is made through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Minor Crop Pest Management Program, known as the Interregional Research Project (IR-4), which enables crop protection technology often designed for field crops, but equally safe, effective and economical for growers of minor/specialty crops to be evaluated and registered for use. The UF grant totals just over $2.4 million. Other recipients include the University of California, Davis; Michigan State University and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Farm Bureau Members Eligible for Car Rental Savings Farm Bureau members don’t have to pay full price for auto rentals. Five major auto rental companies offer members savings ranging from 20 to 30 percent. They are: Enterprise – Up to 20 percent off with Contract ID: 6020214 or booking via: partners.rentalcar.com/florida-farm-bureau Alamo – Up to 20 percent off with Contract ID: 6020214 or booking via: partners.rentalcar.com/florida-farm-bureau National – Up to 20 percent off with Contract ID: 6020214 or booking via: partners.rentalcar.com/florida-farm-bureau Budget – Up to 30 percent with Contract ID: Y775709 or booking through Budget.com/FLFB Avis – Up to 30 percent with Contract ID: A298809 or booking through AVIS.com/FLFB Health Officials Issue Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisory The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County is advising residents that there has been an increase in mosquito-borne disease activity in the county, including a confirmed human case of locally-acquired dengue fever. Information regarding steps to be taken to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes is available at Hillsborough.floridahealth.gov. USDA Program Supports Farmer/Rancher Conservation Efforts The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is implementing programs that offer support for conservation efforts of U.S. farmers and ranchers. Once of the most popular programs is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) that provides financial and technical assistance to producers.
NRCS Program Helps Build Healthy Forests The Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps landowners restore, enhance and protect forestland resources on private and tribal lands through easements and financial assistance. Through HFRP landowners promote the recovery of endangered or threatened species, improve plant and animal biodiversity and enhance carbon sequestration. The program provides landowners with 10-year restoration agreements and 30-year or permanent easements for specific conservation actions. More information is available by contacting the NRCS office: 201 South Collins Street, Suite 202, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813-752-1474, Extension 3. Commissioner Fried Submits Testimony to Senate Committee on Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried recently submitted testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in advance of the committee’s hearing on sustainable offshore aquaculture. Her testimony, which is available in the “news” section of FDACS.gov, encouraged the development of a clearly outlined federal permitting process and framework to assist and support Florida’s 1,000 aquaculturists producing an estimated 1,500 species or varieties of food and aquarium fish, shellfish, aquatic plants, mollusks, crustaceans and reptiles. Organic Trade Association launches Verification Program The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has started an industrywide program, Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions (OFPS), to address the threat of organic fraud. OFPS complements and reinforces the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program. OFPS is a voluntary, private-industry funded quality assurance program. OTA represents more than 9,500 organic businesses in the U.S. More information about OTA and OFPS is available at: ota.com. Cargill Partners with FFA; 3 Year, $2.1 Million Investment Cargill is investing $2.1 million over three years to help FFA develop future leaders who are prepared to continue advancing sustainable agriculture. The funds will enable the FFA Organization’s efforts to bridge the needs of the agriculture, food and natural resources industries through a variety of initiatives. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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The best way to learn if EQIP is apropos for your operation is to contact your local NRCS office: 201 South Collins Street, Suite 202, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813-752-1474, Extension 3.
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Part 62 Welcome back to our travels on the Literary Time Machine! We’re excited to step back into the pages of Mr. Simpson’s book to see what new and unchartered ornamental gardening advice he might have for us this month. Hopefully, we will discover some interesting and unique plants that have hitherto been unknown to us. We’ll look first at Daedalocanthus nervosus. Mr. Simpson says it’s “A rank plant with opposite leaves sending up many stems that in winter form panicles of flowers of intense violet color.”¹ He adds that, “It does equally well in pine or hammock land and will care for itself anywhere.”¹ Given our propensity towards being brown-thumbed, and our love of the color purple, the flowers and this plant’s ability to care for itself are intriguing. However, his description of it being “rank” is what really caught our attention. Rank, as we know the meaning of the word, insinuates that the fragrance emitted is heinous. But is that what he really meant? Over time, words have changed meanings and so it behooves us to see if this is one such case. As with many plants we are introduced to in his book, this one has also had a name change. It is better known as Eranthemum pulchellum, or more commonly known as blue sage. Unfortunately, nothing that we read about the plant indicated that it had any specific odor. The archaic meanings of the word “rank” were so far left that we decided it was best not to include them here, but feel free to look it up for yourself. So, with little success on the “rank” definition, we moved on to find that it blooms in late winter and early spring and that it attracts birds, butterflies, and bees. The flowers are sterile, so you can’t grow it from seed, it must come from cuttings. But it is known to grow in Central Florida.² Moving on, we were stopped in our reading by the Dioon. Yet another plant we’d never heard of. Mr. Simpson continued, “A slow growing Cycad which sends out immense, long leaves that are very ornamental. I have a plant fifteen years old which is not five feet high, but the leaves are six feet long and have more than a hundred pairs of pinnae.”¹ Leaves longer than the plant was tall grabbed us, but then we were also forced to wonder about pinnae.
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Apparently, pinnae are just parts of a pinnate leaf. Imagine a feather and the stalk from which each hair that forms the feather comes from. It’s basically the same concept except a pinnate leaf is really composed of leaflets that protrude from each side of the stalk. Ferns are a great example. And, when you see the pictures of these plants, you’ll understand what we mean. There’s also a great article about them, by Geoff Stein (2009)³, on the Dave’s Garden website in case you’d like to learn more.
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And, since we are typing this article right before Halloween, the name of this next one could not be omitted, Dracaena. We hope you get the reference. But even if you don’t it was the word, liliaceous, that stopped us in our tracks. We are huge lily fans and assumed that the plant had to have some connection therein. Mr. Simpson writes, “A genus of liliaceous plants most of the species having very ornamental foliage…”¹ He goes on to list all the different varieties but suggests that many of them don’t do well here. Which, of course is very disheartening since we were hoping for a chance at a lily-like plant for the new yard! Unfortunately, a look at the pictures didn’t show us anything lily-ish at all. And, we will close this month’s voyage with some of Mr. Simpson’s signature sarcasm and wit. According to him, “Eulalia is now called Miscanthus, but it is a fine grass with long, arched leaves which in one variety are cross banded with white. The old specific name japonica has been changed to sinensis, the systematists probably thinking that while they were about it they might as well change the whole thing.”¹ Obviously, the propensity for plants to undergo name changes was a sore spot for him. We can’t really blame him though, especially as we have been voyaging back to his time for the past five years, and regularly discover that the plants he brings to our attention have since had their names changed. It makes it really hard to get the history of some of them. You’d think people would name it and that’d be it. Obviously, he wished they’d do that as well. Regardless, we always have a good time learning new things from his old book. We hope you’ll join us next month for even more ornamental gardening education! 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. 191-192). ²Dave’s Garden. Eranthemum Species, Blue Sage. https:// davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/60373/#b ³Stein, G. (2009). Dioons: The hardy Mexican cycads. Dave’s Garden. https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/ view/1981 Photo Credits: Strawbryb. (2018). Eranthemum pulchellum. Blue sage. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/2a9Fjus Gregoriuz. (2014). Dioon. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/nfwMfc Bri Weldon. (2011). Dracaena draco. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/ p/9yJ15u WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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DYLAN AVERY WEBB
MARCH 29, 2000 - OCTOBER 23, 2019 By Melissa Nichols Dylan Avery Webb was a prime example of what a champion should be, he was hard working, humble, and loyal. When he didn’t win at something he participated in, it drove him to work harder, practice more and give it all he had. Dylan won gracefully, but most of all Dylan won honestly.
zine pretty much every year we have published results of the fair. For the 10 years he participated Dylan became a staple around the barn, in the ring and everywhere you looked. His show accolades are something that will be very hard for anyone to follow.
Dylan Webb was a 19 year old 2018 graduate of Bartow High School. A lifelong Polk county resident, the mark he left will last much longer than his 19 years on this earth.
From 2005 to 2008, Dylan got started in 4-H by participating in the Clover Bud Fair at the Polk County Youth Fair. His mother, Brandy Watson, grew up active in the youth fair and wanted her children to experience the same things that she did. In 2009, at the age of 8, Dylan began his journey with market swine. From 2011-2013 Dylan won Junior showmanship, in 2013 he also won Grand Champion Market Hog.
To know Dylan was to love him. He never met a stranger and no one was judged based on what they had or didn’t have, what they drove, or how they dressed. He simply loved people for who they were. He was so kind hearted and helpful to anyone he came in contact with. Dylan was known for a lot of amazing things, but mostly for his heart. Tragically, on October 23, 2019, Dylan Webb passed away from a sudden brain aneurysm. This loss has left not only Polk County and Central Florida mourning, but the entire show community nationwide. The decision to honor Dylan this month and tell his amazing story came after thinking “What would Dylan want us to do to help his friends and family heal?”
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Dylan is no stranger to In The Field Magazine as he was on the cover in 2013 with one of his Grand Champion market hogs at the Polk County Youth Fair. His name was listed in the maga-
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To truly understand the gravity of having the honor and skills to win the PCYF market hog show you would have to understand that there are usually around 350 swine in this show, over half of these are very competitive top notch show pigs. The Youth Fair Swine show is said to be one of the most competitive in the southeast. Dylan went on to win his class every year of showing at the fair, with the exception of 2016. He won Intermediate showmanship in 2015 and Senior showmanship in 2016 and 2018. In 2017, a family friend and mentor, Chris Russell, talked him into a challenge of raising a steer. Dylan raised the steer won his class and also won Senior showmanship, proving he could be successful at anything he attempted to show. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Dylan was also an active member in the Florida Junior Swine Circuit (FJSC) where he placed Grand with a purebred market gilt in 2019, Reserve purebred market gilt in 2019, 3rd overall purebred market hog, as well as several class wins and top 10 placings. Dylan won showmanship in this show circuit and also tried his hand at the State Fair, where he had showmanship call backs and won his class in 2018. Dylan had a vision to show on a larger scale and this dream came true in 2018 when he competed in the National Junior Swine Association show in Louisville, Kentucky in 2018 and 2019 and in Perry Georgia in 2019, placing in the top 10 at each National show he competed in. He found his niche in the show ring with quality show pigs. Some would say that Dylan just had what it takes, he not only knew how to pick a quality pig, he also knew how to feed them, train them to walk perfectly with their heads up and in a very controlled manner. Others would say that Dylan himself was the trick because he could show the “wheels off” a pig. Everyone agrees, however, that his achievements came from hours of practice, hard work and advice. Dylan spent his high school years also competing in fishing tournaments, where he also excelled and won many trophies and prizes. He also worked at a local feed store and he tried very hard to bring in the best quality feed, supplements and products available nationwide to offer them to fellow showman. His dream was to one day be a show feed nutritionist, but realized the local need for such position was very limited and he had no desire to leave his family to move to an area with more opportunities. He recently went to work for Crown Electric, where his future plans included working towards being a lineman. Dylan’s family extends much larger than just those who are related by blood, those who inspired him and helped him along the way were often referred to as his family. His imme-
diate family included his mom Brandy, father Shawn Webb, sister Audrie Bailey, and grandparents Irvin and Nancy Watson. Ashley and Rick Sowell, Chris Russell, Tony and Tiffany Walling, Chad Lyons, Tori Lyons, Jim Kilmer, Richelle and Eric Kleman, were all an important part of his life. He was touched by many teachers over the years, most are ones that he never even had as a teacher, yet they were the ones he looked up to as Advisors. These people include Brett Brandner, Jimmy Sweeney, Kyle Carlton, Steven Delgado, Brett Wheeler, Mark Stevenson and Michele Parmer. Dylan also has a large group of close friends that considered him like a brother. He was always there for others and he always gave credit to those who invested time in him to help him succeed. Dylan lived his life through his passion, whether it was fishing with his buddies in fishing tournaments on a bass boat his grandpa Irvin Watson bought him, in the ring showing pigs, or out helping the next generation of showman learn how to do it, he always had advice and help to offer those around him. “I have known Dylan as a judge, FFA Advisor and someone who is passionate about the show pig industry. He was a phenomenal young man that always led by example and inspired others to do the same. The world is a much better place if more kids were like Dylan Webb,” said Brett Brandner, Deland FFA Advisor. Across the show world story after story is surfacing, from fellow teacher, youth fair members, friends, advisors and show pig producers, all trying to summarize how they are feeling and what they remember most about Dylan. “Be more like Dylan. As far as I can remember Dylan, I have always heard, ‘yes sir,’ ‘no sir,’ ‘yes ma’am,’ ‘no ma’am,’ and witnessed eye contact and a hand shake, always a smile on his face when he greeted people and when he left the show ring. But most of all, his genuine love for people was evident, as Continued on Page 30 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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was his willingness to serve. Dylan was always there to help in the show ring, barn, basketball court, lake or anywhere you could find him. We have all been touched by Dylan and our mission should be to live our lives More Like Dylan,” said Michele Parmer, Dylan’s middle school ag teacher.
A MOTTO THAT FITS DYLAN WEBB PERFECTLY IS SIMPLE.
“PRACTICE LIKE YOU’VE NEVER WON, PERFORM LIKE YOU’VE NEVER LOST.”
Justin Sharpless, Warner Ag Studies Professor and PCYF Steer Committee member, said “Through my interactions with Dylan Webb, it was evident that he was a great kid who had a passion for the livestock industry and for helping people. I know there are people who show livestock in Polk County, around Florida and even around the U.S. that will miss him. I was hoping to have the privilege of teaching him one day. This is another reminder that tomorrow is not promised. What are you doing to make an impact on the world the way Dylan made on others?” Dylan left his mark on the lives of more people than he probably ever knew. When searching for photos he was in the background of so many, both during his show career and after. He was on the sidelines cheering on his friends, his sisters, cousins and his competition. Photo after photo caught him with a water bottle, watering pigs and giving advice to other showman. Dylan exemplified so many amazing characteristics that one article cannot cover. He would master something and share his secret tricks and he coached his competition to contend with him in showmanship. Inside the ring Dylan was a tough contender, outside the ring he had a heart full of love for anyone he met. Many hearts were broken when the world lost Dylan, but his memory will carry on in the hearts of his family and friends. His life should serve as an inspiration to dream big and work hard for anything you hope to achieve. He achieved more in 19 years than many will ever achieve. He created memories and built relationships around the United States. As we morn this unexpected loss, remember, the world is a better place because Dylan was here.
DYLAN AVERY WEBB
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MARCH 29, 2000 - OCTOBER 23, 2019
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Sign up
for a FREE On-Farm Readiness Review The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspections have begun. Sign up now to request a free On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR), offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an educational opportunity to help individual farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements in preparation for inspections.
For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FDACS.gov/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900. To take full advantage of the OFRR and for PSR compliance, one farm representative should first attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. Upcoming trainings can be found at: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/events
Funding for this statement was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services.
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By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
LIVESTOCK ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS
When hearing the phrase “animal cruelty,” most people think of the images they see portrayed in the media of dog-fighting, or of severely neglected house pets.
I know our deputies have heard these complaints before, and a few of you may have had a neighbor or passer-by stop by to express their concern of one of your animals.
Here in rural Polk County, PCSO Agricultural Crimes deputies investigate animal cruelty calls, and you might just be surprised to hear that the majority of these calls are not about cats and dogs – they most often concern livestock.
For those of you reading this who may not be too familiar with livestock, an animal whose ribs are visible is not necessarily “starving” or “emaciated.” Livestock animal weight and appearance fluctuates throughout the year, depending on the weather and the availability of grass and forage. For example, in general, a large cow or horse may lose weight during the winter months when there is less nutritious grass available for grazing. Owners often provide supplemental food during the winter months.
As you know, the cattle industry continues to do well in Polk County. People here depend on their cattle for food and income. When citizens drive by a pasture filled with cows or horses and become concerned that the animals are “emaciated” or “neglected,” they often call PCSO to report suspected animal cruelty. A lot of these folks don’t fully understand what a healthy cow or horse looks like. PCSO Ag Crimes deputies are highly trained to detect if and when livestock such as horses and cows are malnourished or neglected, and responding to these calls is a timely, but necessary, service they provide. They routinely attend training classes to hone their skills in the area of animal cruelty and neglect.
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For those with an untrained eye, just about any animal that you can tell where its ribs are, might look like it is starving. We are certainly glad people are looking out for the well being of animals, but looks can sometimes be deceiving.
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Make no mistake, I don’t want to dissuade anyone from reporting a possibly endangered or neglected animal. We rely on the public every day to be our eyes and ears out in the communities and in the fields. If you have any information about suspected livestock animal cruelty or neglect, we urge you to contact us with detailed information. Call the PCSO Agriculture Unit at 863.534.7205, or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward, call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1.800.226.TIP (8477). We would much rather check on an animal and determine it is okay, than to not hear about potential abuse until it’s too late. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
s e p i c e R
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Chef Justin Timineri
Florida Green Bean Casserole
q Ingredients q 1 pound Florida green beans, blanched and trimmed 10 Florida mushrooms, cleaned and sliced thin ½ sweet onion, sliced thin 1 tablespoon garlic, minced 2-3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 (8-ounce) package Italian blend cheese 1 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped 2 cups milk 2 tablespoons flour 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce Toppings (such as fried onions, crushed butter crackers, or cracklings) Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
PREPARATION Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Preheat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and let melt completely before adding onions. Add onions and sauté for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and thyme and sauté for another minute. Add garlic and 1 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning and stir to combine. Next sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir (will look like a paste). Slowly pour in milk while stir-
ring to break up any lumps. Next add three-quarters of the cheese and green beans. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Thoroughly mix and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes. Pour into casserole dish. Top with cracklings, cheese and bake in oven for 30 minutes uncovered. Fresh Tip: This can be prepared 1-2 days in advance of event and baked in the oven the day of.
Florida Steak and Peppers q Ingredients q 2 Florida ribeye steaks (or your favorite cut) 1 large Florida bell pepper, sliced thin 10-12 Florida mushrooms, sliced thin 1 medium yellow onion, sliced thin 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon olive oil Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
PREPARATION Preheat large sauté pan or cast-iron skillet to medium-high. Season steaks generously with salt and pepper. Add butter and fresh herbs then place steaks directly over herbs. Sear for 2-3 minutes per side, depending on desired doneness. Remove steaks from pan and allow to rest. In same pan add olive oil,
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sliced vegetables, and Worcestershire sauce. Sauté for 5 minutes or until tender. Adjust seasoning as needed and remove from pan. Slice steak against the grain and serve with warm vegetables. Serve with chimichurri sauce.
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Hemp By Jack Payne Because hemp presentations have drawn standing-roomonly crowds around the state, the Florida Ag Expo will feature hemp front and center on Nov. 21. It’s on the agenda by popular demand. It aligns with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ interest in identifying economically viable alternative crops for Florida farmers. In our judgment, it’s what you want to know. Maybe you’ll grow it some day. The agenda for the Ag Expo at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center also emphasizes our much larger Institute-wide commitment to traditional fruit and vegetable crops, such as tomatoes. In our judgment, it’s what you have to know. It’s what’s paying the bills now. Hemp gets outsized attention. It’s new. It’s headline- grabbing. It played a prominent role in the campaign platform of our commissioner of agriculture. In a decade leading Florida agricultural research and development, I’ve never seen such interest in an alternative crop.
We’re approaching hemp as a potential addition to a diversified rotation of crops – not as the next green gold rush. In the meantime, there’s a whole lot more on the Ag Expo agenda -tomatoes, artichokes, hops, cucurbits, pesticides, pathogens, and more. One of the advantages of having one of the nation’s leading land-grant universities at your service is that we can address so many needs. Attention to the new kid on the block – hemp – doesn’t detract from the crops that have been produced here for more than a century. The Ag Expo agenda reflects the state of the industry. There’s a great deal of interest in trying something new. But there’s also widespread interest in taking what you already do and making it better. The Ag Expo offers you both. I hope you’ll be there on Nov. 21.
And we have been mandated – though I prefer to see it as privileged – by the state Legislature to carry out hemp research. We’re happy to comply with the Legislature’s wishes and yours. That does not translate into vast acreage nor wholesale redirection of research. The hemp plots scattered across the state are dwarfed by the 582 acres of Citrus Research and Education Center groves, for example. We have another entire research center devoted to range cattle. Still another, in Suwannee Valley, focuses on crops important in that region – peanuts, watermelon, field corn, carrots, and peppers. It doesn’t have a single hemp plant. It may be that hemp some day becomes a profitable Florida crop. So, too, could peaches, olives, pomegranates, tea, or vanilla. UF/IFAS researches them all. We’re at an early stage with hemp. We need to identify varieties suitable for Florida, develop the practices most likely to produce a profit, and to assess its risk as an invasive plant. You can hear about those efforts at the Ag Expo. You can also hear Florida Director of Cannabis Holly Bell give you an overview of the hemp industry. Then you can hear her as part of a panel that includes leading agriculture department officials from other states as well as the UF/IFAS faculty member leading our hemp efforts, Zack Brym.
What: A day of presentations on pest management, soil fumigation, alternative crops, and hemp. When: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, 14625 County Road 672, Wimauma Admission: Free. Attendees receive free breakfast and lunch if they register by Nov. 18. Information/registration: http://floridaagexpo.net/
Jack Payne is the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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What You Need to Know About Florida Ag Expo
A PERFECT TIME FOR
Stargazing by John Dicks If you like being in the outdoors of Florida, there may be no more perfect time than this! Whether it’s hiking, camping, paddling, or just a slow simple drive through some scenic sights of the real Florida, the magic time to “get out there and go” can be marked on the calendar starting early November and running through early December. It’s that time when the weather finally breaks and summer simply gives up the ghost with October’s Halloween. Mosquitos magically seem to disappear (or at least become less annoying), while the sun traces a less harsh and more southern track in the sky. Along, too, comes the mysterious disappearance of the humid laden air as it begins to dry out making you imagine it’s just plain easier to breathe. Every part of America has a time like this. That’s why I spent much of this past summer exploring our nation’s western National Parks. With solid summer temps in Florida hovering in the 90’s, it’s simply amazing to sense the chill of an evening, snug in a jacket, staring at the stars in a “dark sky” park. Exploring the night in an official Dark Sky Park has become quite a popular attraction. There’s plenty of them scattered across America, which have been so designated by the International Dark Sky Association. The Grand Canyon is one, and so are Arches National Park and Bryce National Park (among many more). Spend an evening in any of them, along with the cooperation of others to keep their flashlights turned off, and you’ll see things in the sky which are only imagined by most people. Constellations and the Milky Way just seem to pop right out of the inky black canopy above. It all gives you a smidgen of understanding when the scientists and astronomers declare that there are billions of these heavenly bits bouncing and flying around up there.
The good news for us Floridians is that we have two such places that have been certified for enjoying and exploring the stars in the dark sky above. One is down south at the Big Cypress National Preserve. The other, though, is a Florida State park less than two hours away. It’s the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, and some suggest that it is one of the best anywhere. Of course some of that favoritism may come from the fact that it’s not so blasted cold doing your stargazing in Florida. At least that’s the case as compared to most of the other Dark Sky places, which generally have you shivering at night, feeling frigid since they are situated at altitudes much, much higher than we find here in the Sunshine State. To really soak in the starlight, you’ll want to pick a moonless night to do it. For first timers, starting at about two hours after the sun has set and twilight is drifting away, that first look upwards can be startling. It really does look like a zillion twinkling lights have suddenly been switched on. There’s a galore of stars to make a wish upon, and plenty of planets and streaking comets zipping overhead. Sometimes you can even spot the International Space Station making its orbit around our Earth. At the Kissimmee site you can even see the lighted arc of rocket launches taking off from Cape Canaveral. Of course such world class stargazing will require some planning, and granted, camping is part of the equation. It’s an adventure, though, and if done as a family it is all but guaranteed to be talked about and long remembered for years to come. Sometimes, such outings even turn into family traditions, which makes the experience just that much better. It’s simply one more reason this is a time for Thanksgiving. Take back the night and soak in the light. Whether its a dark sky that draws you in or simply a walk in the woods of a park nearby, let’s get out there and enjoy and by thankful for this very special time of year.
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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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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
No Longer Booming Monogamy: Whooping Cranes By Ginny Mink
Given the state of the world today, it is particularly interesting to find creatures in the animal kingdom that embrace the idea of monogamy. Sadly, one such devoted animal falls into the endangered category. Maybe you aren’t that interested in monogamy but caring for the population of animals this world was designed to hold is high on your list. If that’s the case, the Whooping Crane is in need of our assistance. Whooping Cranes are the tallest birds found in North America. The males can reach heights of nearly five feet tall! Females are shorter, but no less impressive. These birds have distinctly white coloring with black primary feathers found on their wings. Their faces are red, and they sport crowns with dark olive-gray bills. Their yellow eyes are piercing and their babies are often reddish or cinnamon colored.¹ We mentioned how tall these birds can be, but you should probably know that their wingspan is all the more incredible. In fact, it ranges between seven and eight feet. Males can weigh around 16 pounds with females only slightly smaller at 14. And, don’t miss the signature long ‘S’ shaped neck.² Historically, Whooping Cranes were spread through the eastern United States until about the mid-twentieth century. Records show that there were migratory Whooping Cranes in Florida up until the 1930s. There are now multiple agencies attempting to restore these gorgeous birds to their natural range. And, there’s specific focus on returning them to Florida.³ In fact, there was some exciting news in May of 2018. A North Florida wildlife refuge, the White Oak refuge found in Yulee, saw some success when two rare Whooping Cranes were hatched. Their parents, Grasshopper and Hemlock, were brought to the refuge in 2016. Workers there were hoping they would become a future couple and were surprised when the matchmaking was a success.⁴ As we pointed out previously, Whooping Cranes are monogamous and form lifelong bonds. However, they do find a new mate when their first one dies. They always return to one breeding territory in Canada, usually in April, and pretty much nest in the same area each year. They will lay one to three eggs, though it’s usually two, and babies arrive in 29-31 days. Parents share the duties of incubation and rearing. Sadly, even when they lay two eggs only one chick reaches fledgling status.¹ Whooping Cranes perform an elaborate mating ritual that involves a sort of dance. Males will jump around, flap their wings, and throw things in the air in hopes of winning their life-long ladies. Florida based cranes generally breed between January and May, but the fact that very few of their babies survive is particularly disheartening given their serious plight.²
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There was an attempt, from 1993-2004, to introduce the nonmigratory Whooping Cranes into central Florida. Biologists releases 289 captive-raised birds, but there were major prob-
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lems. They witnessed survival issues, problems with reproduction, and other challenges. Those that did survive are still being studied in hopes that more information can be gathered. In 2001, they tried teaching the migratory cranes to come to Florida. They have been using an ultra-light aircraft to lead them here in hopes that they will establish this pattern.³ As we stated, historically, large flocks of these booming voiced birds used to travel from Canada to Florida. Unfortunately, the population that returned here each year dwindled off to just over a dozen birds as of 1950. Since then, North America has seen some increase in populations both in captive and wild birds. Numbers are now about 700, but their slow reproduction rates, and high mortality levels, continue to be a significant problem.⁴ The wild population is heavily protected on public lands and in their nesting areas at Wood Buffalo National Park located in Canada. They spend their winters in Texas at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where they are also protected. And, between the two, they make a stopover at another protected site in Oklahoma, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Florida is home to one experimental population of non-migratory birds in Rocky Mountain. These birds are also fully protected though they are considered threatened instead of endangered at that locale.¹ Whooping Cranes are really cool birds. They eat aquatic invertebrates like crustaceans, mollusks, and insects. They will also chow on fish, reptiles, mammals, and other birds as long as they are small enough. When all else fails, they will eat berries, roots, and acorns as well.² So, food is not their biggest problem, people are. And, if we are devoted to this planet as God’s stewards, then we need to work towards their conservation whole-heartedly! Resources: ¹U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Species Status and Fact SheetWhooping Crane. https://www.fws.gov/northflorida/WhoopingCrane/whoopingcrane-fact-2001.htm ²Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Whooping Cranes- Grus americana. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/cranes/whooping-cranes/ ³Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Florida’s Whooping Cranes. https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/ birds/whooping-crane/information/ ⁴Staletovich, J. (2018). Rare Whooping Cranes Hatch at Florida Wildlife Refuge. Miami Herald. https://www.miamiherald. com/news/state/florida/article210719714.html Photo Credits: Evangelio Gonzalez. (2013). Whooping Crane. (Flickr). https:// flic.kr/p/nsa1d2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2011). Young Whooping Crane in Flight. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/9N2VQd U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2012). Whooping Crane Chick. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/bxPhoc WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Mantidfly (Pisaurina brevipes) Spiders are not typically considered “Beautiful” by the casual observer. Because we tend, as human beings, to demonize that which we do not understand, we often overlook the inherent beauty of an animal. In Florida, we have some of the largest “True Spiders” in the united states. True spiders are characterized by having fangs (Chelsea) that move sideways like scissors; this is an advanced trait. Some large spiders, such as tarantulas, are more primitive and have fangs that never cross each other but rather function more like spears and are used with a downward thrusting motion. I draw this distinction only because it is a common misconception that any large hairy spider must be some type of tarantula. There are more distinctions, of course, but that can be a topic for another article. For the time being, let’s set the distinctions aside and take a closer look at the beautiful girl we found hiking last month. Pisaurina is a genus of wandering spiders common to eastern North America and Cuba. In North America it ranges from Canada, extending south to the Florida Keys and west to Kansas. The two species, Pisaurina mira and Pisaurina brevipes are widely distributed throughout the eastern United States. Two additional species, Pisaurina undulata and Pisaurina dubia, are restricted to the Coastal Plains and Piedmont regions east of the Appalachian Mountains. The species we are featuring in this article is known as (Pisaurina brevipes) in the scientific community. Though it does not have a common name, the spider family (Pisauridae) of which it belongs, is commonly known as the Nursery Web Spider. French naturalist Eugène Louis Simon (30 April 1848 – 17 Nov 1924) is regarded as the most prolific spider taxonomist in history and was the first to describe this family in his greatest work; Histoire Naturelle des Araignées (1892-1903). In his work, Simon describes these spiders as wandering spiders typically found on vegetation and grasses. The female characteristically totes her egg sack by securing it with a silken thread attached to its spinnerets while carrying the egg sac itself in her chelicerae (fangs). As if wrestling an egg sac from the fangs of a large spider isn’t protection enough; this maternal heroin spins a roomy nursery of silk in which her unborn spiderlings will hatch, and live, through their first molts while mother spider tirelessly guards the entrance to the nursery. This extraordinary characteristic justifies the common family name Nurser At first glance these spiders resemble wolf spiders (Lycosidae) and are often mistaken as such. There are, however, some notable characteristics that can help distinguish the nursery web spider from the wolf for field (or home) identification. Wolf spiders attached their egg sacs to their spinnerets at the back of their body but do not carry them in their fangs like the nursery web spider does. When moving with her egg sack, the wolf spider must raise her abdomen to keep the egg sac from dragging along the ground. The spiderlings hatch within the egg sac and emerge to crawl onto the top of the mother spider. The female wolf spider will keep her egg sac attached until all of the spiderlings have hatched and moved onto her back where they will remain under her protection through their first molt or two and are more capable of fending for themselves. The wolf spider’s maternal characteristic of carrying her young on her back has fueled an urban legend that smashing one of these spiders’ results in an explosion of spiderling spawn. While it is true that smashing a female wolf spider carrying young will result certainly result in hundreds of spiderlings being scattered throughout your home; the spi-
Fishing spiders (Dolomedes) are also mistaken for our spider (Pisaurina), but for good reason; they are both members of the same family, (Pisauridae), which is collectively known as the nursery web family. The fishing spider is a specialized genus of the nursery web family in that it has evolved to adapt to an aquatic habitat. The fishing spider can walk on water and even swim under water to hunt its prey. The hair like structures (sensilla) of the fishing spider are waterproof and trap air bubbles that the spider uses to breath under water as if it were a scuba diver. Like all nursery web spiders, the fishing spider builds a silken preschool for her young and protects them through their tender early molts. This level of maternal devotion is an attractive characteristic even in the spider world. If you ever get to witness the courtship of these animals you may be charmed to find males offering gifts of food to the female, sometimes even wrapped in silk. This is, however, no love story. If you watch to the bittersweet end it will be obvious that the food gift is little more than a distraction to reduce the chance of the small male becoming her next snack. So long as you are not on the menu, and humans are not, I encourage you to take a closer look at these harmless and beautiful spiders. `````I sincerely hope you will find them as fascinating as I do. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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derlings have, in fact, emerged from their egg sac beforehand and would disperse elsewhere if given the chance. Another way to distinguish the wolf spider from the nursery web spider is to get close enough to look at the eyes the wolf spider, nose to nose, if you will. You will find two of the wolf spiders eight eyes are much larger than the others. Those two large eyes are compound eyes, like the eyes of a dragonfly but on a much smaller scale. The compound eyes have a lower resolution than simple eyes and make the spiders world look pixelated, but they give the wolf spider a wider angle of view and an advantage in seeing movement while hunting. These large eyes are also capable of seeing polarized light which is thought to help the spider select prime food sources and find its way around using solar navigation. These characteristics give the wolf spider the best eyesight in the spider world and make it easy to differentiate from other similar spiders such as the family of nursery web spiders. Wolf spiders tend to look slightly larger the nursery web spiders because they have longer spindly legs. Comparing the two, the nursery web spider is thicker than the wolf and has notably shorter legs.
Organics Delivered to Your Door By Libby Hopkins
It has been said that, “One should never start a business to make money. Start a business to make a difference.” Luis Giudicelli, is the proud owner of Sunny Florida Organics, The Red Tractor Produce, White Picket Produce and Tampa Bay Organics. Sunny Florida Organics is based in Lakeland. “About seven years ago, I noticed there was a lack of access to fresh, affordable produce, and what better way to get fruits and veggies to people's hands than delivery to your door,” Giudicelli said. “From that idea, The Red Tractor Produce was born as our first delivery company.”
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Over the years, Giudicelli acquired his other businesses, which he expanded to have routes to include the west central area of Florida. “We have White Picket Produce, which is a service that focuses on the Sarasota and Bradenton area, Tampa Bay Organics focuses on Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater and Sunny Florida Organics focuses on the Polk County area,” Giudicelli said. “The Red Tractor Produce is our only non-subscription service, which has evolved into a-la
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carte service that allows our customers to select the specific items they want to receive in their box. The other three companies are subscriptions services, where the customer has the choice of selecting the type and size of box they want to receive on a recurring schedule. We create a menu every week for each type of box, which is then sent out to our customers to be customized to their liking by substituting and/or purchasing additional items to their box.” There are many benefits for eating an organic diet. According to the website, Organic Facts (www.organicfacts.net), “A number of studies have been completed regarding the effects of antioxidants from organic foods on overall health, and the predominant results have shown that antioxidants tend to have more of an impact when they come from organic foods. This may be due to the fact that foreign chemicals are not negatively interacting with the different vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds that are so essential for the positive impact of fruits and vegetables in the prevention of premature aging, vision problems, and cognitive malfunction. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Recent research suggests that choosing organic food can lead to increased intake of nutritionally desirable antioxidants and reduced exposure to toxic heavy metals.” Giudicelli initially started delivering conventional produce, but as demand for organic items kept growing, he decided to switch over and only offer 100 percent organic, non-GMO produce. “With the rise of social media and information being more readily accessible, people are now becoming more health conscious and are realizing the importance of healthy eating,” Giudicelli said. “The general public has slowly been rejecting the processed foods that has been heavily marketed at us for decades and are instead making the decision to change their diet and lifestyle. We definitely wanted to be a part of this movement by providing healthy foods in a convenient manner, especially Florida grown items when in season.”
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Since starting his businesses, Giudicelli has gotten a lot of great compliments about his services. “As we aim to make things more convenient for our customers, we are always delighted to hear when we have provided a family with fresh fruits and veggies at a moment when they might not have the time to make a trip to their local grocery store or farmer's market,” Giudicelli said. “We especially love when our customers discover new products, such as any dairy items, grass fed meats, wild caught seafood and natural grocery products.” Supporting other local small businesses is very important to Giudicelli and his staff. “With so many awesome products within our reach, we want to be able to share with our customers the different items that our Florida community has worked hard to create,” Giudicelli said. “Aside from our organic produce, we also offer grass-fed meat and natural grocery products from Lake Meadow Natural Farms in Ocoee. We carry a variety of sourdough bread from Gulf Coast Sourdough Sandwich House in Tampa, Live Sparkling Water Kefir from Sunny Culture and even locally fermented sauerkraut and kimchi from St. Pete Ferments, both companies based in St. Petersburg. Without a doubt, we want to continue to create and maintain relationships with other Florida businesses as it is important to support each other.” If you would like to learn more about any of Giudicelli’s business or if you’d like to sign up for his services, you can visit their websites at Tampa Bay Organics www.tampabayorganics.com, White Picket Produce www.whitepicketproduce.com, Sunny Florida Organics www.sunnyfloridaorganics.com and The Red Tractor Produce www.theredtractorproduce.com.
• Funds for school gardens • PreK–12 agriculture curriculum • Teacher and volunteer grants • Workshops and farm tours • Florida Agriculture Literacy Day • And much more!
Visit agtag.org to learn more. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Through your purchase of the Florida Agriculture License Plate, Florida Agriculture In The Classroom is able to provide:
TORNADO
Polk County was hit with severe weather the night of Friday, October 18. The severe damage in the Kathleen area was the result of an EF-2 tornado with winds of 120 mph, produced by Tropical Storm Nestor. The tornado touched down near Lakeland Linder Airport and moved in a north, northeast direction and was on the ground for 9 miles according to a preliminary assessment of the damage in the area. The tornado moved up the Kathleen Road corridor, causing damage to many structures, including homes, a church and Kathleen Middle School. Power lines and trees were also downed.
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Photos by: Melissa Nichols
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Polk County Cattle Women
A
s fall approaches, and cooler weather moves in, the cattlewomen are gearing up for a busy end of the year. The Junior League of Tampa’s Holiday Gift Market was a huge success again this year, it was held at the Florida State Fair Expo Hall, Tampa, FL. The Florida Cattlewomen were in attendance sharing their knowledge about beef and its byproducts, and serving samples of various beef recipes. It was fun for all who attended. I personally got a lot of my Christmas shopping knocked out while I was there.
The FCA also volunteered at the Little Everglades Savage Race at the Little Everglades Ranch, Dade City, FL, where we handed out bottled water to the runners and cheered them on to the finish Line. Go TEAM BEEF! Reminder: Polk Co. Cattlemen’s Fall Meeting & Dinner – Nov. 14, 19 at 6:30pm UF/IFAS Extension/Stuart Center in Bartow, FL. Please plan on attending and networking with fellow Cattlemen/Cattlewomen, it is sure to be a great meeting and dinner. If attending, we ask that you bring an unwrapped toy for a child as we support Toys for Tots this Christmas. In addition, The Cattlewomen
As always, PCCW welcome new members. If you are interested in joining, We would love to see new faces. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, #863-205-3977.
Missy McLaughlin-Raney Polk County Cattlewomen President
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will display its “Ways and Means” and will have new merchandise on sale for Christmas gifts.
Classifieds ANIMALS & NEEDS ANIMAL & BIRDCAGES Equipment serving the fur bearing animal & exotic bird industry! Cages built to order. Wire by roll or foot. (813)752-2230. Call Don Ammerman. www.ammermans.com July 14, 2019, Nov. 24, 2019
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.
Info@inthefieldmagazine.com
Tel: 813.759.6909
2018 MASSEY FERGUSON 4709 Cab tractor with loader. 95hp, 29 actual hours. 6' rotary cutter & 8' disk harrow. Warranty. $48,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 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 2014 MAHINDRA 5010 Tractor with loader, 4x4, 49hp. $17,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
ALUMINUM We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378 WINDOW SCREENS We make window screens of all sizes available in different frame colors. Call Ted(813) 752-3378 CABINETS All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Blake 813-752-3378 VINYL SIDING Many colors and styles to choose from. Ask for Ted. 813-752-3378 MOBILE HOME SUPPLIES Everything you need under ONE roof! Call Blake 813-752-3378 CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE. We are a MI Windows dealer. Our windows are energy star, lifetime warranty. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
FARM EQUIPMENT 2015 MAHINDRA 100S 100hp, 4x4, Cab tractor for $25,000.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
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MECHANIC NEEDED Agricultural equipment. Pay with benefits based on experience. Call David 863-537-1345
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
PRODUCE FRESH PRODUCE Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
MISC. LOOKING FOR SUGARCANE Looking for sugarcane tops or sugar cane for replanting. Call Ken 813-777-5012 MASSEY FERGUSON 4709 4wd, with loader, cab. Only 30 hours, warranty remaining. $45,000 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FOR SALE FARM BUREAU INSURANCE We have you covered! Call us today. 813-752-5577 LOOKING TO BUY OR SALE? Call Rhonda Wetherington, P.A. Realtor, GRI. 813-933-1761 ALAN’S AIR CONDITIONING Residential, Commercial Sales SVS & Repair. Legendary service for over 20 years! 813-752-0821 BETOMIX 320 3 pointy lift, pto driven cement mixer. Very good condition. $850 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
I4 POWER EQUIPMENT Trade-Ins Welcomed, Service Department Available. Exit 22 • S. Frontage Rd. OLD ANTIQUE BLUE STOVE Bread warmer, chrome trim. Plant City 813-752-4459 You have got to see it to believe it! Call Ted for more details. 813-752-3378 TAYLOR WAY TILLER DISC DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER Plow - good condition. $1750.00 No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Call Alvie 813-759-8722 Many standard sizes in stock. HUSQVARNA LAWN TRACTOR Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 20hp, 46", good condition. KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES $300 call 863-660-4551 Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the BIG Box STORES! Call Today! HESSON 4550 Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 Inline square baler. $7,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 CROSSBOW 2018 MMAHINDRA 4540 Barnett Squad 300 w/Rhino 4x32mm 2wd tractor. 88 hours with warranty. Crossbow Scope, Case And Arrows. $8,750 Ask for Alvie 813-759-8722 Great Condition! Call 813-376-9320
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FREE Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722 24 HOUR SERVICE Coggins Plumbing licensed • bonded • Insured. www.cogginsplumbing.com 813-643-7173 RAZOR ELECTRIC MOTORBIKE MX650. New batteries, 36 volt, good tires. $225 call 863-660-4551 FOR RENT Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mulcher. For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
TRADE • BUY • SELL? Since 2004 In The Field has been Hillsborough and Polk Countys #1 Agriculture Magazine. Call Us at 813-759-6909 to place your Ad Today!
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