In The Field magazine Polk edition

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President – Dr. Lujean Waters 8750 Shreck Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 537-1495

Lujean.waters@gmail.com

Vice President – Ken Sherrouse 13475 Moore Rd Lakeland, FL 33809-9755 (863) 698-1834

kensherrouse@yahoo.com

Secretary/Treasurer - Justin Bunch PO Box 849 Highland City, FL 33846-0849 (863) 425-112

Justin.bunch@nutrien.com

State Director – Orrin Webb PO Box 202 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 634-6029

owebb@wandwsupply.com

Donald Conroy 3882 Wolfolk Rd Fort Meade, FL 33841 (863) 412-0790

Stuart Fitzgerald PO Box 1437 Lake Wales, FL 33859 (863) 206-5021

stuartcattlellc@yahoo.com

Kevin Fussell 5125 Fussell Rd Polk City, FL 33868 (863) 412-5876

drfussellranch@gmail.com

Wes Fussell 5010 Barush Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 838-1594

g.wesfussell@gmail.com

Det. Jay Scarborough 1575 Mountt Pisgah Rd Fort Meade, FL 33841 (863) 860-7731

Jayscarborough5581@outlook. com

Scott Shoupe 6130 Allen Lane Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 581-7593

Scott_shoupe@hotmail.com

James Stice PO Box 460 Highland City, FL 33846 (813) 714-2333

jstice@verizon.net

Dave Tomkow 3305 US Highway 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801-9623 (863) 665-5088

dave@cattlemens1.com

Alternate

Standing Committee Chairs: Membership Events- Scott Shoupe

Trade Show- Bridget Stice

Rodeo- Fred Waters PO Box 463 Alturas, FL 33820-0463 (863) 559-7808

Website – Blair Buchanon

Cattlewomen – President, Blair Buchanon

8444 Tom Costine Rd Lakeland, FL 33809 (863) 581-2711

Buckld96@gmail.com

Extension – Bridget Stice

PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048

bccarlis@ufl.edu

Sheriff’s Dept. – Lt. Paul Wright

1891 Jim Keen Blvd.

Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 557-1741

pw5281@polksheriff.org

Sgt. Tim Sanders 1891 Jim Keen Blvd.

Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 656-6119 brusso@polksheriff.org

Warner University –Abby Crawford 13895 Highway 27 Lake Wales, FL 33859 (863) 638-7248

Abby.crawford@warner.edu

If you are wondering about the impact of agriculture on the State of Florida, and you should be, I’ve got some statistics for you. Last year I checked out information on Feeding the Economy (www.feedingtheeconomy.com) and I want to compare 2023 to 2024. It’s an upward trend for Florida and I’m excited about that.

In 2023, the total jobs listed for Florida were 2,875,202. In 2024, that number jumped to 3,044,456. The total wages were at $143.2 billion for 2023, and now that sits at $153.5 billion. Taxes hit $53.8 billion and that number is $73.1 billion in 2024. Exports were $5.7 billion and are now $5.9 billion.

Throughout the country, total jobs relating to agriculture jumped from 46,283,917 to 48,665,609. Wages went from $2.61 trillion to $2.8 trillion. The lone number that dropped is in exports, which were at $202.17 billion and now sit at 181.4 billion.

According to the Feeding the Economy study, “The 2024 report’s findings show that the total economic impact for the food and agriculture-related industries grew 11.8% over the last year, reaching $9.63 trillion. This represents 20.01% of total U.S. output.”

In addition, the website states, “From the 2020 Feeding the Economy report to now, food and agriculture manufacturing jobs grew at a faster rate than any other job category.”

As we know, struggles in agriculture are real. Farmers and ranchers are at the mercy of many things, the least of which is the weather. So, when shopping for yourself or your family, look for Fresh From Florida products. Let’s keep Florida trending in the right direction and support those who do so much for us.

Until Next Month

Sarah Holt

As we look forward to April showers bringing flowers and fat calves, we continue to see promising market values for our calves this month and look forward to the forecast of heavier rainfall in the near future. While markets remain strong, we begin to question the business decisions on our ranches, when and where we can afford to upgrade or add value to our ranching practices, which many would agree is the hardest part of ranching. Recently there has been much discussion at my supper table of whether or not to keep or purchase replacement heifers in this market environment. Many will argue there is no right or wrong answer to that question with today’s market trends.

These are the thoughts that allow for sleepless nights for our cattlewomen and devotion to tractor think time for our cattlemen. Despite our gender or the chores we encompass to allow time for rumination, most will

agree that furthering our knowledge can help us manage sound decisions. There are several opportunities in the next month to allow us further education and development within our industry. UF/IFAS will be offering three excellent programs for continued education.

Ranching Foundations, April 26, Ona Research Station  Beef Cattle Short Course, May 8-10, University of Florida Gainesville

Herd Health Seminar, May 14, Arcadia

Please remember to join us for our Spring Supper at 6:30 p.m. on April 25 at Starlings Ranch Barn on the Lake! We hope to see you then!

Dr. LuJean Waters

Dr. LuJean Waters

Heartland Large Animal Services

FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD

By Rob Gilbert ragilber@ufl.edu @IFAS_VP

Rob Gilbert

UF/IFAS can do more for agriculture in Hillsborough and Polk County in the next five years than in almost any other moment in more than a century of scientific support for farmers.

I’ll work hard on your behalf to make the most of this moment as the new UF interim senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and head of UF/IFAS.

As soon as former Senior Vice President Scott Angle was appointed provost and I was granted the privilege of leading UF/IFAS, I was on the job in Tallahassee working to secure state support for an artificial intelligence in the agriculture center to be built in Hillsborough County.

That support can propel our efforts to deliver technology to your farm in ways that are affordable, accessible, and easy to use. Our planned Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture will serve the entire state but be based at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm.

I also traveled to Washington almost immediately in search of agency and congressional support for agricultural science. I am pleased to continue Florida Strawberry Growers Association leader Kenneth Parker’s service as a Florida delegate in the national group of land-grant university advocates who travel to DC to testify to the impacts of federal funding.

I hope to meet many of you in the months to come – the people who produce Florida’s food, feed, fuel, and fiber. Your voice is vital to shaping science.

My title is new but my commitment to farmers goes back decades. I spent years as a researcher in the field listening to growers. My time as chair of the Department of Agronomy – the science of seeking maximum yield from an acre of soil -- brought me valuable perspective.

I saw how much growers’ field observations and partnership with our researchers contribute to discovery during my five years as dean of UF/IFAS research.

With global competition, labor challenges, adverse weather events, disease, and urban sprawl all making it harder to farm in Hillsborough and Polk counties, now is the moment for a strong connection with UF/IFAS.

We’re on the threshold of technological advances we see only once in a generation. I’ll be asking you what problems should be prioritized to address using this new technology.

Please invite me to your farms and your meetings. Let me know how I can serve. Let’s be partners in making the most of the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead.

Rob Gilbert is the University of Florida’s interim senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

Feature Photo for just this issue. UF/ IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.

THOUGHTS FROM THE HEIFER PEN

It’s funny when people say that you “lost your nerve” because in my experience of losing my nerve, it’s not that I lost my nerve, but rather, I found out that I was actually using a “lot of nerve” and that the situation I was in was actually something to be legitimately scared or nervous about. So, I think “finding or discovering your nerve” is a more accurate phrase to describe becoming unnerved in a situation. It’s like when you become aware that your body has been breathing for you without thinking, and suddenly you become conscious of every breath and have to manually breathe for a while because you don’t feel like you can trust your body on auto-breathe.

Sometimes you are blissfully unaware of your nerves because you are blissfully unaware of the dangers involved with whatever you are doing. When my siblings and I were younger our favorite thing was to go play in the creek about half a mile from our house. We would be gone all afternoon on our adventures. We would set our bags and snacks down by a tree and start splashing. After a while, we would follow the creek to a different spot to play in. Some spots were practically a clay pit with deep banks. As soon as we stepped in the water we would start to sink in the mud, but it had the best clay to make things out of. So, we would sit and make our creations, pausing occasionally to wriggle out of the clay we had sunk into. When it was time to leave, we would push one of us back up the bank, hand our artwork up, and then pull each other up. Today knowing that we were actually playing in quicksand, I probably would not have enjoyed it as much. I probably would not have let us go down there. I have heard and seen of too many cows dying by getting bogged down to risk it. I guess sometimes discovering your nerve isn’t necessarily bad thing.

There are times also when you think you are aware of the nerve you are using. This often happens in your teens to early twenties. You know you are doing a dangerous thing, and you know you are not scared so you think that you have nerve. But in reality, you don’t know how dangerous the thing is that you are

By Marisol Tarango

doing. When I was around 20, reality hadn’t quite hit me fully when it came to riding horses. I had already suffered a concussion when I was 14 when my horse tripped and rolled over me. But as long as we weren’t going to trip, I was fine. Then along came Martine, a mare that I bought to resell. Her only problem was that when you wanted her to lope, she would start to buck. Not a problem. As long as I could stay on, we were good. Well, I stayed on pretty well, but the saddle almost didn’t. By the time she stopped bucking, and we got her to stop loping, my saddle was sideways, and I was sitting on my stirrup fender. I sat there a minute as my sister and I realized how close the saddle was to coming off. Now before I get on a horse that I know is going to give me trouble, I always give the cinch an extra tug just in case.

As a full-grown adult who is very aware of the nerve involved in things, it can be surprising to find that you need to hype yourself up to do something that you would not have hesitated at when you were younger. When I am in the pens trying to push up cattle and I have a bad heifer or bull trying to turn on me, the times I have seen things go wrong run through my head before I step up to turn them back around. Before, I would have unnerved the cow by coming after them in all my petite fury without a single thought except getting them back up that shoot. Now even I question my bluff sometimes. When I get on colts for the first time, I no longer secretly hope they put on a good show, I hope that they are sweet, gentle, and docile little things who want to be my best friend.

Discovering that you have nerve is not a bad thing, it’s actually a good thing because it keeps you alive longer. (This is often necessary as an adult because you still have bills to pay.) You just have to learn to not let your nerves have control over you. Sometimes you have to shove them into the closet and not think about how you might die as you swing your leg over and climb into the saddle.

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Warm waters heat up the fishing!

Capt. Wade Osborne

Last month’s cold fronts had the water temperature seesawing all over the place, which in turn, had the fishing unpredictable. One day, you might have a lot of action, the next day, not so much. Fortunately, the latest cold fronts haven’t been as severe, and the water temperature is warming up.

Soon more baitfish will inhabit most all of the grass flats making the morning chore of catching bait much easier. Then it will be time to rinse off your heavy deepwater cast net and put it away until next winter.

reason is they are still in season and the other, pound for pound, they are harder fighters than snook.

Redfish can be found throughout Tampa Bay, but some of the hot spots are around oyster beds and grassy areas adjacent to mangroves.

If you should see a few redfish as you’re moving about on the grass flats Power Pole down and start chumming with live baitfish. If they’re swimming with a school, they may very well start circling your boat and feed for an extended period of time. Do the same if you should encounter a school of mullet. Remember, redfish like to travel with mullet, so don’t assume it’s only a school of mullet. The bonnethead and blacktip shark action has been insane. On a recent morning charter with three teenage spring breakers, we caught 13 bonnetheads. On the same day, while fishing in the same spot during a different afternoon charter, we continued to catch numerous bonnetheads and some beefy blacktip sharks. One blacktip probably weighed close to 45 pounds.

Another factor that will improve the overall fishing experience is an end to the negative low tides we’ve been experiencing. The tides of early spring are so low at times it’s impossible to access many fishing spots until mid-to late day. For any snook fillet lovers out there, you have until the first of May to enjoy a delicious snook dinner, and then the season closes. Snook spawn from May through August and are protected from harvest during the mating process. Although you can still practice catch and release, I chose to pursue other species unless my current client has never caught a snook. Should you decide to still go after some of the large breeding females, please make sure you handle them properly when taking pictures. Never hold a large snook vertically for a photo. Always wet your hands and put your thumb in its mouth, grip firmly, and support the weight of the fish with your other hand while placing it under its stomach. Holding a large snook, or any other game fish, vertically for that matter is a death sentence. To learn more about the effects of mishandling fish, google “Cryptic Mortality.”

The redfish action really starts to pick up as the water temperatures rise, so I prefer to target them instead of snook. One

The cool thing about catching these sharks is I wasn’t just fishing for sharks. I was using light tackle that you would use on any grass flat, and also catching Spanish mackerel, seatrout, and sliver trout. Whenever I’m fishing for small sharks and Spanish mackerel, I use a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader and a size 1 or 2 long shank hook.

I find the best areas to catch the aforementioned variety of fish is in about five to seven feet of water. The bottom is usually a mix of hard shell, sand, and grass. To accelerate the action, I always start chumming with fresh-cut bait. As for bait on the hook, scaled sardines or shrimp work just fine. As a matter of fact, the morning we caught the 13 bonnetheads,

26-Year Veteran Fishing Guide, Captain Wade Osborne.

shrimp was the bait of choice. Never underestimate the allure of shrimp!

As we get further into May look for the mangrove snapper fishing to begin to pick up significantly. Mangrove snapper start staging up as we approach mid-to-late May, just ahead of the June through August spawning season. A good place to look for these tasty specimens is around bridge pilings and any of the numerous artificial reefs scattered throughout Tampa Bay.

Tarpon continue to filter into Tampa Bay, and by the first of May, they will be everywhere. The huge number of tarpon that move about between the Skyway Bridge and the passes on either side of Egmont Key is mind blowing! During May and June, the tarpon fishing rivals that of Boca Grande. The best part is you don’t have to deal with the crowds or that dreadful drive.

Afishionado, “Always an Adventure.”

Tampa Bay fishing guide Wade Osborne of “Afishionado Guide Services” has been plying the waters of Tampa Bay as a professional full-time captain, since 1997. Osborne has been featured on numerous TV and radio shows and writes for multiple publications. Osborne offers inshore fishing charters on light tackle spin, fly or plug. He also offers eco-tours with an emphasis on photography. For more info visit Afishionado.com or find Afishionado Guide Services on Facebook and Instagram. Email: wade@afishionado.com Call/Text 813-286-3474

ES THE RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER

The red-cockaded woodpecker or Leuconotopicus borealis as it’s known by its scientific name is a woodpecker endemic to the southeastern United States.

The red-cockaded woodpecker is a small to mid-sized species, being intermediate in size between North America’s two most widespread woodpeckers, the downy and hairy woodpeckers.

The red-cockaded woodpecker’s most distinguishing feature is a black cap and nape that encircles large white cheek patches. Rarely visible, except perhaps during the breeding season and periods of territorial defense, the male has a small red streak on each side of its black cap called a cockade, hence its name. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service lists the species as Endangered.

The red-cockaded woodpecker feeds primarily on ants, beetles, cockroaches, caterpillars, wood-boring insects, spiders, and occasionally fruit and berries. The vast majority of foraging is on pines, with a strong preference for large trees, though they will occasionally forage on hardwoods and even on corn earworms in cornfields.

Red-cockaded woodpeckers are a territorial, non-migratory, cooperative breeding species, frequently having the same mate for several years. The nesting season runs from April to June. The breeding female lays three to four eggs in the breeding male’s roost cavity. Group members incubate the small white eggs for 10–13 days.

Once hatched, the nestlings remain in the nest cavity for about 26–29 days. Upon fledging, the young often remain with the parents, forming groups of up to nine or more members, but more typically three to four members. There is only one pair of breeding birds within each group, and they normally only raise a single brood each year. The other group members, called helpers, usually males from the previous breeding season, help incubate the eggs and raise the young. Juvenile females generally leave the group before the next breeding season, in search of solitary male groups. The main predators of red-cockaded nests are rat snakes, although corn snakes also represent a threat.

Studies have also explored the possibility that southern flying squirrels might have a negative impact on red-cockaded woodpecker populations due to competition over cavities and predation on eggs and nestlings.

Historically, this woodpecker’s range extended in the southeastern United States from Florida to New Jersey and Maryland, as far west as eastern Texas and Oklahoma and inland to Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

By Libby Hopkins

Today it is estimated that there are about 5,000 groups of red-cockaded woodpeckers, or 12,500 birds, from Florida to Virginia and west to southeast Oklahoma and eastern Texas, representing about one percent of the woodpecker’s original population.

They have become locally extinct in Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, and Tennessee.

The red-cockaded woodpecker makes its home in fire-dependent pine savannas. Longleaf pines are most commonly preferred, but other species of southern pine are also acceptable. While other woodpeckers bore out cavities in dead trees where the wood is rotten and soft, the red-cockaded woodpecker is the only one that excavates cavities exclusively in living pine trees. The older pines favored by the red-cockaded woodpecker often suffer from a fungal infection called red heart rot which attacks the center of the trunk, causing the inner wood, the heartwood, to become soft. Cavities are generally excavated over one to three years.

The red-cockaded woodpecker suffers from habitat fragmentation when habitable pines are removed. When a larger cluster of birds gets split up, it is difficult for the young to find mates and eventually becomes an issue regarding species dispersal. While dispersing in search of new places to settle, the red-cockaded woodpecker encounters habitats of competing woodpecker species.

Due to the high importance of nesting habitat on the woodpecker’s reproduction, much management has been dedicated to creating ideal and more numerous nesting sites. Nesting clusters have been spared from forestry activity to preserve old-growth, large-diameter trees. The nesting sites themselves have also been managed to make them more appealing. The use of controlled burning has been used to reduce deciduous growth around nesting colonies. The redcockaded woodpecker has been shown to prefer nesting sites with less deciduous growth. The use of controlled burning must be exercised with caution due to the highly flammable resin barriers formed by the woodpecker.

In an effort to increase the red-cockaded woodpecker population, states such as Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia’s wildlife management are creating artificial cavities in Longleaf Pine trees. There are two methods that wildlife management officers use to insert cavities in long leaf pines. The most respected and latest approach is to carve out a nesting cavity in the tree and insert a man-made rot-resistant wooden box with a PVC pipe small enough for only a red-cockaded woodpecker to fit through. These boxes, also known as “inserts,” can last up to 10 years. The older and less used approach is to drill a cavity into the tree in hopes that the birds will settle there and nest.

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.

With every generation, we get better at protecting our environment. ®

2024 CENTRAL FLORIDA YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE LIVESTOCK SHOWCASE & SALE “CONTINUING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLK LIVESTOCK EXHIBITORS”

By Paxton Evans

The 2024 Central Florida Youth in Agriculture Livestock Showcase & Sale was held March 20-23 at the Polk County Agricultural Center and Hayman Arena in Bartow, Fla.

More than 750 entries and 300 exhibitors participated in the cattle and swine shows.  This was the fourth event hosted by the CFYIA Board of Directors and committees.

The arena, sponsored by TECO Energy, was transformed into an exciting environment with a new backdrop, light towers, and exciting music to help excite the crowds and exhibitors. The 2024 event included adaptive, novice, junior, and senior showmanship in both the cattle and swine shows, livestock judging, and a new ag mechanics and fabrication contest.

CFYIA also honored all graduating seniors with senior banners showcased throughout the arena and concluded with a Senior Walk recognition, where seniors were gifted graduation buckles before the sale.

More than $30,000 in prizes and premiums were given away along with belt buckles

presented to Grand and Reserve Champions in their respective shows, as well as gorilla carts, coolers, and other great prizes.

The youth market auction took place on Saturday at 5 pm. Prior to the market animal sale, the grand champion ag mechanics projects for each division were auctioned off, as well as a quilt. The proceeds from the quilt will go towards purchasing senior awards again next year.

We would like to thank all our volunteers, sponsors, bidders, and buyers for supporting the next generation of agriculture and believing in our mission to create new opportunities for Polk Youth raising and showing swine and cattle.

CFYIA is a 501c3 non-profit organization that promotes education for the youth livestock exhibitors in our community. Many learning experiences and lifelong skills are learned through exhibiting livestock. For more information on Central Florida Youth In Agriculture, Inc. please visit: www.youthinagriculture.com.

Beef Showmanship Results

Champion Novice Showman

Finley Quattlebaum

Reserve Champion Novice Showman

Bhodie Sherouse

3rd Overall Novice Showman

Bryton Cranor

4th Overall Novice Showman

Boone Kiddey

Champion Junior Showman

Adalyn Compton

Reserve Champion Junior Showman

Aubrey White

3rd Overall Junior Showman

Graysie Sherouse

4th Overall Junior Showman

Addison Pilla

5th Overall Junior Showman

Harlow Quattlebaum

Champion Intermediate Showman

Kinsley Abner

Reserve Champion Intermediate Showman

Madilyn Nichols

3rd Overall Intermediate Showman

Ansley Bryant

4th Overall Intermediate Showman

Marlee Goodman

5th Overall Intermediate Showman

Layla Quattlebaum

Champion Senior Showman

Mattisen Keeble

Reserve Champion Senior Showman

Raelan Sherouse

3rd Overall Senior Showman

Madison Stokes

4th Overall Senior Showman

Chasey McCrimmon

5th Overall Senior Showman

Carlee Taylor

Supreme Overall Showman

Mattisen Keeble

Reserve Overall Showman

Kinsley Abner

CENTRAL FLORIDA YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE BEEF BREEDING SHOW

TOP 5 Supreme Commercial Bulls

Supreme Champion Bull – Carlee Taylor- 108K2

Reserve Supreme Champion Bull –

Chasey McCrimmon- Moreno Mr. Roly Poly

3rd Overall Bull – Elizabeth McDowellEM Joseph 202

4th Overall Bull – Madison Stokes- MR

MS Cheecho

5th Overall Bull – Marlee Goodman- AT MR Conway 104/3

Zebu Bulls

Grand Champion Zebu Bull- Eduardo Martinez

Reserve Champion Zebu Bull- Evangelina Garcia

Bred & Owned Commercial Bulls

Bred & Owned Champion Bull

Carlee Taylor - 108K2

Bred & Owned Reserve Champion Bull

Elizabeth McDowell - EM JOSEPH 202

TOP 5 Supreme Overall Females

Supreme Champion Female – Raelan Sherouse

Reserve Champion Female – Kinsley

Abner

Registered Females

AOB

Champion AOB Heifer

Emily Cason- HAR Queen of Class K05

Reserve Champion AOB Heifer

Mckenzie Hollie- Cecila

Maine AOB

Champion AOB Heifer

Raelan Sherouse – Lady Voodoo Astn

Paris~ ASTN1K

Reserve Champion AOB Heifer

Ansley Bryant- DCSR Annies Money 340L

Brahman

Champion Brahman Heifer

Madison Stokes- Moreno Ms. Lady Riza

Reserve Champion Brahman Heifer

Markee Goodman- AT Miss Bree 61/2

Brangus

Champion Brangus Heifer

Madilyn Nichols- Shakira

Reserve Champion Brangus Heifer

Carlee Taylor- M&M 702L1

Simmental

Champion Simmental Heifer

Lillie Myers- Kershaw Cookie 945K

Reserve Champion Simmental Heifer

Carlie Shenefield - BFGM Marie Laveau

750K

Zebu

Champion Zebu Heifer

Isabella Silva- Dundee Ridge Blossom

Reserve Champion Zebu Heifer

Dundee Ridge FFA #4- Dundee Ridge

Lola

Commercial Females

Champion American Influenced

Layla Quattlebaum

Reserve Champion American Influenced

Chasey McCrimmon

Champion European Commercial Heifer

Kinsley Abner- Lil Flirt

Reserve Champion European Commercial Heifer

Raelan Sherouse- Sassy

Cow/Calf Division

Cow/Calf Champion

Carlee Taylor- CT Ms Finley 108J2

Cow/Calf Reserve Champion

Zachary Gibbons- Gretchen

Bred & Owned Females

Bred & Owned Commercial Champion

Heifer

Lily Harwell- 318L

Bred & Owned Commercial Reserve

Champion Heifer

Madilyn Nichols- 617K2

CENTRAL FLORIDA YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE STEER SHOWS

Market Steer Division

Grand Champion Market Steer

Carlee Taylor- CFYIA 13

Reserve Champion Market Steer

Kinsley Abner- CFYIA 26

3rd Overall Market Steer

Carlee Shenefield- CFYIA 14

4th Overall Market Steer

Sarah Canton- CFYIA 23

5th Overall Market Steer

Wyatt Sherouse- CFYIA 17

Prospect Steer Division

Grand Champion Prospect Steer

Pierce Cribbs- 25

Reserve Champion Prospect Steer

Sarah Clanton- Barbara Show Cattle #24

Market Hog Division

Champion Lightweight Market Hogs

Charley Palmer – 228 lbs

Reserve Champion Lightweight Market Hogs

Alyssa Hillman – 224 lbs

Champion Middleweight Market Hogs

Kylynn Walls – 268 lbs

Reserve Champion Middleweight Market Hogs

Cason Herman – 263 lbs

Champion Heavyweight Market Hogs

Haylie Stephens -282lbs

Reserve Champion Heavyweight Market Hogs

Camdyn Herman- 285 lbs

Overall Champion Market Hog

Haylie Stephens

Overall Reserve Champion Market Hog

Kylynn Walls

3rd Overall Market Hog

Camdyn Herman

4th Overall Market Hog

Carter Price

5th Overall Market Hog

Charley Palmer

Breeding Gilt Division

Champion Duroc

Garrett Harrison- 9-7

Champion Yorkshire

Haylie Stephens- 10-4

Champion AOB

Haylie Stephens- 4-6

Purebred Champions

Champion Purebred Breeding Gilt

Haylie Stephens- 4-6

Reserve Champion Purebred Breeding

Gilt

Garrett Harrison- 9-7

Crossbred Champions

Champion Crossbred Breeding Gilt

Camdyn Herman- 140-4

Reserve Champion Crossbred Breeding Gilt

Haylie Stephens- 7-3

Swine Showmanship Results

Champion Adaptive Showman Swine –

Jacob Melton

Champion Overall Showman – Camdyn Herman

Champion Novice Showman

Braxton Tucker

Reserve Champion Novice Showman

Garrett Harrison

3rd Overall Novice Showman

Ansley Hill

4th Overall Novice Showman

Colt Cooper

5th Overall Novice Showman

Westin Decatur

Champion Junior Showman

Cason Herman

Reserve Champion Junior Showman

Sallas Stephens

3rd Overall Junior Showman

Kylynn Walls

4th Overall Junior Showman

Raelan Sowell

5th Overall Junior Showman

Jacoby Williams

Champion Intermediate Showman

Camdyn Herman

Reserve Champion Intermediate Showman

Charley Palmer

3rd Overall Intermediate Showman

Haylie Stephens

4th Overall Intermediate Showman

Addison Hill

5th Overall Intermediate Showman

Aubrey Hill

Champion Senior Showman

Max Keen

Reserve Champion Senior Showman

Delaney Price

3rd Overall Senior Showman

Sophia Dufour

4th Overall Senior Showman

Charleigh Wood

5th Overall Senior Showman

Ryleigh Kilpatrick

• One cup of blueberries contains 80 calories, 3.6 grams of fiber and 25 percent of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C.

• Blueberries have high levels of antioxidants, such as anthocyanins – the compounds that color blueberries blue.

• A 2012 study suggested that eating at least one serving of blueberries a week slowed cognitive decline by several years.

• April 28th is National Blueberry Pie Day.

• Native Americans once called blueberries “star berries” because the blossoms make a star shape.

Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington.

Getting Older

It seems the older I get the less I can remember. I have to keep a pad and pencil in my shirt pocket with my meeting dates and things to do for the day. Checking around I notice I am not alone with this problem.

I decide to wash my car. As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trashcan is full. So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first, but then I think that since I’m going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first. I take my checkbook off the table and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking. I’m going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don’t accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers

Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the April 2018 issue

on the counter catches my eye – they need to be watered. So I set the Coke down on the counter and I discover my reading glasses that I’ve been searching for all morning. I decide I’d better put them back on my desk, but first I’m going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water, and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, we will be looking for the remote but nobody will remember that it’s on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I’ll water the flowers. I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do. At the end of the day; the car isn’t washed, the bills aren’t paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren’t watered, and there is still only one check in my checkbook. I can’t find the remote, I can’t find my glasses, and I don’t remember what I did with the car keys. Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I’m really baffled because I know I was busy all day long and I’m really tired. I realize this is a serious problem, and I’ll try to get some help for it, but first

I’ll check my e-mail. Don’t laugh – if this isn’t you yet, your day is coming! And if I have sent this to you before….well, now you know why you’re getting it again.

Have you heard the story about the elderly woman that goes to the bar on a cruise ship and orders a Scotch with two drops of water? As the bartender gives her the drink she says, “I’m on this cruise to celebrate my 80th birthday today.” The bartender says, ‘Well, since it’s your birthday, I’ll buy you a drink. In fact, this one is on me.” As the woman finishes her drink, the woman to her right says, “I would like to buy you a drink, too.” The old woman says, “Thank you bartender, I want a Scotch with two drops of water.”

“Coming up,” says the bartender. As she finishes that drink, the man to her left says, “I would like to buy you one, too.” The old woman says, “Thank you. Bartender, I want another Scotch with two drops of water.”

‘’Coming right up,” the bartender says. As he gives her the drink, he says, “Ma’am, I’m dying of curiosity. Why the Scotch with only two drops of water?” The old woman replies, “Sonny, when you’re my age, you’ve learned how to hold your liquor. Holding your water, however, is a whole other issue.”

A young man saw an elderly couple sitting down to lunch at McDonald’s. He noticed that they had ordered one meal, and an extra drink cup. As he watched, the gentleman carefully divided the hamburger in half, then counted out the fries, one for him, one for her, until each had half of them. Then he poured half of the soft drink into the extra cup and set that in front of his wife. The old man then began to eat, and his wife sat watching, with her hands folded in her lap. The young man decided to ask if they would allow him to purchase another meal for them so that they didn’t have to split theirs. The old gentleman said, “Oh no. We’ve been married 50 years, and everything has always been and will always be shared, 50/50.” The young man then asked the wife if she was going to eat, and she replied, “Not yet. It’s his turn with the teeth.”

Lastly, a police car pulls up in front of grandma Bessie’s house, and grandpa Morris gets out. The polite policeman explained that this elderly gentleman said that he was lost in the park and couldn’t find his way home. “Oh Morris,” said grandma, “You’ve been going to that park for over 30 years! How could you get lost?” Leaning close to grandma, so that the policeman couldn’t hear, Morris whispered, “I wasn’t lost. I was just too tired to walk home.”

Spring Cleaning

By Maggie Fussell

Spring is here which means blooming flowers, rainy afternoons, warmer days, and spring cleaning. In Florida, seasons don’t exist so we could call it spring cleaning any time of the year. We spend a day, week, or month cleaning our homes and finishing projects. Spring cleaning is a time to do all the deep cleaning that we put off during the winter months. Cleaning a house is a lot of work that takes time and patience to complete. However, when completed there is a feeling of satisfaction as you walk around your freshly cleaned home. Spring cleaning should go beyond dusting, vacuuming, and organizing. While we clean what is around us, we should clean what is within us. Take this season to clean your mind of the worry and disappointments the year has brought. Clean your heart of the sadness or sorrow that suffocates you. Clean your body of the weariness and pain that each day brings. Clean what is broken inside of you to experience joy. It will not be easy, but the most beautiful things come from faith. Don’t stop, finish the race and celebrate your victory. As you start spring cleaning this year make a checklist of what must be done outside and inside. Experience the pleasure, hope, and peace that results from this season.

SPIRITUAL SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST:

1. Pray: “Pray without ceasing.” (Ephesians 5:17, KJV). Have a conversation with God. Share the good, bad and ugly with him.

2. Let go, Let God: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy

ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, KJV)

Take everything you have to God and leave it there. Trust in God to take control and encounter his eternal goodness.

3. Patience: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10. KJV)

Once you give it to God, be still in his presence. Let God’s will be done and not your own.

4. Awareness: “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, KJV)

Be aware of the work that God is doing in your life. It may be little blessings or big miracles.

5. Keep Going: “For thou, Lord, has not forsaken them that seek thee.” (Psalm 9:10, KJV)

God is with you every step of the way. Let his constant presence strengthen you to move forward.

6. Joy and Peace: “Now the God of hope fills you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13, KJV)

Let the Holy Spirit fill you with joy and peace as you go through your day. Walk in hope because God is with you.

7. Thankfulness: “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.” (Psalm 86:12, KJV).

Thank God every day in every season and circumstance.

10 TIPS TO SAVE WATER

By Jim Frankowiak

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board has declared April Water Conservation Month. April is historically one of the driest months of the year and typically marks the peak demand season for public water suppliers.

The District is currently under a Modified Phase I Water Shortage through July 1, 2024, which prohibits “wasteful and unnecessary” water use and limits outdoor irrigation to one-day-per week in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

The District is offering 10 simple tips to help you can lower your monthly water bill and do your part to save hundreds of gallons of water:

INDOOR

• Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when they are full.

• Use the shortest clothes washing cycle for lightly soiled loads; normal and permanent-press wash cycles use more water.

• Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water.

• Scrape, don’t rinse, your dishes before loading in the dishwasher.

• Install high-efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets.

OUTDOOR

• Check your home’s irrigation system for leaks.

• Turn off your irrigation system and only water as needed.

• Don’t leave sprinklers unattended. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn sprinklers off.

• Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle when washing the car.

• Consider installing a rain barrel with a drip irrigation system for watering your landscaping. Rainwater is free and better for your plants because it doesn’t contain hard minerals.

Leaks are the biggest water waster, both inside and outside of your home. You can use your water meter to check for leaks. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances and make sure no one uses water during the testing period. Wait for the hot water heater and ice cube makers to refill and for regeneration of water softeners. Go to your water meter and record the current reading. Wait 30 minutes. (Remember, no water should be used during this period.) Read the meter again. If the reading has changed, you have a leak.

For more information about water conservation, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/Water101.

FLORIDA SUGAR SNAP PEAS

By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science

Fresh Florida sugar snap peas are at their peak now in the early spring months. Also known as snap peas, they are eaten whole, pods, seeds, and all. The pods are tender and less fibrous than those of snap beans or peas. They grow well in moderately cool, moist climates and are a cross between snow peas and garden peas. The whole pod is eaten and has a crunchy texture and very sweet flavor. Sugar snap peas are sweet and crunchy and eaten both raw or cooked. The tender, round pods have crisp, thick walls with tiny tender sweet peas inside, unlike snow peas which have a flat pod with thin translucent walls. The main producers of sugar snap peas in the United States are California, Florida, New Jersey, and Hawaii, and can be grown in home gardens in many states.

Nutrition

Sugar snap peas are low in calories and are an excellent source of vitamins C, A, and K, and rich in iron. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of fresh sugar snap peas (98 g) contains 41 calories, 2.7 g protein, 0.2 g fat, 7.4 g carbohydrate, and 2.5 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 98% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin C, 31% for vitamin K, 21% for vitamin A, 12% of manganese, 11% for iron, and 10% for thiamin and folate. Fresh Florida sugar snap peas also contain notable amounts of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

Antioxidant vitamins

Sugar snap peas are high in a variety of nutrients, including antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that work together to promote a healthy heart. This legume boasts high levels of the antioxidants vitamins A and C, which work to reduce the amount of free radicals in the body and prevent their damaging effects in cells. By fighting cell and tissue damage, vitamin C may help protect against cancer and other diseases. Vitamin C is also important for a healthy immune system, cancer prevention, healthy blood circulation, and wound healing. This vitamin also helps the body absorb more iron and aids in the development of strong bones and teeth.

Heart healthy benefits

Sugar snap peas are also high in other important nutrients,

including potassium, magnesium, and folate. Potassium and magnesium work together to promote healthy heart functioning and lower high blood pressure. A healthy heart rhythm is influenced by these minerals. Potassium helps regulate fluids and mineral balance, aids in muscle contraction and helps transmit nerve impulses.

How to Select and Store

Choose firm, green pods that are free of blemishes and snap crisply when bent. Pick snap peas when pods have started to fill in and round. If left on the vine too long, the pods of snap peas become too fibrous and tough. Examine the pointy ends and avoid those that are wrinkly or shriveled. Snap peas are best eaten as soon as possible, but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three or four days. They can also be blanched in boiling water and frozen to enjoy for later use.

How to Enjoy

Fresh sugar snap peas are delicious eaten raw, out-of-hand. They can be served with other raw vegetables with a dip or in any salad. They can also be boiled, steamed, roasted, or grilled. Snap peas are fairly delicate and are cooked for a very short time, to maintain its crisp texture.

Here are some more ideas:

• Boil in salted water until crisp-tender, about 1-2 minutes

• Stir-fry snap peas with teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds

• Toss raw or steamed snap peas into a salad

• Arrange on a crudité plate with raw carrots and cucumber

• Sauté snap peas with butter and sliced almonds for an easy side dish

• Toss into soups and stews

Enjoy fresh Florida sugar snap peas in their peak season today. With its crisp sweet flavor, you can boost your health and lower your risk of cancer by eating more delicious snap peas.

SELECTED REFERENCES

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/

http://www.whfoods.com

http://www.wikipedia.org

POLK COUNTY CATTLEMEN’S SWEETHEART: BAILEY LIGHTSEY

By Blair Buchanon | Photo Courtesy of Images Byblair

“Before marrying Tobias she spent her youthful days in cotton fields where her father worked as a sharecropper, and she knew work from the moment she was strong enough to carry a water bucket from well to kitchen. She was the personification of strength, and it affected all those around her,” said Patrick D. Smith. This quote comes from a popular book here in Florida that many of you have probably read or are planning to read, A Land Remembered. The 2024-2025 Polk County Cattlemen’s Association (PCCA) Sweetheart, Bailey Lightsey, is the epitome of this quote about Emma from the famous book. Since she was old enough to swing a hammer, Bailey has been out in the field helping her family work on the ranch and tend to the cattle.

Bailey Lightsey is the daughter of Clint and Jessica Lightsey, the granddaughter of Larry and Jennifer Parrish and Cary and Marcia Lightsey, the twin sister to Morgan Bourn, and sister to Hattie, Hanna, Gus, and Ryder Lightsey. As you can see, Bailey comes from a large, but very loving and supportive family. She was homeschooled until she graduated high school in April of 2021. Her siblings would take turns on who got to stay inside and learn, while the others were outside learning the lay of the land. When she wasn’t studying, she was outside with her dad learning how to fix fence, spray weeds, ride horses, work cows and so much more. She grew up playing soccer and lacrosse and showing purebred Brahman cattle through Lucky A’s 4-H and Farm Fresh 4-H. One quote that she keeps with her is, “Laziness is disrespectful to those who believe in you” and as you can see, this young lady cannot be labeled as lazy.

Nowadays, Bailey spends her time earning her bachelor’s degree from Warner University on a lacrosse scholarship majoring in Agriculture and minoring in Business. A typical day

for Bailey looks like this: waking up early to take care of the animals, class, lacrosse practice or lifting weights, attending church, and spending time with her family. She loves to hunt, whether it is hogs, turkey, or deer, and spends many hours horseback on her mare Cat. One of her current passions is assisting with Outdoor Dream Foundation (ODF) guided hunts. “Outdoor Dream Foundation grants outdoor adventures to children and youth under 21 years of age who have been diagnosed with terminal or life-threatening illnesses” according to the ODF website. Whether it is cleaning the cabin to prepare for the visitors, helping them get set up on a trophy harvest, or filling feeders, Bailey loves to be a part of this experience for these special individuals.

Bailey also enjoys getting to be a part of the day working crews when they are working cattle. She is a jack of all trades and a master of none, as their crew switches jobs each day. One day she could be in the back pushing the cattle up, and the next she could be at the opposite end working the squeeze chute or branding. On their cattle crew, everyone is treated equally, and just because you are a girl doesn’t mean that you are excused from work. Bailey says that she is blessed to come from such a hard-working family and her role model is her dad. A song by Aaron Watson, Diamonds and Daughters, reminds me of the love between a father and daughter, and it goes like this, “I found fortune like diamonds, In the love of a daughter, Worth more than all the gold in the world, And they say that a son is the pride of a father, But my heart belongs to my little girl.” Bailey is also very strong in her faith at such a young age. She shares “I like to give everything I have and own to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I’d also like to educate people about my journey through Christ.”

Although Bailey doesn’t have a career path picked out, she plans to stay heavily involved in the agriculture and beef cattle industries and one day hopes to own and operate a cracker horse operation and own a herd of tigerstripes. This term “tigerstripes” is used in reference to a F1 cross of cattle. According to Hereford.org, “Tigerstripe” is a term used to describe the F1 cross of Hereford and Brahman because of the animal’s tiger-like striped brindle hair. The cross is traditionally known to combine the beefier Hereford of English descent with the more heat-tolerant Bos indicus Brahman.”

To become the PCCA Sweetheart, Bailey had to submit an essay, attend an interview, submit a video of her carrying a flag on her horse for the ranch rodeo, and have a parent who is a member of PCCA. She shared that one of her goals as Sweetheart is to make her family proud and spread the word of God and the cattle industry. Although she has only officially been Sweetheart for a few short months, she has already been hard at work by carrying our nation’s flag at the PCCA Ranch Rodeo, passing out awards at various cattle shows in the area including the Florida Strawberry Festival Beef Breed Show

and Central Florida Youth in Ag (CFYIA), and she attended Agri-Fest. She has big plans between now and the long trek to Marco Island to compete for the 2024 Florida Cattlemen’s Association Sweetheart title. This process is quite rigorous and is as follows: selling raffle tickets, participating in several business interviews, taking a written beef industry exam, being presented on stage before FCA and FCW membership, presenting a PowerPoint presentation before the judges, and she is expected to display professionalism throughout the contest. “Bailey is an exceptional young woman and an advocate for our industry. Her love for the cattle industry is unmatched and her dedication to preserving our heritage is unwavering. We are incredibly blessed to have such a beautiful, determined, and well-spoken young woman representing the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association and Warner University as this year’s Sweetheart Candidate at the Florida Cattlemen’s State Convention,” Dr. LuJean Waters Stein, current PCCA President and Warner University Professor said.

Let’s all pray for Bailey as she competes in a few months and wish her luck!

KNOW YOUR BEEF – THE BEEF PRODUCTION PROCESS

By Bridget Stice, UF/IFAS Livestock Extension Agent

As a Livestock Extension Agent for the University of Florida and Polk County, my role is to provide unbiased information on forage and livestock production to the citizens of Polk County, mainly assisting beef cattle operators in improving efficiency and sustainability. This article initiates a series aimed at increasing knowledge about beef production and offering tips for selecting the perfect beef cut for gatherings. Today, we'll explore the various segments of the beef industry, including seedstock operations, cow-calf operations, stockers, feeders, packers, and retailers, all contributing to delivering safe, wholesome, and nutritious beef products.

Seedstock operations serve as the foundation of the beef industry, specializing in the breeding and selection of superior genetic stock for commercial cow-calf producers. These operations select breeding animals based on desirable traits such as growth rate, carcass quality, and maternal instincts, aiming to improve the overall genetics of beef cattle herds. Through rigorous genetic testing, performance evaluations, and selective breeding programs, seedstock operations produce high-quality breeding stock.

Cow-calf operations are the primary segment of Florida's beef industry, emphasizing the breeding and nurturing of cows and their offspring. These operations prioritize managing cattle for optimal reproductive capabilities, aiming to yield healthy calves destined for stocker or feedlot operations. Ranchers maintain herds of breeding cows, selecting for superior genetics, maternal instincts, and adaptability to the local environment. In Florida's subtropical climate, calves are typically born during the spring or fall, and raised alongside their mothers on expansive pastures where they graze and thrive until weaning age. Vital to sustaining the beef supply chain, cow-calf operations serve as the cornerstone of further production stages while responsibly stewarding the land and its resources for generations to come. Florida's beef industry thrives on its favorable climate, abundant pastureland, and rich ranching heritage, offering nearly year-round grazing opportunities. Grazing cattle on the state's vast grasslands not only enhances productivity but also fosters wildlife habitats, promotes aquifer recharge, and aids in carbon recovery. With Florida's population steadily growing, the preservation of this greenspace becomes increasingly important. Rooted in a centuries-old tradition dating back to Spanish settlers in the 16th century, Florida's cattle ranching heritage persists today, positioning the state among the nation's top beef-producing regions with a diverse array of ranches spanning its landscapes.

The stocker/backgrounder segment of the beef industry focuses on the transitional phase between cow-calf operations and feedlots, where cattle are prepared for finishing. Stocker operations typically purchase weaned calves from cow-calf producers and place them on pasture or feedlots for a period of additional growth before entering the feedlot. During this phase, cattle undergo a process known as back-

grounding, where they are provided with supplemental feed and management to facilitate weight gain and acclimatization to feedlot diets. Stocker/backgrounder operations play a crucial role in optimizing the efficiency of beef production by utilizing available forage resources, enhancing cattle health, and preparing them for the finishing phase.

The feedlot segment of the beef industry focuses on finishing cattle for market, where they are fed a high-energy diet to achieve optimal marbling. In feedlots, cattle are fed a carefully balanced diet consisting of grains, roughage, and supplements to promote efficient growth and muscle development. This phase typically lasts several months until the cattle reach the desired market finish, at which point they are harvested for processing.

The packer segment of the beef industry involves the processing and packaging of beef products for distribution to retailers, restaurants, and consumers. Packer facilities receive cattle from feedlots and other sources, where they are harvested and inspected according to strict food safety and quality standards. Skilled workers then cut and package the beef into various cuts and products, ready for shipment. Packers play a crucial role in ensuring the safety, quality, and consistency of beef products while adhering to regulatory requirements and meeting the diverse demands of the market. The final segment of the beef industry before it reaches the consumer is the retailers, restaurants, and hotel industries. Retailers encompass grocery stores, butcher shops, and other outlets where consumers purchase beef products. Retailers, restaurants, and hotels source beef from packers and distributors, offering a wide range of cuts and products to meet consumer preferences. They play a key role in marketing and merchandising beef, providing information on product origin, quality, and cooking methods to consumers. Retailers strive to maintain high standards of freshness, safety, and quality assurance, ensuring that consumers have access to a diverse selection of safe, wholesome, and nutritious beef.

This overview of the various segments of the beef industry and Florida's role within it. From the foundational efforts of seedstock operations to the high standards of retailers, restaurants, and hotels, each sector plays a crucial part in delivering safe, wholesome, and nutritious beef products to consumers. Florida's rich tradition of cattle ranching, coupled with its favorable climate and abundant pastureland, has positioned the state as a leader in beef production. As we continue this series, we will delve deeper into each segment of the beef industry, offering insights and tips to empower consumers and stakeholders alike. Stay tuned for the next issue, where we will explore more facets of beef production and provide practical guidance for selecting the perfect beef cut for any occasion. If you have a topic that you would like to see addressed in this article series, please contact me at bccarlis@ufl.edu.

FLORIDA OJ INDUSTRY WEATHERS COMPOUNDING PRESSURES

By Megan Winslow

A significant portion of consumers are drawn to Florida’s iconic drink despite recent economic setbacks, a study of the state’s orange juice industry by University of Florida researchers reveals.

“There is an intrinsic value that consumers have for Florida orange juice. When they think of Florida, orange juice is often part of the imagery,” said Marisa Zansler, director of economic and market research with the Florida Department of Citrus and a co-author of an Ask IFAS document tracking OJ purchasing habits.

Researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) food and resource economics department followed the trajectory of 100% orange juice sales between 2018 and 2023, a period when the state’s citrus crops grappled with violent weather, a voracious bacterial disease and the highest inflation rates the country has experienced in more than 40 years.

Most surprising among the findings was the fluctuation in OJ prices over time, said Sungeun Yoon, an assistant research scientist with the UF/IFAS food and resource economics department.

Sales of orange juice soared during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, increasing 16% in sales volume and 18% in dollar sales compared to 2019, according to the document.

The researchers said consumers were likely influenced by the health benefits associated with the drink.

The “pandemic effect” began to fade in 2021, however, with OJ volume sales decreasing 7% and dollar sales decreasing 4% compared to the year before. At the same time, inflation was climbing, and the price of OJ eventually increased enough to keep retail dollar sales consistent with pandemic levels.

But prices kept rising, and a gallon of orange juice cost $8.82 by the first quarter of 2023, 14% higher than in 2022 when customers paid $7.77. For many consumers, the price proved too high and dollar sales correspondingly decreased 11% from $860 million to $765 million during that first quarter on a year-over-year basis.

The spread of Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, and damage from weather-related events like Hurricane Irma in 2017, Hurricane Ian in 2022, and a freeze in 2022 have also hurt the state’s citrus industry, Zansler said.

“These supply-side disruptions have had a profound and direct impact on the cost of production, leading to higher OJ prices,” Zansler said.

While all these factors have resulted in less orange juice sold and less revenue earned, the share of OJ consumers is relatively constant.

UF’s Florida Agricultural Marketing Research Center designed a consumer tracker survey to gain insight into shopping behavior and attitudes toward orange juice.

By gathering data from 500 adult grocery shoppers every month, the tracker determined the percentage of active OJ consumers, defined as those who purchased the product in the past 30 days. That figure increased from 48% in 2021 to 51% in 2022 and remained constant during the first four months of 2023.

The tracker also revealed 60% of respondents queried since 2019 consider OJ a valuable food product, according to the document.

“It was reassuring to observe the relatively constant shares of consumers who purchased OJ in the past 30 days and who have a positive perception of OJ during the inflationary period,” Yoon said. “This signals the possibility of higher OJ demand once the OJ price level stabilizes.”

ABOUT UF/IFAS

The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/ IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.

ifas.ufl.edu | @UF_IFAS

WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME

Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at ifas.ufl.edu/food or follow #FoodIsOurMiddleName.

NEWS BRIEFS

Compiled by Jim Frankowiak

District Encourages Irrigation Timer Check

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers as a result of daylight saving time changes.

The time change is also a good time to make sure irrigation system timers are set correctly to ensure that the systems operate consistently with year-round water conservation measures.

Know and follow your local watering restrictions, but don’t water just because it’s your day. Irrigate your lawn when it shows signs of stress from lack of water. Pay attention to signs of stressed grass:

• Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise on at least onethird of your yard.

• Grass blades appear blue-gray.

• Grass blades do not spring back, leaving footprints on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it.

For additional information about water conservation, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/Conservation.

FDACS Offering FSMA Compliance Assistance

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is currently conducting Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule inspections on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDACS is offering two ways to prepare for these inspections:

• Grower training classes offered in partnership with the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) at various locations statewide, and

• On-Farm readiness reviews, also conducted by FDACS and UF/IFAS

For more information, visit: www.FDACS.gov/FSMA.

Survey Seeks Insights on Usage of Horse Genetic Testing Tools

University of Florida (UF) animal scientists have released a new survey aimed at gathering information from horse owners and professionals on their use of genetic tools. Horse aficionados, from industry professionals to hobbyists, are encouraged to take the survey to assist the International Horse Genome Project with setting new long-term goals.

The project includes more than 100 researchers across the globe. This survey will poll professional and hobbyist horse owners – everyone from feed store workers to horse business owners to equine fans – to gauge how they use equine genetics tools, such as health and performance panels.

The goal of the survey is to get ideas and feedback from various sectors on how they use current genetic testing tools and what critical needs exist that they want scientists to address, said Samantha Brooks, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor of equine physiology.

“Each of these groups brings a unique perspective that we want to include when we decide what our goals are going to be for the next five to 10 years,” she said.

The survey can be completed via: ufl.qualtrics.com.

The survey was created by UF/IFAS in collaboration with scientists from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Department of Animal Science at the University of California-Davis, and the Department of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the University of Arizona.

District Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Hillsborough County

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns April through June on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve.

The Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard near Thonotosassa. Approximately 200 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.

Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:

• Reducing overgrown plants, which decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

• Promoting the growth of new, diverse plants.

• Maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat.

• Maintaining access for public recreation.

The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 30,000 acres each year.

The Great State Parks of Florida

by John Dicks

Earlier this year, just by chance, I came across a bargain. For a short period of time, Annual Passes to Florida State Parks were on sale at half price!

Probably because our state coffers were overflowing with a budget surplus, it was a grand idea to give some back, encouraging us to enjoy what is promoted as the Real Florida. To visit for half price all 175 of our parks was way too enticing for my very frugal mindset to simply let go.

The discount made my Annual Family Pass only $60! Yes, it’s now twice that, but still, it gets a total of eight people, entering as a group, a day’s entrance to all of them for a year.

There are two exceptions to the 8-person entry with the Annual Family Pass. One is for Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, and the other is for Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

Both of them offer unique infrastructure for getting you below the surface of the water to get a fish-eye view of life in the spring. Of course, too, Weeki Wachee has daily shows of those Mermaids cavorting underwater, which always delights the crowds!

Other than those two, here’s a few of my favorite parks close to home:

Alafia River State Park (14326 S. County Road 39, Lithia) - Right down the road for most of us, its claim to fame is the radical elevation changes in its topography. With what started as a reclaimed phosphate mine, it’s become a hotspot for mountain bikers who love the scenic biking trails with hills and drops rarely found in the flat lands of Florida.

Popular, too, with horseback riders who like the variety of terrain, it has 20 miles to explore of hilly trails through forests and flat woods with lakes to stop by and just chill.

If you care to camp, but prefer to not to pitch your own tent, there’s even Glamping available which gives you, for a fee, a night under the stars sleeping on a memory foam mattress, along with a fan, cooler, kitchen station, grill, and fire pit!

Hillsborough River State Park (15402 U.S. 301 North, Thonotosassa) - Along with the seven miles of hiking trails, the park is mostly known for its rare (in Florida) Class II river rapids. They make for an interesting, if not exciting, canoe or kayak trip along the scenic river.

Glamping opportunities are also available, as is just regular camping. It also offers an interesting hands-on history lesson through exploring onsite the Fort Foster State Historic Site, which is a reproduction of the fort originally built there in 1836.

Myakka River State Park (13208 State Road 72 Sarasota) - This is a huge state park, encompassing some 58 square miles! There’s plenty of room for boating, fishing, hiking, and camping. Flowing through the park, the Myakka River was Florida’s first designated wild and scenic river. With its vast expanse of unspoiled wetlands, prairies, and hammocks, it’s revealing what the Real Florida once actually looked like.

Unique to the park is the very popular Myakka Canopy Walkway. Completed nearly 25 years ago, it’s the first public treetop trail in North America. A short walk through the trees 25’ above the ground gives a birds-eye view of life in the trees. It also includes a taller tower, 74 feet in the air, presenting spectacular views of the immense park.

170 More - Obviously I’ve just scratched the surface, so to speak. Surely, the state parks of Silver Springs pop up in your mind as a great one, as does Rainbow Springs. So, too, for anyone who went to went to school at the University of Florida, Ichetucknee Springs, always conjures up fond memories.

Time is fleeting. Go visit some of Florida’s State Parks!

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.

THE FARMER’S FORK

By Libby Hopkins

Amanda Short and her family are the proud owners of The Farmer’s Fork agricultural co-op in Frostproof. “I am a mother, wife, and farmer,” Short said. “I have degrees in business and agriculture. My greatgrandparents were corn, beef and chicken farmers in Maquoketa, IA, and their land continues to be farmed on today. I guess you could say I am a ‘restarted fourth generation farmer’ because it skipped a few generations.”

The idea for The Farmer’s Fork stemmed from the idea of a farmers’ market mixed with the ease of popular grocery delivery services. “This idea is for those like myself who do not have the time or the want to go to an actual farmers market,” Short said. “In addition to that, as a farmer and landowner, I wanted to offer the items I already produce for my family to others, because everyone deserves to eat like a farmer.” There are many benefits to agriculture co-ops. The agricultural co-op is a popular crop and livestock production model. There are over 1.2m farming co-ops worldwide.

Cooperatives help build sustainable communities in rural areas. The role of cooperatives in agricultural development is numerous. Cooperated growers enter

a bigger market to sell their goods and buy input supplies at lower prices. More opportunities mean better economic development and the rural population’s welfare.

Compared to individual farmers, co-op members are more economically protected and face lower risks. Cooperated farmers produce goods and render various services being owners and users at the same time. Besides, agriculture co-ops can sell their products avoiding middlemen fees, which increases farmers’ profits. The main idea of agricultural co-ops is self-support: all members help each other and share risks. The primary focus of such organizations is member interests.

The advantages of agricultural cooperation are multifold and embrace economic and social aspects. Some of them are direct, impacting net margins or savings, and some of them are indirect, affecting market price formation and improving the quality of goods and services. The pluses of cooperation may be obvious right after the agricultural co-op establishment or understood in the course of time. (https://eos.com/blog/ agricultural-cooperatives) “The Farmer’s Fork is different because we have more than just produce,” Short said. “Not only do we offer seasonal locally grown

produce but we also collaborate with multiple farmers, producers, and ranchers in the area to offer raw dairy, proteins, cheeses, and baked goods.”

The Farmer’s Fork’s local clients are very supportive of their co-op. “The feedback we have gotten from the community has been very positive and rewarding,” Short said. “We are grateful for all of our customers that continue to order from us. The feedback from the agricultural community has also been supportive and encouraging. In the world that we live in today, agriculture needs to be advocated and supported for the current and future generations to come.”

If you ask Short what her favorite part of The Farmer’s Fork is, she’ll tell you her animals. “I love the animals that provide for me and my family,” Short said. “Not only is there farm fresh beef, pork, and chicken in my freezer to nourish my family but every chore in our daily routine is a lesson for my two young children. This life we live is the greatest gift I could ever give them.”

Keeping things local is very important to Short and her family. “If you can get something local and support a family, why wouldn’t you,” Short said. “Consumers do not always realize where the food they eat and comes from. By supporting local, they are able to ask questions and build a relationship with the ones who put in the hard work, not just read a label. The Farmer’s Fork offers a variety of beef, pork, chicken, eggs, raw dairy, baked goods, and jellies/jams. We have pick up on the farm in Frostproof, a porch pick up option in Southeast Winter Haven, and also offer delivery in Southeast Polk County. We look forward to continuing to grow and also plan for community outreach in the future.”

If you’d like to learn more about The Farmer’s Fork, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ profile.php?id=100095069616954 or call 863-241-7954.

Recipes

Florida Blueberry Breakfast Casserole

INGREDIENTS

2 cups fresh Florida blueberries, rinsed and dried

1 loaf bread (your favorite kind)

4 ounces low-fat cream cheese (cold so it can be cubed)

8 large eggs, beaten

1 ½ cups low-fat milk

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup butter, melted

Nonstick cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut bread into 1-inch cubes. Cut cream cheese into small cubes. Lightly spray a 9x9x2-inch baking dish. Place half of the bread cubes in the dish. Evenly place the cream cheese cubes and 1 cup of the blueberries over the bread. Add the remaining bread cubes and blueberries to the top of the casserole. In a medium-sized bowl, combine eggs, milk, maple syrup and butter. Slowly pour egg mixture over bread. Cover casserole with foil and bake for approximately 45 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center of the casserole; when it comes out clean, remove the foil so the casserole can brown on top. Let cool slightly and serve warm with extra maple syrup on the side.

Florida Blueberry Biscuit Cookies

Ingredients

Blueberry Biscuit Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup Florida blueberries

1 cup Florida pecans, chopped

1/2 cup Florida honey, divided

2 tablespoons low-fat milk

2 cups biscuit mix

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine biscuit mix, blueberries, pecans, and milk. Mix well and add enough of the honey to make the mixture stiff like cookie dough. Place dough by tablespoonful onto a greased baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake until edges begin to brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle remaining honey on each cookie. Bake an additional 5 minutes and serve immediately.

Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Chef Justin Timineri

CREEK RANCH SPARED FROM DEVELOPMENT FOREVER

By Jim Frankowiak

Creek Ranch, a 1,342-acre property in northeast Polk County has been spared from development through the Florida Forever program. The ranch is considered a crucial segment of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, located on the west side of Lake Hatchineha.

Florida Forever is a state-funded, land conservation program overseen by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The program identifies properties with ecological value for purchase through the dedicated funding Florida Forever program.

The Florida Cabinet, consisting of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, approved the purchase on March 26.

The Creek Ranch property is north of the more than 8,000acre Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park and is surrounded by other protected tracts, including the Nature Conservancy’s Disney Wilderness Preserve to the

northeast and Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Wildlife Management Area to the southeast.

In addition to its location, the property has ecological value for a variety of habitats such as scrub and wetlands. Threatened and protected species such as fox squirrels, sand skinks, and gopher tortoises are present on the site, as well as bears and panthers.

Bob Adams, a co-owner of Creek Ranch with Reggie Baxter, credited Dean Saunders, managing director and senior adviser with SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate in Lakeland, with suggesting the possible sale of the property to the state.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is to serve as the managing agency of the parcel and is anticipated to make the property a wildlife management area, enabling the public to visit and allow hunting on it during specified seasons.

THE GRADY JUDD SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM

I’ve often said that Polk County is the best place in the country to live, work, visit, and raise a family. Part of that sentiment is due to the fact that despite our large size (we are the fourth largest county in the state) and growing population, the people who live here still treat each other like we’re all living in a “small town.” We care about each other. We help each other out. And we have so many wonderful local organizations that have a mission to serve others. One of those such organizations is the SPCA of Central Florida.

We were thrilled when the SPCA asked us if we would partner with them to help those in need by providing low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for pet owners who are struggling financially. I was humbled and honored that they wanted to put my name on it and asked for my help to promote it. Thus, the Grady Judd Spay and Neuter program was born.

So far, this program has raised over $34,000 to help offset the costs of spaying and neutering pets. This program is a win-win: it helps avoid the needless suffering caused by unwanted litters, and it helps pet owners continue to love and care for their pets when they might not otherwise have the financial means to do so.

Our goal for 2024 is to provide low cost spay and neuter services for 4,000 personal pets in Polk County. Please join me in raising awareness and essential funds by contributing in one of three ways:

Mail a check to the SPCA at 5850 Brannen Road South, Lakeland, FL, 33813; Call 863-577-4600; Or visit www.spcaflorida.org/GradyJudd.

By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff

A Closer Look

A Closer Look by Sean Green

Zombie Ants (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis)

Do you believe that the spores of a mushroom can infiltrate the body to create a zombie? A zombie is a creature that’s mind and body are characteristically controlled by an infection that forces it to wander among the masses that are doomed to become zombies themselves before dying and infecting the rest of the population. Books, movies, and video games often explore concepts that foreshadow future possibilities. Although zombification is popular science fiction for human beings, it is a bizarre reality for many insects. This month we will take a closer look at the fungi responsible for creating zombie ants, they are closer than you think.

On a recent hike through Dead River Park in Thonotosassa, I noticed a carpenter ant (Camponotus) clinging to a patch of Spanish moss. When I looked closer, I realized this was no ordinary ant, at least not anymore. This was what is known as a zombie ant, easily distinguished by its death grip on foliage and a fungal stalk growing out of its neck. Chris Kiddy, the program coordinator for Hillsborough County’s Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department was at the park setting up one of the camping events offered to the public. I showed Chris the zombie ant and explained what happened to it before suggesting his campers might enjoy seeing it and he could have fun with the zombie reference. Chris did share the zombie ant with the campers and later told me they were fascinated with the sighting, especially the teenagers; furthermore, campers soon discovered that it was not the only zombie ant to be found.

The zombie apocalypse genre dates to at least 1954 when Richard Matheson created the zombie-vampire novel I am Legend. Since then, there has been an increasing interest in the zombies in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres of literature, film, and video games. While some of these books and movies include the premise of a viral infection, the actual cause of zombification is still a mystery with hunches ranging from NASA radiation to divine intervention. There is however a game plot based on real science.

The Last of Us, a third person survival horror action adventure game released in 2013, features a plot in which 60 percent of humanity is wiped out by a mutant parasitic fungi Cordyceps, which happens to be a real-world organism. This organism was a featured segment of the BBC nature documentary Planet Earth (2006) and was the inspiration for the core game concept developed by Bruce Straley and Neil Druckman of Nauty Dog for the Sony’s Playstation 3 and Playstation 4. The game explores the notion of a real-world fungus evolving to infect human beings.

Cordyceps is a generic term that describes a genus of ascomycete (sac fungi) that spew spores from a sac like fruiting body. Recently renamed Ophiocordyceps, fungi in this genus include hundreds of species that parasitize various insects, not human beings, however, human beings have been consuming Cordyceps for thousands of years. The caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) for example, parasitizes the larvae of various Asian ghost moths (Hepialus) in Asia and is revered as an Asian herbal medicine traditionally selling for the equivalent of $500 to $1,300 an ounce. Caterpillar fungus typically has high levels of heavy metals such as arsenic that are potentially toxic and as such, have been heavily regulated since 2016. A variety of products are now marketed and sold as Cordyceps in North America.

The fungi responsible for the ant zombies is Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a fungus that parasitizes carpenter ants (Camponotus) and closely related species. The fungi depend on the ant host to survive and need specific conditions for optimal growth and propagation. Humidity must be 94-95 percent with temperatures between 68°F and 86°F. Spores attach to the outside of the ant’s exoskeleton and begin germination to grow long branching structures that secrete compounds that dissolve their way through the insect’s outer shell (cuticle). Once the cuticle is breeched, the fungi continues to grow on the inside of the insect’s body producing new compounds that change the insect’s circulatory system, behavioral characteristics and even replaces ant tissue with its own tissue as it grows. The infected ant first suffers severe convulsions that make it fall to the ground away from its peers and the infection takes complete control of the ant’s body, keeping the brain intact, but controlling the ant’s limbs. The infection drives the ant back up the stem to a precise height of 25.20 cm (± 2.46 cm) above the ground, always on the northern side of the plant, and always just above a busy foraging path of the colony. The infected ants last exertion will be its “death grip” on the underside of a leaf or Spanish moss with its mandibles as it dies, the fungi makes a meal of what is left of the ant’s body, replacing the ant’s innards with it’s own and eventually sprouting a fruiting body from just behind the ants head. The fruiting body matures and erupts to release spores onto the rest of the colony foraging below to begin a new cycle of infection. A successful infection can lead to as many as 30 dead ants per square meter, each of them with a death grip at precisely the right height and conditions for the fungi to grow and propagate.

I contacted the only zombie expert I know, my 9-year-old

niece Avril Simon Collazo of Chalmette, Louisiana. According to her, she knows “every single thing about zombies” and she described what she knew of zombie ants. Her initial comment was simple and to the point, “The fungus goes into the ant’s brain and makes the ant go onto a leaf until one day the fungus bursts out of the brain;” She continued, “It cannot happen to human beings though.”

When we talked about “cordyceps,” the fungal assailant in the video game The Last of Us, and I told her they are sold as herbal remedies, my little expert warned “DO NOT EAT THAT!” I suggested that it may reverse the infection in zombies, she disagreed, explaining “they probably wouldn’t swallow it since it wouldn’t be human flesh, they would probably spit it out like it’s a kid eating broccoli.”

“Humans turn to zombies by a virus,” she explained “The virus is pretty close to bone cancer and rabies” and clarified “If cancer and rabies were people and they had a child, that’s what the zombie virus would be, the infection transfers when you get bitten or scratched by a zombie. When you die, your brain dies, and that’s when the virus turns your brain back on and makes you into a zombie, and you have no control, you don’t remember anything and all you know is to feed.”

I sent Avril my picture of the zombie ant to get her opinion and she said she would look at it and reference her zombie book because it had a section for zombie ants. After reading to me several pages of zombie history, she confirmed that her book mentions examples of “zombies” in nature, specifically with the fungus of the genus Ophiocordyceps. So, there we have it, the spores of a mushroom can indeed infiltrate the body to create a zombie, although for the time being, it’s only the body of insects. The conditions are right for you all to witness this amazing natural phenomenon, remember, if you find one zombie ant, you are likely to find an entire horde, if you take a closer look.

Avril Simon Collazo

MEETING THE NEED FOR LARGE ANIMAL VETERINARIAN SERVICES

By Jim Frankowiak

The most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Census of Agriculture notes that Polk County has over 92,000 head of cattle with adjacent counties (Hillsborough, Hardee and Highlands) reporting over 150,000 head of cattle, as well. These are important factors with respect to our food supply.

Over the past several years, a number of food supply veterinarians have retired or passed away, resulting in a shortage of veterinarians available to serve animal producers in this area. All veterinary practices have expressed concerns with “burnout” and work-life balance. Polk is one of 500 counties nationally experiencing a “high priority” shortage of food animal veterinarians.

It should also be noted that while the USDA census focuses on cattle, the veterinarians caring for these animals also provide care for horses, ponies, burros, donkeys, sheep, lambs, hogs, and pigs – all considered large animals.

To help meet the demand for large animal veterinarians for their critical importance to national food safety and the nation’s food security infrastructure, the USDA created the

Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) to address the increasing levels of educational debt that put food animal practice out of financial reach for many new and mid-career veterinarians. VMLRP helps qualified veterinarians repay up to $75,000 of debt incurred in pursuit of their veterinary medical degrees in return for at least three years of service in designated veterinary shortage areas, such as Polk County.

The program is administered by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and only applies to debts incurred from attendance at American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education accredited veterinary schools, such as the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine.

More information on the debt relief program is available at: https://nifa.usda.gov/grants/prpgrams/veterinary-medicine-loan-repayment-program or by emailing: vmlrp@usda. gov.

Another way this animal care and safety shortage is being addressed is through the utilization of graduates of veterinary technology programs, offered in class and online at a number of American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited schools throughout Florida. One of these accredited schools is Hillsborough Community College (HCC) and its Veterinary Technology AS Program offered at the HCC –Plant City campus.

The HCC program, headed by Vincent Centonze, DVM, can be completed in two years or five consecutive terms. ‘A good veterinary technician is worth their weight in gold because they can do many functions in a clinic or in the field to help alleviate the workload on the veterinarian, freeing the veterinarian to do primary duties.”

The starting salary for veterinary technicians is currently ranging from $35,000 - $40,000

After completing the veterinary technology program, graduates are required to take a national examination prior to receiving their licenses or certification. Centonze noted the HCC Veterinary Technology Program “has among the highest national exam scores in the country at 94 percent” and program graduates experience 100 percent placement in career areas such as private practice, animal shelters, agriculture, biomedical research, zoo/wildlife medicine and more, he added.

For more information about the HCC Veterinary Technology AS degree, including the application process and requirements, visit hccfl.edu.

Vincent Centonze, DVM

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Many colors and styles to choose from. Ask for Ted. 813-752-3378

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JOHN DEERE

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Polk County Cattle Women County Cattle Women

I’d have to say that April is my favorite month out of the twelve. Not just because it’s my birth month, but because April showers bring May flowers, and who doesn’t like flowers!

April is also the month of the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association (PCCA) membership dinner where some of our hardworking cattlewomen will have cakes up for auction. Just as a reminder the money that we raise from the cake auction and our other events are used to pay for the scholarships that we give out each spring and fall. Speaking of scholarships, our scholarship deadline was April 1, and these recipients will be announced at the dinner this month.We will also have our ways and means table set up, so bring your cash or card if you’d like to purchase some PCCW merchandise.

If you’d like to be added to our email list, please email me at blairbuchanon@ gmail.com. I look forward to seeing everyone at the dinner and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything at all!

Polk County Cattlewomen President

blairbuchanon@gmail.com

Blair Buchanon

Blair Buchanon