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By Erica Hall When it comes to farming, one thing is for certain – time is of the essence. Planting, harvesting, propagating, fertilizing, watering and many other tasks can quickly consume the day and leave little time to think about how to obtain new and necessary farming equipment. Farm Credit of Central Florida has launched a new program called Farm Credit Express to help both full time and part time farmers quickly obtain a loan for the purchase of new and used equipment. The program officially launched in Central Florida in February 2015. The process is simple. A farmer or rancher looking to purchase equipment visits one of the 24 participating dealer locations in Central Florida. Once the equipment is selected, the customer’s application is submitted online by the dealership and, within 15 to 20 minutes, the loan can be approved. “This is a point-of-sale dealer credit program,” said Regina Thomas, Senior Vice President/Chief Business Development Officer for Farm Credit Central Florida. “Customers can go into a participating dealership, ask for a Farm Credit Express loan and they complete everything right there at the dealership. Once the loan is closed, the customer is then assigned to a local Farm Credit loan officer for personalized assistance.” The loan officer is just one more way that Farm Credit provides unique and individual service. Any time a customer might have a question regarding their express loan, the loan officer is ready to assist. They are also able to provide information regarding all of the services Farm Credit offers including agricultural lending, real estate, residential mortgages, crop insurance and more. To help provide quick and accessible information about Farm Credit Express, visit their website at www.farmcreditexpress.com. Once on the site, customers are able to utilize the many tools associated with the program. Options are provided to locate one of the many partici-
pating dealerships within Central Florida as well as a loan calculator, which helps customers to determine approximate payments. In addition, a dealer log-in is included for quick and easy use by all participating equipment and machinery dealers. Another benefit to the program is possible dividends. “Farm Credit is a locally operated, member owned cooperative,” Thomas explained. “Therefore, by participating in the Farm Credit Express Loan Program, the customer is eligible to receive patronage dividends, covering their cost of borrowing.” This is just another advantage to utilizing Farm Credit Express. Not only does it save time, it can also reap financial returns from the Farm Credit Association. As if all these benefits were not enough, Farm Credit wants to ensure this program is the best fit for customers. Therefore, on any piece of machinery or equipment that is less than 10 years old, they offer 100 percent financing for up to seven years. This gives the customers many options regarding which kind of equipment to buy, age of equipment, duration of the loan and payment size. And because so many Central Florida dealers are a part of the program, a customer can find the brand and type of equipment that suits their individual farming needs. In addition, Farm Credit offers monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual payments to match the farmer’s harvest income cycle. Whether you’re farming on a large scale or small scale, the Farm Credit Express Loan Program offers a variety of options to help you obtain the right equipment at the right price at the right time. Your time will be well spent by visiting a participating dealership and asking for a Farm Credit Express Loan. And your loan will be completed in such a quick and efficient manner, you will find yourself asking, “What will I do with all this extra time on my hands?”
For more information regarding the Farm Credit Express Loan Program, please visit www.farmcreditexpress.com or contact Regina Thomas at RThomas@farmcreditcfl.com or (407) 721-4687. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Moriah McCullers
VOL. 9 • ISSUE 8
page 24
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – Ray Clark (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay. rr.com
Cover Photo by Melissa Nichols
Contents APRIL 2016 Farm Credit Express
Endangered Specie
Page 3
Page 28
Master Gardener
Page 10
Florida Culantro
Page 31
IFAS
Page 12
Ranch Rodeo
Page 34
Fishing Hot Spots
Page 14
Recipes
Page 38
C.A.R.E.S
Page 16
Florida Legislature
Page 41
Activity
Page 18
Seed Starters
Rocking Chair Chatter
Page 22
Meet the Minks
Literary Time Machine
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earthlink.net Mike Facente (863) 697-9419
Vice President Carlton Taylor 863-781-1146 Carlton.Taylor@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Standing Committee Chairs:
Secretary/Treasurer Justin Bunch (863) 425-1121 jbunch@agriumretail. com
Events & Director Kevin Fussell (863) 412-5876
State Director – David McCullers (863) 635-2821crookedlakeranch@verizon. net
Rodeo- Fred Waters (863) 559-7808
Director – J. B. Wynn (863) 581-3255 jbwynn29@gmail.com Charles Clark (863) 528-8537 cclarkc4@yahoo.com L.B. Flanders, DVM (863) 644-5974 Mike Fussell (863) 698-8314 fussell.flafarm@verizon. net Moby Persing 863-528-4567 Dave Tomkow (863) 665-5088 cattlemenslivestock@
Membership- J.B. Wynn
Trade Show-
Website – Adam Norman 863-944-9293 Adam.norman@gmfind. com Cattlewomen – Vice President, Laura Slocumb (863) 660-7000 laura@higgenbotham. com Extension – Bridget Carlisle PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048 bccarlis@ufl.edu Sheriff’s Dept. – Sgt. Tommy Dixon (863) 534-7205 tdixon@polksheriff.org
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Letter from the Editor
STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry
April is here! What does that mean? It’s National Gardening Month. So you don’t have the available space for a garden? You can use a multitude of containers for your garden and have it as part of your yard, porch or balcony. All you need is a spot in the sun and it’s time to get your hands dirty. It’s good for your health, nutrition and it helps make our country a little greener. April 26 is Ag Literacy Day. Those involved in the agriculture industry are encouraged to read Florida Agriculture in the Classroom’s newest book to elementary students. For more information on the event visit www.agtag. org. Remember when shopping for your table to buy Fresh From Florida. You will be buying fresh, wholesome, delicious food from local people that you can trust. As always, a big Thank You to our advertisers. You allow us to continue to cover what is growing. When you are our shopping for Mother’s Day, or any day, let our advertisers know you appreciate them. Until Next Month
Sales Manager Danny Crampton Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Stephanie Humphrey Melissa Nichols Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Libby Hopkins Melissa Nichols Contributing Writers Woody Gore
Sarah The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
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 and a FREE In The Field T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner! 6
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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 Cattlemen’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 335630042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813759-6909 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. Published by Berry Publications, Inc. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
As our favorite season comes to a close, we would like to take a moment to thank those who have supported our industry, this season and every season, for the last 41 years. This season has been another memorable addition to the Farm’s history.
Thank you! Carl and Dee Dee Grooms
813.478.3486 or 813.754.4852 | FancyFarms.com
CONGRATULATIONS
to the dedicated 4-H and FFA students who participated in the 2016 Polk County Youth Fair.
This year, Mosaic purchased four steer and 16 swine from these committed students, donating more than 4,500 pounds of meat from the fair to local organizations. These purchases will support HELP of Fort Meade, George Harris Youth Shelter, Bartow Church Service Center, Mulberry Community Service Center, Bradley Community Service Center and Volunteers in Service to the Elderly. We are proud to continue the tradition of supporting local agriculture and hunger-relief efforts in the communities where our employees live and work. We help the world grow the food it needs. ÂŽ
mosaicco.com/florida
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Well, here we are in April and we have been blessed with rain and warmer weather. Our cattle are dropping calves and the grass is green and growing. It is the time of year when we get busy working our cattle and marking our calves. Speaking of blessed, I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and great family time and remembered how God has blessed all of us and gave His Sons life for us. We have had a few events going on since March, including Agri-Fest. We had many young elementary students go through this event this year. Thanks to all who participated and made this a very successful agriculture knowledge event. Also congratulations to all our Polk County Jr. Cattlemen and Cattlewomen for their participation at the Strawberry Festival, showing their cattle. Blair Buchanon had the over-all female champion at the Festival and many of our other Polk County exhibitors had champions and class winners. Congratulations to all. Some reminders, be sure to be using the new animal ID tags on your female cows and if you don’t have a Premise ID number or tags you can get this from the Division of Animal Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. You can call or go online to their website. Also don’t forget the annual Cattlemen’s Convention coming up in June 14-16, 2016. It is being held at
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the Omni’s Champions Gate Resort, Champions Gate. Rooms are going fast and your convention registration forms can be picked up or mailed to you from FCA, Post Office Box 421929,Kissimmee,FL 34742. I hope everyone is having a great Spring and your cattle and pastures are looking good. Be careful and safe working your cattle and don’t turn your back on those cows and bulls that you think are gentle. I just received a call and talked with a young lady at Central Packing, she told me that Central is stopping business and will remain closed, unless a new owner takes it over. I’m very sorry to hear this and to have to pass it on. I can remember Mid-State Packing and Lykes Packing that we had many years ago. Hopefully a new owner will move in and jobs won’t be lost and it won’t change our cattle prices. Be Safe and I hope our trails cross:
Ray Clark Ray Clark Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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Florida has: • 12,133 square miles of water • Approximately 12,000 miles of fishable rivers, streams and canals • About 7,700 lakes (of 10+ acres), covering 3 million total acres • More than 200 native species of freshwater fish • More than 500 native species of saltwater fish • Freshwater fishing has an annual economic impact in Florida of $1.7 billion, 14,000 jobs. • Saltwater fishing has an annual economic impact in Florida of $7.6 billion, 109,300 jobs. • Boating has an economic impact in Florida of $10.4 billion, 82,800 jobs. • There are five different species of snook that inhabit Florida waters: common snook, small-scale fat snook, large-scale fat snook, swordspine snook, and tarpon snook.
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Luminous Begonias
Florida Master Gardener By Debra Howell Florida Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Begonias are easy plants that will bring brilliant colors to the shady places in your landscape. These lovely plants are prized for their foliage, as well as their bountiful blooms. Though begonias are notoriously used as a bedding plant, they are equally popular in aboveground planters, mass planting, containers and edging applications. You may also be interested to know that begonia flowers are edible and may be used in salads, soups and candied. Begonias were a staple in the Victorian era, employed to provide a bright spot to the drafty homes of that time period. The begonia family of plants is 1,200 strong; and comes in cultivars with fun names like Cinnamon Bells, Party Dress, Cracker Jacks, Big Red and Roses for Ruthie. These favored landscape plants are native to tropical areas such as Southern Africa and South America. In their native homes, they enjoy spots with filtered sunlight and high humidity. They perform well in shade and partial shade, but may languish in the unforgiving sun of our famous Florida summers, with the wax begonias being the most sun-tolerant. Begonias can deal with full sun in the early morning or late afternoon, but prefer dappled sunlight during the scorching portion of the day. They are fairly fragile and may snap off at the drop of a hat, so you might consider providing an area that affords them some protection from our Florida “prevailing winds.” You should also know that begonias are tender annuals which should not be planted outdoors until all threat of frost has passed. Once you have selected your site (remember right plant, right place), and have placed your plants properly in the ground, be sure to water thoroughly. They will tolerate such soil types as loam, sand, clay and soils of an acidic nature, but are partial to a well-drained soil that has been amended with organic matter. The most important factor is not to plant too deeply. This rule goes for all plant types and seeds as well. If planted to deeply, begonias tend toward crown rot. If you plant seeds of any sort to deep, your seeds simply will not come up. With the tuberous varieties, place the tubers hollow side up, with the 10
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top of the tuber just beneath the soil’s surface. The plants enjoy regular watering, but can’t tolerate wet feet. Make sure not to over-water and allow the soil to dry between waterings. Begonias are susceptible to root rot from too much water. If in doubt, the plant will let you know when it is too dry with signs like droopy leaves. Try to avoid getting water on the leaves, as wet leaves are a good way to get fungal diseases. They also need fertilization, but too much of a good thing will cause the flower buds to drop. If you opt to grow your begonias in containers or hanging baskets, you may use liquid fertilizer according to package directions. For begonias in your home landscape, you may use a good, slow-release fertilizer as needed. A nice assortment of begonias prosper in Florida, and are usually fairly available at nurseries and big box stores. These include wax, angel wing, odorata, dragon wing and hardy. The differences between these cultivars are usually dependent on the root system and how they are initially planted. Begonias are categorized according to the structures of their roots. They are divided into three types: fibrous, tuberous and rhizomatous. The latter type includes the Rex begonias, which are grown for their stunning foliage. To reiterate, planting is contingent on the type of roots that they possess. Some other differences are that wax begonias, also called fibrous begonias, are normally more diminutive and bushier than cultivars like tuberous begonias. Wax types have regular roots and contain the angel wing sort, which bear wing-like leaves. The term wax begonia comes from their leaves having a wax-like appearance. They are available with double or single petalled flowers, which are evident nearly year round. The flowers come in white, red or pink. Leaf colors are green, variegated or bronze, with the bronze leaves being more suited to sunny locales. The begonia is a big favorite with gardeners who love unusual foliage. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
The leaves come in a variety of patterns and eye-popping colors. At the Florida State Fair, I captured images of begonia leaves in colors of gray, pink, green, lavender, silver and a very dark maroon. Some of the leaves had whorls, which brought to mind the shells of a chambered nautilus. Generally, the rhizomatous and fibrous begonias may be used for houseplants. If you opt to try growing them in your home, you will want to select a spot where the plant will get not only bright, indirect light, but lots of humidity, as well. You may provide the humidity by placing the pots on a shallow tray filled with pebbles and water. This practice will help prevent water logging and excess moisture that might promote fungal diseases. One perk of cultivating indoors is that you may off-set the potential of insect infestation. When planting for use as a bedding plant or in a mass planting, plant them a foot apart and they will please you by creating a solid mass of color. Begonias appreciate a “face lift� occasionally, so remove any dead stems and leaves. They also benefit from dead heading of the spent WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
flowers just like you would treat a rose. Cut back the leggy stems to yield a more compact shape and fuller foliage. Although begonias are fairly pest resistant, there are some issues that may arise. Thrips may appear and cause reddish brown lines on the top side of the leaf. The leaves may show signs of deformity, and have spots on the undersides. Mites may be responsible for the stunting of new growth, and may form a web. Another problem that might occur is that the roots could get eaten by the black vine weevil grub, which will cause wilting and possible death. Also, do not crowd your plants, as sufficient ventilation is crucial to prevent powdery mildew and stem rot. If your begonias should experience pest issues, call your local Master Gardener plant clinic to determine the problem and the recommended treatment. Begonias will complement your landscape, as well as add hints and touches of gorgeous color to your home from summer until the initial frosts of winter. For more information on this or other gardening topics, contact your local Master Gardener plant clinic or the Polk County Master Gardener plant clinic at (863) 519-1057. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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IFAS: The Discovery and Innovation Arm of Florida Agriculture
By Jack Payne Innovation can spread like wildfire through conversation. The people who deliver new ideas need to talk to the people who can benefit the most from them. A case in point is citrus health management areas. Now that we have 55 of them – at least 10 in Polk and Hillsborough counties -- they look like an inevitability, a no-brainer that had to happen. But we went from 0 to 55 through a years-long conversation. It started with growers asking us at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to help them establish CHMAs. We didn’t have to waste time establishing communication with the citrus community. It was already there: • UF/IFAS Extension agents are in your groves, on the phone with you, or peppering your inbox with responses. • We run field days. • We present and listen at the Citrus Expo and other industry gatherings. • Your participation on advisory committees provide a regular forum for formal conversations. • The board of the Citrus Research Development Foundation, based in Polk County, is stocked with growers and industry reps with whom we talk out the research agenda. When the calls for CHMAs started coming in, we set up meetings so we could provide growers with step-by-step instructions on how to proceed. Together, we mapped out the details of how to get started, how to successfully run a CHMA, and Florida citrus growers were on your way.
The business side of IFAS never forgets who the client is. We’re here to serve, and we can only serve if we know what the client needs, whether it’s citrus or any other commodity. That requires constant contact and conversation. That’s what we strive for in extending so many invitations for input. Good conversation leads to good science, too. Our impact will be limited if we just talk to ourselves. Good science operates on a feedback loop. That assures that we remain relevant and that we hear from you about what we can’t necessarily see in the lab. With CHMAs, once we heard about the grower interest, our strong communication helped us help producers answer questions of when, where, and how to establish them. When the very concept of the innovation depends on cooperation as a CHMA does, dialogue is particularly important. I’d say the rapid spread of CHMAs indicates that we’ve got a good thing going with growers as far as two-way communication. However, if you don’t agree, let’s talk about it! That’s why I’m in this space every month. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t an IFAS-only proposition. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture help the program succeed, too. But it’s really driven by you, working together with us, that’s made us so responsive. I often describe IFAS as the discovery and innovation arm of Florida agriculture. That innovation rests on a tradition: Talking with those we serve.
When citrus growers in Southwest Florida found themselves in a giant CHMA that made coordination difficult, they talked to us about it. And we helped reorganize the mega-CHMA into nine smaller ones to give those growers a better handle on coordinating spraying. Today, just a little more than five years since the first CHMA was established, more than 90 percent of the state’s commercial citrus acreage is in a CHMA. That’s what I mean by spreading like wildfire.
Jack Payne is the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. 12
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How About Eye Protection, How Important is it?
Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
Whether a weekend angler or a commercial fisherman one of the most important things you can do is wear good eye protection. Something as simple as polarized sunglasses helps protect against Ultraviolet Rays or a possible Hook to the Eye. The simplest and easiest solution is to make sure you’re educated on the consequences of not wearing the proper sunglasses or eye protection. The huge benefits of wearing the proper eye protection while boating or fishing justifies spending a little extra money on a good pair of sunglasses. Regardless of whether you’re fishing or boating picking the right pair of sunglasses is important. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays without them can and will damage your eyes. Here’s something many folks do not realize, when you’re on the water you get a double dose ultraviolet rays, because they are intensified as they are reflected back off the water’s surface. Studies show that anglers and boaters not wearing proper sun protection are more likely to develop skin cancers in and around the eye.
Today, “Our world is filled with warnings for everything,” but I have to raise one more voice in this symphony. The necessity of protecting our eyes becomes paramount, especially when people, often only a few feet away, are unintentionally casting sharpened hooks through the air. If not careful someone can take a hook to the eye. Talk about ruining a fishing trip. A very common fishing-related face or eye injury occurs when a hook, under tension, becomes dislodged from a fish, and whips back striking someone, often in the hand, face or eye. This occurs most often as the captain attempts to boat or release a fish. As the captain grabs the line or leader, most anglers continue pulling up on the rod keeping the line very tight. What happens next if the fish comes off the hook the hook shoots straight up usually into the captain’s hand, face or into the boat and into someone else? This happens so quickly there is little or no reaction time to avoid being hooked in the hand, face or worse the eye. Here’s what should happen; once a fish is within six feet of the rod tip the angler should stop reeling and swing the line toward the captain. Once the captain grabs the line or leader the angler should relax the rod (rather than keeping tension on the rod tip he should allow some slack line), then if the fish falls off, the hook does not shoot straight up, and no one gets hooked.
Tampa Bay Fishing Report April 2016 What’s biting in Tampa Bay?
There are plenty of manufacturers making eye protection. However, I’ve been wearing Ono Sunglasses (http://onos.com/) for the last several years and love the way the fit and offer me the eye protection I need. These sunglasses are great, especially with the built-in reader powers available. I use their +250 readers, they are sharp, clear and do not distort the horizon. If you’re looking for a quality pair of 100% UVA and UVB Polarized mirrored or non-mirrored glasses you should check out a pair of Ono’s. (http://onos.com/) Very reasonably priced and Lifetime Warranty. While talking about eyes let’s talk about something we take for granted, fishing-related eye injuries. Eye injuries can be prevented by using protective eye wear, either sunglasses or safety glasses, especially if you’re working commercially. 14 14
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Expect good things this month, especially as the winds lighten up. The fishing will keep getting better and better. Looks like the best fishing days will be the first and third weeks of May. Make sure to check your tide charts for moving water.
Snook are everywhere and if the last two months are any indication they should continue to bite. Good tidal grass flats, passes or cuts from upper Tampa Bay all the way to Sarasota will prove productive. Live baiters remember to use caution when chumming with greenbacks, too much and they get full. When you fill them up, they stop eating. Free lined greenbacks always seem to do the trick along with dead bait on the bottom. And of course artificial lures are always fun for the true fishing enthusiast. Spotted Sea Trout & Southern Flounder should continue improving especially as bait moves onto the flats. Look for lush broken bottom grass flats with plenty of sandy potholes. These potWWW. ININ THE FIELD MM AGAZINE.COM WWW. THE FIELD AGAZINE.COM
holes should produce some good size fish using small popping corks or free-lined. Live shrimp or greenbacks seem to be the bait of choice. We’ve also been finding some really nice trout in deeper rocky bottom water. If you target them Tampa Bay has some really big flounder in the 20 to 25 inch range, you’ve just got to look and fish for them.
Redfish should start settling in for the summer. Check your favor-
ite oyster bars, cuts and broken bottom grass flats on the last of an outgoing tide and the first of an incoming. Don’t forget those large schools of mullet, as redfish feed in mullet schools. Greenbacks and silver dollar size pinfish work well as cut bait on the bottom. And of course artificial lures are always fun for the fishing enthusiast. One of my favorite lures is the soft plastic jerkbait around the mangroves and mullet schools.
Cobia should start cruising the sandy flats and markers looking for easy meals and they will eat just about anything tossed their way. I see them a lot of times while mackerel fishing when using a chum bag, so be ready with a heavier rod rigged. Threadfin Herring throughout Tampa Bay means Spanish mackerel and they should be in full swing this month. Good catches already reported, some ranging in the four to six lbs category. Chum them up with some live threadfins or greenbacks, free-line with at least 50# leader and a long shank silver 2/0 hook and hold on.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” 813-477-3814 Captain Woody Gore has been guiding and fishing the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years; his level of customer service, experience and attention to detail allows him to offer world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Single or Multi-boat Group Charters are all the same. With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done.
Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give him a call at 813-477-3814 WWW. WWW.IIN NTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
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Buckhorn Nursery: Planting a Seed of Stewardship for Future Generations We all know that agriculture is the second largest economic driver in Florida, but did you know that of the 300 different commodities produced, Florida is the second largest state in nursery sales behind only California? There are currently over 4,700 commercial nursery and greenhouse farms in the state, and for one of Florida’s oldest and largest production nurseries, four generations are working together to produce over 200 varieties of woody ornamentals for consumers from Virginia to Texas. For more than 57 years, Buckhorn Nursery and the Lambert family have been involved in the nursery business. What started in Hardee County with Ronald and Margaret Lambert in 1959, continued in 1994 when their sons Ron, Harold and Brian took over and shifted the company’s focus to wholesale production. In 1997, grandson Corey Lambert joined his father and uncles on the nursery and since then, the family-run business has grown from 15 acres to over 120 acres. While the company has grown over the years, environmental stewardship has been a priority in their planning and implementation of management practices for more than 20 years. “It’s important for us to protect the environment because it’s directly responsible for allowing us to make a living,” said Corey Lambert. “We are constantly looking at how we do things to see if we can make any improvements.” Part of the Lambert’s plan includes the implementation of Best Management Practices (or BMPs). These BMPs are science and researchbased, field-tested practices that have been determined to be the most effective and practical means for improving water quality and conservation. Producers who implement BMPs highlight agriculture’s commitment to fostering water conservation and land protection through their continued efforts. Lambert said, “Implementing BMPs helps us cut cost while improving efficiency and maintaining or increasing production.” Some of the BMPs that have been implemented include the use of a tail water recovery system, which allows them to reuse some of the run off from previous wetting cycles, and the use of freeze cloth for cold protection, which minimizes the use of water as an alternative for freeze protection. They also implemented an irrigation system that works with an on-site weather station to make better decisions on when to water. 16
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“The irrigation controls are initiated by weather conditions. It takes into consideration temperature conditions on site, so we irrigate what the plant needs instead of a general timed watering,” said Lambert The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has determined that Florida farms conserve more than 10 billion gallons of water per year through the implementation of BMPs, and as a result of their dedication to the preservation of Florida’s natural resources, Buckhorn Nursery was recognized by the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) program in 2014. The CARES program was founded in 2001 by the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and a coalition of farmers, commodity groups, agricultural associations and state and federal agencies to provide public recognition for farmers and ranchers who have voluntarily implemented outstanding nutrient stewardship practices on their operations. Lambert said, “The CARES program is important because it gives us the chance to educate people on what we’re doing to protect the land.” Raising awareness and educating Florida’s consumers on outstanding conservation efforts in agriculture were important points of emphasis for Florida Farm Bureau when they established the CARES program. To date, the CARES program has recognized over 850 farmers and ranchers across the state, and the “This Farm CARES” sign that was presented to those families serves as a tool to demonstrate that Florida’s farm families are actively involved in protecting our environment and sustaining the beauty and natural habitats of our state. When asked why Buckhorn Nursery is a farm that CARES, Lambert responded, “It comes from our upbringing. We were taught to be mindful of others, to take care of our employees, and to take care of our land.” For more information on the CARES program, including recipient profiles and highlight videos: go to www.thisfarmcares.org.
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Naturally Amazing Activities
By Sean Green | Photo Credit: Christina Sittinger
Milk Paint If you like recreating history and love creating new works of art, this activity is for you. Milk paint has a history that dates back thousands of years. Cave drawings ranging from 8,000 to 20,000 years old were painted with a mixture of milk, lime, and earth pigments and are still intact. Many of the artifacts found in King Tutankhamen’s burial chamber had been painted with milk paint. In our own Colonial America, artisans and craftsmen would roam the countryside carrying with them an assortment of pigments with which they could make milk paint. Most households in the pioneer days of America would have had their own cow or goat for milk and the community would have had a lime pit, especially in Florida, considering our entire state is composed largely of limestone. This month, we will make our own milk paint in much the same way that it was done in 19th century America. The pig-
ment itself is “lampblack” which is still one of the deepest shades of black available and very easy to acquire. Lampblack is composed of tiny particles of carbon that are left over from incomplete combustion of an oily flame such as that of a cheap candle or oil lamp. The black soot that forms on the glass of an oil lamp (or in the smoke of a cheap candle) is the pigment known as “lampblack,” hence the name. Lampblack, like milk paint, has a prehistoric history and is one of the oldest pigments known to humanity. This activity is by no means the only recipe for using pigments such as Lampblack, if you are interested in making ink for writing, or stain for woodwork, leather, or cloth, there are various historic recipes that can be found on the internet. For our purpose, we will make a very simple and durable paint suitable for application with a paint brush on any substrate you desire to paint on.
Milk Paint Materials:
Lemon or Lime 1 Qt Skim Milk Sieve Cheesecloth Lampblack (or any dry color pigment) • Mix 1 Qt skim milk with the juice of 1 lemon • Let the milk and lemon mixture set overnight at room temperature for the milk to curd. • Pour the milk curd through a sieve and cheesecloth to strain the curd from the milk mixture. • Stir the Lampblack pigment (a little at a time) into the curd until it is completely mixed and the desired shade of black. • Apply the paint with a brush, * when dry, rub with a wet cloth for a distressed finish*
Lampblack Materials:
Candle (cheapest you can find) or Oil lamp Any Oil (vegetable oil, kerosene, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, etc...) * if using an Oil Lamp Spoon (if using a candle and making small quantities of pigment) Light the Candle or Oil Lamp (outside recommended) Situate a spoon, fireproof plate, fireproof glass, or any fire proof object above the flame to collect the soot from the flame. When you have collected a good amount of soot on your collection plate, remove it from the flame and let it cool Scrape the collected soot into a small bowl or vial, this is the pigment that will be mixed into the milk paint.
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Chickens I remember when I was growing up my mother always had a yard full of chickens and one big red rooster. My job every afternoon was to gather the eggs. I didn’t mind, but I had to keep my eye on “Dummy” the big red rooster. For some reason he did not like me. It could be because I kicked him across the chicken yard when dad first brought him home to be the “King of the Roost!”
for himself.”
Dummy’s main problem was he always was fighting the hens. He actually killed a couple of them before we tied a heavy three-foot string around one leg with the other end to a post in the middle of the chicken-yard. If a hen got anywhere close he would lunge at them. Over a period of time we noticed one leg was about an inch-and-ahalf longer than the other one. Feeling sorry for him we turned him loose, and every time he tried to corner a hen he would fall over. A week or two of this cured him from chasing all the girls in the chicken yard.
So the two roosters go over to the hen house to start the race with all the hens gathering around to watch. The race begins and all the hens start cheering the roosters on. After the first lap, the old rooster is still maintaining his lead. After the second lap, the old guy’s lead has slipped a little but he’s still hanging in there. Unfortunately the old rooster’s lead continues to slip each time around, and by the fifth lap he’s just barely in front of the young rooster.
I was reading up on this “pecking habit” of chickens, and found that farmers would do what they called beak trimming. They would remove approximately one-third of the beak with a cold or heated blade when chicks were only a couple of days old. This was effective in reducing pecking injuries, but cased great pain and had significant effects on the chicken. According to an article in a 1953 issue of the National Road Traveler newspaper, someone discovered that red-tinted lenses was effective in reducing the urge for a chicken to peck another. They are held on the chicken’s beak with a cotter pin through the nostrils of the bird. Chickens are provoked by the sight of blood and will peck at each other, eventually killing off much of the flock. These red lenses prevented chickens from seeing the red blood and calmed their behavior. According to the information I found the glasses have not been made for years. These glasses are now considered a collector’s item! There’s the story of an old farmer who decided it was time to get a new rooster for his hens. The current rooster was still doing an okay job, but he was getting on in years. The farmer figured getting a new rooster couldn’t hurt anything. So he buys a young cock from the local rooster emporium, and turns him loose in the barnyard. Well, the old rooster sees the young one strutting around and he gets a little worried. ‘So, they’re trying to replace me?’ thinks the old rooster. ‘I’ve got to do something about this.’ He walks up to the new bird and says, “So you’re the new stud in town? I bet you really think you’re hot stuff, don’t you? Well, I’m not ready for the chopping block yet. I’ll bet I’m still the better bird. And to prove it, I challenge you to a race around that hen house over there. We’ll run around it ten times and whoever finishes first gets to have all the hens 22
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Well, the young rooster was a proud sort, and he definitely thought he was more than a match for the old guy. “You’re on,” said the young rooster. “And since I know I’m so great, I’ll even give you a head start of half a lap. I’ll still win easy,” said the young rooster.
By now the farmer has heard all the commotion. He runs into the house, gets his shotgun, and runs out to the barnyard figuring a fox or something is after his chickens. When he gets there, he sees the two roosters running around the hen house, with the old rooster still slightly in the lead. He immediately takes his shotgun, aims, fires, and blows the young rooster away. As he walks away slowly, he says to himself. . . “That’s the third bad rooster I’ve bought this month.” One day the Library was lonely with no one in it for the librarian to help. These two chickens came through the door screeching “cluck cluck.” The librarian quickly got up and gave them each five books. The two chickens left satisfied. Just a few minutes later the same two chickens come through the door with no books screeching “cluck cluck.” The librarian once again jumps up and gives each chicken 15 books this time. The chickens leave satisfied once again. Then again for the third time the chicken return screeching “cluck cluck” But this rime being suspicious the librarian gives each chicken only one book because they have still have not returned the other books. As the chickens leave the librarian slowly follows behind to see where all the books are going. The chickens come to a stop and start throwing the books into a pond where some frogs grab the books and throw them behind their back croaking “red-it red-it” As if the story above was not bad enough here’s one more, and I’ll close with this one: There are three guys named Manners, Shutup, and Crap. They were really bored, so they decided to run a race. During the race, Crap fell down, and Manners stopped to help him. But Shutup ran so fast the police caught him. Here’s how the conversation went: Police Officer #1: “What’s your name?” “Shutup” “Police Officer #2: “Where’s your Manners?” Shutup said, “Back there picking up Crap!” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Moriah McCullers A Cowboy’s Sweetheart
By Leslie Buchanon
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Garth Brooks said is best when he wrote and sang the lyrics, “Sometimes the best cowboys ain’t cowboys at all.” When your cow crew includes your daughters, these lyrics can become a reflection of life imitating art. David McCullers, ranch manager of Crooked Lake Ranch, knows this all too well. Not only is David’s wife Shayla part of his cow crew, he is also the father of two daughters and one son who are also ranch hands. This month we introduce you to one of David’s ranch hands. A young lady whose inner and outer beauty are only matched by her knowledge and passion for the beef cattle industry. Meet Moriah McCullers, your 2016 Polk County Cattlemen’s Sweetheart. Moriah McCullers is the 18 year old daughter of David and Shayla McCullers of Frostproof. She has had the privilege of doing what most girls only dream of….growing up on a cattle ranch, namely Crooked Lake Ranch. Crooked Lake Ranch, under the leadership of David McCullers, is located in Frostproof and is the largest registered Polled Hereford breeder in the state of Florida. Crooked Lake Ranch is well known across the nation for raising and selling registered Polled Hereford cattle from the Victor Domino bloodline. It is a pedigree and legacy that have sustained Crooked Lake Ranch for over 50 years. Moriah is a 4th generation cattle rancher and has lived her entire life on the ranch. Her influences began at an early age with her father descending from a cattle ranching family, and her mother, Shayla, descending from a strawberry farming family. During her time off from school Moriah works on the ranch with her family. Most of her days are spent on horseback, especially when rotating the cattle for grazing. This young lady castrates, inserts CIDRS, loads the hopper while working cows, vaccinates, dehorns, helps deliver calves, tags and tattoos newborn calves, builds fence, maintains the pastures and barn, cares for the horses, and assists with the marketing and promotion of the cattle. When her parents are out of town making ranch visits Moriah also manages operations at the WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
ranch. This repertoire of abilities and knowledge have made her a ranch hand who is very marketable in this way of life. Moriah uses what she’s learned to help others by day working for various folks all over Polk County. Throughout Moriah’s life she has been actively involved in many youth organizations that promote agriculture and the beef cattle industry. She has been a member of the Polk Jr. Cattlemen’s Association and the Florida Jr. Cattlemen’s Association for the past seven years where she has served as Secretary and Vice President. She has also participated on the Polk County team in the Quiz Bowl competition held at the Florida Cattlemen’s Convention & Allied Member Trade Show each year. Interning with leaders in the agricultural industry has also contributed to Moriah’s knowledge of the cattle industry with many hands-on experiences at local veterinary clinics. Dr. Steele with Ridge Large Animal Veterinary in Zolfo Springs has allowed Moriah to shadow her during her day to day activities, while also having supervised hands-on experiences with their equine and bovine services. She has also interned with Polk Equine Large Animal Veterinary Services and Dr. Bennett where she has assisted with their cattle reproduction and bull semen testing visits. Moriah puts her ranching expertise and know-how to work as a proud member of the Crooked Lake Ranch Rodeo team at the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association’s Ranch Rodeo each year, where she has been a team member for the past four years. At Frostproof Middle-Senior High School Moriah was also an active FFA member. She led her chapters by serving as vice president and president in middle school, and vice president for two years, and president for one year in high school. Moriah participated in many Career Development Events during her FFA career, including the Extemporaneous Public Speaking event where she qualified to participate at the State level. In this event participants are required to prepare a continued on pg. 32 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Ornamental Gardening in Florida By Ginny Mink
Given the fact Mr. Simpson does not tarry as he begins his next chapter, Native Ornamental Trees, we’ll follow suit. He first introduces us to, “the maples.” He specifically points out that the A. dasycarpum, which is apparently also known as the swamp or silver maple, grows all over the Eastern United States and is most often utilized as a shade tree. He advises that since it’s native in northern Florida it would make a great ornamental tree in that area. Additionally, he suggests the A. rubrum and the aforementioned maple both grow in wet land areas but will, “flourish on much drier soil when cultivated.” He lauds the “fine red” flowers that appear on the A. rubrum. He then moves on to what he calls the, “tree of heaven,” a Chinese native that, “has escaped cultivation and grows wild in northern Florida.” Its large leaves give it, “a tropical appearance.” However, he adds, “The whole plant has a disagreeable smell and in places it is given to sprouting.” Sounds like something he might have been better leaving out of his list of ornamental trees. By the way, that is the: Ailanthus glandulosus. From there he briefly mentions an alder, Alnus rugose, but quickly moves to, “Two species of beautiful, small, tropical trees growing on the Florida Keys and southeast mainland. They have delicate, usually trifoliate leaves and are well worthy of cultivation. The common name is torchwood.” Having spent most of our lives in Florida this was an unfamiliar tree. Further investigation revealed that it is of the citrus family! They produce fragrant tiny flowers and fruits that the birds seem to like. Yet another tree worthy of consideration, thanks to its white flowers and red berries, is the Anamomsis, A. simpsoni. It grows to heights of 70 feet and is, “found scattered for a long distance up and down the east coast.” Mr. Simpson believes, “It is well worthy of cultivation.” Along those same lines is the 26
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Aralia spinosa, or Hercules club. He explains, “It is a striking small tree with large bipinnate leaves which, with the trunk, are armed with spines.” We suppose these trees would make a great border to keep unwanted intrusions away. We come then to the Black Olive, or Bucida buceras. This is a tree that has garnered special attention from Mr. Simpson as he writes a good deal about it. He tells readers, “This is an example of a tree which naturally grows in swamps that succeeds admirably when planted on high, dry land. It is found in the mangrove swamps of tropical America and has been seen on Elliott’s Key of the upper chain. Several years ago a Catholic priest brought it from Jamaica and two fine specimens grew at a church of this denomination in Miami. From these, seed has been distributed and now we are beginning to use it for a road tree. It has small, dark green leaves and is a rapid grower, forming a fine round-topped tree somewhat like a sugar maple.” We love getting a glimpse of the history behind some of the plants we deem common today. Of course, reading about the Catholic priest’s cultivation of Jamaican trees, “several years ago,” makes us wonder when these trees actually made their appearance in Florida. While we couldn’t find out any years of arrival, we did discover that IFAS reports that the fruit of the black olive does not attract wildlife and can in fact (along with the leaves) be a litter problem. They also recommend treating it with caution and managing it properly as there may be some concern over invasive properties.² Bet he didn’t realize that in 1926! Returning to his brief descriptions he mentions the Gumbo limbo, a “striking tree…having smooth, shining, copper colored bark which peels off in thin layers.” And, the Canella winteriana, which he says is, “a beautiful, rather small everWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
green tree with fine glossy leaves having a strong peppery, aromatic flavor.” Then he adds, seemingly pleased with himself, “I have a handsome specimen growing in pineland.” Herein we discover yet another of Mr. Simpson’s favorites, the Carica papaya, “the common pawpaw of the tropics.” He elaborates, “This striking plant may be classified as a tree or a giant herb for although it sometimes has a trunk a foot in diameter it is composed mostly of water…It is a handsome plant with a head of immense, palmate leaves and a clean, rather smooth trunk. It is dioecious, the male plants bearing rather small yellow flowers on long branching stems and the females having much larger ones on the upper trunk which develop into rounded fruits in wild plants but into much larger, melon-shaped edible ones when it is cultivated. Although the trees is short lived it is eminently worthy of cultivation, either as single specimens, in groups, or mixed in with a border.” We are of the belief that if plants can be multifunctional then they are all the more welcome in our yards. So when we can plant a tree/giant herb that will act as ornamental artistry to decorate our surroundings while also providing us with fruit to eat, then it’s a go to plant in our book. If you are thinking about growing some Carica papaya trees we discovered a very useful website: Tropical Florida Gardens. They revealed the fact that you can grow these trees from seed and if you do it right you can see fruit in 6-12 months.³ Check out the resources section below to get more information. While this is only the intro to Mr. Simpson’s chapter on Native Ornamental Trees, we feel confident that we are on a voyage to learn a lot. Please join us next month as we continue this study aboard the Literary Time Machine! 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. 93-104). ²University of Florida IFAS- Bucida buceras: Black Olive https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st102 ³ Tropical Florida Gardens- Growing & Caring for Papaya Trees http://www.tropicalfloridagardens.com/2011/06/27/ growing-caring-for-papaya-trees/ Photo Credits: Black Olive, Bucida buceras- Forest and Kim Starr - https:// flic.kr/p/Dv9FgQ Carica Papaya- Forest and Kim Starr - https://flic.kr/p/DHo8Do Torchwood (thorns)- Bernard Dupont - https://flic.kr/p/ q8LR3m WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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April 2016
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Foxy Tails: Florida’s Fox Squirrels are in Danger
By Ginny Mink If you are from Florida, or have lived here any length of time, you are certainly well acquainted with the plethora of squirrels. I have lived in Florida the majority of my 40 years, and in the Plant City area for approximately 24 of them. Yet, only recently have I been exposed to the anomaly that is the fox squirrel. I recall driving out to Donna Smith’s house in Lakeland for an interview and seeing this very large tailed entity darting around the front pasture/field. “What is running around in your yard?” was probably the first question I asked when I met her. Answer: fox squirrels. Well, as you know, I write about endangered and threatened Florida animals every month so imagine my surprise when my research revealed the fact that the fox squirrel is on Florida’s protected list as a species of concern. Maybe we only know about them because of corn mazes that bolster the name, but I suppose it’s high time we get a little better educated on these fluffy bundles of intrigue. Currently there are two species of special concern in Florida, the Sherman’s fox squirrel and the Big Cypress fox squirrel. One species is in worse shape that the other, but because I was so fascinated by them upon my first introduction I felt it would be best to keep you abreast of the situation on both counts. Maybe we can do something to aid in their protection and rehabilitation. So what’s the difference? I’m sure you are wondering (since I am too). First though, let’s understand the similarities. Fox squirrels are known for their exorbitantly bushy tails and their super strong hind legs which allow them to leap very far (and sit up like Meerkats in a field). They are pretty small, only weighing between one and three pounds. They both have white noses and ears while their faces are black. One interesting difference between fox squirrels and the grey squirrels that chew on your roof, is that they have less teeth. A fox squirrel has 20 teeth while a grey squirrel has 22. Maybe that’s why they can do so much damage, those two extra teeth! That said, the Sherman’s fox squirrel, Sciurus niger shermani, likes central and Northeastern Florida’s open piney woods, turkey oak, flatwoods and sand hills. However, the Big Cypress fox squirrel, Sciurus niger avicennia, is found from the southern part of Dade County to the Everglades region located in Lee County. They prefer cypress swamp forests, oak woodlands, mangrove swamps, pine forests, and coastal broadleaf evergreen hammocks. Their diets are slightly different though they will both eat longleaf pine seeds. The Big Cypress fox squirrel also enjoys: pond apple fruit, pond cypress seed cones, bromeliad buds and leaves, cabbage palm fruit, Eastern lubber grasshoppers, purple thistle flowers and berries, and a number of other fruiting vegetation. The Sherman’s fox squirrel sticks mostly to the pine seeds and turkey oak acorns but they have been known to consume: fruit, buds and fungi, too. Now that we know where they live and what they eat, the real question I suppose is, “What’s the problem?” I wish I could say that it was 28
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something unique to these super cute mammals but instead, it’s the sad truth that we humans have a propensity to want to occupy every possible inch of land. We plow down infinite numbers of wilderness habitats without any regard for the flora and fauna that call those areas home. Such has been the case with the fox squirrels. Estimates say that the decimation of habitat has left the Sherman’s fox squirrel with somewhere between 10 and 20 percent of its native habitat. We have logged it and converted it to pasture lands. We’ve added residences and commercial establishments. And in some instances we have failed to utilize proper burning techniques in longleaf pinelands. These misused burns are preventing the seeds from reproducing properly on the ground. Additionally, these squirrels are a little on the slow side and are readily hit by cars where roads and highways have invaded their turf. On the other hand, the Big Cypress fox squirrel has a rather interesting history of destruction. Between the 1950s and early 1970s (up until 1972) the Big Cypress fox squirrel was on the hunting menu. There are still those engaged in poaching these threatened cuties. However, like the Sherman’s fox squirrel, the biggest threat to their continued existence rests in the hands of developers. From May 2007 to April of 2011, biologists who specialize in the Big Cypress fox squirrels conducted a study to examine range and habitat of 20 of these creatures. The study was equally distributed among males and females within the Big Cypress National Preserve.⁴ If you are interested in what they ascertained via their radio-telemetry endeavors, you can find a link to the published piece in the resources section below. Obviously we are limited in our abilities to help these creatures but as GI Joe says, “Knowing is half the battle.” Now that we know they are in need, we can pay attention to areas in which they live, we can help plant trees that will provide them homes and food. Maybe we could stop being so greedy with the land we’ve been given as stewards and realize that it’s their land too. Resources: ¹ http://myfwc.com/media/2211899/Shermans-Fox-Squirrel.pdf ²https://www.nps.gov/bicy/learn/nature/big-cypress-fox-squirrel.htm ³http://myfwc.com/media/2738253/Big-Cypress-Fox-Squirrel-Species-Action-Plan-Final-Draft.pdf https://www.nps.gov/bicy/learn/nature/upload/Kellam-et-al2013-Big-Cypress-Fox-Squirrel-Home-Range-and-Habitat-Usein-Cypress-Dome-Swamp-and-Pine-Forest-Mosaic-Habitats_-REVISED-March-2014.pdf Photo Credits: Picture of Sherman’s fox squirrel- FWC photo by Patrick Delaneyhttps://flic.kr/p/e9wFgu Picture of Big Cypress fox squirrel- Vincent P. Lucas- https://flic. kr/p/8uA1u2 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Culantro By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Culantro is a lesser-known relative to the herb cilantro, which was covered in last month’s issue. Compared with cilantro, culantro is stronger in flavor with tall, stiff, serrated leaves. Culantro thrives in the warmer months and for a longer lifespan, while the more delicate cilantro grows better in the cool winter months of Florida. Culantro is native to Latin America and the Caribbean and is used extensively in dishes in Thailand, Malaysia, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Culantro is also known as Puerto Rican or Mexican coriander, Black Benny, saw leaf herb, long coriander, spiny coriander, spiritweed, fitweed and recao. Culantro belongs to the family Apiaceae which includes carrots, parsley, celery, and parsnip. Culantro is produced in Puerto Rico, Southeast Asia, Hawaii, and Florida. Culantro is very hardy and easy to grow either in pots or in the ground. Unlike other herbs, culantro is relatively free of pests and disease. Culantro leaves are chopped and used in salsa, softrito, chutney, ceviche, sauces, rice, stews, and soups. The leaves can be easily dried or frozen for longer usage.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
Culantro is rich in calcium, iron, carotene, and riboflavin. Like its relative cilantro, culantro is also very high in beneficial flavonoids and volatile oils which function like antioxidants in preventing diseases. Fresh culantro leaves are composed of 87% water, 3.3% protein, 0.6% fat, 6.5% carbohydrate, 0.06% phosphorus, and 0.02% iron. This herb is an excellent source of calcium and vitamins A, B1, B2, C, and K. Culantro contains high levels of vitamins and minerals for very few calories.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Traditionally, culantro leaves are boiled and made into tea that can help treat flu, pneumonia, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some say that the herb is also eaten to cure seizures in children, which is why it is called “fitweed” in some countries.
CALCIUM
Culantro is an excellent source of calcium, an important mineral in human metabolism. While calcium is associated with dairy foods, other foods like leafy green vegetables or soy products are also high in this nutrient. Calcium comprises about 1-2% of an adult human’s body weight. In addition to its widely known role in bone and tooth structure, calcium is used to help control muscle and nerve function, as well as to manage acid/base balance in our blood stream. Roughly 99% of our total body calcium stores are found in bones and teeth and plays a critical role in maintaining structural integrity of our skeleton. Calcium also plays a critical role in regulating acid/alkaline balance, or pH, in the blood. Whenever blood pH drops, calcium is released from the bones to bring acid/base balance back into balance.
RIBOFLAVIN
Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, plays a key role in energy production. Riboflavin and the other B vitamins help transform fat molecules into energy that the body can use. Vitamin B2 also plays a role in the metabolism of folate and vitamin B6. Riboflavin is also involved in the metabolism of glutathione, one of the most important antioxidants in the body. Additionally, vitamin B2 helps promote iron metabolism. Getting enough vitamin B2 in the diet is needed to make red blood cells. Having too little red blood cells is known as anemia.
HOW TO SELECT AND STORE
Choose fresh culantro that is deep green in color with fresh, crisp leaves. Avoid wilted, spotted, or broken leaves. To store culantro, wrap a damp paper towel around the leaves and place in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to eight days. If it wilts, sprinkle water on the leaves to refresh them. Wash leaves immediately before using. Culantro can also be dried by laying it out at room temperature. After it is dried, store it in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark place. Culantro leaves also freeze well and can be added to soups and dishes without thawing first. One simple way to freeze culantro is to rinse and chop the leaves, place in ice cube trays, and cover with water or olive oil. When cooking soups or stews, just drop in as many frozen cubes as you need.
HOW TO ENJOY
Culantro is very popular in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore where it is commonly used as a topping over soups, noodle dishes, and curries. In Latin America, culantro is mostly associated with Puerto Rico, such as in salsa or sofrito. Sofrito usually contains culantro and cilantro, garlic, onion, green pepper, and mild peppers that are blended together. It can be used as a seasoning or sauce or as an ingredient in pasta sauce, soup, and salsas. Other ways to enjoy culantro include: • Garnish grilled fish or poultry with fresh chopped culantro before serving • Combine chopped culantro with garlic, salt, and lemon juice and use as a marinade for meat • Mince and add a small amount to coleslaw, potato salad, egg salad, or salad dressing • Add chopped cilantro to soups or tomato sauces for an extra punch of flavor • Serve culantro leaves with pho, a Vietnamese beef broth that is garnished with herbs and bean sprouts. Enjoy fresh, flavorful Florida culantro today. Though lesser known than its cousin cilantro, culantro’s vibrant flavor lends a unique flavor to any dish.
SELECTED REFERENCES http://www.whfoods.com http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/herbs/culantro.html http://worldcrops.org/crops/culantro https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-506.html
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Moriah McCullers continued from pg. 25
speech in 30 minutes on one of three agricultural topics, and then deliver the speech to a panel of judges. In 2014 and 2015 Moriah was a state finalist in the Equine Science Entrepreneurship Proficiency, and in 2015 she was also a state finalist in the Beef Production Placement Proficiency. In addition to these accomplishments, Moriah is very proud to have placed as the 6th place High Individual in the FFA Livestock Judging preliminary state competition. In 2013 she earned her Ag Technology certification through her FFA chapter. In her spare time Moriah coached the girls JV soccer team, played varsity volleyball for two years, varsity soccer for six years, and varsity softball for four years, while serving as captain of the teams in each of these sports. Undeterred by all of these extracurricular activities and working on the ranch, Moriah was committed to her education and graduated high school in 2015 as Valedictorian of her graduating class. This honor was preceded by being voted Homecoming Queen by the student body at Frostproof Middle-Senior High School her senior year. These days Moriah continues to keep herself busy and has very little downtime. Coupled with her duties on the ranch, she also works as a waitress at Frostbite, a small local restaurant. To supplement her income, Moriah also teaches horseback riding lessons to elementary aged children, a business she started five years ago. As if working three jobs isn’t enough Moriah attends college full time at Polk State College. After completing her Associate’s degree, she plans to transfer to the University of Florida to study Animal Science and would like to continue her education beyond her Bachelor’s degree to study bovine genetics and beef reproduction. Despite growing up on a cattle ranch, beef cattle reproduction was not Moriah’s first area of interest when she began preparing for her future. From a young age Moriah had visions of becoming a nurse. This dream continued to drive Moriah’s future plan until fate stepped in. It wasn’t until a recent trip with her father out west to market the genetics of the Crooked Lake Ranch bulls that her outlook changed. She soon realized her interest and passion lie with the beef cattle industry and agriculture, not nursing. After much prayer and soul-seeking, Moriah decided to change her college major from nursing to animal science; a decision she doesn’t regret. A short while ago Moriah discovered another interest she has been pursuing, reined cow horse competitions. A few months ago she began taking lessons with hopes of competing in the future. When she’s not 32
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working, attending school, or completing school assignments Moriah enjoys taking the boat out on the lake, saltwater fishing, deer hunting, and riding her horses. As Sweetheart, Moriah feels compelled to prepare today’s youth to educate the public about the hot topics and misconceptions held by many uneducated consumers. She noticed the blue corduroy jacket worn by FFA members seemed to serve as a beacon for folks who had questions about agriculture and agricultural practices. She observed some FFA members that appeared unprepared for the questions from the public, and they didn’t know the facts to share to clear up their misinterpretations of the facts. Moriah’s intentions are to hold workshops at FFA chapter meetings throughout the county to equip FFA members with the tools and knowledge they need to educate the public with accurate and factual information about the beef cattle industry and empower them to share this knowledge with others. According to the National FFA Association, “By becoming fluent in agriculture and sharing their knowledge, FFA members can make a major difference in the communications gap that exists between producers and consumers.” It is through bridging this gap Moriah hopes to change the negative views and propaganda that shine a negative light on the beef cattle industry. In June Moriah will compete for the title of Florida Cattlemen’s Sweetheart at the 2016 Florida Cattlemen’s Association’s Annual Convention & Allied Member Trade Show at ChampionsGate, along with other young cattlewomen throughout the state. Sweetheart contestants are judged based on their knowledge of the beef industry, communication skills, personality, poise, appearance, and overall impression. While the purpose of each county Sweetheart, along with the FCA Sweetheart, is to promote and educate consumers about beef and the Florida beef industry, the purpose of the contest is to build favor publicity for the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, Florida Beef Council, and Florida Cattlewomen’s Association. We wish Moriah the best of luck at the competition and we look forward to seeing her around the county representing Polk County’s cattlemen and the beef industry. She’s a true southern lady, but don’t let the pretty face, beautiful smile, and southern drawl fool you. This Sweetheart can give even the most experienced cowboy a run for his money. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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2016 The Real Deal By Jim Frankowiak | Photos by Lacey Waters
There are rodeos and then there are rodeos. Many will be familiar with the televised events, pitting one competitor against another in a series of events. The cowboys, remember that just cowboys, will be dressed to the “9’s” and many will have corporate sponsors. Quite a display, but distant from the daily routine at cattle ranches across Florida and the U.S. A decade ago the Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Foundation formalized a circuit of ranch rodeos in the state to help “preserve a way of life and connect cowboys and cowgirls to cattlemen and the general public,” according to Fred Waters, who heads the Arena Crew that oversees the statewide FCA Ranch Rodeo circuit. Yes, you read it correctly, the circuit includes cowgirls. In fact, every five-member team in the competition must have at least one cowgirl and in Polk County two members must be from the county for each team entered in that county event. Additionally, all participants must be FCA members. There are 16 qualifying ranch rodeos annually in Florida. Each represents an opportunity for participating teams to win and thereby gain entry to the state finals which will take place this year at the Silver Spurs Arena at Heritage Park in Kissimmee September 30 – October 1. Venues for this year’s qualifying ranch rodeos include Ocala, Tampa (in conjunction with the State Fair), Bartow, Labelle, Manatee County Fairgrounds, Moore Haven, Orlando, Sumter County Fairgrounds, St. Lucie County Fairgrounds, Fruitland Park, Kenansville, Williston, Wauchula, Okeechobee and the Arcadia Rodeo Arena “This is a chance for real cowboys and cowgirls to connect with cattle owners and landowners,” said Waters. “These are the unsung heroes who get the work done every day, and they do that daily as teams, not individuals. That work is an important early step in the process that leads to provision of beef for our markets and restaurants in the quantity and range of choices we have in this country. 34
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“In addition to preserving this part of Florida’s heritage, the events involve competing teams using the skills they use on the ranch every day,” said Waters. “The proceeds from these qualifying events support local county fair associations and 4-H clubs.” Winning team members win buckles or saddles, but no money. Team entry fees range from $350 to $500. Waters estimates that there are some 100 ranch rodeo teams competing in Florida. County events include calf branding, double mugging, wild cow milking, colt riding and team sorting. The events involve multiple teams competing at the same time under tight timing. “None of this is about individual performance, but all team members working together to get the job done just like they do every day,” said Waters. “Competing cowboys and cowgirls do it because they love what they do and want to showcase their skills.” In addition to the FCA Foundation the circuit receives ongoing support from the cattle industry and those companies and individuals allied to the industry. Waters and the other members of the FCA Arena Crew support the circuit, assisting with coordination of event judges and organizing the state finals. “County ranch rodeos are organized locally and that ranges from setting up the venue, securing and paying for insurance, assembling event calves, cows, steers and horses, and holding the actual event. Our crew takes responsibility for all of that at the state finals.” That means sufficient animals for the state finalist teams. Waters is also heavily involved in the qualifying ranch rodeo held in Polk County. The public is welcome to attend all of the FCA Ranch Rodeo events at the county and state levels. Additional information on the FCA Ranch Rodeo competitions is available by visiting: www.floridacattlemen.org. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Recipes
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Chef Justin Timineri
Pan-Seared Red Snapper with Cucumber Relish and Spicy Yogurt Sauce Ingredients
Pan-Seared Florida Red Snapper 4 (6-ounce) snapper fillets sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste 2 teaspoons olive oil Cucumber Relish 2 large Florida cucumbers, diced 2 large Florida tomatoes, seeded and diced Âź cup fresh parsley, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped fine
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon olive oil sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste 1 lemon, juiced Yogurt Sauce 1 cup Greek-style yogurt 1 lemon, juiced 1 tablespoon seasoning mix (blackened or seafood spice) sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS Pan-Seared Florida Red Snapper In a large sautĂŠ pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Lightly coat the skin side of each snapper fillet with cornstarch. Carefully add the coated snapper fillets to the oiled pan. Cook snapper fillets for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until completely cooked throughout. Remove fillets from pan and serve with cucumber relish
and yogurt sauce. Cucumber Relish In a medium-sized bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Season the relish to taste with salt and pepper. Yogurt Sauce In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
Black Eyed Mullet INGREDIENTS 1/2 pound smoked, grilled, or broiled mullet meat 2 (15-ounce) cans black-eyed peas 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped green pepper 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon liquid hot pepper sauce 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup cider vinegar
DIRECTIONS Break fish into bite-sized portions; set aside. Mash peas lightly, just until all are broken. Combine peas, onion, pepper, garlic, pepper sauce, salt and vinegar in a saucepan and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add mullet and cook until heated through. Serve immediately as a side dish. 38
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Farmers Fared Well With The Florida Legislature by John Dicks
Maybe it’s because 2016 has an election on the horizon, but this year (unlike 2015) the Florida Legislature finished its annual session on time and with its members, seemingly, in a good mood of camaraderie.
ida’s citrus industry. The 2016 general agricultural package allows farmers who participate in the Citrus Health Response Program to retain their Greenbelt agricultural classification for up to five years after the removal of diseased citrus trees from their land.
Of course the major objective of the annual deliberations in Tallahassee is to pass a budget. It generally appeared that there was agreement on this too with the fiscal year spending plan coming in at over $82 billion and being passed with a strong majority.
Lawmakers also saw fit to carve out a $1.1 million sales tax exemption for machinery and equipment used in agricultural post-harvest activities in packing houses. Another measure to remove the tax from fencing materials did not meet with the same success.
The Ag Industry found favor with legislators in several areas, including issues of water, agritourism, farm vehicles and agricultural land and taxation.
One final piece of legislation drifting down from Tallahassee needs a bit of editorial comment. This year, after being considered for at least a couple of years, the Legislature added a new item to our list of state symbols. Now, in addition to the state flower (orange blossom), tree (sabal palm), animal (panther), bird (mockingbird) and mammal (manatee), among others that I have no room to mention, we now have an official state honey. It’s the Tupelo.
The topic of water drew significant attention and after three years of repeated attempts to create a statewide policy, lawmakers finally reached consensus early in the session. With the Ag Industry being a large consumer of water, this legislation appears to have developed a smart and reliable policy that balances the needs of agriculture with business, tourism and the population as a whole. Florida is already the third most populace state in the nation and it is expected to grow by an additional 30 percent, or six million new residents, over the next 14 years. Such growth will create even more challenges to Florida’s water concerns. This legislation appears to provide a long-term water policy plan for Florida and ensures an adequate supply of water for agricultural production.
Yes, tupelo honey is especially sweet and it is a bit rare, generally produced for only a few weeks in April and May and coming from the tupelo trees growing near the rivers of the Chipola and Apalachicola rivers of northwest Florida. But for my taste, I prefer the homegrown stuff you can get from local beekeepers like Tommy Sparkman. Legend has it that local honey is even good for preventing, or at least comforting, allergy symptoms. I can attest to that. For my taste, the Florida Legislature got it flat wrong on its choice of honey!
The Legislature also continued to focus on the growing phenomenon of agritourism, which has become progressively more popular with both farmers and the public. It’s an additional way of making farms more profitable by having people actually visiting them for events such as weddings, reunions and for educational opportunities. These agritourism activities help consumers get an up close and personal perspective on where their food comes from and what it takes to grow it. Three years ago the Legislature first began paying attention to the activity. This year it sought uniform statewide oversight by prohibiting local governments from enforcing existing ordinances on operations and clarifies that the definition of agritourism includes on-site civic and ceremonial events. Farm vehicles also got a look-over by lawmakers. Legislation was passed to finally bring Florida regulations in line with Federal standards, which were adopted four years ago. The most significant provision is an exemption from the requirement of having a commercial driver license (CDL) for drivers of certain farm vehicles while transporting agricultural products. Regarding taxes, which always get much attention though not always much action, the Legislature continued to express concerns over FlorWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
John Dicks is both a lawyer and a farmer. He and his family own 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. He and his wife, Sharon, live in Plant City, where he served nine years as City Commissioner, including three years as Mayor. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Seed Startes In May of 2014 a small group of fellow agriculturists got together and discovered a problem with local agriculture education and local agriculture, IT NEEDS HELP TO SURVIVE! So, they put their heads together and came up with a way to help the community, encourage education potential, and ensure the life of local agriculture. That was the start of Seed Starters for Young Harvesters, Inc. Three crucial members of this group of individuals are, Guy Callahan, President; Colt Smith, Vice President; Amy Glenn, Secretary. Seed Starters for Young Harvesters, Inc. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization focused on increasing the education of our future agriculturists and ensuring the future of local agriculture. They thoroughly believe that succeeding is not done by a single person or group, but rather when a whole community comes together for a common goal and cause. President Guy Callahan said, “We partner with the members in our community to build and sustain a future for Agriculture Education and Local Agriculture. Without you, we would not be possible.” Guy Callahan went on to say, “The future of Agriculture Students and Classrooms are the core of our efforts. Those, along with local agriculture, are in need of assistance to thrive in today’s times. Agriculture is changing every day. How things are grown/raised changes daily due to the technological advances of our society.” The actual mission of Seed Starters for Young Harvesters, Inc. is to assist those in the areas where adaptation is a priority. By joining forces with local farmers and companies, we put on outreach programs that are geared towards the education of the public to show the need for our existence and mission. At Seed Starters for Young Harvesters, Inc., they seek out new ways to develop the student’s minds, show the importance of local Agriculture, and help prepare our future agriculturists for their careers in Agriculture. 42
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By Melissa Nichols
Their initial plan was to assist teachers in obtaining the tools they need to further the education of their students, help students reach their goals and expand their potential, work with community members/organizations, and organize outreach programs to teach the need for our efforts, all while focusing on local agriculture. This year has been an exciting year for Seed Starters for Young Harvesters, Inc. as they were instrumental in the giveaway of the #20bucktruck donated to Seed Starters for Young Harvesters Inc by Kelley Buick GMC. Over $50k in funds were raised to financially reward the exhibitors of the Polk County Youth Fair, and also help the FFA Chapters/4H groups around the county. They helped thousands of youth in Polk County by overseeing this amazing fundraiser. Seed Starters also had the opportunity to team up with UF/IFAS for a spring resource day held at Bok Tower Gardens. The UF/IFAS Extension and Bok Tower Gardens Partnership school and community garden initiatives are designed to foster improved awareness of the importance of plants and to support garden-related projects that enhance the nutrition, health and wellness, environment, academics and cultural atmosphere of schools and community organizations. The school garden program focuses on providing education and technical assistance to empower educators with the tools they need to cultivate an outdoor learning environment where academic concepts flourish. The community garden program focuses on providing education and technical assistance to empower communities with the tools they need to develop vibrant community gardens. UF/IFAS Extension and Bok Tower Gardens support community and school gardens by providing educational opportunities (workshops and demonstrations) as well as training and print/online resources on how to maintain a garden. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
The Spring 2016 Resource Day provided nineteen gardens with the resources needed to jumpstart their spring gardens. School and community gardens received compost, potting soil, transplants, seeds, seed trays, and pots. Many of these materials were donated by generous sponsors, including Seed Starters for Young Harvesters, Harris Seeds, Black Kow, Plants of Ruskin, and Florida’s Natural Growers Foundation. Seed Starters for Young Harvesters Inc. conducted a drawing where participants were eligible for gift cards to be used for garden construction materials and $1,000.00 was given away. The gift cards were part of the grant received from the Florida’s Natural Growers Foundation granted to Seed Starters for Young Harvesters. Twelve schools and seven community gardens from across Polk County participated in the event at Bok Tower Gardens. About 30 people of all ages attended the event. Participants learned how to care for transplants and square-foot vegetable gardening from Extension Agents Erin Elsberry, School Gardens Program, and Susan Tyler, Community Gardens Program. To sponsor a scholarship, participate in an event or see how you can help out contact Seed Starters for Young Harvesters, Inc. With great nonprofit organizations such as this, agriculture will continue to thrive in Polk County for many more generations because above all they teach No Farmers, No Food!! For more information visit www.FLSeedStarters.org or www.Facebook.com/Seed.Start . WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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By Ginny Mink
In the Slimy Underworld
I hope you aren’t squeamish because if that’s your natural inclination you might want to skip this month’s Meet the Minks storyline. Here’s why: I took the kids to Repticon! I hope you instantly understand that this means I subjected Hazel (my oh so precious soon to be 5 year old princess) and my scared of everything soon to be 3 year old, Zeke, to a room full of snakes, lizards, spiders, and the like. Of course Jaidyn (the 12 year old) was not even faintly disturbed. I’ve taught him well. If you know me then perhaps you are aware of the fact that one of my BFFs in high school bought me a ball python for my birthday during my senior year. Her name was Wilemina and she loved to wrap herself around my wrist and hang out there all day. Sadly, when I went away to college she got handed over to a family friend and well…I’m not sure what the story is there. Anyhow, I’m not afraid of snakes. I used to catch ring-necked snakes in our backyard when I lived in Fort Lauderdale as a kid, and one of my father’s friends payed my siblings and I $0.25 for every lizard we caught because he’d feed them to his snakes. Reptiles and I have a long history, actually, now that I think about it. So, that fascination was something I wanted to share with my wee ones. It was raining when we arrived at the fairgrounds. Zeke was thrilled at an opportunity to jump in puddles as I tried to keep him dry. We stood in line to buy our tickets and when the girl at the table gave Hazel and Zeke their hand stamps, the elation on their faces was pretty hysterical. I mean, is a black inked picture of a tree frog really that amazing? It is to them, let me assure you. Enamored by their hand stamps they missed the plethora of people walking past them with scaly creatures draped around their necks. No worries, I thought, they’ll catch on soon enough. And indeed they did. “What is this place?” Hazel questioned with wide eyed amazement (bordering disgust) as she approached the first table bedecked with cylindrical snake housing Tupperware containers. Zeke wanted to touch everything. I was kind of shocked by Zeke’s seeming fearlessness. I don’t know how many snakes were on that first table but I’m pretty certain Hazel can’t count that high and she’s a pretty smart kid. She seemed to really appreciate the vast array of colors in each round enclosure. I mean some of these snakes were gorgeous, serious works of art (yes, snakes can be beautiful, God doesn’t make ugly after all). We traversed the area checking out every table possible. There were so many wee snakes and so many huge ones. There were lizards too, geckos, salamanders, iguanas, chameleons, you name it. Then there were frogs: pacmans and darts. Interestingly enough Zeke was most
drawn to the turtles. Perhaps it was because they were generally in enclosures without lids. While I didn’t let him touch any, that doesn’t mean he didn’t try his hardest. Everyone was doing just fine in the sea of snakes until we came to tables full of spiders. That was where Hazel drew the line. She covered her face and wouldn’t get anywhere near those eight legged fiends. She was not even remotely interested in how fuzzy they were, big or small, nope she wasn’t having anything to do with them at all. Jaidyn asked, “I thought this was Repticon? Spiders aren’t reptiles they’re arachnids. Why are they here?” I told him that the same weird people who liked snakes also liked spiders. I think the people buying stuff there were unamused. Ah well, the truth often hurts. Hazel had just gotten over her spider freak-out when a man walking a pit bull stopped within our view. Ordinarily the dog’s presence would have sent Zeke and Hazel over the edge but the fact that the man had a snake around his neck that was as thick as a tree trunk captivated their attention far more than the measly seeming pit bull. Herein lies the craziest moment of that adventure. Zeke walked up to the man and touched the snake. The man held the tail out for him and he petted it like it was his friend. And then, craziness on top of craziness, he petted the dog too! Later, I took them to eat at the ever popular Taco Bell and while sitting in the booth munching on triple layer nachos (and spitting out the refried beans- he’s gross, you don’t want to eat with him) I asked him, “You touched that giant snake, what did it feel like?” Without batting an eye, spitting out that lovely brown mash of refried beans he answered, with all seriousness, “Poop!” Then he continued, “It was $60 so we can’t get one.” Since that poop answer had us all snickering, we kind of ignored the rest. However, he seemed a little bummed about not being able to acquire a snake who was four times his length and just about as big around. So I trudged on and asked, “What did you think about the iguana?” He responded, with equal sincerity, “It was very honja.” At that point we all started cackling. Then out of the blue, Hazel took a turn towards intensity, looked right at me and stated, “If you don’t know what that is, it’s probably not real.” I think I laughed so hard I cried. While I appreciate my daughter’s estimation of my lexicon, the resolute manner in which she declared truth as she knew it was hysterical. Even Jaidyn was teary over that one. It’s safe to say that we had a great time at Repticon and would invite all who enjoy the slimy underworld to visit the next time it’s in town.
Bring Sophie Home!
Sophie was Stolen from her yard off of Coronet Rd near Medulla in Plant City on March 23rd around 3pm. Witnesses saw her in an old wood brown colored two door pick up truck. There is a Reward for Sophie. She is a sweet baby and if you call her and you have food/ treats she will probably come. She is not used to leashes and will run if you try to put one on but she will just jump in your car. Sophie is Microchipped. If you have information call 727-534-4644 44 44
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CABINETS
All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Blake 813-752-3378
SIDING
Roundbaler, used hay equipment Call Alvie 813-759-8722
HESSTON 3710 TEDDER
Priced to sale. Call Alvie 813-759-8722 KUBOTA TRACTOR G5200 Ground driven manure spreader. $1900 Call 813-986-6337
KRONE AM 2835 DISC MOWER Call Alvie 813-759-8722
Ext. Siding 4’X7’ sheets stucco texture & 12” on center. $18.95 Call Blake 813-752-3378
ROSSI CADDY 8 HAY RAKE Call Alvie 813-759-8722
MOBILE HOME TUBS
Metal brand new in bo 54” Mobile Home Tubs Call Ted (813) 752-3378 $185.00
CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE. We are a Simonton/Amcraft dealer. Our windows are energy star, lifetime warranty & accidental glass replacement at no extra charge. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
FARM EQUIPMENT
FOR SALE
HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL?
Call us today! 813-759-6909 or email us: info@inthefieldmagazine.com Let us help you get rid of it!
METAL WAREHOUSE
DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER PROPERTY AVAILABLE No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
GROVE EQUIPMENT SERVICE
Tractor 33hp, 4X4 w/ loader. 40 hours. $17,900. Has warranty & Financing available. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
Home, barn 10+ acres with stream, green belted. See Zillow listing: 8219 Valrie Lane, Riverview or call Bob 813-924-3385
2400 sq. ft. Metal Warehouse for lease. In close proximity to CSX industrial area. Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the Located in east Bartow. For more details BIG Box STORES! Call Today! call 863-221-0986 Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
JOBS
2015 MAHINDRA 1533
HOME FOR SALE
KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES
2000 KUBOTA 6800
4X4, cab & air. 48 inch rows. 1100 hours. $25,000 Call 813-737-1163
GENTLEMAN’S FARM 30 acre Gentleman’s farm with home and pond. Excellent home and property for a variety of owners. Outbuildings include a Bunkhouse with full kitchen, stable with 6 stalls, and Pole Barn. 4,950 sq. ft. metal building, three overhead doors and 50amp service. $550,000 2562 208th St. Lake City, Fl. Call 386-752-8653
10 - 30 acres of property available for farming in Pasco County. Call Nick 813-967-3858
SERVICES CALLER ON HOLD
is looking for agriculture/tractor mechanics at both the Bartow & Plant City locations. Having own tools is a plus. Pay based on skill and experience. Call Bartow at 863-537-1345 or Plant City at 813-759-8722
A low cost service that enables you to communicate important information about your business to customers while they are on hold. No monthly payments or annual payments. Call today and ask for Al (813) 763-2220
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES
MISC.
BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FREE
Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722
POLK FURNITURE
Polk Furniture Consignment Store. Purchase $637.00 worth of furniture & receive two tickets to a 3 day, 2 night cruise. 863-332-3954 46
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
47
5905 Hwy. 60 East • Bartow
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM