In The Field magazine Polk edition by Berry Publications, Inc

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

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is Top Priority this Legislative Session Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam

The Florida Legislature will begin its annual 60-day legislative session on January 12, and I’m working closely with members of the Legislature to address one of the state’s greatest challenges: water.

water resources and conservation lands to identify gaps and modify water supply planning efforts accordingly. In addition, the legislation eliminates duplicative permitting requirements on businesses and landowners.

I consider water to be our greatest long-term challenge. Based on assessments of the state’s supply and usage, we will face a more than one-billion-gallon-per-day shortfall of fresh water by 2030. While we have made great progress in restoring the health of our water supply and conserving our water resources, Florida’s population continues to grow and imposes stress on our natural resources. In order to meet the needs of this growing population and continue to support a thriving economy while balancing the needs of our natural environment, we must invest more in water supply planning and alternative supply development.

To support our efforts to restore the health and protect the supply of our water, I’ve requested the Legislature to invest more than $25 million in water-related projects next year. These funds will assist landowners in adopting best management practices to reduce their impact on the environment, as well as implementing nutrient reduction and water retention projects. I’ve also requested an additional $25 million to support Florida’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, a program focused on maintaining the agricultural land base and protecting Florida’s landscape from development through the purchase of conservation easements.

I have worked with the Legislature, key stakeholders in the agriculture industry and environmental advocates to develop and implement comprehensive water policy that will help ensure we have a healthy and abundant supply of water.

The ideal time to advance this policy and invest in the sustainability of our natural resources is when we are not in a reactionary mode to an active hurricane season or a particularly severe drought, but rather to move forward at a time when we can make the best possible decision in a non-reactionary, thoughtful way.

The proposed legislation, championed by Speaker Steve Crisafulli, Senate President Andy Gardiner, Rep. Matt Caldwell, and Sen. Charlie Dean, builds on the solid foundation in Florida law to accelerate the protection and restoration of Florida’s water bodies. It relies on science-based approaches that will have the strongest measurable impact. And, it requires an annual assessment of WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Water is Florida’s “golden goose.” It is vital to every industry in every corner of our state. We need to put the policy in place to do this right, and we need to do it now.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

Polk County Youth Fair

VOL. 9 • ISSUE 5

page 24

Polk County Cattlemen’s Association P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – J. B. Wynn (863) 581-3255 jbwynn29@gmail.com Vice President – David McCullers (863) 635-2821crookedlakeranch@verizon. net Cover Photo by Melissa Nichols

Contents December 2015 Water

Page 3 Master Gardener

Page 10

Support Ag Research

Page 12

Fishing Hot Spots

Page 14

Literary Time Machine

Page 16

Operation Outdoor Freedom

Page 18

Rocking Chair Chatter

Page 22

David “Redman” Lawson, Sr.

Page 27

Warner University

Page 28

Endangered Species

Page 30 PCSO

Page 34 Florida Tangelos

Page 39

Book Review

Page 42 Activity

Page 44

Recipes

Page 26

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January 2016

Secretary/Treasurer Justin Bunch (863) 425-1121 jbunch@agriumretail. com State Director – Ray Clark (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay. rr.com

Dave Tomkow (863) 665-5088 cattlemenslivestock@ earthlink.net Mike Facente (863) 697-9419 Standing Committee Chairs: Membership- J.B. Wynn Events- Kevin Fussell (863) 412-5876 Trade ShowRodeo- Fred Waters (863) 559-7808

Website – Adam NorCarlton Taylor man 863-944-9293 863-781-1146 Carlton.Taylor@boehring- Adam.norman@gmfind. com er-ingelheim.com Charles Clark (863) 528-8537 cclarkc4@yahoo.com L.B. Flanders, DVM (863) 644-5974 Dewey Fussell (863) 984-3782 Mike Fussell (863) 698-8314 fussell.flafarm@verizon. net Moby Persing 863-528-4567

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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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

Letter from the Editor

STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry

It is time for the Florida State Fair! The 12-day event highlights agriculture from across the state, bringing together the best of the best to vie for a variety of awards. This year the event will take place February 4 – 15 and it is sure to be action packed every day. Every year people make their way to Tampa for the sights and sounds of the Florida State Fair. It’s a great place to try out the latest in deep fried food, see great sights, new inventions and make great memories. It is also a place to learn about agriculture in Florida. The Florida State Fair allows those far removed from the farm to reconnect with their agriculture surroundings. So while you are enjoying the rides, food, exhibits and other things the fair has to offer, be sure to take the time to visit the agriculture areas. Take in a showmanship competition and tell the students you see that you are proud of the job they are doing and the hard work they are putting in to their project. Check out Ag Venture and learn about where your food really comes from and the impact agriculture has on every day life. And don’t forget to walk in to Florida’s past at Cracker Country. I love that fairs showcase the hardworking folks who raise livestock and grow crops to help feed our nation. It makes me happy! Visit the In The Field booth in the Agriculture Hall of Fame Building. We would love to meet you. Until Next Month

Sarah The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25

Sales Manager Danny Crampton Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Nolan Lewis 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

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.

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January 2016

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Conserving and recycling water is

Lian Blackwelder, Engineer Florida phosphate operations

Safeguarding local water sources is an important part of what we do at Mosaic. As an engineer here in Florida, I help ensure Mosaic reuses and recycles approximately 90 percent of the water at its local facilities. Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen our phosphate operations reduce groundwater use by more than half. But we’re not done yet. Every day, we explore new ways to conserve natural resources and reduce our water usage even further.

We help the world grow the food it needs.

mosaicco.com/florida

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

Happy New Year Christmas and the New Years are over. Looking back, the year 2015 will go down as the best year ever for cattle prices, to only end with a large market decline. But prices are still much better than just a few years ago. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Ray Clark. I was born in Plant City and raised in the Kathleen area. I now live in Lakeland with my wife Phyllis. I am a retired Agriculture teacher with a 36 year career at Plant City High School. I have been in the cattle and citrus business all my life. It has been my pleasure to serve as a Polk County Cattlemen’s director for the past four years and as a State Director for the past three years. I am now looking forward to serving as your President for the upcoming year. Pushing forward, as you read this we will probably have had the Taste of Agriculture fund raiser for the Polk County Youth Fair, held at the Higgenbotham Ranch in Lakeland, and our FFA and 4-H members are preparing for the Youth Fair held the last week of January at the Stuart Center in Bartow. Let me remind you to get out and support our young cattlemen and farmers. I myself showed and sold cattle at the Youth Fair when I was a 4-H and FFA member, as I know many of you have also done in the past. Also let me remind you we will be having our annual Polk County Cattlemen’s Ranch Rodeo

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and Trade Show coming up in February. Contact, Fred Waters for Rodeo information and Bridget Carlisle Stice for Trade Show information. Don’t forget the Florida State Fair in February. We will have many Polk ,4-H and FFA members showing their livestock. In closing, I want to Thank, JB Wynn for a wonderful job as our past President and thank our Directors for their support to our County and State Cattlemen’s group. Also, I want to Thank God for our weather and for his continued support for the Cattlemen and all Farmers and pray that our markets stay at a level for all of us to make a profit at the jobs we love. Hope to see you when our trails cross.

Ray Clark

Ray Clark Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President

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Florida ranks 2nd in US production of fresh vegetables and provides 80% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the US during January, February, and March each year. Florida ranks 4th in the Southeast and 12th nationally in the production of beef calves. The second largest industry in the state is agriculture. Tourism is the largest industry within the state. The state flower is the orange blossom. Cattle were first introduced to North America in Florida in 1521 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. If all the boxes of Florida tomatoes shipped in a crop year were laid end to end, they would stretch from Pensacola round-trip to Beijing, China – over 58 million boxes! Florida has 47,500 farms consisting of 9.25 million acres. The average farm size in Florida is 195 acres.

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

Fluttering Flowers

M A S T E R GARDENER By Debra Howell The term Lepidoptera is from the Greek literally meaning, “scaly winged,” and refers to the order of creatures including butterflies, skippers and moths. The moniker is derived by the fact that their wings are covered with little scales that actually form their stripes and spots. Now while we are acquainted with the body form of butterflies and moths, the skippers are an intermediate shape somewhere between butterflies and moths. Skippers are active during daytime hours, while moths are present during the night. North of Mexico, 765 species of butterflies may be found, with over 180 species occurring in Florida. This butterfly bounty is the highest of any state east of the Mississippi, and creates an opportunity for us to hone our butterfly gardening expertise. The fact that we have 2800 native plants here in Florida, makes the Sunshine State a suitable geographic location to plant a spectacular garden for nearly year-round hosting of butterflies, skippers and moths. The very best way to encourage these beauties to return to your yard is to cater to their life cycles. This includes the egg, larva, pupa and adult stages. The larva is the caterpillar and the pupa is the chrysalis. Contrary to popular belief, butterflies do not “spin” a chrysalis, but exude it from their bodies. A well-designed garden will be attractive to not only adults, but the larvae as well. In order to accomplish this, you will need to install specific plants, which we will address. If you are diligent in your plant choices, you will encourage butterflies to your yard, hopefully to remain and reproduce there. Although adult stages will feed on a variety of nectar flowers, their caterpillars are plant-specific where host plants are concerned. We will cover that here. In addition to the consumption of the host plants, these plants also are a source of shelter, as well as providing the toxic chemicals necessary for their protection. It may be noted that adults will no doubt remain closer to areas where suitable larval food sources are found. The larval stage serves one purpose: to munch a bunch. So, you must be prepared for your larval host plants to be fairly decimated. Therefore, if you love the looks of your Mexican milkweed with its lovely flowers, then plant some in the shade and they will not suffer the damage as those planted in full sun. Remember, butterflies are solarpowered and therefore normally found in sunny locations. Exceptions 10

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to this rule are certain butterflies such as the zebra longwing, who are good with a little shade, or the moths, who are often nocturnal. Some moths appear diurnally, with one example being the cactus moth, which is under scrutiny by the USDA in their Cactoblastis Cactorum Eradication Program. These moths pierce cactus pads with their “egg stick,” the resulting larvae of which consume the flesh of the cactus pad, and then produce bright green excrement which cascades down the cactus to create a mound at the base of your cactus. They attack spiny, as well as spineless, cactus types and are a threat to cactus in Mexico, which are needed for food. When planning your butterfly garden, choose a sunny, protected location well away from sites where pesticides are used. This includes lawn spray. If you rely on a range of flower colors, especially of the red, orange, purple color spectrum, and use plants with tubular shaped blossoms, you will attract not only butterflies, but hummingbirds as well. In my front yard, visible from my front porch and kitchen window, I have planted what I refer to as the ‘trifecta” of nectar plants. These are firebush, firespike and firecracker plants. I have put native red Penta’s in the mix and here is what I have achieved: on a daily basis on warm, sunny days, there are always hummingbirds and familiar bands of zebra longwing butterflies busily feeding on the nectar of these plants. If you add Mexican milkweed, you will have Monarchs too, but the milkweeds will certainly be chewed, so plant plenty of them. I also have some blue plumbago, which serves swallowtails daily, then hummingbird moths from dusk to into the night. A hummingbird moth is a non-descript moth, which has a long, hummingbird-like proboscis. You will see these creatures in the waning hours of daylight, perhaps even mistaking them for hummingbirds on plants like plumbagos and four-o’clocks. As I mentioned earlier, butterflies are solar powered and their bodies need to reach at least 75 degrees in order to mobilize. Dark patterning on their wings assist them in the absorption of solar energy. When the days are windy or cloudy, they will remain in sheltered or protected areas. Their wings are sensitive to battering winds, so you may consider installing a plant such as the firebush or buddleia (butterfly bush), which will achieve some height and width, and will provide a windscreen for just such conditions. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

You may also want to consider providing a “puddling” area for butterflies, as they are unable to drink from a birdbath. You may have noticed butterflies congregating on wet sand or mud. Usually, these are males, which extract minerals in preparation for mating. To make a puddling area, place coarse sand in a shallow pan and insert this pan in the soil of your yard. Be sure to keep the sand moist and the cats away! Butterflies that frequent my yard are swallowtails, monarchs, Gulf fritillary, Sulphurs, skippers, ceraunus blue, painted lady, zebra longwing and an occasional red admiral. The zebra longwing is the Florida state butterfly, and was nominated for this title by the recentlydeceased former Florida First Lady, Rhea Chiles, wife of Governor “Walking Lawton” Chiles. The zebra longwing is notable among Florida butterflies for its longevity. This is partly attributed to the fact that they consume not only nectar, but pollen as well. They have an enhanced social order and roost together nightly, sometimes upwards to 30 of them on a chain of Spanish moss, an activity which I have personally witnessed. Incidentally, the yellow butterflies that seem so prevalent are called Sulphurs. These butterflies are either yellow or white, and usually prefer flowers in that color range. Many of those plants are in the Senna/Cassia family. The monarchs are a species for which you may wish to provide nectar and larval host plants. Monarchs are threatened by degradation and loss of habitat, diseases and the decline of native milkweeds. During the fall, eastern population adults migrate 3,000 miles to over-winter on threatened yew trees in Mexico. The future of the very existence of these trees is uncertain. This migration is accomplished by several generations of butterflies. Meanwhile, on the West Coast the overwintering sites in California and Mexico are declining steadily. The Polk County Master Gardeners, in cooperation with the City of Lakeland Nursery, have installed a butterfly garden and Monarch Way Station along the Fort Frazier Trail in Lakeland, in an attempt to assist the Monarchs during their migration. If you wish to help the Monarchs on their prodigious journey, and are unable to obtain native milkweeds, Mexican milkweeds are normally WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

available at big box stores and nurseries. Bear in mind we need to put into effect conservation strategies for the protection of their whole range, or their future is in peril. I have also had lots of success with pipevine swallowtail butterflies by providing plenty of Dutchman’s pipe vine as their larval food source. The swallowtails are fond of munching on all members of the carrot family such as dill, fennel and parsley. These plants will be covered with their little larvae. Butterflies are so fond of nectar plants that they will be on your Pentas almost as soon as you remove them from your car. Just sit the pots in a sunny location and see what happens. You do not even have to plant them in the ground. Just place several nectar plants in a larger pot and grow a container butterfly garden. Here is a list of host and nectar plants you can pick from. Host Plants Nectar Plants Giant milkweed Firebush Mexican milkweed Firespike Members of the Asclepias family Firecracker plant Passion vine Pentas Dutchman’s pipevine Salvia Carrot family (dill, parsley, fennel) Plumbago Wildflowers Aster Porterweed About five years ago, a tale was told to you intelligent and loyal folks of an adventuresome seven year old named Velma who longed for a new dress. She was instructed by some very helpful relatives to catch a butterfly, bite off and swallow the head of the butterfly. Velma was told that she would then (allegedly) receive a brand new dress the same color as the butterfly for her trouble and indignity. Now it has been said that butterflies are like flowers fluttering in the air, and little Velma was drawn to them. So, the easiest butterfly for her to catch was a yellow Sulphur upon which she then performed the prescribed decapitation. Little Velma gulped and swallowed, and has been waiting for that yellow dress ever since. And, with a bit more help from the Lord, Miss Velma will be 104 years old in April. Happy New Year from Debbie, Miss Velma and Sally Ruger beagle! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

Support Agricultural Research and Innovation.

By Jack Payne Agriculture faces huge challenges at the moment, and this legislative session will be a crucial one in determining whether agricultural research and outreach meets those challenges. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is seeking the resources to bring on dozens of scientists across the state to expand and accelerate our work on behalf of Florida agriculture. We hope to restore the pre-recession levels of service we provided to the citrus, cattle, nursery, and fruit and vegetable industries. The timing is right this year to ask for an investment in research with the economy improving and a man in Speaker Steve Crisafulli who understands agriculture. We’re coming off a great year in which the agricultural community rallied behind us, the legislature provided money for us to hire new experts, and we began hiring faculty to beef up our efforts in fruit breeding, forestry, fisheries, and pests. One reason for our success is that lawmakers can see that you have skin in the game. Whether it’s the citrus box tax, a professorship endowed by a tomato grower, or farmers all over the state lending valuable acreage to UF/IFAS for research, Florida agriculture puts up substantial private money for discovery and innovation. When it comes to a legislative audience, we’re not nearly as effective as you are in carrying the message of the importance of state funding for agricultural research. That’s why we call on your help during the legislative session each year and 2016 is no exception. Timing is everything. We have incredible momentum coming into this session. You’ll see top-notch faculty reporting to our research centers all over the state and water specialists deployed in three of the state’s water districts in coming months because of resources provided by the legislature in the 2015 session. We always bring in top talent, but our recruiting hand is strengthened

this year by: • A new president who’s demonstrated a welcome devotion to the land-grant mission; • The arrival of accomplished and ambitious research and Extension faculty funded by the legislature in the 2015 budget; • New university preeminence resources – state funding to raise UF’s national stature and impact – going to IFAS work on plant genetics, food systems, biodiversity, informatics and more; • Recently upgraded computing that gives us the most powerful supercomputer in Florida and third-fastest university supercomputer in the nation; • A multimillion dollar injection of building and lab improvements in progress in Lake Alfred, Wimauma, Immokalee and elsewhere. Because we’re such a magnet for talent, you can be sure we’ll bring on more of the very best if we get the resources to do so in 2016. That’s where you come in. Please stay in touch with us, with your county Farm Bureau, and with your commodity associations about how you can help support agricultural research and innovation. We’ll need your support to educate lawmakers about the value of investment in agricultural research and Extension. Let’s continue to work together to ensure a bright future for Florida agriculture.

Jack Payne is the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. jackpayne@ufl.edu • @JackPayneIFAS 12

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

Ernie White:

Ernie was a longtime friend that passed a few years ago and I just found this photo on Facebook. Ernie and I spent many hours working, fishing and laughing together. We talked occasionally on the phone. But because he lived in Orlando and I lived Tampa we did not fish together as when I lived and worked in Orlando. Today, we use many things as crutches and reasons why we don’t go and see our friends and do the things we used to do. One of my biggest regrets is that as a guide for so many years; I never took time to take my dear friend fishing one last time.

Fishing with Plastic Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com) I’m often asked my favorite season to fish. Personally, anytime I can get out and fish is a good time. But, to pin point a time, it would be early spring and early fall. Especially those cool mornings with a light fog lifting. Could it get any better for an artificial lure angler? Probably not. Now let me tell you, being on the water at day break is a wonderful site. And the anticipation of walking the dog using a MirrOLure Top Dog Jr, over a broken-bottom grass flat can be exhilarating and breathtaking. Is Fall Easier with Artificial’s?: I believe so, simply because fish seem more catchable during the fall. The water is cooling, signaling the onset of winter and their need to bulk up food. As their natural food begins disappearing it increases the chance that fish will strike artificial lures.

Spotted Sea Trout:

Typically, spotted sea trout are a schooling fish and one point to remember; when you’re catching 10 to 15 inch fish in a particular location, that is probably the biggest you’ll catch. Larger trout are not as fast. Therefore, they elect not to compete and feed alone. If you’re using live shrimp or greenback just hop and pop it over a broken bottom grass flat and shortly you’ll have a limit for dinner. Trout are suckers for artificial lures giving you the opportunity to cover more area quicker.

Fortunately, if you know where to look, low tide days make it simple to find fish. They’re staged in deeper holes, canals, rivers, or depressions waiting for the next incoming tide. The one good thing about low winter tides; you know where you’re not fishing.

What’s Biting in January on Tampa Bay?

Snook:

If you’re targeting snook this month be prepared to fish several locations. They’ll be around, but usually not bunched up like warmer days. As we into our colder months water temperatures start falling, when this happens snook migrate toward warmer locations.

Redfish: January usually means good redfish days. Target

them around oyster beds, mangroves and shallow water pools on low tide days. Wading’s a great way to fish. Like other species, redfish drop into tidal pools left when the winter tides expose everything else. Redfish will be eating all types of live, and cut bait and artificial lures.

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January 2016

Spanish mackerel, Kingfish, Bluefish, & Mangrove Snapper: Travel across the

bay and you’ll pass 10 to 15 schools of feeding fish consisting of ladyfish, mackerel, bluefish and jacks. Anglers often turn their noses up at these species thinking they’re trash fish. Granted ladyfish and jacks are not decent table fare but mackerel grilled or smoked and bluefish fried are excellent. For some great rod bending action these species make an excellent quarry, especially for beginning anglers and anglerette’s. WWW. ININTTHE FFIELD MMAGAZINE.COM WWW. HE IELD AGAZINE.COM

Al Shouy with a nice middle-ground grass flat sea trout caught using small greenbacks and popping corks while fishing with Captain Woody Gore in middle Tampa Bay area.

Shea caught this good sized flounder in the middle of catching snook. He and his brother fished with Captain Woody Gore in middle Tampa Bay area.

Adam with a larger snook caught while fishing docks with Captain Woody Gore in middle Tampa Bay area.

“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.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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January January 2016 2016

Part 16 Ornamental Gardening in Florida

By Ginny Mink

Welcome aboard, dear readers, as we embark on another voyage in the Literary Time Machine. This month we’re reading the chapter entitled: Plant Enemies. This seems a good place to begin the New Year. It’s always good to know what you are up against in life, and in ornamental gardening. We must admit that we’re wondering if the enemies of yesteryear are still prime suspects today. So, without further ado, let’s see what Mr. Simpson has to say on the matter.

the classic, Arsenic and Old Lace).

His intro says it all, “I approach this subject with more hesitation than any that I write about in this little work for the reason that the wisest of us are so ignorant and the ablest so little prepared to do battle for the salvation of our plants.” Not that we want to deter you from gardening hopes, but as Mr. Simpson so aptly states, even when we think we know what we’re doing we have to recognize the fact that the enemy is always tricky.

Having left his poisonous recommendations he discusses, “One of the greatest scourges the cultivator must contend with…” This scourge, he says, is root knot. Of course, we had no idea what he was talking about and were therefore glad to continue the reading for further education. He explains that it is caused, “…by a Nematode worm which infects the roots of many plants causing them to become knotted and finally the death of the plant. No effective remedy has been discovered but heavy mulching out of doors is helpful though not always a cure.”

He goes on to reveal more sorrowful news, “It has been stated on good authority that no species of injurious insect has ever been exterminated within the memory of man and I think it is likely that the same may be said of diseases that injure our plants.” And he continues, “Yet it is true that new harmful insects and diseases are constantly appearing which take their toll from the cultivator.” He describes then, the two types of damaging insects. He writes, “… first, those which devour some part of the plant either during the larval stage or when adult; second, those which pierce the bark, leaves, flowers or fruit and suck the juice.” He then shares the 1926 based methods in which to combat each type. Mr. Simpson tells readers, “The former, which includes all the Lepidoptera and the Chrysomelids among the Coleoptera, are best combated by arsenical poisons applied to the plants on which they live; the latter by contact insecticides that form a coat over them and shut off their breathing.” When we saw the word, arsenical, we had to wonder if he was actually recommending that gardeners put arsenic on their plants. So, we looked it up. And yep, that’s exactly what he was saying! That made us delve a little deeper until we found this gem of an article written for WIRED magazine. It’s entitled: A IS FOR ARSENIC (PESTICIDES, IF YOU PLEASE). It was written in 2012 by Deborah Blum. In the article she reveals, “In the early 20th century – enthusiastically supported by the U.S. government – the most popular pesticides were arsenic compounds. How popular? In the year 1929, almost 30 million pounds of lead arsenate and calcium arsenate were spread across this country’s fields and orchards.”² That information is staggering. In fact, her research revealed that in 1935 it was suggested that the A is for Apples rhyme be changed to, “A is for Arsenate/Lead if you please/Protector of Apples/Against Archenemies.”² This she says proved the government’s enthusiasm over the utilization of arsenic based pesticides. Apparently these poisons got removed some time after World War II but weren’t officially off limits until the 1980s! Amazing. Feel free to read the whole fascinating article; we’ve included the link in our resources section. Back to Mr. Simpson discussing his second group of plant enemies. He writes, “To the second class belong the Hemiptera in which the Aphides and scales are included. These are best combated with the whale oil emulsions but great care should be taken in preparing them lest damage be done to the foliage.” We had to laugh at the concern over foliage when none was mentioned about arsenic poisoning (which brings to mind two disturbing novels: Flowers in the Attic and 16

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January 2016

He adds, “Aphides or plant lice should be sprayed with a solution of whale oil soap or gold dust. Nicotine solutions or tobacco dust are good.” There’s some great information about tobacco dust, including some historical recommendations on The Heirloom Orchardist’s³ site. We’ve included that link in the resources as well.

Though kind of bleak in his recommendations here, he adds, “One should examine the roots of potted plants or those in open ground; if they look sickly and if they are knotted dig them up and carefully wash all the dirt away. It is possible sometimes to cut out the diseased part and save the plant but generally it is best to take off cuttings to root and destroy the rest. Do not set these plants where infected ones have grown.” Just in case you didn’t have the common sense to avoid reinfestation. He discusses the larva of a moth that has been destroying his Erythrinas’ blossoms thereby disfiguring his trees. Sadly he admits, “I do not know any remedy for it.” Then he talks about the Chrysomelid beetle, a blue lady bug looking insect, which is ruining palms by eating the “epidermis of their leaves.” He turns to ants next and states that they, “…are often troublesome and they carry various kinds of scale and aphis which they establish on cultivated plants.” Here he instructs readers to kill the ants by, “…using a solution of cyanide of potassium, one ounce in two quarts of water,” on their nests. He adds, “When the liquid is entirely absorbed cover the entrance and tamp it tight.” The CDC is pretty well against the use of this stuff as it releases a gas that “can be rapidly fatal.”⁴ It’s pretty amazing though to see what people used in the 20s versus what is recommended today. Now, if you want to get rid of ants you use borax and sugar⁵ (if you’re a homemade kinda reader). We will need to continue this article next month because there’s such a plethora of information on plant enemies. We don’t want to miss out on his descriptions of the lubber grasshopper or scales and the fact that some insects come to us in waves. Therefore, we will meet you again on our next ride on the Literary Time Machine as we continue to investigate ornamental gardening recommendations from 1926! 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. 80-81). ² http://www.wired.com/2012/06/arsenic-pesticides-in-our-food/ ³ http://www.heirloomorchardist.com/the_heirloom_orchardist/2008/04/heres-an-affect.html ⁴ http://www.cdc.gov/NIOSH/ershdb/EmergencyResponseCard_29750037.html ⁵ http://www.stacymakescents.com/homemade-ant-bait WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

A New Year’s Resolution … Support Operation Outdoor Freedom! by John Dicks

It’s a new year, of course, and it’s time to ponder our plans and goals for 2016. Many people conjure up elaborate projects and resolutions to aspire to. Sometimes they are so motivating that we actually make moves in the right direction and towards achieving them. Frankly, it’s that journey towards our dreams that makes life an adventure. Even if our target of weight loss goals or exercise regimens slip along the way, just making progress can be self satisfying. Perhaps the most fulfilling resolutions that we make are the ones that involve sacrifice and sharing. We live in the “Land of Plenty” … we have heard that phrase many, many times. Fortunately, however, it is true for all whom are blessed to live here. Thus it is by grace that we have the means and ability to even consider sacrifice and sharing. It is these thoughts that have turned my thinking this New Year’s Eve, on which I am writing this, to many of those of the 1% of our fellow Americans. I am not referring to the infamous economic gap that has so often been rabidly discussed. Instead, I am focusing on the 1% (or less) of our countrymen who have currently committed themselves to protecting us and thus allowing us to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that this new year brings. Specifically in this regard, I am referring to the United States military. It has been estimated by the L.A. Times (and others) that less than one-half of 1% of the U.S. population is in the armed services today, which is marked as the lowest rate since World War II. Think about that for a moment. Less than one-half of 1% are currently on active duty in our military! We live in a very dangerous world. That goes without saying. Our news is filled with acts of evil committed all over the globe.

tively new program of the Florida Forest Service and Friends of Florida State Forests that provides recreational opportunities for wounded veterans. It’s known as Operation Outdoor Freedom, and through it, areas of Florida state forests have been equipped to accommodate the sometimes special needs of wounded veterans, providing a unique opportunity for recreation and rehabilitation. Since the program is seeking to assist wounded veterans, it designates as eligible those who have a service connected disability rating of 30% or greater, or otherwise a recipient of a Purple Heart. The program is offered without charge and many of the expenses are paid for through charitable contributions. Already, more than 1,400 wounded veterans in Florida have participated in the program. They have participated in outdoor activities like guided alligator hunts, deer and hog hunts, quail and turkey hunts, freshwater fishing, and canoeing. For many, it has been the first opportunity to get outdoors since returning home from duty. This is the kind of program that is certainly worthwhile, and frankly, just plainly makes sense. It’s a great way to show some thanks and appreciation to the veterans who deserve it. As you can imagine, the program is becoming popular and in demand. As such, the Florida Forest Service has developed a website where folks can review upcoming events and apply to participate. You can find it by going here: http://tlhfor013.doacs.state.fl.us/oof . If you or anyone you know might enjoy and benefit from Operation Outdoor Freedom, I would encourage you to get more information by visiting its website. It can be found at: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Recreation/ Operation-Outdoor-Freedom . I wish you a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous New Year!

Those in our military are confident, competent, well trained and stand ready to protect and defend us whenever and wherever necessary. They keep a smile on their face even when on deployment and thousands of miles away from their families during holidays like the ones we just enjoyed. It’s tough. It takes courage and commitment from both them and their families back home. Even with today’s technologies of FaceTime and Skype through which they can watch their children open presents in real time, it’s obviously not the same as being home and smelling the sweet scents of the tree and turkey baking in the oven, much less the warmth felt through hugs with loved ones. Most everyone that I know is thankful and appreciative of all who are willing to serve. Chances are that you also share such respect and even admiration when you greet someone in uniform. They deserve every thanks and acknowledgement that they receive and they do appreciate the kind gestures of strangers who anonymously pick up their tab at a restaurant or the times they get a smile and a salute from a veteran or even a young child. It is with these thoughts in mind that I was pleased to learn of a rela18

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January 2016

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. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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January 2016

Brain Exercise I’ve heard it said it is as important to exercise the brain, as it is to exercise your muscles. As we grow older, we should keep mentally alert. With that in mind I have prepared a test to see if you are losing it or still “with it.” Relax and clear your mind. (Do not look at the answers until you answer the question) First question! What do you put in a toaster? The answer is “bread.” If you said “toast” then give up now and go do something else. Try not to hurt yourself. If you said “bread,” go to Question 2. 2 - Say “silk” five times. Now spell “silk.” What do cows drink? Answer: Cows drink water. If you said “milk” please do not attempt the next question. Your brain is obviously over stressed and may even overheat. It may be that you should content yourself by reading a Disney book. If you said “water,” then proceed to Question 3. 3 – If a red house is made from red bricks and a blue house is made from blue bricks and pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a green house made from? Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass. If you said “green brick,” why are you still here reading these questions? If you said “glass,” then go on to Question 4. 4 - Twenty years ago, a plane was flying at 25,000 feet over Germany. If you will recall, Germany at the time was politically divided into West Germany and East Germany. During the flight three of the engines failed. The pilot, realizing that the last remaining engine is also failing, decides on a crash landing procedure. Unfortunately the engine fails before he has time to do anything, and the plane crashes smack in the middle of “no man’s land” between East Germany and West Germany. Where would you bury the survivors, East Germany or West Germany or in no man’s land? Answer” You don’t, of course, bury survivors. If you said anything else, you are a real dummy and you should never try to rescue anyone from a plane crash. If you said, “Don’t bury the survivors” then proceed to the next question. 5 – If the hour hand on a clock moves 1/60 of a degree every minute then how many degrees will the hour hand move in one hour? Answer: One Degree. If you said “360 degrees” or anything other than “one degree” you are to be congratulated on getting this far, but you are obviously out of your league. Turn in your pen and exit the room. Everyone else proceed to the final question. 6 – Without using a calculator – You are driving a bus from New York to Washington D.C. with 17 people on the bus as you start. Five miles into your trip you stop and 6 people get off the bus and 9 people get 22

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January 2016

on. Fifteen minutes later you stop again, 2 people get off and 4 people get on. On your third stop 11 people get off and 16 people get on your bus. Two more stops. First stop 1 gets off, 3 get on, and the last stop 9 get off and 3 get on. You then arrive at the nations capital on time. What was the name of the bus driver? Answer: Oh, for goodness sakes! Don’t you remember? The driver is YOU! 7 - There is a fishing trawler with a ladder in it leaning against a wall in the harbor. There are 5 oars and 2 fishing nets in the trawler. The distance between two consecutive steps on the ladder is one foot. If waves lashing against the wall rise six-inches in 30 minutes, how much time will it take for six steps to get under the waves? Answer: The trawler rises with the waves, so no steps will go under water. 8 - There are 6 mangoes in a basket and 6 kids eagerly waiting to get one. Each kid is given 1 mango, yet there is one mango in the in the basket. Answer – The last kid gets the basket with the mango in it. Most likely you did not get all the right answers. If you did you looked at the answers first! Let’s look at some of the 2015 Darwin Award winners. A young Canadian man searching for a new way of getting drunk cheaply, because he had no money with which to buy alcohol, mixed gasoline with milk. To no ones surprise this concoction made him ill, and he vomited into the fireplace in his house. The resulting explosion and fire burned his house down, killing both him and his sister. Another winner was a medium-size warehouse in west Texas that had a gas leak. Sensibly, management evacuated the building extinguishing all potential sources of ignition; lights, power, etc. After the building had been evacuated, two technicians from the gas company were dispatched. When they entered the warehouse, they found it difficult to navigate in the dark. To their frustration, none of the lights worked. Witnesses later described the sight of one of the technicians reaching into his pocket and retrieving an object that resembled a cigarette lighter. Upon striking the lighter-like object, the gas in the warehouse exploded, sending pieces of it up to three miles away. Nothing was found of the technicians, but the lighter was virtually untouched by the explosion. The technician suspected of causing the blast had never been thought of as “bright” by his peers. In closing, I know you have been lying awake at night wondering why diapers have brand names such as “Luvs”, Huggies,” and “Pampers,” while undergarments for old people are called “Depends.” Well here is the answer. When babies poop in their pants, people are still gonna Luv’um, Hug’um and Pamper’um. When old people poop in their pants, it “Depends” on who’s in the will. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

Polk County Youth Fair: Making A Difference By Melissa Nichols

According to the history of the Polk County Youth Fair, on October 7, 1944 G.W. “Buck” Mann, Jr, was talking to a representative for Nathan Mayo, Commissioner of Agriculture, about an agriculture show pavilion in this area of Florida. That meeting was the catalyst, which culminated in the facilities that are the home of the Polk County Youth Fair. Following that meeting the Livestock Committee of the Bartow Chamber of Commerce, headed by W.H. Stuart, Chairman, met with Mr. Mayo in Winter Haven on November 18, 1944. Mr. Mayo made a proposal in which he asked the committee to help make the project a state, county and city effort in keeping with his statewide plan for similar facilities in the surrounding area. The City of Bartow responded immediately by donating the building site and a cash contribution to the building fund. The County of Polk heartily endorsed the project and supported it with the financial assistance requested. Individual citizens, cattlemen, merchants, local fruit growers, and others have likewise contributed generously over the planning and development years of the Polk County Youth Fair. From a beginning that seemed just a dream of the committee made up of “Buck” Mann, Chairman, Sam Clark, S.E. “Tiny” Williams, Paul Hayman, L.G. Carlton and W.H. Stuart, to the modern day fair, the Polk County Youth Fair has had many changes over the years, as it has grown and become an event that exhibitors from around the county look forward to all year long. This is not a fair with rides and the typical fair attractions, however, it has much more to offer. From a wide variety of agriculture and animal competitions, to baking, and consumer sciences, the Polk County Youth Fair is the only fair of its sort in our area. Providing an opportunity for youth ages 8 thru high school graduation to show and compete through FFA, 4H or Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). To be eligible to participate the youth are required to live in Polk County and be enrolled in Polk County Schools or homeschooled. They are also required to be a good standing member of 4H, FFA or 24

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January 2016

FCCLA. Most of the youth spend the entire year planning and working on their projects to compete in the youth fair. The list of animals they can show at the youth fair are horses, rabbits, poultry, goats, beef breed cattle, dogs and market animals, which are steers and hogs. For these exhibitors, all animals return back home with them and the only monetary prizes are the ribbon premiums and any add on they receive. Market animals (steers and hogs) are sold for butcher purposes at the steer sale (Friday January 29th at 7pm) and the hog sale (Tuesday January 26th at 9 am). A full schedule of events is available at www.pcyf.net. The participants in the Polk County Youth Fair over the past 69 years have grown from just a handful in the beginning to approximately 1350 participants in 2016. The other divisions of the Polk County Youth Fair are the top ranch hand competition, livestock judging, rabbit judging, poultry judging, whip popping contest, goat tying contest, horticulture contest, non-perishable items (jams, jellies) baked goods, table setting contest, chili cook-off, illustrated talks, sew off contest, archery contest, as well as many other Family and Consumer Science contests and animal contests. “This fair is truly remarkable in itself,” said Kitty Hunt, Past President of the Polk County Youth Fair. “Polk County comes together as volunteers to support and educate our Polk County Youth. Not only are these exhibitors learning to care for their projects, they are learning to take responsibility for their project and see it through to the end.” Over the years the PCYF has had many changes, some amazing presidents and many supporters who sat on the board of directors, but one thing has remained the same, the mission, to be able to provide a place for the youth to learn, develop responsibility skills and be the future of Polk County. The presidents have been W.H. Stuart 19471970, Al Belloto 1970-1982, Sonny Griffin 1982-1989, Ken Wetherington 1989-1992, Joe Buckler 1992-1996, Kitty Hunt 1996-2000, Freddie Summerlin 2000-2004, Tommy Crowell 2004-2008, Jimmy Bolden 2008- Current. Along with a dedicated board of directors, the executive board is made up of President -Jimmy Bolden, Vice PresidentWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Paul Webb, Secretary – Georgiann Sumner, Treasurer – Pat Crowell, Voting Board Members: Candy Grubbs, George Grubbs, Justin Hill, Marty Higgenbotham, Dr. Robert Gukich, Chris Nelson, Leann Bennett, Jr. Cash, Jackie Summerlin, Scott Fowler, Drew Crawford, David Hunt and Dabney Conner. Non-Voting Members are Ashley White (FFA), Rosalind Chan (FCCLA), Bridget Carlisle(IFAS), Amanda Squitieri (4H), Youth Representatives from FFA,4H and FCCLA, Janice Jackson Fair Coordinator, Nicole Walker (County Extension Director) and Past Presidents: Kitty Hunt, Joe Buckler, Ken Wetherington, Sonny Griffin and Al Belloto. Probably the most familiar board member is Mr. Paul Webb. All market hog exhibitors know Mr. Webb as the chairman of the hog committee and the one who leads the meetings and helps them on sale day. Mr. Webb is also the Teacher Resource Trainer Specialist for Polk County Schools Workforce Education and the Vice President of the Polk County Youth Fair. Mr. Webb was asked about his involvement in the fair and he said, “Over the past 42 years I have been involved in the Polk County Youth Fair in a variety of capacities. As a student at Fort Meade Middle Senior, I was an exhibitor and was involved in 1980 by entering a pig in the first PCYF Swine show. I purchased my pig from Freddie Summerlin in Davenport and enjoyed the activities in raising it along with the heartbreak of having it stolen two weeks before the fair. Because of my involvement with my chapter and my project, my advisor, Mr. Speight, still let me attend the fair to help other students. When I began my teaching career in Polk County in 1984, I volunteered to assist with the swine department at the fair and have been there ever since. It has been said that you only retire from this position “horizontally.” I eventually was both honored and humbled to be asked to serve on the PCYF Board of Directors. This position has helped me to not only see but also appreciate the vast network of volunteers and support personnel that makes the Fair operate. Over the years I have seen many changes in the Fair, some great and others necessitated by rules and guidelines I wish weren’t required. But in all I still think that the level of responsibility, sense of fair play and increased knowledge in the life skills needed to be a contributing member of our society, gives our students involved in FCCLA, FFA and 4-H a tremendous boost in becoming terrific citizens. They know where their food comes from, the effort, cost and sacrifice it takes to get it raised, and prepared for consumption and the value of hard work and helping others to accomplish a goal. Sometimes, like myself, they learn that life may throw you curves and disappointments, but you can always press on. Maybe we should make participation in the fair mandatory for all youth!” Another board member is Mr. Marty Higgenbotham, owner of Higgenbotham auctioneers. He has been known to volunteer countless hours each year and his staff to hosting the fundraiser dinner “A taste of Agriculture.” This fundraiser is dedicated to the future monetary support to keep the PCYF going. Mr. Higgenbotham also volunteers his time by himself and his staff of being the auctioneers who auction off winning plants, cakes, hogs and steers. Throughout the years, Mr. Higgenbotham has been a vital part of the success not only of the exhibitors at the youth fair but also of the fair itself, it is very obvious he believes in the mission and importance in the lives of the youth involved. Mr. Higgenbotham was asked about the youth fair and what has kept him involved. He said, “In my 56 years of WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

involvement with Polk County Organizations, no other organization provides the positive role model, character building, life experiences for our youth as PCYF does! Future Leadership comes from this experience!” Another Committee member, Donna Oliver said, “I have been for tunate to have worked with the horticulture department of the Polk County Youth Fair for the past 28 years. My job as Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent brought me to Polk County and I had never experienced county fairs, much less a youth fair, like the Polk County Youth Fair. It was amazing to see the efforts the exhibitors put into all of their projects but I especially liked working with the horticulture area. It’s an awesome experience for a child of any age to get to see the “wonder of life” first hand, to see a living animal or plant grow from something small into something substantial AND understand the time, effort and money that the process entails! I was hooked immediately. I then went on to try my hand at being an ag teacher and continued my involvement with the Youth Fair, but my role progressed from organizer/judge to mentor for my students exhibiting in the fair. The support the PCYF receives from the community is exceptional and something that has meant so much to the exceptional students I currently teach at Karen M. Siegel Academy. My students love the ribbons they receive on their projects at the fair and we have even had students that have auctioned plants and/or won tri-color ribbons for their Family and Consumer Science exhibits. What a winwin situation for all! The PCYF is an investment in our youth that has paid big dividends over its long and prosperous run!” The Polk County Youth Fair has changed the lives of exhibitors from all over Polk County, both by the responsibility it has taught them and by the business skills it has helped them to develop. Being a participant means to market your projects, learn to care for your projects and manage money, all very important life skills that build better more prepared adults. It has helped exhibitors save money and invest money for their future, for college funds and other essential investments. The Polk County Youth Fair is a non-profit organization. Funding for the youth fair (with the exception of the building which the county provides the expense of) comes strictly from donations, fundraisers, community supporters and the small fees the youth fair charges to enter an animal/exhibit. All proceeds from the fair are carried over and distributed to the exhibitors the following year via premiums. All board members and committee members are volunteers. It is projected that it takes more than 150 people and over seven thousand volunteer hours to run the Polk County Youth Fair each year. These volunteers are made up of people from all walks of life, from business owners, to agriculture education teachers, to prior exhibitors who are now adults and believe in giving back to the cause. As you look around this year at the Polk County Youth Fair, notice the names of the buildings, “The Stuart Center” and “Hayman Arena.” Notice the names of the founders represented still today. Note the names of those who are on the sharecropper board in Hayman arena, who are still involved today. These are the people who we have to thank along with the hundreds of volunteers for having such an amazing event each year. The youth fair truly is one of a kind. I encourage community members, businesses and those who want to make a difference in the lives of youth to come out this year and get involved, you will not regret your involvement. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

s e p i c e R These recipes come from WWW.STRAWBERRYSUE.COM

Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts Ingredients 2 pack of Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust Strawberry jam 1 egg white 1¼ cups sifted powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Sprinkles

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F. Unroll the pie crusts onto a floured surface. If you have a rolling pin, feel free to thin them out a bit. A little crust goes a long way here. Use a cookie cutter in whatever fun shape to cut out your crust, or go for the classic 3 inch by 5 inch Pop Tart rectangle. You will need each piece to be the same size and an even number, half for bottom and half for top.

Spoon a small amount of strawberry jam into the middle of the bottom pieces. Spread evenly but leave around 1/4 of an inch on the sides. Carefully lay the top layer on top of the dough and use a fork to smush the edges together so nothing leaks out. Poke a series of holes with a thin knife blade across the tops so they can vent, then bake for 20-25 minutes on parchment paper, just until they start to turn golden brown. Meanwhile we’ll make the frosting by whisking the egg whites until peaks form. Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla, whisking until smooth. Spread a thin layer of frosting on the tarts once they are finished baking and have had time to cool. Top off with sprinkles and you’re ready to go!

Strawberry INGREDIENTS Shortcake Iced Latte DIRECTIONS Begin by rinsing and hulling your fresh Florida strawberries then dice into small pieces. Toss the strawberries in sugar and let them macerate for 5-10 minutes or longer. You’ll know they are ready when you have a syrupy sauce and all the sugar is dissolved. Add the strawberries, syrup and all, into a medium sized cup. Fill with ice and then top with milk 26

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4 fresh Florida strawberries 2 tbsp sugar Ice 3/4 cup of milk 2 shots of espresso

leaving room for the espresso shots. If you want a richer treat feel free to substitute some of the milk for half & half or cream! Finally, top the drink off with two shots of fresh espresso, give it a stir and enjoy! Now revel not only in the delicious iced treat you just made but also in all the money you’ve saved! January 2016

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David “Redman” Lawson, Sr. October 23, 1957-August 21, 2015

The Measure of a Man By Leslie Buchannon

David “Redman” Lawson, Sr. was born in Haines City, Florida on October 23, 1957. Mr. Lawson, a lifelong resident of Haines City, was a husband, father, grandfather, businessman, cattlemen, and supporter of the FFA. The impact of his legacy is evident today in the lives of his wife, Debi Lawson, children David Lawson, Jr. and Davida Lawson Caspari, grandchildren Carson and Kinley, and a few FFA members. “Redman,” as he was affectionately known by his friends and family, instilled a strong work ethic into his children, however this is not where his lessons would end. After purchasing some land in North Florida, Redman purchased some cattle for the property to help with the taxes. Like most folks, David, Sr. soon learned what most cattlemen know all too well; once you get cattle in your blood, you’re hooked for life. He fenced off some property near his home and offered Baileigh Williams, a local FFA student, the opportunity to keep her registered Brangus show heifer in his pasture. Little did he know, but this decision would be the beginning of a future supporting kids and cows. After working with Baileigh and her heifer, David Sr. then gifted Baileigh’s brother Kaleb with a show heifer of his own. Baileigh and Kaleb, active members of the Dundee Ridge Middle FFA Chapter, were familiar with registered Brangus cattle and had participated in hands-on activities with the chapter Brangus cattle housed at their school. In particular, Snickers, a registered Brangus heifer owned by the school, injured her leg and was unable to be shown and was recommended to be “put down.” Horrified at the thought of Snickers being put down, Baileigh persuaded David Sr. to purchase the heifer to add to his increasing herd. David Sr. purchased the heifer from the school and the David Lawson and Company’s Brangus herd was born. After some artificial inseminations, David found he preferred the natural breeding process. He purchased a registered Brangus bull to put with his heifers to allow him the opportunity to follow his passion of breeding, raising and selling registered Brangus cattle. Tori Perkins, Katrina Perkins, Hanna Bell, and Michael DuPont are FFA students who have also been affected by the generosity of David Lawson, Sr. From purchasing steers and heifers for the FFA members to show at livestock shows and fairs, to sponsoring them in the FFA Mud Run, Mr. Lawson gave of his time and talents to assure they had not only the skills, but the knowledge to be successful. His favorite thing to tell them was, “It’s not if you win, it’s all in how you present yourself.” One requirement of being part of the David Lawson and Company’s Brangus herd was learning more about the cattle business. During Spring Break he would take the FFA members WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

to his ranch in North Florida where they would help work his cattle. The students helped with deworming, applying fly spray, vaccinating, tagging, sorting, and even castrating the bull calves. If the vet came to treat the cattle, the FFA members were required to assist. David would say, “If you are going to be in the show business you need to know what the cow business is all about.” After all of this hard work, David would allow them to choose their steer for the upcoming Polk County Youth Fair and gifted the steer to them. It is through these donations of steers that a few students were able make a profit on raising and selling their projects to purchase vehicles. While David Sr. was busy giving of himself to these FFA students, unbeknownst to him, they were giving back to him. While Baileigh, Tori, Katrina, Hanna, and Michael spent their time at the Lawsons’ working with the cattle, there were two very small children watching their every move. Mr. Lawson’s grandchildren, Carson and Kinley, enjoyed spending time with and learning about the cattle from the teenagers and their grandfather. An interest in showing cattle was sparked in these small children and Carson and Kinley each participated in shows with their grandfather’s cattle. To allow the David Lawson and Company Brangus herd to continue its impact on local FFA members, the family has decided to sell three of their registered Black Brangus bulls. The bulls are extremely gentle, halter broken, show ready, and have been shown since they were 6 months old. All of the bulls are sired by John Wayne’s Bullet 6th generation Brangus 581Z11, purchased from Hayman’s 7-11 Ranch in Kenansville, Florida. The bulls available are: 1. Bullet’s Mr. Gunner, DOB: 10/9/2014, 6th generation 2. John Wayne’s Pistol, DOB: 11/29/14, 6th generation 3. NEW Bullet’s Winchester, DOB: 8/21/15, Not broken or weaned yet but will be at 6 months old. Abraham Lincoln once said, “I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.” Through the lives of a few FFA members David “Redman” Lawson Sr. instilled a sense of responsibility, integrity, discipline and teamwork into the next generation of cattlemen, cattlewomen, and FFA members. For information on purchasing the David Lawson bulls call 863-2872584 or email redmanlawson@yahoo.com. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

Warner University Receives $300,000 Gift Debbie and Larry Swindle

Warner University is excited to announce a $300,000 gift has been made from Larry and Debbie Swindle of Dover, FL to the future Agricultural complex on the Lake Wales campus.

for many years, giving of his time to the youth of his industry. The couple has been very involved with 4-H and FFA over the years, with Debbie volunteering her time to various agricultural committees.

The areas of the complex that will be named in the couple’s honor are the 5,000 sq. ft open-air pavilion, to be named the “Larry & Debbie Swindle Pavilion” as well as the education wing, after the family and their grandchildren: “The Swindle and Conrad Family Education Wing.”

Larry and Debbie Swindle are the son and daughter in law of Ed and Myrtle Lou Swindle, whom the whole Warner University Agriculture Complex was named after following their generous $1 million gift in 2015.

Larry Swindle believes that after students go through years of Ag education through 4-H and FFA, they need it to extend into their college years. “The hands-on experience part that Warner offers is so important to us. These Ag students are the ones who are going to take care of us one day.” “Our main concern today is that the youth are not getting involved in Agriculture,” says Debbie Swindle. “The point that there are going to be a lot of people to feed in our future and someone has to be responsible for doing that.” “The youth need to learn how to be stewards of the land, how to produce, how to take care of what God’s given to them,” says Larry. “With Warner being a Christian school, we know the students are being fed: mind, body, and soul.” “We’re thankful the Lord blessed us to be able to give back,” says Debbie. “What we have is not ours anyhow, it all belongs to the Lord.” The Swindle and Conrad families are known for their love of agriculture, especially strawberries, vegetable farming, and commercial and show cattle. Larry Swindle has sat on the Florida FFA Foundation Board and FFA Alumni Board 28

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January 2016

Construction will begin on the state of the art, 38,000 sq.ft. Ag complex this year. Scott Crews is the architect on the building and Ed Locke of Semco Construction is the builder. Warner University began their Agriculture Studies degree program in 2012 through the direction of the Ag industry task force that included Hill Griffin of Ben Hill Griffin, Inc, Tony DiMare of DiMare Fresh, Steve Maxwell of Highlands Corporation and Keith Mixon of Dole. With the recommendation of Commissioner Putnam to move forward, Warner created a diversified Agricultural Studies degree. Currently, there are approximately 55 students in the Ag program, with nine graduating this spring. A student in the Ag program at Warner graduates with at least 500 hours of hands-on experience. The private, Christian college was founded in 1968 by the Church of God as Warner Southern College and became Warner University in 2008. There are 1,200 students enrolled and the school offers associate, bachelor, and master’s degrees as well as online programs.

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

It’s Time to Do the Hop: Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit Photo by: Dr. Mark Hows

It’s time to think about the next great holiday worthy of celebrating. Unfortunately, there’s often a serious disconnect with the mascot used to represent said holiday. After all, empty tombs and rabbits just really aren’t connected. That being said, we would like to draw your attention to a rabbit that might very well end up in the tomb of extinction if we don’t do something to make a difference in its life and habitat. May we introduce you to the Lower Keys marsh rabbit (or Sylvilagus palustris hefneri- named after none other than: Hugh Hefner)? If you said “No” to that question, too bad, we’re going to move forward in our endangered species series without you, so there. This cute little bunny was listed as federally endangered on June 21st of 1990. That means it’s been on the list for a quarter of a century, folks. That’s a long time to be almost dead! The Lower Keys marsh rabbit is only found in the Florida Keys. We have a certain affinity for those endangered creatures that have no other place but Florida to call home. Besides, bunnies are really cute! These are small to medium in size (only 12-14 inches long and weighing just 2-3 lbs.) with small feet and dark brown tails. Actually, their fur is mostly dark brown and short, but they do have whitish-gray bellies and the males and females are roughly the same size. The biggest difference between these rabbits and their Upper Key cousins is found in their skull structures. They have shorter rows of teeth, higher noses, broader foreheads and longer chompers. In reality, the Lower Keys marsh rabbit is actually the smallest of its subspecies and its dark fur really sets it apart in appearance. Initially these cute and cuddlies (if you were allowed to domesticate them, which you are not) had a habitat that extended from Big Pine Key to Key West. That’s a distance of almost 30 miles. They probably enjoyed life in all the Lower Keys so long as the habitats were suitable, but they never went beyond the Seven Mile Bridge area. A 1995 study located 81 areas that provided suitable habitat for the Lower Keys marsh rabbit. These 81 places covered about 783 acres. The rabbits, though, have only been recorded in 50 of these locations and the majority of those locales are no more than 7 acres. This makes the total acreage occupied by the Lower Keys marsh rabbit: 625. Unlike its kin, this rabbit prefers the prairies and grassy marshes over the elevated saltier areas. They are habitat specific requiring transition zones of sedges and grasses, which provide shelter, nesting materials and places to feed safely. They like their water fresh and therefore are no stranger to sawgrass, cordgrass and seashore dropseed (a succulent herb). Unfortunately, the areas they prefer are typically located in the center of a few of the island locales and during the 30

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

By Ginny Mink

rainy season they are often retaining water. Occasionally they will utilize beach berm habitats, but these are pretty rare. There are over 84 plant species that can vegetate those areas and make a delicious home for these wee rabbits (they really like the bushy seaside tansy). Unfortunately, many of the coastal beach berms are owned by individual residents though and are therefore disturbed and unsafe for the rabbits. Yet the grasses that grow in the places these rabbits call home are absolutely key to their survival. These rabbits can become territorial if another rabbit of the same sex crosses the line. Additionally, they are apparently really good swimmers and will use that to their advantage if pursued. Roads are a particular problem for these cuties as they try to stabilize their home territories vacillating between their area of birth and adult habitat choices (much like our own children once they move out on their own and yet are always home for Friday night pizza). Of course, they only make it about a mile from their nests (thankfully our children generally go farther away). Like most rabbits they reach baby making age pretty quickly at about nine months old. Most of the males will leave home at this time but the females tend to stick around their initial home territories. They are polygamous and while not all males breed, all females do, year round. Of course, the largest number of babies is seen between March and September while December and April seem to be slow baby bunny months. Get this, some rabbits are pregnant year round producing a litter a month! And at any given time, 75% of marsh rabbit females are pregnant. That’s the high end of the scale since gestation lasts up to 37 days and as few as 30. Plus, for the Lower Keys marsh rabbit they only have 4 litters or less a year, unlike the other marsh rabbits documented. Apparently they have a high rate of miscarriage (litter resorption). Cats are perhaps the number one problem these wee ones are facing. They are easy prey for stray cats and studies show that an elimination of that predation could increase their existence on the planet by 2030 years. Additionally, destruction of their habitats (having lost 50% of their habitat over the last 25 years) is a huge factor in their journey toward extinction. These are indeed some of the most endangered rabbits on the planet. It’s time we started looking out for them. Resources: http://www.fws.gov/verobeach/MSRPPDFs/LowerKeysRabbit.pdf http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/mammals/lower-keys-rabbit/ http://www.itsnature.org/ground/mammals-land/lower-keys-marshrabbit/ Recommended Reading: http://irnr.tamu.edu/media/256915/reintroduction_of_lower_keys_ marsh_rabbits.pdf WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff

g n i p m u D Illegal Illegal dumping isn’t just unsightly; it threatens our quality of life. Chemicals found in some refuse can seep into ground and contaminate the aquifer. In turn, rain can carry the waste to local lakes creating a negative impact on Polk’s wildlife habitats and local livestock. Obviously refuse, which is not properly disposed of, is a potential hazard to both animals and people. And property values can dramatically decrease as a result of illegal dump sites which spring up from illegal dumping. Concern for public safety and ensuring Polk’s quality of life is not compromised as a result of illegal dumping, is the main focus of Polk County Sheriff’s Office Environmental Crimes deputies. Deputies also maintain a close working relationship with Federal, State and local environmental compliance agencies in an effort to protect Polk’s natural resources. The PCSO Environmental Crimes Unit is responsible for the investigation of unlawful dumping cases which include anything from household garbage to chemical spills. Environmental Crimes deputies made a total of 56 arrests in illegal dumping cases so far in 2015. In a recent case, which occurred on December 1, 2015, near Anderson and Nichols Roads in Mulberry, two unknown suspects dumped a sludge type substance onto the grass shoulder of Anderson Road, where it puddled and flowed into and contaminated a nearby drainage ditch. During the investigation, Environmental Crimes deputies learned a witness reported seeing a large, yellow, flatbed truck, stop on the side of the road just east of the Anderson Road, and Nichols Road intersection. The witness told deputies the saw two Hispanic males draining the substance from a white, oblong tank from the back of the flatbed truck. The substance was allowed to flow onto the ground where it puddled on the roadside. The puddle was approximately four feet by six feet, was 34

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January 2016

brownish gray in color and didn’t appear to have any solid materials in the mix. Further investigation revealed the substance was water-based and non-acidic, however, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection was contacted and responded and confirmed the sludge wasn’t harmful to the environment. The investigation is ongoing. The suspects in this case are facing Commercial Dumping charges – a third degree felony. But how can you help? Property owners are the first line of defense. In the aforementioned case, a witness did exactly what deputies needed for him to so – he reported what he observed. Please be sure to say something if you see something. In addition, property owners are encouraged to “patrol” their own property frequently. Look for downed fences, pay attention to suspicious vehicles which travel in and around your groves and farms. And, be sure to properly dispose of refuse. If you hire someone to remove debris from your property, ensure you know who these people are and that they will properly dispose of the refuse. Deputies investigating illegal dumping cases attempt to locate the original owner using identification found in the debris, so be sure whomever you hire knows where the Polk County Landfill is located. And if you aren’t sure and the disposal of refuse, contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and request to speak to an Environmental Crimes deputy at 863.298.6200. The Polk County Landfill, located 7425 de Castro Road, Winter Haven, and is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm. On Saturday’s the Landfill closes at 12:30 pm. For more information about the Polk County Landfill, please visit http://www.polk-county.net/boccsite/County-Services/ Landfill/. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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January 2016

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Florida

Tangelos By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science

Florida winters bring a bountiful supply of juicy, delicious citrus fruits in their peak season. Florida is the second largest citrus producer in the world, behind Brazil. In 2005-06, Florida accounted for 68% of the U.S. citrus production, California for 28%, and Texas and Arizona for 4%. The tangelo is a hybrid of the tangerine and grapefruit or pomelo. Sweet like a tangerine with lower acidity, tangelos are prized for their juiciness. Tangelos are very easy to peel, thanks to a loose skin and have fewer seeds than a typical tangerine. The most well-known type, sometimes called a Honeybell because of its shape, the Minneola tangelo was named after Minneola, Florida. This type of tangelo is characterized by a bell-shaped neck at the stem end. Honeybells are especially prized for their sweetness, but their short season is from December to February, peaking in January. Other types of tangelos include the Orlando, Seminole, and Ugli.

NUTRITIONAL PROFILE Florida tangelos are not only delicious, but they are bursting with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They contain vitamins such as riboflavin, folate and vitamin B6, as well as minerals such as potassium and magnesium. In addition to these nutrients, tangelos contain disease-fighting phytonutrients and antioxidants. These compounds help fight cancer, lower cholesterol, and control blood sugar levels. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one medium tangelo (131 g) contains 70 calories, 1 g protein, 0.2 g fat, 15 g carbohydrate, and 3 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 100% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin C, 12% for dietary fiber, 7% for potassium and thiamin, and 6% for vitamin A and calcium.

FLAVONOIDS Flavanones, a type of flavonoid compound present in tangelos, may decrease inflammation and risk of strokes. In a 2012 study, researchers found that women who ate citrus fruit like tangelos regularly in their diet were 19 percent less likely to suffer from an ischemic stroke compared to women who ate fewer citrus fruits. The unique flavanones in citrus fruit may have an anti-inflammatory effect that protects blood vessels. A high intake of flavonoids may also reduce the risk of asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders caused by aging.

VITAMIN C A single tangelo provides your entire daily requirement for vitamin C! This vitamin is important for a healthy immune system, cancer prevention, healthy blood circulation and wound healing. Vitamin C also acts as a potent antioxidant in the body, neutralizing harmful free radicals and preventing its damaging effects in cells. By fighting cell and tissue damage, Vitamin C protects against cancer and other diseases, such as the common cold. This vitamin also helps the body absorb more iron, and aids in the development of strong bones and teeth. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Most of the benefits of vitamin C come from eating whole fruits and vegetables, rather than drinking the juice or taking a supplement. A high intake of fruits and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

MINERALS Florida tangelos contain potassium, calcium and magnesium. Adequate intake of these minerals is essential for maintaining the health and strength of bones and teeth, as well as for maintaining a healthy blood pressure. Potassium may help decrease the risk of strokes and cardiac arrhythmias and helps maintains proper electrolyte and fluid balance. Potassium plays an important role in muscle contraction and nerve transmission, and people with low levels may experience muscle cramping. This important mineral may also help prevent or slow down bone loss from high-sodium diets. Consuming magnesium-rich foods like tangelos may decrease the risk of diabetes and depression.

HOW TO SELECT AND STORE Choose tangelos with glossy, deep orange, smooth skins that feel heavy for their size. When gently squeezed, they should feel firm to slightly soft. Avoid those with soft spots, deep grooves, or bumpy skin. Tangelos can be stored at room temperature for a few days, or in the refrigerator for up to seven days.

HOW TO ENJOY Fresh Florida tangelos are delicious eaten out-of-hand, and make an easy, healthy, portable snack. The peel is also edible and can be preserved with sugar or the zest may be used as a garnish. Tangelos can also be used in any recipe calling for oranges. They can also be juiced for a refreshing beverage, or the juice can be mixed into other drinks and desserts. Other ways to enjoy tangelos include: Toss tangelo segments into a salad. Squeeze the juice into a pan, allow it to thicken over heat, and use it as a sauce for fish or chicken. Add tangelo juice to baked goods or icing for a bright refreshing twist. Slip a few slices of tangelo into a pitcher of water for a refreshing low-calorie beverage. Boil tangelo slices with your teabag or add slices to boiled tea. Enjoy sweet, juicy Florida tangelos in their peak season today!

SELECTED REFERENCES http://www.florida-agriculture.com/ http://www.hort.purdue.edu http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/

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JJanuary anuary 2016 2016

From our family to yours, wishing you a

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January 2016

The Communities of the Kathleen Area By Libby Hopkins

Lois Sherrouse-Murphy was born and raised in Socrum, which is located in Polk County. She is a local historian who is the president of the Kathleen Area Historical Society. According to their website (www.kahsatsocrum.com) “The mission of the Kathleen Area Historical Society is to document, preserve, and interpret the history and folk life of area communities, primarily through activities at Heritage Park located within the historic Socrum community.” SherrouseMurphy recently published a book through Arcadia Publishing, called “Communities of The Kathleen Area.” It tells the interesting story, through pictures, of how Kathleen and the surrounding areas got their start on becoming the thriving cities of Polk County. Arcadia Publishing is the largest and most comprehensive publisher of local and regional books in the United States with a library of more than 12,000 titles. They have a series of books called “Images of America” which allows local authors, like Sherrouse-Murphy, to publish books about their beloved cities and towns. According to Arcadia’s website (www.arcadiapublishing.com), “By empowering history and culture enthusiasts to write local stories for local audiences, we create exceptional books that are relevant on a local and personal level, enrich lives, and bring readers closer to their community, their neighbors, and their past. We are committed to the pursuit of new growth opportunities and to increasing the availability, depth, and breadth of local books. Driven by genuine pride in our work and an infectious enthusiasm for what we do, we are universally dedicated to the success of our authors, employees, and stakeholders.”

improvements, and cultivation for only a $15 fee to obtain 160 acres. Finally, the coming of the railroads in the 1880’s, giving rise to expanded cattle and citrus operations, strawberry and vegetable crops, and the means to ship via rail. “The story of Communities of the Kathleen Area is one of hardship, prosperity, tragedy, joy, bad times, and good fortune by people determined to forge ahead and preserve,” Sherrouse-Murphy said in her book. “Their ups and downs are not unlike those of the people who currently populate these eight communities.” Sherrouse-Murphy called upon her friends from the Kathleen Area Historical Society and family members to donate photos to use in the book. The photos are amazing and show just how life was for the early settlers of Polk County. From pictures of Seminole Indian Chiefs to pictures of early residents and their Model-T cars, the book is an amazing photographic journey of the lives and times of Polk County in the late 1800’s to 1930’s. The photos in the book also tell the story of how the early settlers of the Kathleen area were very deep seeded in their faith. “To the early residents of the Kathleen area communities, churchgoing for spiritual education was equally as important as school attendance for book learning, if not more so,” Sherrouse-Murphy said in her book. “Many early local ministers did not have formal theological training but were self-taught students of the Bible and ‘ordained’ by a church congregation.”

The Kathleen Area consists of eight communities located in northwest Polk County. The communities are Galloway, Gibsonia, Green Pond, Griffin, Kathleen, Providence, Socrum and Winston. The eight communities of the Kathleen area were generally established between 1850 and 1900 due primarily through the Armed Occupation Act of 1842, which granted 160 acres of land in the unoccupied regions of Florida to any settler willing to bear arms to defend the property for five years.

Sherrouse-Murphy hopes that her book will preserve the history of early settlers of the Kathleen area. “It is my hope that this book serves as a way to know and remember the early settlers of the communities of the Kathleen area and will remind readers of the importance of history,” Sheerouse-Murphy said in her book. If you would like to read her book, “Communities of the Kathleen Area,” it is available for purchase on the Arcadia Publishing website, www.arcadiapublishing.com, along with other books by local authors from Florida.

The book also tells of other factors that established these communities, which included the end of the Third Seminole War in 1858, creating an increased sense of security and available lands through military bounty land grant programs. The Homestead Act of 1862, which allowed settlement of public lands, requiring five year’s residence,

NOTE: Images of America: Communities of the Kathleen Area, $21.99, Arcadia Publishing & The History Press. Available at local retailers, online bookstores, or through Arcadia Publishing at www. arcadiapublishing.com or 888-313-2665.

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January 2016

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JOIN THE “FRESH

FROM FLORIDA”

PROGRAM “Fresh From Florida” is a program administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It is designed to connect distributors and retail buyers with Florida growers to increase sales of Florida products. To learn more about the program beneﬁts, visit FreshFromFlorida.com/Join or call 850-617-7399.

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January 2016

Naturally Amazing Activities

By Sean Green Photo by Jennifer Pohlhaus

Leather Coaster Leather work can be a lot of fun and does not have to be expensive. Scrap pieces of leather can come in the form of old leather wallets, jackets, boots, purses, or a number of other items. One of the qualities I love about working with leather is not only its endurance, but it ages with character and even scraps of leather that look worn out can be perfect for the right project. This month’s project is a leather beverage coaster that can be made from scrap leather and will last for years.

Tools:

Leather Leather Lace (from shoes, boots, or craft store scrap bag) Cordage (Sinew, Hemp)

Final

Hammer Awl (Stitching Awl, Nail) Leather Stamp (optional) Scribe Compass (optional)

Cut a scrap of leather into the desired shape of your coaster and inset a scribe a line on the leather, inset the thickness of the Leather Lace.

Punch (with awl or nail) holes along the scribed line Loosely whipstitch ever other hole on the diagonal.

Feed the Leather Lace through the loose whipstitch Cut Leather Lace to length Tighten Stitch around the lace (DO NOT CUT CORDAGE YET)

Continue whipstitch in the OPPOSITE direction to create a crisscross pattern. Tie off neatly to the side and trim the cordage.

Embellish the coaster with leather stamp patterns or hand stitched embroidery.

813-767-4703 301 South Collins Street, Suite 101, Plant City, Florida 33563

• 44

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE - 45 ACRES VACANT LAND (Pasco County) 45 acres are comprised of gently rolling hills with big trees & solid ground, A great setting for residential development. To the east of the property is a 60 acre parcel (Lake Gilbert) that adds significant aesthetic value to the 45 acres. Zoning: AR (Agricultural-Rural) Call Heidi Cecil for more information (863) 899-9620 20 acres mol fenced & crossed fenced w/3-2 brick home. 700 sq ft barn. Located in north Lakeland 5 minutes from shopping. $370,000. Call Leah Brumley 863-512-9563

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 Forrest Lumber & Timber Co. for your T&G and pattern stock. We deliver farm building material metal roofing. Call 863-633-1270

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

RUBBER MULCH

FRESH PRODUCE TRUCK

2005 F350 LCF

Ext. Siding 4’X7’ sheets stucco texture & 12” on center. $18.95 Call Blake 813-752-3378

Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722

PRODUCE

WINDOW SCREENS

Rental return tractor. 100 hp, 4X4, cab. With A/C, 1242 hours. $29,500. Call Alvie 813-759-8722

LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR

60” cut price was $10,356 buy now for $8,800. Call Alvie 813-759-8722

We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378

MAHINDRA M100S

Call us today! 813-759-6909 or email us: info@inthefieldmagazine.com Let us help you get rid of it!

BRAND NEW HUSTLER X1

ALUMINUM

BOOM SPRAYER

HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL?

FOR SALE

CALLER ON HOLD

A low cost service that enables you to communicate important information about Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the your business to customers while they are BIG Box STORES! Call Today! on hold. No monthly payments or annual Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 payments. Call today and ask for DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER Al (813) 763-2220 No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. MISC. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378

KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES

JOBS GROVE EQUIPMENT SERVICE

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

January 2016

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

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

January 2016