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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2015
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Operation Outdoor Freedom Provides Healing and Adventure for Florida’s Wounded Veterans More than 1,000 wounded veterans have enjoyed unique opportunities to hunt, fish and boat in Florida’s forests, ranches and waterways through the Florida Forest Service’s Operation Outdoor Freedom program. Operation Outdoor Freedom, launched by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and led by the Florida Forest Service, offers wounded veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces recreational opportunities on state forests and private lands, including guided hunting events and fishing trips. “It is an honor to help these men and women enjoy outdoor activities across our beautiful state,” Commissioner Putnam said. “We can never repay the sacrifices they made to help protect our country but we can try to give back in small ways that make a difference in their lives.” Since Operation Outdoor Freedom was established in 2011, the Florida Forest Service has hosted more than 1,000 veterans on more than a dozen state forests, priWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
vate ranches and timber lands, as well as the state’s coast. Acres of Florida state forests dedicated to this effort are fully equipped to accommodate the needs of wounded veterans, providing a unique opportunity for recreation and rehabilitation. “It was healing to be in nature, around other vets, and around the great people who were our guides,” said Joseph Campagna, Florida wounded veteran. “The Florida Forest Service put on a top notch event and I really had a great time.” All funding for Operation Outdoor Freedom events is generated through private donations. Veterans participate at no charge. To donate or host an Operation Outdoor Freedom event on your private forest or ranch, contact Ned Waters, program coordinator at Ned.Waters@ FreshFromFlorida.com or (863) 297-3979. For more information about Operation Outdoor Freedom, go to www.OperationOutdoorFreedom.com. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2015
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POLK COU NTY
®
Contents
CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION
V O L . 7 • IS S U E 7
Contents
VOL. 8 • ISSUE 7
F eature S tory
Rob Krieger
Page 34 Buchanon Family Page
24
Cover Photo By: Melissa Nichols
Warner University
Rocking Chrair Chatter
Page 3
Page 22
Master Gardner
Jeepin with Judd
Fishing Hot Spots
Endangered Species
PCCA Ranch Rodeo
Bailey Buchanon
Page 10
Page 28
Page 14
Page 31
Page 16
Page 34
Warner Ground Breaking
Activity
Page 18
Page 42
Blueberry Growers
A Closer Look
Page 20
Page 42
P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS0 3 Bartow, FL 33831 -9005 President – J. B. Wynn OFFICERS 581-3255 OF DIRECTORS Dave Tomkow &(863) B OARD jbwynn29@gmail.com (863) 665-5088 cattlemenslivestock@ P resident - C harles C lark ( 863) 528-8537earthlink.net Vice President – David McCullerscclark@ expoco.com (863) 635-2821crookedlaMike Facente V ice P resident - Dave Tomkow keranch@verizon.net (863) 697-9419 ( 863) 6 6 5-50 88 cattlemanslivetock@ earthlink.net
Secretary/Treasurer - Justin Standing Committee Chairs: S ecretary/ Treasurer - J ustin B unch Bunch ( 863) 4 25-1121 (863) 425-1121jbunch@ agriumretail.com Membership- J.B. Wynn A l B ellotto - ( 863) 581-5515 jbunch@agriumretail.com R ay C lark - ( 863) 6 83-819 6Events- Kevin Fussell State Director – Ray Clark (863) 412-5876 rclark@ tampabay.rr.com 640-0719 L .B .(863) F landers, DV M - ( 863) 6 4 4 -5974 Trade Showrclark@tampabay.rr.com Dewey F ussell - ( 863) 9 84 -3782
MikeCarlton F ussell - ( 863) 69 8-8314 Rodeo- Fred Waters Taylor fussell.flafarm@ verizon.net
(863) 559-7808 863-781-1146 David McC ullers - ( 863) 528-1195 Carlton.Taylor@boehringeringelheim.com Website Moby Persing - ( 863) 528-4 379 – Adam Norman Ned W aters - ( 863) 69 8-1597863-944-9293 Adam.norman@gmfind. Charlesdoacs.state.fl.us Clark watersn@ com J .B . W ynn - ( 863) 581-3255 (863) 528-8537 jbwynn29 @ gmail.com cclarkc4@yahoo.com Cattlewomen – Vice PresiA lternate - Mike Facente - ( 863) 697-9419 dent, Laura Slocumb 660-7000 L.B. Flanders, DVM C ommittee(863) S tanding C hairs: laura@higgenbotham.com (863) 644-5974 Membership - J .B . W ynn E vents - KFussell evin F ussell ( 863) 4 12-5876 Extension – Bridget Carlisle Dewey R odeo F red W aters ( 863) 559 -780Drawer 8 PO Box 9005, HS03 (863)- 984-3782 watersf@ doacs.state.fl.us Bartow, FL 33831 Website (863) 519-1048 Mike- Chris FussellNelson C attlewomen - P resident bccarlis@ufl.edu (863) 698-8314 fussell.flafarm@verizon.net Marjorie W ood ( 863) 6 6 0 -4 137 Sheriff’s Dept. – Sgt. onnie397@ aol.com Tommy519 Dixon Moby Persing E xtension - B ridget C arlisle ( 863) -8677 863-528-4567 (863) 534-7205 bccarlis@ ufl.edu tdixon@polksheriff.org S heriff’s Dept. - S gt. Tommy Dixon
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Stop by our produce stand and pick up some delicious strawberries. We’re sure they’ll make any occasion. berry special!
ONE DAY ONLY | U-PICK March 21st | 8:30am – 4pm All proceeds support the Hillsborough County 4H programs.
Located at the corner of Rice and County Line Road | 813.478.3486 or 813.754.4852 | FancyFarms.com
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March 2015
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Letter from the Editor Publisher/Photography Karen Berry I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature’s rebirth? - Edward Giobbi We are lucky here in Florida to be blessed with good weather for most of the year, but I still enjoy this season. The days are lengthening giving us more time to enjoy the natural beauty that Florida has to offer. So get outside! Hike, bike, kayak, or whatever you enjoy, now is the perfect time to do it. Check out one of the many state parks, ornamental gardens, or find an event that celebrates spring flowers. There is something for everyone. It can take a few days to get acclimated to the time change, but is it ever worth it! I normally get up before the alarm, but the first morning posed a bit of a challenge. I had forgotten how startling it is to be rudely awakened by the alarm clock. I trust by this time everyone is well adjusted and happy that, even though we get up “earlier” the extra daylight at the end of the day make it all worthwhile. The fairs and festivals in our area are winding down and we at In The Field magazine would like to extend our congratulations, not only the winners of the competitions, but all who entered. You set your goals, figured out where to concentrate your efforts and went for it! These events are the culmination of a lot of hard work for these students and each and every one of them should be commended for their efforts. A great big THANK YOU goes out to our advertisers. You allow us to contine to Cover What is Growing. We couldn’t do it without you. Until Next Month
Sarah The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry
Alan’s Air Conditioning..................47 Broke & Poor..................................29 Care Plus...........................................2 Cattleman’s Livestock Auction....26 Cecil Breeding Farm.......................13 Choo Choo Lawn Care..................12 Country Village..............................41 Ellison RBM Inc...............................37 Everglades Farm Equipment........48 Exo Creative...................................26
Office Manager Bob Hughens
Fancy Farms......................................5 Farm Credit.....................................44 Florida Farm & Ranch...................27
Sales Manager Danny Crampton Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Creative Director/Illustrator
Juan Alvarez
Florida Fence Post.........................22 Fl Mineral, Salt & AG.....................23 Fountain Farm Services................41 Fran Haasch.......................................7 Fred’s Market Restaurant..............23 Grove Equipment Service.............19 Gulf Coast Tractor.........................30 Hillsborough County 4H.................15 International Market World.........27 Jason Grimes Contracting............5 Kelley Buick.....................................33
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
Key Plex..........................................40 Lightsey Cattle Co.........................37 MST Sod..........................................33 Mosaic................................................9 Parkesdale.......................................36 Pathway Biologic.............................11 Polk County Cattlemen’s Association...................4 Savich & Lee....................................9 Seedway...........................................37 Southeastern Septic......................45 Southwestern Produce..................44 Stephanie Humphrey.....................42 Summerlin Fence and Feed..........45
Contributing Writers Woody Gore
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The Bug Man..................................37 The Southern Barn.......................32
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I am writing this at the end of an unusually wet February. I am glad for the rain because others need it so bad, but a little relief would not hurt. All of this moisture will help the grass going into our upcoming drier months. At the first part of February, I had the opportunity to travel with my wife to San Antonio for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association national convention. This was a great time to visit with some friends from Florida, as well as many of the men and women I had the honor of traveling with last summer during the Young Cattlemen’s Conference. The trade show was larger than ever – you couldn’t see it all in one day, and it was neat to visit the River Walk everyone always talks about. It was quite an experience to visit the Alamo, as I always enjoy learning more about what makes up this nation’s diverse history. One day I was able to sit in on a Young Beef Leaders Roundtable where we discussed issues facing the cattle industry. I was proud to be a part of such a great group of young people who are working hard and are passionate about our industry. Hopefully I will have the chance to join fellow cattlemen again next year in San Diego. For those of you that missed this year’s Polk County Cattlemen’s Ranch Rodeo, the only excuse we’ll allow you is that it was Valentine’s Day! Once again, the weather cooperated for another beautiful day at the Agri-Center in Bartow. The trade show tent was packed with representatives from all aspects of our ag community with a lot of business and networking taking place. From Bartow Ford to QLF to Warner University to West Way to Revinu to other businesses and various southern ware shops, attendees were able to gather and learn from these advocates for the ag industry.
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The rodeo started at 1 pm to a big crowd and sets of packed bleachers. As the day heated up, so did the action with some of the county’s best cowboys and cowgirls competing in events like wild cow milking and colt riding. Congratulations to the Gukich family and their G7 Ranch team for taking home the overall champion saddles. Good luck to this team in October at the Ranch Rodeo State Finals in Kissimmee. Thank you to all the teams that show up and support this fun event. A big thank you to all of the sponsors for their contributions towards sponsoring teams and events. Thank you to the cattlewomen who cook at the concession stand – this helps to make the entire day more enjoyable! We can’t forget all of the volunteers who work tirelessly to make this entire event happen. This day always makes me proud of our industry. I look around at all of the people who show up eager to jump right into some hard work to help make that day a success. Thanks again!
JB Wynn
JB Wynn Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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Tomatoes are the fruit of the tomato plant. They originated in the South American Andes around the area of modern day Peru and were first used as a food by the Aztec’s in Southern Mexico. Because the tomato has seeds and grows from a flowering plant botanically it is classed as a fruit not a vegetable. The biggest tomato fight in the world happens each year in the small Spanish town of Buñol. The festival called La Tomatina, involves some 40,000 people throwing 150,000 tomatoes at each other. Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene, which is important for the health of the prostate gland in men. Tomato seedlings have been grown in space. There are over 10,000 varieties of tomato, these come in a variety of colors including pink, purple, black, yellow and white. Found at Walt Disney World Resort, Florida, USA, the largest single tomato plant in the world covers an area of 56.73 meters sq. That’s bigger than an Olympic size swimming pool! Tomatoes are good for the eyes. Lycopene, the most abundant carotenoid in the blood serum, was found to be the key antioxidant that guards against ARMD ( Age-Related Macular Degeneration), a condition that may cause blindness. Eating tomatoes, ketchup, tomato sauce and tomato paste-topped pizza more than two times a week can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 21 to 43 percent according to Dr. Edward Giovannucci of the Harvard University School of Public Health.
The work we do at Mosaic is critical to helping feed the world. We provide farmers with phosphate crop nutrients that enable them to produce more food on less land. Essential crop nutrients — like phosphate mined and manufactured in Florida — are responsible for 40-60 percent of the crop yields farmers produce worldwide.* That translates into more abundant and affordable food here at home. As our world keeps growing, Mosaic keeps working to help put food on the table, for all of us.
IMAGINE A WORLD WITH HALF AS MUCH FOOD.
Without crop nutrients, that would be our reality.
We help the world grow the food it needs.
®
mosaicco.com/florida *
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Source: Agronomy Journal
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M ASTER G A R D EN ER
Hedge By Debra Howell Traditionally, certain plants have been planted to make a hedge to serve the purpose of forming a windbreaker, sound bearer or for privacy. This use of hedges incorporated such staple plants as podocarpus, privet and pittosporum. Through the years viburnums, Florida boxwood and Indian hawthorn have also become standards to use in the home landscape to form a hedge. Now-a-days hedges occur in a much wider choice of plants and may be more whimsical and colorful than the usual monochromatic selections.
light and air to get to the lower branches, thereby inhibiting pests, viruses and bacterial problems.
Hedges may be used as a “living fence,� a structured line to accent your walk or entryway or as a perimeter barrier to plant along your property lines and guide pedestrian traffic. With some imagination, you can train your hedges into a maze, the concept of which is lately gaining popularity.
Feed your hedges in the spring after all risk of frost is past, then again in mid-summer. You may also wish to apply compost and perhaps a layer of mulch. Apply the fertilizer according to package directions, and do not apply in the heat of the day.
Your choice of plant material for your hedges will add interest to your home landscape and maybe exemplify your personality. If you want your hedges to perform well, there are certain chores you must complete mostly on a seasonal basis. Tasks such as pruning, watering and inspecting for pests should be ongoing. In order for your hedges to look dense, it is important to prune out dead branches and old growth. For flowering hedge plants, you must prune after the bloom season has ended so that they will set buds for the following season. For more formal hedges, you will want a level top and uniform sides. Light must be able to penetrate the lower branches to promote a healthier plant. In order to achieve this, you will need to keep the base of your hedge broader than the top. This method will allow 10
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Use the opportunity provided by spring trimming to inspect plants for any of the above mentioned issues. Because hedge plants are planted closer together to fill in faster, any pests or diseases they might have will spread rapidly due to the proximity of the plants. So, always be on the lookout for any issues present.
After planting your hedge plants, water daily for several weeks during the establishment period. Once they are established you will only need to water them a couple of times a week. While out taking hedge photos, my eyes were opened to the diverse plant choices being used by not only homeowners, but also businesses for their hedge projects. One of the more unusual selections was Surinam cherry, coaxed and groomed into a huge twelve foot tall hedge used as a screen hedge for privacy from a very busy country road. This hedge is so wellmaintained that you cannot force your hand through it. The Surinam cherry, also called Cayenne cherry, is a member of the Myrtaceae family known as Eugenia. Although some may consider this plant invasive, if properly supervised it is an excellent choice for hedges. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Here in Florida, this plant has invaded moist and coastal hammocks, strand swamps, cabbage palm hammocks and shell mounds. It has invaded Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. From personal experience, it has been noticed to propagate in large numbers from the mother plant and can be considered weedy in cultivated landscapes. On the plus side, Eugenia may be easily pruned and has aromatic leaves that are a bright red hue as a young plant. In addition, the fragrant white flowers produce ribbed, red berries which are a fat oneinch in diameter, sweet to the taste and are high in Vitamin C. Fruits are used fresh or as jellies, jams, juices, pies, wine, sherbet and ice cream. The fruits are also eaten by small mammals and birds. A native of Brazil, Surinam cherry was introduced prior to 1931 as an edible and ornamental plant. Some species may attain heights to twenty feet and possesses lovely bark and multiple stems similar to the crape myrtle making it a fine choice for use as a specimen tree, as well as a hedge application. Another good hedge plant is the Indian hawthorn which is a pretty little evergreen shrub that grows to be 3-6 feet tall and wide. In the Carolinas, they are known as “deer candy” since they are a favorite of Bambi. The pink or white flowers give way to small black berries that deer just love. They should be planted in full sun for best performance, and select your plants from disease-resistant cultivars.
One of the most widely used hedge plants is the podocarpus. Japanese yew, as it is also known, has dense lower limbs reaching the ground making it well suited for hedge purposes. The fleshy purple fruits are loved by birds. The most awesome hedge I found was a whimsical 30 foot long dachshund fashioned to scale in the yard of E. J. and Mayling King in Fort Meade. E. J., an accomplished artist, is literally the “king” of the stylized topiary hedge. To this point, the hedge offerings have been pretty monochromatic. Two of the more colorful selections are plumbago and copperleaf. Blue plumbago makes an eye-catching hedge with year round fragrant flowers that attract butterflies and also hummingbird moths in the evening. When you plant this hedge, leave plenty of room as overpruning removes lots of the flowers. But by far, the most colorful attention-getter I saw was a dense 4 foot by 4 foot bronze-red, pink and cream hedge called Acalypha wilkesiana, better known as copperleaf. This is a fast growing shrub that creates a spectacular hedge of continuous landscape color. It grows in a wide variety of soils and performs best with regular watering habits. As you can see, there is a nice variety of tried and true standards for use as a classic structured hedge. But with an eye towards artistry and perhaps a wild splash of color, you are only limited by your own imagination.
Japanese and variegated pittosporums are loved for their glossy evergreen foliage in dark green or gray-green and cream. They bear creamy white flowers that possess a heady fragrance like orange blossoms. Since these are some of the more readily available plant materials, they are used as hedging on a frequent basis. They are also quite suitable as a small tree with removal of the lower branches revealing a multi-stemmed trunk. Pittosporums do not tolerate wet soil, so well drained locations are a must. Privet has seen many years of popularity and is one of two natives in the bunch. Florida privet makes a very fine hedge. Though it can reach 10 or 15 feet tall, most gardeners keep it clipped to a manageable height. The foliage is small and bears inconspicuous white flowers which are attractive to butterflies. There is another privet, a variegated non-native, but it is deemed invasive. Since it has escaped cultivation in the Panhandle of Florida it is not used much. Another interesting hedge plant is the viburnum, which has fragrant leaves that vary in size from very small to medium and are glossy, leathery and dark green. While it makes a fine clipped hedge, it may also be used as a small tree. Walter’s viburnum has a range from Walton County in the Florida Panhandle to Monroe County in South Florida. For your information, this plant belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family of honeysuckles and is a favorite nesting spot for song birds like the cardinal.
• Increase Fertilizer Efficiency • Improve Turf Density and Vigor • Reduce Re-treats
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March Fishing Report Tampa Bay 2015 The Greater Bay Area can be as wild and undeveloped as you make it. Sitting on Florida’s west coast, the region is a muddle of backcountry, canals, creeks and twisting waterways that create a maze-like appearance. Lush evergreen mangroves provide food, shelter and habitat for a variety of birds, fish and other wildlife. This wonderful sanctuary has created a delightful pastime termed fishing that we share with friends and families. Our fishery is a major resource for our beautiful state and it demands we protect its assets from which we derive such enjoyment.
Let’s Go Fishing
As our population increases so increases the fishing pressure. As it continues climbing we must remember the importance of conserving a positive impact by releasing more than you keep. Many anglers consider fish as food and should never be wasted, consequently never keep more fish than you can use. Some anglers are beginning to fish just for sport and because of this, practice catch and release only. This novel concept makes it possible for other anglers to enjoy catching the same fish at another time.
They continually improve and create state of the art storage containers allowing anglers the opportunity to protect the thousands of dollars they’ve invested in fishing tackle. So, if you’re interested in getting the top of the line tackle compartment storage or need to replace some old damaged units, look to Plano for your next purchase.
This mixture of fishing excitement and beautiful natural settings is enough to classify the mangrove coast as an angler’s paradise. Because nature’s wonders magnify the scenario to such an extent, anglers often become lost in thought waiting for the next bite, often forgetting about how many fish they’ve already caught. Throughout the year and often during fall and winter, the Greater Bay Area’s shore-bound anglers experience some good times not only from the surf, but from one of our many fishing piers. Pier fishing is a great family event and there are several piers to fish from. Visit http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ boating_guides/tampa_bay/pages/fishing_piers.html Some fishing piers rent rods, reels and rigs, others you bring your own. Tossing a baited bottom rig from one of the piers is a terrific way to pass the time of day or night. From summer through the early fall, many of the piers are open for fishing 24 hours a day.
Anglers everywhere, especially throughout Florida, seem hooked (no pun intended) on Plano’s new waterproof storage boxes. Located in Plano, IL, Plano’s been manufacturing tackle boxes since 1952 and has committed to the highest quality since the beginning. As an innovator in molded storage boxes they are one of the largest facilitators covering the fishing, hunting, medical, hardware, tactical, and shelving industries.
Snook:
If February was any indication our snook bite should be great in March. As the water temperatures keep rising they continue moving into their summertime patterns. Greenbacks begin showing up and live bait anglers will be getting out that dreaded cast net. Look for Snook to pattern along outside edges and points along mangrove islands and shorelines and especially where tidal flows move bait. Our miles of grass flats with sandy potholes also offer excellent ambush locations. Live bait, suspending lures, topwater’s and soft plastics always produce. Similar to freshwater bass a snook strikes so aggressively it frequently pushes the lure completely out of the water without getting hooked. The key to a surface strike is waiting until you feel the fish, before setting the hook.
Redfish: There’s nothing more exciting than easing
onto a shallow grass flat and seeing fish tails with that black dot waving in the air. The first thing is to identify which direction they are feeding and approach quietly from the other. Nature provided redfish with exceptional eyesight and even better hearing. It’s been said, “They can almost hear you change your mind.” When searching for Redfish, you might keep in mind that in
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“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 my reports, I mention mullet schools, that’s because it bears repeating. When trying to locate feeding redfish, remember they are eating the baits stirred up by schooling mullet. So I guess it stands to reason that fishing mullet schools usually produces redfish. However, some anglers also use other methods like the dead stick; cut ladyfish, mullet or chunks of crabs; other still prefer artificial lures or live bait. Using artificial topwater lures is an exciting method for taking Redfish and usually entails the fish swirling at the lure, this almost always pulls or pushes it down and sometimes ahead of the fish. Which, means they occasionally miss the lure on the first attempt, particularly in shallow water. If you’re “walking the dog” slow it down, but never stop it. If you stop the lure the redfish usually turns away and loses interest. Again, wait until you feel the fish to set the hook.
Spotted Sea Trout:
Fishing incoming or outgoing tides in March will continue producing good catches of trout. I cannot emphasize the excitement of using topwater lures on calm early morning trout grass flats. Trout love live shrimp, greenbacks, or fifty-cent size pinfish under a popping cork, find a deeper broken bottom grass flat and you’ll catch trout.
Cobia, Mackerel, Sharks:
As the bait shows up these should follow. Check markers and cans holding bait and be ready to toss something in the path of a circling Cobia. Not picky about food, Cobia will readily take large shrimp, small crabs and pinfish or toss them an artificial jerkbait or plastic eel. Mackerel with eat greenbacks, threadfins, silver spoons and of course shrimp lures. WWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
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2015 By Melissa Nichols
& Trade Show
This year’s Polk County Cattlemen’s Ranch Rodeo & Trade Show was another huge success. The events kicked off Thursday night with a supper hosted by the Cattlemen’s Livestock Market at the lodge in Polk City. The cattle producers of Polk County were invited to come out and enjoy a meal, fellowship and learn about the sponsor of the meeting, Multi Min 90. David Lamon, Southeast regional representative for Multi Min, and Dr. Dan Tracy presented a slide show and demonstration about the injectable cattle mineral and the benefits. The night was wrapped up with Cattlemen’s Livestock Market’s traditional blueberry cake and prizes were raffled off. On Saturday February 14, the trade show opened at 9 am with more than 30 vendors and representatives, from agriculture colleges, such as the University of Florida, ABAC and Polk County’s newest agriculture college, Warner University. Representatives from Farm Credit, Crosby and Associates, Polk County Cattlewomen, Polk County Sheriff’s Department Agricultural Crimes, Everglades Farm Equipment and Kelley Buick GMC are just a few examples of the plethora of companies represented. If you have never attended this trade show you are missing out. The fun continued just after everyone enjoyed lunch prepared by the Cattlemen-Cattlewomen, with the kickoff of the ranch rodeo. Teams representing ranches from all over Polk County were on hand at the
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ranch rodeo. The event started with the all the teams gathering in the arena while the current Cattlemen’s sweetheart Hailey Tomkow, and incumbent sweetheart Bailey Buchanon ran the American and Florida flags around the arena. Then it was time for the highlight of the day, calf branding, where a team member sorts the calves cuts one from the herd, ropes it, the rest of the team joins in and does a mock branding. The next event was wild cow milking and if you have never tried to milk a beef cow, or seen it done, it is quite an exciting event. As with all of the events at the ranch rodeo, these are events that could take place at any given day on a working cattle ranch, it allows the teams to not only practice their skills but also showcase their abilities. The day wrapped up with Senior Sorting where the men, most of which have taught the younger cowboys how to do their job, go out and show the crowd “they’ve still got it.” When all was said and done G-7 Ranch of Lake Wales won the saddles and first place, H&H Cattle Company of Bartow 2nd place and JMC Ranch of Lake Wales 3rd place. My favorite part of the entire event is always the fellowship. The PCCA are one of the best groups of people I have been blessed to work alongside. The event is always held in February and if you have never come out before, watch for dates next year. It has something for the entire family and well worth the admission price to watch REAL COWBOYS in action.
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WARNER UNIVERSITY BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW AG COMPLEX
By Jim Frankowiak
What began in 2010 with Warner University President Gregory Hall’s formation of an Agricultural Degree Task Force made up of industry leaders to investigate offering an Ag Degree program at the Lake Wales Christian institution, took a major step forward February 20 as ground was broken for the new, 38,000-square-foot complex. That task force consisted of Ag industry leaders Steve Maxwell, Hill Griffin, Tony DiMare and Keith Mixon. One of the first experts the task force spoke with regarding the degree program was Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam, who was the special keynote speaker at the event. A Polk County native and member of a multigenerational citrus and cattle family, Putnam “encouraged Warner to move forward with the Ag degree program,” noted Hall. He wanted to see our youth interested in agriculture to have the opportunity to learn the basics of agriculture and earn an Ag degree within a Christian environment. Putnam and his wife Melissa have four children. He holds the distinction of being the youngest member of the U.S. House of Representatives, having been elected to that office at 26 years of age. He was recently re-elected to his second term as Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. Warner’s Agricultural Studies program began accepting students in the fall of 2013 and provides students the opportunity to study agriculture in a hands-on environment. The project-based courses allow students to experience agriculture through internships, field trips, mentors, capstone projects and guests lectures by industry leaders. The program is designed to blend traditional agriculture studies with new and emerging technologies. In his remarks at the event, Putnam referred to the new Warner program and facility as being helpful in addressing the “gap” that must 18
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be filled by agriculture in order to provide food and fiber for the additional two billion people that will live on earth by 2050 amid the global challenges facing agriculture. “We are fortunate to have this program that will enable these young people to connect to the land, a connection that has made our country the greatest on earth.” That connection, Putnam said, “has been forgotten by some.” He hopes the vision reflected by Warner and this new program will also “help to attract people to Florida as they search for their piece of the American dream, not just as a place to retire.” Following Putnam’s remarks, three separate groups were involved in groundbreaking activities: University Administration, Trustees, Ag Program Task Force Members, Builder and Architect; Agricultural Donors and Ag Program Faculty and Students. The Ag Complex structure was designed by Architect Scott Crews and will be built by Ed Locke of Semco Construction. It will be the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certified building in Lake Wales. That certification recognizes projects or buildings utilizing environmentally friendly building practices during construction or remodeling. In addition to sustainable green building practices, the new complex will use wind turbines and solar panels in the interest of energy efficiency. A rainwater collection tank will provide water for irrigation and feeding purposes. Warner University Vice President for Advancement said approximately $1 million has been raised to underwrite the cost of the approximately $2.8 million facility. The university also announced at the groundbreaking event that an anonymous donor had given a matching grant gift in the amount of $500,000. Shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony had concluded, Ed and Myrtle Lou SwinWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
dle from Plant City stepped forward with a donation of $500,000, reducing the amount needed to complete the complex to $800,000. The university continues to seek additional donors to help underwrite the cost of the Ag complex, including a number of naming opportunities. The Warner Ag Complex will consist of the Ben Hill Griffin Administration Building, Educational Building, multi-purpose Pavilion, Debbie & Doyle Carlton, III Livestock Barn, Equipment Barn, Rainwater Collection Tank and Hunt Brothers Greenhouse. Enrollment in the Warner Ag Program currently consists of six female and 32 males students, 11 reside on campus with the balance off campus commuting students. Many commuting students are involved in family agricultural operations such as citrus, cattle, vegetable production and others. The majority of Ag students have transferred from other institutions in Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Idaho and Colorado. Founded in 1968, Warner University has a current enrollment of 1,338. It offers 30 undergraduate degree and four graduate level programs. The mission of Warner University “is to graduate individuals who exemplify academic excellence and Christian character, who are prepared to lead and committed to serve.” For more information about Warner University and its undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as Agricultural Studies, visit: warner. edu or contact Assistant Vice President for Advancement Leigh Ann Wynn via email: leighann.wynn@warner.edu or telephone: 863-6381446.
Mr. Frank Hunt holding the photo of him at Warner’s first groundbreaking in 1967 when the Cornerstone was positioned in the first building. It was moved to it’s current location in 2014 in order to honor and remember the past. Mr. Hunt helped Warner break ground on the Ag Complex where Hunt Bros adopted the Greenhouse. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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BLUEBERRY GROWERS UPDATED ON INDUSTRY CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES AT FBGA SPRING SHORT COURSE Three New Varieties Unveiled By Jim Frankowiak Florida blueberry producers recently gathered in Plant City for the Spring Short Course offered by the Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) to share information on various challenges and opportunities currently before the industry. Some 400 attended the session at the John R. Trinkle Center on the Plant City Campus of Hillsborough Community College (HCC). Following welcoming comments from HCC Academic Dean Dr. Bonnie Finsely-Satterfield and a brief FBGA business meeting led by Association President Dudley Calfee, Ms. Michael Heard provided an overview of the broad-based, multi-media promotion in place to expand interest and participation from throughout the state in the annual Florida Blueberry Festival to be held April 11-12 at Brooksville. This year’s festival theme is “Florida has a Blueberry Bright Future.” Dr. Jeanne Lindsey, senior risk management specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency discussed crop insurance options for blueberry producers. She noted the new Whole Farm Revenue Protection now available and other pending advances and enhancements to coverage options available through crop insurance agents. Interested parties were encouraged to visit www.rma.usda.gov, clicking on the Farm Bill section for additional information and access to the cost estimator capability on the site. The assembled growers were then given an update on current USDA blueberry research involving the performance of southern highbush blueberries under artificial shade and harvesting and packinghouse evaluation on fruit quality by Dr. Fumi Takeda, research horticultur20
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ist and lead scientist, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, USDA – Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at Kearneysville, West Virginia. He noted his presentation was an update on the status of a multi-year program involving 10 Land Grant universities located in different areas of the country. The first program he reviewed was the use of mechanical shade systems in a two-year Florida study that saw “improved fruit set, reduced fruit damage, reduced bird predation and happy u-pick customers.” The multi-objective study also focused on mechanical harvesting considerations, food safety, microbial contamination, as well as economic and ergonomic considerations and extension outreach fostering technological transfer. The study is looking at hand and machine harvesting, comparing both from different perspectives and utilizing various advanced technologies such as infra-red and thermal imaging to ascertain internal and external fruit damage. Packing house studies involved use of the BIRD sensor to evaluate the impact of dropping blueberries at various points along packing lines since, “bruising and softening of the fruit limits cold storage time, an important consideration for blueberry crops in some parts of the country,” said Takeda. That work is helping to guide the design of a harvest aid system for small and midsize blueberry farms that would permit “harvesting with minimal bruising of fruit through reduced drop heights. There is also focus on catch plate design, including coverage of some stainless steel along the lines with plastic or fiber plastic that reduces bruising.” In summary, Dr. Takeda said he and his colleagues are focused on WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
a platform system over 3 – 5 rows with handheld shaking vibrators typically used by olive growers to improve fruit removal apparatus and help reduce fruit bruising. That work will also include ergonomic considerations of fatigue and muscle aches of field workers plus a cost benefit analysis “hopefully leading to a system of higher capacity requiring fewer workers,” he said. Disease issues being faced by Georgia blueberry growers that could impact producers in Florida were then reviewed by Dr. Phil Brannen, Extension plant pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. “Replanting with new varieties has resulted in the increasing incidence of nematodes, specifically ring nematode, in Georgia,” he said. “Although both southern highbush and rabbiteye varieties have been impacted, we have found southern highbush more disease prone.” In addition to fumigation, Brannen said, “pine bark has proven to be a great tool in helping to reduce nematodes.” His second warning had to do with bacterial leaf scorch caused by bacterium spread by glassy winged sharpshooters. “Again, we have found the southern highbush to be more susceptible, but the V-1 and Star rabbiteye varieties have also shown to be highly susceptible.” Blueberry necrotic ring blotch virus was next, but “it is not a systemic virus that seems to be controlled by spraying for spider wing drosylius.” While this helps control and eliminate the virus, it does have an impact on yield. His final notice concerned a fungal disease, Exobasidio Leaf and fruit spot. “This is manifest by a white or light spot on the fruit. We have WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
seen this more on rabbiteye varieties, but there have been some on southern highbush. And, it’s not only the look that’s bothersome, they taste nasty,” he said. Dr. Brannen offered options for addressing each of the four potential problems he presented, but he emphasized that they each “may manifest themselves here in Florida.” University of Florida blueberry breeder Dr. Jim Olmstead with the Horticultural Sciences Department of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences introduced three new varieties now available to blueberry producers. All are suited to central and southern Florida and “best suited to the evergreen production system.” The new varieties are Avanti™ (FL06-203), Arcadia™ (FL07-399) and Endura™ (FL06377). Additional information on each of the new varieties is available via the Florida Foundation. See Producers Inc. at http://FFSP.NET or http://www.hos.ufl.edu/faculty/jwolmstead. The current status of labor regulations was reviewed by Michael Carlton, director of labor relations for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. He emphasized the need for action at the federal level regarding immigration, plus amendments to the guest worker program that is better suited to a broader segment of the industry. Carlton encouraged growers to regularly communicate with their elected officials at the federal level to know “agriculture’s livelihood depends on immigrants” and that they will hopefully move forward with new immigration legislation and amend the guest workers program in such a way that it works for agriculture.” Information on all presentations at the Short Course is available by visiting: http://floridablueberrygrowers.com/2015/02/24/fbga-spring2015-conference-presentations/ INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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I remember my mother running me out of the house one time for having stinky feet. I wore my old pair of tennis shoes everywhere. After school I would play sandlot football and get hot and sweaty. This added fuel to the fire. In the summer I had to take my shoes off before coming into the house even though I took a good bath every night. It got so bad they made me take off my socks, too. I almost got a whippin’ for untying my shoes in church one time. They were just loose enough to let enough of the odor out to annoy people. It got very apparent when everybody around me started to move away. I remember my mother was so embarrassed. I must admit it did stink. My sisters Nettie Mae and Betty Jean would always give me a dirty look and say “P U”… get away from me. I found that your dogs, piggies or tootsies, as they are called, get the smell from bacteria created when your feet get sweaty. Scientist says that the bacteria really gets going if you don’t wear socks. The bacteria produces stuff called volatile sulfur compounds. Yuck, rotten eggs! Did you know jobs are available to smell? That’s right, some people get paid to smell. Clinical testing labs hire people to do this when they are testing new products. These professional “smellers” get to smell some of the sweet stuff like the fragrance of a new hair spray or perfume. Other times they may have to test, or smell, a new underarm deodorant. Imagine, sniffling someone’s underarm to see if it works! One company hires body odor experts. Need a part time job? Every once in a while I’ll glance through the want ad section of the newspaper. Some are really hilarious. Check these out: Georgia Peaches-California Grown- 1.00 a pound. Nice parachute-Used Once-Never Opened-Slightly Stained. American Flag with 60 Stars-Pole Included. For Sale-One large Sofa-Will seat the whole mob, and is made of 100% Italian leather. Joining Nudist Colony-Washer and Dryer for sale. Nordic Track $200.00- Hardly Used- Call Chubbie. Open House-Body Shapers Toning Salon-Free Coffee and Donuts. And finally, For Sale By Owner-Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica. 45 Volumes. Excellent condition. $900.00 or best offer. No longer needed. Got married last weekend. Wife knows everything. O.K., I have finally found out how you know you are getting old! Here they are, 26 solid reasons: 1. When you and your teeth no longer sleep together. 2. You try to straighten out the winkles in your stockings and discover you aren’t wearing any. 3. At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle, pop and you’re not eating cereal. 4. Your back goes out but you stay home. 5. When you wake up looking exactly like your driver’s license picture. 6. It takes two tries to get up from the couch. 7. When your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio. 8. When happy hour includes a nap. 22
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9. When you’re on vacation and your energy runs out before you money does. 10. When you say something to your kids that your mother said to you, and you always hated it. 11. When all you want for your birthday is to not be reminded of your age. 12. When you step off a curb and look down one more time to make sure the street is still there. 13. Your idea of weight lifting is standing up. 14. It takes longer to rest than it did to get tired. 15. Your memory is shorter and your complaining lasts longer. 16. Your address book has mostly names that start with Dr. 17. You sit in a rocking chair and can‘t get it going. 18. The pharmacist has become your new best friend. 19. Getting “lucky” means you found your car in the parking lot. 20. The twinkle in your eyes is merely a reflection from the sun on your cataract. 21. It takes twice as long to look half as good. 22. Everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work. 23. You look for your glasses for half an hour, and they were on your head the whole time. 24. You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there. 25. You give up all your bad habits and you still don’t feel good. 26. You finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart. Let me leave you with this story about why things are not always what they seem to be. I have no idea who wrote it, or where I got it. For some reason years ago I saved it. Perhaps to be printed in this magazine. Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion’s guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel sawed a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, “Things aren’t always what they seem.” The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good nights rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die! “Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it.” Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.” Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don’t turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Family Tree Rooted in Agriculture By Melissa Nichols It is rare that we find a family that has been involved in agriculture for the better part of the last decade that has not already been on the cover of the magazine. This month we are proud to feature a family that has deep roots in agriculture and their family tree still has a lot of growth yet to come. The Buchanon Family is no stranger to the cattle-farming-FFA industry and that is just where their agriculture affiliation begins. Their roots go deeper than the eye can see. In feature stories I often talk about legacy, to a cattleman a legacy is often all you truly have. It’s what is left long after material things are gone. It’s the stories that are told generation to generation. In this article we are going to talk about the legacy of a few good men, Mr. Marcus Buchanon, Mr. Roscoe Costine, and Mr. J.C. Buchanon, which are being told through the life of Danny Buchanon. To truly understand and appreciate the history of this family we have to go back a few generations. Although this article is about Danny and Leslie Buchanon and their daughters Bailey and Blair, we have to go back to the beginning, back before Leslie and the girls. Danny Buchanon is a lifelong Polk County resident, and youngest son of Marcus and Bernice (Costine) Buchanon. His parents met at Lakeland Livestock Market in 1954, where Bernice was attending the market with her dad Roscoe Costine, like he did most weeks. As fate would have it, Marcus began working for Bernice’s dad and they eventually married in 1958. After marrying, Marcus and Bernice moved to Tom Costine Road, which was named after Bernice’s Uncle Tom who was also a pioneer cattleman in the
area. Not having enough property to sustain an income producing cattle, Marcus took a job with Coronet Industries and became a drag-line operator, and eventually became self-employed as a fill dirt contractor on property he purchased. Through hard work and dedication over the years Marcus, Bernice and sons grew their cattle numbers to 250-300 on owned and leased properties in Polk and Lake Counties. Marcus is the son of J.C. and Lauterine Buchanon. Marcus’ parents owned a store at the corner of 10 Street and Galloway Road. J.C. farmed on Kathleen and Galloway roads, and he worked as a welder at Food Machinery until retiring into a life of farming. At one time he even sold creosote fence posts for additional income. Marcus grew up in the Kathleen area and began working at both locations of the Lakeland Livestock Market when he was 12 years old; Mondays in Tampa, Tuesdays in Lakeland. He hauled livestock for people before he even had a driver’s license. He worked with several different cattlemen in the area and always had a love for cattle and the cattlemen’s way of life. Bernice’s parents were Roscoe and Celia Costine. Bernice started out as a child in the area around the headwaters of the Withlacoochee River. When the school house burned down in the Green Pond area the family moved to the Combee area, where Bernice lived until she married Marcus. Danny and Leslie met and were married in 1996. Danny is employed by the City of Lakeland and Leslie is a teacher. Danny jokes
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that Leslie is a “Carlton” from Hardee County, and he had to go all the way to Hardee County to find someone to marry he wasn’t related to. Leslie’s parents are Winston and Erma Carlton of Wauchula, and she is the granddaughter of T. Mabry “Jack” & Septa Carlton and Hoyle and Juanita Colson, all of Wauchula. The Carlton Family also has roots in agriculture for over a hundred years for raising cattle and being citrus growers. The Carlton and Colson Families are huge supporters of all things agriculture. Danny and Leslie have always fit together perfectly as they both are hardworking and dedicated and even though raising cattle is their side job, they give it their full time attention. Danny and Leslie volunteer in a number of ways to promote the agriculture and beef industries as FFA alumni, Farm Bureau, Polk County Cattlemen’s Association and Polk County Cattlewomen’s Association members. Since the loss of Marcus in 1997 the family no longer leases pastures and has minimized the herd of cattle to around 50 head on the land Marcus and Bernice acquired when Danny was a young boy. They continue to raise cattle, just in smaller numbers than they once did. Our county relies on the many smaller quantity producers, such as the Buchanons, to make up a large portion of the number of cattle that are shipped to feedlots out west each year. Danny recalls the many stories his dad would tell growing up, but he is particularly fond of the stories his dad would tell about hauling cattle in the back of a truck in a “cub”, like most people did at that time. He recalls his dad talking about the first time he saw cattle being transported in a trailer and how odd that seemed.” Danny fondly remembers his dad telling him if he ever won the lottery he would “raise cows till all the money was gone.” The family continues to live on property passed down by Roscoe Costine, and Bernice lives in the same house she and
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Marcus built. Marcus was a strong, hard-working man who was well known for his soft spoken nature, sense of humor, quick wit and joke telling, traits that were passed down to his sons, Danny and Lemuel. The legacy built by Marcus Buchanon continues through Danny and Leslie Buchanon and their daughters Bailey and Blair. Both girls raise market steers projects, exhibit beef breed and commercial heifers, and they have a family hay operation where they cut and bale hay for their own use. Bailey and Blair are involved in the family’s cattle operation and help perform many of the tasks that are required to keep it going. They are active members of their FFA chapters and compete in various Career Development Events (CDE) each year, such as Livestock Judging, Parliamentary Procedure, and Citrus Judging. Recently Blair was awarded High Point Individual and her team won at the State Citrus Judging competition for the Kathleen Sr. FFA Chapter. Bailey had the honor of being chosen as the 2015 Polk County Cattlemen’s Sweetheart and will represent Polk County at the state competition in June. As a family, which includes Danny’s older brother Lemuel Buchanon and his family, they work cows and maintain the property for the use of their cow/calf operation. The Buchanon family continues to raise cattle on the property they own in north Polk County. Bernice continues to be actively involved in the cattle industry, as she has her entire life. The Buchanon family members have jobs and incomes other than the cattle to sustain their livelihood, and the cattle are an added bonus. Marcus enjoyed raising beef cattle as a way to provide for others, and the family continues the tradition and enjoys the property with all it has to offer.
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Jeepin’ With Judd Big Fun; Big Success by Sheriff Grady Judd
On February 6, through February 7, 2015, the Polk Sheriff’s Charities hosted the first ever Jeep-centered fund raising event called “Jeepin’ with Judd” at Clear Springs Ranch in Bartow. The Clear Springs Ranch is situated off of Cox Road in Bartow and provided over 2,000 acres of the company’s beautiful and topographically varied 18,000 acres for participants to ride trails and test their vehicles’ capabilities. There were approximately 436 jeeps with over 1500 people in attendance over the two day event. Some 170 volunteers donated their time helping to raise approximately $25,000 for Polk Sheriff’s Charities and the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Villa. And there was something for everyone. The purpose of the event was threefold: First, to create a safe, family oriented Jeep festival where memories can be created that will last a lifetime. Second, to design challenging and enjoyable obstacles and trail rides, which feature the best that Jeeping in Florida has to offer. Third, and most important, the event was set up to raise money for local worthwhile charities. The event and property included a total of six trails and a nearly mile-long obstacle course. The trails were rated scenic, intermediate, and extreme. There was also a popular night ride around Clear Springs Ranch. Vendors from as far away as Illinois, New York and Georgia provided food, Jeeps and Jeep related merchandise and equipment. There was an outstanding “show and shine” at Tom Edwards Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep in Bartow.
Thanks to all of our sponsors:
Sheriff’s Level
. Tom Edwards Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep . Clear Springs . Jester Off Road . Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. . 97 Country - WPCV 97.5 FM . The Jeep Hut . Talk 1430 - WLKF . MAX 98.3 FM . NAPA Auto Parts . McGee Auto Services & Tires
Chief Level
. Seward Off Road . JCR Off Road . SPIDERWEBSHADE . Jeepers Den & Truck Accessories . 4 Wheel Parts . Superchips
Major Level
. Steinjäger . Carolina Metal Masters . Happy Trails 4X4 . Poisen Spyder
Having Clear Springs as a “Jeepin’ with Judd” partner just made good sense. Clear Springs Farms is an agriculture company known for focusing on cattle ranching and produce farming and production. But the company also supports the local community and various charitable efforts.
Captain Level
According to the company’s website, “At Clear Springs, our business model focuses on quality products, excellent customer service, and reinvesting earnings in both the land and in the community. In addition to Agriculture, Clear Springs’ Master Plan includes a Corporate Research Park (anchored by education and workforce training through the Polk State College Advanced Technology Center), Industrial, Offices, R&D, Retail, and Hospitality, Recreation, and Conservation.”
. Forever Wave Roll Bar Flags . Revelation Photography . JeepLyfe . American Outlaw Jeep Parts . Nerfherder Creations . Tepui Tents . Outkast Gear . Jeep Grown . The Hungry Monkey . The Chic Coop . The Rolling Gourmet . Smokin’ Taters BBQ . Just the Goods . Early Bird
The PCSO extends a special thanks to Clear Springs owner’ Stanford Phelps for allowing the use of the beautiful property; and to his staff, Doug Conner and Carroll Keen for their help in the event’s success. 28
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. Trail Team Six . Specialty Powder Coating LLC.
Lieutenant Level
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Participants couldn’t help but offer their remarks about the event: George Touchton wrote, “I just wanted to let you all know your organization and support was second to none! I will be making this a yearly event as long as you continue to do it! My brothers and I had an absolutely fabulous time. I drove from League City, Texas, 2200 miles round trip and would do it again in a heartbeat! I got to meet the Sheriff, had my picture made with him, I was even on the news -thank you for a wonderful event!”
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Pat Laza wrote, “We’ve got to agree, the Jeepin with Judd event has got to be one of our favorites so far! Everyone was friendly, trails were spectacular, and the views of the ranch were amazing! We are proud to say we were a part of Polk County’s first Jeep event. We will be part of it for years to come. Thanks to all who had a hand in putting this event together.” To see additional photos and read about the event, please visit http://on.fb.me/1LDfvF4.
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On its Way Out: The Purple Honeycomb Head
By Ginny Mink
We’ve covered a number of endangered animals in the past, so to switch things up a bit this month we went in search of an endangered flower. We’ve just come out of the month of love, whose birthstone (amethyst) happens to be purple (this author’s favorite color), so it seemed obvious that we should be on the lookout for an endangered purple flower. Thusly we landed on the purple honeycomb head (aka: Balduina atropurpurea). According to R.M. Harper, these are the only, “composite flowers with honeycombed receptacles.”¹ It’s a perennial herb that can grow up to four feet tall and can have one, or several stems, each with one large flower. The flowers themselves have 10-20 yellow petals with 3-5 ridges (called teeth) on the edges and the stem has a purple tinted base. There are also disk flowers which are purplish-brown in color.¹ Of course we weren’t sure what disk flowers were, so let us explain. Apparently, they are the tiny tubular flowers that make up the center of the main flower² (that’s why these are called composite flowerscomposed of multiple parts). Continuing on, our research revealed that these plants are fond of wetlands. Specifically, R.M. Harper delineates, “Wet pine flatwoods and savannas, seepage slopes, pitcherplant bogs and wet ditches.”¹ Sadly, there are only seven known populations in Florida.¹ These flowers are known to grow in Clay, Duval, Putnam and Nassau counties³ where they are located in state forests and on timber company land.¹ However, they do grow in Georgia and South Carolina as well, with historic documentation in Alabama and North Carolina (though unconfirmed).¹ Sadly, as we continued our research, we discovered that the purple honeycomb head hasn’t been seen in the Carolinas or Alabama recently at all. They say it is due, for the most part, to a deterioration in its habitat. According to Nature Serve Explorer, most of “its naturally rare wet savannah and bog habitat has been altered or destroyed by fire suppression and by drainage and conversion to agriculture and pine plantations.”⁴ Georgia appears to be the least affected by the change in habitat as it still boasts 45 populations (not that this is sufficient to remove the flower from its current endangered status). When considering the Georgia populations there are between 10,000 and 44,000 plants occurring therein but a vast majority of them are on Fort Stewart, an army base. These flowers are therefore endangered by military vehicle traffic, altered hydrology (wetland drainage and improper fire breaks), as well as the encroachment of woody vegetation. One population seen in 1995 was gone by the very next year⁴. Since the purple honeycomb head flowers in August through early November¹, these are the best times to go on a search for them. Obviously the next question then is how do we prevent further deWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
struction? How do we keep a flower whose population is seeing a long-term trend of 10-90% decline from meeting extinction?⁴ Suggestions include maintaining controlled burns every 2-3 years in order to knock back all the woody vegetation that threatens to encroach on their wetlands.¹ Also, there’s a directive to avoid altering wetlands via drainage, ditches, bedding, clearing, firebreak constructions or any other form of soil disturbance that changes the hydrologic makeup of their habitats. It has also been suggested that hand-thinning shade trees might be of some benefit.⁴ Florida natives (and those of us who consider ourselves thus due to extended years here) are partial to our vast array of wildflowers. In fact, back in 1926 one writer proclaimed that at any time of year he could go out into his yard and collect 25 different kinds of flowers.⁵ Sadly, we have seen a massive decline therein and while many of us recall the supreme joy found in gathering wildflowers (several of which our parents labeled weeds), we may not be offering that same thrill to our own children as we quickly eliminate their life sources. We are so self-centered when it comes to expansion and beautification that we forget the One who beautified it all for us. Let us take a moment to stop taking for granted the flowers (weeds or not) that populate our yards, fields and pastures. Let’s appreciate the small things and do our best to change the deadly future so many of them are facing. By the way, some of the research indicates that the population found in Florida’s panhandle may very well be extirpated already.⁴ In fact, there are no photos available on the FSU site (where we got the pictures) that originate from that area.⁶ Florida’s purple honeycomb heads are on the way out. We’ve got to do something! If you happen to run across anything resembling this flower be sure to contact: The Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium Biology Unit 1, Room 100 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306-4370
herbarium@bio.fsu.edu (850) 644 6278 (tel.) (850) 644 0481 (fax)
Sources: http://fnai.org/FieldGuide/pdf/Balduina_atropurpurea.pdf http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/disc+flower http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?ID=2621 http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Ba lduina+atropurpurea 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. 25-30). Photos provided by: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu/search-specimens. php?taxon_rank_sp=balduina+atropurpurea&search=Search&out put_type=Table INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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By Melissa Nichols
Meet Bailey Buchanon The 2015 Polk County Cattlemen’s Sweetheart
The 2015 Polk County Cattlemen’s Sweetheart is Bailey Buchanon. Bailey has been involved in the cattle industry her entire life. Her first trip to the cattle pasture to check on cows was when she was less than a month old. Bailey is a senior at Lake Gibson High School where she is active in the school’s FFA chapter. She currently serves as VicePresident of her chapter, and Secretary for the Polk FFA Federation. Bailey shows beef cattle at the Polk County Youth Fair and local fair circuits. Bailey has been exhibiting cattle since she was 8 years old. She has grown particularly fond of the Maine Anjou breed of cattle, and she has won multiple prized “purple ribbons” and trophies along the journey. None have meant more to her than the Reserve Grand 34
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Champion Open Steer trophy she received in the 2014 Polk County Youth Fair. Bailey Buchanon has established a herd of her own cattle that she breeds each year and she continues to show the offspring. Bailey is quite the showman, having won showmanship this year in the Senior Division at the Polk County Youth Fair. Bailey Buchanon is much more than a girl who shows cows, she also raises cattle, works cows, gets out on the tractor, and helps with the hay baling. Bailey has helped with her fair share of fence repairs, spraying soda apples, putting out hay, and can tell you just about anything you want to know about the cattle industry, and what she WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
doesn’t know, she plans to find out. She is eager to learn. Bailey is as comfortable working in the cow pens as she is in the show ring. She doesn’t back down from a challenge or from a new experience, and she truly sees this opportunity as a chance to set an example to the younger generation of cattlewomen. Bailey is a member of the Junior Cattlemen’s Association, Polk County Cattlewomen’s Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, and Bethel Baptist Church, where she is active in the youth program. Bailey will graduate from high school this spring with high honors and plans on attending Hillsborough Community College to attain her AA degree. After HCC her goal is to attend the University of Florida’s Plant City campus where she would like to get her Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education. Her goal is to work within the cattle industry, eventually maybe even as an extension agent with UF-IFAS. Bailey will continue to work part time at the Lake Gibson Publix and CornFusion Crop Maze in the fall while she is in college. Although Bailey will no longer be showing cattle she plans on staying active in the industry and continuing to grow her own herd of cattle while assisting her younger sister Blair as she continues to carry on
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the tradition. Bailey has a bible verse that defines her, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25 It is rare that you catch Bailey without a big vibrant smile on her face. She is an enthusiastic and happy person who will bring a lot of positive Godly energy to all she does. Bailey Buchanon is a very well rounded young lady who will represent our industry well this year. She has the experience both in and outside of the show ring to help both aspects of the community we serve. Bailey is looking forward to the opportunities this will present for her as she will compete in June at the Florida Cattlemen’s Convention at the Omni Champions Gate for the State title. If you happen to see Bailey out somewhere congratulate her on a job well done representing an industry that Polk County relies on, our cattle industry, the backbone of agriculture in this county.
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Cattle • Truck Farming • Citrus • Game Hunting
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s e p i c e R These recipes come from WWW.STRAWBERRYSUE.COM
Florida Strawberry Nutella Pizza Filling
Pizza dough for one pizza 1 jar of Nutella 8 oz bittersweet chocolate bar 4 cups of sliced Florida strawberries
DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 450°F. If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven as it preheats. This will give you an extra crispy crust just like a traditional stone pizza oven!
and carefully place the pizza dough on the stone. Place back into the oven and bake for around 10 minutes or until its edges are puffy and the crust begins to turn golden brown.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface. Pressing from the center out in a circular motion, start forming your pizza. It’s important to keep the dough density consistent so flip the dough and re-flour from time to time.
Once the pizza is ready, remove from the oven and the pizza stone. Now spread the Nutella and don’t be afraid to be as generous as you like! Grate the dark chocolate bar over the Nutella.
Evenly distribute the sliced strawberries, Take your pizza stone out of the oven. slice and enjoy! Dust the top of the pizza stone with flour
Florida Strawberry Dream Ice Cream INGREDIENTS
2 cups whole milk 2 cups heavy cream 1 cup white sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups mashed fresh strawberries
DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, combine the milk, cream, sugar, salt and vanilla. Pour the mixture into the frozen freezer bowl and let mix for 20-30 minutes until it begins to thicken. Add strawberries and process for 10-15 more minutes. The ice cream 38
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will have a soft, creamy texture. Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving. Add a sprig of mint or basil for an even more beautiful display. Chef’s note: If your ice cream maker is as noisy as most, or if it tends to lose its cool a little early in the process, have I got a trick for you! Simply clear out some space in your refrigerator or freezer and let the magic happen in the cold, quiet darkness of your freezer or fridge. This also means you can make more than one batch a day since your freezer bowl won’t thaw out as quickly! March 2015
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Florida
Canistel By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Florida canistel is a creamy, egg-shaped tropical fruit that is delicious eaten out-of-hand or cooked in various desserts. Native to Central America and South American, canistel is a member of the Sapotaceae family, along with sapodilla and mamey sapote. Canistel is also called egg-fruit, yellow sapote, zapotillo, and zapote. This fruit has a bright yellow flesh, sweet flavor, and a creamy texture, much like custard or cooked pumpkin. In the middle is a dark brown, inedible pit. Florida is the only state in the United States that produces canistel, and its peak season is from December until March. NUTRITIONAL PROFILE Naturally sweet and creamy, Florida canistel also contains plenty of vitamins and minerals. Canistels are rich in niacin and vitamin A, and also contain significant amounts of potassium, vitamin C, calcium, iron, thiamin, and phosphorus. A 100g portion of fresh canistel (roughly two fruits) has 136 calories, 2 g protein, 0.3 g fat, 0.1 g fiber and 37 g carbohydrates. It also contains 26.5 mg calcium, 37.3 mg phosphorus, 32 mg carotene, 3.7 mg niacin and 58.1 mg vitamin C, as well as the amino acids lysine, methionine, and tryptophan. NIACIN: FOR HEALTHY CHOLESTEROL LEVELS Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is best known for its ability to lower LDL cholesterol and triglyercides, the harmful types of cholesterol. Niacin may also slow the progression of atherosclerosis, which is cholesterol deposits in your arteries, which may later lead to heart attack or stroke. This vitamin also helps the body make hormones and improve circulation. Along with the other B vitamins, niacin helps the body convert food into fuel for the body to use, and is necessary for proper functioning of the nervous system. PHOSPHORUS: FOR STRONG BONES AND TEETH Phosphorus plays an essential role in the body. Along with calcium, phosphorus helps build strong bones and teeth. This mineral also helps filter out waste in the kidneys and plays an essential role in how the body stores and uses energy. Phosphorus is necessary for the growth, maintenance, and repair of all tissues and cells, and for the production of the genetic building blocks, DNA and RNA. VITAMIN C: FOR A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM Vitamin C is an important antioxidant, supporting the body’s immune system in its ability to fight infections and viruses. Additionally, this vitamin is involved in keeping capillaries, gums, and skin healthy and supple. The vitamin C in canistel also enhances iron absorption from other foods, which reduces the risk of anemia. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
VITAMIN A: FOR GOOD EYESIGHT Vitamin A is essential for optimal eye health and can help prevent night-blindness. It also plays a role in immunity by supporting the white blood cells in fighting infections. This vitamin is also involved in hearing, taste, and normal fetal development. HOW TO SELECT AND STORE Canistel should be harvested from the tree when the fruit turns a bright yellow-orange color. Choose fruit that is uniform in color with intact skin. Allow the fruit to ripen at room temperature for 3-10 days until it feels soft, but not mushy, when lightly squeezed. When ripe, the fruit can be stored for up to several days in the refrigerator. HOW TO ENJOY Fresh canistel is delicious eaten out-of-hand, as well as made into jam, marmalade, pancakes, smoothies, milkshakes, custards, or ice cream. Canistels maintain their bright yellow color and their taste when heated, so they are easy to incorporate into cooked foods. Other ways to enjoy it include: • Dice it and mix with other fruits and vegetables into a salsa or fruit salad • Add slices to a salad as an avocado substitute • Blend with other fruits into a smoothie. • Blend with milk and vanilla to make an eggnog-like beverage • Mash and freeze to make a refreshing sorbet • Puree and add to soup • Substitute for pumpkin puree in a pumpkin pie • Mash and use as a topping for pancakes • Slice and eat with salt, pepper, and lime juice • Combine with chili, limes, and spices into a chutney Enjoy this unique tropical fruit during Florida’s peak season today. Whether eaten fresh or cooked, canistels add nutrition and deliciousness to any dish! SELECTED REFERENCES University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs299 Purdue University. https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ canistel.html
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Naturally Amazing Activities
By Sean Green
Paper Roll Shamrock St Patrick’s Day is upon us and ya better not be caught without a little green. Here is a quick little craft that can be done in a pinch and can be altered to any level of creativity your heart desires. Save a few paper rolls that would normally go in the recycle bin and glue together your very own shamrocks.
Suggested Material: Paper Rolls (toilet paper, paper towel) Glue (wood glue, white glue)
Decoration: Colored Sand (suggest GREEN, but rainbows are fun too) Ribbon (shiny is always attractive) Costume Jewels (Shamrocks, like Leprechauns can be magical) Glitter (I recall something about glitter and gold, and ALL Leprechauns like gold) Step 1 Cut the paper rolls into rings Step 2 Fold the paper roll rings into the shape of a heart Step 3 Glue the paper roll rings together to form the petals of the shamrock Step 4 Paper roll rings can be cut and glued in between leaves to form the shamrock stem Step 5 Let the glue dry Step 6 Smear the outside of the shamrock with glue to fasten your decoration
Your shamrock can be hung, planted, or incorporated into another project such as a greeting card or gift box, your imagination is limitless, just like the luck of the Irish and their shamrocks.
813-767-4703 301 South Collins Street, Suite 101, Plant City, Florida 33563
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P o rtrait P h o tograp h er Spe c ializ ing in H igh Sc hool Se niors
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By Sean Green
Photo credit: Chelyapin Dmitry
3D Insect Traps: The Game Changer
Technician Tony Dickens holds up a 3D printed trap part. (Photo Credit: Joshua Reid Carswell - FDACS)
Technician Tony Dickens attaches a 3-D insect trap to a tree. (Photo Credit: Joshua Reid Carswell - FDACS)
Dr. Trevor Smith demonstrating the 3D printed traps at the International Conference on HLB held last month in Orlando. (Photo Credit: FDACS-DPI)
Technology fuels innovations that can make our lives more productive, more sustainable, and more exciting. You may have heard the buzz about 3D printing technology around the local watering hole, or from a tech savvy acquaintance or perhaps even researching the technology yourself. If you made it out to the 4th International Research Conference on HLB in Orlando last month, you had the opportunity to catch a presentation by the FDACS-DPI, (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services- Division of Plant Industry) that demonstrated the benefits 3D printing technology can offer the Agriculture Industry. Dr Trevor Smith, FDACS chief Methods Development and Biologic Control scientist is leading a team of scientists in research that could result in revolutionary changes in biologic control methods. This month we will take a closer look at the project and how it leverages 3D printing technology to prototype, deploy, and test new trap designs to protect our Florida citrus industry from the devastating effects of citrus greening, a bacterial disease transmitted by the invasive Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri). There is no need to establish the burden our citrus industry suffers at the hand of the Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening. The billions in lost revenue and thousands of lost jobs is old news to those of us who live here. Keeping up with the threat by traditional methods is costly and time consuming. In Florida, hundreds of state inspectors routinely install a variety of trap lines through farms and orchards to monitor insects that are being introduced or have been introduced to the state. The sticky trap is the most common monitoring method and consists of a yellow card coated with glue that traps flying adult psyllids. This method is labor intensive, requiring inspectors to make frequent visits to the trap to remove and evaluate the trapped insects. According to Dr Smith, sticky traps do not contain preservatives and consequently require a high collection frequency to gather any useful molecular or genetic research information. The USDA and state of Florida co-fund a project that uses 3D printing technology to build a better psyllid trap. 3D printers output 3D objects by printing successive layers of material until the entire object is formed. Each layer is a thin cross section of the final object, like the thin layers of plywood that make up a thicker board. The benefit of using 3D printing technology to design and test insect traps is the WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
speed at which concepts can be designed and tested in the field. Tony Dickens, one of the technicians at FDACS on the team comments, “These printers allow us to design and create the traps right away. There’s less of a lag between an idea and when something is actually made.” The idea behind the project is that scientists can use computer software and a 3D printer to adjust the shape, color, lighting, and chemical characteristics of new trap designs that allow researchers to not only study the insects more efficiently and accurately, but also, prototype new traps that could contribute Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions in the near future. 3D printers can create objects with plastic, wood, metal, epoxy, food, and even living biologic tissue. Though the technology has recently been touted as “new” in the media spotlight, its origins date back to the 1980s, when it was called Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology, a term coined because the process was originally conceived as a faster and more cost effective means of creating prototypes for products intended for full development and production. 3D printing was never intended to become a production process in and of itself, however, it is far less expensive than the traditional manufacturing process and is no longer prohibitively expensive which makes it an ideal means of producing small quantities of custom products such as experimental insect traps. The good news is that leveraging 3D printing technology need not be prohibitively expensive, open source 3D printers are available at prices comparable to that of a standard inkjet or consumer grade laser jet printer and for those with the ambition to take on a DIY project, plans for the builder versions of 3D printers can be downloaded for free. Likewise, the 3D modeling software needed to produce files for 3D printing is available from the open source community at little to no cost. Commercial sources are a little more expensive than open source but still reasonable for consumer grade hardware and software. According to Dr. Smith, the 3D printer they use to make the traps came at a price of about $2300, and each trap costs between $5 and $10 to make. Computers running the latest Windows operating system (Windows 8.1) already have support drivers for common 3D printers making it very easy for the average consumer to participate in 3D printing technology. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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deed restrictions dealing with landscape issues; pruning practices; problem plants such as invasive, non-native plants; pesticide and fertilization practices; plant nutritional deficiencies; mulch application; and irrigation system issues including frequency and timing of applications. Other frequent areas of interest cited by communities participating in the FFL Community Association Outreach Program have included stormwater pond best management practices, dealing with erosion caused by stormwater runoff and questions involving reclaimed water. Evaluations and recommendations are based on science-based research from UF/IFAS. In addition to site evaluations, the Community Association Outreach Program offers onsite presentations about the FFL principles. The FFL Community Association Outreach Program is a free resource for HOAs and other community associations to provide for guidance in instituting sustainable landscape practices, reviewing landscaperelated covenants and working with landscape maintenance contractors. FFL has had several success stories with communities that adopted FFL practices from which they were able to see reduced water consumption and water utility and maintenance costs. Contact me at the Hillsborough County Extension Service, 813-744-5519 x 54142, if these services would benefit your homeowner or condominium association. For more information on environmental horticulture topics, contact your local County Extension Service. Additional information on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ can be accessed at http:/ /floridayards.org, http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu and WaterMatters.org. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Community Association Outreach Program is sponsored by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Hillsborough and Polk Boards of County Commissioners and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
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