Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
February 2022
Page 3
BLACK ROCK FARMS OPENS GATES TO SHARE THE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
4TH GRADER RECOGNIZED THROUGH COMPLETION OF 50-YARD CHALLENGE
Meg Shue and After being unsure for her family started a while of what to do Black Rock Farms with them, they decidin Dover back in ed to create a black 2019 to create a rock fire pit, which you hands-on learncan now roast marshing environment mallows at after your for their kids, tour. This is the story now they want to of how the name Black share that expeRock Farms was born. rience with oth“In 2017, our lives ers through farm The whole Shue family loves life on the farm. Josh, were rattled; I was asGunnar and Baylee help out every day. tours. saulted and developed There will be PTSD. Not only was I three types of tours affected by the experience, depending on the time but so were my kids,” said of year and will include Meg, owner of Black Rock things like feeding baby Farms, “My love for animals goats and other animals, grew, they understood me milking goats, egg coland our kids’ anxieties. So, in lecting and even s’more 2019 we decided to grow our roasting over a black farm by welcoming all kinds rock fire pit. Throughof animals that we could love out the tours, guests are on.” welcome to ask quesThe whole family loves to tions and learn all about be a part of the farm and what it is like to run a each family member has small farm. their role. Zach Shue, Meg’s Black Rock Farms has husband, does all the buildseven different types of ing. Josh, their oldest son, animals: one horse, one handles all the cleaning. Gunlivestock dog, six goats, lots of chickens, nar, their 8-year-old, oversees the bathing one pig, one bunny and many fish in the of the animals. Baylee, their 7-year-old, is pond, all of which you get to interact with the egg collector and washer, and she also or see on the farm when you take a hands- loves to help her mom handle the baby on tour. animals. Finally, with Meg’s background When the family moved to their new in wound care, she deals with any animal farm, it needed some serious rehab. As they ailments. began cleaning up and fixing the space, they To learn more or schedule a tour, please found large rocks everywhere. More would visit the Black Rock Farms’ Facebook come out of the dirt every time it rained, page at www.facebook.com/Black-Rockand they were left with dozens of rocks. Farms-104952845273101.
Last summer for free for the Valrico resident disabled, the elCorbin Dihel acderly, veterans, single parents as cepted the 50-Yard well as anyone Challenge through in need of help. the Raising Men & To get started, Women Lawn Care participants get Service nonprofa white Raising it organization. Men/Women shirt With all of Corbin’s with ear protechard work and perseverance, this tion and shades. fourth-grader, who For every 10 lawns attends Boyette cut, a new shirt Springs Elementacolor is given. Smith stated ry School’s Center what he hopes the For Gifted Studies participants such in Riverview, comas Corbin gain pleted the Chalfrom this experilenge by mowing 50 lawns. On Jan- Corbin Dihel (left), standing with Rodney Smith ence. Jr. (right), founder of Raising Men & Women “I want kids to uary 5, the founder of Raising Men & Lawn Care Service on the night of his recognition learn from the for completion of the 50-Yard Challenge. 50-Yard Challenge Women Lawn Care Service, Rodney Smith Jr., made an ap- would be the importance of giving before pearance to award Corbin with a brand- you receive and the importance of helpnew lawn mower, a leaf blower and a ing those who need help,” Smith said. weed eater. As a mother, Andrea felt proud to see Andrea Dihel, Corbin’s mother, who is a her son being an asset to their community teacher at Orange Grove Middle Magnet through spreading kindness, along with School in Tampa, mentioned how her son helping others. With all of the equipment got involved with the 50-Yard Challenge. that Corbin received, he plans on starting “I saw a post on Facebook about Rod- his own business called Corbin’s Crazy ney Smith Jr. and this challenge with the Cuts. Corbin shared some advice for those Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service,” Andrea said. “I asked Corbin if he who may be interested in participating in the 50 Yard Challenge. would be interested in doing it.” “Do not give up,” he said. This challenge is geared toward boys For more information, visit https:// and girls between the ages of 7-17. Participants are challenged to cut 50 lawns weareraisingmen.com.
By Makenzie Atkins
BEFORE
AFTER
By Tatiana Ortiz
