On Life and Lemons

by TERESA SCHIFFER

Woodley attended Webber International University from 1984-’88. During his time at the college, he took to heart the phrase carpe diem. Woodley says that reminder — “Don’t wait,” seize the day, was one of the most important lessons he learned at Webber.

“Don’t be afraid to try new things, and don’t be afraid of what other people may think,” he says. That philosophy has guided Woodley throughout the years since leaving Webber. Woodley values the time he spent at Webber, noting that while he had a small scholarship he did need a job in order to pay for his schooling. Working while carrying a full class load was a challenge, but one he has never regretted. The perseverance he learned at Webber has served him well over the years.

Webber wasn’t Woodley’s first choice for attending college. Initially, he intended to go to the University of Florida. However, when he got to Gainesville and saw the vast number of students attending that school, he decided a school of that size wasn’t a good fit for him. He was on his way home when he spotted a sign for then

wWHILE FLORIDA is definitely known for its citrus production, lemons aren’t always the first fruit to come to mind when you think of Florida citrus. Lemon growing does have a history in the state, however, and it may be time for the crop to make a comeback. Florida lemons were a major crop at the turn of the 20th century. In the 1970s, Coke and the Seminole Tribe of Florida were producing about 550,000 boxes of lemons annually. The freezes of the 1980s halted that production, and afterward many growers moved on to other fruit. Nowadays, with our citrus industry devastated by greening, some growers are taking another look at citrus as a main crop. Webber alumnus Michael Woodley is one such grower.

On LEMONS and

1988 Webber Alumnus Woodley Returns to His Agricultural Roots Life

Webber College. He pulled in and asked to apply. Suddenly, he heard the voice of his former high school principal, Mr. Williamson, booming at him. Mr. Williamson had left the high school and taken a position as Dean at Webber College. Woodley confided his trepidation about attending UF in Gainesville, and Mr. Williamson encouraged him to register at Webber instead.

Woodley comes from a long line of citrus growers in Central Florida. His great-grandfather, F.L.B. Flood, came from Ireland in the 1880s and settled in Frostproof to establish a citrus grove.

“We’ve been here for a while,” Woodley says of his agricultural ancestors. “We’ve weathered freezes, and the ups and downs of the industry.”

While greening affects all citrus varieties, lemon trees seem to fare better than most due to the fact that instead of going dormant, they just keep growing, thereby outpacing the disease.

Eagle Scout Woodley had a rewarding career as a Forest Ranger working in several state forests before he retired early and decided to get back

to his agricultural roots. He recently planted 15 acres of lemons at Woodley Groves on Silver Lake in Frostproof. Lemons are ready to harvest from June to October, which is when most other citrus varieties are still ripening. This makes them a viable fruit for an unobstructed market and allows citrus processors such as Florida’s Natural to keep their plants running year-round. Despite this seemingly simple formula for success, growing lemons is fraught with challenges, and Woodley is looking forward to tackling them through this great experiment of his.

“You’re building with all the sweat and blood and tears and money and capital, and your heart and soul that you put into it,” Woodley describes of his foray into the lemon fields.

“In the end, it’ll give you a little bit more than you put into it. And if it doesn’t, well it may or may not be your fault, but you have to live with it, and to me, that’s more satisfying than putting your money into something and just drawing interest.”