In The Field Magazine Hillsborough edition

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

December 2023

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ALL BREED BULL SALE FRIDAY - FEBRUARY 2, 2024 - 1 PM 3305 US 92 E, LAKELAND, FL. 33802

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL:

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INTHEFIELD AGAZINE March 2013 1 INTM HE FIELD MAGAZINE December 2023

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December 2023 VOL. 19 • ISSUE 2

CONTENTS CARTER HOWELL NATIONAL FFA OFFICER Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 305 S. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL.

40 PAGE 10 Endangered Species PAGE 14 Garden Resolutions

PAGE 30 News Briefs

PAGE 48 Pigeon Cove

PAGE 32 New Board Members

PAGE 52

PAGE 16 Fair Results

Cranberries

PAGE 18 Fishing

PAGE 42 FFA Awards

PAGE 35

PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter

Three Son Farms

PAGE 56 From The Science Field PAGE 58 YF&R

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John Dicks

PAGE 46 Ethyl Vanillin

PAGE 24 Big Red Barn

Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Insurance Services: 813-685-5673 Member Services: 813-685-9121

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dennis Carlton, Jr.....................President Casey Runkles................Vice President Clay Joyner..............Treasurer Madison Astin Salter..................Secretary DIRECTORS FOR 2021 - 2022 Dennis Carlton Jr, Casey Runkles, Madison A. Salter, Clay Joyner, Carl Bauman, Brittany Coleman, Travis Council, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Drew Futch, Brian Shoop and Michelle Williamson

Kaylee Poppell, Executive Director 813-685-9121 Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents

Valrico Office 813-685-5673

100 S. Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, FL. 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, ChFC, CASL, CPCU Agency Mgr. Julie Carlson, Jacob Jones

Plant City Office 813.752.5577

Hey Readers!

Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below

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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!

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305 S. Wheeler St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer

Apollo Beach Office 813.933.5440

6510 N. US Hwy 41, Apollo Beach, FL.33572 Greg Harrell, Erin Campbell

AGENCY MANAGER Thomas O. Hale WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

25th Annual Lights of Love Thank You to Our Sponsors As the holiday season begins, we thank our sponsors for supporting Lights of Love. The Lights of Love tree, located in McCall Park in downtown Plant City, will be lit through the end of December. Donations support the many services and programs offered at South Florida Baptist Hospital.

TITLE SPONSOR Tampa Electric Company

MAJOR SPONSOR Publix Super Markets Charities

TREE SPONSORS Terry and Peggy Crum City of Plant City General Services First Baptist Church Plant City

PHOTOS WITH SANTA SPONSOR BayCare Health System

MRS. CLAUS’ KITCHEN SPONSOR Susan L. Doan

TOP STAR SPONSORS

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Gregory and Carol Coleman Candace Greene The Kerr Family

Nate and Kat Kilton Bill and Diane Morrow Morrow Steel Betty Jo Roetzheim

PATRON SPONSORS Mary Clare Codd Coleman and Sue Davis Mary Ann Hall Sylvia Knox Dale and Sheila Lewis Dean and Nancy Nourie

Patterson Companies In memory of Emily Morgan Pierce John and Jane Pope Dan Raulerson Raulerson Castillo & Company

SUPPORTING SPONSORS ASR Staffing Solutions Jana and Bart Butler Florida Strawberry Festival

For more information about the Foundation: SFBHFoundation.org

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Dr. Pascal and Deanne Spehar Beverly M. Tindle Union Contractors Association Patricia Varnum Selinda Walden Gary and Nancy Weddell Al and Norma Whitaker December 2023

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Historic Plant City Main Street Larry and Cathy Jimenez Larry and Kim Johnson Dub and Pec McGinnes Mary Ann Paris Kit and Brian Rauschert

Cookie Smith Mike and Diane Sparkman

STAFF

Letter from the Editor Merry Christmas everyone! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays seem to lift the burdens from our shoulders for some reason, even though we all know how hectic it can be preparing for the gatherings of friends and family.

Gift buying? Am I the only one that struggles to come up with good gift ideas?

I feel I’m probably the worst at planning and am usually running around at the last-minute making preparations. I think I need the entire time between Christmas and the New Year just to recover!

Speaking of the New Year, it’s also the time that many reflect on the goals or resolutions that were set way back on January 1. Did you reach your goal? If so, good job! If not, forgive yourself, reset and find new goals. You don’t really have to wait until the new year. Set small, attainable goals. That way, reaching each goal is a milestone you can be proud of!

If you are feeling overwhelmed, sit down with your thoughts and reflect on the past year. Write down the things that you are thankful for. And whatever you do to celebrate, remember the true reason for the Christmas season.

Luke 2:8-12 (NIV) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor Patsy Berry Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols

Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green

Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Tiffany Dale Social Media Victoria Saunders

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

And that, my friends, should bring you peace.

Are you ready for the new year? I am looking forward to the blessings waiting for me. I hope you are, too.

Sarah Holt PAGE

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

Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.

Until Next Month

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In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed

by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association.

December 2023

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Happy Holidays and a Big “Thank You” -Dennis Carlton Jr. - President

Greetings, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. This holiday season – Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s – brings to mind something that is often taken for granted and overlooked. That is the food we enjoy at holiday celebrations, as well as three times a day, every day.

We owe a debt of thanks year ‘round to farmers and ranchers for their hard work that enables us to have such a wide selection of food available all of the time.

“No Farmers, No Food” isn’t just a catchy phrase; it is a statement of truth that we should not ignore. It is the reason we owe our thanks to members of our industry.

Additionally, there’s more to the story of agricultural benefits to us all. Florida Farm Bureau President Jeb Smith recently introduced the theme –“Tied to Ag”that will highlight those many benefits in the coming year through ongoing educational outreach across the state. We plan to be a participant in that program to show you the diverse benefits of our members.

When it comes to appreciation, I would like to express my thanks to the many volunteers who help make “The Voice of Agriculture” heard locally, statewide, and nationally. Without their ongoing commitment and support, little would be known about our industry and its many benefits.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

That brings to mind our new Board members Clay Joyner and Brian Shoop. There’s more about them in this edition of IN THE FIELD, and I urge you to read about them. My personal thanks to them both for their willingness to serve.

Also, my appreciation to a number of our Young Farmers and Ranchers for their participation in FarmCity Week last month. That’s an annual weeklong celebration that recognizes the beneficial partnerships between rural and urban communities that make our food supply safe and plentiful. There is more about that in this edition, too.

If you are not a Farm Bureau member, please consider joining so that you can help us with our role as the “Voice of Agriculture” whether it is locally, statewide, or nationally. And, if you are a member, please consider volunteering at whatever level is practical for you. We need your help and would be pleased to have you actively involved. Please visit www.hcfarmbureau.org for more information about member benefits and opportunities for engagement.

Happy Holidays!

Dennis Carlton, Jr.

Dennis Carlton Jr. Dennis Carlton Jr. - President

305 SOUTH WHEELER STREET • PLANT CITY, FL 33566 • 813-685-9121 Board of Directors

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Dennis Carlton Jr, Casey Runkles, Madison A. Salter, Clay Joyner, Carl Bauman, Brittany Coleman, Travis Council, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Drew Futch, Brian Shoop and Michelle Williamson

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ENDANGERED SPECIES

THE FLORIDA GRASSHOPPER SPARROW

By Libby Hopkins

The Florida Grasshopper Sparrow or the Ammodramus Savannarum Floridanus, as it’s known by its scientific name, is a small bird that can reach a length of five inches with a wingspan of eight inches. This species is drab colored with a pale median stripe on top of its flattened head and a light brown breast.

Florida Grasshopper Sparrows inhabit dry open prairies that contain bunch grasses, low shrubs, and saw palmetto. They can be found in south-central Florida in the counties of Polk, Osceola, Highlands, and Okeechobee.

The song of the Florida grasshopper sparrow sounds much like that of a grasshopper, from which it gets its name. Males only sing a few hours a day during the breeding season, and they often perch on twigs or dead palmetto leaves to sing when available. Singing most frequently occurs during the early morning and early evening hours, around sunrise and sunset.

The diet of the grasshopper sparrow primarily consists of grasshoppers and seeds.

From late March to July, males sing from perches on shrubs and grasses to maintain their breeding territories.

The primary song consists of two or three weak introductory notes followed by an insect-like “buzz.” A less frequent secondary song is a sustained rambling warble. Adults are sedentary, using the same territory during successive years.

Nests are made of grass, dome-shaped, and are usually located in a slight depression in the ground, well-concealed by clumps of dwarf live oak, wire grass, or saw palmetto. Grasshopper sparrows are bimodal breeders – they breed throughout the year. Three to five eggs are laid and then incubated for 11-12 days by both parents. Grasshopper sparrow eggs are creamy-white with reddish-brown spots on the large end.

Young grasshopper sparrows are nurtured upon hatching for about eight days. A second or third nesting attempt may be made within the breeding season.

The sparrow is highly endangered as a result of its exclusive dependence upon Florida’s dry prairie habitat, more than 85 percent of which has been destroyed. Most prairie loss has resulted from conversion to domestic pasture grasses, which support more cattle per acre and can support many species of prairie wildlife, but not Florida Grasshopper Sparrows. This “improved pasture” lacks the structure that these birds need.

Research indicates the sparrows need native prairie in prime condition—it should burn every two years and as a result, have virtually no brush or trees. Burns at the end of the dry season (April-June) are considered better than other times of the year.

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Despite our detailed understanding of their habitat requirements, sparrow populations have declined on all three con-

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servation lands where they remain, with 2019 reporting the lowest counts in history.

Unfortunately, the reasons for the decline are unknown but suspects include suboptimal habitat management, fire ants and other predators destroying nests, diseases, and genetic problems.

In recent years only a few singing males and a handful of successful nests have been detected. Similarly, the counts of singing males at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park declined from 150 a decade ago to only a few found on the entire 50,000-acre property and at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, where as many as 140 singing males were counted in 2008, recent counts have been as low as the mid30s and sliding downward.

Another subpopulation has been found on a private ranch and that landowner has graciously allowed researchers to study those birds, but even with them, in 2019, the total population may have been less than 100 birds. At these population levels, genetic problems become a major concern.

The good news is that in 2014, a captive breeding program was initiated from scratch. No one had ever bred Florida Grasshopper Sparrows before. After many hurdles and lessons learned, by 2019, breeding techniques had become so successful that the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow team released more than 100 sparrows into Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area. About 50 more were released in the spring of 2020 and to everyone’s joy, not only did many of the released birds survive but they also successfully nested in 2020, adding to the wild population.

The Florida Grasshopper Sparrow Working Group is composed of managers of properties the sparrows occupy, researchers, federal and state wildlife agencies, and Audubon.

The group’s short-term emphasis, manage the sparrows’ habitat to the best standard possible. The essential longerterm need is to maintain an intensive research effort examining threats like disease, genetics, and fire ants, as well as nest success and population change. This effort is being funded principally by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, FWC, and others are funding several captive breeding efforts, and other partners, including Audubon, are contributing funds and manpower to cooperative efforts.

The breeding program has been expanded to several facilities and they now have confidence that they can raise many sparrows to release. So many in fact, that decisions on how to repopulate more properties need to be made. This remains a work in progress and many hurdles lie ahead, but Audubon is very proud and impressed with the dedication and hard work of so many entities and professionals.

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MORE NEW YEARS’ RESOLUTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR GARDEN

Photo credit for Oyster mushrooms is AdobeStock

Photo credit for mulch in backyard is Lynn Barber

Photo credit for air layering is UF

Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping TM agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, it’s time to ponder your resolutions for 2024. Many involve gardening activities which can include improving your fitness and outlook, helping you lose weight, and save money. Gardening provides exercise, satisfaction, meeting neighbors, and making new friends.

Again, this year, I asked our Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM team to give me their garden-related resolutions for the new year. Mine are also included.

Will would like to attempt to grow Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) in his home and learn how to preserve the vegetables he is growing through canning. Makes sense to me considering his role with community gardens.

Mollie wants to establish a mist propagation system to facilitate the successful cultivation of plant cuttings from her garden. She would also like to experiment with her success rate using different propagation techniques, particularly, the art of grafting and air layering plants. Shaking my head, yes, as Mollie teaches water conservation which includes misting.

install a memorial garden at his grandfather and father’s final resting sites. I know they will appreciate his gardening skills.

My gardening resolutions include adding one or two more birdfeeders because I thoroughly enjoy seeing our great variety of feathered friends in my yard. Having pretty much mastered weeding the perennial peanut easement bed, I can spread the 70 bags of pine bark mulch I moved around the front and backyard. I will be heading to Gainesville soon, so I must go to the UF/IFAS Bookstore in Gainesville. Check out their website: http://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/. I am somewhat committed to putting my wooden raised garden bed together and planting it with collards, eggplant, peppers, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. I am committed to cleaning out my rain barrel this month. Guess what I teach? Correct, rainwater harvesting.

For information about our upcoming horticultural programs, visit our website: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/ and check out our calendar of events: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/upcoming-events/. Wishing all of you safe and wonderful holidays. Hope you can get outside and garden!

Heather has decided it’s time to remove her fruit trees from Contact Barber at labarber@ufl.edu pots and plant them in the ground. She needs to relocate two garden beds because she inadvertently placed them on top of her in-ground sprinkler heads last season, ughh. She will be installing Microirrigation in those beds.

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Michael plans to re-establish his seed bank with new varieties of crops, learn to propagate 10 new plants, and design and

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2023 Hillsborough County Fair Results STEER GENERAL SHOW -Grand Champion Steer- Bella Ballard -Reserve Champion Steer- Makayla Register -3rd Overall SteerKayla Hanson -4th Overall SteerHallie Peacock -5th Overall SteerEmilee Taylor

HEIFER GENERAL SHOW -Grand Champion Heifer- Maddox Sewell -Reserve Champion Heifer- Macyn Sewell -3rd Overall HeiferHannah Cook -4th Overall HeiferJarrett Willis -5th Overall HeiferMaddox Sewell

COUNTY BRED STEER SHOW

-Grand Champion Steer- Bella Ballard -Reserve Champion Steer- Kayla Hanson -3rd Overall SteerConnor Scott -4th Overall SteerMakayla Register -5th Overall SteerBrady Manis

COUNTY BRED HEIFER SHOW

-Grand Champion Heifer- Kaylee Marsh -Reserve Champion Heifer- Sarah Menendez -3rd Overall Heifer- Alleigh Goff -4th Overall HeiferBrady Manis -5th Overall HeiferCarter Manis

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JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP -Grand ChampionMaddox Sewell -Reserve ChampionLilly Grier -3rd Overall-Macyn Sewell -4th Overall- Mason Goff -5th Overall- Colton Taylor

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INTERMEDIATE SHOWMANSHIP -Grand ChampionBella Ballard -Reserve ChampionAli Taylor -3rd Overall-Hallie Peacock -4th Overall- Jessie Parker -5th Overall- Levi Sampson SENIOR SHOWMANSHIP -Grand ChampionMakayla Register -Reserve ChampionGabija Davila -3rd Overall-Mia Peters -4th Overall- Addison Johnson -5th Overall- Kayla Peacock

MARKET STEER SHOW Class 1 1st Natalee Hurtt 2nd Plant City FFA 3rd Riverview FFA 4th KendallHall 5th Spoto FFA

Class 2 1st Tuzdae Register 2nd Tyan Beauchamp Jr 3rd Maddox Sewell 4th Newsome FFA 5th Morgan Pelham Class 3 1st Brady Bedenbaugh 2nd Carter Schrier 3rd Kennedy Schrier 4th Morgan Walters 5th Royce Simmons Class 4 1st Paisley Lewis 2nd Joleigh Hinton 3rd Hannah Cook 4th Simmons Career Center FFA 5th John Paris 6th Mason Goff Class 5 1st Jayden McDaris 2nd Morgan Simmons 3rd Jessie Parker 4th Makenna Svede 5th Tanner Bass

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Class 6 1st Macyn Sewell 2nd Bella Ballard 3rd Sawyer Price 4th Tytal Gill 5th Jade Lewis Class 7 1st Brady Manis 2nd Emilee Taylor 3rd Brielee Bedenbaugh 4th Keller Sears 5th Alli Taylor Intermediate Showmanship 1st Bella Ballard 2nd Emilee Taylor 3rd Tytan Gill Junior Showmanship 1st Mason Goff 2nd Maddox Sewell 3rd Sawyer Price Senior Showmanship 1st Hannah Cook 2nd Jessie Parker 3rd Brady Manis

DAIRY SHOW

Supreme Champion Anna Koch Senior Champion Rebecca Holcomb Senior Champion Aubrey Cook Senior Champion Makayla Watson Senior Champion Sarah Rogers Reserve Senior Champion Yaneisi S Robles Reserve Senior Champion Brianna Shepard Reserve Senior Champion Sarah Rogers Reserve Senior Champion Andrew Hammer Junior Champion Michaela Hunt-Cruz Junior Champion Logan Shoop Junior Champion Archer Best Junior Champion Taylor Watkins Reserve Junior Champion Sarah Rogers Reserve Junior Cham-

pion Brianna Shepard Reserve Junior Champion Riverview FFA 8 Reserve Junior Champion Jackson Raburn Summer Heifer Calf (6/1/23-8/31/23) 1st Sarah Rogers 1st Grace Salter 2nd Nico Sommer 3rd Spoto FFA #3 Spring Heifer Calf (3/1/23-5/31/23) 1st Jackson Raburn 1st Rebecca Holcomb 2nd Michaela HuntCruz 2nd Riverview FFA 7 3rd Bradley Vrastil Winter Heifer Calf (12/1/22-2/28/23) 1st Avery Best 1st Riverview FFA 8 2nd Riverview FFA 6 Fall Heifer Calf (9/1/22-11/30/22) 1st Layla Beauchamp 1st Taylor Watkins 1st Grace Salter 1st Archer Best 2nd Jaylene Carey 2nd Reid Patino 2nd Andrew Hammer 3rd Andrews Hiers Summer Yearling (6/1/22-8/31/22) 1st Sarah Rogers 1st Grace Salter 2nd Brooke Hiers 2nd Riverview FFA Adriana Spring Yearling (3/1/22-531/22) 1st Logan Shoop 2nd Taylor Carlisle 3rd Payton Carlisle 4th Speros Georgiou Winter Yearling (12/1/21-2/28/22) 1st Michaela HuntCruz 1st Jacob Carey 1st Speros Georgiou 2nd Spoto FFA 4 3rd Nico Sommer Fall Yearling (9/1/2111/30/21) 1st Brianna Shepard 1st Riverview FFA Ashley Lehnart 2nd Dylan Wilhite 2nd Morgan Cook 3rd Aubrey Cook

4th Autumn Gould 5th Annaliese Llaverias Bred By Exhibitor Jr. Animal 1st Dylan Wilhite 1st Sarah Rogers 1st Jacob Carey 1st Morgan Cook Two Year Old (9/1/208/31/21) 1st Dylan Wilhitte 1st Sarah Rogers 1st Anna Koch 1st Andrew Hammer 2nd Anna Koch 2nd Michaela HuntCruz 2nd Rebecca Holcomb 3rd Makayla Watson 3rd Taylor Watkins 4th Kyle Wadsworth 4th Brianna Shepard 5th Taylor Carlisle 6th Spoto FFA #2 7th Spoto FFA #5 Three Year Old (9/1/19-8/31/20 1st Michaela HuntCruz 1st Sarah Rogers 2nd Brianna Shepard Four Year Old ((/1/188/31/19) 1st Makayla Watson 1st Sarah Rogers 1st Yaneisi S Robles 2nd Brianna Shepard 2nd Spoto FFA #3 Aged Cow Born Before 9/1/18 1st Brianna Shepard 1st Sarah Rogers 1st Rebecca Holcomb 1st Aubrey Cook 2nd Mason Whilhite 2nd Yaneisi S Robles Bred By Exhibitor Sr. Animal 1st Dylan Wilhite 1st Sarah Rogers 1st Andrew Hammer Intermediate Showmanship 1st Avery Best 2nd Brooke Hiers 3rd Archer Best Junior Showmanship 1st Grace Salter 2nd Reid Patino Senior Showmanship 1st Logan Shoop

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2nd Andrew Hammer 3rd Brianna Shepard ADGA DAIRY GOAT SHOW Best Doe in Show Shelby Lawrence Lamancha Overall Grand Champion Lamancha Nicholas Privett Overall Reserve Grand Champion Lamancha Talon Ansell Senior Grand Champion Nicholas Privett Senior Reserve Champion Seth Miller Junior Does 6-12 Months 1st Mia Moskowitz 2nd Bideon Miller 12-18 Months 1st Talon Ansell 18-24 Months 1st Gideon Miller 2nd Katarina Bailey 3rd Katelyn Wiley Senior Does 2-3 Year-Old Milkers 1st Seth Miller 3-5 Year-Old Milkers 1st Seth Miller 5+ Year Old Milkers 1st Nicholas Privett 2nd Gideon Miller All Other Purebreds Overall Grand Champion AOP Shelby Lawrence Overall Reserve Grand Champion AOP Gideon Miller Senior Grand Champion Shelby Lawrence Senior Reserve Champion Gideon Miller Junior Junior Grand Champion Faith Manis Junior Reserve Champion Faith Manis 0-6 Months 1st Shelby Lawrence 6-12 Months 1st Faith Manis 2nd Mia Moskowitz 3rd Reagan Casler 12-18 Months 1st Faith Manis 2nd Evelyn Reems 18-24 Months 1st Shelby Lawrence 2nd Renata Blatt

2nd Caroline Smith Senior Overall Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Bailey Svec Overall Reserve Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Gideon Miller Senior Grand Champion Bailey Svec Senior Reserve Champion Gideon Miller Under 2 Year old Milkers 1st Caleb Miller 2nd Lincoln Rosario 3rd Nicholas Privett 2-3 Year Old Milkers 1st Bailey Svec 2nd Josh Tesmer 3rd Jameson Scales 3-5 Year Old Milker 1st Gideon Miller 2nd Kaitlin Zelatiz 3rd Katarina Bailey 5+ Year old Milkers 1st Gideon Miller 2nd Camryn Thatcher 3rd Nicholas Privett Recorded Grade Junior Junior Grand Champion Hudson Spears Junior Reserve Champion Lucy Moos 6-12 Months 1st Lucy Moos 2nd Lucas Jacks 3rd Shelby Lawrence 12-18 Months 1st Hudson Spears 2nd Ignacio Lyons 3rd Gabriella Sarmiento 18-24 Months 1st Jameson Scales 2nd Renata Blatt 3rd Reagan Casler Senior Overall Grand Champion Recorded Grade Gideon Miller Overall Reserve Grand Champion Recorded Grade Shelby Lawrence Senior Grand Champion Gideon Miller Senior Reserve Champion Shelby Lawrence 3-5 Year Old Milkers 1st Gideon Miller

2nd Shelby Lawrence 3rd Landon Cousin 5+ Year Old Milkers 1st Taylor Morris

MARKET GOAT SHOW

Class 1 1st Levi Holt Class 2 1st Emilee Taylor 2nd Plant City FFA 3rd Mackenzie Paul 4th Alivia Knight Class 3 1st Makenna Svede 2nd Mia Moskowitz Class 4 1st Bella Ballard 2nd Finn Dues 3rd Tomlin FFA Class 5 1st MorganWalls 2nd Baylee Ballard Class 6 1st Jace Walls 2nd Breckin Campbell Class 7 1st Ella Lian Intermediate Showmanship 1st Bella Ballard 2nd Mackenzie Paul 3rd Ella Lian Junior Showmanship 1st Levi Holt Senior Showmanship 1st Morgan Walls 2nd Mia Moskowitz 3rd Emilee Taylor Market Lamb Class 1 1st Carly Varnum 2nd Marissa Pelham 3rd Brandon FFA 4th Tyler Ferrell 5th Cody Rice 6th Ryan Rice Class 2 1st Grace Merrell 2nd Carly Clark 3rd Lorelei Woodward 4th Levi Sampson 5th Kierlyn Parham Class 3 1st Emersyn Nasworthy 2nd Camryn Lallemand 3rd Addison Hoerle 4th Emma Haudrich 5th James Lynch 6th Harper Holland Class 4 1st Logan Shoop 2nd Westyn Wilkerson 3rd Peyton Eatman 4th Garrett Ganas 5th Hannah Rice Class 5 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

1st Durant FFA 2nd Annika Legg 3rd Lillian Cannon 4th Summer Hall 5th CarleyGrace Crim 6th Simmons Career Center FFA Class 6 1st Ciera Diaz 2nd Mya Salter 3rd Korbin Goff 4th Kenzie Palmer 5th Marlee Davis 6th Aubrie Sullenberger Class 7 1st McKenzie Hampton 2nd Kennedy Battaglia 3rd Kate-Lynn Easterwood 4th Carter Marshall 5th Makayla Watson Class 8 1st Riley Silkworth 2nd Tomlin FFA 3rd Cole Marshall 4th Brantley Newsome 5th Alexsandra Goulding Class 9 1st Taylor Stewart 2nd Kaylee Snyder 3rd Aubree Palmer 4th Addie Grace Battaglia 5th Lauren Hauck 6th Brylynn Newsome 7th Jace Walls Intermediate Showmanship 1st Tomlin FFA 2nd Emersyn Nasworthy 3rd Lillian Cannon Junior Showmanship 1st Aubree Palmer 2nd Brantley Newsome 3rd Aubrie Sullenberger Novice Showmanship 1st Marlee Davis 2nd Korbin Goff 3rd Cole Marshall Senior Showmanship 1st Riley Silkworth 2nd Taylor Stewart 3rd Kaylee Snyder Poultry Show Supreme Champion Tracy Baird Reserve Commercial Best of Show David Ezell Grand Bantam Gracelyn Prevatte continued on page 28 December 2023

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3rd Gideon Miller Senior 2-3 Year Old Milkers 1st Gideon Miller 2nd Reagan Casler 3rd Faith Manis 3-5 Year Old Milker 1st Shelby Lawrence 2nd Natalia Overduijn 3rd Rease Marchese 5+ Year Old Milkers 1st Shelby Lawrence 2nd Renata Blatt 3rd Renata Blatt ALPINE Junior Junior Grand Champion Renata Blatt Junior Reserve Champion Ava Gelyon 6-12 Months 1st Renata Blatt 2nd Ava Gelyon 3rd Renata Blatt 12-18 Months 1st Ava Gelyon SENIOR Overall Grand Champion Alpine Ava Gelyon Overall Reserve Grand Champion Alpine Renata Blatt Senior Grand Champion Ava Gelyon Senior Reserve Champion Renata Blatt 2-3 Year Old Milkers 1st Renata Blatt 2nd Reagan Casler 3rd Reagan Casler 3-5 Year Old Milkers 1st Ava Gelyon 2nd Renata Blatt 3rd Anna Markley Nigerian Dwarf Junior Junior Grand Champion Arolyn Lanzetta Junior Reserve Champion Katelyn Wiley 0-6 Months 1st Savannah Jenkins 2nd Logan Rosairo 6-12 Months 1st Lukas Hardesty 2nd Anna Huffman 3rd Jacob Hardesty 12-18 Months 1st Katelyn Wiley 2nd Annabelle Smith 3rd Kaitlin Zelatis 18-24 Months 1st Arollyn Lanzetta

Tampa Bay Fishing Report December 2023

December means pleasant fishing days with lower humidity. It also means that winter is just around the corner, as are those wretched north and northeast winds, negative low tides, and cooler water.

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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)

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Since winters are on the way, perhaps we should understand how cooler temperatures can affect fishing. Temperatures affect almost every living creature, including fish. Low temperatures have inconsistent sensitivity levels on most fish when it comes to hot or cold. Consequently, everything has a comfort zone when it comes to temperature. As a result, the key to a good day of catching is looking for water temperatures that support these zones. When you find them, you’ll typically find fish. Typically during the winter, you might find areas like rocks and deep bars, dark creeks, rivers, canal bottoms, and deeper protected waters around jetties holding feeding fish. So, what comfort zones are we looking for when trying to catch fish? Three of the most targeted fish by Tampa Bay inshore anglers are Snook, Redfish, and Trout.

Their respective comfort ranges average overall around 70-86 degrees. Individually, Snook appreciate 56-84 water temperatures, Redfish 65-75, and Spotted Sea Trout feed readily when the water temperatures are approximately 65 degrees up to about 80 degrees. It doesn’t mean you can’t catch them with varying degrees of water temperature, but your

December 2023

chances improve when water temps make them happy.

Snook Canals, rivers, creeks, and deeper muddy-bottom flats are winter Snook tickets. As the water cools, Snook look to these areas for protection, and you’ll frequently find them sunning on shallow bars near deeper water. Deep-water bridges, pilings, and docks along the Hillsborough, Alafia, Little Manatee, and Manatee Rivers are good starting places.

Try baits like small finger-size mullets, cut ladyfish, pinfish, and jumbo shrimp.

You’ll find them all over Tampa Bay from the southeast shore, including the Alafia River, Picnic Island, Simmons Park, Bishop Harbor, Cockroach Bay, Joe Island, all the way down into Bradenton and Sarasota. Fishing is also good around Weedon Island, 4th Street, Cypress Flats, Rocky Point, and the Double Branch area.

Tampa Bay offers good Snook fishing, especially at night around lighted docks and bridges.

Redfish action during the winter months is usually hot. Schooling fish are common around the flats near Weedon Island, Double Branch, Rocky Creek, Simmons Park, Bishops Harbor, Tarpon Key, Indian Key, and Joe Island. It’s not uncommon for large Bulls to work the outer edges and channels on low-tide days. Redfish are notorious for working schools of large mullet. For that reason, if you’re serious about catching this awesome WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

pugilist, learn to distinguish their wakes, typically more extensive and higher, from those of mullet. As you fish an area, be perceptive of any changes in water movement left, right, and ahead as this almost always indicates the presence of fish. Look for Redfish around many of the same areas as Snook.

Spotted Sea Trout Incoming or outgoing tides, live shrimp, artificial shrimp, Corks, and any good grass flat, and you’ll almost certainly catch Trout this month. Look for broken bottom areas (grass flats with plenty of potholes) around Pinellas Point, Tarpon Key, Fort Desoto, Picnic Island, Simmons Park, Bishop Harbor, and Joe Island down into Bradenton and Sarasota. Upper Tampa Bay sports good Trout fishing around Weedon Island, 4th Street, Cypress Flats, Rocky Point, and the Double Branch area. Fishing potholes for Trout can also produce the occasional tasty Flounder.

Cobia should begin showing up as the water temperatures drop in the panhandle. They show up first along the beaches during their migration and occasionally frequent our hot water runoffs around local power plants. Large shrimp, small crabs, and pinfish will do the trick. If you are interested in artificial lures, try a large worm bait about 8 to 10 inches rigged on a Jighead. Cobia cannot resist anything resembling an eel.

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Other ✓ Sheepshead around the bridges, oyster bars, rocky areas, and deep water docks should improve this month. Try using green mussels, shrimp, or oysters. Scrape the pilings to get them going. ✓ Inshore Kingfish action should pick up along the beaches and Egmont Channel, particularly as the water temperatures drop.

G ✓ rouper action is always good during the cooler months. Try trolling large jigs on down riggers or planners, or use a MirrOlure 25+ diving lure.

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Washington Irving is credited with creating Santa’s flying sleigh in 1819 and cartoonist Thomas Nast began illustrating our current image of Santa in Harper’s Weekly in 1863.

“Jingle Bells” was written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas. The song was written in 1857 by James Lord Pierpont and published under the title “One Horse Open Sleigh.” It was supposed to be played in the composer’s Sunday school class during Thanksgiving as a way to commemorate the famed Medford sleigh races.

In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas (the Dutch version of Santa Claus) arrives from Spain, not from the North Pole.

Hallmark introduced their first Christmas cards in 1915.

Ever wonder about the string on a box of animal crackers? Introduced around Christmas in 1902, the string was intended to be used to hang the cracker boxes on your Christmas tree.

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Figures of Speech At a recent Plant City Chamber of Commerce Contact Breakfast I sat at a table with three local funeral home managers, Edwena Haney, Verna McKelvin and David Wolf. Edwena used a phrase I had not heard for years.

She ended a sentence with “As a figure of speech.”

“Figure of Speech,” now just what does that mean?

I went to Google on my computer and looked it up, and this is what I found: Figures of speech An expression that uses language in a nonliteral way, such as a metaphor or synecdoche, or in a structured or unusual way, such as anaphora or chiasmus, or that employs sounds, such as alliteration or assonance, to achieve a rhetorical effect.

Huh? No kidding. I do declare. I asked around to see if I could get an answer. Nobody seemed to know. I’ll bet if my English teacher, Mrs. Smith, Mac Smith’s mother, was alive she would have an answer I could understand.

As a last resort I went back to Google for the answer. I did not get an answer I could understand, but I found some examples of “Figure of Speech.”

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You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice. The evening news is where they begin with “Good Evening,” and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a

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Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the December 2015 issue

fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on my list. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. Where there’s a will, there are relatives. And lastly the one most everyone can understand. Well, his goose is cooked! There you have it. Now you know a figure of speech when you hear it or read it.

As a kid I remember we would have fun seeing who could come up with the most tongue twisters. The most familiar most people remember is: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

See if you can read this one without making a mistake.

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood? A woodchuck would chuck all the wood he could chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood.

Try these two: But the thought I thought wasn’t the thought I thought I thought. If the thought I thought I thought had been the thought I thought, I wouldn’t have thought so much.

A skunk sat on a stump. The stump thought the skunk stunk. The skunk thought the stump stunk. What stunk the skunk or the stump?

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I have always thought the dictionary is filled with words that are seldom used. Open any page and you’re likely to find a word you have never heard, whether it’s gongoozle, which means to stare idly at a watercourse and do nothing, or zwodder, a feeling of drowsiness. We see it, and think to ourselves that we absolutely must use it in conversation.

Sometimes people never understand what you’re saying. They hear what they want to hear. Point in case!

About a week before this last Christmas I was at the checkout stand at a local grocery store. The lady in front of me wanted to buy some postage stamps to mail some Christmas cards. Here’s the way the conversation went.

“Ma’am, I got these Christmas cards I need to mail today.

I need 14 stamps, please.”

The clerk said, “O.K., I have books of 6 first class or 12 second-class stamps.” “OK”, she said. “I’ll take 14 second-class stamps.”

“I’m sorry,” the clerk said, “We only sell the stamps in books of 12.”

“Yes. I need 14 stamps, please.”

The clerk replied, “Okay. So two books will be $11.04.”

The customer replies, “What! That seems like a lot of money for 14 stamps.” Clerk: “No, madam. That is for 24 stamps. We only sell them in books of 12.” Customer: “But I only want 14.”

The clerk remained calm and said. “Lady, we are not a post-office, we only sell stamps in books of 12. In order to get 14 stamps you will have to buy two books. I am sure you can use the rest of the stamps later. Now, if it’s a real problem there’s a post office just around the corner past the fire station, which will be open in the morning.”

Very loudly she says, “Don’t you understand I only need 14 stamps?”

The clerk at the cash register politely said, “Sorry, I cannot help you.”

With that the lady said, “ Well give me one book!”

She turned and looked at me and said, “I’ll hand deliver the other two cards tomorrow.”

People not only hear what they want to hear, but have trouble writing what they want to say. As an example, here are some notes a teacher friend of mine collected over the years.

“My son is under a doctor’s care and should not take P.E. today. Please execute him.”

“Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick, and I had her shot.”

“Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday.

We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.”

“Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.”

And I leave you with this, which has nothing to do with anything written in this column. “If you can’t have a midnight snack why do we have a light in the fridge?

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BIG RED BARN EVENTS: RUSTIC ELEGANCE COUPLED WITH AFFORDABILITY

If you’ve driven West Knights Griffin north of Plant City, you’ve no doubt seen the big red barn on the south side of the road just passed Keene Road. That’s the home of Big Red Barn Events, a special event venue for groups of up to 250 that began operations in 2015.

“At our location, we have combined a rustic, elegant, open-air barn with a location for ceremonies and it’s all adjacent to a cattle operation,” said Big Red Barn’s Lisa Taylor, who together with her mother, Connie Williams, co-manage the venue and are members of a fourth generation farm family.

The barn was built in 2010 and was initially used to house equipment for the farm’s operation, which at that time was blueberry production and then transitioned to cattle/hay and now also includes agri-tourism activities.

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The origin of Big Red Barn Events is unusual. “We had a friend who was looking for a wedding site,” said Taylor. That friend’s wedding was held at the barn of our cattle operation, which continues today, but has been enhanced and is now also an event venue with high,

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By Jim Frankowiak

lighted ceilings, an open-air environment, and wood tables with Chivary chairs.” Big Red Barn Events officially began in 2015 and has hosted countless weddings and a variety of other gatherings.

“Our main event building now has concrete floors and a gathering/meeting/dining area that is a short distance to a location where wedding ceremonies take place,” said Taylor. The pathway between the locations has pavers making it easy for attendees to walk from one to the other.

The Big Red Barn has hosted many weddings and other types of events, including celebrations of life, birthdays, fund-raisers, and more. “In addition to the appeal of our venue, our staff works hard to provide our customers with amazing service, regardless of the type being held,” said Taylor. That includes a planning portal on the web to guide them through the event planning process.

“That portal includes important ‘to-dos,’ make payments, sign documents, create timelines, upload seating charts, contact food and beverage vendors, arrange for floral provisions, building a wedding website, and more,” said Taylor. “Overall, we strive to make planning WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

for the event all-inclusive, stress-free, and leading to a memorable conclusion that is also affordable.”

For more information on the Big Red Barn Events venue, visit: BigRedBarnEvents.com call: 813/723-4125. You may also email bigredbarneventspc@gmail.com

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2023 Hillsborough County Fair Results Continued

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Reserve Champion Bantam Addison O’Brien Champion Waterfowl Keira Weeber Reserve Champion Waterfowl Helen DeMarco Champion Large Fowl Emma Zimmermann Reserve Champion Large Fowl Oliver Bercaw Champion Turkey Baylee Ezell Commercial Cock 1st Madilyn Lemaster 1st Finn Dues 1st Gracie Lemaster Commercial Hen 1st Marissa Farmer 1st Julian Merced 1st Brannagh Hayes 1st Abigail Liptrap 1st Julian Merced 1st Helen DeMarco 1st Gunner Miller 1st Gunner Miller 1st Julian Merced 1st Alina Price 1st Baylee Ezell 1st Logan Greenwood 1st Maadilyn Lemaster 1st Sienna Polizzi 1st Coraline Bourdreaux 1st David Ezell 1st Skylar Zeigler 1st Grace Mahieu 1st Gracie Lemaster 2nd Kylee O’Neal 2nd Abigail Liptrap 2nd Kase O’Neal 2nd Marissa Farmer 2nd Julian Merced 2nd Kast O’Neal 2nd Gunner Miller 2nd Abigail Liptrap 2nd Zoe Farmer 2nd Kylee O’Neal 2nd Gunner Miller 2nd Noelle Lemaster 2nd Madilyn Lemaster 2nd Noelle Lemaster 2nd Hailey McLean 2nd Natalia Castro 2nd Noelle Lemaster 2nd Gracie Lemasater 3rd Zoe Farmer Commercial Pullet 2nd Madilyn Lemaster 3rd Noelle Lemaster Purebred Bantam Cock

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1st Tobias Price 1st Emma Zimmermann 1st Gwyneth Metz 1st Ilka Santos 1st Carter Manis 1st Katarina Bailey 1st Jayden O’Brien 1st Brody Anderson 1st Victor Rivera 1st Adrian Gonzalez 1st Finn Dues 1st Joseph St Clair 1st Elijah Price 1st Ella Lian 1st Katarina Bailey 2nd Imogen Lanzetta 2nd Isabelle Christiano 2nd Anniston Kingsley Birkholz 2nd Tahlia Christiano 2nd Faith Bryant Purebred Bantam Cockerel 1st Newsome Senior FFA 1st Dominik Baird 1st Tracy Baird 1st Anna Huffman 1st Anais Degnan 2nd Newsome Senior FFA 2nd Tracy Baird 2nd Dominik Baird 3rd Newsome Senior FFA 3rd Dominik Baird Purebred Bantam Hen 1st Ilka Santos 1st Olivia Sterling 1st Adviel Lozada Soto 1st Kayla Mathers 1st Ellie Dix 1st Emma Zimmermann 1st Gwyneth Metz 1st Reece Patino 1st Oliver Bercaw 1st Reece Howell 1st Carter Manis 1st Carter Manis 1st Addison O’Brien 1st Camila Plata 1st Oliver Bercaw 1st Gracelyn Prevatte 1st Isabella Marchione 1st Ella Lian 1st Katarina Bailey 1st Katarina Bailey 1st Alexander Tanner 1st Finn Dues 1st Finn Dues 1st Chloe Temoin December 2023

1st Alexis Downing 1st Noreen Doyle 1st Connor Doyle 1st Samyuta Kotari 1st Newsome Senior FFA 1st Noreen Doyle 2nd Emalee Cofield 2nd Kayla Mathers 2nd Addison Whitaker 2nd Reece Patino 2nd Carter Manis 2nd Emma Zimmermann 2nd Ignacio Parada 2nd Aiden Moriss 2nd Katarina Bailey 2nd Hallie Peacock 2nd Abigail Liptrap 2nd Faith Bryant 2nd Connor Doyle 3rd Gwyneth Metz 3rd Reece Patino 3rd Cate Stephan 3rd Timothy O’Connell 3rd Camille Flood 3rd Eloise Galster Purebred Bantam Pullet 1st Tracy Baird 1st Dominik Baird 1st Tracy Baird 1st Dominik Baird 1st David Filakosky 1st Emerson Goeltz 2nd Jayden O’Brien 2nd Tracy Baird 2nd Dominik Baird 2nd Tracy Baird 3rd Tracy Baird 3rd Tracy Baird 3rd Dominik Baird 3rd Thompson Peacock Purebred Duck Young Duck 1st Kylee O’Neal 1st Zoe Farmer 1st Marissa Farmer 1st Kase O’Neal 1st Brenna Spaulding 2nd Brenna Spaulding Purebred Duck Young Drake 1st Keira Weeber 1st Olivia Semidey 2nd Keira Weeber Purebred Duck Old Drake 1st Julian Merced 1st Helen DeMarco 2nd Helen DeMarco Purebred Large Fowl Cock

1st Hayden Pinkston 1st Eric Zimmermann 1st Brady Manis 1st Reid Patino 1st Ella Lian 2nd Hayden Pinkston 2nd Devyn Neal 2nd Katarina Bailey 2nd Brady Manis 2nd Oliver Bercaw 2nd Brody Sansoucie 3rd Emma Zimmermann Purrebred Large Fowl Cockerel 1st Emma Zimmermann 1st Eric Zimmerman 1st Eric Zimmermann 1st Elijah Price 1st Elijah Price 1st Sarah Rogers 1st Reid Patino 1st Oliver Bercaw 1st Oliver Bercaw 1st Newsome Senior FFA 2nd Emma Zimmermann 2nd Sean Falvey 2nd Reid Patino 3rd Sean Falvey 3rd Reid Patino Purebred Large Fowl Hen 1st Alina Price 1st Emma haudrich 1st Jacob Carey 1st Hayden Pinkston 1st Jaylene Carey 1st Ryan Sampson 1st HaydenPinkston 1st Gunner Miller 1st Emma Zimmermann 1st Jilana Heinecke 1st Nathan Spencer 1st Braden Falvey 1st Kylee Crowell 1st Brady Manis 1st Sarah Rogers 1st Autumn Rutherford-Wimer 1st Hayden Pin 1st Tyler Emery 1st Hayden Pinkston 1st Eric Zimmermann 2nd Reaghan Moore 2nd David Ezell 2nd HaydenPinkston 2nd Tobias Price 2nd Gunner Miller

2nd Eric Zimmermann 2nd Braden Falvey 2nd Isabella Escobar 2nd Brady Manis 2nd Nora Carthew 2nd Asa Carthew 2nd Hayden Pinkston 2nd Clara Rogers 2nd Elise Barnes 2nd Tobias Price 2nd Hayden Pinksston 3rd Jacob Carey 3rd Hayden Pinkston 3rd Gunner Miller 3rd Emma Zimmermann 3rd Ilka Santos Purebred Large Fowl Pullet 1st Tobias Price 1st Karoline Kmetz 1st Grace Mahieu 1st Logan Greenwood 1st Eric Zimmermann 1st Emma Zimmermann 1st Emma Zimermann 1st Brady Manis 1st Sarah Rogers 1st Reid Patino 1st Ilka Santos 2nd Elijah Price 2nd Eric Zimmerman 2nd Ilka Sasntos 3rd Oliver Bercaw Purebred Turkey Young Hen 1st Gracie Lemaster Purebred Turkey Old Hen 1st Baylee Ezell Purebred Waterfowl Cock 3rd Eric Zimmermann Purebred Waterfowl Hen 2nd Peyton Diana 2nd Ilka Santos Purebred Waterfowl Pullet 2nd Oliver Bercaw Showmanship 1st Imogen Lanzetta 1st Emma Zimmermann 1st Ignacio Parada 2nd Sean Falvey 2nd Connor Doyle 2nd Victor Rivera 2nd Ilka Santos

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3rd Timothy O’Connell 3rd Peyton Diana 3rd Elise Barnes 3rd Reece Patino RABBIT SHOW Buck Intermediate Best of Breed Alexis Kriley Buck Junior – Under 6 months Best of Breed Noah Cruz Buck Senior 6 Months and older Best of Breed Carley Crim Best Opposite Sex Emma Haudrich Best of Breed Atticus Hanks Best of Breed Tegan Hanks Best Opposite Sex Carly Guess Best of Breed Lukas Hardesty Doe Junior-Under 6 months Best of Breed Olivia Decker Best Opposite Sex Tegan Hanks Best Opposite Sex Lee Griffin Doe Senior – 6 Months or older Best of Breed Katarina Bailey Best Opposite Sex Lucas Campbell Best of Breed Yaneisi Robles Best of Breed Kayla Peacock Best of Breed Katarina Bailey BREEDING SHEEP SHOW Late Spring Ewe Lamb Supreme Champion Taylor Stewart 1st Taylor Stewart 1st Nathaniel Akri 1st Tomlin FFA 2nd Mackenzie Paul 2nd Tomlin FFA 2nd Elena Gutierrez 3rd Reid Patino 3rd Nathaniel Akri 3rd Adelyn Jensen 4th Anayeliz Rodriguez 4th Nina Weidenbacher 5th Barbara Wadsworth 5th Sydney Clark

fore 10/31/19 1st Sophia Brownell Showmanship Intermediate 1st Camila Gutierrez 2nd Tomlin FFA 3rd Mackenzie Paul Junior 1st Harleigh Clark 2nd Adelyn Jensen 3rd Josie Clark Novice 1st Elena Gutierrez 2nd Reece Patino 3rd Charlie Brazil Senior 1st Taylor Stewart 2nd Riley Silkworth 3rd Nathaniel Akri Early Spring Ram Lamb 11/1/222/28/23 1st Autumn Brazil 1st Gaither FFA Yearling Ram Lamb 11/1/21-10/31/22 1st Shelby Southerland 2 Year Old Ram 11/1/20-10/31/21 1st Hannah Rice SWINE SHOW Class 1 1st Karoline Kmetz 2nd Jayde McConnell 3rd Ashley Jose 4th Mulrennan FFA 5th Lily Lawton 6th Gabriel Holt 7th Bentley Bridges 8th Parker Williams Class 2 1st William Gomer 2nd Newsome FFA 3rd Taylor Brown 4th Rylee Dailey 5th Olivia Lawton 6th Lila Potter 7th Tyler Gonser 8th Jackson Kamowski Class 3 1st Lilah Wyatt 2nd Peyton Hall 3rd Natalie Taylor 4th Zachary Harris 5th Hannah Simmons 6th Lily Dailey 7th Carly Varnum 8th Sickles FFA 9th Aubrie Sullenberger Class 4 1st Haley Jones 2nd Durant FFA 3rd Cameryn Smith 4th Travis Gonser 5th Ireland Griffin 6th Emma Haudrich

7th Austin English 8th Andres Rivera Class 5 1st Ella Strickland 2nd Gabrielle Sabik 3rd Colton Hinson 4th Kenan Hench 5th Lorelei Whitehead 6th Rebecca Holcomb 7th Alyssa Fletcher 8th Plant City FFA Class 6 1st Ellie Smith 2nd Hayden Vaneepoel 3rd Mya Salter 4th Hayden Pinkston 5th Lainey Dyches 6th Talon Ansell 7th Ellie Miller 8th Devyn Hutchings Class 7 1st Emersyn Nasworthy 2nd Braxton Battaglia 3rd Bristo1 Bedenbaugh 4th Kailynn Knight 5th Abigail Dusnik 6th Brooklyn Ball 7th Haylee Morris 8th Lacey Merrell Class 8 1st Tomlin FFA 2nd Lyla Bent 3rd Cooper Davis 4th Taylor Spivey 5th William Wilkerson 6th Marlee Howard 7th Coen Whitehead 8th Steinbrenner FFA 9th Brody Ferrell Class 9 1st Jaylynn Wood 2nd Brooke Purcell 3rd Annika Martin 4th Tucker Thomas 5th Madalynn Shirah 6th Hillsborough County FFA Federation 7th Rocco Cesario 8th Camden Staggs 9th Justin Zinke Class 10 1st Kaygenn Wood 2nd Gaither FFA 3rd Adrianna Herlong 4th Jackson Schrier 5th Ashlin Bosley 6th Jaiden Butler 7th Lucas Dusnik 8th Jadyn Lyons Class 11 1st Brantley Newsome 2nd Tiftyn Gill 3rd Simmons Career Center FFA 4th Kash Swilley INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

5th Connor Cummins 6th Johann Cloete 7th Mary Dorries 8th Kaylee Hudson 9th Strawberry Crest FFA TURKEY SHOW Market Turkey 1st Brenna Spaulding 1st Matthew Bell 1st Ava James 1st Alivia Knight 1st Aubree Palmer 1st Steinbrenner FFA 1st Lukas Hardesty 1st Emily Emory 1st Randall FFA 1st Strawberry Crest FFA 1st Abigail Liptrap 1st Barrington FFA Kipras Davila 1st Gabija Davila 1st Kenzie Palmer 1st Brody Cook 1st Brantley Newsome 1st William Gomer 1st Baylee Ezell 1st Emilee Taylor 1st Reagan Marchese 1st Lainey Dyches 1st Jessie Parker 1st Tytan Gill 1st Coen Whitehead 1st Landon Cousin 1st Marlee Howard 1st Zachary Harris 1st JG Smith FFA 1st Mulrennan FFA 1st Natalia Overduijn 1st Simmons Career Center FFA 1st Baylee Ballard 2nd Chautauqua 4-H 2nd Cameron Ipock 2nd Remi Tilson 2nd Riverview FFA 2nd Lacey Merrell 2nd Mia Moskowitz 2nd Delaney Morotti 2nd Colby Holcomb 2nd Sadie Wilkinson 2nd Korbin Goff 2nd Sarah Menendez 2nd Kennedy Battaglia 2nd Renata Blatt 2nd Gracie Lemaster 2nd Serenity Keating 2nd Colton Bridges 2nd Rebecca Holcomb 2nd Marissa Pelham 2nd Harleigh Clark 2nd Colton Taylor 2nd Brandon FFA 2nd Grace Merrell 2nd Paul Steed December 2023

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6th Marissa Pelham 6th Armwood FFA Chapter 1 7th Tomlin FFA 7th Armwood FFA Chapter 1 7th Armwood FFA Chapter 1 8th Tomlin FFA 9th Brock Sampson 10th Madison Lincoln Early Spring Ewe Lamb 11/1/222/28/23) 1st Riley Silkworth 1st Riley Silkworth 1st Riley Silkworth 2nd Lauren Schneider 2nd Taylor Stewart 2nd Kaylee Snyder 3rd Lauren Schneider 3rd Riley Silkworth 3rd Brightyn Willis 4th Daniela Villanueva 4th Kaylee Snyder 4th Camila Gutierrez 5th Nathaniel Akri 5th Makinley Jensen 6th Tomlin FFA 7th Newsome Senior FFA 8th Levi Sampson Yearling Ewe Lamb (11/1/21-10/31/22 1st Lila Schmidt 1st Alexsandra Goulding 1st Adelyn Jensen 2nd Armwood FFA Chapter 1 2nd Abigail Stewart 2nd Lila Schmidt 3rd Reece Patino 3rd Hannah Rice 3rd Ashlyn Clark 4th Armwood FFA Chapter 1 4th Josie Clark 5th Harleigh Clark 6th Makinley Jensen 7th Regina Gutierrez 8th Shelby Southerland 9th Wirlein Oritz 2 Year Old Ewe 11/1/20-10/31/21 1st Reece Patino 1st Ashlyn Clark 1st Harleigh Clark 2nd Reece Patino 2nd Marissa Pelham 2nd Brooke Hiers 3rd Charlie Brazil 4th Ryan Rice 5th Cody Rice 3 Year Old Ewe 11/1/19-10/31/20 1st Carson Jimenez 1st Lilliana Salemo Aged Ewe Born be-

NEWS BRIEFS

Compiled by Jim Frankowiak

erations in Hillsborough County and 13 in Polk County among the 258 projects. RFLPP partners with farmers and ranchers through agricultural easements and works to safeguard agricultural operations that contribute Florida’s economy and the production of food and fiber. The list must now be approved the Governor and Cabinet and then funded by the Legislature.

RCMA Opens New Mulberry Academy

USDA Seeks Feedback from Specialty Crops Industry The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to hear from specialty crops growers as part of the agency’s Specialty Crops Competitiveness Initiative that aims to increase the competitiveness of specialty crops products in foreign markets, enhance domestic marketing and improve production and processing practices. Comments are due by March 8, 2024, and may be submitted via email at: SCCIPPartners@ usda.gov. More information is available at: https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID AMS-SC-23-0073.

A Reminder from the Florida Beef Council If you owned cattle in 2023, chances are you will soon receive a letter from the Florida Beef Council (FBC) that beef checkoff assessments are due by the end of the year for any cattle you sold this year. For more information, contact the FBC in Kissimmee at 407-846-4557.

Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Announces New Officers Hillsborough County Farm Bureau (HCFB) has announced its slate of officers for the coming year. They include: President – Dennis Carlton, Jr.; Vice President – Casey Runkles; Secretary – Madison A. Slater and Treasurer – Clay Joyner. In addition to the officers, the HCFB Board of Directors includes Carl Bauman, Brittany Coleman, Travis Council, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Drew Futch, Brian Shoop and Michelle Williamson.

USDA and SBA Strengthens Partnership to Aid Ag Producers The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have announced strengthening of their partnership to create jobs and expand access to new and better market opportunities for agricultural producers both domestically and internationally, as well as rural communities and small businesses. More information is detailed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies at: https://www.rd.usda.gov//media/20264/download.

FDACS Family Lands Protection Program Final List Includes Hillsborough and Polk Operations

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The final project acquisition list for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) includes three op-

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The Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMC) recently held its grand opening celebration for the Mulberry Community Academy, the third RCMA charter school in Florida. “The education we provide and the support services we offer the families we serve increase the opportunities for the entire community,” said RCMA Executive Director Isabel Garcia at the ceremony. “With a specialized learning approach that holistically helps migrant working families; we are able to educate the leaders of tomorrow.”

District Opens Phase 2 Hog Hunt Registration The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has opened Phase 2 hog hunt registration. The District holds a series of hog hunts on District lands throughout the year to help reduce the feral hog population.

What you need to know about Phase 2 hunts: • Phase 2 will include five hunts that occur January through February 2024.

• Permits are transferable.

• The single top producer on each hunt of Phase 2 will be placed on the District’s “top producer” list and will be contacted between March and October 2024 to take part in feral hog management hunts on an as-needed basis, free of charge.

Feral hogs, which are not native to Florida, can cause damage with their broad snouts and can leave an area looking like a plowed field. They also prey on native wildlife, compete with native species for food and transmit diseases to other wildlife, livestock and humans. Additionally, hogs may facilitate the spread of exotic plant species by transporting seeds and/ or providing germination sites through rooting.

The District has a three-phased hunting system. The first two phases of hunts have separate registration processes. The single top producer from each Phase 1 and Phase 2 hunt will be asked to participate in hog management activities for Phase 3.

For more information, please visit: WaterMatters.org/HogHunts.

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FARM BUREAU WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS - CLAY JOYNER AND BRIAN SHOOP BRIAN SHOOP

CLAY JOYNER Hillsborough County Farm Bureau (HCFB) has added two new members to its Board of Directors: Clay Joyner and Brian Shoop. Each is to serve a four-year term and will assist the “Voice of Agriculture” as it strives to have its members wellinformed, educated, and effective at all levels of the organization, as well as with the community, legislative, and other strategic alliances.

The collective effort among the county, state, and national Farm Bureaus leads to solutions for agriculture and rural communities in economic, educational, and social fields.

Joyner is an 8th-generation Plant City native. He grew up on his family’s cattle farm, Circle J Farms, where they primarily breed and raise Angus show cattle. Heavily involved in both 4-H and FFA throughout middle and high school, Joyner showed livestock and participated in a variety of competitions, winning Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion steer honors at the Florida Strawberry Festival in 2014 and 2015.

Following his graduation from Strawberry Crest High School, Joyner attended Florida Southern College, graduating with a double major in Business Administration and Political Science.

Upon graduation, he joined Farm Credit of Central Florida and now serves as a Loan Officer, serving farm and rural communities in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

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In his spare time, Joyner continues to work on the family farm and mentor youth who are becoming involved in the cattle industry. He is also treasurer of Youth Leaders in Production Agriculture, an organization whose mission is to develop a passion and love for production agriculture among youth who will be responsible for meeting the needs of the world in the future.

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“I anticipate working to learn about Farm Bureau during my first year, and then supporting our members at the local, state, and federal levels, especially through the legislative process,” said Joyner. “I am pleased to be part of a truly industry-balanced board, many of whom I have known and respected for many years.”

Shoop is a native of the Balm-Riverview area with lifelong involvement in the cattle industry and agriculture. Married to Kelly for 14 years and the father of daughter Briley, 11, he is the self-employed head of Shoop Cattle Company, a substantial cow-calf operation. Shoop also operates KB Ag Solutions, offering a variety of innovative services to the agriculture industry, ranging from fence building to consulting, as well as SweetPro Feed Supplements, serving cattle operations throughout the Southeast.

“My love for agriculture began at a very young age, working the family-owned cattle business and being a member of FFA,” said Shoop. “I enjoyed showing animals and participating in other numerous ag-related competitions throughout school. Becoming a member of the Farm Bureau Board will permit me to help preserve and protect the agriculture industry and its members here in Hillsborough County. That’s a way of life I and my family enjoy and want to continue well into the future.”

In addition to his Farm Bureau post, Shoop serves on the Board of the Hillsborough County Cattlemen’s Association, and as the Florida Cattlemen’s Association State Director for Hillsborough County.

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FIRST FLAT

Dustin Grooms with Fancy Farms sent in the first flat picture which was picked Friday, November 3 at 7:45 a.m.

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HERE

YOU GROW. 9 out of 10 consumers prefer a product labeled Fresh From Florida.

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Scan to sell more!

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CRANBERRIES: FESTIVE AND NUTRITIOUS

By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Cranberries are common during holiday meals, but did you know that they are also highly nutritious? Here are some more fun facts about this famous tart berry. Some historians believe that cranberries were part of the first Thanksgiving feast.

Cranberries can float, and they used to be eaten by sailors to help prevent scurvy. This brilliant, dark red berry is native to North America and mainly produced in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and Oregon.

Cranberries are also grown in Florida, although they are different from the traditional cranberry. The Florida cranberry is also called Indian sorrel, Jamaica sorrel, red sorrel, or roselle, and is easy to grow. Many parts of the plant, including the fruit, leaves, and seeds are edible. The leaves can be consumed raw or cooked, or used in tea.

Nutritional Profile Fresh cranberries are considered to be a superfood because they are high in antioxidants and nutrients. They are famously known to help lower the risk of urinary tract infections and may aid in improving immune function and blood pressure.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of fresh cranberries (145 g) contains 46 calories, 0.5 g of protein, 0.5 g of fat, 12 g of carbohydrate, and 3.6 g of fiber.

Cranberries are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, iron, vitamin E and fiber. They are high in disease-fighting antioxidants and flavonoids.

Cranberries are ranked very high in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables by researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center. Antioxidants are compounds with the ability to neutralize free radicals, harmful by-products of metabolism that can lead to disease.

Antioxidants may reduce the risk of some diseases, including several forms of cancer.

How to get the Most Nutrients Fully ripened berries contain the most antioxidants. Research suggests that the antioxidant levels actually increase as a fruit fully ripens. Ripe berries are freshest if kept in the refrigerator and consumed within a few days. They can also be frozen and can last up to a year in the freezer. Fewer nutrients are found in cranberries that have been processed into crackers,

Anti-Cancer Effects: Prevent or Slow the Growth Other disease-fighting compounds in cranberries that have been shown to inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells include phenolic acids, tannins, and flavonols. Cranberries are particularly rich in flavonoids, which have been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women, compared to those who ate the least. Tannins act as astringents in the digestive system and help to reduce inflammation.

How to Select and Store Choose ripe cranberries that are deeply red in color, firm, and give slightly when squeezed between your thumb and finger.

A ripe cranberry makes a hollow sound when you drop it back into the container.

Cranberries have a long shelf life and can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to two months. Once cooked, cranberries can be refrigerated for up to a month. Cranberries can also be frozen for up to one year.

How to Enjoy Wash immediately before use. Aside from cranberry juice and cranberry sauce on our holiday table, here are some more ways to enjoy this super food: • Toss with apples and bake • Put cranberries in the bottom of an ice cube tray, fill with water, and freeze for festive, floating ice cubes • Add dried cranberries to oatmeal, or to your favorite cookie or bread recipe • Add to other fruits and blend for a smoothie • Combine dried cranberries with nuts, seeds, and other dried fruit for your own trail mix • Mix cranberry juice with seltzer water for a refreshing festive drink Enjoy more cranberries this holiday and throughout the year!

Selected References http://vegpro.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://whfoods.org INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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snacks, or granola bars. Therefore, fresh or frozen cranberries contain the most nutritional value.

Tickets On Sale Now! • FLstrawberryfestival.com

out of this world!

Artists Appearing on the

Soundstage:

Feb. 29 - Mar. 10, 2024 Plant City, FL

The Oak Ridge Boys

OLIVER ANTHONY

Thu. Feb. 29, 3:30

Thu. Feb. 29, 7:30 $35

American Made Farewell Tour

$35

Out of The Woods

The Beach Boys Fri. Mar. 1, 3:30 $45

Home of OUR

Jordan Davis

Black Eyed Peas

Parker McCollum

Sat. Mar. 2, 7:30 $65

Fri. Mar. 1, 7:30 $55

ZZ TOP

Mark Lowry

Mon. Mar. 4, 7:30 $55

Kirk Franklin

Thu. Mar. 7, 7:30 $45

The Bellamy Brothers

Tue. Mar. 5, 3:30 $30

The Commodores Fri. Mar. 8, 3:30 $35

Zach Williams Tue. Mar. 5, 7:30 $40

FOREIGNER

Fri. Mar. 8, 7:30 $55

#berryfest24

Mon. Mar. 4, 3:30 $25

Sun. Mar. 3, 7:30 $65

Craig Morgan

Wed. Mar. 6, 3:30 $35

Jo Dee Messina Sat. Mar. 9, 3:30 $30

Riley Green

Wed. Mar. 6, 7:30 $50

Flo Rida

Sat. Mar. 9, 7:30 $50

Gene Watson

Thu. Mar. 7, 3:30 $25

Cody Johnson

Sun. Mar. 10, 7:30 $75

Visit FLstrawberryfestival.com or call 813-754-1996 and get your tickets for the best seats available!

Concert dates and times are subject to change

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• T-Mobile • Alessi Bakeries • AMSCOT • Astin Farms • Candyland Warehouse • Global Frequency Technology • TRUFFOIRE • Circle K • Local Ford Dealers • O’Reilly Auto Parts • Grove Equipment Service • Stingray Chevrolet • Uncommon USA • Monticciolo Sedation Dentistry • Netterfield’s Concessions • Verizon Wireless • Badcock Home Furniture &more • Good Health Saunas • Krazy Kup • DIRECTV • Images Everywhere! • Master Spas • Choo Choo Lawn Equipment • Florida Blue • Wyndham Destinations • Entenmann’s • The Bank of Tampa • Solution Source Construction & Development • Suncoast Credit Union • ICEE • AT&T • Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association • General RV Center • SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo • AUSSIE GRILL

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CARTER HOWELL NAMED NATIONAL FFA OFFICER

By Michelle Caceres

Carter Howell, an alumnus of Durant High School and past Florida State FFA Secretary, has been selected to serve as a national FFA officer for 2023-2024. His selection as one of six national officers was announced at the recent 96th National FFA Convention and Expo. Howell is Southern Region Vice President.

Carter and his fellow National FFA Officer Team are “exceptional FFA members whose lives will be forever transformed as they step into roles that enable them to shape the future of our organization and inspire a new generation of agricultural leaders,” according to the FFA. The process to become a National Officer is arduous, with candidates – each state FFA association can submit one individual member annually – taking part in an extensive interview process with the National FFA Officer Nominating Committee. The committee is comprised of students who interview and select the National Officers during each National FFA Convention and Expo.

“It takes a highly motivated person to become a successful National FFA Officer – an opportunity afforded to few members,” the FFA said in its announcement of the new national officer team. “Becoming a National Officer requires members to learn about their passions and gain a better understanding of what life as a national officer is like. The life of a National Officer is non-stop, hard work and never-ending commitments, but it is a life-changing experience – one they will cherish forever.”

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The primary responsibility of a National Officer is to serve the organization in local, state, national, and international activities in a way that will inform, motivate, and inspire FFA members, advisors, state staff, teachers, and others to achieve the

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mission, strategies and core goals of the organization. “Future Farmers of America” – today known as the National FFA Organization – was founded by a group of young Farmers in 1928. “Their mission was to prepare the next generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population, according to the organization. “They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting – it’s a science, it’s a business and it’s an art.” Today, there are more than 945,988 FFA members aged 12-21 in 9,163 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Howell is the son of Jerry and Kim Howell. He has three siblings, Bethany, Dustin and Gabby. “As a student who has grown up in suburban communities, agriculture was something that I never thought I would be involved in and the process of how food got from the farm or the ranch to my plate was not a concern for me,” said Howell. “At the beginning of middle school, I found myself in an agriculture class as part of the elective ‘wheel’ offered to sixth graders. There were many electives that interested me, but I really loved my agriculture class.” His newfound love was shared by Carter with his family, particularly his sister, Gabby. Carter and his sister now jointly own and operate a cow/calf operation – Ft. Howell Cattle Company. “We raise predominantly Simmentals and sprinkle in Angus and Maine-Anjou genetics, as well,” said Howell. The operation is based on a family property to which the Howells moved after discovering their love for agriculture.

“There are many individuals that have served as mentors to me throughout my involvement in the agriculture industry and without them I would not be where I am today,” said Howell. “My mentors include my agriculture education instructors and FFA Advisors from middle and high school, including Mr. Greg Lehman, Ms. Brittany Coleman, Mr. Clay Varnum, Mr. Thomas Sturgis, and the late Mr. Tim Cribbs. Additionally, Mrs. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Stephanie Conrad has served as a true mentor throughout my time in the Junior Florida Cattlemen’s Association.

“The most impactful person to me throughout my leadership journey in FFA and beyond was my late Ag teacher and FFA Advisor, Mr. Cribbs,” said Howell. “Mr. Cribbs saw value in me and continually made sacrifices to help me reach my goals. Whether it was devoting time before and after school, on the weekends, over holidays, and everything in between, he always put others before himself. That is the type of person that I want to be. I want to invest in and maximize those around me the way that Mr. Cribbs did for me.” That mentorship also helped guide Howell to South Dakota and South Dakota State University at Brookings where Howell is double majoring in Agricultural Business and Business Economics with minors in Agriculture Business Management and Livestock Production.

“I decided to attend South Dakota State University because I was looking for something new and different,” said Howell.

“Being from Florida, I wanted to experience agriculture and the world in a different setting. I had a connection to the area with Josh (son of the late Mr. Cribbs and past Animal Science Faculty and Livestock Judging Coach) and his wife, Abbie Cribbs (Animal Science Grad). In the summer of 2020, I lived and worked with them in White, SD, and fell in love with the campus and area. I was impressed by the programs that the school had to offer and loved the size of the campus and the area, and the ability to develop one-on-one relationships with my peers and professors.”

As a National FFA Officer, Howell will take a one-year hiatus from college, but that is fine with him. “I have pursued offices at all levels of the FFA because of the individuals who have come before me,” he said. “I remember so many leaders who inspired me to do more and reach for more. I wanted to be the person that those leaders were for me. The most important words you can say to some are: ‘I believe in you.’ I wanted to share those words with others just as those past leaders had done for me.”

Success for Howell during the next year is “to inspire at least one FFA member to believe in themselves the way I was inspired to believe in myself. If I can change the life of just one person, I will have succeeded at what I set out to do. I also know that I will learn far more from this year from others than they will be able to learn from me alone.”

After the year in office, Howell will return to South Dakota State University for completion of his undergraduate studies.

“After Graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I plan to enter the workforce within the agribusiness sector,” he said. “More specifically, I hope to continue being a farmer-facing asset for a commodity merchandising company. My main areas of focus being around the whole-farm-plan and commodity marketing plans. My hope is to continue bringing value through proper planning and execution of Grain Marketing Solutions that allow farmers to continue to pass down their most treasured asset to the next generation of America’s farmers. With rising fixed and variable costs, the pressure to make sound financial decisions is mounting more now than ever. It would be my mission to ensure the viability of the agricultural operations that I service by delivering a profitable bottom line each year for producers.

“More than anything, however, it is my ultimate goal to move full-time into a cattle operation where my family and I can build our legacy in the cattle business and be a part of feeding the world a safe, nutritious, and wholesome product.”

Congratulations Carter, and best of luck for your year in office and beyond!

To say the coming year will be a busy one for Howell is an understatement. “December and January consist of two months of training,” said Howell. “Everything from developing workshops and keynotes to partner visits and everything in between. We will then have some experiences in January where we will travel to Florida to practice what we have developed throughout training. Following that we will travel abroad to Japan for an International experience where we will get to experience agriculture outside of the country and get the unique opportunity to meet with our sister organization FFJ (Future Farmers of Japan).

“March through July is State Convention season where each officer will attend 9 or 10 different state conventions to visit with FFA members across the country. In late July, State Officer Summit will take place where the delegate process will begin with newly elected state officers. Throughout all of this time, we will be responsible for conducting partnership visits with our corporate sponsors all across the country speaking about the value of FFA and the value of our partnerships for the future of agriculture. The miles on the road decrease in August as we begin preparing for the National FFA Convention which will have over 70,000 in attendance. Average away from home time is 300 out of 365 days.”

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DURANT FFA SECURED TWO GOLD EMBLEMS AT NATIONALS!

PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL FFA

By Jim Frankowiak

Durant FFA had two teams compete at the National FFA Convention and Expo from October 31November 4.

Plant City High School’s Agribusiness Management Team competed at the National Convention. They placed 18th in the Nation and were recognized as a Silver Emblem team. Team members included Ryan Bentrovato, Peyton Eatman, Natalee Francis and Lindsey Randall.

STRAWBERRY CREST FFA PLACE 2ND IN FORESTRY The Environmental Science Team was honored as a Gold Emblem team placing 8th in the Nation.

Team members include Bryan Ferrell(Gold),Taylor Maples(Gold), Mackenzie Nolte(Silver), and Carly Varnum(Silver).

This team was coached by Brittany Coleman

The Parliamentary Procedure Team made the Final Four at the National Contest. They advanced out of the Semifinal round and competed again to advance to the top 4. They were a Gold Team and placed 3rd in the Nation. Team Members include Lyla Bent, Cooper Davis, Caroline Haxton, Peyton Haxton, Gabby Howell, and Savannah Rice.

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On November 15, 2023, the Strawberry Crest FFA was named the Reserve State Champion for the Florida FFA Forestry Contest. The 2nd place team in the state contest consisted of Jaylene Carey, Jaden Ausburn and Tregg Aguero. To compete at the state contest members had to start at the district contest. On Oct 19, 2023, the Strawberry Crest FFA team competed in the District FFA Forestry competition which was held at Dade Battlefield Park in Bushnell. Strawberry Crest FFA members included Milee Hasting, Alivia Eben, Jaden Ausburn and Jaylene Carey for Team A and Team B consisted of Tregg Aguero, Evan Sweat and Marlena Debebon. Strawberry Crest ended up placing 1st and 2nd in the contest and moved on to the state finals on November 15, 2023. The team spent many hours traveling the state preparing for the contest. Finding various tree samples and learning all about trees, disorders, and insects. The team also had to learn about reading topographical maps and timber cruising (which is determining how much wood is in a tree).

The team spent many hours preparing for this contest and many hours bonding as a team and memories that will last a lifetime. The team would love to thank Jill Heusman and Todd Dailey both former 4-H members with Susan Mayo, the coach and advisor at Strawberry Crest.

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A Job To Go Places And Do Things!

by John Dicks When I expressed an interest in cameras, he taught me the art of photography: how to frame the subject, illuminate the shot, and blur the background.

It truly was the start that I needed, and for that, I have always been and forever will be very grateful.

Somehow, Keith seemed to sense that it was not so much a job that I was seeking, but rather, simply a chance; an opportunity to learn both a craft and some life lessons that would help me in my quest to “go places and do things.”

I got my first real job many years ago when at 16 I went to work for the Plant City Courier.

The Courier was, at the time, our local newspaper and had been so for many years. It was a venerable institution, highly regarded by most everyone in town as a trusted source for news and information. It was what everyone turned to on Thursday, the one day each week that it was published.

I imagined that to work at The Courier, where it seemed was stored all the knowledge of the world, would be nothing short of amazing. With a real job there, I could write and tell stories about all the things I was learning.

A real job also got you a real paycheck; a fancy piece of paper you could take to the Hillsboro Bank and trade it in for an even prettier piece of paper called cash! With cash, you could buy gas and “go places and do things!”

Just the thought of it all was the motivation giving me the gumption to walk in, unannounced and without any appointment, asking to speak to the Editor about a job that they neither had available, nor frankly, even offered.

Still, the charm of Plant City meant that I was not booted out the door. Instead, I was led to meet a bright young man with a quick wit, wry smile, and infectious laugh named Keith Stickley.

Barely in his 30s, Keith was the Managing Editor, and he took the time to talk with me for seemingly hours about school, things I liked to do, and what I hoped for in life.

Of course, I’d like to think that he recognized a spark inside of me, but just as likely was that the Christmas spirit was causing him to be a bit charitable. Regardless, before I left that afternoon, I somehow had convinced him to give me a part-time, “we’ll see how it goes” job paying me $1.60 an hour!

Keith became for me both a boss and a teacher. He’d rip up my articles and tell me to start over. He’d admonish me with “don’t bury the lead,” or use “a lovely alliteration” to make things flow better.

Search for the story, he’d say, and let it write the article.

Perhaps it was a reflection of his own dreams, for having grown up in a small town within the shadow of the Shenandoah Mountains in Woodstock, Virginia, Keith, too, once needed a job.

Straight out of high school with his only experience in writing being with the school newspaper, he convinced the Editor of a local paper to give him a shot. Gifted with natural curiosity and a keen intellect he perfected his skills as a wordsmith.

Soon, his writings wrought recognition and awards both for the paper and for himself.

That early success, and the promise of more opportunities, is what led Keith to The Courier.

Imagine this. Not yet 25, married to his high school sweetheart, and along with their five kids all younger than five (ages 4, 3, 2, and 1-year-old twins!), they packed up their station wagon and headed out for the proverbial greener pastures of Florida!

Maybe it was the innocence of youth, but no doubt it was quite an adventure.

It also took confidence and fortitude. Yes, there were challenges along the way, and twists and turns to take before later in life returning home to start and run his own paper, and expand into a large and successful publishing business still serving the needs of western Virginia and its surrounds.

It’s been well more than 40 years since I last worked with Keith Stickley. So recently, on one of my trips to “go places and do things,” I took a detour to Woodstock just to check up on him, and to say, “Thanks!” once again.

It was a wonderful and long breakfast we shared, and I caught myself interviewing him, just as I had been taught, by him, to do!

When we left, I wanted a picture of the two of us and I chuckled as he directed where we should stand for our selfie and explained the proper angle for lighting to illuminate our faces.

Some things never change in life, and in this case, it was the same ol’ Keith Stickley; teaching and directing, and with me learning and taking it all in.

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John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!”. John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.

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IT’S A FIRST: UF SCIENTISTS FIND ETHYL VANILLIN IN A UF/IFAS-BRED STRAWBERRY

By Brad Buck

ma compounds from the Medallion® strawberry, the UF/IFAS-bred variety that was commercialized in 2020.

Both vanillin and ethyl vanillin were detected in the fruit.

Vance Whitaker, a UF/IFAS professor of horticultural sciences and a strawberry breeder, worked on the research, co-advising doctoral student Mark Porter with Seonghee Lee, a UF/IFAS associate professor of horticultural sciences. Wang also credited Xuebo Song, her post-doctoral researcher, for developing the analytical method by which scientists identified ethyl vanillin.

Scientists already knew that the Medallion® strawberry occasionally had a faint flavor of vanilla.

“I initially thought I was imagining it, but this research suggests I was not,” said Whitaker. He and Lee are faculty members at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. “Medallion® would have great flavor, even without these two compounds -- vanillin and ethyl vanillin -- due to its high sugars and all the other aroma compounds. But the fact that strawberries can have a vanilla flavor is cool, and the fact that Medallion® has this makes it even more of a premium strawberry.”

Whitaker called attention to Porter’s Ph.D. research as part of an effort to understand the genetic control behind the most important strawberry aroma compounds.

University of Florida scientists have found ethyl vanillin -- an aroma compound in many artificial vanilla-flavored food products -- in a UF/IFAS-bred strawberry.

This is a key finding for the food and beverage industry and for the UF/IFAS strawberry breeding program.

Vanilla beans contain the character-impact compound vanillin, which imparts vanilla flavor. Ethyl vanillin provides an even more powerful vanilla-like flavor. It is synthesized in labs and is one of the most widely used artificial flavors in the food, beverage, food supplements and pharmaceutical industries.

Finding ethyl vanillin in a strawberry may prove valuable for the flavor and food industries in the quest of offering consumers more natural flavors, said Yu Wang, an associate professor of food science and human nutrition at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center.

“Ultimately, this feeds into the breeding program to make the flavor of our new varieties even better,” Whitaker said. “Right now, ethyl vanillin is not the most important compound impacting strawberry flavor, but this research allows us now to try to increase both vanillin and ethyl vanillin in future varieties, to perhaps create a strawberry that has a clear and consistent vanilla flavor note.”

“If restaurants and people cooking at home prefer their ingredients to be natural, they use vanilla extract,” said Wang, lead author of the newly published study. “They could also use artificial vanilla flavor, which might contain ethyl vanillin. It’s the same as when the flavor and food industries develop both natural and artificial flavors for the final food and beverage products, consumers have similar choices as well.”

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In the new study, UF/IFAS scientists extracted 131 aro-

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A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

by Libby Hopkins

Pigeon Cove Family Farm in Dover, Fla. is a family-owned and operated farm that offers a little something for everyone.

The family that makes up this farm are Carlos and Kristie Tanner and Kim and Tommy Greene. Kim and Carlos are brother and sister. They were raised and still live on their family’s farm alongside their spouses. “The farm was established by our grandparents in the 1950s,” Kim Greene said. “Our family has raised cattle and horses, had an orange grove, and grew numerous row crops of seasonal vegetables and strawberries.

We are blessed to still live and work on the farm where our grandparents made a living, and we want to continue their legacy.”

The couples decided to open their family farm to the public to allow others to enjoy some of what they experienced over their lifetimes and make special memories of their own. “We like to think of ourselves as a multi-faceted venue, which offers a little something for everyone,” Greene said. “From a working farm where people can pick their own strawberries, sunflowers, and other seasonal crops to a venue that, in the near future, will allow opportunities for events such as weddings, parties, team building events, and the like. We will be enclosing a portion of our 6,400 sq. ft. barn to incorporate a general store, kitchen, and air-conditioned bathrooms. After that time, we will be offering specialty desserts and other food items.”

There are many community benefits of locally-owned family farms, like Pigeon Cove Family Farm. Family farming has always been important for various reasons and the environment is one of them. The great thing about small and family farms is that they take special care of soils which helps in the prevention of pollution as a result. Family farms take good care of the environment.

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Another reason family farms are important is that they have maximized the application of water-saving measures. It is of great importance to save water, and small and family farms take good care of it. They also have great respect for ecosystems and support biodiversity.

Lastly, family farms have a deep connection with their natural resources and try the preserve traditional knowledge. “What we like most about what we do at Pigeon Cove Farm is knowing that everything we do is bettering the environment and

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keeping the agricultural farmland serving its intended purpose is a great comfort to us,” Greene said. “This also allows us to support other local farms and small businesses, which is very important to our family.”

Since the family opened their farm to the public, they’ve had many visitors and great feedback from their guests. “We’ve had such an outpouring of love and support in the little time that we have been open to the public,” Greene said. “What a blessing and encouragement it has been to receive such positive engagement from friends, family and the surrounding communities.”

Everything that is offered at Pigeon Cove Farms is grown on the farm. “We grow specific crops that thrive in our region and climate, which includes strawberries, peppers, onions, squash, and other vegetables along with a variety of flowers,” Greene said. “The items we harvest are available in our market, along with produce from other local farms. We feel it is very important to support local businesses and other farmers as well.

The farming community in this area is indeed a tight-knit community and some of our farmer friends are more like a part of our family.”

Greene and her family look forward to more of the local community coming and visiting their farm. “We have just started on our journey and would love for people to come and be a part of it and watch us grow,” Greene said. “We look forward to making new friends and reconnecting with old friends.”

If you would like to learn more about Pigeon Cove Family Farm, you can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/profile.php?id=61550245017672. Pigeon Family Farm is located at 3321 Moores Lake Rd, Dover.

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MCINTOSH STATION IS GROWING

By Libby Hopkins

Janice Williams and her family are the owners of Three Son Farm in Dover, Fla. “My husband has been farming for more than 40 years,” Williams said. “My mother-in-law is 94 years old and she comes to the farm every day. Her husband farmed this land, and my husband went into farming right after high school and kind of followed in his dad’s footsteps. I left my corporate job in 2021 to help my husband on the farm.

You can say we have a strong family farming background.”

Recently, the family opened a produce stand, McIntosh Station on McIntosh Road in Dover. “Our produce stand is on McIntosh Road, between MLK and Highway 92,” Williams said.

“The produce stand started off small, but now we’ve been expanding it. This year we are focusing on really offering different events at McIntosh Station. We want to focus on different events where families can come and create memories.

It’s been real big on our hearts and this is something we really want to do.”

They recently kicked off their U-Pick Strawberry season. “It has been great seeing so many people come out to McIntosh Station to pick strawberries,” Williams said. “We got to see some new faces and old friends come out and have a great time while picking strawberries.”

Williams and her family planted flowers at McIntosh Station so customers can also come out and pick flowers along with their strawberries. “We’ve planted seasonal flowers and have incorporated them into our u-pick program,” Williams said. “Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we are opening the strawberry fields to the public so they can pick strawberries by the pound. We also have strawberry shortcake, strawberry milkshakes, sundaes, and boiled peanuts at the station for our customers to enjoy. In January I’m going to do chocolatedipped strawberries and in February we have a special crop of flowers going in that will cater to Valentine’s Day.”

us generate foot traffic at the station along with helping the small businesses around our community as well.”

On Dec. 22 McIntosh Station will host a Family Fun Night from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. The event will feature Santa and Mrs. Claus.

“In the spirit of Christmas, bring the family out to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, a sweet treat in the brisk night air,” Williams said. “The meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus is from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.” The cost for the meet and greet is $5 in advance, $6 for walk-ins.

The Family Fun Night will also have family hour from 8 p.m.

– 9 p.m. “We will play some of the old-time favorite Christmas movies on the big screen under the open sky behind our stand,” Williams said. “We will provide an open fire to roast marshmallows with your family.”

If you ask Williams what she likes most about McIntosh Station, she’ll tell you the people. “I love seeing so many friends come out to McIntosh Station,” Williams said. “It’s great making new friends and seeing all the families come out and enjoy themselves all while creating memories.”

If you’d like to learn more about McIntosh Station or if you’d like to attend their Family Fun Night on Dec. 22, you can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/ThreeSonFarms or call (813) 763-3242. McIntosh Station is located at 3830 McIntosh Road in Dover.

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Another event that McIntosh Station will feature is a pop-up market. “The pop-up took place on Dec. 16 and it featured different local vendors who came to the station to sell their holiday products,” Williams said. “The pop-up market helped

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for a FREE On-Farm Readiness Review The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspections have begun. Sign up now to request a free On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR), offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an educational opportunity to help individual farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements in preparation for inspections.

For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FDACS.gov/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900.

To take full advantage of the OFRR and for PSR compliance, one farm representative should first attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. Upcoming trainings can be found at: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/events

PAGE

This publication is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007446 totaling $1,166,732 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/ HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD

I did a recent check on the future of an important crop: Central Florida agriculture leaders.

I convened agriculturalists from cattle, citrus, sugar, fruits and vegetables, turf, precision ag, and government in what I call a young ag leaders roundtable at the UF/IFAS MidFlorida Research and Education Center (MREC).

We talked about what we can do together to provide for the future of Florida agriculture. It came down to a couple of things.

First, we’ve got to make technology affordable and accessible. That’s the job of UF/IFAS. For example, Gracelyn Byrd, a budding scientist at U.S. Sugar, made the case for UF/IFAS to devise a system to provide affordable satellite imagery to producers.

Second, we’ve got to pay attention to politics, not just production. As a public university leader, I can’t endorse political candidates or causes. But I can encourage people to engage, and I asked every young leader there to consider running for public office some day.

I believe this call to enter the political arena meant more, though, coming from a peer. Tripp Hunter, lobbyist for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, highlighted how young agricultural leaders need to advocate and educate to ensure policy makers don’t lose sight of how critical Florida agriculture is.

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While we have a few leaders in Tallahassee with an agricultural background, Hunter said, we need more of them. And we need to develop a pipeline to ensure we have them in the future.

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By Dr. Scott Angle

I’m convinced that I met a future state representative, commodity association leader, corporate officer and maybe even an agriculture commissioner during our discussion at MREC. While you’re busy producing, someone’s got to be your voice. Hunter has already answered the call – he came off a timber plantation and into the world of advocacy two years ago.

UF/IFAS is also investing in young leaders. I invited our new assistant director of government affairs, Nicolette Hoffman, to participate. Part of her job is to create opportunities for you to tell the story of Florida agriculture in Tallahassee.

I also recently appointed Dr. Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski as director of MREC. In her first months on the job she has revitalized outreach to stakeholders by traveling the region to visit with them. I asked her to host the young leaders as a demonstration that we, too, in UF/IFAS have a new generation of leaders emerging.

And we’re helping you by developing those leaders. We are helping Byrd prepare for a major scientific role at U.S. Sugar in Clewiston. She is currently one of ours—a Ph.D. agronomy student in our College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in Gainesville. When she’s finished, she’ll be more effective as one of yours.

Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

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YF & R Committee Participates in Farm-City Week

By Jim Frankowiak

Members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau participated in Farm-City Week at the Meacham Urban Farm in downtown Tampa where they toured the facility and spoke to those who attended the market store about agriculture and Farm Bureau. The YF & R Committee Members at the farm were Brittany Coleman, Grace Pipkins and Ryan Lund.

as an educational non-profit entity that focuses on agricultural and food education. Meacham Urban Farm produces over 30 varieties of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables that are available in the on-site Farm Store. The Farm Store also aggregates organic produce and farm products from the local region.

“We helped reward those who were supporting our local farmers by buying their fresh produce for them that day,” said Coleman. “We want to help make urban farm shoppers aware of the connection between urban farming and Farm Bureau and its grower members.”

Farm-City Week is celebrated annually the week before Thanksgiving as a way to recognize the beneficial partnerships between rural and urban communities that make our food supply both safe and plentiful.

Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF & R) are Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18-35 who have a desire to network, share ideas, participate in community projects, and hone their leadership skills. There is an array of opportunities for this young group of agriculturists to become strong leaders for the future of agriculture.

Meacham Urban Farm is promoting urban regenerative agriculture using innovative forms of technology to feed and educate the community of Tampa Bay. Opened in 2020, the project was the first of its kind in the City of Tampa. Meacham Urban Farm transformed a vacant downtown 2-acre lot into a productive greenspace. The farm is integrated into the Encore redevelopment project, a 1,500-unit mixed-income housing and mixed-use subsidized neighborhood. The farm was built in collaboration with the Tampa Housing Authority, Hillsborough County School District, and two independent farmers: Travis Malloy and Joe Dalessio.

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Meacham Urban Farm is a for-profit production farm as well

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