In The Field Magazine - Hillsborough October 2011

October 15–November 15, 2011

Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort

Covering What’s Growing

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 1

The best reason to buy a Kubota M126X may not be the one you think. Yes, the M126X has an impressive list of deluxe features that come standard. And Kubota’s reliability and innovation are world-renown. But the best reason to buy an M126X is because you care about a job well-done. And you know this versatile mid-size tractor will deliver premium performance the first time, and every time. When there’s no substitute for a job well-done, there’s the Kubota M126X. • Powerful 4-cylinder, 108 PTO HP Kubota diesel engine • Fuel-efficient Common Rail System (CRS) • 16F x 16R IntelliShift transmission with 8-speed DualRange powershift

w w w. G u l f C o a s t Tr a c t o r. c o m

2

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 3

From the Editor

Sarah Holt

October

®

VOL. 7 • ISSUE 12

October 15–November 15, 2011

50

It’s time for costumes, fall decorations and parties! Of course we can’t forget the candy. Although this year I won’t be splurging on junk food, I’m going to insist on healthier fare for Halloween. It really doesn’t take much effort. Visit your local farmers market and Timberlane Pet create some fun, healthy alternatives to candy corn (that’s a vegetaHospital & Resort ble, right?). It can be a tough time for parents who are encouraging Cover Photo by their kids to eat healthy. It is also exasperating for adults who may Karen Berry have a horrible sweet tooth (like me). At any rate, there are a variety of healthy alternatives, just do a quick Internet search and viola!

Be on the lookout for little ghosts and goblins as they make their way out trick or treating. Check with local churches, they often have Trunk or Treating, a much safer alternative.

The Centers for Disease Control has tips for a safe Halloween.

Going trick-or-treating?

• Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be The Pie Baking Contest short, soft, and flexible.

• Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

Chop ‘N Block • Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.

• Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering Captain Woody Gore before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.

• Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you.

Al Berry • Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent skin and eye irritation.

• Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established Cross Creek Ranch crosswalks wherever possible.

• Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.

The Farm American Mission • Only walk on sidewalks or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.

• Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid Leaf-Rolling Weevils blocked vision, trips, and falls.

• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats unless you know the cook well.

Florida’s Basil • Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult. Otherwise, stay outside.

Photography Sales Manager Publisher/Owner • Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear Stephanie Humphrey Danny Crampton Karen Berry flame-resistant costumes.

Karen Berry Sales As always, thank Al Berry Al Berry Editor-In-Chief you so much to our adverTina Richmond Al Berry tisers. You allow us to Staff Writers Danny Crampton continue to cover what is Al Berry Kay Mullis Senior Managing growing.

Sandy Kaster Editor/Associate

Cover Story

TIMBERLANE PET HOSPITAL & RESORT

Covering What’s Growing

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

7 8 10 14 20 24 28 42 78 80

Until next month,

Sarah

The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

Numbers 6:25

4

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

1

Did you know?

Advertisers Index Dry Creek: Business UpFront

Fishing Hot Spots

Rocking Chair Chatter

Grub Station

NASCAR & Ag Bug

Fruit, Veggie & Herb

Publisher Sarah Holt

Creative Director Amey Celoria

Editor Patsy Berry

Designers Juan Carlos Alvarez Mona Jackson

Office Manager Bob Hughens

In The Field® Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants and other local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes members of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Growers Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 335630042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909.

OctOber 2011

Cover Photo Stephanie Humphrey

James Frankowiak Kayla Lewis Sean Green Mark Cook Ginny Mink

Contributing Writer Woody Gore Les McDowell

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 their advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In The Field® magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 5

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FARM BUREAU

100 South Mulrennan Road • Valrico, FL 33594 Phone (813) 685-9121

Dear Readers, Fall is here and that means many different things. The weather has changed with the humidity dropping along with the temperatures. It’s a very comfortable time of the year.

It also means our hardworking strawberry growers are busy with their crops as are growers of other commodities in the area. Let’s all hope the weather will be good to them this season. You will recall last year’s cold weather included an 11-day freeze event requiring many agricultural commodities to pump groundwater to protect their crops.

This is a best management practice in use for many years, but it puts a strain on the Florida aquifer that reduces groundwater levels. That, in turn, has an impact on residential wells and has caused sinkholes.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has revised its rules as part of a multifaceted, comprehensive management plan to significantly reduce the impacts from pumping during future freeze events. The revisions, which went into effect in mid June, apply to all existing permit holders and permit applicants in the Dover/Plant City area with crops that require frost/freeze protection. This 256-square-mile water use caution area has new minimum aquifer levels, special water use permitting criteria and an aquifer level recovery strategy.

The district’s actions are required by law and there is a long term goal of reducing groundwater pumping for freeze protection by 20 percent within 10 years. This is a gradual process that will help both growers and homeowners residing in the area. For growers to comply with these new regulations there will be costs. It is gratifying to see

the various incentives the water management district has in place to help growers comply with the revisions and institution of alternative methods of freeze protection such as tailwater recovery ponds and crop covers.

There is also a new process for determining which permit holder is responsible for responding to dry well complaints during freeze events. This is an equitable approach to assign responsibility on the basis of groundwater volume used and their proximity to the impacted well.

The district will also enhance its communications related to freeze events. Reminder letters will soon be mailed to permit holders, alerts to local media will be distributed and automated phone calls will placed to residents advising them to turn off their well pumps when warranted by anticipated weather conditions. The district’s website will also be updated to contain the most current information.

There is a great deal of additional information available at the district’s website: www.watermatters.org.

Enjoy the fall weather and let’s hope the months ahead will be kind to us all.

100 S. Mulrennan Rd. Valrico, FL 33594

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

•

Rabbits like licorice.

•

There are a million ants for every person on Earth.

Insurance Services 813.685.5673

•

The penguin is the only bird that can’t fly but can swim.

Member Services 813.685.9121

•

Most of the Vitamin C found in fruits is in the skin.

•

80 percent of the burglaries are committed by people aged 13-21.

•

‘The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick’ is said to be the toughest tongue twister.

•

55 percent of all movies are rated R.

•

There are two chicks for every person.

•

It took Leonardo Da Vinci ten years to paint the Mona Lisa.

•

The most common disease is tooth decay.

•

Britain was the first country to use postage stamps.

•

The average person will consume 100 tons of food and 12,000 gallons of water in a lifetime.

•

The side of a hammer is called a cheek.

•

32 percent of all the land in the U.S. is owned by the government.

•

Pinocchio is Italian for ‘pine head’.

•

The longest word that can be typed using only your right hand is ‘lollipop’.

•

People who work at night tend to weigh more.

•

You can only see a rainbow if you have your back to the sun.

•

45,000 thunderstorms occur around the world every day.

•

Elvis Presley made only one television commercial.

•

Diet Coke was introduced in 1982.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

Amanda Collins, Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Alvin Futch, Stefan Katzaras, Joe Keel, Greg Lehman, Kenneth Parker, Jake Raburn, Marty Tanner, James Tew, Patrick Thomas, Michelle Williamson, Ray Wood

Judi Whitson, 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, John McGuire

Plant City Office 813.752.5577

1302 S. Collins St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Sumner, Bill Williams

Have a great month!

Danny Aprile

Tampa Office 813.933.5440

1046 W. Busch Blvd., Ste. 100, Tampa, FL 33612 Greg Harrell, Jeff Harper

Danny Aprile President, Hillsborough County Farm Bureau

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Danny Aprile .............................. President Bill Burnette ....................... Vice President Jemy Hinton ................................Treasurer George Coleman....................... Secretary Glenn Harrell ...............Member at Large

DIRECTORS FOR 2010-2011

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Danny Aprile, Vice-President; Jemy Hinton, Treasurer; George Coleman, Secretary; Glenn Harrell, Member-at-large; Bill Burnette, Jake Raburn, Patrick Thomas, Amanda Collins, Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Alvin Futch, Stefan Katzaras, Greg Lehman, Carl Little, Lance Ham, Michelle Williamson and John Stickles. Judi Whitson, Executive Director

6

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

AGENCY MANAGER Tommy Hale www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 7

We Buy Gold!

• Screen Enclosures • • Carports • Siding & Soffits • • Vinyl Windows • “Serving Your Home Improvement Needs Since 1961”

Fine Jewelry | Diamond Settings & Restyling | Custom Design Expert Watch & Jewelry Repair | Watch Batteries Installed “While You Wait”

Established 1947

Come visit our new location and let us help you!

60 to 90 Day Same as Cash Financing

LARRY JOHNSON (813) 659-2501 806 Woodrow Wilson St., Unit #1, Plant City, FL 33563

Lic. - Bonded - Ins.

www.plantcityawningandaluminum.com

Index of

Advertisers

Ag Technologies .....................................33 Agri Signs/Southern Graphics Designs ....85 Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers ...............43 Allen’s Sawmill .......................................45 Antioch Feed & Farm Supply .................35 Aquarius Water Refining ........................83 Astin Strawberry Exchange ....................92 Bartow Chevrolet .................................... 3 Berry Blue Farm & Nursery, LLC ...........87 Bill’s Transmissions ................................67 Bingham Portables .................................82 Brandon Auto Services, Inc. ....................87 Broke & Poor Surplus Building Matls. ....65 Brown’s Jewelers ....................................89 Byrd & Barnhill, P.L. ..............................85 Carpet Diem ..........................................67 CF Industries, Inc. ..................................29 Chop-N-Block Custom Meat .................32 Chuck’s Tire & Automotive ...................72 Clem’s Custom Meats & Fresh Produce ..63 Consolidated Land Care ........................21 County Line Road Auction .....................85 Cowboys Western World ........................17 Crescent Jewelers .................................... 9 Dad’s Towing .........................................61 Dairy Queen ..........................................69 Diamond R Fertilizer .............................59 Discount Metal Mart .............................71 Driscoll’s Berries ....................................68 Dusty’s Camper World ...........................89 Eco Water Systems .................................. 8 Esposito’s Pizza ......................................87 Farm Bureau Insurance of Valrico ..........19 Farm Bureau Insurance - Jeff Sumner .....73

Farm Credit ...........................................69 Felton’s Market ......................................73 Fishbach Land Company ........................81 FL Mineral, Salt & Ag Products .............71 Florida Golden Honey ...........................92 Florida Strawberry Growers ...................45 Forbes Road Produce ..............................10 Fred’s Market .........................................89 Gator Ford .............................................55 Gerald Keene Plumbing ..........................37 Grove Equipment Service .......................59 Gulf Coast Tractor & Equipment ............ 2 Handy Can Portable Restrooms ..............91 Harold’s Feed & Pet Supply ....................39 Harrell’s Nursery, Inc. ............................92 Haught Funeral Home ...........................13 Helena Chemical ...................................77 High Yield Industries .............................92 Hillsboro State Bank ..............................87 Hillsborough County Farm Bureau .......... 7 Hinton Farms Produce, Inc. ....................57 Home Protection Pest Control ................54 Hope Christian Academy .......................91 Huff Muffler ..........................................91 I-4 Power Equipment ............................... 5 Jimmie Dan Robinson ............................63 Johnson’s Barbeque ................................89 Jon & Rosie’s Tree Farm .........................92 Keel & Curley Winery ............................95 Kennco Manufacturing, Inc. ...................82 KeyPlex .................................................31 L.I.T. Security Cages ..............................94 Lancaster Farms .....................................83 Land’s Feed & Farm Supply ...................57

Fun | Fashionable | Flexible | Affordable Interchangeable Sterling Silver Jewelry System

Land’s Strawberry Palace ........................47 Lewis Insulation Technologies ................94 Loetscher Auto Parts ..............................82 Malissa Crawford, Coldwell Banker .......10 Mark Smith Excavating ..........................30 Meryman Environmental .......................65 Mid-State Tractor Parts ..........................92 Mosaic ..................................................60 Parrish Threads ......................................55 Plant City Awning & Aluminum Products.8 Plant City Chamber Pig Jam ..................41 Plant City Tire & Auto Service ...............92 Red Rose Inn & Suites .......................48-49 Rhizogen ...............................................81 Roadrunner Veterinary Clinic .................96 Savich & Lee Wholesale .........................75 Shell’s Feed & Garden Supply .................15 Southside Farm & Pet Supply .................23 Southwestern Produce ............................27 Stephanie Humphrey Photography .........25 Stingray Chevrolet .................................11 The Hay Depot ......................................72 Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort .........85 Trinkle, Redman, Swanson, Coton, Davis & Smith .................................................75 Two-Lips Tack ‘N Togs ..........................61 Uncommon USA ....................................77 Unity in the Community ........................74 Walden Lake Car Wash & Service Center.62 Wells Memorial .....................................54 Werts Welding & Tank Service, Inc. .......60 Wetzel’s Farrier Service ...........................91 Willie’s Seafood ......................................82 Wishnatzki Farms ..................................25

A New Look Every Day

Come in and Ask About Your Free Gift!

813-752-2413 crescent.jewelers@yahoo.com

Hours: Tues.-Sat. 10am - 5:30pm 1514 S. Alexander St., Ste #108 Plant City

www.crescentjewelerspc.com www.kamelonjewelry.com

YOU TOO CAN BE A WINNER 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 InTheField® T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the page on which you found the logo and where on that page you located the logo to: InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, FL 33563-0042 All Entries must be received by November 3, 2011.

Winner will be notified by phone.

You Too Can Be A Winner - Enter Now! 8

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

We Buy Gold!

FREE Ring Check 15% OFF & Cleaning Any Jewelry Repair *** must bring in coupon *** Expires 11/30/11

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

*** must bring in coupon *** Expires 11/30/11

October 2011

10% OFF Custom Job *** must bring in coupon *** Expires 11/30/11

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 9

10 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 11

HAUGHT FUNERAL HOME Serving Plant City and East Hillsborough County

813-717-9300

708 W. Dr. M.L. King Jr. Blvd. • Plant City Fl. 33563 For 10 years Haught Funeral Home has been assisting families during their loss of a loved one with interment in these area cemeteries: Antioch Bethlehem Hopewell Memorial Gardens Hopewell Church Cemetery Pelote

Oaklawn Memorial Park Mt. Enon Springhead Shiloh

DAVID W. WOLF Owner

TIMOTHY “TIM” HAUGHT Founder

Haught Funeral Home Remembers…

In recognition of the families who entrusted us with their loved ones in

September 2011

THE PIE BAKING CONTEST

by Dry Creek America’s First Frontier creator Les Mc Dowell photos by Linda Constant

As I look back over my life as a baby boomer I reminisce about the Pie Bakers in my life, Mom with her rolling pen in hand, rolling with love and care the dough and Aunt Mary putting her pies up in the window to cool. My Grandma Ransom using her thumbs to pinch the dough from the side of the pan, her crooked fingers sprinkling sugar on the piecrust.

I remember the love that went into their pies. And the pride they felt about them. In my eyes nothing said love like a homemade pie.

This is the reason we are in the middle of filming The Pie Baking episode for season two. I wrote this show, with all the smells and sights now yellowed with time, touching me. I was once again in their kitchens with the smell of baking pies filling my senses.

I think of their aprons long hung up on a nail. That flowered apron they always had on.I can still see them using the ends to pull a hot pie from their oven while they hummed a pretty

12 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

church song.

They cut the pattern out and sewed the apron together themselves. They bought the material from the bargain bin that had been marked down on the shelf.

Now their flowered aprons are hung up on a nail. A testament to the pie bakers in my life who gracefully sailed.

I’m sure I’ve opened a memory or two of a pie baker in your life. I hope when you tune in to Dry Creek, America’s First Frontier and The Pie Baking episode, you’ll come face to face with someone that was in your life that brings back to you those same memories.” Mom always said...... “we are making memories.”

And that’s what Dry Creek is all about.

Where’s Dry Creek? Follow the smell of fresh baked pie....... everybody knows where Dry Creek is, cause it’s inside each and everyone of us.

Go to drycreektv.com to learn more.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Earl C. Zelle—94 of Plant City passed away September 4, 2011.

Gordon N. Persohn, Sr.—68 of Lakeland passed away September 6, 2011of respiratory failure. He is survived by his wife of 38 years Vicki; son Neil, Jr.; daughter Lindsay; brother Frank, and sister Lynn Reed.

Carol S. (Evans) O’Rourke—80 of Sarasota passed away September 10, 2011. She was born January 23, 1931 in YorkCenter, Union County, Ohio and came to Sarasota in 1985 from Marion, Ohio. She worked as a nurse and retired from Sarasota Memorial Hospital. She was a Methodist. Her survivors include sons Michael of Inverness, FL, Brian of Lakeland, FL; and daughter Alyx of Sarasota, FL Ora Mae (McGalliard) Fliter—86 of Plant City passed away at home September 10, 2011. Ora Mae was a HillsboroughCountySchool Bus Driver for 30 years. She is survived by her daughters Bertha Pence and Alicia Cowder (Fred); son Rod McGalliard (Kim); grandchildren Debbie Overstreet, Vicki Mizrahi, Amy Bruce, Karen Wright and Dean Cowder; greatgrandchildren Cody, Ricky, Jennifer, Sara, Christa and Cole. www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

William Melvin McLaurin—67 of Plant City passed away September 15, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Jo, stepson David (Terry) Phillips, and grandchildren, Joshua Phillips, Kevin Phillips and Lindsay Butterfield (Christopher).

William “Todd” Hodges—48 of Plant City passed away peacefully at St. Joseph Hospital on September 17, 2011.

Lorean (Viers) Barger—78 of Plant City passed away on September 22, 2011. She was born in Prater, Virginia on May 1, 1933. She graduated from Grundy High School in Grundy, Virginia and from the University of Florida. She is survived by Joe V. Barger, her husband and soul mate of 48 years. She was a member of Plant City’s First Baptist Church and was active in the Lions Auxiliary.

It has been an honor to serve you.

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 13

“Family Owned & Operated Since 1961”

Business UpFront Chop-N-Block

by Mark Cook Sometimes the best business ideas “Things don’t happen by just accident come from necessity. While Polk County in my opinion,” Branson said. “It wasn’t has a few options for wild game processing, easy losing my job so I really appreciate former state representative Baxter TroutBaxter giving me this opportunity. He is a man, who was introduced to hunting by his great person to work with and we have a grandfather Ben Hill Griffin Jr., never found great relationship. I can call him anytime the type of facility he became accustomed with any problem or question I might have.” to while hunting in Florida’s Panhandle and While there are outlets for game proGeorgia. So this past summer the idea for cessing scattered across Polk County, TroutChop-N-Block was born. So far, after just a man says Chop-N-Block is unique. “This is few weeks in business, things already look all we do,” Troutman said. “We aren’t a repromising. tail market. We process game and livestock “Last January, I had been hunting in meat efficiently and at a fair price. One Georgia and upon my return became disapthing we found when surveying folks was pointed by the few outlets I could find and efficiency. People don’t want to wait weeks the limited service I could get,” Troutman for their game to be processed so we try and said. “The outlet I’d been using typically do it as soon as the customer wants it back. does a really good job, but they are mainly a The industrial equipment we have allows us retail meat market and would only do game to do so. We can make up to 150 pounds at processing once a week. The hunting and a time.” agriculture communities are pretty tight, Branson agreed. “I think people will so when I decided to do this, the word has be surprised with our shop and what we gotten around quite quickly.” do here. We can pretty much take care of “We opened about ten days ago (Sepcustom orders. We have a specific menu Chris Branson and Baxter Troutman tember 24) and we have already received 14 available but I am willing to try anything. deer,” Troutman said. “I think the word is spreading and hopeI want people to know that if they have a specific recipe from up fully people will continue to tell others as long as we can provide a north or wherever they may have come from, then I will give it a good experience.” shot. We want the customer to leave happy and will do whatever Troutman, whose term limits ended last November, and is we possibly can to make that happen.” the owner of Labor Solutions, used his experience in the business “Right now the sausage and jerky and the snack sticks are a world to help him formulate his plan for success. popular thing with hunters and we have several options for that “I sent out a survey to over 50 of my hunting friends asking also.” them exactly what they like and wanted,” Troutman said. “NumTroutman, who is always looking at the bigger picture, ber one was cleanliness by far. And that is certainly one of the thinks the concept will work well in Winter Haven. “I have found things we want to be known for. Our shop is open so our customthrough my years in politics and business that the most important ers can see how we do things and can observe our process. From part of success is the relationships you build,” Troutman said. “If my time in Tallahassee I understand and believe in following those you can find the right person, like I have in Chris, someone who various food safety and cleanliness standards.” is willing to put in the time and effort, then that is half the battle.

Troutman, a man of faith, doesn’t believe things happen by Right now our focus is on this shop and providing the best service accident. “It is funny how doors sometimes open up,” Troutman and product we can. After hunting season we will focus our efsaid. “As I was brainstorming this idea I remembered a family forts on FFA, 4 H fair projects and organic farmers too. We have friend I had gone to school with and her husband was a butcher the facility to process a whole host of different meats.” at a local Frostproof grocery that had recently shut down and he “I think what we bring to this that makes it more than just was out of work. I called and spoke to him and asked what his a business deal is passion,” said Troutman. “Chris is passionate game processing experience was and he told me he had done deer, about cutting and processing to a high skill and I am passionate hogs, beef, caribou elk and even bear. I knew this was the person about hunting.”

I wanted.”

You can learn more by visiting their website at: www.chop-nTroutman’s family friend, Chris Branson, agreed it was a block.com or visit them in Winter Haven at 3386 Cypress Gardens blessing for the two to partner up.

Rd., Winter Haven, FL 33884 or call (863) 651-3411.

14 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Feed and Garden Supply, Inc. • Diamond Pet Food Distributor Wholesale dealer and breeder pricing available • Organic vegetable seeds • Earthboxes • Blueberry Fertilizer • Mills Magic Rose Mix • Rhizogen 2-4-2 Base * poultry manure fertilizer • Full line of garden supplies

Baby chicks Available

rden seeds

Vegetable plants & bulk ga

9513 N. Nebraska Ave. Tampa, FL 33612

813.932.9775 or 813.932.4333

DEALER

w w w. s h e l l s fe e d. co m

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 15

CF Industries’ Partnerships Bode Well for Partners and the Environment

by Jim Frankowiak Joan Kyle represents the NFL in Florida and she has a big and important job. No, it’s not that professional football league.

Joan is the Florida regional representative for the Nutrients for Life Foundation, an organization with the goal of providing science-based information to help educate people about the benefits of fertilizer. It is funded by the fertilizer and agribusiness community as well as private individuals.

“We work to inform the public of the role of nutrients in both the production of nutritious, abundant food and preservation of healthy green spaces through the development of educational resources and an outreach campaign to people across the country,” said Kyle. “Plant nutrients, especially nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, are required to keep our parks, gardens, playgrounds, sports fields and golf courses green and healthy in communities from coast to coast.”

“All of the information we have developed is based on soil and plant science and supported by agronomists, including those at the International Plant Nutrition Institute. Our educational

materials are based on a curriculum which has been reviewed by the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum complex and research organization,” she said.

The Foundation was formed in 2004 when eight of the world’s most respected fertilizer companies came together to help the public understand the value of fertilizer. “The Foundation sought to put together an organization that was science-based, factual, informative amd resourceful, while at the same time, putting the value of and need for fertilizer into perspective,” said Kyle.

Florida was chosen for regional representation because of the strong presence of the agricultural and fertilizer industry.

“Florida is the only state with such an abundance of phosphate and we are here to help others understand this invaluable natural resource and how it impacts our lives,” said Kyle. “It is also a wonderful state for growing things throughout the year and offers some excellent resources for field trips where true handson experiences are possible.” Those field trip opportunities

e n ts m p i h s Ne w ily! a d g n i ar r i v

Che ck o u t our g re at p r ic e s on M i s s Me je ans!

16 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 17

encompass varied agricultural operations producing different types of crops, as well as significant phosphate mining and processing facilities where fertilizer ingredients are produced. In our area, both CF Industries and Mosaic have substantial operations devoted to producing vital elements needed in the production of fertilizer.

Kyle is quick to note that plants, like people, need certain elements to grow and thrive. Among those common to both are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Plants grow thanks to these macronutrients, and we grow and thrive through the consumption of food that contains these important elements. “It is critical to note that fertilizers are drawn from nature and that farmers are replacing nutrients that are lost at each harvest when they apply fertilizer,” she said.

Another important fact that Kyle shares through her efforts and those of her team members through Florida is that the world’s food supply comes from just three percent of all of the land on earth. “Our growing world population needs an increasing amount of safe, affordable and nutritious food, however, we are limited by the supply of adequate farmland and need to grow more with less, therefore increasing efficiency,” she said. “Nutrients can enhance soil fertility, and minimize losses to the environment when the right product is applied at the right time, place and at rate using the 4 R Nutrient Stewardship Management Program. Nutrients also allow us to grow more on existing farmland without encroaching on space reserved for wildlife and wildlife habitat.”

The Foundation’s focus in Florida and other areas is the education of youth. “Young people are the policymakers of tomorrow, and we believe it is vital for them to recognize and appreciate the important role fertilizer plays with respect to our well-being today and in the future,” said Kyle.

You might wonder how just one person can successfully reach school age children throughout Florida. She uses information the Foundation has created with the assistance of subject experts and review by the Smithsonian Institution. Kyle and the Foundation offer a wealth of information on the Foundation’s website and actively seek out the assistance of educators throughout Florida and other groups who share their focus, such as Florida Farm Bureau, FFA, Florida Ag in the Classroom and University of Florida Extension Services.

“Our educational focus is statewide and we recognize that 66 percent of Florida students live in 12 counties,” said Kyle.

“That is where we have devoted our initial efforts in working with school districts and teachers to gain acceptance for and develop interest in and utilize our educational resources.” Nourishing the Planet in the 21st Century is the Foundation’s curriculum for elementary, middle and high school students.

“This free curriculum, created by Biological Sciences Curriculum Study and underwritten by the Foundation, provides hands-on classroom applications to help students realize the role

18 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

of science in meeting the challenge of feeding our growing population,” said Kyle. “Each lesson addresses key objectives from the National Science Foundations Standards.” The curriculum includes six lessons.

The plant and soil science curriculum for elementary students follows the same concepts with five lessons for hands-on classroom application.

The lessons are designed to help students understand the different aspects of plant growth and interaction with the environment and engage them in the nature of science through inquiry.

“They are also designed to provide students with the opportunity to practice and refine their critical thinking skills important for science pursuits and for decision-making in everyday life,” said Kyle. The lessons utilize the following principles: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate.

In addition to working with teachers and students across Florida, Kyle and the Foundation have partnered with FFA through the creation of the “Helping Communities Grow” chapter recognition program offered to FFA’s 320 chapters in Florida.

Through this partnership, students in each participating FFA chapter develop community-based programs based upon the Foundation’s curriculum, Nourishing the Plant in the 21st Century. In the spring of this year, the top three chapters were awarded grants: $6,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place. Chapters who did not place but entered projects receive $300 mini-grants for their participation. Awards are presented at the annual Florida FFA State Convention & Leadership Conference each year.

This initiative encourages FFA students to help the public become better informed about plant nutrients, fertilizers and related agricultural issues through educational, community building and hands-on activities. During the project, students gained skills in leadership, public speaking, team building and community awareness while increasing knowledge of soil science and agricultural issues.

“I truly believe there’s no better way to learn than through hands-on activities,” said Foundation Executive Director Harriet Wegmeyer. “These students have not only learned about the importance of fertilizer in their communities, but they have inspired others around them to learn as well.”

Kyle and the Foundation are pleased with the progress that has been made in Florida over the past two years. “The acceptance, involvement and support we have received from teachers, the industry and allied groups have been most gratifying. We have more to do, and we look forward to added outreach in Florida,” said Kyle.

For additional information about the Nutrients for Life Foundation, visit: www. nutrientsforlife.org.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 19

TAMPA BAY’S FISHING REPORT

Teaching Beginners to Fish

by Captain Woody Gore When someone thinks “beginner” most instructors envision a young angler, somewhere between the ages of 6 to 16. But what do you do when your beginner is in their 30s, 40s or older and considering taking up fishing for the first time?

Working with youngsters, I’ve found that they are bolder, lack fear and the awareness of the potentials fishing has to offer. Sometimes the challenge with these young anglers is helping them understand how to stay safe while recognizing the fact that fishing does have its dangers. However, it can be a wonderful experience and pastime when done correctly.

As is true with most sports many players learn the fundamentals of those respective sports by receiving instruction from teaching professionals. These professionals walk their students through the basics, show them proper form and technique, and help them put what they learn into actual practice.

But who do apprentice anglers turn to when they want to learn how to fish?

The fact is most beginning anglers do not take fishing lessons from angling professionals. Typically, they are introduced to the sport by their fathers, grandfathers, older siblings or friends, who often have limited fishing experience themselves. While these angling mentors have nothing but good intentions, they may unknowingly pass on ineffective techniques and bad angling habits to their students. The majority of fishing programs are designed more for those already having a basic understanding of fishing, rather than the angling novice. This being the case, most beginners are dependent upon friends or family members to show them the ropes. Since you may be called on to perform this duty in the near future, here are a few helpful tips for teaching novices how to fish.

Patience, Patience, Patience - a Must! Before you attempt to impart your “fishing knowledge” upon a beginner, you must make sure your patience level is at an all-time high. This is even more important if the “student” happens to be a young child. Be prepared to field questions that may seem simplistic or downright ridiculous, however you must remember, if they knew

20 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

the answer they wouldn’t be asking you the question. Get ready to witness plenty of rookie mistakes, including some horrendous tangles and backlashes. Beginners are going to make mistakes and seldom get it right the first time, but at least they’re trying. Some of the principal challenges facing you as the instructor will be delivering the information in a manner that’s easily understood, answering questions clearly, making sure you are teaching proper techniques, and remaining calm, cool and collected at all

times.

Fishing Essentials and Tools Prior to getting into actual techniques, be sure to familiarize the novice with the tools of the sport. Remember, while the operation of this equipment may be second nature to you, elementary tasks like clicking a reel into gear, flipping over the bail or adjusting the drag may seem confusing to a beginner. Make sure they start out with a rod and reel combination that’s easy to use. Spinning or spin-cast outfits are easiest to learn and will help minimize potential problems, such as tangles and backlashes, often associated with conventional or bait casting tackle. Having fished and taught others to fish for many years, I consider instruction on how to use and operate an open face spinning reel is the easiest to learn and teach.

It’s always a good idea to match the outfit to the style and species being targeted. So make sure the tackle combination is appropriate for both the angler and angling application.

Never start with a combination that’s too heavy or difficult to use, especially if the beginner is a child. Finally, spool the reel with quality fishing line that’s right for the job. Following the manufacturer’s recommendations, fill the spool to near capacity.

If you overfill, you are more likely to encounter all sorts of line problems.

Practice-Practice-Practice! It’s best not to wait until you are on the water to go over the basics with a beginning angler. Discuss and demonstrate things like increasing the drag, casting, setting the hook, cranking on a fish, opening/closing the bail and other common actions. Attempting to teach the basics with the added distractions of wind, waves and cramped conditions will make

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 21

22 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” Captain Woody Gore is the area’s top outdoor fishing guide. Guiding and fishing the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years; he offers world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories.

Single or Multi-boat Group Charters are all the same. With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament.

Just tell him what you need and it’s done.

Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE. COM, send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give him a call at 813-477-3814. www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Pets on Parade Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 11am

Please pre-register at the store.

All types of pets welcome!

Bring your pet dressed its best to compete for prizes!

w availa s no i bl d e e e

.

ls

t e d

ai

Cooler weather is coming… September’s gone and fall is here. We should start to get some relief from the summer’s heat and see water temperatures begin falling. Fishing charters this time of year offer plenty of actions on all your favorite species.

However, if you’re looking for a good fish dinner, we have plenty of edible fish to choose from.

Redfish - It’s that time of year for the Tampa Bay redfish.

We will see some pre-spawn schools feeding to prepare for the spawn. Spawning season usually runs in the Tampa Bay area from August through November with this month being the peak of the season. It’s not likely that the past winter freeze will have an effect on the timing, but keep that in mind when you check your favorite spot that held fish last year and not this year. They might be late, so keep checking, they’ll most likely show up in a couple of weeks. Live sardines always work but don’t forget cut bait. A cut threadfin, sardine, pinfish or ladyfish is hard for a redfish to turn down. If all else fails, there’s always shrimp, everything eats shrimp Trout - Tampa fishing charters for trout have been one of the best years I have seen in a long time. Last month was another good month and I am looking forward to it continuing through the year.

With water temperatures hovering around 90, continue to fish any grass flat in the 3ft - 5ft range, with good tidal movement and a good source of bait. As temperatures fall, move to some of the shallow flats with good potholes and depth changes. Trout aren’t picky eaters. They will take almost anything. Sardines work but remember trout love shrimp. And they’re fun to catch on artificial lures like jerk baits or gulp shrimp.

Snook - Snook season is set to open September 1 on the Atlantic Coastal waters, however the current harvest prohibition of snook in all of Florida’s Gulf of Mexico, Everglades National Park and Monroe County state and federal waters will remain in effect until August 31, 2012 to allow the snook population additional time to rebound and provide time to complete a full stock assessment. Catch and release of Gulf Coast snook is still permitted at this time and the bites been good. Incoming or outgoing tides, and whitebait or artificial lures will do the trick.

Best of the Rest - The mackerel bite has been respectable all summer. And recently the big blue fish bite has been excellent.

Great to catch, blues have a strong fish taste but are quite tasty when fried. The bite has tapered off a little last month but should pick back up as water temperatures cool. Any of our region’s ship channels and range makers will hold fish. The snapper bite is looking good for the rest of the year and grouper opened September 16.

F

Tampa Bay Fishing Report

4 Annual th

Liqu id

you may want to also show them how to clean, fillet and perhaps offer a good recipe to cook the fish. After all, many fishermen consider preparing and eating their fresh catch to be an essential part of the overall angling experience.

!

your teaching job considerably more difficult. However, if the angler has a fundamental understanding of operation and technique before he or she arrives on the fishing scene, it will be much easier for them to handle a real time fishing situation.

Whenever possible and usually prior to your first actual fishing trip, take the beginner to an open park or field to practice casting. Use a casting “dummy plug” or a small sinker, you can also remove the hooks from an old lure. Help them develop the motion and timing by choosing a target and casting towards it. Take time to demonstrate the proper techniques used when fighting a fish. And, depending upon their age, now might also be a good time to teach them how to tie on a hook using a simple Palomar knot.

On the Water Instruction Assuming your beginning angler has the appropriate tackle and has covered basic techniques, you should be ready to go fishing. If the angling student is not used to being out on the water, only plan a short half day trip, so you can observe their behavior. I strongly recommend not taking them offshore unless the conditions warrant a smooth ride, anchorage and return, the last thing you want is to have them get seasick.

Once you’re on the spot and everyone is ready to start fishing, you can begin providing some field instruction. When using live bait, show them how to select, handle and hook it properly. If lures will be used, show the beginner how long to let it sink, how fast to crank, and how to correctly retrieve the artificial lure for lifelike action.

It’s important you pay close attention to your angling student and don’t expect to instruct a beginner and do much fishing yourself. While this seems possible in theory, trust me, it simply does not work. For an example, suppose you get into a really good bite and the action starts heating up, it may be difficult for you to lay down your rod and help the rookie, but be prepared to do it anyway. Keep in mind that teaching a newcomer how to fish requires a certain amount of self-sacrifice and control.

Normally the rule of “beginner’s luck” rings true and the angling student will hook up fairly quickly. When this happens, remind them to stay calm and in control, which is often easier said than done, and apply what they’ve learned during practice. Often during on the water instruction and fishing we also need to serve as the angling coach, walking the beginner through the various stages of hooking, fighting and landing the fish. Stay with them, providing instruction throughout the entire process, from the moment the hook is set to landing the fish. Be sure to stay calm yourself, wildly shouting out instructions will only create tension and confusion. This is very important: They’re should be only one designated angling instructor, so make sure all advice is coming from only the designated instructor, and not from multiple persons on the trip.

There’s no guarantee the beginner will be successful in landing his or her first fish. If the fish is lost, let them know that this is simply a part of the sport and sometimes the fish wins.

Compliment the beginner on their efforts, review any errors and offer solutions for those errors. But most importantly encourage the neophyte to get back out there and hook another one.

As the Trip Winds Down After the beginner lands a fish, the instruction is not over. Congratulations are always in order for a job well done. The education must continue to show the beginner how to handle a fish, remove the hook, and release or store it properly. If it’s his or her first fish, you definitely want to preserve the memory, so take plenty of pictures with the angler proudly displaying their catch.

If they’re planning on keeping the catch for the dinner table,

Se

e st ore for

e g u a l f o m Ca amily!

le f o h w e h t r fo Western Fashion

SOUTHSIDE Farm & Pet Supply

(813) 752-2379 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

3014 S. Jim Redman Parkway (Hwy. 39 South) October 2011 - Saturday INTHEFIELD8am MAGAZINE 23 Hours: Monday - 6pm

s errie. b f o a etern Florid k r a i r m es emieegetabl r p A v

and

Come Grow With Us 100 Stearn Ave. Plant City, FL 33563 Tel: 813.752.5111 www.wishfarms.com While pondering on what to write for this column this morning I suddenly recalled an anonymous article I felt was not only timely, but funny as well. Since no one knows who wrote it I will attempt to rewrite the article as best I can remember, with updates to fit the time.

In 1995 it was discovered that Noah was living in the United States.

The Lord spoke to Noah and said, “In one year I am going to make it rain and cover the whole earth with water until all is destroyed. Noah, I want you to save the righteous people and two of every living animal on earth.

Therefore, I am commanding you to build an ark.”

In a flash of lightning, God delivers the specifications for an ark. Fearful and trembling, Noah takes the plans and agrees to build the ark.

“Remember,” says the Lord, “You must complete the ark and bring everything aboard in one year.”

Exactly one year later, a fierce storm cloud covers the earth and all the seas of the earth go into tumult. The Lord sees Noah sitting in on his front porch weeping.

“Noah!” he shouts. “Where is the ark?”

“Lord, please forgive me!” cries Noah. “I did my best, but there were big problems. First, I had to get a permit for construction and your plans did not comply with city codes. I had to hire an engineer and redraw the plans. Then, I got into a fight with OSHA over whether the ark needed a fire sprinkler system and

24 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

floatation devices. Next my neighbor claimed I was violating zoning ordinances by building the ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city.”

“I had a problem getting enough wood for the ark because the lumber company said there was a ban on cutting trees to protect the spotted owl. So, no owls on the ark.”

“The carpenters formed a union and went out on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Union.

Now I have 22 carpenters on the ark, but still no owls.”

“When I started rounding up the other animals, I got sued by an animal rights group. They objected to me taking only two of each kind on board. Just when I got the suit dismissed, the EPA notified me that I could not complete the ark without an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood. They didn’t take very kindly on the idea that they had no jurisdiction over the conduct of the Creator of the Universe.”

“Then the Army Corps of Engineers demanded a map of the proposed new flood plain. I sent them a globe. Right now I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the EEOC that I am practicing discrimination by not taking godless, unbelieving people aboard the ark.”

“The IRS has seized all my assets, claiming that I am building the ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes. I just received a notice from the State of Florida stating that I owe some kind of user tax and failed to register the ark as a recreational watercraft.”

“Finally, the ACLU got the courts to issue an injunction against construction of the ark, saying that since God is flooding the earth, it is a religious event and therefore unconstitutional. I really don’t think I can finish the ark for another four years!”

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Noah cries loudly. The sky begins to clear. The sun begins to shine and the Gulf of Mexico and all the seas begin to calm down. A rainbow appears in the sky, and Noah looks up with a smile.

Noah speaks to the Lord, “You mean you are not going to destroy the earth?”

“No,” says the Lord sadly. “The government already has.”

What next? Did you ever stop to think if “Con” is the opposite of “Pro,” is Congress the opposite of progress?

Only in America do we have so many laws. We make things difficult, but we still live in the greatest country in the world.

Yes, we are the best, but when you think about it, we do strange things, like making the sick walk all the way to the back in a drugstore to get a prescription, while healthy people buy cigarettes in the front. Banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

One last short story. Last July my wife and I were driving back from the mountains in Blairsville, Georgia on I-75 when I noticed a lady driving a Cadillac in the lane next to me, with her face up to the rearview mirror putting on her mascara, while traveling 75 miles per hour. In a few seconds she was halfway in my lane still working on her eyes, and I laid on the horn. It frightened me so bad that I dropped my electric shaver, which knocked the Hershey bar out of my other hand. In all the confusion of keeping my car straight using my knees on the steering wheel, my cell phone fell from my ear into my diet Coke that was wedged between my legs, splashing it all over my pants and ruining my cells phone. Plus, I lost an important call too!

There should be a law against women drivers on the Interstate.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 25

Perfectly Fresh. Perfectly Priced.

VEGETABLE SALE

Recipes Courtesy of The Florida Department of Agriculture

Fri. & Sat. October 21st & 22nd • 8 am - 5 pm Fri. & Sat. November 18th & 19th • 8 am - 5 pm

Call in your order today or just drop by and see us during the sale!

Savory Tomato Basil Chicken Ingredients 1 whole chicken, cut into 4 pieces 3 large ripe tomatoes 1 large onion 3 cloves fresh garlic 1/2 cup fresh basil 1 tablespoon salt kosher salt to taste fresh ground pepper to taste

Pecans Coming in November!

Preparation Put everything except chicken into a food processor and pulse until fairly smooth. Place chicken pieces flat in a baking dish and spread liberally with mixture. Bake covered until chicken is mostly done through to the bone and then just uncover at the end for 10-15 minutes to get a little brown.

Southwestern Produce Company 1510 Sydney Rd. • Plant City, FL

(813) 754-1500 or (813) 757-0096 www.southwesternproduce.com

Yield 6 servings

Tomato Basil Soup

Our new web site is now live!

Order online and we’ll have it ready for you to pick up.

Give us a call or visit www.southwesternproduce.com to be placed on our mailing list for monthly notification.

Ingredients 3 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper 2 cups yellow onions, chopped 6 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 28 ounces canned plum tomatoes with their juice 4 cups fresh basil leaves, packed 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves 1 quart chicken stock Preparation Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss together the fresh tomatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread the tomatoes in one layer in a shallow baking pan and roast for 45 minutes. In an 8-quart stockpot on medium heat, sauté the onions and garlic with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, butter, and red pepper flakes for 10 minutes, until the onions start to brown. Add the canned tomatoes, basil, thyme, and chicken stock. Add the ovenroasted tomatoes, including the liquid on the baking sheet. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Pass through a blender on coarsest setting. Serve hot or cold.

Yield 6 servings

26 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

WALK-INS WELCOME www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Fresh from the Farm to your Freezer! ***All items are 8 pounds unless otherwise noted.***

Beans & Peas Fordhooks .............................. $22 Baby Butter Bean ................... $13 Green Beans .......................... $13 Pole Beans ............................. $13 Speckled Butter Beans ............ $13 Blackeye Peas ........................ $13 Butter Peas ............................. $13 Conk Peas .............................. $22 Crowder Peas......................... $13 Green Peas ............................ $13 Mixed Peas ........................... $13 Sugar Snap Peas .................... $15 Zipper Peas ............................ $13 Corn & Greens White Corn ............................. $13 Yellow Corn ........................... $13 Cream White Corn 4# ............. $ 6 Cream Yellow Corn 4# ........... $ 6 Collard Greens....................... $12 Mustard Greens ..................... $12 Turnip Greens ........................ $12 Spinach .................................. $12 October 2011

Other Vegetables Cut Okra ................................ $12 Breaded Okra ........................ $12 Whole Okra............................ $12 Sliced Yellow Squash ............. $12 Sliced Zucchini ....................... $12 Brussel Sprouts ...................... $12 Chopped Broccoli 5# .............. $ 5 Baby Carrots .......................... $12 Cauliflower ............................ $13 Mixed Vegetables .................. $13 Soup Blend............................. $13 Fruit & Peanuts Blueberries 5# ....................... $15 Blackberries 5#...................... $15 Raspberries 5# ...................... $15 Cranberries 5# ...................... $15 Mango Chunks 5# ................. $15 Dark Sweet Cherries 5#......... $15 Peaches .................................. $15 Green Jumbo Peanuts............ $15 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 27

Beau & Meg

Shamblin

Stable Wedding Reception for 160 people

Phosphate Operations “Helping Farmers Feed a Hungry World” Please join CF Industries in supporting community events: 24th Annual Hillsborough River & Waterways Cleanup

Cross Creek Ranch

Presented by Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful Saturday, November 19, 2011 Registration: 8 am – Cleanup: 9 am to 11 am Lowry Park Boat Ramp - 7525 North Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33604 Event also includes competitive, educational and family fun activities.

For more information, visit www.KeepTampaBayBeautiful.org Wedding Planner, Emelie with Cross Creek Ranch Yockey, Owner, Bobbie McSherry

Story and photos by Cheryl Kuck Portrait of Bride & Groom Courtesy of Courtney Turpyn This is the second time The Grub Station has reviewed a place that does not serve food they prepare themselves or in-house.

In both instances, the establishment received a review because it was unique in its own right and folks should know about unusual and excellent establishments within the county.

Years ago, I wrote some stories about Bonnie McSherry, then a well-known interior decorator, who periodically allowed county arts groups to hold “paint-out’s” on her picturesque 10 acre ranch in Dover.

As friends spread the word that Bonnie had natural talent, an eye for beauty and detail, she was soon putting her 10 picturesque acres of land to good use as her business began evolving from interior design and décor to event planning.

Since then, it has been my pleasure to attend several charity events held on the McSherry property.

Each one was totally individual. Some were totally country-themed while others, like the Beau and Meg Shamblin wedding, were the epitome of elegance.

On one occasion, there might be a petting zoo for kids a horseback riding class, line-dancing lessons or a Clydesdale-pulled wagon for a fun-filled hayride around the property.

At another event, it could be a Clydesdaledrawn Cinderella-esque carriage ride in the moonlight for a departing bride and groom after a waltz on a rose petal strewn dance floor.

“We are designers, decorators and planners whose motto is ‘exceeding your expectations’…it’s all about attention to even the smallest detail,” said McSherry.

Her staff uses a ruler to line up every individual place setting and measures the exact equal distance from one setting to another. When the event gets up into the three and four hundreds, that sure is a whole lot of detail to oversee.

That perfectionism has gotten them several awards, including Florida Brides Magazine Editor’s Choice and listing as a coveted Martha Stewart approved wedding vendor, shown on both www.wed-

28 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

dingwire.com, www.marthastewartweddings.com and on www.marthastewart.com. They are rated in the top five percent of more than 100,000 wedding event planners and locations.

Bookings for events are scheduled from September to May. There are no weddings scheduled in the hottest months of July and August with present bookings through November 2013.

There are few locations who can boast of a three bedroom guest house where dinner for the bridal party could be held or where bridesmaids or parents can spend the night before the big event.

The owners live on the property, so you don’t have far to go if you have any last minute concerns.

A pampered stress-free bride can also spend the day getting ready for her wedding or stay over-night in the bride’s guest cottage while the groom and groomsmen can watch sports on a giant flat screen television, dress and relax in the newly outfitted man cave.

The ranch is soon to have the addition of a country wedding chapel with 100-year-old church pews and a solid maple floor that used to be a basketball court, purchased from an old school building in Georgia.

Some of the non-wedding types of events held at The Cross Creek Ranch are the annual South Rotary Club, Mad Hatters Tea Party, The Easter Seal’s Country Affair, Brandon Eco, Tampa College spring prom, to name just a few.

The Grub Station is written every month because folks want to know about the best, most fun, elegant or interesting places in the county.

We try our best to honor that trust by giving an honest review. Even if it’s not “your thing” you know it’s the best of that type of food, restaurant or, in this case, special events venue we can give.

Whatever the theme or occasion, you can rest assured that Bonnie and Sean Mc Sherry, event planner Emelie Yockey and staff, will make it a one-of-akind event to remember.

Honestly and simply put, you can’t beat the atmosphere and perfectionism that the Cross Creek Ranch brings to everything it does.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

CF Industries is Committed to P r e s e r v in g a n d P r o t e c t in g W a t e r CF believes in and practices water stewardship. We are one of the largest re-users of reclaimed water, recycling 95 percent of the water used in our phosphate mining process. For every gallon of reclaimed water we use, we save a gallon of well water from being pumped. This constant search for water efficiency has been going on for more than 30 years at CF! CF volunteer hat embroidered with “Do the Right Thing” … just the right accessory for a day spent cleaning one of Florida’s precious waterways.

CF Industries volunteers are pictured above at a 2009 Fort DeSoto Beach Clean Up event. These fun, family events are just one way CF demonstrates our commitment to clean water and healthy shorelines.

10608 Paul Buchman Highway  Plant City, FL 33565  813-782-1591

2520 Guy Verger Boulevard  Tampa, FL 336052011  813-247-5531 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com October INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 29 www.cfindustries.com

• Land Clearing • Demolition • Drainage • Ditch and Pond Cleaning and Mowing • Mulching & Mowing of Heavy Underbrush • Free Estimates

Bus: 813-986-4242 Cell: 813-293-4242

rance Shamblin Wedding Ent to Carriage House Stable

Candy Table In

side Stable

Cross Creek Ranch

Country Atmosphere with elegance; Weddings, Reunions, Retreat Getaway Location: 10 acre ranch facility at 12950 E. Wheeler Rd. in Dover Phone: (813) 651 – 0934 Hours: By appointment Prices: Depend on the event and number of guests Catering: Extensive catering individually organized for each event.

Alessi Bakery creates all cakes.

Drinks: non-alcoholic or alcoholic according to event preferences Seating: Intimate events or accommodate up to as many as 400 Event Organizer and wedding planner on-site Online: www.crosscreekranchfl.com Links: From web site to preferred florists, caterers, entertainment, etc. se

uest Hou

Bride’s G

E-mail: info@crosscreekranchfl.com

Guest House U

30 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

sed for Pre-Wed

October 2011

ding Preparatio

n of Bridesmai ds

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 31

3386 Cypress Gardens Road | Winter Haven Serving Hillsborough, Polk, Hardee & Highlands Counties

Specializing in Livestock & Wild Game Processing cattle

hogs

exotic

deer

hogs • cattle • elk • deer • exotic Find us on

/chopnblock

863-651-3411 w w w. ch o p - n - b l o c k . c o m Andrew Bryan

Ag Technologies Ag Technologies is a company established to service and support agriculture’s newest emerging industry, precision agriculture. We are the largest Trimble Agriculture dealer in North America and our central focus is to make the producer more efficient.

Precision farming is a site-specific agricultural practice that allows the producer to precisely manage crops. Precision agriculture integrates a suite of technologies that retain the benefits of large-scale mechanization but recognizes local variations occurring in soil properties, fertilizer, water, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, crop variety, seed density, and the methods of applications.

The current core technologies of precision agriculture include, GIS soil sampling, variable rate fertilizer, remote sensing, guidance, data management and yield monitoring.

Information management is key to the success of precision ag and your bottom line. GPS has become commonplace on the farm and equipment has progressed to the point that much of the information about your farming operation can be automatically collected at the time of the operation. The majority of farm equipment today has some sort of data logging capabilities. Guidance

32 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

systems, auto-steer systems, application controllers and yield monitors offer the means of gathering precise on-the-go information, which can be used not only for analyzing the productivity and bottom-line costs of this year’s operation, but can also guide production decisions in the future. In addition to operational events (tillage and planting), soil type, topography, GPS-based soil samples, application of lime, fertilizer and pesticides, remote sensed imagery and real time on-thego sensors are additional layers of information that need to be incorporated in the farm database and used for effective production decisions.

Putting all of the gathered information to good use is the challenge. The technology offered by Ag Technologies will do just that.

Ag Technologies represents the precision ag industry leader, Trimble Navigation (TRMB). We have been working in this industry, in some cases, since the very beginning of many products and services. We have a combined experience of more than 20 years, helping us understand not only where this industry has come from, but where it is heading. Many on our staff have extensive agriculture and electronics background. The

October 2011

reason for choosing persons with these combined backgrounds is because we have found that this industry demands its own service and support staff that can deal specifically with precision ag issues and how they relate to individual operations.

As with any new technology, products and services change often. Through our constant research and development of new product offerings, we are able to determine how the precision ag industry can best serve the growers of the southeast. Our team of experts at Ag Technologies can put you ahead of the game with the most up to date technology available.

To learn more about how Ag Technologies can improve your bottom line, contact Andrew Bryan at 941.725.8046 or via email at abryan@agtechllc.com.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 33

Helping Adults & Children Make Nutritious Food Choices A 40-Year Legacy

34 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

sters. 4-H EFNEP is a nutrition education program for youth ages 5 – 18 that provides innovative ways to help young people learn how to make wise choices that will benefit their health.

They gain nutrition and health knowledge and develop skills related to the handling and preparation of food.

“The goals of this program are similar to those of the adult effort,” said Hunter. “We want our youth participants to understand the principles of nutrition, physical activity and overall good health. We want them to improve the variety of foods they eat with special emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and calcium goods. Our lessons provide them with the necessary skills they need to select and prepare low-cost nutritious foods that are safe to eat.”

The lessons taught include the MyPlate food guide, exercising, daily minimum recommendations for healthy diets, food safety, reading food labels and portion controls.

“Our educators use a range of props to keep the attention of our youthful participants and permit them to easily relate to the lessons being taught,” said Hunter. “We also include tasting sessions during our lessons to introduce participants to healthy and nutritious foods such as yogurt parfaits, fruit smoothies, cottage cheese salad, ambrosia fruit salad and English muffin pizza.”

While EFNEP is working in Hillsborough County, more needs to be done, particularly with respect to youth nutrition based upon the findings of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service several years ago, which indicated: • Only 2 percent of youth meet all of the recommendations of the MyPlate food guide, and 16 percent do not meet any.

• Less than 15 percent of school children eat the recommended servings of fruit.

• Less than 20 percent eat the recommended servings of vegetables.

• About 25 percent eat the recommended servings of grain.

• Only 30 percent consumer the recommended milk group servings.

• Only 19 percent of girls ages 9 to 19 meet the recommended intakes for calcium.

“Even though our programs in Hillsborough County are some of the top performers in the state, there is more to be done,” said Hunter. For information on classes for both youth and adults, contact Hunter at 813-744-5519, Extension 121, or email her at hunterjd@hillsboroughcounty.org.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

,

FEED AND FARM SUPPLY

Don’t Driv e the Extra Mi We Match le Competito rs’ Prices!

✔ Traeger Grills 10% off Rust Inhibitor Salt 80lbs $11.49 Rock Salt 80lbs $5.99 ✔ All Pet & Livestock Wormer 10% Off ✔ Custom-Built Chicken Coops on Wheels

✔ Free Water Me Testing $849.00 ThisnAtion Custom-built $100 odfffor ! system to fit your needs ✔ Mineral Feeders starting at $399.00

✔ 2 ½ Gallon Kills All $39.99 ✔ Cattlemen’s 13 $7.49/bag ✔ Whole Corn $10.49/bag ✔ Rye Grass $34.99/bag * Prices Subject to Change

,

For the last four decades the University of Florida and Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Service have been working hard to help limited resource families make nutritious food choices and ultimately improve their overall health. This is a free program entitled Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) that is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

EFNEP Agent Jackie Hunter, who now directs the program, has been involved in this initiative for over 30 years and “it is working in Hillsborough County,” she said. “We served over 1,000 families last year, and we enjoyed a graduation rate of over 75 percent. More than 80 percent of our participants improved in one or more nutritional practices such as making healthy food choices and reading nutrition labels, with almost one-half improving in three or more areas.”

“An equal number of participants improved in one or more food resource management practices such as comparing prices and using grocery lists,” she said. “And for every $1 spent on EFNEP programming, $10.64 is saved on healthcare costs and $2.48 is saved on food expenditures. That tells us EFNEP is working and working well in our county.”

The EFNEP program provides education on nutrition, meal planning, shopping skills, cooking skills and food safety to individuals responsible for feeding children. These classes are free and held in a group setting at a variety of community locations. Classes are offered in Spanish on a limited basis. Upon completion, graduates receive a certificate from the University of Florida.

Among the topics covered in classes are Choose My Plate, the latest federal good guide designed to help consumers make healthier food choices for themselves, their families and their children. Label reading, meal planning, saving money on food, the importance of eating breakfast, smart snacking and food safety are added subject areas offered during the classes. There are also lessons on feeding infants and young children and healthy eating for mom and baby. Twenty-four hour food recalls are conducted to gauge knowledge and behavior at the beginning of the class, and then at the end to measure lessons learned and how those lessons are being applied.

Classes are taught

by Community Nutrition Educators Mary Owens, E. Mae Allen and Pamela Bradford in the adult program. The youth staff consists of Norma Dorta, Tonia Torres and Tony Borrero.

In addition to the adult program, there is an added initiative geared to young-

,

by Jim Frankowiak

6th

Strawberry Boots are Here!

,

Come to the Annual Antioch Days November 5th 12735 Knights Griffin Rd.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com 12650

813.986.5611 • Open 7 Days

October 2011 FL I33592 NTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 35 N. McIntosh Rd., Thonotosassa,

New Legislation Reflects How Agricultural Interests, Legislators & County Successfully Work Together

by Jim Frankowiak The recent meeting of the Hillsborough County Agricultural Economic Development Council provided an opportunity for attendees to see how ag interests, legislators and the county have worked together to the benefit of agriculture. The path, however, has not been an easy one.

“During the 2010 legislative session, then Governor Charlie Crist vetoed both House Bill 981 and 7103,” noted Stephen Gran, Acting Director of Economic Development for Hillsborough County. “The veto of House Bill 981 was overridden in last fall’s special session, while the veto of the General Agriculture Bill, HB 7103, was overridden during the regular session this year.” House Bill 7103 became effective July 1.

Gran highlighted aspects of HB 7103 that had particular relevance to Hillsborough County and its agricultural community during his presentation. He noted the bill prohibits counties from enforcing any regulations on land classified as agricultural if the activity is regulated by best management practices, interim measures or regulations adopted as rules under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. “However, the legislation does allow a county to enforce its wetland protection acts adopted before July 1, 2003.

This aspect of the legislation eliminates the chance of regulatory duplication,” he said.

“There is a good deal of tailwater pond work taking place by growers interested in reducing groundwater use and the new legislation recognizes water management districted regulatory authority, thereby helping to streamline the permitting process and regulatory oversight.” Gran said county staff is in the process of reviewing the Land Development Code and Development Review Procedures Manual to determine overall applicability of this new statute.

Another aspect of the new statute with local importance is the prohibition of counties from imposing an assessment or fee for stormwater management on land classified as agricultural if the operated has a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, an environmental resource permit, a works-of the-district permit or implements best management practices.

“Implementation will involve coordination with the Property Appraisers Office, Tax Collectors Office and County Stormwater staff,” said Gran.

The new statute also created the Agricultural Land Acknowledgement Act to ensure that agricultural practices will not be subject to interference by residential use of land contiguous to agricultural land. County Development Services Department is aware of this requirement and is developing a plan to require the documentation at permit intake, noted Gran. “This will be a requirement for a signed affidavit which will become part of

36 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

the building permit process and hopefully protect farmers from nuisance-type complaints from new residential neighbors,” he said.

Hillsborough County had exempted local business taxes for those who sell farm, aquaculture, grove, horticultural, floricultural or tropical fish farm products which they produced.

However, “in some parts of the state counties did not recognize this exemption for anyone other than individual producers. The new legislation stipulates this exemption applies not only to individual producers, but partnerships and corporations, as well, so long as they sell what they grow,” said Gran.

Though overridden during the special session held last fall, Gran noted an important aspect of HB 981 for the local ag community. “As growers were looking for ways to reduce groundwater use during freezes, there was substantial greenhouse development, some covering an acre or more,” he said. “However, these new structures, even though used for agricultural purposes, were being were taxed at the rate of $1,000 per acre. That was proving to be a distinct disincentive to erect greenhouses to achieve freeze protection without water use.” Gran said that situation has been addressed and corrected.

“Overall, we are pleased with the results that have been achieved through the cooperative efforts of organizations such as Farm Bureau at the state and local levels, county government and our legislators. This has had a positive impact on Hillsborough County,” he concluded.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 37

GENE GRAY: A Friend of Agriculture

by Jim Frankowiak Had Gene Gray had his way in 1976, there’s a good chance he would not have been recognized by Hillsborough County Farm Bureau as “A Friend of Agriculture,” recognition that he was awarded at the most recent Farm Bureau annual meeting.

“I had dual majors in public relations and advertising while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications at the University of South Florida,” said Gray. “Although I wanted to work in government public relations, I enjoyed and was good at advertising.” He did find a position with a Tampa advertising and public relations agency, but it was short-lived and Gray began his 34 year with Hillsborough County government in 1977 as a member of the information services staff, working under Jack Espinosa, one of three mentors that have helped shape Gray’s career. “The first was Professor Walt Griscti at USF,” said Gray.

“He was a retired Army public information officer and though we were different as could be he took me under his wing and offered guidance while I was a student and beyond.”

Espinosa was the second “and he helped me learn how to function efficiently and professionally in government. The third was former County Administrator Fred Karl, who appointed me his special assistant for community outreach, including the initiation of liaison with Hillsborough County’s agriculture industry. I am blessed to have received the guidance and support of those three fine men.”

Gray’s career with the county evolved from public information/communications to economic development. He has served as Director of the Information Services and Administrative Services departments and had been the Administrator of the Tourist Development Council for over 20 years until his retirement earlier this year. The Council recommends to the County Commission the allocation of Tourist Tax funding for the promotion and development of Tampa and Hillsborough County as a tourism and convention destination. “Years of strategic reinvestment of Tourist Tax revenues by the Council and County Commission have helped to position Tampa and Hillsborough County as the second leading visitor destination in the State of Florida, the number one destination in the world.”

In 1990, then County Administrator Fred Karl appointed Gray his Special Assistant with responsibility for extensive community outreach. “That was a time when the relationship between the county and agriculture interests was adversarial,” said Gray. “I devoted the first six months in that position getting orientated and working to identify the issues. We determined that agriculture in the county was being taken for granted. There was a hostile approach to regulation which had gone from minimal to heavy levels.”

“We created a task force of industry representatives to identify the issues and challenges and to define the economic impact of agriculture on Hillsborough County,” said Gray. “The initial findings of the task force were presented to the Board of County Commissioners and that led to the formation of Agriculture Economic Development Council. Among those findings was the

38 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

heavy burden of regulation, land use code regulations written with an urban bias by urban planners and duplication of regulation.”

“The Board also learned of the significant impact of agriculture on the county and the need to retain and expand the many benefits the industry provides.” In 2009, agriculture commodities achieved nearly $778,000,000 in sales and provided jobs for more than 20,000 persons. “It is obvious from an economic development standpoint that agriculture is an industry that must be retained and nurtured,” said Gray, who noted that of the more than 1,000-square-miles of landmass in the county, 38 percent of that area is used for production agriculture.

“The support and engagement of industry representatives was the key to the success of the task force and the work of the AEDC now,” Gray said.

Gray was born in south Florida, raised in north Florida and spent summers working on his uncle’s farm in North Carolina. “Those summers gave me good exposure to agriculture and an understanding for the challenges the industry faces. It is important for people in the county to recognize that agriculture is not just a way of life, it is a business. And for Hillsborough County, agriculture is an important business.”

To help foster better relations with the agriculture industry, Gray created the County’s agriculture development and promotion program and in 1998 led the formation of the Hillsborough County Agriculture Economic Development Council. The Council has and continues to address the many issues affecting the economic viability of agribusiness in a growing metropolitan area.

One of the most significant achievements of the council and the County, according to Gray, was the work done that resulted in the consolidation of the strawberry research center at Dover with the former Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Manatee County to a new location at Balm. “The Board of County Commissioners, at the recommendation of the Council, purchased the land and provided funding for site development.

That University of Florida/IFAS facility is an important asset to our agriculture industry locally and it enjoys a reputation not only in this area and the rest of the U.S., but internationally, as well.”

“My work with the agriculture industry has been the most gratifying experience of my entire career, both personally and professionally,” said Gray. “I also believe that it led to my appointment as Economic Development Director for Hillsborough County.” Gray resigned from that post this past June. “I needed time for myself and my family.”

Gray and his wife, Jeanne, have two children and five grandchildren. Since leaving his county post, Gray has spent time with his family, on his “honey do” list, hunting, fishing and traveling.

“I may look for opportunities early next year, but I am not sure if they will be in the private or public sector, and there may be opportunities for consulting work.”

Congratulations Gene Gray. You are a true friend of agriculture.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

• Food Plot Mix • Attractants • Feeders • and much more!

Harold’s Feed & Pet Supply

Open: M-F: 8 to 6 pm Sat: 8-5 pm Closed Sunday

Full Line of Feeds 813-689-1570

Corner of Martin L. King Blvd. & McIntosh Rd. Dover, FL 33527

Check Out Our Complete NEW LOW PRICES! Variety of Hays!

BIG T&A  T&A 2nd Cut  Oat Coastal  Pe anut Alfalfa (mini-bale compressed 80#) Timothy  Straw Round Bales Coastal  Flora Kirk Cow Hay

BAGS Caged Bird Seed

Cockatiel  Dove  Finch Parakeet  Parrot & More

PRICES GOOD OCT. 15 - NOV 14, 2011

CLOSE OUT SPECIALS

ATLAST y H o li s t ic F ly Sp ra

$16

99

Re

9

.9 9 1 $ g.

PRICES GOOD OCT. 15 - NOV 14, 2011

10

%f of

Stanley 3in-1 Flashlight

$22 99

We stern Belt s OFF

50% PRICES GOOD OCT. 15 - NOV 14, 2011

Reg $31.99

PRICES GOOD OCT. 15 - NOV 14, 2011

Ne w Goat Items

H UG E SE

LECT ION ALL Goat Products More Coming (e xcept feed & minerals) In Wee kl y!

www.HaroldsFarmSupply.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

PRICES GOOD OCT. 15 - NOV 14, 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 39

PLANT CITY 9TH Annual 2011 ANNUAL MEETING

Much More Than a Business Meeting

by Jim Frankowiak For the most part annual meetings are pretty boring gatherings. There’s the advance agenda, adherence to Robert’s Rules of Order, prescribed voting and approvals, etc. However, when Hillsborough County Farm Bureau holds it annual meetings, it’s more like a reunion or family gathering.

Consider Stan and Arlene Hodges who have been coming to these gatherings for nearly 35 years. “Our nine children loved coming to the annual Farm Bureau meetings,” said Hodges.

“They were particularly fond of the drawings and chances to win prizes. That enjoyment is now shared by their children.” The Hodges now have 19 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

The family’s group “was smaller this year with only 17 present” since there could have been 12 more, but illness and scheduling conflicts prevented other family members from attending. Hodges raises cows and goats near Temple Terrace Highway. The family also has beehives.

Farm Bureau’s 69th annual meeting recently took place at the Trinkle Center on the campus of Hillsborough Community College on Plant City’s east side. More than 350 Farm Bureau members and their families, plus a host of local and state officials came together to enjoy a delicious steak dinner, prepared by the staff of Farm Bureau Insurance and served by the county directors of Farm Bureau.

There’s a common link that is shared by all attendees. It is agriculture and whether a farmer, rancher, supplier, local or state official, all who attended are proud to be involved in the industry at whatever capacity.

County Farm Bureau President Danny Aprile led the business portion of the annual meeting and that included approval of the minutes from last year’s meeting and the treasurer’s report. Director Marty Tanner recognized board members who had completed their two-year terms. Those individuals included Stefan Katzaras, Bill Burnette, Jemy Hinton, Roy Davis, Jim Dyer, Danny Aprile, Amanda Collins, David Drawdy, Michelle Williamson and Kenneth Parker. All were nominated to serve on the board for another two-year term. Their nominations were approved by the attendees.

40 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

Director Williamson, who also chaired the event, then recognized and thanked the sponsors who helped make the annual meeting a special occasion and they included CF Industries, and Farm Credit.

Director Burnette presented Sarah Holt, IN THE FIELD Magazine’s managing editor, with a special media award for her contributions and those of the publication in support of agriculture throughout the year.

Dr. Chip Hinton introduced former Hillsborough County Economic Development Director Gene Gray with the Friend of Agriculture Award for his work with the industry throughout his 34-years of service to the county. Recently retired from his county post, Gray noted his work with agriculture “led to friendships that continue today and the overall experience was the most rewarding of all of his endeavors while on the county staff.”

Attendees were treated to a special presentation by Farm Bureau Speech Contest Winner Kelsey Fry, who gave her award winning presentation, a news report detailing the value and benefits of agriculture. A winner at the local and regional levels, Kelsey is moving on to the state finals.

Kelsey’s remarks were a fitting lead in to comments from Florida Farm Bureau Public Relations Director Rhonda Hemminger Evan, who discussed a new outreach program called Strengthening Family Farms, a broad-based initiative to inform local communities about the important role agriculture plays in our economy and the benefits of a thriving agriculture industry. She encouraged Farm Bureau members to get involved in telling the multi-faceted story of agriculture to the local community, utilizing the informational materials prepared by the state office and available through its website.

Director Amanda Collins returned to the podium with a group of young participants who gave a special rendition of “Old McDonald’s Farm” to the delight of the audience.

The meeting was adjourned following remarks by Director Jake Raburn, who discussed the activities of Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Rancher program and encouraged members between the ages of 18 – 35 to join him and his wife, Melissa, in the varied aspects of the YF & R program. (See page 86 for more photos.)

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

1500 South Park Road For More Information Contact the

WIN A:

Plant City Chamber of Commerce LARGE 800-760-2315 or 813-754-3707 BIG GREEN EGG OR www.plantcity.org YETI COOLER info@plantcity.org SPONSORED BY: Both items to be Awarded 11/19/11

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 41

The team is trying to stay cool while going through inspections before qualifying runs begin.

Story by Amey Celoria, Creative Director of In The Field Magazine, Photos by Amey Celoria and Blythe Fort Labor Day weekend this year found me and 15 other people somehow connected to agriculture, hanging out with #78’s team at the NASCAR Sprint Cup at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

What does agriculture have to do with Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team?

Everything.

But first, a little history...

Growing up a mid-west farm kid in dairy operation and diversified cash crops, Pat Driscoll has always been passionate about telling the story of American agriculture. Pat was also heavily involved with the FFA in his home

Pat Driscoll

42 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

state of Michigan as a Chapter, a Regional and a State Officer. He was a state level winner of the Prepared Public Speaking Contest, runner-up in the Extemporaneous Public Speaking Contest and many leadership contests. Eventually he became a founding member of the Michigan FFA Foundation’s Board of Directors. Pat has always been passionate about agriculture and the FFA organization, even encouraging non-farmers to get involved with the FFA for leadership skills development. After FFA, Pat and his Dad worked together for more than 20 years as owner/operators of Michigan Farm Radio Network.

Not surprisingly, with his gift for communicating a message, Pat became very well known for successful festival sponsorship programs and eventually began a company that contracted his services to multiple festivals.

Around three and a half years ago, through a meeting with a mutual friend, Pat was introduced to Barney Visser, owner of the Furniture Row Companies. Turns out, the Furniture Row Racing Team wanted to develop a new NASCAR sponsorship model that would smartly use the sport to accomplish a messaging objective, relying less on whether you win or lose a race, and more on how you’re interacting with fans.

The meeting with Visser grew into an invitation for Driscoll to join the team.

October 2011

Pat spent four months developing the new model, presenting it to Furniture Row ownership at the Daytona 500 in 2009.

That presentation was well received, and left only one question. What story do we want to tell using this incredible new tool?

At a personal level, Driscoll finally had the opportunity and mechanism to follow through with the dream he once shared with his father – to share the story of farmers and ranchers across America with a huge audience.

Why is that an important story? In their discussions, Mr. Visser came to see the correlation between what had transpired 20 years earlier in the furniture manufacturing industry and what was happening today in agriculture. Our food is being produced offshore more and more frequently and he felt the American public needed to wake up on this issue – to protect a vital American self-sufficiency.

The Farm American Program was born.

What is Farm American? An effort and desire to bring visibility to the importance of keeping our food supply grown and produced in the United States of America.

Many consumers are unaware of the daily impact agricultural products have on their lives. Farm American uses two primary components to reach out with the message: NASCAR and Furniture Row Companies’

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

retail operations (almost 350 stores in 32 states). By combining those two entities, Farm American can touch 60 percent of the American public – nearly 160 million people.

So why do they think NASCAR is the answer?

The numbers are staggering. Seventyfive million people follow NASCAR in America. Research has shown that 72 percent of those people will positively change an attitude about a topic or company because of its involvement with the sport.

So, if Farm American can make farmers and ranchers sponsors, then there is a likelihood of positively changing the attitude of 56 million people and spreading the message of the importance of keeping the industry alive in America.

How does it work?

The first component is #78 and its driver, Regan Smith. The car is the lynchpin of the sponsorship model, but the program is developed to be successful whether the car wins or loses. When the program is fully funded, there will be elements of the car that will change with each race. On the hood will be the Farm American logo, but on the front quarter panels you will find a cornucopia that highlights the agricultural products from the region. So, in Day-

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

tona you may see Learn more about Farm American and its sponsors online: strawberries, citrus Farm American: http://farmamerican.furniturerowracing.com and cattle, but in Michigan it could Furniture Row Racing: http://www.furniturerowracing.com be apples, cherries Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers: http://www.agroliquid.com and dairy products.

The message isn’t Furniture Row Inc.: http://www.furniturerow.com about a crop or Advocates for Agriculture: http://www.advocatesforag.com commodity – it’s AFA Blog: http://www.advocatesforag.blogspot.com about emphasizing AFA Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TroyHadrick the importance of AFA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AdvocatesForAg the food and fiber system in America and the people instead of race cars. The simulator will behind it. Even Regan’s background is in give people a new appreciation for what a agriculture – his parents both grew up on combine accomplishes and how difficult farms in upstate New York and are still they are to maneuver. They also have plans involved in the industry. for pit competitions in the fan zone – all The second component is the AgExpe- built around agriculture like cow-milking rience Tour. The Tour will come with the contests. Everything they do will be about team to the races but it will stop all along having fun and encouraging people to share the route from race to race at schools, their experiences. malls, festivals and other places where The third component is the retail people gather. At the races you’ll find a element. Soon, when you enter a FurFarmers’ Market right in the middle of niture Row store, a life-size cutout of a all the action. NASCAR fans are looklocal farmer will greet you saying, “Hi, ing for healthier eating choices while I’m Farmer Brown. I’m a fifth generation they’re at the races so Farm American will farmer and my family owns the dairy bring local farmers and products to the farm five miles down the road. Welcome races. There will be a new kind of racing to Furniture Row.” Furniture Row trucks simulator - people will be racing combines will carry the Farm American branding as

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 43

Charlie Krauch takes a moment to pose with a friend from the Atlanta Motor Speedway security team.

they travel the country’s highways and 75 million newspaper inserts a year will carry the Farm American messaging directly into American homes.

By combining these two things, NASCAR and Furniture Row, Farm American can touch a mass of people in fun, engaging and entertaining ways that will leave them with a positive agriculture experience – not just a message.

For now Farm American is working in baby steps as it introduces both of these industries – agriculture and NASCAR – to a new kind of sponsorship program.

Skip Fox brings his considerable NFL marketing experience to the Furniture Row Racing Team and the Farm American Program.

How can you get involved?

Obviously, funding is critical. Even though they have nothing to gain from it, Furniture Row Companies funded Farm American by themselves until this year, an expense of nearly $2 million. Because it’s just that important. At the beginning of this year, Agro Culture Liquid Fertilizers joined the effort and helped get it to the next level. But more is needed, and the team continues seeking additional funds to partner with their investment so Farm American can be all it is envisioned to be.

Encourage the companies you do business with to invest in this effort.

Beyond that, encourage the organizations you are involved in to become Communications Partners with Farm

44 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Amey with Regan Smith, driver of #78, whose parents both grew up farming in upstate New York

Charlie Krauch hosted our tour of Pit Road, the garages, the car inspection process and the Farm American hauler.

American and tell your personal story to the Farm American team. The Communications Partnership is available to ag groups and membership organizations, allowing them to get involved with Farm American without having to write a check.

Communications Partners are the ones on the firing lines with consumers and, even though they don’t have the cash it takes to make a national impact, they do have memberships and constituents who can help communicate the Farm American story to the industry.

Organizations agree to communicate the progress of the Farm American program to their members as regularly as they can in exchange for a seat at the table.

Currently there are over three dozen groups from national to local levels who have become Communications Partners. The groups range from local growers groups like the Southern Maine Maple Sugar Growers to the North American Equipment Dealers Association, which represents five thousand agriculture equipment dealers in the US and Canada.

The Farm American team is growing. Troy and Stacy Hadrick, founders of Advocates of Agriculture, are now on board and are spearheading the Communication Partnership initiative. After meeting Driscoll and seeing the support from the Furniture Row Racing Team, they thought it was a “no-brainer” to get involved.

Stacy was especially impressed by Barney Visser – a businessman completely outside of the agriculture industry – and his desire to help promote the Farm American message on such a large national scale. “The program is so unique. It’s not the same way we (the ag community) have been trying to reach out to consumers in the past.”

The Hadricks farm and ranch on a multi-generational operation in North Central South Dakota – a town called Faulkton. Personally, they were both heavily involved in speaking competitions in the Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranch-

ers program, winning awards on both state and national levels. Now, their organization, Advocates of Agriculture, seeks to empower other farmers and ranchers to tell their stories and connect with consumers by teaching them how to use the mass media tools we now have available to us. Some of the speech topics they offer include The Real Enemy of Agriculture, What I Meant to Say Was…, and Discovering Your Influential Power.

According to Stacy, farmers and ranchers are so good at what they do to produce food for the families of America that they are often taken for granted. Once you get to know this private group of people. The stories and commitment level of agriculture families is tremendous.

Who do you know who’s already involved?

As of March of this year, AgroCulture Liquid Fertilizers is sponsoring the Farm American initiative, too. In fact, it was Jason Garcia of Agro-Culture who asked In The Field to attend the race in Atlanta. They are fully committed to help take Farm American to a new level of awareness – not just with consumers but also with the agri-business industry.

Personally, the more I talked with Pat, Skip Fox and Charlie Krauch (the other Furniture Row Team hosts), the more excited I became. Consumers need to understand the connection between food and the local farmers and families who provide it. Keeping the industry within our country is vitally important to our future.

October 2011

H ou rs: Mon - Fri 8-5

Allen’s sAwmill 16437 Hwy 39 S Lithia, FL 33547

Family Owned Since 1977

October Special

Proudly Made in the USA

1 x 6 x 12’.................................................... $4.00 1 x 6 x 16’ .................................................... $6.00 4 x 4 x 8’ ....................................................... $5.50 Rough Cut Treated Lumber • Heavy Beams up to 20’ Bulk Nails & Fasteners Available • Slabs Available Lumber for Sale Forrest & David Allen Animal Bedding & Sawdust 813.633.1270

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 45

l r i G y t i C a Diary of y a “Country” Bo e s i a R o t g n i y r T

by Ginny Mink The term culture shock usually applies to the experience of moving from one country to another. However, there are certain non-passport-based instances in which it is equally applicable.

I experienced severe culture shock when, at age 11, my parents packed me and my siblings up and moved us to Plant City. At that time I’d spent the previous decade in Fort Lauderdale. I’d never even heard of Plant City and to be quite honest I wasn’t even sure it was in Florida. What I did know, though, was the name itself, Plant City, sounded dreadfully boring.

Upon our arrival from the big city into what, in my mind could only be called a speck of a town, I was accosted by a myriad of concepts I had heretofore never experienced. I entered seventh grade at Marshall and I thought I’d become part of some cruel scientist’s time-warp. Having lived in Fort Lauderdale, the only big belt buckle, cowboy boots and wrangler wearing people I’d ever seen were on the old John Wayne movies my father sometimes tuned into, or on the covers of my mother’s Louis L’Amour

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Then, when it seemed we had exhausted all the options, we saw the black concrete mixing trays and chose that route. We bought three 36”Lx24”Wx8”H trays, and then we got some Organic Miracle Grow and a combination soaker/sprinkler hose.

Later I discovered that the Miracle Grow wasn’t designed for container growing and so I had to take some of it back after deciding I could use a few bags for fertilizer. I got some Scott’s topsoil and then J and I were on a mission to find strawberry plants. A guy at one of the nurseries we stopped at told us that it was really still too hot to start planting the strawberries, and we were both a bit down-trodden.

I knew I couldn’t prolong the real beginnings of this project or my very bright, but easily bored son would lose all enthusiasm. I suggested we try growing broccoli. Unfortunately, I discovered that our 8” trays weren’t deep enough to house the 10”-12” broccoli root system. Thusly, I started looking in the farm and garden section of craigslist. Thankfully, I found a guy who sells four gallon, square buckets for $0.50 each. This was definitely a good thing as my husband was starting to get concerned about how much this educational venture was going to cost him.

J and I went back to Home Depot to get broccoli seed.

When we got to the seed section we were enamored by all the choices therein. J said he wanted to grow jalapenos, and so we grabbed a pack of them, and then we added lettuce, spinach, and sugar snap peas. All of the packages said that these vegetables would grow in zone 9 in the fall, so we figured, “What the heck?”

One day after school J and I washed out the 10 buckets we’d picked up. He was not thrilled about having to scrub the dirt and mold off the buckets, but I explained to him that we didn’t want to risk any chemicals being exposed to our organically grown vegetables. I’d love to say that made a difference, but really, it didn’t. He still complained the whole time, especially when I made him go back over the buckets because his five were still dirty. He told me, “Well, I don’t know how to clean buckets,” because it was his first time so doing. I told him, “You’re gonna learn. There will be things in this process that you won’t want to learn and then there will be things that you will.” He responded sarcastically, “Like what?” I told him, “You get to learn how to use a drill because we have to put holes in these buckets.” That seemed to brighten him up.

The next day, we drilled holes. He wasn’t as enthused as I’d hoped he’d be, and he was even less thrilled with the fact we had to cover the holes with screen to help keep the soil intact. When the day arrived to mix dirt though, well, that’s a whole ‘nother story as they say…

To be continued…

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

HEALTHY UNDER NEW W OWNERSHIP HOLESOME FOOD

DAILY SPECIALS

Fresh Produce Now Available Full Lunch Menu 39 James L. Redman Pkwy.

46 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

novels. Add to that the weird usage of the grammatically incorrect conjunction, ya’ll, and conversations about FFA, and I felt like I was on another planet entirely.

If you’d told me then, that one day I would write for an agriculturally based, FFA loving, ya’ll publishing magazine, I’d have laughed in your face and recited all the reasons that would never happen. In addition, if you’d told me that I would one day be attempting to teach my son the value of agriculture and the importance of being able to grow your own food, well, they’d have come for me with a straight jacket. Yet, that’s exactly what this serial storyline is about.

My husband and I recently had a conversation about today’s kids. He’d heard a preacher say, “Today’s kids get rewards without efforts.” This got me thinking because it had that ring of truth to it. Then, at our nightly family dinner, my eight year old son, Jaidyn (whom we call J ) informed me that he was country. I think I probably choked on my tuna noodles.

I told him he definitely was not country and that he’d never be country unless he learned how to grow some food. I had no idea he would take me up on the suggestion. I realize now that this is giving me the opportunity to teach my son responsibility, and that rewards require effort, thereby pleasing my husband and also providing for the family, which pushes me onto another goal which is to actualize the Proverbs 31 wife manifesto. So, all in all, it’s a good thing.

The conversation continued, and recalling that J was always asking questions about the black rows in the strawberry fields we pass on our way to church, I suggested that we grow strawberries. He likes them and so that sounded like a good idea to him. I must insert this valuable piece of information here: I don’t have a brown thumb, I have a black thumb. I am even proficient at killing cacti. That means I had to do a lot of research before even beginning this endeavor.

Thusly, because I write for this lovely magazine, I am well aware of the fact that IFAS is the best place to start, so I did. I discovered that strawberries need at least an 8” depth for their root systems. While we live on four acres, it is not farm land conducive, in fact the soil is actually just straight up sand. This led to further discussions with my husband about how best to set up containers to grow the strawberries in. We went back and forth about it. Finally J and I went to Home Depot and looked at our options.

We considered a number of methods: giant pipes cut in half, gutters, children’s swimming pools, even wheel barrows.

October 2011

N 60

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 47

The Premier Showplace for Talent in Florida

OCTOBER 15 & 21 JOHNNY ALSTON’S MOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUE

NOVEMBER 18 COVER TO COVER

The trio covers the top hits from yesterday to today! Also, P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

A dynamite crowd pleaser! P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

NOVEMBER 24 THANKSGIVING BUFFET

OCTOBER 22 & 29 RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WIND Performing in the Red Rose Dining Room

OCTOBER 28 COVER TO COVER

The trio covers the top hits from yesterday to today! Also, P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

NOVEMBER 4, 12, 19 & 25 RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WIND

NOVEMBER 26 LOLA & THE SAINTS

A Red Rose favorite. Great hits from the 50s & 60s. Plus, P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds.

Performing in the Red Rose Dining Room

DECEMBER 2, 9, 16, 24 & 31 RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WIND

NOVEMBER 5 & 11 JOHNNY ALSTON’S MOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUE

Performing in the Red Rose Dining Room and opening and closing for the World Famous Platters on NYE.

A dynamite crowd pleaser! P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds or Destiny will perform before and after the show.

DECEMBER 3 JOHNNY ALSTON’S MOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUE

NOVEMBER 12 FROM THE SAHARA HOTEL IN VEGAS –

A dynamite crowd pleaser! P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds or Destiny will perform before and after the show.

A SALUTE TO THE PLATTERS,

COASTERS, DRIFTERS AND TEMPTATIONS FOR ST. JUDE

Start with dessert first!... or not. It’s hard to decide just where to begin.Our Thanksgiving Buffet is a big hit and a Red Rose tradition!!!

Fresh fruits, warm breads, roasted turkey, traditional dressing, seasoned prime rib, glazed ham, fresh fish, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, pasta, omelet/ waffle station, and an assortment of desserts, including chocolate fountains, are only a few of the many delightful dishes that will make your mouth water!

Three seating times available: 12 Noon, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. Call to reserve your table soon.

Myles Salvage’s act from Las Vegas comes to Plant City to help benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The annual event includes Dinner in a Supper Club atmosphere and great musical talent to dance the night away... for a very good cause. Call about our new Tiered Pricing!

DECEMBER 10 CHRIS MACDONALD

“ELVIS”

The magic of “the King or Rock-n-roll” in a truly dynamic performance celebrating the life and music of one of the greatest entertainers and pop culture icons of our time.

Destiny opens and closes the show!

DECEMBER 16 THE FOUR ACES

It’s a “Winter Wonderland Dinner Dance” in the Ballroom as the dynamic group perform their hits: Three Coins in a Fountain, Shangri-La, Tell Me Why, and more!

DECEMBER 17 THE MYSTICS

(A CHRISTMAS SHOW)

The Mystics, including, original members of the group, George Galfo and Phil Cracolici, will celebrate the spirit of the season with classical Christmas songs. P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

DECEMBER 23 RICHIE MERRITT

Richie Merritt, formally of the Marcels, will be performing in the Red Rose Dining Room.

Also, P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

DECEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS BUFFET

The holiday isn’t complete without a fabulous array of delicious foods. Roasted turkey, traditional dressing, seasoned prime rib, glazed ham, fresh fish, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, fresh fruits, warm breads, pasta, omelet/ waffle station, and an assortment of desserts, including chocolate fountains, are only a few of the many delightful dishes that will make your mouth water! Santa will stop by for photos. Three seating times available: 12 Noon, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. Call to reserve your table soon.

DECEMBER 31 NEW YEARS EVE

WITH THE WORLD FAMOUS PLATTERS AND THE LEGACY OF THE TEMPTATIONS It’s a celebration not to miss! Ballroom and Dining room performances of The Legacy of the Temptations and the World Famous Platters. Join the party and be part of the big COUNTDOWN for 2012... Call for our tiered pricing and details.

TEL: 813.752.3141 • I-4 Exit 21• 2011 N. Wheeler St. • Plant City, FL 33563 WWW.REDROSEINNANDSUITES.COM

48 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 49

Dr. Christy Layton and the

Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort

by Sarah Holt

What

do you want to be when you grow up?

Ask a child this question and the variety of answers will amaze you. A ballerina.

A fireman. An astronaut. But when did they decide what they wanted to be?

The defining moment for Dr. Christy Layton is easy to recall.

“When I was 13-years-old, I was riding Miami (her first horse) along SR 39 in Plant City and we were cantering alongside the railroad tracks. Her bit broke and I had no control of her.” As horses often do, Miami decided to head home. But home was on the other side of the tracks and as she crossed, she slipped and fell. “She hit her neck on the tracks and I hit my head (13 stiches followed) and a railroad spike went through my knee. It took a couple of months working closely with a local veterinarian to heal the large hematoma she had on her neck from the fall. Initially the vet wanted to keep her at his place to treat her, but I talked him into letting me take her home and treat her myself and do followups with him.” She must have impressed this vet because, “When she was completely healed, he was so impressed with my healing her that he hired me to work for him in his kennel. That’s when I realized I wanted to be a vet.”

Although that was the defining point in deciding her career path, Dr. Layton has always had a love for animals. “From the time I was a little girl I was always the one to bring home the stray dogs to care for. My family was always supportive of me no matter what it involved.” Christy goes on to explain her first forays into dog shows. “We had a Miniature Poodle named “Buffy.”

When she was 10 years old I decided to train her to show obedience and conformation at 4-H shows, and even obedience at AKC shows. Together we won many awards.”

We all have pets that can never be replaced. They hold a special place in our hearts far beyond the years they spend with us. For Christy that dog was an Australian Shepherd cross named Tessie. Adopted during her second year of college, Christy said of Tessie, “She was my best friend throughout my college years, as well as graduation from UF (undergrad and Veterinary School) and my associate position in Valrico.” Tessie was also there for the building and opening of Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort.

“She was with me during all the ups and downs, study times, parties, the loss of my grandparents, my cat, my other dog and two horses, Prize and Miami. She was always the dog that myself and my classmates used to practice on for examinations, ultrasounds, etc. She was so willing to do anything to help me out. She knew at least 20 toys by name and would bring them to me. She was an amazing frisbee dog and would also help me to lunge horses.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

She was a finalist in the Purina’s Best Dog Competition. I lost her three years ago to cancer at 14-years of age. I think of her on a daily basis.” If you visit Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort’s web site at www.TimberlaneVet.com, you can take a “Tessie’s Tour,” to see the wonderful practice Dr. Layton has built.

The horse mentioned above? Miami? That was Christy’s first horse, purchased for her by her parents when she was 12 years old. She was a Quarter Horse with a “grass belly,” according to their veterinarian. Just two short weeks after her purchase Miami had a beautiful palomino Appaloosa, Miami’sBigSirPrize, Prize for short. “I rode Miami in speed events and then did some jumping/foxhunting with her as well,” said Christy. “I showed Prize in Western Pleasure, Trail, Halter, Hunter Under Saddle and Jumping. I won numerous awards with both of my “youth horses” and they helped me to learn goal setting techniques, as well as how to win and lose. Prize made me fall in love with the Appaloosa breed, as well as the people involved with the breed. I have not owned another breed since.” She shows her current Appaloosa, Heza Trophy Hunter, in driving, hunter under saddle, jumping, etc. He is a multiple world and reserve world champion!

Plant City’s home town girl always wanted to open her practice here. “I wanted Plant City to have an affordable, high quality AAHA accredited practice with a resort facility I would feel completely comfortable leaving my dogs and cats at while I am out of town. I wanted a place where my clients and their babies feel comfortable visiting whether for a veterinary visit, grooming, doggy daycare or boarding. We have so many patients that literally drag their owners into the doors of our facility.”

Much planning went in to the building of Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort, located at the entrance to Walden Lake, 1704 Walden Village Court. “I had a local architect, as well as a veterinary architect, working on the plans with me,” said Dr. Layton. “I can’t even guess at the number of hours of classes I took on hospital design, as well as time meeting with vendors, suppliers, and both architects while building the inside and out of my facility. I also went to visit numerous facilities in Miami, Tampa and Orlando to get ideas on what to do and what not to do when building.”

Having the AAHA Accreditation is very important to Dr. Layton. According to the AAHA web site at www.aahanet.org,

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 51

“Accreditation through the American Animal Hospital Association ensures that a veterinary practice is operating at the highest standards of excellence in pet care. Veterinarians and pet owners know pets at AAHA-accredited practices receive the highest quality care from well-trained, professional veterinary teams.” Dr. Layton said, “This certification is only offered to an elite group of hospitals that have proven to AAHA that they take the time and effort to treat patients and clients with the best care possible. We are the ONLY AAHA accredited hospital in Plant City and 1 of only 13 in Hillsborough County!”

Another very important aspect of Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort is the boarding facility, which offers both boarding and doggy daycare. “I never felt comfortable at any other facility before, either it wasn’t a clean, high quality facility, or I didn’t feel warm and fuzzy with the staff,” explained Dr. Layton. “At Timberlane, all the boarding pets are cared for as if they were our own.” So bring your pets in for a stay or drop them off for a day of play! You can rest assured they will be taken care of and have fun, too.

Dr. Layton has an incredible team assembled at her practice.

“Dave, Margaret and Barbara have been with me from the opening of the practice and the rest of the team has come to me with years of experience. I have hand picked each one of them while making sure they fit within our philosophy of care to the patients and their owners.”

David Goodyear, Veterinary Technician, has been with her from the start. He moved to Florida five years ago from Pennsylvania with 13 years of experience. After high school graduation, he was looking for alternatives to the future in computers that he had been planning. He saw an ad in the paper from the local Animal Hospital looking for a Vet Tech/Assistant, and they were willing to train! David’s love for animals is surpassed only by his knowledge of veterinary medicine. In his spare time he enjoys golf, and fishing with his family and friends. He is also a Miami Hurricanes football fan.

Desiree Naegelin, who works in Client Care as well as being a Technician, moved to Plant City with her family in 2006. After graduating from Plant City High School, she began working for Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort and taking Veterinary Technician classes at St. Petersburg College. She graduated from this program in May 2010 and she is currently working on her Bachelor’s

52 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

Degree in Veterinary Technology. She has always loved animals and has owned quite a variety over the years, from turtles, a flying squirrel, hamsters and a monkey, to cats and dogs.

Billi Floyd, who runs the Pet Resort, has lived in Plant City since the age of two. She started her career in the animal field when she moved to Gainesville at the age of 18 to pursue a degree in zoology. During her time in Gainesville, she lived and worked at a local non-profit primate sanctuary, which also allowed her to rescue and foster dogs and cats that needed her help. Billi moved back home to Plant City and started working at a large pet resort in Tampa as a supervisor. She is now working in the pet resort full-time taking care of all of the “kids” that come to stay in the resort and those that come for the day to play in doggy daycare.

In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering at local zoos and spending time with her husband, Mike, and their four dogs.

Toni Wazelle, who is the Groomer at Timberlane, moved from Punxsutawney, PA to Plant City after graduating from high school. She was fortunate enough to get a job with her mother at a local kennel where she worked for six years until she decided that she wanted to further her education and took a two-year course in computer networking. After graduating she learned that for her, working with animals was more fulfilling then working with computers. Toni has lived with animals all her life and currently lives with two dogs, five cats, and a 55-gallon aquarium of fish.

Barbara Layton, the Office Manager, has been with Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort since its inception in October of 2006. She handles the accounting and also helps with client care.

Barbara started out doing programming and system analysis work prior to raising her three girls, Leisa, Renee and Christy. Her oldest daughter, Leisa, is in accounting with Southeastern Guide Dogs, Renee is with Manheim Auto Auction as Florida Marketing Manager, and of course we all know Dr. Christy. After moving to

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Plant City in 1983 from Bradenton, she worked with her husband Ron, dealer/owner of Community Buick and Pontiac. Later she went to work as a Realtor for Walden Lake Homes and finally Coldwell Banker as a referral agent. She enjoys riding her Appaloosa horses, has a cat named Boo Boo and shows her dog, Brie in agility and K9 Nose Training. In her spare time she has started photography and painting animals.

Adrienne Swisher is the Practice Manager at Timberlane and she moved from Chicago, IL to Brandon to further her career in the veterinary field. She has 13 years of experience working in veterinary hospitals and 10 years of practice management experience. She lives with her husband, Russ, stepson Jake, three dogs, two cats, one turtle, one tortoise, one bearded dragon and her ball python. In her spare time she is starting agility with her Sheltie, Brogan.

One thing Dr. Layton would like to stress is preventative care.

“This is what I preach on a daily basis. So many diseases that our pets have could be prevented with the proper education and preventative care. I feel that when my clients are educated correctly they can make the proper decisions to care for their pets appropriately and help them to live long, healthy lives.” As an example, Dr. Layton explains that the cost of a monthly dose of heartworm prevention is only $4 to $8 each pet per month. This can prevent deadly heartworm disease caused by the bite of one infected mosquito. “Florida is one of highest risk states due to our climate.

Treatment for heartworms can cost $300-$800 and the disease can cause damage to the heart and lungs prior to being treated.” Dr. Layton lists another example as dental disease. “If a dental cleaning is performed when there is only moderate tartar buildup present, most of the time, no extractions are needed, but if the teeth are allowed to worsen, not only do the damaged teeth cause daily pain in the mouth for your pet and will need to be extracted, but also the bacteria in the mouth can eventually cause heart, kidney and liver failure leading to an early demise of your pet.”

These are just two of the things we can prevent. Dr. Layton explained, “This is where my recommendation for every six month examinations for pets comes into play. Not only can I catch things like dental disease and obesity early, but we also often find ear infections and tumors that the owner’s had no idea were even present. Through my consult with the client and my examination of the pets, I am able to help the pets to “speak” about their problems that the owners may not even realize were there. This way, we can keep pets healthier, free of pain and living a longer, higher quality life than ever before. That is why I do this job!”

Another of Dr. Layton’s favorite things about being a veterinarian is being able to help local animal rescue groups. “I care for the dogs and cats that can’t speak for themselves and have no owner to care for them.” Timberlane sees two to four rescue animals a week. “Some are healthy dogs and cats that just need to have an exam and vaccinations, but most are much more needy.

I love having such a great relationship with these local animal rescue groups as they allow me to provide veterinary services to these pets in need and watch them move onto their forever homes!”

This led Dr. Layton to start the Fashion, Feathers and Fur event, held this year for the first time. It was so successful that next year’s event is well in to the planning stages. It will be held on April 28, 2012 at Keel & Curley Winery at 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road. The event provides a night of dining and fashion and includes both silent and live auctions. Animal rescue groups in the

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Plant City area are the beneficiaries of this amazing event.

Another event close to Dr. Layton’s heart is the Relay for Life.

“We have been very involved with Relay For Life every year since we opened here in Plant City. We lost my dad to cancer two years ago and since then, this event has taken on an additional importance to me.” In addition to that, “We also volunteer at “Christmas Lane” every year which I feel is a great way to bring the town together during Christmas Time. This community we live in is filled with such a wonderful group of diverse people and I am so happy to be able to play a role in caring for their pets and being a part of this amazing town.”

While being a veterinarian certainly has its advantages, it can have its downfalls as well. “I have had some issues with Compassion Fatigue,” said Dr. Layton. Compassion fatigue is an over commitment to work that involves caring for others and is considered by some to be a kind of secondary posttraumatic stress disorder. Because they often invest themselves deeply in the animals they care for, veterinarians, technicians, and other members of an animal health team may be particularly vulnerable to compassion fatigue. “Then I am reminded of all the pets I have helped along the way and I realize it is all worth it,” Dr. Layton explained. “I have learned to cope with it by spending time with my own animals and family, as well as participating in Yoga and meditation.”

Dr. Layton enjoys spending time with her family and friends when she can. She also trains and shows her Australian Shepherd Teal’c in agility and is getting ready to start her latest rescue dog, Chloe in agility as well. Also, “I love spending time out on the water with the boat. It is so relaxing.”

When asked if she would change anything, she quickly responds, “I would have spent more time with my dad. Other than that, I wouldn’t change anything!”

“Every day I thank the Lord for allowing me the opportunity to have this facility and my team to be able to make a difference in the lives of my clients and their four legged family members. I love being able to have the opportunity to help local animal rescue groups, as this is my true passion. Without my degree and business, I couldn’t care for all of these animals that have no one to speak for them.”

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 53

Home Protection Pest Control

LETTERMAN JACKETS IN STOCK Verna McKelvin, Manager

Familiar Faces

Durant Strawberry Crest Newsome Plant City High by Special Order

Dedicated to Serving

Sales to Growers, Organizations and Individuals Embroidery • Heat Press • Gem Stones Shirts • Hats • Visors • Bags • Jackets & More

Local Families It’s Our 5 Year Anni ary! vers hank You for Le

T

tting Us Serve You!

We Control: Roaches, Ants, Fleas, Ticks, Carpentar Ants and more!

Home Protection Pest Control is a family owned business serving the pest control needs of Hillsborough, Polk and Pasco counties. With ten years experience in the field, they would like the opportunity to serve your needs.

813-757-6752 For more info contact:

Kathy

813-757-6752 3909 N. Keene Rd. Plant City, FL 33565 www.Homeprotectionpc.com • homepropc@gmail.com 54 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

“Our family” has been providing compassionate care for 115 years and we’re always looking for ways to enhance our services to you.

Wells Memorial Funeral Home is operated by people who live in the Plant City area, who are committed to providing the highest quality of service. And, as your neighbors, we are ready to help whenever you need us.

Exclusive provider of Dignity Memorial® benefits.

WELLS MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME 1903 West Reynolds Street Plant City, FL 33563

(813) 752-1111

www.WellsMemorial.com www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 55

DE WE LIV ER !

Stop in to Check Out Nutrena’s Full Line of Show Feeds

www.frmfeeds.com --------.

-----------

.

Ag’s New Girl on the Block:

F E E

Tiffany Parish

D

FEEDS MANUFACTURED BY

FLINT RIVER MILLS, INC. BAINBRIDGE, GA

$6.99 12% All S

tock

FEED - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

by Ginny Mink Anyone familiar with the educator scene can recall the first year so employed. Remember the thrill of watching students enter “your” room for the first time? Think back on the pure adrenaline that got you through that first year. For most first time teachers the challenges and hindrances, irritable parents, attitudefilled, hormone-laden students and annoying administrators are all glossed over when viewed through those rose-colored lenses newbies wear.

Of course, there are those who come into the profession expecting well-behaved geniuses to walk through the door instead of the mixed-up moldable conglomeration of intellectual human genetics that arrives therein. People with that mentality barely make it through the first week, let alone the first year. Tiffany Parish is not that type of teacher, no, she is the enthusiastic, gung-ho, woohoo-shouting type, and though this is only her first year, it seems probable that she’s got the gumption to last quite a few in the system.

Tiffany doesn’t come from an Ag background as many Ag teachers do. In fact, she says, “I didn’t have any ag when I was in middle school. I didn’t get involved until high school at Newsome with Mr. Summerlin. Then I did Ag and FFA all through high school.” While so involved she showed chickens, sheep and rabbits and she says she, “loved the animals and loved the FFA because everyone wanted to help everyone else out.”

Tiffany graduated from Newsome and then ventured on to HCC. She graduated from UF’s Plant City campus in May of this year. Yet, when she first started her college career, her goal was to become a veterinary technician. Then she recalled how, “The ag teachers cared about their students and knew my interests.” She adds, “That’s mainly why I wanted to be an Ag teacher. I wanted to show that I care by using their (her students) interests. I want them to know that as students at such a big high school, they’re not just a number in a computer.”

Tiffany teaches at Brandon High School and one of the things she really enjoys as an Ag teacher is the fact you, “get to know the students so much better because it’s a specialized program and the kids really want to be in there.” Though seemingly fairy-tale happy in her current position she does admit, “I was

56 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

told when I was in college, to be prepared for the worst kids in the world.” No doubt many a teacher-wanna-be has heard that exact same thing.

“But,” she continues, “The Brandon kids are great! They’re very interested in the program and the curriculum. The parents are very supportive, always asking what supplies I need.” Since we’re talking about supplies, here’s Tiffany’s wish-list (feel free to help her program out): concrete or gravel for the bottom of the greenhouse (something that’s easy to clean); tanks to hold fish in (rain barrels or 55 gallon drums would work nicely); and any hydroponics supplies (pumps, trays, pipes, potting material, tubes…).

Perhaps readers are wondering why the hydroponics supply focus? Well, Tiffany explains, “I was approached by a marine science teacher and a math teacher to start an aqua park. They wanted me to start an aquaponics class. I’d never really heard of it, but I’ve been doing some research and I think it’s something we’re going to do. We’ll use the water the fish are in to fertilize the plants we grow: lettuce, tomatoes, etc. I’m applying for grants for aquaponics, too.”

The set-up will go in their greenhouse, which she calls a “small operation.” Unfortunately, the greenhouse sustained some damage in one of these lovely Florida storms and so they have to repair it, “having to replace six panels in its roof. All I have is tables and a greenhouse; we’re literally starting from scratch,” she reveals.

The aquaponics set-up will not only be used by her students but also by the marine science class and the Splash Club. In addition to the little greenhouse they have a small orange grove and some animals, “20 sheep, pygmy goats, pigs, rabbits and chickens.” And her students are training for five FFA contests: forestry, tractor driving, mechanics, vet assisting and aquaculture.

Tiffany believes that the aquaculture program will help grow her department. “I have a lot of kids interested in aquaculture.

It’s gonna be something new and fresh for them to get into.”

With that in mind, dear readers, Tiffany’s accepting any and all donations that will assist in that endeavor. You can contact her at: tiffany.parish@sdhc.k12.fl.us.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

(813) 737-LAND (5263) 301 State Road 60 W Plant City, FL 33567 landsfeed@ymail.com

8:30 - 6:00 MON-FRI 8:30 - 4:00 SAT

• • • • • •

Livestock Supplements Raw Local Honey Corral Panels & Gates Bird Seed Deer Corn Available 40# Bag $10.79 Dog Food 50# Bag $16.99

LF 60 39

www.HintonFarms.com FARMING SINCE 1952

813-659-2160

Specializing in: • Strawberry Sales • Blueberry Packing & Sales • Vegetable Sales • Custom Cooling & Packing SALES: BOB HINTON • CAMMY HINTON • SHANE HINTON • JAKE RABURN www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 57

Tomato Industry Responds to Estabrook Book Critical of Florida Tomatoes

by Jim Frankowiak

Reggie Brown

Barry Estabrook does different things. He’s an author, a blogger and some might also say a wanna be champion for social justice, particularly with respect to certain agricultural labor practices that he professes are rampant in Florida and other areas, as well as various aspects of food production.

He lives in Vermont and has been published in a number of major magazines, including the now defunct GOURMET where he was a contributing editor for many years. In addition to his articles, Estabrook blogs on politicsoftheplate.com, which serves as an additional outlet for his thoughts and theories on the food we eat and how it is produced.

Most recently his book, TOMATOLAND: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit, was released. It takes issue with the quality of the Florida-produced product and the conditions in which most modern day tomatoes are harvested.

Estabrook is highly critical of winter tomatoes, most of which come from Florida. His comments here were taken from an interview on the Eatocracy-CNN.com Blogs. He says they are picked when immature and green, “taken to a warehouse, packed in boxes, which are stacked on pallets and moved into storage areas where they’re exposed to ethylene gas. The gas forces the tomatoes to turn the right color, it doesn’t ripen them.”

“There are two factors at work here. The first is that the tomatoes are picked when they’re immature and no matter what you do, an immature tomato will never get any taste; though it might look alluring. The second problem with industrial tomatoes is that for the last 50 years, they’ve been bred for one thing only, and that’s yield.”

“From a botanical and horticultural point of view, you would have to be a fool to try to grow tomatoes commercially in a place like Florida. The main problem is that tomatoes’ ancestors come from desert areas. They’re adapted to extremely dry, low-humidity areas. That’s why southern Italy and parts of California are so good for tomatoes; it doesn’t rain all summer.

Florida is notoriously humid, which is just perfect conditions for all of the funguses, rusts, blights, insects and pests that destroy tomatoes. That’s why they have to use 110 different chemicals, fertilizers, fungicides and herbicides to even get a crop,” he said.

Tomatoes grown in Florida, Estabrook said, also “rank at or near the bottom of consumers’ satisfaction lists.”

He devotes the balance of his Eatocracy interview comparing the conditions of contemporary tomato workers as slavery.

Responding to Estabrook’s comments, the Florida Tomato Committee’s Reggie Brown said, “We grow tomatoes in Florida because it is a viable business. Florida is the only place in the continental United States where we can produce tomatoes for many months of the year.”

“Yes, there is no question there are challenges, but there is

good science and good technology that allows us to be successful and competitive in that process here. We’re proud to be growing and providing American citizens with tomatoes in periods of the year when they’d either be buying imported products form Mexico or some other part of the world. We’re supporting American farmers growing food for America.”

Brown said Estabrook’s accusations of inhumane labor conditions in Florida for tomato workers “are fundamentally inaccurate” and that the cases referenced by Estabrook “were not directed at or involving anyone in the commercial tomato industry.” Brown went on to describe an agreement between the industry and Coalition of Immokalee Workers signed in October 2010 that involves a code of conduct and a verification program that is being collaboratively put in place between the Coalition and Florida tomato industry.

With reference to Estabrook’s statement regarding “110 different chemicals, fertilizers, fungicides and herbicides to even get a crop,” Brown noted those compounds may be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “by no means represents the number of compounds that are used to produce a crop.”

Another respondent to Estabrook’s comments is Dr. Jay Scott, a professor at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Balm who has “been breeding tomatoes at the University of Florida since 1981.”

“Barry Estabrook’s book paints a disturbing picture of the Florida tomato industry and if I were a lay person I would be scared to eat tomatoes from Florida and appalled at things such as they spraying of workers with pesticides or widespread human trafficking in the farm worker community. Whereas he documents much of what he writes about, rare occurrences/mistakes are often amplified as if they were everyday practices. For instance, I’ve been to hundreds of farms and I have never seen workers being sprayed with pesticides and it makes no sense that tomato (or other) growers would do such a thing. Exudates from tomato foliage have made my hands black every day I’ve worked in the field, which is often. At times it gets absorbed into your system and the sweat coming out of your armpits stains your shirt yellow-green. It may be on the gross side but has absolutely nothing to do with “pesticidas” as implied by Estabrook in his book.”

“As for the quality of the typical Florida tomato, people may be a bit spoiled in that they can get tomatoes year round. It is a very perishable fruit that undergoes rigorous shipping to distant markets and it is not easy to provide tomatoes that match what can be grown in a home garden. Florida tomatoes are as good as what the greenhouse tomato industry provides and what is provided to Florida from other states in the summer when we are not producing here,” said Scott.

58 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

Dr. Jay Scott

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

5905 Hwy. 60 East • Bartow, FL 33830 1-800-833-2460 Toll Free Tel: 863-537-1345 • Fax: 863-537-2645

908 E. Baker Street • Plant City, FL 1-800-717-8333 Toll Free Tel: 813-759-8722 • Fax: 813-752-9627

www.groveequipment.biz www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

GROVE EQUIPMENT SERVICE INC. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 59

I help create clean, green energy every day.

I am Mosaic.

Mosaic is about more than providing nutrients to help grow the world’s crops. It’s also about environmental leadership. As an engineer for Mosaic, I help convert the steam from our fertilizer manufacturing process into power — enough to run our Florida plants, and then some. The process, called cogeneration, requires no fossil fuels and releases zero carbon dioxide emissions. Which means it is easy being green.

And I’m proud to be doing just that. ®

www.mosaicfla.com

DADS TOWING

813-659-2949

Dependable Automotive Delivery Service

Light & Medium Duty Car, Truck & Equipment Hauling 24 Hour Towing • Lock Outs • Jump-Starts • Tire Changes Accepted

by Most Winch Outs • Fuel Delivery • 5 Passenger Rollback

Motor Clubs

60 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 61

Congratulations on Your Grand Opening!

Billy Keith Williams and Jerry Clendening Owners of Clem’s Custom Meats 206 S. Evers Street | Plant City, FL 813-752-5724

WALDEN LAKE CAR WASH AND SERVICE CENTER 1414 S. Alexander St. 813-752-7226 www.waldenlakecarwash.com

WALDEN LAKE CAR WASH AND SERVICE CENTER $3 off any service over $10 with coupon

$3 off any service over $10 with coupon

THREE DOLLARS OFF

KY CWednesday A W Castrol GTX Oil Change & Filter

$19

.99

with coupon

Most vehicles up to 5 quarts.

No Shop Supply Fees.

Not valid with any other offer or coupons.

NO Extra Charge for SUV’s, Pick-up Trucks or Vans!

62 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Custom Meats & Fresh Produce O p e n 9-6 • M o n day - Satu r day 2 06 S. Ev e r s St . • P lan t C it y, F L

Call Ahead Ser vice • 752-57 24 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 63

Nuisance Alligators

Meryman Environmental, Inc. Meryman Environmental Inc. is a State Certified Laboratory (License # E84747) qualified to perform Drinking Water Analysis State Wide.

Some of our Clientele Includes:       

by Rhonda Walker

 

You don’t have to look far in this area to find a Gator fan.

In fact a lot of people are downright fanatic about gators. And after all, the alligator is the official state reptile. The University of Florida Gators, that is. But when a Florida alligator suddenly appears in the pool, the backyard pond or on the golf course, most people want it gone and the sooner the better.

That’s when the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Nuisance Alligator Program comes to assist by sending an experienced, authorized alligator trapper to capture the nuisance alligator. Alligators are found from Texas to North Carolina, but Florida has the most pressing nuisance alligator problem. Currently more than 4,000 nuisance alligators are removed each year in Florida.

Alligators live in brackish or fresh water, including golf course water hazards, canals, lakes, marshes, swamps, rivers, creeks and ponds. Dark colored with a broad snout and large ridges on their back, alligators can live for 30-35 years in the wild. They can grow to 14 feet long and weigh more than 1,000 pounds.

Alligators are considered a nuisance if they are longer than four feet and poses a threat to people, pets, livestock or property.

The FWC operates a 24-hour hotline to take complaints about nuisance alligators, evaluate the complaints and dispatch a trapper if necessary. The FWC contracts some 55 private nuisance alligator trappers to remove specific nuisance alligators throughout the state. The hotline number is 1-866-FWC-GATOR. In emergency situations, trappers are dispatched immediately.

There are criteria to be met before a trapper is dispatched: • The person making the complaint must be able to provide access to the property.

• The request for removal of an alligator from private property must be made by someone responsible for the property.

The presence of a small alligator is not always reason for concern. Small alligators are not usually a threat to pets, people or property unless they are handled. They eat fish, frogs and other small animals. Mature alligators will eat snails, turtles, small mammals and other alligators. If small alligators are found in places that are not normal (swimming pools, garages, etc.), then they should be reported to the FWC hotline.

In 2010, FWC received 14,418 nuisance alligator complaints.

Alligator trappers were issued 10,784 permits and removed more than 5,800 nuisance alligators.

Alligators are found in all 67 of Florida’s counties and they have federal protection by being classified as “threatened due to similarity of appearance” to other crocodilians. The federal provisions allow for state sponsored management and control programs.

64 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

In addition to trapping nuisance alligators, the FWC also conducts an alligator hunt each year. The alligator hunting season is designed to help manage Florida’s alligator population for its long-term well-being.

Alligators are most active during warmer months and from dusk to dawn. Alligators have lived in Florida for hundreds of years and are a protected and important species, not only for their role in the eco-system but also for their economic and aesthetic value.

Often, if left alone, an alligator lying near the water will simply move on in a day or two. Leaving alligators alone is one of the most important things to remember. One thing that FWC cautions about is feeding alligators. Florida law prohibits the feeding or molesting of alligators. Feeding or molesting alligators can result in a $500 fine and/or 60 days in jail. Alligators cannot be tamed and feeding them can result in their loss of the natural fear of humans. Alligators that have been fed are more likely to attack and become nuisance animals threatening not only the person feeding them, but also others. Those alligators then have to be destroyed.

Some other alligator safety tips offered by FWC include: • Avoid swimming and other water activities in known alligator habitats.

• Never allow children to play alone near the water’s edge or in the water.

• Don’t allow your pets in water known to have alligators.

Alligators are predatory carnivores and dogs and other small animals are their natural prey.

• Don’t clean fish or throw fish scraps into the water.

• Never capture alligators or accost them. Capturing alligators is not only illegal, it is dangerous.

• Alligators do not become tame in captivity and cannot be domesticated. Handling even small alligators can result in a bite.

• Get medical attention for any alligator bite. Alligator mouths contain dangerous bacteria.

• View alligators from a distance in their natural setting.

Crocodiles can also be categorized as “nuisance” and FWC trappers remove them. Crocodiles are naturally shy and reclusive and usually will move on if left alone. If there are public safety issues, the state may capture and relocate the crocodile. Relocation is typically not successful with crocodiles because they usually return to the capture site. Relocation is usually a last resort and a temporary solution to the problem. Crocodiles often die in their attempts to return to their capture site.

The FWC offers “All About Alligators” a coloring book for children which can be downloaded from the official website, www.MYFWC.com/gators.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

   

Fruit Growers

Vegetable Growers Dairies Farm Suppliers Nurseries Migrant Camps

    

Produce Stands Home Day Care Rental Stores



Fish Camps



Fire Stations Auto Sales Repair Shops

  

Duplexes

Mobile Home Parks Veterinary Clinics Apartments Churches

Assisted Living Facilities Motels

Post Offices Construction Companies

Manufacturers

We Now Accept Debit and Credit Cards for Your Convenience!

LIMITED USE PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS

Most drinking water systems fall under the Limited Use Public Water System Program (64E-8). The program regulates multi-family water systems and private water systems that service a specified number of citizens. Definitions for these systems and statutory authorization to regulate them are found in section 381.0062 of the Florida Statutes. Chapter 64E-8 of the Florida Administrative Code establishes the rules to implement the statutes. It includes setback standards for private water systems, construction standards for multi-family water systems, and construction and operation standards for limited use public water systems. The program is implemented at the local level by the county health departments.

Development in Harmony with Nature!

10408 Bloomingdale Ave, Riverview, Florida 33578  (813) 626-9551

Your water should be tested:       

Both before and after installation of a new system

If it has never been tested before or within the last year

If there is a noticeable change in your waters color, taste or odor

If you suspect possible contamination from heavy rains

If you change or repair any of the components of your system On a yearly basis for bacteriological safety

If you are near runoff from a dairy or citrus groves

629 S. Broad St, Brooksville, Florida 34601  (352) 544-5551

IN BUSINESS NOW FOR OVER 15 YEARS

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

NEW, USED and ABUSED!

HOME & MOBILE HOME SUPPLIES • Code Approved Windows • Window Rooms • Screen Rooms • Carports • Awnings • Wood Paneling • Steps • Alcoa ® Vinyl Siding • Skirting • Doors (Interior & Exterior)

813

752-3378

• Roof Overs • Metal Roofing • Shower Stalls • Complete Line of Plumbing • Trim Moulding • Vanities • Kitchen Cabinets • Antiques • Stepping Stones/Pavers

2670 Hwy. 92 E Plant City, FL

We M Win ake d Scr ow een s

(Between Lakeland and Plant City)

OPEN SATURDAYS: 8:30-5:00 www.brokeandpoorpc@aol.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 65

CLEAN YOUR CARPETS NOW COUPON

4 Room Special

Revisiting My Childhood Dream at Chaps Acres

by Amey Celoria, Creative Director of In The Field Magazine, photos by Jonnie Chapman Like most little girls I was fascinated with horses and wanted me feel like I was too old or it was too late for me to learn. She one of my own more than anything. Like most grandpas, my Papa presented me with the same training package she gives her Level 1 wanted to spoil me silly. But when I was eleven and before he could students and had the same expectations of me. buy me the horse he promised, he died of a stroke and my childThrough the course of my training I’ve been learning about hood dream died, too. the anatomy of horses, conformation (body types and what types But this isn’t a sad story. It’s the story of a 42 year old woman are good for what activities), breeds (my favorite are the rare ones), who decided it was time to learn to ride and the amazing expericolors, gaits, sizes and the work they do. Then comes the actual ences I’ve had at Chaps Acres in Lithia. hands-on horse time. I’ve learned how to groom, put on the bridle I first learned about Chaps Acres last spring when we wrote and saddle, clip the bridal path, clean the hooves and cool off the about their summer camps. Jonnie Chapman combines riding horses after riding them. and art to create a weeklong adventure for the campers with art For my first couple of lessons she put me on Bella, a 15.2 hand projects of all types, riding classes and horseback scavenger hunts Palomino Quarter Horse who is sweet, docile and 26 years old. on the trails through their 50 acres of property.

I started out on her without using reins. Bella and Jonnie taught Back in June I contacted Jonnie and her husband, Nick, ownme how much my posture and body language communicates to ers of Chaps Acres, to see if Jonnie would be interested in teaching the horse I’m riding. After some time in the ring without reins, we me to ride while I wrote a story on added the reins and I began weaving my experiences with them. I have through barrels and poles.

Amey and Bella a sneaking suspicion that I’m not I saw a bucket of little white the only middle-aged woman in the balls on the edge of the arena and area who never got the opportunity my curiosity got the best of me. Jonto learn to ride even though we nie uses them to play a game with read every Black Stallion book and her students. They have to maneuver watched The Lone Ranger every their horse next to a barrel, reach afternoon as children. over and grab a ball from the bucket Jonnie loved the idea and we set without falling off the horse, and a date to get started. But then the then go to another barrel and drop summer rains set in and Thursday the ball in the bucket there – all evenings were either too wet or too while being timed to see how many muddy and it was September before they can get in the bucket in 60 the weather cooperated and I went seconds. to my first lesson. Jonnie is a great I wasn’t ready to be timed but teacher. She is contagiously passionI decided to give it a shot. It was a ate about horses and freely shares lot harder than it looked, but she her passion and knowledge with her patiently taught me what I needed students, but she never once made to know to properly maneuver Bella

66 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

$79

.99 + $9 each .99

www.mycarpetdiem.com

Steam & Dry Clean Carpets Pet Odor Removal Tile & Grout CALL TODAY Upholstery Plus Much More!

add’l room

No Hidden Fees No Fine Print Includes Pet Odor Removal BEFORE

Same Day Service Available 7 Days a Week

AFTER

813.704.5798 813.764.3571

Guaranteed Low Prices!

Specializing in Foreign and Domestic Trucks and Cars

4X4 and NPR’s

BILL’S TRANSMISSIONS Tel: 813.707.9865 13350 Hwy. 92E WE NOW OFFER TOWING Dover, FL 33527 Come See Porky!

Bill Somerlott, Owner

SERVICES ALSO OFFERED: A/C Repair • Brakes • Timing Belts • Alternators • Starters •Suspension Drivetrain Repair • Tune Up • Differential Repair Specialist • Fleet Maintenance Specialist R.V. & Heavy Truck Repair • Trailer Repair • 7.3, 6.0 & 6.4 • Diesel Specialist • Same Day Service in Most Cases • Cummings Insight • 30,000 & 40,000 Pound Lifts and much more! www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 67

Farm Credit—Your

One Stop Lender Welcome Sambhav!

We are very excited and pleased to welcome Sambhav to Driscoll’s working as our new Applied Research Manager – Eastern Region. Sambhav will manage research in the east coast of the United States and work closely with Production Management, Breeding, Nursery and Growers.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from the College of Agriculture in Pune, India and a Master of Science in Horticulture from the University of Florida .

We Treat You Right®

12880 Hwy. 92 E., Dover, FL 33527 • 813.659.4120 • 813.659.1584 Fax

68 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

a minute to figure out that the body language I use to slow Bella down has the opposite effect on Bonita. She’s quick.

I’m going to keep taking lessons and riding whenever I can.

Being outdoors in the evenings is so relaxing and, while I missed years of riding fun, it’s definitely not too late to make it a part of my life. I recommend giving it a try and highly recommend Jonnie and Nick’s program at Chaps Acres. Keep an eye out for special programs they put on at the farm – like the Ride Like a Girl camping retreat October 21-22. Jonnie knows how to make the experience more fun than you could imagine. Visit them at www. chapsacres.com for more information about Chaps Acres, Art on the Farm summer camps, special events and everything else they offer.

Email your photo to info@inthefieldmagazine.com —if we use it, you get 2 FREE Small Blizzards.

• Agriculture • Youth Steer Projects • Residential Property • Operating Expenses

• Hunting & Recreational Properties • Livestock • Equipment

FAN CLUB

right where I wanted her. Staying balanced while bending over at the waist was a little harder, but I’m up for trying anything.

During my next lesson she saddled another one of her horses and took me on a trail ride. Soon we were out among a herd of Black Angus cattle looking at the new calves that were born the previous week. I know it’s a stretch, but I like to think of that as my first time working cattle.

Sarah Holt, our editor, and Al Berry, Mr. Rocking Chair Chatter, were once both involved in the Paso Fino Horse Association.

Sarah thought I would really like the smooth ride of a Paso Fino.

So for my third lesson we took another trail ride and then headed back to the arena for me to have an opportunity to ride Bonita, a ten-year-old Paso Fino Jonnie owns. Bonita is 13.1 hands and a lot smaller than Bella. When I mounted her I almost went right over her because I’d gotten used to Bella’s broad back. The best way to explain it is the difference between a Harley hog and Trek racing bike.

Then there’s the difference in handling! Bonita turns on a dime and is extremely responsive. I started out making sure I knew how to stop her when I wanted to and began weaving through the barrels and poles again. Since Jonnie wanted me to experience Bonita’s special gait, she had me speed her up in the arena. It took me

Gail Lyons nk Regions Ba

1902 W Reynolds Plant City, FL 33563-4742 Phone: 813-752-2236

OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

1-866-245-3637

50¢ OFF Medium or Large

Blizzard

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

with this coupon ( limit 4 ) Expires 11/30/2011 cannot be combined with any other offers 1902 W Reynolds Plant City, FL

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 69

Feed and Garden Supply

by Captain Mark W. Gore Today there is a generation longing for the good old days.

These memories in Florida small towns and big city areas of today are merging together.

Florida is the nation’s fastest growing state, but if you slow down and just take a breath you might find some history that still exists. If you get off the interstate and take the old roads you will still find that small town feeling combined with Florida’s Southern hospitality. It is hard to believe with the growth that Florida has had over the last 20 years that there are still some old roads with some businesses that have been around over 50 years.

These were times in Florida when you knew your neighbors and were willing to give them a hand when needed. Folks still had gardens, chickens and maybe a cow with a few pigs. Those days times were hard, but they were simple, and families were connected by working together on their small farms and local backyard gardens. Families grew much of what they ate and so young kids of those days would go with their dad or grandfather to the local hardware or feed store to buy bulk seeds and feed for their animals.

Tampa, Florida is my home and is one of the largest cities in our state but we are lucky to have a great piece of history still operating. a family run feed and garden store in our own backyard, that store, filled with Tampa history and memories, is Shell’s Feed and Garden Supply.

Shell’s was a household name in Florida, days before the WalMart and Home Depot. Going in such a store was a neat experience for kids with abounding earthy smells that came from barrels of hardware and large sacks of grains and seeds. Charles Shell and his family would always be around to help you and they knew your name. It was a different way of life then and there was always someone you knew. There was no hurry in those days, people would hang out and stay awhile and tell their local yarns and listen for the latest town gossip.

When the store opened its doors in 1961 on Busch Blvd, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the United States, also that year a family could buy a house for $12,500, the cost of gasoline was 27 cents, and average household income was $5,300 a year!

Charles Shell opened his store without even so much as a cash register! The dream of a man, who at once decided to make a better life for himself and his family, not only came to fruition, but succeeded beyond imagination. Charles Shell got out of the army in 1961 with $1500 in savings. At the time he was trying to figure out what he was going to do next, when Charles’s Father, who was

70 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

a Purina sales rep at the time, found out about this feed store for sale at the corner of Temple Terrace Highway (now Busch Blvd.) and Nebraska Ave. Charles Shell purchased the store with the money he saved while being in the service, and Labor Day weekend 1961 was his first day in business.

As the only Purina dealer in Tampa for many years, Shell’s Feed & Garden Supply’s founder Charles Shell, began delivering feed to farms as far away as Levy County. The business thrived and survived during many fluctuating markets ... even being revived after the demolition of their original store on Busch Blvd. in Tampa in the mid 1960’s due to widening of roads.

In 1966, with the assistance of loans from Ralston Purina and Gulf Life Insurance, Shell opened the new store at 9513 N. Nebraska Avenue and currently owns and operates a retail store and warehouse of 10,000 square feet, with property investments encompassing a whole city block.

The store was initially family-run. Charles’ mother was cashier, his father the bookkeeper and both sons helped in the store since they were old enough to work. Today, Greg Shell has taken over the store, operating it with an equal amount of zeal, incorporating new online marketing strategies while providing additional products for home gardeners and pet owners. Staying true to the store’s original agricultural and family owned concept, yet keeping up with modern day needs makes Shell’s Feed and Garden Supply, Inc. a business model that is respected by consumers and retailers alike.

I personally think it is a blessing to have a store with that old down home southern feeling. If we continue losing historical places such as Shell’s with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, our kids will never know how great life was in those days. That is why it is so important to support your small business owner when you can.

Take your kids with you to get some seeds and garden supplies and plant a garden in the backyard together. Get them off the couch and the computer games, let their hands get dirty and enjoy being together and working on something as a family. Watch them light up with joy when they see what they planted has become food for your table. These are precious times in their lives and they grow up fast and one day they will be gone.

Please drop by and see Greg Shell and let him show you around his store. These days Shell’s Feed is one of the top suppliers of bulk garden seeds, starter plants, organic soil amendments, Earth Boxes, fertilizer and pet foods and supplies. They also carry bunny rabbits and baby chicks for people who want to have their own backyard chickens for farm fresh eggs.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 71

The Hay Depot

Customer Appreciation Day October 22nd

Doors Prize

Preots a n n a eet Pell M f f o $2xcept 11% Sw

UP to ff o % 0 2 items shelf

$5 Coastal Square Bales

e

r Farm “From Ou n” ar To Your B

Wholesale Tack by Barnyard Tack

All Types of Feed and Hay Specials Tack Trailer on Site N

I-4

S

Alexander St. THE HAY DEPOT

1001 S. Alexander St.

Plant City, FL 33563 • 813-478-1654 • Helps provide drivers of premium luxury vehicles a sporty balance of handling and all-season traction • European performance profile for progressive, predictable cornering

BUY 4 TIRES, GET A ®

®

Pilot MXM4

Legendary Pilot® performance tuned specifically for your luxury touring sedan.

LUXURY PERFORMANCE TOURING

• Provides long-lasting, balanced performance in any condition, even mud and snow • MaxTouch ConstructionTM helps deliver long-lasting uniform tread wear • Full-depth sipes for better snow traction

PREPAID CARD after mail-in rebate.*

®

LTX M/S Tires you can depend on in nearly any weather condition.

LIGHT TRUCK

Buy any set of four new MICHELIN® brand passenger or light truck tires from October 31 through November 28, 2011, and receive a $70 prepaid card after mail-in rebate. * See redemption form at participating dealers for complete offer details. Offer expires 11/28/11.

Void where prohibited.

Copyright © 2011 Michelin North America, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Michelin Man is a registered trademark owned by Michelin North America, Inc.

• Dual tread compounding increases traction in both wet and dry conditions •DuraGuard TechnologyTM uses two steel belts and two sidewall plies for greater durability and protection

Latitude® Tour HP Stop shorter. Stop safer.

SUV / CROSSOVER

CHUCKS TIRE & AUTOMOTIVE 600 South Collins Sreet • Plant City, FL 33563 Monday - Friday 7:30 - 5:30

www.chuckstire.com • 813-759-8473 Alignments • Balancing • Battery Replacement • Brakes

72 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 73

SAVICH & LEE / STALNAKER

Ph: (813) 620-3006 • 6902 Causeway Blvd, Tampa • www.Fencing-Farm-Ranch.com CHAIN LINK GATES

FARM GATES

4’ High 5’ High 6’ High 3’........ $39 .......... $44 .......... $54 4’........ $41 .......... $49 .......... $69 5’........ $47 .......... $55 .......... $77 6’........ $60 .......... $66 .......... $83 7’........ $77 .......... $89 ........ $105 8’........ $88 ......... $103 ....... $127 10’..... $111 ........ $127 ....... $143 12’..... $121 ........ $142 ....... $155 14’..... $149 ........ $167 ....... $184 16’..... $160 ........ $190 ....... $202 18’..... $170 ........ $204 ....... $228 20’..... $193 ........ $216 ....... $250 Gate Roll Kits Available

PIPE MESH 4’.................. $48 .................... $58 6’.................. $57 .................... $68 8’.................. $66 .................... $73 10’................ $73 .................... $87 12’................ $84 ................... $94 14’................ $92 .................. $107 16’.............. $102 ................. $116 18’.............. $129 ................. $148 20’.............. $139 .................. $159 12’ Corral Panels w/pin ......... $75

CHAIN LINK GATES

12’.........................................$115 16’......................................... $143

(1 3/8” tube welded)

(with hardware)

PIPE GATES

Galvanized Hvy Duty/16 ga

(1 5/8” tube welded)

HEIGHT LENGTH PRICE 4’....................20’ ............ $222 6’....................16’ ............ $278 6’....................18’ ............ $311 6’....................20’ ............ $327

CHAIN LINK FENCE

12½ gauge 11½ gauge 4’.................$46.......................$54 5’.................$64.......................$67 6’.................$75.......................$82 line Post corner Post 6’.......... $7.50 ..................... $10.50 7’.......... $8.50 ..................... $12.50 8’.......... $9.50 ..................... $13.75 1 3/8” toP rail 10 1/2’ ................................. $8.95 21’...................................... $17.90

WOOD FENCE POST 6½’ treated

2-2½” .............................$2.19 2½-3” .............................$2.89 3-3½” .............................$3.79 3½-4” .............................$4.25 4”-5” ..............................$5.10 Quantity Prices Available

1”X6”X16’ ROUGH CUT $6.95 DELIVERY AVAILABLE

GATES Black Powder Coated 2x4 Mesh Ideal for Horses & Small Animals

WOOD FENCE Limited Lifetime Warranty

4’............................................ $75 6’............................................ $89 8’.......................................... $114 10’........................................ $129 12’........................................ $143 14’........................................ $169 16’........................................ $179

6’x8’ Stockade Fence $32 00 10+ $31 00 6’x8’ Board on Board $39 00 10+ $38 00

Cattle Hay Rings ... $149 Horse Hay Rings..... $185

5 ft. Cattle Bunk ................. $89.00 10 ft. Cattle Bunk ............. $115.00

Heavy Galvanized

WIRE FENCE

1047-330’ Field Fence 14ga cl3 .................................................... $115.00 1047-330’ Field Fence 12½ga cl1.................................................. $139.00 1047-330’ Field Fence 12½ga cl3 low carbon ................................ $146.00 1047-330’ Field Fence 12½ga cl3 high tensile................................ $162.00 barb Wire 15½ CL3 Gauge ............................................................. $35.00 barb Wire 12½ GA CL3 ..................................................................$68.00 barb Wire 15½ GA 3” spacing........................................................ $49.00 100’x4’ cl3 no climb horse wire ................................................. $125.00 100’x5’ cl3 no climb horse wire ................................................. $149.00 200’x4’ cl1 no climb horse wire ................................................. $219.00 200’x4’ cl3 no climb horse wire ................................................. $249.00 100’x4’ cl1 4 X 4 goat wire .......................................................... $82.00 330’x4’ cl1 4 X 4 goat wire ........................................................ $255.00 5’x16’ Horse Panel 6ga 2x4 .......................................................... $59.00 50”x16’ 10 Line Panel 4GA ........................................................... $22.00

Trinkle, Redman, Swanson & Coton, Davis & Smith, P.A. Attorneys at Law

Our Practice CORPORATE & BUSINESS LAW • Incorporations, Partnerships & LLCs • Acquisitions, Sales & Mergers • Employer & Employee Relations FAMILY LAW • Dissolution of Marriage • Alimony, Child Custody & Support • Adoptions ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE • Will & Trust Drafting • Probate & Administration of Estates • Guardianship Proceedings

REAL ESTATE • Commercial & Residential Closings • Title Insurance • Development, Planning & Zoning • Foreclosures • Landlord - Tenant LITIGATION & LAWSUITS • Commercial Litigation & Collections • Creditor Representation in Bankruptcy • Real Estate • Personal Injury • Property Damage • Probate

*The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisments. Before you decide, ask the lawyer to send you free written informationabout their qualifications and experience.

121 North Collins Street • P.O. Drawer TT Plant City, Florida 33564-9040 • 813-752-6133 74 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 75

Fertilize Appropriately

The 3rd of the 9 Steps to a Florida-Friendly Landscape

Nutritional Therapy for Better Plant Health!

by Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Agent Hillsborough County and UF/IFAS Extension Fertilizers applied im-

properly can run off lawns into local springs, streams, lakes, rivers and, ultimately, into the Gulf or ocean. The results can harm our waterways and even the plants and animals that depend on water for survival.

Join others in an effort to keep all our waters clean, while having a healthy lawn and landscape. Here’s how: • Use fertilizers appropriately to reduce nutrient levels. More is not necessarily better. Read and follow all instructions. Excess fertilizer that washes off lawns can be a source of storm water pollution.

• Do not fertilize when rain is forecasted. This will reduce the level of nutrients washing into our water systems. Fertilizer down the drain means money down the drain.

• Select slow-release fertilizers. They are kinder to the environment and are usually more cost-effective. Nitrogen from slow-release sources is more likely to be used by plants and less likely to leach out or wash away in storm water runoff.

DO YOU NEED TO FERTILIZE? Food for plants comes from the sugars the plants make through photosynthesis. Fertilizer nutrients are used in this process, but a lawn or plant growing poorly because it is diseased, has a pest infestation, or is not receiving adequate light will not grow better if fertilized. Be sure to choose the right plant for the right place, the first of the 9 Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM principles.

ALL FERTILIZERS ARE NOT THE SAME Buy fertilizers formulated for the plants you want to fertilize (i.e. flowers, turf, palms, etc.). Fertilizers may not fix problems caused by soil that has too high or too low a pH level, so first conduct a pH test to make sure it is in the proper range. For more information on soil testing, go to: http://hillsborough. extension.ufl.edu/HomeGardening/Diagnostics.html.

SLOW AND STEADY When fertilizer nutrients are in “slow-release” forms, they are available to plants for a longer period of time and fewer nutri-

76 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

ents are wasted or lost to the environment. Look for these terms on the product label: • Time-released, slow-release or controlled-release • Water-insoluble nitrogen, biosolids, activated sludge, sulfur-coated urea (SCU), isobutylidene diurea (IBDU), ureaform (UF), nitroform, polymer-, plastic- or resincoated urea • 15-0-15 or 15-2-15, which indicates the contents are no more than 2% phosphorus

RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB Select the setting on your fertilizer spreader according to the directions on the fertilizer package. Because spreaders wear over time and people walk at different speeds, calibrating the spreader is a good first step and using the manufacturer setting is a good starting point. For more information about calibrating your spreader, go to http://hillsborough.extension.ufl.edu/prohort/.

Susan Haddock, Commercial Horticulture Agent, is completing a calibration fact sheet which will be on-line at this website in the near future. All fertilizer spreaders are required by law to have a guard. Be sure to sweep fertilizer off sidewalks and driveways and into turfgrass or landscape beds to reduce storm water runoff pollution.

RAINY SEASON RULES During the rainy season months from June through September, avoid the use of water-soluble/quick-release nitrogen, such as ammonium nitrate, urea ammonium phosphate, or potassium chloride. If fertilizer is needed, use only 100 percent slow-release nitrogen products, biosolids, or sludge- based fertilizers.

For yellow turfgrass in summer, especially on alkaline soils, try chelated iron or iron sulfate before you apply a nitrogen fertilizer. While both iron (Fe) and N deficiencies result in yellowing of turfgrass, they are distinctly different deficiencies in plants.

Applying iron will not correct an N deficiency, and nitrogen will not substitute for iron.

Access the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) of Hillsborough County website, http://www.epchc.org/Fertilizer. html, for the Fertilizer Use and Landscape Management Rule, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and several other helpful web links. For horticultural assistance, contact Hillsborough County Extension, 744-5519, or visit at 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584. Check our calendar of events for Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM workshops: http://hillsborough.extension.ufl. edu/HomeGardening/event-calendar.html. (The information contained in this article was taken from Fertilizer Facts, a brochure created by Marina D’Abreau and Lynn Barber.)

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

QuickShot MAX from Helena will put your crops on the road to improved agronomic health.

QuickShot MAX is a high-quality blend of micronutrients, alpha-keto acids, alkanoates and plant elicitors. It is designed to improve short- and long-term crop health. The plant elicitors promote Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) to help your crops deal better with stresses.

Its 100% water-soluble formulation pours easily and completely. Plus, it has a low pH that will not cause pesticide degradation problems from alkaline hydrolysis.

The end result: QuickShot MAX gives you an easy-to-use, trouble-free product that improves short- and long-term crop health.

Call Helena and learn how QuickShot MAX can improve your crop’s productivity.

• Improves plant health & strengthens immune response against stresses • Low pH formulation offsets alkaline hydrolysis • Eliminates water quality issues due to carbonates • Contains Asset Formulation Technology* (AFT) for improved availability of nutrients

®

• 100% water-soluble, sludge-free formulation results in easy pouring, mixing & application *Asset Formulation Technology (AFT) improves the solubility of plant nutrients and can increase their absorption by plant tissue. AFT also improves mixing and compatibility with other fertilizers and pesticides and sequesters micronutrients to prevent them from being "tied up" by hard water. .

Always read and follow label directions. QuickShot is a trademark & AFT, Asset & People...Products...Knowledge... are registered trademarks of Helena Holding Company. © 2011 Helena Holding Company.

Helena Chemical Company • 2405 North 71st Street • Tampa, FL 33619 • 813-626-5121 • www.helenachemical.com

1-800-470-2210

WWW.UNCOMMONUSA.COM USA Nylon Flag

Full line of stock flags available from historical, states, countries, sport teams, colleges, military and novelty. Visit us our website for current internet specials!

USA Nylon Flag with Embroidered Stars and Sewn Stripes 3' 4' 5' 6' 8'

THE ORIGINAL TELESCOPING FLAGPOLE

x 5' x 6' x 8' x 10' x 12'

Catalog Price

$33.30 $44.20 $67.70 $92.40 $193.20

Spring Special

$20.00 $30.00 $50.00 $70.00 $125.00

for Call alog at C e e Fr

Number one seller across America!

The Original Telescoping Flagpole Package I ncludes: • Silver Pole • Clear Anodized Finish

Full Fans 3'x6' Cotton Catalog Price Spring Special

• 3' x 5' USA Flag • 3" Gold Ball

$32.00 $25.00

• Polycarbonate Swivel Harnesses • Double Swivel Harness • Installation Sleeve • 5 Year Warranty

20' 16'

Catalog

Spring Special

$359 $319

$229 $199

Also available in bronze, black or white

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

PATRIOTIC EAGLE

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

3' x 5' Patriotic Flags $2900

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 77

A Closer Look: Leaf-Rolling Weevils

A Closer Look: Leaf-Rolling Weevils (Homoeolabus analis)

We Tell Your Stories

By Sean Green, Photos by Lacy Hyche, Auburn University “Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain.” —Henry David Thoreau Have you ever noticed small capsules of neatly rolled up leaves scattered under your oak trees and wondered who had the time and ambition to complete such a task? You may be surprised to learn that the culprit is a small insect and yet another example of the amazing feats of engineering that can be witnessed in our natural world. Without any formal training, the leaf-rolling weevil has created this tiny package to protect and incubate her eggs. Leaf-Rolling Weevils are only one of 2,000 species that comprise the Attelabidae family of weevils. The leaf rolling behavior that characterizes this family of weevils is known as nidification, from the Latin word nidus, which means nest.

The Leaf-Rolling Weevil (Homoeolabus analis) is abundant throughout Florida and its range extends as far as Northeast Louisiana.

This species is reported to utilize only live oak as a host, but is known to nidify at least 16 species of oak and two species of chestnut. Sand Oak (Quercus geminate) seems to be its favored species in Florida. Biological and chemical control of this species is unnecessary. They cause no significant damage to the host tree.

Finding an adult is not as easy as finding the sleeping bag like capsules they have rolled up for their young.

Adults are red with black legs and head and clubbed antennae. The weevil is small, only about 6 mm. Nidification (leaf rolling) begins with new spring leaves and continues through summer as waves of new thrush emerge with the rain. This month will likely be the last month you will find fresh leaf roles under your oak trees. The female will typically lay only one egg in a role but are known to lay more than one egg in each role if tender leaves become less abundant. The c-shaped larvae that hatch from the egg are legless and develop inside the leaf roll, feeding on it as they develop into the pupal stage. Late summer eggs will overwinter as prepupa and continue pupation in the following spring.

After a four week pupal stage, legs have developed and the insect emerges as an adult to begin nidification for the next generation.

Examination of one of these rolled up leaves may seem

78 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

trivial to anyone who has not tried to duplicate the craftwork of one of these marvels. Sure it’s easy enough for us to tear off a leaf and roll it up between our fingers, but our best efforts would fail to match the structural integrity of the capsule made by the weevil. Our roll would come apart easily and would offer very little in the way of protection if we tried to store something inside. In a film essay, “Instincts of an Insect,” produced by Fleetwood Films, Inc., the process of leaf rolling by Homoeolabus analis is documented. A closer look at this process and most will agree that we underestimate the latent genius that guides even the smallest of our natural world’s beings.

The leaf is measured by stepping it off, beginning from the edge of the leaf and continuing across the midrib. The midrib is lanced to cut off the water supply. The weevil mirrors the work on the other side, cutting to the other edge of which the nidus will be dropped to the ground. If the nidus will be left hanging on the tree, only one side of the leaf is cut.

The leaf is allowed to go limp, then the lower midrib is notched for easy rolling. Notch intervals are proportionate to the circumference of each new turn. Perforations cut in the branch veins (close to the midrib) enable the leaf to be folded in half.

Upon reaching the tip of the leaf, pleats are chewed out of the leaf as it is rolled, effectively locking its potential to unroll.

A single egg laid in a groove chewed into the center of the second turn is protected by subsequent layers and finished with flaps that are neatly tucked in to prevent the unrolling of this tiny sleeping bag. The entire process takes about two hours. Each female may lay approximately 30 eggs during her lifetime. Homoeolabus analis is not only a good mother, but also a formidable engineer considering the effort it would take us to accomplish the same task.

Should you find one of these small marvels under your oaks, examine its engineering genius and admire its resourseful design. Its perfect balance of utility and conservation is admirable. We would do well to master rather than dominate our environment. Nature is our original study guide.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

and the stories of your friends, family and neighbors...

August 15–September 15, 2011

June 15–July 15, 2011

Apr. 15-May 15, 2011

®

Mar. 15-Feb. 15, 2011

®

®

®

D&K Farms

Layna Blount

SOUTHERN STYLE GOATS

Hil lsb oro ugh Cou nt y Far m Bur eau

Covering What’s Growing

www.InTheFieldMagazine.co m

A Family Tradition

Billy Keith Williams

Owners Jade & Ashlyn Banks

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

May 15–June 15,

Covering What’s Growing

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

August 2011

1

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Covering What’s Growing

www.InT 1 heFieldMagazine.co m

April 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 15–October 15, 2011

2011

Covering What’s Growing

1

www.InTheFieldMagazine.co m

Feb. 15 - Mar.

March 2011

15, 2011

FIELD MAGAZINE 1 JulyHE15–August 15, 2011 INT

®

®

®

Gary Wishnatzki David Spivey

at’s Growing Whe.com Coveringagazin

Wishnatzki Farms:

KAITLYN GILL

An ti oc h C ri tt er s 4- H C lu b

May 2011

INTHEFIELD M

AGAZINE

1

Covering What’s Growing

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

THE ENERGIZER FARM

A 90 Year Lega

cy

2011 Florida Cattlemen’s Association Sweetheart

Spivey Farms

September 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Covering What’

www.InTheField 1 Magazine.c

om

s Growing

Covering What’s Growing

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

February 2011

www.InTheFieldM

INTHEFIELD

MAGAZINE

July 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

1

These past issues and more are available online at

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com 813/759-6909

/ITFmagazine

/berry.publications www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 79

1

Basil

Better Soil Health

by Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicine, B.S. Nutrition Science Many herbs grow happily in Florida, with its temperate climate and sunny days. Both commercial and residential herb operations are enjoyed throughout the state. Herbs grow year-round in greenhouses, while field production occurs between late September and May. Popular herbs to look for during this time of year are basil, parsley, anise, lavender, rosemary, and coriander.

Basil is a popular, robust spice used in many recipes, particularly in Italian cuisine, tomato dishes, and salads. A member of the mint family, basil has been called the “royal herb” by ancient Greeks. It has a spicy, pungent flavor that is best known in pesto sauce, and is sometimes described as having notes of licorice and cloves. In Florida, basil grows year-round once established.

Nutritional Profile

Basil is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K. It is also a good source of folate and iron. This herb is high in beneficial flavonoids, which has been shown to have anti-bacterial and antiinflammatory properties.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one half cup (21.2 g) of fresh chopped basil contains 5 calories, 0.67 g protein, 0.14g fat, 0.56 g carbohydrate, and 0.3 g of dietary fiber.

It also provides 66% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin K, 20% for vitamin A, 6% for vitamin C, 5% for calcium, and plentiful amounts of other valuable nutrients including iron, folate, magnesium, and dietary fiber. In other words, a one-half cup portion of basil provides more than half of your entire day’s vitamin K requirements and loads of other nutrients for almost no calories.

Vitamin K: Blood Clotting

Vitamin K is required for proper blood clotting. Without this vitamin, several clotting factors cannot function properly and effectively stop bleeding. Vitamin K also plays a role in maintaining bone density. Basil and other herbs and leafy green veggies are very rich in Vitamin K.

Calcium: Strong Bones

Basil is a good source of calcium, the most common mineral in the body. Calcium is a key component of strong bones and teeth and plays other important roles as well. It functions in constriction and relaxation of blood vessels, secretion of hormones, and nerve impulse conduction. Calcium is also important in muscle contraction, particularly in cardiac muscle.

Vitamin C: Good Immune Function

Basil is an excellent source of vitamin C, a water-soluble antioxidant that helps support the immune system. This vitamin is important for a healthy immune system, cancer prevention, healthy blood circulation and wound healing. Herbs and other foods high in vitamin C may help reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms.

This vitamin also acts as a potent antioxidant in the body, neutralizing harmful free radicals and preventing its damaging

80 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

Beneficial microbes are nature’s way of maintaining healthy soil.

Without them, the soil’s fertility will deteriorate no matter how much fertilizer is add to it.

Rhizogen fertilizers are packed with beneficial microbes, Mycorrhizal fungi, humates and essential nutrients — all of which help build rich, fertile soil. Beneficial microbes make the nutrients in the soil more available to plants. Mycorrhizal fungi create extensions of plants’ roots, multiplying their ability to pull water out of the soil. Humates reduce soil compaction, which means less water is required.

effects in cells. As a result, vitamin C has been associated with reduced severity of inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Several large scientific studies have shown that a high consumption of vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes including heart disease, stroke and cancer.

www.rhizogen.com

How to Select and Store

Choose fresh basil that is a deep green, uniform color. It should look perky, not wilted. It should smell fresh and pungent --- take a leaf, break it to release the oil, and sniff. Freshly cut stems of basil can be wrapped in damp paper towels or stored stems down in a glass of water, covered with a plastic bag and refrigerated for up to a week. To freeze basil for later use, wash leaves, then puree with a little water or oil. Portion the basil into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once frozen, pop out of the ice cube tray, place in an air-tight bag and store in the freezer until ready to use. Another option is to air-dry the basil. Rinse and dry leaves, tie stems into a bundle. Place bundle in a paper bag and hang the bag in a dry place for a few weeks. Once completely dried, basil can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

U.S. Patents 6,878,179, 7,044,994 & 7,442,224

FARMING

NURSERY

ORCHARD

TURF

LANDSCAPE

FOR PROFESSIONAL APPLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION CONTACT:

How to enjoy

Basil is enjoyed fresh or dried in many tomato, egg, and Italian dishes. Here are some serving suggestions: • Make pesto with basil, pine nuts, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. Mix it up by replacing pine nuts with walnuts or pecans • Layer fresh basil leaves with mozzarella cheese and tomatoes for a class Italian salad • Use fresh basil leaves to flavor vinegars and oils • Puree fresh basil and add to soups and stews • Chop fresh basil and toss with lettuces and other herbs for a salad • Use chopped basil in tomato sauce and tomato-based dishes • Add cut basil to scrambled eggs or poached eggs or egg salad • Use a small bunch as a garnish on top of pizza, lasagna, or other dish • Steep fresh basil leaves in hot water to make a warm drink • Combine chopped basil with olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice for a quick marinade for meat.

Enjoy fresh Florida basil today. With its vibrant, fresh flavor and exceptionally low calories, basil makes a nutritious and delicious addition to any dish!

Selected References

http://www.whfoods.com http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

8.8 ACRES PRITCHER RD, LITHIA, FL

AVAILABLE

68 Acres Riverview, FL Open pasture land, over 3,500 feet of road frontage on Boyette Road - $8,500/acre 48 Acres Lithia, FL Gorgeous property with huge oak trees and is one of the last parcels located in the Lithia/Fishhawk area! Over 2,300 feet of road frontage on two roads $795,000 9 Acres/Home/Barn Lithia, FL 4,562 sf home is full loaded, entire property fenced and cross fenced with three rail pvc, large oaks scattered throught the paddocks. Located on Thompson Road - $995,000

Nice wooded homesite with oak hammocks. Makes a beautiful large homesite or already platted into four parcels at 2.2 acres each! Nice investment! $110,000 Reed Fischbach, Broker Fischbach Land Company 813-546-1000 P.O. Box 2677 • Brandon, FL 33509

Note: While every attempt is made to provide as accurate information on this property offering as possible, FISCHBACH LAND COMPANY, LLC does not guarantee the accurace therof. Buyer shall rely entirely on their own information and inspection of property and records.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 81

Does your water smell like...

Rotten Eggs?

Used Auto & RV Parts U-Pull or We-Pull *Bring this ad and receive free yard entry.*

Loetscher

Kennco Manufacturing, Inc.

Check out our NEW Family Farm Products 1 ctober 201 O le b a il a Av

Clean up your water NOW with a

Chemical-FREE ARIS Filter

Auto Parts, llc

for iron and sulfur exclusively from Aquarius Water Refining.

(new ownership)

We Buy Wrecked or Damaged Motor Homes, Trucks & Junk Cars!

813-752-3770

www.loetscherauto.com

4306 Hwy 574 W | Plant City, FL 33563

• Bed Shaper • Plastic Layer • Transplanter • Adjustable bed size & row center

• Designed for small farms • Fits your Category One, 30 hp tractor • Kennco quality • Surprisingly affordable!

Call our friendly and helpful staff today!

800-645-2591 • Sales@KenncoMfg.com See videos at KenncoMfg.com/I10.aspx or Family Farm at http://qrs.ly/oi12ils

In The Field Magazine - October 2011 Hillsborough County Edition 1/4 page vertical ad - 3-9/16” W x 4-13/16”H PO #80108 - $240 A

Is Your Company re Making Su & P A G e ’r u o Y ty Food Safe Compliant?

82 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Aquarius Coupon

Email PDF to

re You Being Cha rged Fuel Servic e Charges?

sarah@inthefieldmagazine.com David.Pavlicko@architechsw.com Scott.Michie@architechsw.com October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com Sarah Holt 813-759-6909

Service and cleaning of your existing water treatment equipment.

(813) 634-3134

$34.95 (regularly $75.00)

FEATURING OUR UNIQUE PRODUCE CLUB

Fresh, healthy produce delivered right to your door on a weekly/ bi-weekly schedule. Serving Plant City, Apollo Beach, South Tampa, Wesley Chapel and more!

Expires 11/15/2011

Aquarius Water Refining (813) 634-3134 5914 SR 674 Wimauma, FL 33598 aquariuswatertampabay.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

LANCASTER FARMS (813) 482-2008

WWW.LANCASTERFARM.NET October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 83

Report Fox Squirrel Sightings The fox squirrel, named for its fox-like tail, is a charismatic mammal approximately twice the size of the common gray squirrel. The coloration of the fox squirrel is highly variable, ranging from a creamy tan to all black. In Florida, the fox squirrel can be found in almost every county, but the distribution is patchy and not well understood.

To better understand fox squirrel distribution, A new research project conducted by the University of Florida Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking members of the public across the state to report their fox squirrel sightings at the following website https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/foxsquirrel/GetLatLong.aspx

We are hosting an event, “Let’s Talk About Cats,” on November 3rd, 6:30-7:30pm with guest speaker, Animal Behavioralist Meghan Parmley.

Topics include litterbox etiquette, traveling with your cat, and more. O’Brien’s will be supplying appetizers for the event.

Space is limited so call us early to sign up!

Questions?

Please Contact Courtney Hooker foxsquirrel@ifas.ufl.edu

New Signage Available The Hillsborough County Farm Bureau has this sign available to those who may be interested.

The cost is $25 per sign.

Contact the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau at 813-685-9121 for more information.

Call: (813) 754-PETS (7387)

1704 Walden Village Court, Plant City, FL 33566

If you are a Farmer or Rancher - CALL US. Hometown Attorneys Working for You

• • • • • • •

PERSONAL INJURY Catastrophic Injury Wrongful Death Auto & Motorcycle Accidents Insurance Claims Slip & Falls Injuries from Defective Products

24/7 Appointments Free Hospital and Home Calls Credit Cards Accepted Habla Espanol

Byrd & Barnhill, P.L. ATTORNEYS AT LAW

813.759.1224 • www.byrd-law.com 206 N. Collins St. • In Historic Downtown Plant City

Johnnie B. Byrd, Jr.

David H. Barnhill

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based upon advertisements. Before choosing a lawyer ask for written information about the lawyer’s legal qualifications and experience.

84 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 85

Mangare bene per vivere bene.

al u n n A 2011ner Din

ESPOSITO PIZZA

Eat well to live well.

since 1983

Licensed Propagators Serving Farmers & Retail Customers

Starting a Farm or Need Resets?

813-704-5971

Fresh made pizza and full menu of classic Italian dishes.

EsposIto pIzza Located in front of Lowes on James L Redman parkway, plant City

We have several thousand 1 to 15 gallon blueberry plants available!

fax: 813-704-5974

paLaCE pIzza Next to Highland City publix Lakeland 863-709-8683

Love Fresh Berries?

15 Gallon Blueberry Plant $19.95 for your backyard or patio...

No need to transplant– Just add water!

rr y

n Be

by Kare s o t o h p

ty gh Coun u o r o b s l The Hil hosted their ureau on Sepr e Farm B n n i t nnual D 2011 A th on the Plan h 29 oug tember Hillsbor f o s u p m City Ca y College. See f nit Commu r a full recap o fo page 40 events. t’s the nigh

813-323-7987 w w w.berr ybluefarms.com

Hillsboro

Hometown Banking at its best! (across from Plant City High School)

We stand ready to help you with all of your banking needs!

Supporting Hillsborough County’s FFA Students

813-707-6506 VISIT OUR VALRICO LOCATION!

1016 Bloomingdale Ave. • Valrico, FL 33596 Tel: 813-657-8989

October 2011

Exp: 11/15/11

BANK

509 West Alexander St., Plant City

86 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

$2 00 OFF ANY FULL PIZZA

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Auto Services Inc.

“We Are A FULL SERVICE Garage”

• Body Shop • Used /Reman Transmission • Engine Diagnostic/Tune Up • Maintenance/Repairs • CV Axles • Drive Shafts • AC Repair GUARANTEED USED PARTS • Alternator/Starter • Large selection of Used Tires • New and Used Glass Installed • Brakes

(813) 689-8255 2 Year Part Replacement & Labor Guarantee!

3159 Hwy. 60 East

3 miles east of Brandon Serving Brandon Since 1971

www.brandonautoservices.com October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 87

Odessa Wranglers 4H Club

88 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

by Claudia Looi According to the 4H National headquarters, 4H promotes and stands for head, heart, hands and health education. It is the premier youth development program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) originating in the early 1900s for the four square education. It also seeks to promote positive youth development, facilitate learning and engage youth in the work of their community through the Cooperation Extensive Service to enhance quality of life.

It is an organized group of at least five youth from three different families who meet regularly with adult volunteers or staff for a long-term progressive series of educational experiences. It is open to children ages 8 and up and not exceeding 21 years old.

Odessa Wranglers 4H Club organizer, Audra Skinner, has been running the club for the last eight years. Ms Skinner grew up in a farm, has always had animals in her life and finds joy in helping children and young adults in her community. She never had the chance to join a club until she was in high school. So, when her son Owen was about a year and half old, she started the club.

She takes joy in helping children with their animals and also helps them in the fairs. She is involved in most of the agricultural clubs in the local schools. Children who have fear of animals initially do get over their fears when working with Ms. Skinner. She tells children, “fear travels…it will travel to the animals you are handling. The animals have fear, too, so recognize your fear and conquer it.” She takes great pride in helping them overcome fear. It is nice to see someone who starts out scared go on to succeed in taking care of animals and winning awards.

Even though her club is about livestock, children are not limited to just livestock. Families can gauge on their own what project areas are suitable for their children. Children that come to her club through the years are involved in gardening, dairy, chicken, goats, pigs, rabbits, sculpting and art.

The club runs from September 1 to August 31 each year. She had over 25 children at the first meeting this year. Eight years ago she started out with eight children. The participants range from Clover Buds, who start at age 5, elementary students, freshman, to two college students who are still with her, showing their dairy cows.

The Odessa Wranglers 4H Club is self funded and meets once a month at Keystone United Methodist Church. Sometimes children are encouraged to bring their rabbits or chickens to have a show and tell. One of the most interesting things about Audra Skinner is her sense of interest in teaching children hands-on skills, in this particular instance with animals. She believes children should learn responsibility, learn to speak publicly and learn to articulate and teach others what they know. Children are encouraged to participate and teach in her club.

For more hands-on experience they take trips to member’s homes to visit with their animals and learn from each other. So children who may live in a subdivision and do not have livestock, are able to feed, touch, play and learn about dairy cows, goats and pigs, etc.

Because of her love of teaching children and her love for animals, the Odessa Wranglers 4H Club is a close knit group. They are like family. Most of the children who join the club have an interest in pursuing a career in agriculture, some have been awarded grants and many are straight A students.

The club’s children go to many fairs and shows around the county and state, namely the Strawberry Festival, Hillsborough and Pasco County Fairs and the West Palm Fair. Most of the time Ms Skinner clears her schedule and accompanies the children and their parents to the shows to support, encourage and help them as much as possible.

This year, the children will participate in field trips to Tilapia Fish Farm in Hernando County and Golden Spirit Alpaca Farm in Tampa.

The children that have been with her through the years have won many awards. They have won Grand Champions in dairy at the State Fair, County Fair, and Strawberry Festival. Some have won showmanship awards. Her son Owen, who is nine, has won Grand Champion and Reserve Champion at the West Palm Fair, Pee Wee award at the State Fair and first place with his pig at the county fair.

Ms. Skinner wants readers to know that the Odessa Wrangler 4H Club is an open club that brings hands-on learning experience and teach the concept of learning through doing.

As we walked into the compound of her home, we saw Owen’s show pigs, Ms Piggy 230lbs and Peggy Sue 224 lbs, Owen’s favorite goat, Princess, and 14 other goats, Sweet Pea the cow and her baby, T-bone.

Ms. Skinner has taught her son well about caring for animals and passing on the hands-on experience to him.

For families who are looking for hands-on learning experience caring for animals and learning about animals and wanting to teach children responsibility, 4H Club is a great start.

October 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

discover the dusty’s difference!

LAYAWAY NOW!

rv sales • service • accessories

Over 400 RVs in Stock!

nEw 2012 StaRcRaft

ar-one 14rb Stk. #DCW8633

11,995*

ONLY $

WE BUY GOLD & SILVER

best Manufacturers. best floorPlans. best PricinG. 7400 State Road 60 East bartow, Call

fl 33830

866.923.0262 Online DustysRV.com

*Prices not inclusive of tax, title, license and dealer doc fees.

Advertised inventory available at time of printing. New unit photography for illustration purposes only. May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales. See dealer for details. Offer expires 12/31/11.

DCW14719-0511

1705 Jim Redman Pkwy.

Plant City, FL 33563 813.754.2360 TUES.-FRI. 10 AM - 6 PM • SAT. 10 AM - 4 PM Rusty Brown President/Goldsmith

Dustys_hz.eps

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 89

2012 Strawberry Festival Pig Draw Advantage Academy 4-H Shawn Connell Alafia Kids 4-H TJ Hutchinson Alonso FFA Jennifer Ramey Janna Royal Cassidy Shields Antioch Critters 4-H Amber Bass Ashley Bingham Madi Conrad Matthew DelCastillo Kenneth Hattaway Lacey Hicks Daniel Paul Emily Roberts Meghan Sodders Morgan Sodders Luke Williams Corbett Wyatt Barrington Middle FFA Drexyl Brewer Lindsey Graves Catelynn Gregory Caleb Krout Kasey Lewis Tyler Tylisz

Beth Shields Middle FFA Chloe Brocksmith Jake Helmer Brandon FFA Ashley Denslow Chamberlain FFA Deren Baker Skyler Underwood Chautaqua 4-H Ashley Sanchez Cork Crackers 4-H Gracie Lee Landon Mack Durant Senior FFA Whitney Alvarado Brendan Barnes JF St Martin FFA JD Oddo Lennard FFA Evan Ratliff Marshall Middle FFA Emily Matthews Rachael Sale Cullen Telfer Megan Todd Jared Upthegrove

Newsome FFA Presents

The following students will be showing pigs at the 2012 Florida Strawberry Festival. Make plans now to come out and show your support for these hard working young people.

Newsome FFA Blake Harrell Eleni Lewis Michael Meadows Patchwork 4-H Jenna Rae Keely Plant City Senior FFA Jordan Lewis Ben Luchka Riverview FFA Brien Johnston Brandi Jones Haylee Thompson Southside Livestock 4-H Clayton Brock Rachel Carter Strawberry Crest FFA Hannah Futch Tyler Glenn Savannah Lingo Richelle Sapp Samantha Schulte Taylor Tyson Sydney Stampede 4-H Chelsea Baker Colten Drawdy

Tomlin Middle FFA Alissa Baker John Banks Courtney Bendorf Kaelib Carlough Brooke Conyers Cory Cotnoir Jacob Garrison Savannah Kummelman Tate Whatley Turkey Creek FFA Dakota Allen Chase Campbell Garrett Connell Jacob Gainer Mavric Griffin Cassidy Hasting Charles Heidel Garrett Heidel Reagan Messick Jacob Ross Jonathan Rowell Tristan Simmons Dylan Smothers Chloe Tew Savannah Trapnell Young Sprouts 4-H Jonathan Dygert

Newsome FFA 6th Annual Car, Truck, and Bike Show Rides-Trunk or Treat

by James Enicks (Newsome FFA student)

     

When: Saturday; October 22, 2011; 4-7 p.m.

Where: Newsome High School Parking Lot Cost: Free Admission to public; $1.00 parking donation.

Exhibitor Entry Fee: $15.00/exhibit; entry fee includes space for vehicle set-up.

Antique, Classic, Imports, Custom cars, trucks, tractors, motorcycles and buggies will be on site for viewing.

Concessions, Vendors, Silent Auction, children activities, and Door Prizes will be throughout day.

Kid’s Costume contest at 5 p.m. Prizes will be given for most unique, best theme, and cutest costume.

Proceeds from show will benefit Newsome FFA and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital Trophies and cash prizes will be given to first-third placing in each category. Exhaust and stereo competitions on site.

Exhibitor Check-in: October 22, 2011 3-4:00 p.m. Vehicles can be removed starting at 6:45 p.m.

Rides Vehicle Entry Form

Please list all vehicles you plan to enter on the following form. Please feel free to copy this form if extra entry forms are needed. Mailed entries must be received by October 17th. If you have questions please contact Kelley Ware at (813) 7404600 ext. 604 Name:__________________________ Phone(____)______________Address:_____________________________________________________

Year

Make

Model Gate entries will be accepted, $20 late entry.

Please make all checks out to Newsome FFA Alumni Newsome FFA/ Attn: Kelley Ware 16550 Fishhawk Blvd Lithia, FL. 33547

90 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

“Rides,” a local car show that is being held at Newsome High School, is being hosted by the Newsome FFA and Ag department. It will be on October 22, 2011 from 4 to 7 p.m. This event will show off a lot of cool cars, trucks, buggies, bikes, and many other types of vehicles.

This is a wonderful car show that gets people to Newsome to enjoy a fun day with cars and food and everything in between.

This will also be a family event where children will be able to gather treats from vendors. So come on down and enjoy all we have to offer, including a children’s costume competition at 5 PM, in which there will be prizes given to the most unique, best theme, and cutest costume.

The car show will be a lot of fun and there will be a lot to do. So take a relaxing day off and come see some of man’s best creations. Bring the whole family and tell everyone because anyone can enter their vehicle and have it judged. There will be trophies and cash prizes for first through third place vehicles in each category. This will be an awesome day so stop by and just have fun. All the proceeds from this event will go to the Newsome FFA and, most important of all, to the St. Jude’s children’s hospital.

For more information on how to enter a vehicle or become a vendor for this event, please contact Kelley Ware at 813-740-4600 ext. 604 or email at kelley.ware@sdhc.k12.fl.us.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Is the company you are using: • Gap & Primus Compliant?

• Have GPS Reporting?

• Specialize in Agriculture? ... if not call

not just a muffler shop anymore...

863-519-5400

813.752.0189

Handy Can

• Brake service & installation • Diesel lube, oil & filter • Power unit exhaust repair • Interstate Battery dealer • BG Transmission Flush • Tractor exhaust repair • A/C service & repair

402 S. Collins St. • Plant City, FL 33563

www.huffmuffler.com

Now, there is HOPE.

Hope Christian Academy is focused on an Exceptional Education for Exceptional Students with customized plans for your child in their learning process. ✔ FREE CHRISTIAN ✔ PRESCHOOL EDUCATION Available Program Starting for Qualifiers!

Soon! FREE Tuition for Qualifiers! ✔ Personalized Programs–No ✔ McKay Scholarships “Cookie Cutter for Kids with Curriculum” Learning Disabilities! ✔ Qualified, Caring ✔ Free or Reduced Teachers Lunch Students Qualify for SUFS ✔ A NO FRUSTRATION Scholarship Approach to Progress for Each Student ✔ Space/Meeting Rooms for Rent: ✔ Personalized Tutoring Evenings & Available Weekends, Summer ✔ Emphasis on HEALTH Day/Night, Weddings, for Body, Mind and Parties, Classes Spirit HOPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

1109 W. Grant Street, Plant City 813-752-1000 | www.hope-christian.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

October 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 91

500 North Dr. Melbourne, FL 321-557-6219

Unsprayed

Atomic Grow = Adjuvant You can spray fertilizer and micronutrients all day long and only a small percentage of it really gets into the tree. This picture illustrates how much more effective sprays are when mixed with Atomic Grow because a much larger percentage gets into the tree. Atomic Grow is a super carrier that takes fertilizer into the vascular system and roots quickly for complete and thorough feeding and less waste running off the leaves with each spray. Benefits are: • Increased fertility • Cleaner grove • Complete feeding • Increased immunity • Less wasted fertilizer

Sprayed

813-759-6909 Animals RANCH RAISED CORN FED STEERS Finished whole or half. Will haul to packing house. Wholesale $1.10 per pound (live weight). Evans Ranch 863-859-6646 or 863-944-2050.

Animal & Bird Cages Add living microbes to improve your soil, Equipment serving the fur-bearing and exotic bird industry. Cages built to order.

Wire by roll or foot. 813-752-2230 www.ammermans.com Swap Nov. 27, 2011, July 15, 2012 and Nov. 25, 2012.

Building Supplies Decking Brds. & Till Siding Call Ted 813-752-3378.

Double Insulated Thermo Pane Starting at $55. Call Ted 813-752-3378.

Surplus Windows Double Insulated Starting at $55. Call Ted 813-752-3378.

Mobile Home-sized Window Screens We make window screens of all sizes available in different frame colors. Call Ted 813-752-3378.

Hillsborough’s Growing Businesses

Till 4 x 8 Sheet B-grade $14.95. Call Ted 813-752-3378.

New Doors Closeout Special!!! $75 to $295. Call Ted today 813-752-3378.

Equine Services Horse Boarding Stalls and individual turnout, lighted arena and round pen. Owners on property. $300 full care. Call 813-610-4416.

Also offering Sylvester Palms (call for pricing)

As always $99 Palms

(Any Size, Queen & Washingonia)

MidState Tractor Parts, Inc. Tractor & Implement Parts New • Used • Rebuilt

702 S. Collins St. • Plant City, FL 33563 Newtion Loca

813-752-8010 800-226-3510

info@midstatetractorparts.com 92 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

Farm Equipment

(813) 215-5544

www.jonandrosiestreefarm.com Supply of fertilizer free with each tree purchase

To join the lineup of Hillsborough’s Growing Businesses, contact Danny Crampton. Email danny@inthefieldmagazine. com or call 813-759-6909. www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

HEAVY DUTY TRAILER 14’ Shop built, heavy duty trailer, 2 axel with ramps. $750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722.

NEW MAHINDRA 6530 2wd, 65hp. Dual remotes, 5 year warranty. $16,919.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722.

DOUBLE-ROW BEDPRESS For strawberries/vegetables Good Condition.

Call 813-967-2820 $3,500.

Massey Ferguson 255 Grove Tractor with 6’ mower $7,500. Call Alvie 813-759-8722.

Kubota L275 With shuttle shift. Ready to work! $3,500. Call 813-759-8722.

2003 Massey Ferguson 4355 2wd, 85 pto hp, shuttle shift $11,500.

Call Alvie 813-759-8722.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Classifieds

Massey Ferguson 2300L 4x4 w/loader, 277 hours, 22.5 hp, $7,000. Call Robby 863-537-1345.

New Holland TC29 Tractor/Loader 29 pto hp, 268 hrs, $13,000 (UT6406). Ask for David 813-623-3673 Kubota L2600 27 hp, 2 wd, 2334 hours, $2,750.

Call Alvie 813-759-8722.

Bolens G154 Diesel Tractor 15 hp, 4x4, 3 pt. lift, $2,500.

Call Alvie 813-759-8722.

Feed Fertilized Bahia Hay for Sale 4x5 rolls $25 ea., 800 rolls available. Call for pick up 863-287-3091 or 863-294-1650.

Jobs Contributing Writer Write about events in your community.

Immediate openings in Hillsborough and Polk Counties. Paid per article. Responsibilites include covering community events and taking pictures. Email your resume to sarah@inthefieldmagazine.com SALESMAN WANTED Established company in the Tampa Bay area wanted. Seeking a seasoned sales professional for a commission based job opportunity. We offer an account retention program. Must have experience and reliable transportation. 216-632-5000.

Account Manager Sales, account management. Immediate openings in Hillsborough and Polk Counties. Email your resume to info@inthefieldmagazine.com

info@inthefieldmagazine.com APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR SALE Why would you accept 1% on your savings when you can receive 8% payable monthly, secured by a first mortgage on a $500,000 Plant City 16 unit apartment complex 130,000.00 required - 26% loan to value - 3 yr. minimum term - act now or the opportunity will be gone. For more information call 813-759-1136.

Blairsville, Georgia MLS #191458 Prepare to love this well-kept 2BR cabin with a seasonal mountain view. This enticing 1 1/2 story provides gas fireplace, loft, wood flooring, main-level laundry, central air, ceiling fans, Nottley River priveleges, covered porch and a simple, no-fuss landscape. Fishing.

Call Jane Baer w/Jane Baer Realty 1-800-820-7829.

2.66 Acre Nursery for sale or lease N. Lakeland with 1,000 sq ft frame house, 2 sheds, irrigation throughout. Call Bruce 863-698-0019.

Estate Sale Large double-wide mobile home, partially furnished, 2 BR/2 ba, large kitchen, huge living room, laundry room, front screenin porch, covered double carport, utility room, Located in Country Meadows Adult Park in Plant City. Asking $23,000. Call Al at 813-763-2220.

Miscellaneous 2002 Fish Hawk Bombardier Boat

Lawn Equipment/Supplies Dixie Chopper X2002 Quad Loop zero turn mower. 50” cut, good working condition $3,500.

Rubber Mulch All colors, buy 10 bags, get 1 FREE! $8.99 a bag. Call Ted 813-752-3378.

Real Estate BLAIRSVILLE GEORGIA MLS# 213989 Imaculate, shows like new, open, bright, airy, lots of glass.

Split plan, one bedroom & bath on each side of great room.

Fireplace, back porch for grilling out. A must see. 2 car garage with separate doors for each car, work area in garage, basement finished except for garage. Priced to sell!!! $149,900. Call Jane Baer w/ Jane Baer Realty. 1-800-820-7829.

October 2011

16’7” Fiberglass boat with 2007 trailer, 90 hp Johnson Outboard.

Center console, Bimini, live well, two-step ladder. $5,500. Call 813-758-3864.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 93

Come Experience the Napa Valley of Tampa Bay

. . . t i H t e G Don't Get Protection with Our Cages

Call L.I.T.!

Our Tasting Room & Gift Shop is Open Daily Until 6pm

With copper prices on the rise, you can’t afford not to protect your investment! Our security cages are custom built for your HVAC by a professional HVAC contractor to include a completely enclosed cage system with interlocking panels and a double collar lock sytem that provides you with the ultimate security but still provides easy service access to your HVAC system. We also offer pressure-sensitive alarm systems that provide added security to your system.

Call Brian today for a free quote!

813-601-2671 | 1215 Mercer Loop | Plant City, FL 33567

Sample All 12 Wines for Just $5 Friday Evening After Hours Wine Bar Dinner Served 6pm to 9pm Reservations Encouraged Happy Hour 6pm to 7pm Live Music 6:30pm to 10:30pm $5 Cover Charge

Brian Lewis

AFTER AFTER

We are your hometown energy efficiency experts! 40% of your home’s energy efficiency loss comes from your attic. We offer a full line of energy efficiency products to help reduce your home’s monthly energy costs. Including Green Guard approved products such as Owens Corning Pro Pink Complete Insulation that comes with a lifetime warranty against natural settling. We also offer whole house ventilation systems, insulation removal, Radiant Barrier, open and closed cell spray foam insulation, concrete block foam fill and batted insulation.

With energy costs on the rise, you can’t afford not to call us!

Brian 813-601-2671

94 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2011

BEFORE

DUCT CLEANING

AFTER

$

BEF

ORE

RESIDENTIAL

$

BEFORE

COMMERCIAL

Call Lewis Insulation Technology Today– tart aving Money Tomorrow!

Host Your Next Special Moment at Keel & Curley!

Wedding Ceremonies & Receptions Bridal & Baby Showers Anniversary & Birthday Parties Corporate Events

813.752.9100

5202 W. Thonotosassa Rd. Plant City

after

Now offering duct cleaning services for your home or office. Full line of duct cleaning, sealing, and sanitizing services available. 7yr mold and mildew guarantee on encapsulated duct systems. Ask us about our mold preventative systems. Call today and breathe easy tomorrow! Ask for Brian. www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

O 2011 I T F M 95 www.keelandcurleywinery.com ctober

N HE IELD

AGAZINE

24 hrs a 7 days a day 365 days week a year

Est. 1969

DR. LARRY BRITT, DVM

Large Animal Vet Services General Practice Specializing in Equine Dentistry HAUL TO CLINIC • Vaccinations $80 / save $10 (EWT/WN/RH/FLU/RAB/STRANGLES) • Coggins $30 / save $5 WE NOW OFFER CBC/CHEM PROFILE Get your baseline done today and save $40!

Ask us how...

SERVICE BUNDLE • Coggins • Vaccinations • Teeth Floating $209 / save $71 per horse!

FARMS and/or GROUPS Call for Discount Pricing!

914 E Knights Griffin Rd., Plant City, FL 33565 • 813.951.0118 cell • 813.752.0224 office

96 INTHEFIELD813.719.1913 fax • teethfloat@aol.com • www.horse-dentist.biz MAGAZINE October 2011 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com