Heartland In The Field - June 2011

June 2011

Florida Dairy Meet Your Local Dairy Farmer

Covering What’s Growing

HARDEE • HIGHLANDS • DESOTO • GLADES CHARLOTTE • OKEECHOBEE • HENDRY June 2011 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 1

2

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 3

From the Managing Editor

Sarah Holt

June

VOL. 3 • ISSUE 9

Heartland’s AGRICULTURE Magazine

Cover Story

Tel: 813-708-3661 Office: 813-759-6909 Heartland: 813-750-1683 Fax: 813-754-4690

June 2011

Agriculture is the lifeblood of our nation. In 2007 the census of agriculture found 2.2 million farms, covering 922 million acres.

In 2008 Florida had 47,500 commercial farms on 9.25 million acres and ranked first in the United States in the value of production of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, sugarcane for sugar and seed, squash, watermelons, sweet corn, freshmarket snap beans, fresh market tomatoes and fresh market cucumbers. Strawberries, bell peppers and cucumbers for pickles ranked Florida in second in production value.

Agriculture is an important part of life in Florida and the United States. Agriculture has a huge impact in our state and ranks second only to tourism for impact to Florida’s economy.

Publisher

Florida Dairy

Rhonda Glisson Karen Berry

Meet Your Local Dairy Farmer

Covering What’s Growing

HARDEE • HIGHLANDS • DESOTO • GLADES CHARLOTTE • OKEECHOBEE • HENDRY June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

1

Florida Dairy Pg. 32

6 Farm Bureau Letter

We keep the focus of our magazines on agriculture.

We have articles on the pioneers of the agriculture industry, those who put their blood, sweat and tears into the land. We introduce you to those currently involved in the industry, many who continue a legacy started by their families and many who are taking the plunge as the first generation in agriculture. We also highlight our next generation of leaders, those who will respond to the issue facing Florida agriculture in the future.

10 Meet Your Heartland In The Field Team

Agriculture has a rich and colorful history in Florida.

It is a way of life that our communities have thrived on for generations. We look forward to chronicling this way of life in the pages of each and every In The Field magazine.

16 Mark King’s Fishing Report

12 Grub Station 14 Whipping Bowl

18 Rocking Chair Chatter

Until Next Month, 24 The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to Jay Houston’s Hunting Update you.

36 Woman in Agriculture Pam Butler Senior Managing Editor 40 Florida Farming Ron Lambert

Sarah Holt

45 Farm Bureau Field Agent Report Andy Neuhofer 46 Justin Smith’s Citrus News In The FieldŽ Magazine is published monthly and is available through local businesses, restaurants and other local venues within Hardee, Highlands, Charlotte, DeSoto, Okeechobee, Glades and Hendry counties. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes members of the Farm Bureau and those with ag classification on their land. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to Heartland in the Field, P.O. Box 3183, Plant City, Florida 33563 or you are welcome to email them to rhonda@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-708-3661.

Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The FieldÂŽ 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 FieldÂŽ magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

4

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

ÂŽ

Senior Managing Editor Sarah Holt

TAKE CONTROL t $POWFOJFOU DPNQMFUF NJOFSBM BOE WJUBNJO TVQQMFNFOU JO BEEJUJPO UP FòFDUJWF øZ DPOUSPM t 1SFEJDUBCMF JOUBLF FRVBMT QSFEJDUBCMF DPTUT t )PSO øJFT BSF UIF NPTU QFSWBTJWF BOE NPTU DPTUMZ QBSBTJUF PG DBUUMF JO /PSUI "NFSJDB t "MUPTJE¼ *OTFDU (SPXUI 3FHVMBUPS *(3 GPS TBGF FòFDUJWF DPOUSPM PG IPSO øJFT t 'SFF $IPJDF 4VQQMFNFOUT

Assistant Editor

Morgan Taylor Norris

Operations Manager Lizzette Sarria

Accounting Manager Heather Polk

Office Manager Bob Hughens

Sales Manager

$FOUSBM 4UBUFT &OUFSQSJTFT --$ /8 8BMEP 4USFFU -BLF $JUZ '-

XXX DTFGFFET DPN

Danny Crampton

Sales

Karen Berry Morgan Taylor Norris Chass Bronson Ron Brown Tina Richmond

Creative Director Amey Celoria

Staff Writers

Al Berry James Frankowiak Robbi Sumner Tanner Huysman Justin Smith

Contributing Writers Ron Lambert Brenda Valentine Jay Houston Steve Chapman Lindsey Wiggins

Photography Jim Davis Karen Berry

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

"MUPTJEÂĽ *OTFDU (SPXUI 3FHVMBUPS JT B SFHJTUFSFE USBEFNBSL PG 8FMMNBSL *OUFSOBUJPOBM .BEF JO 6 4 "

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 5

Throughout the 2011 legislative session Florida Farm Bureau has pursued policy issues that affect your livelihood. We have sought to express your positions in committee hearings, meetings with legislative aides, executive agency briefings and discussions with representatives of other agricultural and business organizations, as well as with other stakeholders.

We thank our Farm Bureau members who contacted legislators and their staffs on our issues. Your volunteer leadership service on behalf of agriculture gave us a powerful voice at our state capitol. We may not win every battle, but you can rest assured that before the final gavel falls, every legislator will have known Farm Bureau’s positions.

Florida Farm Bureau has been successful in creating support for a number of measures that will assist farmers, ranchers, growers and other private property owners throughout the state.

As of Friday morning, May 6, the following measures have successfully passed the House and Senate:

Veto Override

During the third week of the session both houses agreed to override Gov. Charlie Crist’s veto of last year’s general ag bill.

This bill included a reduction in permits, fees and duplicative regulations. The House approved the override unanimously and the Senate soon followed with an overwhelming endorsement.

The provisions of the bill became effective immediately.

Property Rights

HB 701 by Rep. Eric Eisnaugle; SB 998 by Sen. David Simmons Both houses have adopted bills that amend the Bert Harris Jr. Private Property Rights Act. Pending approval from Gov. Rick Scott, provisions of the bills become effective on July 1 and will have the following effects: • Allow landowners to bring a claim against a government entity based on when the law was applied, not when it was enacted; • Provide that a moratorium on a development that is in effect for longer than one year is not a temporary impact to real property and may constitute an inordinate burden; • Change the notification period from 180 days to 120 days; • Replace the term “ripeness” with language specifying when the prerequisites for judicial review are met; and • Waive sovereign immunity for purposes of the act.

Wetlands/Ag Exemption

HB 421 by Rep. Leonard Bembry; SB 1174 by Sen. Gary Siplin This legislation accomplishes the following: • Revises exemption for agricultural-related activities to include certain impacts to surface waters and wetlands; clarifies

purpose of such activities, and limits applicability of exemption; • Provides exclusive authority to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to determine whether certain activities qualify for agricultural-related exemption under specified conditions, retroactive to 1984; • Requires memoranda of agreement between FDACS and water management districts; • Provides exemption from mitigation requirements for converted agricultural lands under certain conditions; and • Revises the definition of the term “agricultural activities” to include cultivating, fallowing, leveling as well as specified practices and standards, and provides for certain impacts to surface waters and wetlands.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

HB 7215 by Rep. Steve Crisafulli; SB 2076 by Sen. Senate Agriculture Committee This legislation has many provisions, some of which are highlighted below: • Deletes provisions establishing the Division of Dairy within the department as part of a departmental reorganization; • Redefines the term “agricultural purposes” as it relates to the assessment of land classified as agricultural by the property appraiser to include all forms of farm products as defined in Florida Statutes 823.14(3); • Requires certain persons who produce, harvest, pack or repack tomatoes to register each location of a tomato farm, tomato greenhouse, tomato packinghouse or tomato repacker by Aug. 1 and authorizes the department to set a registration fee; • Creates the Office of Energy and Water within the department; • Authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture to certify the dissolution or discontinuance of a soil and water conservation district without the review or recommendation of the Soil and Water Conservation Council under certain circumstances; • Provides penalties for the theft of bee colonies of registered beekeepers; • Redefines the term “farmer” to include a person who grows or produces honey; and • Redefines the term “farm theft” to include the unlawful taking possession of equipment and associated materials used to grow or produce certain farm products.

Pending approval by the Governor, this legislation will take effect on July 1.

HIGHLANDS COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Marty Wohl, President; Drew Phypers, Secretary; Scott Kirouac, Treasurer; Sam Bronson, Carey Howerton, April Butler, Andy Tuck, Mike Waldron, Jim Wood, Doug Miller, Mike Milicevic, Steve Farr, Lindsey Sebring, Charles Lanfier 6

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

HIGHLANDS COUNTY FARM BUREAU

CHARLOTTE/DESOTO COUNTY FARM BUREAU

HARDEE COUNTY FARM BUREAU

6419 US Highway 27 S. Sebring, FL 33876

1278 SE US Highway 31 Arcadia, FL 34266

1017 US Highway 17 N Wauchula, FL 33873

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

Phone: 863. 385.5141 Fax: 863.385.5356 Web site:

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Phone: 863.494.3636

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

Charlotte Line: 941.624.3981 Fax: 863.494.4332

Phone: 863. 773.3117

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

www.highlandsfarmbureau.com

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President..............................Marty Wohl Vice President ................ Scott Kirouac Secretary ......................... Drew Phypers Treasurer ............................. Doug Miller

DIRECTORS FOR 2010-2011 Sam Bronson • Steve Farr Carey Howerton • Charles Lanfier Mike Milicevic • Lindsey Sebring Mike Waldron • Jim Wood Jeff Williams • Frank Youngman County Secretary Janet Menges

FARM BUREAU INSURANCE SPECIAL AGENTS Agency Manager Chad D. McWaters Agents Joseph W. Bullington 6419 US Highway 27 S. Sebring, FL 33876 (863) 385-5141 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

President............... Jim Selph Vice President ..... Jeffrey Adams Sec./Treasurer ..... Bryan K. Beswick

DIRECTORS FOR 2010-2011 Jim Brewer • John Burtscher Mike Carter • Steve Fussell Lindsay Harrington Richard E. Harvin • Ann H. Ryals Mac Turner • Matt Harrison Ken Harrison County Secretary Katherine Renfro

FARM BUREAU INSURANCE SPECIAL AGENTS Agency Manager Cameron N. Jolly Agents Dawn A. Hines 1278 SE US Highway 31 Arcadia, FL 34266 (863) 494-3636 June 2011

Fax: 863.773.2369

President............... David B. Royal Vice President ..... Greg L. Shackelford Sec./Treasurer ..... Bo Rich

DIRECTORS FOR 2010-2011 Joseph B. Cherry • John Platt Corey Lambert • Daniel H. Smith Steve A. Johnson • Bill Hodge David B. Royal • Greg L. Shackelford Bo Rich Susan Chapman County Secretary

FARM BUREAU INSURANCE SPECIAL AGENTS Agency Manager N. Jay Bryan Agent George L. Wadsworth, Jr. 1017 US Hwy 17 N. Wauchula, FL 33873 (863) 773-3117 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 7

FFA UPDATE

Premier leadership, personal growth and career success are the basics of the National FFA Organization’s mission. With outstanding leaders, inspiring workshops and keynote speakers, the 83rd Florida FFA State Convention and Leadership Conference is sure to be a perfect representation of that mission.

During the week of June 13-17, nearly 4,000 members and guests will gather to make history. A select group of leaders have been campaigning around the state to become the new Florida FFA state officer team, elected at the convention. The officer team serves for a year as ambassadors of the organization and Florida Agriculture. They have the opportunity to influence, impact and serve FFA members, advisors, teachers and supporters.

There are three students from the Heartland that are part of these impressive candidates. Charlie Brown of Avon Park FFA and Haley Webb of Charlotte FFA will be vying for the state

Index of

president position and James Sharpe of Okeechobee Brahman FFA will be running for Area VI state vice president.

We wish the best of luck to all candidates. Look for the results and the faces of the Future of Florida Agriculture in our July issue of Heartland In the Field Magazine!

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 523,309 student members-as part of 7,487 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. The National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agriculture education. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. For more information visit www.flaffa.org

Advertisers

Arcadia Stockyard............................... 25 Bartow Ford.......................................... 3 Big T Tire............................................. 9 Blinds ASAP....................................... 27 Callaway Farms.................................... 2 Camper Corral................................... 60 Cattlemen’s Livestock Market............. 17 Central State Enterprises....................... 5 CF Industries...................................... 13 Couture’s Art Gallery......................... 37 Dennis Crews Jarrett Ford................... 60 DeSoto Auto Mall............................... 63 DeSoto Machine Shop......................... 39 DeSoto/Charlotte Farm Bureau............. 7 Dixie Pride Seasoning......................... 60 Edgewood Landscape.......................... 60 Fields Equipment................................ 19 Florida Fence Post............................... 50 Gilbert Chevrolet................................ 18 Glade & Grove Supply Co................... 23

Glisson’s Animal Supply...................... 60 Goin’ Postal........................................ 60 Griffin’s Carpet Mart.......................... 37 Hardee County Cattlemen’s Assoc....... 29 Hardee County Farm Bureau................. 7 Heartland Gold.................................. 49 Helena Chemical................................ 26 Hicks Oil Co....................................... 51 Highlands County Farm Bureau............ 7 Layes Tire........................................... 53 Michael G. Kirsch - Heartland Perio.... 60 Miller’s Central Air............................. 52 Mosaic............................................... 31 Peace River Citrus............................... 57 Platinum Bank.................................... 27 Precision Pump Service / Precision Citrus Hedging & Topping............................ 25 Prestige Home Center......................... 39 Quail Creek Plantation....................... 47 Rhizogen............................................ 64

River Pasture/Metal Art...................... 41 Roadrunner Veterinary Services........... 55 Sherco Surveying Services.................... 39 Southern Excavation............................. 9 Southwestern Produce......................... 15 Sunshine Family Dentistry................... 61 Superior Muffler................................. 61 Taylor Oil........................................... 17 The Andersons................................... 45 The Timbers at Chama....................... 45 Trailer Exchange................................. 39 Tree T Pee........................................... 47 Triangle Hardware.............................. 61 Trinkle, Redman, Swanson, Coton, Davis & Smith, P.A.................................. 31 Wauchula State Bank.......................... 57 Wicks Brown CPA............................... 47 Wild Turkey Tavern............................. 61 Wish Farms......................................... 21

YOU, TOO, CAN BE A WINNER No Food 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:

•

The liver holds about one pint (13 percent) of the body’s blood supply at any given moment.

•

The liver can regenerate itself.

•

The heart of giraffe is two feet long, and can weigh as much as 24 pounds.

•

On average, Elephants sleep for about two hours per day.

•

Lobsters have blue blood.

•

Shark’s teeth are literally as hard as steel.

•

A mosquito has 47 teeth.

•

Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen make up 90% of the human body.

•

National Hat Day is on January 15 and International Hat Day is on November 25.

Call: 1-863-452-2031

•

A passenger known only by the surname of McBeth went for a trip on Cunard’s Caronia liner back in the 1940s. She remained a passenger on the ship for the next 14 years. She must have quite enjoyed it, and by the time she finally disembarked she AGRICULTURAL • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL had spent the equivalent of US $4 million on cruise fares.

• AG TIRES

•

Over the past 20 years, the frequency with which people walk for exercise has dropped by 42 percent, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

• TOOL BOXES

•

A whole stick of butter has almost as much fat and cholesterol and double the amount of saturated fat as THREE popular quarterpound burgers with cheese.

•

Cotton dates from at least 7,000 years ago making it one of the world’s oldest known fibers.

•

Archaeologists found 5,000 year old cotton fabric at Mohenjo Daro, an ancient town in the Indus River Valley of West Pakistan.

•

There are 43 species of cotton.

•

Roosters crow at dawn.

•

On average, each person has 20 million hair follicles.

•

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, with more than 90 percent of lung cancers thought to be a result of smoking.

No Farmers

InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, FL 33563-0042 All Entries must be received by June 15, 2011.

Winner will be notified by phone.

You Too Can Be A Winner - Enter Now! 8

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

1-800-330-3145

For 24-Hour Roadside Service

• FUEL TANKS

LONG REACH • CUSTOM HITCHES– SERVICES 5TH WHEEL, GOOSENECK

• SEMI/RV ALIGNMENT

t Lake & Pond Restoration t Canal Maintenance t Dredging

Jeff Grooms 863.699.5700 t 441.4548 June 2011

• COMPLETE AUTO & TRUCK SERVICE 1109 W. Main Street Avon Park, FL 33825 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 9

Meet Your

Ron Brown

Team Rhonda Glisson

Rhonda Glisson is a native of Texas. She married Bill Glisson from Highlands County, who has been involved in agriculture his entire life.

They have three children. Joanna and her husband Pat have a daughter, Gigi and are expecting their second child. Cody and his wife Nadine have a daughter, Alayna and Dillon will be a senior next year.

Rhonda worked for Delta Airlines for over 25 years and has been involved in agribusiness for 20 years with her husband, including a retail feed store, hay business, a beef cattle stocker operation on their ranch in New Mexico, along with a commercial hunting operation.

Rhonda loves agriculture and covering what is growing in the Heartland communities!

Morgan Taylor Norris

Morgan Taylor Norris has a passion for agriculture that began with her days in the FFA. The daughter of Charlie and Holly Taylor, Morgan was born and raised in Sebring and lives there now with her husband and high school sweetheart, Brian Norris.

After graduating from Sebring High School in 2006, Morgan went off to the University of Florida where she majored in Agricultural Communication and Leadership Development. She was involved in many organizations including President of the Agricultural Communicators and Leaders of Tomorrow, member of Alpha Tau Alpha and the Public Relations Director for Agricultural and Life Sciences College Council. Morgan also served as an ambassador for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Through college she interned for Congressman Adam Putnam in Washington, DC and also for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association in their Communications Division. Morgan is currently working part-time with Long Marketing assisting in event planning and hospitality for Mazda Motorsports, Castrol and S.C. Johnson. In her free time, Morgan loves being outdoors, traveling and cheering on the Gators on Saturdays in the Fall.

Since graduation, Morgan has enjoyed staying involved within the agricultural industry and looks forward to her new position with Heartland In the Field Magazine!

10 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Ron Brown is a native Floridian, born and raised in Polk County. He has lived in southwest Florida and the Heartland since 1970.

He went to work in radio broadcasting when he was 15 years old and spent 17 years in radio as announcer, disc jockey, salesman, sales manager, then General Manager. He entered the world of commercial television and spent 25 years in TV in Fort Myers as a marketing consultant at WINK-TV then as General Sales Manager at WFTX-TV the local Fox Network affiliate.

After retiring from TV in 2000, after a year or two, he got cabin fever and reentered the world of radio as General Sales Manager of Heartland Broadcasting in the Arcadia and Wauchula area. Retired again after six years and then joined In The Field magazine in 2008. The rest is history.

Ron is married to his long time bride, Ginger and has four adult children, one daughter and three sons.

Chass Bronson

Working cows with her Dad, barrel racing, competing in Florida junior and highschool rodeo associations with a state championship in 2000, are just a few activities Chass Bronson lists as some of her best childhood memories. She is very passionate about agriculture, which is why it is no surprise that she holds a degree in Agriculture Communications and Leadership Development from the University of Florida.

The daughter of Stanley and Cheryl Bronson, Chass attends First Free Will Baptist Church in Tampa and enjoys competing in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) when time permits.

“Sales and writing keep me in touch with so many of the wonderful contacts and friendships I possess with those involved in the Agricultural sector. My involvement with In The Field allows me to give back to a world that has given me so much. It is a pleasure to ‘cover what’s growing!’”

Robbi Sumner

Born and raised in Bartow, Robbi Sumner has lived in Okeechobee the past 16 years. She and her husband Jeff have an eight-year old daughter, Shelby Ane. Robbi is a member of the Okeechobee Youth Livestock Show committee, Cattlemen’s Association, and National Barrel Horse Association. She has previously served on the boards of the Okeechobee FFA Alumni, Okeechobee Area Agri Council, Kiwanis, and the Okeechobee County Fair. Robbi received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Lynchburg College in Virginia and a Master of Business Administration degree from Florida Atlantic University. She enjoys camping, trail riding, barrel racing and spending time with family and friends.

Jim Davis

Jim Davis is an independent photographer for Heartland In The Field. Jim also works with distribution and as a sales representative in the Okeechobee and St. Lucie County areas. He comes from an agriculture background and has been in farming or ranching his whole life.

Jim grew up in Okeechobee and graduated from Okeechobee High School. After high school, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas A&M University in Agricultural Economics.

Most of his commercial photography is centered around Performance Horses, including All Florida Reined Cow Horse Association, Dixie Reined Cow Horse Association, Georgia/Florida Youth Rodeo Association, Dixie Region Team Penning Association, National Team Roping League and Ranch Sorting National Champions along with many others.

Working with people through his photography business and years of work ‘in the field,’ gives Jim a real perspective when it comes to agriculture and agribusiness, he understands the farmers’ and ranchers’ struggles and knows how to positively tell our story to the public.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 11

Hardee Senior High School Class of 2011 Okeechobee Livestock Market Restaurant

by Robbi Sumner Having been around since 1939, the Okeechobee Livestock Market is certainly a local landmark. But what a lot of people don’t know is that you can enjoy a hearty meal there, too!

Owned by Becky Robbins since 2002, and operated with the help of her daughter Taylor and mother Betty Hill, the Market Restaurant is a favorite destination for locals wanting breakfast or lunch with a home-cooked feel. According to Becky, “Our whole family has been involved in restaurants, either having our own or working for other people for as long as I can remember.”

Taylor claims to have worked since she was five and Betty has been working there off and on since 1984. Becky’s husband, David, helps on special occasions, often cooking steaks for the buyers at the special bull sales held in the fall and winter.

Restaurant seating is at a simple u-shaped counter with stools, and it’s not uncommon to find standing room only on busy sale days.

Don’t expect a fancy menu – it’s hand-written on poster board, with the daily special listed on the wipe board. Do expect to leave with a full stomach though, as typical breakfast fare includes a baconegg-n-cheese sandwich, eggs, grits, hash browns, bacon, and French toast.

Usual lunch specials include BBQ pork chops 12 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE June 2011

with baked beans and cole slaw, chicken and yellow rice with squash and cabbage, beef tips over rice with broccoli and lima beans, or maybe its Shepherd’s pie day, served with corn and sweet peas.

However, the most commonly ordered menu item is the cheeseburger. Regarded by many as the best around, the ground beef is grilled on the flat-top and topped with fresh onion, lettuce, tomato, and a special sauce all inside a big toasted bun. You can order fries or onion rings with the burger, but bring your appetite or you may not be able to eat it all.

There are hot dogs and chicken fingers for those with smaller appetites. For those watching their calories, a chef’s salad is also available – of course, its best if you top it with a hamburger patty!

A homemade dessert is available each day until it runs out, so come early. Some regular customers have memorized the dessert rotation just so they can be sure not to miss their favorite – maybe its lemon cake, strawberry cake, or cherry cobbler (my personal favorite!).

Located upstairs at the Okeechobee Livestock Market, 1055 US Highway 98 North, the restaurant is open only on market days (Monday and Tuesday except for holidays and special sale dates) from 7:00am until mid afternoon, or when the sale ends. www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

CF Industries is proud of employee family members graduating from Hardee

Senior High School. Pictured left to right are Taylor Barlow, Kevin Godwin, Jake

Anderson, Michael Forrester, and Jake Mayer.

Congratulations & Good Luck to our Graduating Seniors!

Fertilizer Plant & Phosphate Operations Helping Farmers Feed a Hungry World 6209 N. County Road 663  Bowling Green, FL 33834  863-375-4321 www.cfindustries.com www.InTheFieldMagazine.com June 2011 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 13

Perfectly Fresh. Perfectly Priced.

VEGETABLE SALE Fri. & Sat. June 17th & 18th • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. July 15th & 16th • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Recipes Courtesy of The Florida Department of Agriculture

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

Guava Berry Pie Ingredients 1 1/2 cups cake flour 1/4 cup butter, cold 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup water 2 tablespoons corn starch 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon nutmeg 2 cups strawberries, sliced 2 cups guava, peeled, seeded and chopped 2 tablespoons heavy cream 1 tablespoon sugar

zest of 1 lemon

Southwestern Produce Company

Preparation Crust: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix together flour, butter and salt. Add water by drops to mixture until all water is used. Separate the crust mixture into two equal parts. Cover and refrigerate one part while working with the other part.

1510 Sydney Rd. • Plant City, FL

Filling: Mix together corn starch, sugar and nutmeg. Add prepared fruit and lemon zest and toss to coat. Set aside.

(813) 754-1500 or (813) 757-0096

On lightly floured surface, with lightly floured rolling pin, roll out one half of the crust to fit a deep 9-inch pie pan. Carefully place bottom crust in pan and add reserved fruit filling. Take other half of crust out of refrigerator and on a lightly floured surface, roll out top of pie crust to fit. Place on pie pan and crimp bottom and top crusts together.

***All items are 8 pounds unless otherwise noted.***

Lightly brush top of crust with cream and sprinkle with sugar. Cut air slits in crust and place in oven for 30-40 minutes or until crust is golden.

Fresh from the Farm to your

Yield 4 servings

Guava Pork Chops Ingredients 1 pound boneless pork loin chops 1 teaspoon dried thyme

salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup cabernet sauvignon or any red wine 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup water 2 guavas peeled, seeded, sliced thin

Freezer!

Eating at Home More?

Come See Us!

Preparation Season pork chops with thyme, salt and pepper. Melt butter in skillet and brown pork chops over medium high heat on both sides. Add cabernet sauvignon wine, honey, water and sliced guavas. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Serve with red potatoes, rice, or cous cous.

White Corn .......................... $12 Yellow Corn ........................ $12 Cream White Corn 4# ...........$ 6 Cream Yellow Corn 4# .........$ 6 Collard Greens.................... $12 Mustard Greens .................. $12 Turnip Greens ..................... $12

Spinach ............................... $12 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 Broccoli ............................... $13.

Cauliflower ......................... $13.

Mixed Vegetables ............... $12 Soup Blend.......................... $12 Blueberries 5# .................... $15 Blackberries 5#................... $15 Raspberries 5# ................... $15 Cranberries 5# ................... $15 Mango Chunks 5# .............. $15 Pineapple Chunks 5# ......... $15 Dark Sweet Cherries 5#...... $14 Rhubarb 5# ........................ $10 Green Peanuts ................... $13.

WALK-INS WELCOME

Yield 4 servings

14 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Baby Butter Beans ............... $13.

Cranberry Beans ................. $15 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.

Pinkeye Peas....................... $13.

Sugar Snap Peas ................. $15 White Acre Peas .................. $13.

Zipper Peas ......................... $13.

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Give us a call to be placed on our mailing list for monthly notification.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 15

Taylor Oil Company, Inc. Fueling Our Community 863-453-3106

900 South Verona Avenue | Avon Park, FL 33825| Fax 863-453-0105

Call for a Quote Today!

Gasoline • On Road & Off Road Diesel • Lubricants & Grease

All Your Fueling Needs

Located At: 3305 Hwy. 92 E. • Lakeland, FL 33801

First thing that I want to touch base on this month is the lake level on Lake Okeechobee, which is going down slowly everyday. The lake level is just under ten and a half feet above sea level and has the bass moving toward deeper water areas like the Clewiston channel, rim canal, Kissimmee river and some of the deeper holes in the middle of the lake. If you haven’t been on the lake in a boat lately you will want to be careful where you go because there isn’t much water to run in most of the areas that I was fishing the past few months. But thats not to say 16 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

that there aren’t bass to be caught on the lake because numbers of good sized bass are pretty easy to catch in the deeper water areas. We will need to get some serious rain during our rainy season to get the lake back up to where the fishing will be like it was this past winter. Someone needs to get control of this lake and when the water level gets low, no one gets water, if this would just happen one time I’ll bet the lake water level would be managed a lot better.

Enough on the low water level, lets talk about the fishing on the Big “O”. As I mentioned above the bass are on the move towww.InTheFieldMagazine.com

WEEKLY BEEF SALE: TUESDAY

Don’t Miss...

WATCH OUR TUESDAY SALE LIVE ONLINE

START TIME: 12:00 p.m. (NOON)

GO TO: WWW.LMAAUCTIONS.COM THEN CLICK ON CATTLEMEN’S

For Competitive Prices, Let Cattlemen’s Live Auction Market Handle Your Livestock Merchandising Dave or Mike Tomkow • Office: 863.665.5088 Mike Cell: 863.559.5091 • Home: 352.523.2081 • Dave Cell: 863.559.3266 • Home: 863.686.4486 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 17

7 Acres Of Discounted Chevrolet Cars, Trucks and SUVs

ails.

See dealer for det

www.GilbertChevrolet.com

Your Hometown Discount Dealer Since 1933!

Located In The Heart Of Okeechobee 27

Fort Drum

Sebring

441 98

Fort Pierce

70

Okeechobee

Lake Placid

95

70

ward deeper water areas to spend the summer until the water level starts to rise again. The Clewiston channel has been producing good numbers of bass and a few really nice bass in the seven plus pound range are being caught. Some of the lures that I have been using the past few weeks are a Spro Little John crank bait, King Shad swim bait made by Strike King, Spro Aruka Shad lipless crank bait, and of course a shakey head rig. I have also caught a few bass early in the morning on top water lures like a Zara Super Spook or a Chug Bug. As far as numbers of bass, the shakey head rig has been catching more bass. My rig consists of a Gambler ¼ ounce Giggy Head with a gambler Sweebo worm in either June bug or black. Other areas to fish are the rim canal, dynamite holes, the airport hole near the Pahokee side of the lake, bare beach channel, and holes and drop offs in the reef. You will need a good GPS with the latest maps to find some of the deeper holes out in the middle of the lake but they can really hold some good sized bass. Just remember that with the lake low there are a lot of areas that you will need to be careful or just avoid all together. There is a lot of rock out on Okeechobee that will tear up a prop or gear case real quick. Live bait fishing with the wild shiner remains pretty good but there are days that the artificial lures out produce the shiners.

The bluegill fishing has been really good the past month with limits being pretty easy to catch.

The rim canal has been a great place to fish for them without

Stuart

25

78

76 Port Mayaca

Moore Haven

710

441

Labelle Belle Glade

98

West Palm Beach

3550 Highway 441 South · Okeechobee · (877) Go-Gilbert 25

Not valid on prior purchases. Ends 6/30/2011

18 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

worrying ting something Crickets fished under a cork have but a Beetle Spin will also catch

about hitout on the lake. been working best some nice bluegill.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

I have also been guiding in the Florida Keys out of the Marathon area for tarpon and have been catching some really nice fish. I have been using crabs for the live bait fishing around the bridges and getting some hook ups on the ocean side fly fishing.

I do still have a few open

No Sweat Don’t sweat your choice of utility tractor—choose the 5D or 5E Series and get a machine built to take on tough tasks, at a price that makes John Deere reliability and performance easy to own.

Choose from:

days for June if anyone is interested in catching a tarpon. I have also been catching some big sharks. For anyone wanting to go shark fishing give me a call. I am running a summer special on Lake Okeechobee and in the Keys, fish two or more full days and I will take care of the motel room.

Captain Mark King is a full time guide and tournament angler guiding out of the world famous Roland Martin’s Marina and Resort in Clewiston Florida and in the Florida Keys. Mark is an IGFA Certified Captain, active member of the Florida Guide Association and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association. Captain Mark is sponsored by Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Roland Martin’s Marine Center, U.S. Reel, Deep South Rods, Power-Pole, Minn Kota trolling motors, Gambler Lures, AFTCO clothing, Smartshield Sun Protection Products, RMR Industries, Fuel Medic Ethanol Treatment, and Frigid Rigid coolers.

Mark can be contacted to book a guide trip, seminars, personal appearances, test rides in his Evinrude powered Ranger or to fish a tournament with him at 863-677-0983 or at www.markkingfishing.com.

▪ 45- to 75-hp tractor configurations and 4-wheel drive ▪ Twoand 9/3 transmissions ▪ 8/4 of available implements ▪ Hundreds and attachments

Don’t sweat your tractor purchase...make the easy choice, and come in today for a test drive!

0.0% for 48 months b23

JohnDeere.com/Ag

FIELDS EQUIPMENT COMPANY Since 1956

3440 US HWY 17 SOUTH ZOLFO SPRINGS, FL 33890 (863) 735-1122

3203 HAVENDALE BLVD WINTER HAVEN, FL 33881 (863) 967-0602

17215 HWY 27 NORTH MINNEOLA, FL 34715 (352) 394-7181

visit us online at fieldsquipment.com b Offer ends August 1, 2011. 23Subject to approved credit on John Deere Financial installment plan. 0.0% for 48 months on 5D,5E,5E Ltd,5003,5005 Series tractors. Some restrictions apply, so see your dealer for complete details and other financing options. Valid only at participating US dealers. The engine horsepower information is provided by the engine manufacturer to be used for comparison purposes only. Actual operating horsepower will be less.

A0D010XCU2F48867-00351465

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 19

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 Some of you old timers will remember when the Oldsmobile dealership was located in east Plant City almost across the street from Shuman’s Market. Hugh Platt and the boys would “wheel and deal” just to get another Olds on the road.

It’s hard to believe that the last Oldsmobile rolled off the Lansing, Michigan assembly line April 29, 2004. The Olds came up during the first year of World War II with the HyraMatic transmission. This was just what one-legged people jumped all over, because it was “clutchless” and “shiftless”. I heard Dr. Meriwether was the first doctor in the United States to write a prescription for this automobile. It seems Brandon Smith lost a leg when he fell out of a tree on Reynolds Street while watching the Strawberry Festival parade.

I was never fortunate enough to own an Olds, but as a junior in high school I did have a “Model-A” Ford. What a car! I learned a quick lesson when Earl Bone, a close class mate of mine, told me you could really get the girls’ attention if you would push in the clutch, race the motor and then flip the spark lever on the steering wheel all the way up. Crusin’ in front of the old 1914 Plant City High School in 1952 I gave it a try. With a loud bang it backfired and blew off the muffler.

20 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE June 2011

Dad refused to pay for a new one, so I had to dig worms for Shorty Williams for two months so he could go fish’n at the Scout Pit in Coronet. I’ll bet I dug a wash pot full of worms to earn that $8.72 for a new muffler. Those were the good old days when gas was twenty-five cents a gallon and fishing worms were cheap.

Now I’m a senior citizen and what it cost me to fill up my “Model-A” back then I can hardly get one gallon of gas today. I think the Amish are the only ones that are not upset about high gas prices. If prices continue to rise it will be cheaper to buy a new car than to fill your tank.

My dad always told me to keep it under 55 miles-per-hour and I would save gas. That’s impossible on the interstate today. If I’m doing the speed limit, I’m in the way. Look for the next new gas pumps to have two slots in them.

One for your credit card and another for your 401k!

Some people look at the price of gas differently. Winfred Dempsey, who keeps our yard cut in Blairsville, Georgia, sent me an e-mail of a study he made on gas price comparison. Winfred said it’s all in how you look at it. Actually gas is a good buy even at today’s price. What if you bought Lipton Ice Tea 16oz. for $1.19? That equals $9.52 a gallon. Twenty ounces of Gatorade for $1.59 = $10.17 a gallon. A quart of milk for $1.59 = www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

$6.32 a gallon. STP Brake Fluid 12 ounces for $3.15 = $33.60 a gallon. Vicks Nyquil 6 ounces for $8.35 = $178.13 a gallon.

Whiteout, 7 ounces for $1.38 = $254.17 per gallon. Winfred said the next time you’re at the gas pump you had better be glad your car doesn’t run on Nyquil or Whiteout.

Well, that’s enough on gas. As they say, anything worth taking seriously is worth making fun of. No matter how much it cost, and no matter how bad it gets, I’m still rich at the Dollar Store.

When you become a senior citizen things seem to look different and the 10 percent senior discount at Zaxby’s makes you realize how much ground you’ve covered over the years. At my age now I am warned to slow down by a doctor instead of a policeman.

Gee, I remember when there was no TV, computers or cell phones. I wonder what today’s younger generation will tell their children they had to do without? I can recall in those early days we had our own lingo and it was nothing like today.

Hey dude! Keep cool, and rap for music. No way, not for me. I can’t understand those new words.

When I was growing up things made sense. Like, let’s hit pay dirt, get it on, eat high off the hog, bustin’ a gut, moonlighting, back to the salt mines, better half, and soul mate.

We’d get hooked, tied, hitched, and have a bunch of small fries, half pints and live on cloud nine, because it was just what the doctor ordered.

Yes sir, I have gathered a lot of mileage over the years. I am www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

getting older than dirt, and most certainly from the old school, am an old fogey, a geezer and an old fart. I pull my droopy pants up, and wear my cap with the bill on the front. I still open doors for women. To me the first game of the football season is a religious holiday. I plan to just continue on and walk the walk, break out, percolate and call the next play as best I can with all the knowledge I have somehow gathered along the way.

Who was it that said “High Oh Silver,” “Good evening, Mr. & Mrs. America and all the ships at sea?” “Good night David, Good Night Chet.” If you can answer those questions you have an AARP card.

In spite of all those wonderful memories we live in good times today no matter how many problems seem to slip up on us. For instance, heart ailments took a tremendous toll in the 40s and 50s. Clark Gable died at the age of 59. Singer Billie Holiday and actor Ward Bond all would have had a much longer life had they had access to open-heart surgery, but that didn’t come along until the 60s.

Things continue to change, and one day the funeral homes will tell how a person died. GE will put a light in their freezers, and women will understand why men are never depressed.

After all, new shoes never cut, blister, or mangle our feet. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase, and a man can do his nails with a pocket knife. I have also learned there are two theories to arguing with a woman and neither works.

In closing let me remind you that sometimes I stop to think, and forget to start again.

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 21

Caleb Sanderson, Florida Son & Pro Bull Rider On The Road To World Champion

by Tracy Aiken photos by Andy Watson

F

lorida native and professional bull rider, Caleb Sanderson, is riding high on the way to achieving his goal of winning the World Championship of Bull Riding. Celebrating his recent win at the Professional Bull Riders - Built Ford Tough Series event in Kansas City on April 3, this 22-year-old soft-spoken man who hails from Kissimmee, Florida has been driven from an early age to be the best.

When asked if there were any home movies of him riding his first bull at eight years old, Caleb replied, “Yeah, there’s quite a few somewhere… if you can find them, good luck to ya.” Now living in Stephenville, Texas, Caleb keeps close ties to his family in Kissimmee. His parents, Benny and Pam, are the first ones to hear from him after a bull riding event. “Both my parents work, so it’s kinda’ hard for them to travel to see me compete. It’s a little easier for my dad, because he works for my grandparents on the ranch at the house. They get to go every now and again. They went to Vegas, and to Tampa (events).”

“Last year I was gone 180 something, or almost 200 days.”

Traveling on the Professional Bull Riders circuit can take you from Florida to Georgia, Virginia, Texas, California, Wyoming, and a great many dusty points in between. Caleb says he “really doesn’t care to get on an airplane ” for events, and adds, “normally we drive ourselves, depending on what’s most convenient and the cheapest.”

Traveling to his favorite Florida bull riding event in Tampa at the St. Pete Times Forum is always a homecoming for Caleb. “I get a great bag of it with the fans. I get to see my family for one, and my dad… I always ride good when I’ve got my dad there. He knows what to say, and what to do, and it’s always good to have your family around you. I think you always do good when your

22 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

family is there.”

Caleb’s father, Benny, who rode bulls himself in high school, has been a strong influence in his son’s life. Along with his father and Uncle Scott, Caleb was also mentored by Tater Porter, a longtime family friend who Caleb described as “like an uncle to me.”

A 2000 PBR World Finals Winner, Caleb says Porter, “was always around when I was younger. He’s definitely a role model. To see someone do so well on PBR is always a good thing, and I knew I had a chance… I wanted to be up there like he was.”

While still in high school, Caleb competed in the Florida High School Rodeo Association, becoming a four-time champion. After graduating from Hope Christian Academy, and competing in Nationals, he signed with the PBR in 2009, and has steadily climbed the ranks of professional bull riding.

Competing in Australia last year at the PBR Troy Dunn Invitational in Townsville, Caleb came away from the event with a great respect for and friendship with the Aussie riders. “I travel with them a good bit, they’re the only ones I travel with. ” At six-foot-three, Caleb stands taller than most professional bull riders, which has both advantages and disadvantages; longer legs and more leverage on top helps his ride, but there is also the chance of getting twisted around more than some. Keeping fit and practicing for the sport of bull riding can take many forms.

Caleb says he will “get on a horse bareback most of the time and ride it around, that gives you about the best practice more than anything.”

As far as the difference between working with practice bulls compared to the ones in competition, Caleb was quite frank, saying, “They’re not as good, like the ones I had in Florida were mediocre… you had to be sitting on their head before they’d go.” He

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Come See Us for All Your Farm and Construction Equipment Needs added, “then sometimes you’ll get on practice bulls that are calves, that are bucking for the first time with a person, you don’t know what the heck they’re going to do… a lot of times that’s the best practice because you don’t anticipate nothing. ” Now in his third year riding in the PBR, Caleb chooses not to use many practice bulls for training, pointing out, “the risk of injury and stuff like that” has him preferring horses.

The risk of injury in the dangerous sport of professional bull riding is always present, as anyone who has witnessed the sport live or on television can attest, but the riders are strong, and mentally tough athletes. When you are sitting on top of a 1,700 - 2,200 pound powerhouse of raw energy, that wants nothing more than to throw you hard to the ground, you get some idea of the real drama these riders face at every event.

The competition, as Caleb says, isn’t between riders. “The other riders can’t help you out, you gotta ride it. It’s mainly between you and the bull, that’s the point of drawing good. You’ve got to draw good to beat them. The only way you can beat ‘em is to have the best bulls… and riding consistent. Ride more bulls than anyone else and you’ll win.”

Finding a good mentor, or several, in the bull riding industry like Caleb had growing up seems like an ideal way to “learn the ropes.” When asked if he would consider being a mentor, he replied, “Shoot, if someone wanted me to, I would. Like a lot of people in Florida want me to help them, but I live in Texas now, it’s kinda hard. It’s one of those deals you can’t really explain on the phone.”

With a busy schedule this year on the PBR circuit, and a goal of riding more bulls to win the World Championship, Caleb has set himself an ambitious goal that one day he will share with another young buckaroo.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 23

Hunting the West with Jay Houston

ES ON NO SAL AY MOND Or h JULY 4t DAY WEDNES6th JULY

Monday’s Sale - 12 noon

(Bring Your Cattle Sunday 10am - 7pm or Sale Day)

Growing up in the South, I had the opportunity to hunt everything from bobwhite quail to raccoons and whitetail deer. I’ve hunted in nearly every Southern state, and you can take my word for it, until the recent elk transplantation efforts of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, there were no elk in the South, at least none that were not already hanging over someone else’s fireplace. How is this relevant you may ask?

The relevancy is this. Hunting whitetail deer, whether in the South, the Midwest, the Northeast, or anywhere else for that matter, is a far stretch from elk hunting. Elk huntin’ ain’t deer huntin’. For some perspective let’s take a look at some of the differences.

Whitetail deer habitat typically ranges from lowland farm country and woodlots to open prairie. Hardwoods like oak, hickory, and maple are common browse for whitetail deer.

With few exceptions, whitetails are found at elevations from sea level to about 4,000 feet.

Elk on the other hand can be found in open pasture at 5,000 feet, but primarily inhabit much higher and more rugged mountain terrain, covered in a variety of pines and firs as well as aspen, ranging from 8,000 feet to well above timberline and altitudes of 12,000 and greater.

Whitetail deer are primarily browsers, meaning they prefer to eat from the tree or brush as opposed to the ground.

Elk, like cattle, prefer to graze on grass, succulents, and other feed found on or very near the ground. Granted, either 24 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

ket

Wednesday’s Sale - 12 noon

September: FCA Replacement Heifer Sale October: Florida Fall Black Bull Sale Mo Brangus & Hines Cattle Co. Brangus & Angus Bulls November: Black & White Bull Sale Meadows Creek Farm & Pintlala Cattle Company Charolais & Angus Bulls December: Special Slaughter Cow & Bull Sale

will shift their feeding preferences depending upon what is available, but their preferences remain the same.

Deer: Where deer are far more solitary critters traveling mostly as singles or in smaller groups, elk are herd animals, opting for living and traveling in groups ranging from a few animals to hundreds, Granted, I’ve seen many elk traveling as singles, but these have been few and far between.

One summer a few years ago, I was invited along on a summer pack trip in the Flat Tops Wilderness area of Colorado, so I decided to combine this opportunity with a little scouting. It was early July, so the bulls and cows were mostly split up at this time. The ride in took maybe three hours, but in the course of perhaps one of those hours on horseback, we saw and filmed what we reasonably estimated at between 600 and 700 head of elk, all traveling in large groups of 50-300.

This is not to say that one can expect to see groups of this size regularly. It is to reinforce my point that elk travel primarily in groups.

I wish I could tell you how many times I’ve heard some hunter say, “There ain’t no elk around here.” Well, maybe there are and maybe there are not. Any given area may hold a quantity of elk, but if a hunter doesn’t know how to maximize his chances of locating these elk, he is likely to respond similarly. So how can a hunter “maximize his opportunity of seeing elk?”

Go To Mar

(Bring Your Cattle Tuesday 8am - 9pm or Sale Day)

Upcoming Special Sales

Elk Huntin’ Ain’t Deer Huntin’

Let ’s

Precision Citrus Hedging & Topping, Inc. “A Cut Above”

Owned and Operated by: Carl McKettrick and Joe Hilliard II

Located on Hwy. 17 (8 miles north of Arcadia, FL)

863-494-3737 863-494-1808 Fax: 863-494-5933 www.arcadiastockyard.com

Precision PUMP Service A Division of Precision Citrus Hedging & Topping, Inc.

Pump Repair & Service Water Conditioning Turbine Diesels Installed Commercial Residential Serving Florida One Pump at a Time 24 Hour Service

Don’t Cuss, Call Us!

WE MAKE HYDRAULIC HOSES

863-439-1852 PO Box 1921• Haines City, FL 33845

Hedging • Herbiciding Skirting • Topping • Tree Planting Owner - David Lawson, Jr.

863-287-2587

PO Box 1921• Haines City, FL 33845 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 25

OsFaFd % 0 1 th thi

F

EstiREE mat e

wi

Nutritional Therapy for Better Plant Health!

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

Elegantly beat the heat!

Stop the glare!

See the view!

GROWING

Designer Solar Shades for the Home, Lanai, Office or Retail Store....

YOUR FARM

®

Blinds ASAP of Sebring Shutters • Arches • Verticals • Wood & Faux Wood Blinds Roman Shades •Roller Shades • Solar Shades • and more...

(863) 314-9790

Village Fountain Plaza | 237 US Hwy. 27, N Sebring, FL 33870 Hours: M - F 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sat. by Appt.

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

“

26 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

”

Try to picture this. You are hunting an area that is approximately two miles square, i.e. two miles by two miles and is known to hold 100 animals. Granted this is a rather small area but for purposes of this example, just bear with me. Conventional deer hunting strategy says look for game trails, signs, or areas that would provide a source of food or water, and set up a stand. Your stand might be a tree stand, a ground blind, or just hiding behind a tree. Either way, you have done your homework and now you have staked out a point of ambush, right? Well maybe, but probably not. Why? As I mentioned earlier, deer travel in singles and small groups so the probability of one of those hundred deer inhabiting the two square mile area walking somewhere close to your stand are fairly good, but let’s consider the travel patterns of elk.

Remember, elk travel in herds. Here I will be conservative and assume that the same 100 animals (elk) are moving about in the same two mile square area. If the same hunter sets himself up in the same stationary blind, what do you think his chances are of seeing these elk that may all be traveling together or in a few family groups? Let’s say that the stand is www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

®

Your Source for Quality Window Treatments

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.

Tip: The key is to cover as much ground as possible.

This is called Spot and Stalk Hunting.

YOUR BANK

As highly experienced community bankers, we value the real relationships we form with our customers. Serving our communities for over 13 years allows for a sense of familiarity and dependability. We understand there are seeds to be planted and at Platinum Bank we are confident we can help you bring in the harvest.

• 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. .

RELATIONSHIPS

24 HOUR DRIVE-UP ATM PLANT CITY: 1804 JAMES L. REDMAN PKWY | 813.659.1234 BRANDON: 802 WEST LUMSDEN ROAD | 813.655.1234 OFFICES IN WINTER HAVEN, LAKELAND AND TAMPA

over a wallow on the edge of a small meadow that is 500 yards long and 500 yards wide, which is fairly large as some go. All it takes is for the elk herd to pass you in the dark timber by a few yards. Believe me, you would be surprised how quiet a herd of elk can be tip toeing through the woods and causing you to miss the entire event. If you are honest, you’ll admit that a hunter’s chances of locating the elk from a stationary stand are significantly less than his chances would have been for locating deer. So how do I hunt elk? I’ll talk about that more in the next issue.

If you need help locating a reputable professional outfitter or a private land hunt, give us a call at 888-360-HUNT or email me at jay@HuntConnections.com. We have been assisting hunters just like you since 1996. Our services like our hunts are personalized to the individual and are free to our hunting clients. We are proud of our record of 100% satisfied clients.

See you around the camp fire,

Jay Jay Houston is the President/CEO of HUNT CONNECTIONS, a nationally recognized speaker on his Christian faith and the outdoors, and the author of five highly successfully books on elk hunting the west. In future issues, Jay will be sharing exciting stories of hunting the high country and more tips for big game hunting success in Hunting the West. www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 27

US Army Corps of Engineers Leads Areawide Environmental Impact Statement Project to Evaluate Phosphate Mining Impacts in ‘Bone Valley’

by Jim Frankowiak The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has undertaken a comprehensive study of the impact of phosphate mining in central and southwest Florida. Applications submitted by CF Industries and Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC for Department of the Army permits related to separate proposed phosphate mining-related projects in the area have resulted in a determination that these proposed projects when viewed collectively “have similarities that provide a basis for evaluating their environmental consequences together in one comprehensive environmental impact statement.”

The applications were submitted by CF Industries on behalf of its South Pasture Extension and Mosaic’s Four Corners Surface Tract and Ona Mine. Mosaic will be submitting two more applications for its Wingate East and De Soto Mines that will also be included in the review.

Federal involvement in the study arose from jurisdiction over the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The project involves the area known as the Central Florida Phosphate District (CFPD), which is often referred to as Bone Valley. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Jacksonville District, is overseeing the Areawide Environmental Impact Statement (AEIS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) are cooperating agencies on the study. In addition to EPA and FDEP, the project is also being coordinated with a number of other federal, state, regional and local agencies.

Cost of the study, which has yet to be determined, is being borne proportionately

by CF Industries and Mosaic Fertilizer. The Tampa office of CH2MHILL is the third party contractor selected by the Corps to undertake the study. The Corps will direct the development of the AEIS. Completion of the project will support the Corps in rendering a final decision on the pending permit applications. Decision options include issuance of permits, issue with modifications or denial of the applications.

While the AEIS is underway, the Corps will not take action on any other permit applications submitted for the CFPD. The project will study the environmental impacts of the proposed permit applications within the CFPD, an area of approximately 1.32 million acres or about 2,100 square miles in Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee, Polk and DeSoto counties. There are also some 1,000 acres in Sarasota County within the district. The cumulative impact of past, current and reasonably foreseeable mining activities within the district will also be considered in the study. The EPA last conducted an AEIS in the CFPD in 1978.

Phosphate mining in the district has occurred for more than a century and the Corps has been responsible for issuing permits in the region since 1977. Certain permits authorize mining through 2028.

The initial scope of the AEIS will consider the effects on federally listed threatened and endangered species, health and safety, so-

28 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

cioeconomics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands and other aquatic resources, historic properties, cultural resources, fish and wildlife values, land use, transportation, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership in general, the needs and welfare of the people, and other issues identified through scoping, public involvement and interagency coordination. The current primary areas of environmental concern include the loss of wetland functions and value, mitigation of such losses, the effect of proposed mining on groundwater and surface water quality and potential cumulative effects. The issues of concern and the methods used to evaluate those issues are being defined through a scoping process. The 45-day period, which ended April 25, sought public involvement in the scoping and evaluation process of the draft AEIS. Public meetings were held at Lakeland and Punta Gorda and interested parties also had the opportunity to submit comments via the web or by mail.

The Draft AEIS is expected to be available by the end of October with public hearings anticipated in December for comment on the draft. The final AEIS is targeted for the end of August 2012.

Both companies with pending permit applications, CF Industries and Mosaic Fertilizer, recognize the importance of the AEIS and have been fully cooperative with the Corps and will continue in that regard throughout the process.

Though they have agreed to underwrite the cost of the AEIS, neither is permitted to have contact with CH2MHILL. “We want the AEIS to proceed on a timely basis because we believe it will allow good science to prevail,” said Richard Ghent, Director of Community Affairs for CF Industries. “We hope this project will make people more aware of the ways in which the phosphate industry has improved its restoration, reclamation and operational practices over the years, while continuing to produce the fertilizer farmers need to feed the world.”

Public Affairs Manager Russell Schweiss of Mosaic Fertilizer noted, “the AEIS, if conducted properly, should serve as a tool that will make the federal permitting process less cumbersome. It will contain a tremendous amount of data that will be useful over the coming years as future mining permits are processed.”

“Mining opponents rallied around the call for an AEIS. Since they asked for it, we certainly hope that they will accept the findings and we can move forward without the endless litigation.”

Given the tenure of phosphate mining in central Florida, the overall impact goes well beyond the involved counties. A 2006 study

by Martin Associates of Lancaster, PA commissioned by the Tampa Port Authority noted phosphate mining in Central Florida generates more than 67,000 jobs, spanning mining and manufacturing operations, transportation and allied industries with significant economic impacts well beyond jobs creation.

ManaSota-88 Chairman Glenn Compton termed the AEIS,

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

“long overdue and should be broad enough in scope to encompass the impact of phosphate mining yesterday, tomorrow and as best possible into the future.” His group, which was founded in 1968 and is dedicated to protecting the public’s health and preservation of the environment, wants the study to link phosphate mining, processing and waste disposal. “During the period of comment on the scope of the AEIS, we have told the corps of our position regarding the issues we believe must be addressed. We trust they heard us and we look forward to reviewing the draft AEIS as it becomes available. This study should have been undertaken 20 years ago.”

The Sierra Club shares many of the sentiments expressed by Compton and ManaSota-88 and has added concerns such as the, “apparent exclusion of the impact of mining on downstream counties, specifically Charlotte County and Charlotte Harbor,” said Sierra Club Phosphate Committee member Percy Angelo. “It also appears that the AEIS will rely exclusively on existing data with no new research or data assembly. The timetable for preparation of the statement is unrealistic to get the job done right,” she added.

“It also seems that the project will omit gypstacks from analysis, and that would be wrong,” said Angelo. “Those stacks and the fertilizer processing facilities are intrinsically linked to mining and all should be included in this overall environmental impact study.”

Some of these concerns may be addressed, but Angelo’s request for a project scope of work and copy of the contact with CH2MHILL has not been fulfilled as of the time this article was prepared.

“We also hope the AEIS will take into account the excellent work done by the U.S. Geological Survey regarding the loss of flow in the Peace River due to phosphate mining and other work that agency has suggested to help monitor impacts,” said Angelo. “While we are delighted to have this long overdue study undertaken, we hope all of our concerns will be addressed.”

Dr. Nora Egan Demers, associate professor of Biology and Interdisciplinary Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University, hopes the AEIS, “will result in the development and use of new unique science that will help fill the data gaps that exist with regard to the impact of phosphate mining on the environment in what is commonly known as Bone Valley, its watershed and beyond. Of particular concern are the trigger levels used to examine water quality in mining impacted streams, some of which are currently set orders of magnitude higher than reference stream water quality parameters.

Many of those gaps were detailed during a 2007 Mining Impacts Conference and in presentations at the EPA-sponsored State of the Science on Phosphate Mining and the Environment held at Punta Gorda this past March,” she noted. “In addition, it is critical that the statement study examine not only mining, but the processing of that product, as well as examining the economic impacts based in part on comparison of more sustainable practices on economics of the Bone Valley,” said Dr. Demers, a member of the Responsible Grown Management Coalition (RGMC). She has been studying the phosphate industry and its impacts, particularly within the Charlotte Harbor area, since 2007.

Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) Director Lisa Beever, Ph. D., said the CHNEP has provided the Corps with two sets of comments, the first last November with recommendations concerning data and analysis tools. The program’s most recent comments focus on the purpose and need statement of the AEIS and alternatives development. “Several sources suggest that the Purpose and Need chapter (of the AEIS) is arguably the most important chapter, setting the course of the EIS decision-making,” she said.

With regard to the draft statement timeframe, Dr. Beever said, “the process should drive the schedule, rather than the schedule driving the process.” She concluded by noting CHNEP needs “assurance that the geographic scope of the AEIS cumulative impacts analysis will extend to include all of Charlotte Harbor.”

More information on the Areawide Environmental Impact Statement for continued phosphate mining in the Central Florida Phosphate District is available at www.phosphateaeis.org.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Hardee County Cattlemen’s Association 3rd Annual Ranch Rodeo* F�����, J��� 22�� � S�������, J��� 23�� 7:30 �.�.

H����� C����� C��������’� A���� T��� E�����: Double Mugging Team Branding Team Sorting Bronc Riding Trailer Loading Mutton Busting All events each night - half of the teams on Friday & half on Saturday (Five team membersfour males and one female)

Payout: 1st Place $1,000 2nd Place $500 3rd Place $250

Buckles for All Around Team Winner Buckle for Mutton Busting Winner For Team Applications and HCCA Ranch Rodeo Rules, contact Darin Hughes at (863) 781-0349 or darin@krausegroveservice.com

$500 Team Entry Fee payable to: Hardee County Cattlemen’s Assoc.

PO Box 1831, Wauchula, FL 33873 Deadline to Enter: July 1, 2011 *A Florida Cattlemen’s Association Ranch Rodeo Qualifying Event Note: No alcohol permitted on premises June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 29

Cultivating America’s

crops and community values Community values are like crops: Their roots run deep. They must be cultivated, protected and, most of all, grown responsibly. At Mosaic, we know quite a bit about all three.

We provide American farmers with nutrients to grow the food we need. But our work doesn’t stop there. After mining the natural phosphate needed to make our products, we reclaim the land for recreational and environmental uses.

The same deep-rooted traditions shared by our community are values we champion every day.

A better Florida and a better world

It’s B ett er De a d: Po k ew ee d

®

Source: Brent Sellers, Jason Ferrel and Curtis Rainbolt.

Revised by Lindsey Wiggins, Multi-County Livestock Extension Agent-I, University of Florida IFAS Common pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), a native of North America, is a perennial weed often found in pastures, as well as fence-rows, rights-of-way, and wooded areas. It occurs from Maine to Florida and as far west as Texas. Other names for common pokeweed include poke berry, pigeon berry, inkberry coakun, pocan bush, scoke, poke salad, and American nightshade.

B i o l ogy Once common pokeweed becomes established, it regrows each year from a large, fleshy taproot. The crown of the root is where the plant is regenerated and can be as large as five and a half inches in diameter at the soil surface within two growing seasons. Pokeweed usually has a red trunk-like stem, which becomes hollow as the plant matures. Leaves tend to be quite large (10 inches long), alternate, ovate-shaped, dark green, and attached to the stem by a red, fleshy petiole. When flowering, individual flowers appear green to white and are typically without petals (what you see are the sepals). Fruits are green when immature and turn a deep purple to black at maturity. Each fruit contains approximately nine seeds. Additionally, plants can produce anywhere from a few thousand seeds to over 48,000 seeds per plant. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for over 40 years!

Tox i ns While pokeweed is rarely considered a noxious weed, it can cause harm in certain situations. All parts of the plant contain saponins, oxalates, and phytolacine (an alkaloid). However, the roots and seeds contain the highest concentrations of these toxins. Depending on the quantity of plant consumed, livestock may exhibit mild to severe colic and diarrhea. Hogs are most affected by rooting up and eating the root. Additionally, sheep, cattle, horses, and poultry are susceptible to pokeweed poisoning, but they are not usually affected as the plant is not readily consumed by livestock. Birds eat the fruits without much harm and are usu-

30 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

www.mosaicfla.com

ally the means for seed dispersal along fence rows, under utility lines and wooded areas.

Cultura l Uses Although pokeweed can cause severe poisoning in humans, Native Americans once used this plant as a heart stimulant and as a narcotic. The plant also contains a protein that has been shown to have a positive impact on HIV, a precursor to the AIDS virus. Additionally, many people cut young shoots and leaves and eat the plant as one would eat asparagus, thus the name poke salad. For human consumption, the plant must be boiled at least two times in water and the water must be removed before eating.

Some say that an additional boiling will essentially remove all toxins in the plant material – It is not recommended that you eat this plant!

Control Control of common pokeweed is typically not easy because of the large fleshy crown and associated taproot. Except in some row-crop situations, pokeweed rarely infests large areas and is usually found in isolated instances. Removal of individual plants is accomplished by wholly removing the crown and a major portion of the associated taproot. Alternatively, spot applications of glyphosate (3% volume/volume) or products containing 2,4-D or dicamba can severely injure or kill the plant.

Considerations All of us commonly have brood cows “called pregnant” by the vet who is elbow deep in the cow’s rectum, but that same cow will show up without a calf in the spring. Why is that? It is important to recognize that poisonous plant consumption does not always result in death. Toxicity can only have a negative impact on an unborn fetus - so make sure that your pastures are free of toxic weeds, like poke weed. If you need help in identifying which plants are toxic, please contact your county extension agent!

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

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 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 31

According to Florida Dairy Farmers, Florida is home to over 130 dairy farms with about 118,000 dairy cows producing in the neighborhood of 250 million gallons of fresh milk each year. Our Heartland region is home to over 25 dairies and over 40,000 milking cows. In fact, Okeechobee County is the only county in the southeastern United States to rank in the top 50 U.S. counties for dairy cow population.

With three generations of family members working on the farms, Larson Dairy, Inc. is one of the largest dairies in Okeechobee County. According to President Louis E. “Red” Larson, his family bought Okeechobee farm land in the 1960s to escape the crowding that was already occurring in Broward County. They moved to Okeechobee in 1971, and the dairy now encompasses 10,000 acres with over 4,000 Holstein milking cows. Mr. Larson stresses the importance of accurate record keeping due to increased environmental regulations and food safety measures. Even with the day-to-day challenges, they like to have fun at LDI, as evidenced by an annual dairy cow judging contest, held internally with participants including various levels of employees from barn managers to office staff. Sons Woody and John run operations at Family Tree Enterprises and JL Farms dairies, respectively, and grandsons Jacob and Travis each manage a barn for LDI. The Larsons are proud to promote the dairy industry, and frequently host farm tours of school children, environmentalists, and dignitaries in an effort to improve understanding between farmers and consumers.

by Robbi Sumner

Since 1937,

June Dairy Month has celebrated the dairy industry and its contributions to our society. Originally established to help stabilize dairy demand during periods of peak production, the tradition continues today as both an educational and promotional program.

32 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

At Milking R, Sutton Rucks and wife Kris milk approximately 1,100 head of Holstein, Brown Swiss and crossbred cows housed in free-stall barns. The barns offer clean sand beds, misters and fans that provide a cooler climate than if the cows were out in the sun. They currently average production of 9.3 gallons, or 78-79 pounds of milk per cow, per day. Sutton and Kris each represent a third generation of family members involved in the dairy industry.

While active in 4-H, their daughter Lindsey became interested in showing Brown Swiss. Since then the Rucks have partnered with the DeGroft family in Kentucky to form Radical Genetics, a partnership focused on breeding, developing, and showing superior quality cows and heifers that score well at shows and milk well back at the barn. Their son Garrett also shows some of the cows, and Radical Genetics has seen success with wins like the 2009 Junior Champion at the Junior Show at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, and 2010 Grand Champion of the Open Show at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky.

Across the Kissimmee River in Highlands County, brothers Bob and Roger Butler own and operate the neighboring Butler Oaks Farm and B-4 dairies, respectively. Their father, the late Robert K. Butler, relocated the family’s first dairy herd from Broward County in September of 1965, and in time accumulated approximately 5,500 acres. According to Bob, Butler Dairy installed the first wastewater lagoon system in Highlands County. In June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 33

1995 the family began a reorganization process and split the land between the three brothers, eventually forming Butler Oaks, B-4, and Arbuckle Creek Ranch – a beef cattle operation in Avon Park headed by brother R.D. While the two dairies are similar in many ways, each is located on approximately 1,400 acres with herds composed largely of Holstein and Brown Swiss cows, Butler Oaks uses free-stall barns and B-4 utilizes modified grazing.

When asked about the reason for the difference, Roger states that B-4 has more pasture available and isn’t quite as close to the Kissimmee River, so he is able to take advantage of the grazing option and still comply with environmental standards.

Joe Wright never dreamed that he would someday end up working on a farm. But while practicing law in Orlando, he met the lady who would become his wife and she introduced him to her family’s dairy. Wright is now the only family member involved in the day-to-day operations of 1,300 acre V & W Farms, Inc. located in Hardee County, just west of Avon Park. There they are milking 1,300 Holsteins and crossbred cows and use a modified rotational grazing practice. According to Wright, the farm had been a grazing operation, but went to a confinement system in the 1990s due to environmental regulations. With the declining economy and increasing costs to run, that system was proving to be economically infeasible, so they converted to the modified rotational 34 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

grazing system in 2009. Now the cows graze in 10-acre paddocks rotated daily, and utilize cooling ponds, thus reducing feed and electricity costs. The new grazing system is more scientific than in the past, allowing for continued regulatory compliance. It also fits the natural pattern of South Florida weather, with grass growing 9 to 10 months a year, requiring supplemental hay only a few months of the year. The farm is beginning to move to a greater number of crossbred cows, as they are finding them to be better suited for grazing and handling the outdoor environment.

Joe does still maintain his law license and is active in industry roles, currently serving as President of Southeast Milk, Inc., a Florida-based cooperative that represents close to 300 dairy farmers in five states. Its primary function is to market and deliver farm-fresh milk to processing plants where it is pasteurized and bottled for consumers.

DeSoto County is home to three dairies, and members of Glen Rucks’ family own two of them, along with a third in Hardee. Between Pine Island, Brighton #1 and Crewsville, they milk approximately 3,600 cows, primarily Holsteins. All three farms utilize a modified grazing practice, providing shade and cooling ponds to help keep the cows cool while outside. They are brought inside only for milking and feeding. While the Rucks live in Okeechobee, they relocated their operations many years www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

ago in order to take advantage of reasonable land costs and reduced environmental restrictions that come from being further removed from the Lake Okeechobee Basin.

Since then, they have come to appreciate their reliable staff and have no reason to consider moving the dairies back.

In addition to following strict food safety standards, dairy farmers also work diligently to meet or exceed environmental regulations, which can be quite stringent, particularly in sensitive areas like the Lake Okeechobee Basin. For example, many farms are completely selfcontained, capturing solid waste and wastewater, as well as rainwater to be used for irrigation and fertilizer on the farm. At Butler Oaks Farm, some of the solid waste is composted and sold to South Florida nurseries who have found the product to be of top quality and virtually devoid of weeds. It’s a true example of the Reduce-ReuseRecycle campaign encouraged by environmentalists.

While dairy farmers may come from different backgrounds or have different methods of housing and feeding their cows, they seem to have one thing in common - a true passion for their industry that provides consumers with a nutritious and safe food product, and the way of life that the dairy farm provides. So celebrate Dairy Month by thanking your local farmer and enjoying an extra helping of your favorite dairy product! www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

used with

the per mis

June 2011

sion of Pu blix Ass

et Managem

ent Compa

ny

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 35

CARPET • WOOD • TILE • LAMINATE • VINYL • AREA RUGS

n a m Wo

E R U T L U C I IN AGR

by Robbi Sumner

Pam Butler

If you’re looking for Pam Butler, check at Butler Oaks Farm in Lorida. But don’t assume that her title of Chief Financial Officer means you’ll find her behind a desk – she may be horseback helping move cows, guiding a farm tour, checking on calves or working sideby-side with her husband and sons on any number of other tasks that pop up on a dairy.

A seventh generation Floridian, Pam was raised in Okeechobee, but has lived in Highlands County with her husband Bob for 34 years now. Agriculture has always been a part of her life, as her dad’s family were commercial fishermen, raised Brahma cattle and farmed beans on the shores of Lake Istokpoga. His cousins still farm Caladiums in Highlands County. According to Pam, although her dad, Judge Bill Hendry, was an attorney and is now a retired Circuit Court Judge, she “grew up fishing, raising beef cattle, and weeding whatever he had growing!”

Agriculture was not part of Pam’s initial career path, however.

As a graduate of both Indian River Community College and the Pensacola Community College of Dental Hygiene, she returned to Okeechobee in 1975 to work for a local dentist. It wasn’t long before one of her patients decided to play matchmaker, and eventually became Pam’s mother-in-law.

Pam and Bob’s family now includes son Ben, his wife April and their daughter Hannah; daughter Katie, her husband Zach Roberts and their daughter Brynlee; and son Will and his wife Lauren. Ben

36 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

and Will both graduated from the University of Florida and returned to management positions at Butler Oaks Farm and Katie has a graphic design business in Sarasota.

In addition to raising a family and working on the farm, Pam has stayed busy in civic and industry organizations. Some of her affiliations include being a current member and past President of the Okeechobee Area Agri Council; past Secretary of the Okeechobee Farm Bureau; volunteering with Okeechobee FFA and 4-H Dairy clubs; and being actively involved in milk promotion for over 30 years.

She and her family participated in the Dairy Farmer’s Inc. “Farm to Fridge” video, which is being used in Southeast school curriculums to tell the Milk Story. She’s been the CFO of Butler Oaks Farm, Inc., since 1997 and jokes that these days, most dairy farm CFO’s will agree, “CFO is a fancy term for the person who says NO!” Pam’s hobbies (besides enjoying time with her family) include history and maps, grilling, fishing and diving. In fact, her favorite place to spend time off the farm is Big Pine Key where she enjoys all of those activities.

“Raising our family on a dairy farm has given us an appreciation of the land and our cows. It is a responsibility and a privilege to share with others where our food comes from, that we respect and care for our animals, that farmers are committed to providing the safest and most abundant food supply in the world, and that farmers are committed to protecting and preserving the land for future generations. Every time we have a group out for a farm tour I am reminded just how much I have been blessed,” said Pam. There are two quotes on her desk that inspire her every day, “The Buck Stops Here” and Genesis 30:27 “I know by experience that the Lord has blessed me.”

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

ST LARGECK O T IN-S ING FLOOR ORY T N INVE WN IN TO

Everything Interior & Patio • Flooring • Window Treatment • Patio Furniture • Wall Paper • Shades, Blinds, Verticals • Fireplaces (gas & electric) • Interior Design Services • Installation • Commercial/Residential

Family Owned & Operated Since 1978

Chamber of Commerce Member

560 US. Hwy. 27 North Sebring, FL 33870 (863) 385-4796 www.carpetpatioblinds.com

HOURS Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday 8:00am to 1:00pm

Specializing in Florida Rural & Wildlife Art

m toFraming s u C Traditional & Rustic Frames

ing

Everyth

To Make Your House a Beautiful Home

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

• Vases • Lamps • Clocks • Mirrors • Wall Sculpture • Silk Florals • Metal Art • Framed Art • Gifts

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 37

information on our extensive product line.

Extended operating hours Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri - 7a-7p Wed, Sat - 7a-6p

813-754-5405 4950 US HWY 92 W. Plant City, FL 33563

Specializing in all types of trailer work - stock, horse, utility, boat, custom trailers, as well as horse trailers with living quarters Preventative and routine maintenance - lights, bearings, brakes, roof inspection General and custom trailer repair work – body work, suspension, full lighting and wiring, aluminum welding, living quarters Warranty work

by Robbi Sumner

Conveniently located next to The Hay Exchange

Off Highway 68 in Northeastern Okeechobee County sits a sportsman’s haven, complete with old Florida charm and Southern hospitality. Best known for sporting clays, Quail Creek Plantation offers a number of opportunities both for hunters and for those who simply enjoy unwinding in a relaxed atmosphere.

Owned by Whit Hudson and managed by the husband and wife team of Fred and Maria Fanizzi, the 3,400-acre facility has become a nationally recognized destination for sports shooters. There are two sporting clays courses. The original “red” course meanders through palmetto flats, scrub oaks and pines and is the most common course for recreational shooters. The “blue” course is charted in a more open area and is used for the competitive tournaments. Targets on each course change every other week. Late night shooting, until 9:00 pm, is offered the first and third Thursday of each month.

Since opening in 2002, Quail Creek’s reputation has made them the chosen destination for many events including the Seminole Cup, one of the top five sporting clays competitions in the United States.

This past February marked the seventh year of the five-day event, which draws over 500 shooters from the U.S. and abroad, being held there. The staff is also happy to host a number of fundraising shoots for regional groups such as the Highlands County Citrus Growers, Farm Bureau, Florida Cattlewomen’s Association and Hospice of Okeechobee.

They also host the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Scholastic Clay Target Program, which offers youth from third grade to high school the chance to compete as a team for state and national championships. According to Fred, local participation in this event has grown significantly since first being held at Quail Creek three years ago.

In addition to sporting clays, Quail Creek also offers private quail, turkey and pheasant hunts. This year, morning and afternoon quail hunts will be offered from October 1 to March 16, 2012. The fully guided hunts include 12 birds per person for a half-day hunt or 24 for the full-day hunt, snacks and drinks, lunch, and cleaning and packaging of shot birds.

Turkey hunts run six weeks beginning the third Saturday of

38 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

March each spring. Those hunts include a three-night stay with meals, two and a half days of hunting, one Osceola turkey, access to sporting clays, hog hunting, and fishing.

The one-day pheasant hunts include a delicious breakfast in addition to a gourmet meal served after the hunt, and the birds are cleaned, packaged, and divided between participating hunters. These hunts are offered one day each month from November to March.

The Plantation was recently the host for a National Wild Turkey Foundation “Women in the Outdoors” event. Over 140 women enjoyed a weekend of learning about archery, sporting clays, plant identification, Dutch oven cooking, fly fishing, photography and other activities.

A cracker-style, multi-purpose lodge was opened in January 2010, offering a relaxed atmosphere for business meetings, family reunions, fund raising events, customer appreciation events, team building exercises and the like. With a beautiful stone fireplace, dining capacity of 80+ and onsite catering available, it is the perfect destination for those who desire a relaxing atmosphere complete with all of the modern luxuries. Overnight stays are available for individuals and groups, with ten dog friendly one-bedroom log cottages that offer wireless Internet, flat-screen TVs and small kitchen accommodations for up to 30 guests. Stays include unlimited catch and release fishing, as well as buggy rides on the property. Pool tables, paddleboats, darts and other games are also available – or sit and relax in a rocking chair beside the outdoor fire pit. If you find yourself enamored by your lodge or cabin surroundings, you can take a little home by visiting Quail Creek Décor, a haven for the rustic decorator, also located on site.

Quail Creek Plantation is open to the public and also offers family memberships for just $250 per year. Membership benefits include discounts on shooting, hunting and retail items. Members also enjoy an annual “Member Appreciation Day” with free clay shooting and lunch.

To make reservations or learn more about this exciting facility, call 863.763.2529 or visit www.quailcreekplantation.com.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

eek!

W a s y a Open 7 Days A Week D 7 Open Commercial, Residential Acreage and Construction Surveys Elevation Certificates Plating Services 16 N. Lake Ave., Avon Park, FL 33825 Office: 863-453-4113 • Cell: 863-443-6230 Fax: 863-453-4122 • shercoinc@yahoo.com

DeSoto Machine Shop Triangle Spreader Manufacturing Co. www.desotomachine.com

See Come ew N r Ou dels o 2011 M

42,900 3

$

BR/2BA Doublew ide

PRICE INCLUDES 0 $ 4FREE 2,930Day/2 Night Cruise FREE Skirting 2Ba

3Bd/

PRICE PRI CE INC CLUD LUD LU DE ES S FRE REE 3 Day/ RE y/2 2 Nigh ght Crui ruisse FRE RE EE Deliv Deliv D iv very erry ry FREE FRE REE A/ A/C C FREE Stove FREE Steps FRE EE Skirting FREE Refrigerator FREE Stove FREE Set-Up FREE Refrigerator FREE Credit Check

lewid FREE Doub Delivery FREE A/C COME SEE OURof NEW 2011 FREE 2 Sets Steps MODELS! Valid Through 06/30/2011 Valid Through January 31, 2011 e

800-557-7360 MOWER

(800) 494-0335 (863) 494-0703 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

2692 N.E. Nat Ave. Arcadia, FL 34266

1046 WEST HIGHWAY 92 • AUBURNDALE Land, improvements, thermal windows, carport & landscaping not inlcuded in price.

www.PrestigeHomeCenterFL.com • Se Habla Español June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 39

William Herbert Lynn

by Ron Lambert The best part of a month has gone by since I concluded a series on citrus which I enjoyed writing and it seems that many of you subscribers enjoyed reading. I promised that you should wait till you see what’s coming in June.

What I am going to do is tell a story about one very intelligent, gifted citizen of Hardee County. His name was William Her-

bert Lynn. When my grandparents moved out to Lemon Grove, the Lynn family had been here already for a few years. The Lynn family, father, mother, and sons Fred, Herbert, and Marvin, moved here from Preston, Iowa in 1923. They began a small farm on 15 acres of land. They had a chicken house where they raised poultry and eggs for a supplement to their income. They later planted a citrus grove like many of the people who moved to Florida during this time. They were lured to a land with mild winters, fertile soil and a healthy climate. Florida, the Promised Land of the 1920s.

Herbert was the second of three sons of William and Blanche Lynn. I am not going to say much more about them because that subject will provide a later story.

Herbert was born in 1915 and had a desire to be mechanically minded at an early age. By the time he was a teenager he had a small shop where he built and repaired tools and other equipment for local people. He took courses in arc welding and operation of

40 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

metal working machinery. There are still people here in the county who remember trips to Lynn Machine Shop to get farm equipment repaired.

Herbert went into the Army during World War II and served in an ordinance division. In case you don’t know what that is, I will explain. An ordinance company’s job was to repair and rebuild equipment that required maintenance. This ranged from repairing rifles up to repairing or salvaging tanks and trucks that had been hit by enemy fire. They worked out of mobile shops very near the actual fighting lines.

After the war ended, he returned home to Hardee County and actually began to operate Lynn’s Machine Shop. He was, as I stated earlier, always mechanically minded. However, as he grew older it seemed that he grew more creative and independent. He had such a shrewd mind and an approach to challenges that baffled many people. He was not the original do it yourselfer, but I am sure he could have written the book from firsthand experience.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

In the 1950s, he had an idea which benefited many small truck farmers in the county. He designed and built a self propelled spraying machine for use by small farmers to apply chemicals to their crops. These machines were powered by a small gasoline engine and operated by one man. He designed and built the pump, valves and regulators himself right here in Hardee County. He also built the gearbox that propelled the units. I am not sure how many that he built in all, but they served a useful purpose for a brief time. Unfortunately, about this time small farms began to vanish from the area. It became necessary for farmers to farm larger acre-

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

age and this required larger machinery. He also built some small push mowers which I also have a picture of here in the magazine.

Herbert Lynn was truly an example of one of the reasons that America became the great Nation that emerged. America has always had people who could face any challenge, work to solve any problem and help make others life easier. He was an inventive man that was many years ahead in his approach to new ideas.

Herbert Lynn married my widowed Aunt Joyce Soyez in 1972.

They lived here on the home place for the rest of his life. I will be writing a little more about the Lynn family next month. I hope that the photographs prove interesting and portray a part of vanishing Florida. Things change, and we go along and adapt to the new ways or we get pushed aside. But history defines what we are today and we should never forget that. Have a Blessed and productive day. I hope you will enjoy reading this as much as I’ve enjoyed writing and preparing these photographs.

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 41

South Florida Water Management District May Agricultural Highlights Report Charles M. Shinn III, Assistant Director

Government & Community Affairs, Florida Farm Bureau

Governor Scott Makes Appointments to the Governing Board

Governor Rick Scott made five much-anticipated appointments to the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board on Tuesday afternoon. The appointments fill all but one expired seat on the Governing Board.

• Daniel DeLisi is a self-employed planning and engineering consultant from Lee County. DeLisi has represented agricultural interests in his private practice and is well respected by the agricultural community. He will represent Lee, Collier, Hendry and part of Charlotte counties.

His position on the board also places him as chair of the Big Cypress Basin board. Mr. DeLisi replaces Charles Dauray and his term expires March 1, 2015 • Jim Moran is a self-employed attorney from West Palm Beach. He will represent Palm Beach County in the seat that was vacated by Pat Rooney last summer to concentrate on his congressional campaign. Mr. Moran’s term expires March 1, 2015.

• Daniel O’Keefe is an attorney with Shutts and Bowan LLP in Windermere. He will be representing Glades, Okeechobee, Highlands, Polk, Orange and Osceola counties as an at-large member in the seat recently vacated by Jerry Montgomery. Mr. O’Keefe’s term expires March 1, 2012 as he is completing the term served by Montgomery.

• Timothy Sargent is the Director of Tax and Operating Company Chief Financial Officer, Huizenga Holdings Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale. He will represent St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties as an at-large member. He is in the seat that was held by Glenn Waldman and his term expires on March 1, 2014.

• Glenn Waldman is a self-employed attorney in Weston.

He has been serving on the Governing Board in the position that is now held by Sargent and will now be the board representative from Broward County. Mr. Waldman’s term expires on March 1, 2014.

The one expired seat remaining on the Governing Board is

42 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

presently being held by past board chairman, Eric Buermann.

Other than a teleconference special meeting on April 25, he has been inactive on the board since his seat expired in March. Mr. Buermann represents Dade County

Board Elects Vice-Chair & Executive Director

Besides seeing new Governing Board members at May’s meeting, the excitement continued as Kevin Powers was elected as ViceChair of the board. Mr. Powers is a realtor in Indiantown and has an excellent open door relationship with the agricultural community. He studies issues in depth and comes to each meeting prepared to tackle the difficult decisions in an equitable manner.

He is also presently the Chairman of the Water Resources Advisory Commission (WRAC), which is an advisory body to the South Florida Water Management Governing Board and the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. Agricultural interests are represented on WRAC by Florida Farm Bureau as well as several other organizations. Florida Farm Bureau congratulates Kevin in the vote of confidence displayed by his fellow board members.

Past Governing Board member, Melissa Meeker was also unanimously elected by the board to become the new Executive Director replacing Carol Wehle who resigned in April. Melissa comes with the full support of the Governor and administration and is well received among stakeholders. Florida Farm Bureau has a past working relationship with Ms. Meeker and looks forward to working with her as she concentrates on getting the District to focus on the core mission of flood protection, water supply and restoration “efficiently and effectively”.

Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan Update to Begin in June

The five Water Management Districts in Florida are required by law (373.079 F.S.) to take a proactive approach in making sure that water supply needs are met. SFWMD approaches this mandate by delivering planning documents to State Legislators on four regions in a rotating method.

The Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan (WSP) was first developed in 2000 and last updated in 2006. The plan uses a 20-year planning period (i.e. 2010 – 2030) and a 1 in 10 level of certainty to create demand estimates and projections.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

The Lower East Coast WSP encompasses Palm Beach, Broward, Dade, most of Monroe, eastern Collier and Hendry counties. This large region has well over 600,000 acres of land in agricultural production. Florida Farm Bureau will work closely with the Florida Department of Agriculture to ensure that agriculture has the volume of water required to remain productive amid changing economic conditions and consumer demands.

The other three regional WSPs are the Upper East Coast, Lower West Coast, and Kissimmee Basin. Work on the Kissimmee Basin WSP will also resume later this summer after coordination with St. Johns River Water Management District and Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Phase III Water Restrictions Upcoming/Temporary Forward Pumps at the Ready The Governing Board has approved staff recommendation to impose Phase III water restrictions on water users in the Lake Okeechobee Service Area (LOSA) when the lake drops to 10.5 feet NGVD. This recommendation is in accordance with the Water Shortage Plan (Chap 40-E-22 FAC) which allows Phase III restrictions if the lake falls below 10.5 feet NGVD before June 1.

Phase III restrictions relate to a 45 percent cutback in permitted water use though for many users, cutbacks end up being closer to 55 – 65 percent due to the decreased ability to pump water. Past history suggests that farmers are posed to lose millions of dollars in crop production if the restrictions remain for an extended period.

As the lake reaches 10.5 feet NGVD, gravity flow from the lake declines to a point that forward pumps need to be installed in the gates to physically lift the water out of the lake. Fourteen pumps are positioned at S-352, S-351, and S-354 and the District will work closely with growers in the region to coordinate instillation.

Although the southern Indian Prairie Basin (northwest of Lake Okeechobee) is technically in LOSA, they will remain under Phase I (15%) restrictions as the District will be supplying water to agriculture in this area from Lake Istokpoga.

Florida Farm Bureau recommends that farmers needing additional information on water allotments, please visit the Water

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Shortage link at the District website (www.sfwmd.gov) or contact Tom Kosier (tkosier@sfwmd.gov or 561-682-6533).

Potential Multi-Year Water Shortage in the Making The current level of Lake Okeechobee, the bellwether water supply instrument of South Florida, is 10.62 feet NGVD. With the current rate of decline, driven primarily by evapotranspiration, the lake is expected to fall below 10.5 feet NGVD sometime next week.

Even when summer afternoon rains provide temporary relief to the farm fields and ranches, the lake will be hard pressed to rise rapidly to bring the area out of water restrictions. Last year, south Florida had a dryer-than-normal rainy season due to the lack of tropical systems directly impacting the area with heavy rainfall.

There is the concern that anything close to a repeat of last year will force the District to impose water restrictions through the summer and on into the next dry season (November 2011 – May 2012). This will only expound the water shortage problems for next spring.

Even though droughts are never isolated events with one year affecting the next, the current water shortage was created by lake management. In 2007, the Army Corps of Engineers adopted a new lake schedule that sets the lake level an average of 1.5 feet lower due to integrity concerns with the dike surrounding the lake.

The Army takes the health and welfare of residents surrounding the lake very seriously. That said, there is flexibility in the schedule that is not being utilized in the late summer and early fall when the lake can be held safely at higher levels. This flexibility will provide additional water preceding a dry season. As the lake is the primary water reservoir, we need to find ways to keep more water in the lake that will be beneficial to all.

Monthly Reports Available on Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s Website This report is also available on Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s website (www.floridafarmbureau.org). Click on ‘Issues and Public Policy’ on the left side of the home page, then click on the ‘Water and Natural Resources’ subheading.

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 43

District 6 Update

From the Desk of Andy Neuhofer

Tommy & Kara Watkins

by Morgan Taylor Norris As third generation diversified farmers and ranchers, Tommy and Kara Watkins were born to be in agriculture. The brother and sister duo, born and raised in Avon Park, knew they both wanted to walk right into their family’s footsteps in the agriculture industry.

This agricultural family began in the early 40s with Tommy and Kara’s grandparents, Carlton and Henretta Melear. They started with only 11 cows in 1943 and in 1950 bought their first dairy in Lake Worth, Florida. By the Early 1970s, C.R. Melear Corporation, known today as the Melear Dairy, moved their operation to Hardee County, along with their daughter and son-inlaw, Debbie and Tom Watkins. Mrs. Melear says the dairy was purchased through an auction over the phone. Times sure have changed since then!

In the early 1980s the family expanded its operations to include beef cattle. The family added another branch to the company in the early 90s when they planted several orange groves. In 2001 Watkins Citrus and Cattle was born and the entire family shares responsibility of the day-to-day operations. In 2006 Triple W Produce was established, where Tommy and Kara partner in the watermelon business.

After graduating from Avon Park high school, Tommy attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College where he studied animal science. After returning home he married his college sweetheart Anna Taylor. The couple has two children, an

44 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

eight-year-old daughter, Taylor, and 18-month-old son, T.C. They are also are expecting triplets very soon. Other than the family business, Tommy enjoys traveling, duck hunting, and spending time with his family.

Kara graduated from Auburn University in 2001 where she majored in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Animal and Dairy Sciences. She currently sits on the board of directors of Florida Dairy Farmers, Inc. and was a member of Class VI of the Wedgeworth Leadership Institute. In Kara’s spare time she is an avid bow hunter, enjoys traveling, photography, and is very close with her family.

The Melear Dairy currently operates two separate facilities, known as Barn 1 and Barn 2. Most of the cows used for milking are Holsteins, but some Jersey and Brown Swiss are used as well.

The cows are milked three times a day in free style barns with misters and fans to keep them cool in the hot Florida sun. Tommy is in charge of forage and milk production, while Kara handles the finances and records for the company. Tom Watkins, Tommy and Kara’s father, still oversees all aspects of the family’s diversified agricultural operations.

Tommy and Kara both take great pride in their family’s operation.

They are proud to call themselves third generation agriculturalists and look forward to carrying on the family traditions at Melear Dairy.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

The American Farm Bureau Federation and the Florida Farm Bureau Federation have been working on behalf of the producer members to slow the Environmental Protection Agency regarding their continued efforts to expand their power.

With help from members throughout our state and country, work is progressing with the help of Congressman Tom Rooney to impede the implementation of the EPA’s Numeric Nutrient Criteria.

Another issue is the EPA’s efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. A bill supported by Farm Bureau, H.R. 910, has been introduced to block the EPA from implementing rules that became effective January 2, 2011. The objective is to stop EPA from regulating “greenhouse gases” from sources that are stationary such as power plants, refineries, farms and ranches. This is the effort that we worked to defeat in Congress this past year. The EPA has decided to implement what they could not get legislatively.

The EPA also wishes to expand their authority of the Clean Water Act. A “guidance” manual has been printed and distributed to field personnel. Of our concerns, one example is the options that are given for agency field staff to determine whether a body of water should be under federal jurisdiction. We have won this issue with the Supreme Court. Twice!! Yet, they go around the end to try and expand their regulatory authority.

The surface has only been scratched with these three examples. Yet, these are three reasons why all agricultural producers should be members of Farm Bureau and why it is important for producers to contact their elected officials so they know our positions and to help keep them accountable. Rest assured, Farm Bureau will continue to work for the benefit of Florida and American agriculture.

Andy Neuhofer Field Representative District 6 Andy.neuhofer@ffbf.org 352.318.2506 www.floridafarmbureau.org

Custom Blended Foliar, Suspension & Solution Fertilizers

Barney Cherry 863-441-1482 Bruce Hutcheson 863-441-2018 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Professional Big Game Hunting As seen on ESPN ESPN 2 The Outdoor Channel The Pursuit Channel Sportsman Channel In association with Bass Pro Shop Grateful Nation/Wounded Warrior Elk Fever Elk Chronicles The Fever Petersen’s Hunting Adventures Outdoor Network Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

www.TheTimbersAtChama.com Bill & Rhonda Glisson HC 75 Box 136 Chama, New Mexico 87520 Office: 575.588.7950 Fax: 575.588.7051 June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 45

Citrus Update:

A Changing Lifestyle

by Justin Smith Agriculture tends to be a rather laid back way of life. Laid back in the sense that most of us who make our living by producing the world’s food, tend to mind our own business. We take care of ourselves and our local community. Through generations we have maintained lifestyles which keep us somewhat isolated. This is due in part to agriculture lands being, by definition, rural. Some ideologies that follow this lifestyle lead to hesitation in regard to getting involved with government at the State and Federal levels. However, the world as we know it is changing. Even though we may live miles away from the nearest town we are still connected to the world in a much larger way than ever before.

What does this mean for our way of life? Basically that we can no longer go about our business and expect to be left alone as traditionally has been the case. If we choose to remain out of sight and allow things to just work themselves out we will soon see changes that we will not like. Some changes could have the potential to completely change the agricultural community forever. If you are interested in preserving any portion of our lifestyle for future generations then you must make some lifestyle adjustments now. When we decide what changes to make we can have much more control than if we allow others to make them for us.

The Citrus industry particularly has seen this first hand during this Florida Legislative session. Although we have sent some good Senators and Representatives to Tallahassee, they may not have the ability, with out a show of our support, to keep things favorable for growers. Citrus growers are seeing this with the recent senate bill that has been passed and has the potential to allow legislative control

of the citrus box tax. This is a tax that was imposed by the growers themselves, for the purpose of using it for the collective good of the industry.

Complacency is our biggest enemy in the ever changing climate of the world. If we allow ourselves to sit back and do nothing then we are the only ones who can be blamed. One grower does in fact only have one voice, just the same as one choir member only has one voice. However, if we will all get involved and do our one part we have the ability to make a loud sound, one that will resonate to the highest levels. By doing this now and not waiting until it is too late we can make a difference.

How do we do these things? One of the best ways to stay informed is to become an “active” member of your local growers association. This does not mean send them a check at the first of the year and maybe attend an annual dinner if you like the entertainment. This means be active and stay in communication with the leaders. Take part in functions, attend meetings and actually read newsletters. When there is a call for volunteers or suggestions to call a senator, answer them. Don’t sit around and wait for someone else to do it. If you are not willing to take part then don’t complain when things don’t go the way you think they should.

We all love not only the citrus industry but the entire agricultural lifestyle. Changes are inevitable, we can watch them change around us and live with the consequences or we can work to shape them into what we desire. If you aren’t sure if the time and energy is worth it, just look into the faces of our future agricultural generation. Is the investment to protect our lifestyles worth it?

Water Conservation = Energy $aving$ The Smart Choice Water Conservation Frost Protection treetpee.com 863-990-2095 Johnny Georges The Grand Champion Tree Protector!

Pasco County Distributor Floyd’s Nursery 10548 Singletary Rd. Dade City, FL 33525 (352) 521-3571 www.FloydCitrus.com

Polk County Distributor Frostproof Growers Supply 512 N Scenic Highway Frostproof, FL 33843 (863) 635-3620 www.Frostproof.com

California Distributor Kern County California Impact Water Solutions Bill Jones (661) 747-8976 Jerry Todd (661) 213-6288

Certified Public Accountants

Wicks, Brown, Williams & Co. Serving Central Florida for Over 40 Years

Sebring

C. Mark Cox, CPA, Partner John W. Davis, CPA, Partner Charles P. Cox, CPA

Lake Placid

W. Bruce Stratton, CPA, Partner

Okeechobee

Cheryl M. Williams, CPA, Partner Corey A. DeHays, CPA

Sporting Clays • Hunting • Lodging & Special Events

Okeechobee, Fl.

863.763.2529

www.quailcreekplantation.com 46 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

140 South Commerce Avenue Sebring, Florida 33870

(863) 382-1157 wbwtaxmgr@wbwcpa.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 47

Thank You...

To Highlands County Farm Bureau’s Heritage Sponsors.

4-H Members Go to State Congress

Dale McQuillan Retires from Teaching

Heartland 4-H members participated in the District 10 4-H Contest on Saturday, May 7. The District Events were held at the Zolfo Springs Elementary School in Zolfo Springs. 4-H members participated in the areas of Animal Industry, Consumer Education, Public Speaking, Leisure and Performing Arts, Science and Technology, Health and Safety, Share the Fun Talent Contest, and Fashion Revue (sewing). Senior members who received blue ribbons in their event areas will be competing at State Congress in July.

4-H Members attending Congress include; Destiny McCauley and Ruth Erekson from Hardee County, Denise Holmes, Emily Lege, Tate Bent, Raychel Rabon and Shiloh Anuez from Okeechobee County, Megan Stein, Amanda Kilmon, Jessica Todd and Juliette Perez from Highlands County, Lauren and Emily Hatcher from DeSoto County.

Dale McQuillan, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Lake Placid High School, is retiring this year after over 25 years of service to the youth of Lake Placid. Dale and his FFA Chapter celebrated this year’s success with a delicious dinner on Saturday, May 14 at the Lake Placid High School auditorium. Dale presented awards to outstanding FFA members, FFA Alumni and thanked members of the community who have supported his chapter through the years. Over 180 members of the community, school staff, and FFA members attended the “Last Supper” of a great teacher and friend, Mr. Dale McQuillan. In the Field Magazine salutes Mr. McQuillan and his dedication to the FFA of Highlands County.

photos submitted by Mountaintop Productions

Sometimes Dad took forever with things

“We’re not done here yet!”

This Father’s Day, let him know that you’ll never be done... with loving him.

P.O. Box 3183, Plant City, FL 33563 Business Office: 813-750-1683 | Fax: 813-754-4690 Publisher

4-H Tropicana Speech Contest 2011

Please support these businesses!

48 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

The Annual 4-H Tropicana Speech Contest was held on Wednesday May 18, at the Highlands County Bert Harris Agri-Civic Center. Students in fifth and sixth grades throughout Highlands County participated in this great event. In the Elementary Division first place was Allison Franza from Avon Elementary, second place was Madison Koukos from Lakeview Christian, third place was Sami Nortelus from Heartland Christian, and Honorable Mention went to Vijay Sharma from Park Elementary. In the Middle School Division first place was Carly Juve from Hill-Gustat Middle, second place was Kendall Griffin from Highlands County Home School, third place was Camille Shattler from Lake Placid Christian, and Honorable Mention went to Cassi Pent from Lake Placid Middle.

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Rhonda Glisson 813-708-3661 rhonda@inthefieldmagazine.com Karen Berry kdberry@inthefieldmagazine.com

Senior Managing Editor

Sarah Holt sarah@inthefieldmagazine.com

Assistant Editor

Morgan Taylor Norris morgan@inthefieldmagazine.com

Sales Manager

Danny Crampton 813-759-6909 danny@inthefieldmagazine.com

Sales Team

Morgan Taylor Norris morgan@inthefieldmagazine.com Chass Bronson chass@inthefieldmagazine.com Ron Brown ron@inthefieldmagazine.com Tina Richmond tina@inthefieldmagazine.com

www.HeartlandGold.com

1102 S. 6th Avenue Wauchula, FL 33873 S. 6th Avenue & Stenstrom Road

863-773-4466

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Hours: Mon - Fri 9-5 Sat 9-2

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 49

photo by Rosen Photography

o

by R h sen P otog y raph

Dash for Cash 2010-2011

by Robbi Sumner The Dash for Cash barrel racing series ended its season Saturday, May 14 with a $1,000 added members-only final race, steak dinner and awards ceremony. This was the fifth year of the series, organized by Molleetha Gomez, with nine shows held at the Fred Smith Arena, Brighton Indian Reservation. Leading up to the finals, each show is open to non-members, but points are awarded only to those who choose to pay the membership dues, which go towards funding some of the series-end awards.

There was also a separate buckle series run during the period for Women’s Professional Rodeo Association members.

This year’s series began in September, tracking member rider and horse combination points from each show to determine the season-end winners. Prizes including headstall sets, halters, purses, hay bags and other items awarded to the top six in each Open division, with saddles going to the division winners. The saddles were sponsored by Custom Graphics & Signs, Gator Feed Company, Inc., Country Feed, Creech Construction, and Lakeport Insurance Agency, Inc. Buckles were awarded to the Youth division winners, with additional prizes of headstall sets, halters, hay bags and more to the top five. Youth and WPRA buckles were sponsored by Fred Gomez Horseshoeing, Chris MacArthur

Cash ts n i D scouna, FL O F.O.B.

Trailer Repair, Fred Gomez – Mona Vie, and Serious Concrete & Design.

The Youth series is a three-division (3D) contest, with the fastest time establishing the first division (1D), skipping to one second slower for the second division (2D), and one more second for the third division (3D). Youth (competitors 14 years and younger) divisions were won by the following rider and horse combinations: 1D Courtney Kitching and Beau from Lake Worth, 2D Jessi Quinn and Birdy from Muse, and 3D Tony King III and Iddy (sister Alexis is shown accepting the buckle) from Avon Park.

The Open series has five-divisions (5D), with each being split by half-second breaks. Open division champions were: 1D Wendy Culberson and Jack from Okeechobee, 2D Annie Ahern and Okeechobee Cotton from Okeechobee, 3D Courtney Kitching and Beau from Lake Worth, 4D Lee Grover and Rags to Go from Lake Wales, and 5D Judy Nowak and Tuff from Okeechobee.

The WPRA buckle series winner was Wendy Culberson.

The next Dash for Cash series is scheduled to begin in September. Visit www.rezrodeo.com this summer for show dates, or contact Molleetha at 863.467.6039.

FLORIDA FENCE POST Co., Inc. 5251 S.R. 64 West • PO Box 645 • Ona, FL 33865

863-735-1361 • 800-580-1019 “The Posts Preferred by Florida Cattlemen”

Come visit us at our new satellite store.

Lake Placid Feed and Western Wear 417 US 27 South Lake Placid, FL 33852 Phone: (863) 465-4731

We Treat Our Posts Right Rough Cut Lumber MC Treated .14 Ret. for Heavy Duty Ground Contact

25 Ye ar L Guar imited “Bra antee Your nded for Prote ction ”

CURRENT PRODUCTS: Now offering a new line of Square Stock Timbers Fence Posts * Barn Poles * Brace Posts * Cow Pen Post * Rough Cut Lumber Cattle Pannels * Portable Corrals * Fence Stays * Barbed Wire * Field Fence Farm Gates * Game Fencing * Hay Rings * Assorted Mulch and Soil SERVING CENTRAL FLORIDA SINCE 1946.

GIVE US A CALL FOR ALL YOUR AGRICULTURAL FENCING SUPPLIES! Call 1 (800)580-1019 for more information on TRUCKLOAD PRICING in your area.

Website: flfencepost.com 50 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Our Posts Meet The Federal Standards!

CCA.40/AWPA C-16 Ground Contact

Email: sales@flfencepost.com

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Putnam Ride Wrap-up 2011 Heartland Horses & Handicapped, Inc. held their 9th Annual Trail Ride April 29 - May 1, the fourth in memory of our founder and friend, Sandy Kuhn. The ride was co-sponsored by the Putnam family and the Florida Cracker Trail Association, and took place at the Putnam’s beautiful El Clair Ranch in Zolfo Springs.

Eighty-two riders enjoyed camping on the beautiful property and an amazing trail ride beginning on Saturday morning, led

by Trail Boss Brian Fielder. Riders and their families, sponsors and board members, enjoyed a fantastic chicken and rib dinner prepared by Ed Perry Catering and then joined in the live auction to purchase some great items to support the program. Later that evening, everyone was entertained by the band Ransom from Highlands County.

Sponsors of the event included Putnam Groves, The Florida Cracker Trail Association, Anderson Animal Clinic, Florida Hospital Heartland Division, Fraternal Order Eagles Auxiliary,

Hicks Oil Co. Independent Distributors • • • •

Full line of Lubricants Wix Filters Interstate Batteries Meeting all Your Petroleum Needs • Fill-Rite Pumps and Hoses • Tanks, Retail Fuels • 2 Locations Public Welcome

Fraternal Order Eagles #4240, Hardee County Disposal, Inc., Johns On Wheels, Mosaic, Chad D. McWaters – Highlands County Farm Bureau and Sebring Noon Kiwanis.

The ride was a huge success. The weather was beautiful, there was a breeze all weekend and the love bugs were minimal!

Everyone had a great time and through the hard work and generosity of all those that attended, nearly $9500 was raised to allow us to continue the great work of the program. We truly appreciate our supporters!

Heartland Horses & Handicapped, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 organization that provides physical interaction, exercise and education through the use of horses to children and adults who are physically, emotionally or developmentally challenged. All services are provided to our clients completely FREE! For more information, please call us at 863-452-0006, visit our website at www.heartlandhorses.org or find us on Facebook.

• Gasoline • Fuels • Lubricants

Avon Park (863) 453-8166 Sebring (863) 385-0495 Toll Free (877) 595-8166 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 51

Tater Hill Fun Shoot The DeSoto County Chamber 2nd Annual Tater Hill Fun Shoot was a BLAST again this year! Along with title sponsors Seacoast National Bank and Mosaic, the Chamber hosted the event on April 30, 2011, at Square One Sporting Clays on Highway 70 between Arcadia and Lake Placid. There were 75 shooters who spent the morning shooting the 100-clay course set by Hooker Browning and Square One owner Phillip Sudduth. Shotgunners and other guests then were treated to a fantastic lunch sponsored by Sweetbay Supermarket.

Mark Anderson and Donnie Sargent cooked ribs and chicken while other Chamber members prepared all the fixings, including Texas sheet cake for dessert.

Besides teams by title sponsors Seacoast National Bank and Mosaic, there were gold teams sponsored by The GEO Group, The Bull, and Homegrown Magazine, as well as team sponsors of Island Grove Ag Products, Everglades Farm Equipment and DeSoto Jewelry.

Station sponsors included Clifford Ables, III, PA, Before & After Beauty Shop, Brian Burns Citrus, DeSoto Insurance, DeSoto Land Surveying, DeSoto Memorial Hospital, DeSoto Nursery, First State Bank, Fussell’s Meat Market, Gator Guns & Ammo, Ronnie & Diane Jones, Martin Realty, Mid-Florida Credit Union, Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home, South Central Insurers, State Farm, Sun Trust Bank, Suncoast Federal Credit Union, Total Pest Control, and Sheriff Will & Kay Wise. Peace River Campgrounds donated golf carts, and Lee Cicero donated watermelons for everyone.

There were over $4,400 in raffle and door prizes, including a 43” flat screen TV donated by Mosaic and a half day saltwater fishing charter trip donated by Captain Mark Miller. Local businesses went all out with donations ranging from a turkey feeder, tool sets, fishing rods, hunting items, gift certificates for golfing, restaurants, oil changes, Marlins tickets, Stone Crab tickets, to gift baskets, massages, trees, and mammograms plus much more. There was something of interest for everyone!

Congratulations to grand champion – high overall Travis Wudtke, from Team GEO, who had a score of 93. The team champion for the second year in a row was Island Grove Ag Products who also won the “Top Gun” traveling plaque for the Ranch & Agricultural category. Shooters on that team were Jason Cloud, Donald Gray, Leighton Morse and Paul Wolfe. The runner-up team trophy went to a group who call themselves “The Jokers,” consisting of Tommy Greenwood, Dirk Kruzan, Frank McClelland and George Porter.

Louie Pancic won the individual champion trophy. The individual runner-up trophy went to Vince Serio in a tie-breaker. High female shooter was Jessica Hutchins, and the runner-up was Pam Wise. High youth was Ryan McKinney, and the runner-up was Blake Noll.

The DeSoto County Chamber wishes to thank In The Field magazine for their help in promoting this event, as well as all the businesses who helped either by sponsoring a team or a station or donated items for the raffle.

Music at the melon barn

by Kathy Ann Gregg “We want to give back to this community by providing an evening of old-fashioned fun and fellowship,” is the way Wilbur Robertson describes his family’s annual Music at the Melon Barn. This was their 7th annual event, hosted by Wilbur, his wife Susan, and the rest of their family. They provide food and drink for everyone, with many of the scrumptious desserts, using local fruits and berries, made by the guests.

Next is the introduction of the Cracker cowboys and cattle women. Wilbur has a deep passion for this subject, wanting to do his part to preserve the heritage of this rich culture of Florida’s past. He rounds up these ladies and gentlemen from nine counties, sometimes as many as 25, for a special introduction. This year’s attendees, most of them in their 80s and 90s, included Latt Turner, Jr., Edgar Stokes, David Ford, Roland Skipper, Wayne Collier, John Smoak, Wendell Smith, Mack Padgett, Russell Lowe, Donald Skipper, Bill Harrison, Buster Longino, and the youngest of the group, Matt Condo. The cattlewomen honored were Carol Skipper, Opal Knight, Nell Prescott, and Iris Wall, who also gave a talk about the history of the Cracker way of life. Sadly, they lost one of their one that very morning, with the passing of Willard Durrance of Hardee County.

Patriotism is also big at this event, with the presenting of the colors and honoring the local military, from World War II veterans to the soldiers on active duty. On the stage was a Patriotic Wall displaying photos of local members of the military. The American flag was carried by Riley White of Horses Unlimited from River Ranch, as she rode in on a white horse. The Robertson family was presented with an American flag that had been flown over Iraq on July 4, 2009.

Let us not forget the “royalty” -- the Robertson family has given Hardee County several of it’s Cattleman’s Sweethearts. The current Sweetheart is granddaughter Kyndall, with sister Krystin carrying the title in 2009, and even their mother Shannon, and Wilbur’s stepdaughter Kari Kilgore. Other “royalty” in attendance were current Florida Cattlemen’s Sweetheart Kelly Davis of Myakka City, Watermelon Queen Runner-up Amanda Mercer of Arcadia, Miss Hardee County Kara Norris (whose family is in the citrus industry), and Melissa Montes DeOca of Okeechobee, president-elect of Florida Cattlewomen.

Thank you, Robertson Family – I’m already looking forward to next year’s Music at the Melon Barn!

863-699-5455 863-494-9955 24 Hour Emergency Service

Sales • Service • Installation Duct Cleaning • Insulation

Serving Highlands, Desoto, Hardee & Okeechobee

1092 Locke St. | Avon Park, FL 33825 Wildly s Keep icetronger! longer!

For All Your Air Conditioning Needs

www.layestire.com 863-453-3333

Family Owned And Operated Since

1995 financing available 20 W. Interlake Blvd. Lake Placid, FL 33852

52 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR • TIRES & WHEELS • BATTERIES TRUCK ACCESSORIES • TOOL BOXES • TRANSFER FUEL TANKS

CAC058675

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 53

By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicine, B.S. Nutrition Science Considered a “superfruit” for its impressive nutrition profile, guavas are a tropical fruit with a mild, sweet flavor. Guavas may have thick or thin skins, depending upon the variety. Skin color is light green to yellow and the flesh may be white, yellow, pink or red. The fruit is usually oval in shape with small edible seeds inside. Fresh guava is delicious out of hand, but is also commonly used in juice, jams, jellies, paste, marmalade, desserts, and pastries. In the United States, commercial guava production is found in Florida, California, and Hawaii. Though harvested in Florida year-round, the peak season is during the summer months. You may start to see them in farmers markets and grocery stores this month.

Nutritional Profile

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, a 100g portion of fresh guava (about 1.5 medium fruits) contains 68 calories, 2.55g of protein, 0.95 g of fat, 14.3 g of carbohydrate, and 5.4 g of fiber. It provides a whopping 396% of the Daily Reference Intake for vitamin C, 21% for vitamin A, 14% for dietary fiber, 12.5% for folate, 9% for potassium, and significant amounts of magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, calcium, B vitamins and iron. That’s a big mouthful of nutrients in this tropical treat!

Vitamin C

Guava is an excellent source of the antioxidant vitamin C, providing roughly four times the amount in an average orange.

One serving of this fruit provides almost 400% of your daily needs! Most of the vitamin is concentrated in the outer rind.

Scientific studies have shown that regular consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C helps the body fight off infectious agents, resulting in fewer colds, or colds of shorter duration. This antioxidant also neutralizes harmful free radicals from the body. Antioxidants may reduce the risk of some diseases, including several forms of cancer. Additionally, vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis in the body. Collagen is the main structural protein in the body required for maintaining the integrity of blood vessels, skin, organs, and bones.

Dietary Fiber

One serving of guava provides 14% of your daily fiber needs, which helps keep your digestive system running smoothly. The fiber also helps to protect the membrane of the colon from cancer and other conditions by speeding up transit time through the gut.

Fiber can also help lower cholesterol, assist with digestion, and prevent constipation. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of several types of cancer including colon, rectum, breast, and pancreas.

A single serving of fresh guava provides 14% of the daily value for fiber, which has been shown to reduce high cholesterol levels,

54 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

Guavas

Big Wheels Keep on Turning…

With my Veterinarian?

When most people think about veterinarians, they think about the person who treats their cat or dog when they seem a little under the weather. Dr. Larry Britt is a veterinarian, but not in the way you would think.

Dr. Britt, a Plant City resident, is a large-animal veterinary specialist. Working on everyday livestock like cattle and horses to sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, pigs, chickens, etc. It is a passion that called on him several decades ago when he was a young boy. He started his practice in 1969 after graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelors and Masters degree and from Auburn University with his DVM. His practice goal is to provide quality care from his years of experience that is backed by the advantages of today’s technology. What makes this veterinarian so different is his availability. He comes to you! No matter the hour or the day, he’s on call for emergencies all year long. Scheduling routine care for your farm animals is simple and convenient. Although based in Plant City, Dr. Britt is equipped with a special truck and readily travels a large section of Central Florida. Some of his services include emergencies, equine dentistry, routine care, cattle work, use of a portable digital x ray machine and ultrasound, and in house blood work. Road Runner Vet Clinic offers discount pricing for barns with several horses/animals. He also offers seasonal specials on services, and service bundles at a discount. Keep his number handy and call our office today!

Contact: Road Runner Vet Clinic, Dr. L.A. Britt, DVM 914 E Knight Griffin Rd | Plant City FL, 33565 813.951.0118 cell |813.752.0224 office | 813.719.1913 fax

which in turn helps prevent atherosclerosis. Fiber can also help maintain steady blood sugar levels.

Vitamin A

Guava is also a very good source of vitamin A and beta carotene. Vitamin A also acts as an antioxidant and is essential for optimum health. This vitamin plays an important role in maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Guava, and other foods rich in vitamin A, may also be beneficial for lung health.

Researchers at Kansas State University discovered that carcinogens in cigarette smoke may deplete the body’s stores of vitamin A, and increase the likelihood of developing emphysema and lung cancer.

They also discovered that a diet rich in vitamin A can reduce the risk of emphysema in smokers.

How to Select and Store

Choose fresh guava with smooth, intact skin free of cuts, bruises or patches. Ripe guavas have a fragrant aroma that may be strong or mild and pleasant. The shells of ripe fruit should yield to gentle pressure. Unripe guavas can be ripened at room temperature until they yield to gentle pressure. Ripe guavas can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. Guava may also be stored in the freezer for up to a year.

Guava is commonly found as a paste, juice, or nectar, which is used in recipes for desserts, syrups, sauces, or beverages. It can be used in pies, cakes, pastries, puddings, sauce, ice cream, sorbet, jam, marmalade, chutney, relish, and other products.

Enjoy Guavas

While guavas are sweet and delicious eaten out of hand, other serving ideas include: • Cut guava in half. Remove seeds and fill the guava shells with cottage cheese.

• Toss guava chunks into a fruit salad • Use guava chunks in a crisp or cobbler.

• Make guava shortcake (in the same way as strawberry shortcake) • Use guava sauce to top pudding, cake, or ice cream.

• Add guava juice or nectar to punch or carbonated water.

• Use guava juice to make sorbet or popsicles.

• Stew guava and serve with cream cheese.

With so many ways to enjoy this delicious fruit, eat more fresh Florida guavas as they come into season this month. These locally grown treats are sweet and juicy, low in calories, and a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Selected References

http://www.whfoods.com http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/guava.html

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

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!

914 E Knights Griffin Rd., Plant City, FL 33565 • 813.951.0118 cell • 813.752.0224 office 813.719.1913 fax • teethfloat@aol.com • www.horse-dentist.biz www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 55

Orange-Chipotle Skirt Steaks Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds 2 2 cups 1/2 cup 2 to 3 teaspoons 1/4 teaspoon 1/8 teaspoon

Marinade:

pieces beef skirt steak, cut into 4 to 6-inch medium oranges, divided med.) chopped tomatillos (4 to 5 small to chopped red onion ce minced chipotle peppers in adobo sau ground cumin salt

Juice of 1 medium orange vegetable oil 2 tablespoons ) adobo sauce (from chipotle peppers

ons 2 tablespo ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground black pepper n 1/4 teaspoo

Total Recipe Time: 30 minute s Marinade Time: 6 hours to ove rnight 1. Combine Marinade ingredien ts in food-safe plastic bag; add bee f, closing bag securely. Marinate in refriger ator 6 hours or as long as overnig ht, turning occasionally.

2. Grate 1/2 teaspoon peel from 1 orange and cut orange and hal f of remaining orange into segments ; chop segments into 1/2-inch piec es.

Combine orange peel, segments , tomatillos, onion, chipotle pep pers, cumin and salt in medium bowl and refrigerate until ready to ser ve; cut remaining 1/2 orange into wed ges and reserve for garnish.

3. Remove steaks from marina de, discarding marinade; place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals and grill, uncovered, 10 to 13 minutes (over medium heat on pre heated gas grill, covered, 8 to 12 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, tur ning occasionally. Carve steaks diagon ally across the grain into thin slic es, seasoning with salt, as desired; serve with tomatillo salsa and gar nish with reserved orange wedges.

Makes 6 servings.

We welcome all the cattlemen, cattlewomen and our families to the 2011 Florida Cattlemen’s Convention. Our theme this year is very fitting as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Florida CowBelles and Florida CattleWomen. Our organization was started many years ago by the wives of cattlemen, and our mission remains the same today, to promote beef as a healthy and nutritious part of our diet, and to educate the consumer about our role in raising beef. Our convention is June 21-23 at the Marco Island Marriott Hotel. Details about the convention, including dates, activities and hotel information are available on our website, www. floridacattlemen.org. The trade show is outstanding, many vendors from around the country come to Florida to demonstrate and display their products. There is always something new to learn there. Once again, the Bull auction is Wednesday evening, June 22 at 8 p.m. Many awards are presented throughout the week, and the Florida CattleWomen and Cattlemen will have their annual membership meetings. There’s much to do, so please make plans to attend if you haven’t already. We look forward to seeing all our old friends and making new ones.

56 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Heather Nedley Joins Mosaic in DeSoto County Heather Burns Nedley has joined Mosaic Fertilizer LLC as Public Affairs Manager for DeSoto County. Nedley grew up in Arcadia and graduated from DeSoto County High School. She brings a strong background in community relations and leadership in the agricultural community to this new position.

As Public Affairs Manager, Heather will manage Mosaic’s community outreach and involvement in DeSoto County. “Mosaic is pleased to have Heather as a full time presence for our company in DeSoto. We have been involved in the community for many years, this new position underscores our commitment to DeSoto and the surrounding area,” said Diana Youmans, Manager- Community Relations for Mosaic.

“I am looking forward to moving back to the community that gave me so much growing up,” said Nedley. “Mosaic is a committed partner in the communities where they operate or have significant land holdings. I am excited to be a part of that and to build on that commitment in DeSoto County.”

A University of Florida graduate, Heather was previously the Executive Director of Polk County Farm Bureau in Bartow.

Her leadership roles while with Farm Bureau included serving on the board and as the chairman of Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, President of Agriculture Institute of Florida, President of the Polk County 4-H Foundation and the board of Polk Vision. She is a graduate of Leadership Polk and held numerous leadership roles with the Junior League of Greater Lakeland.

Heather and her husband, Phillip, have two children.

“It is our mission to produce the highest quality products, market them at competitve prices, provide superior customer service and maximize returns to Florida growers.”

For Fruit Sales & Pricing Please Contact:

Fran Becker V.P. Fruit Procurement

Office: (863) 494-0440 • Mobile: (863) 990-8582

Serving Highlands County and the Peace River Basin area since 1994.

About Mosaic

Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC is the world’s leading producer of phosphate crop nutrients. American farmers rely on Florida phosphate for 75% of their annual crop nutrition requirements.

Phosphate is a natural product for which there is no man-made substitute, making phosphate reserves of strategic importance to critical sectors of the state and national economy, including farming, manufacturing, shipping, trucking and rail. Mosaic employs more than 3,000 Central Florida residents, and tens of thousands of Floridians work in other jobs dependent upon the industry.

The company utilizes state-of-the-art environmental technologies to recycle over 95% of its water and return land that it uses to its natural beauty, or into parks, playgrounds and community amenities. For more information, go to www.mosaicfla.com.

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 57

58 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Alexa Howell, ding

to abscission and harvesting, and maintaining fresh citrus fruit quality during handling, shipping and storage.

The Citrus REC, part of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, has more than 30 faculty members and more than 200 technical and support staff positions. It’s among the world’s largest public research facilities devoted to a single commodity.

Scientists and engineers at the center have made key scientific discoveries and technological advancements pivotal to the industry’s success, and played a role in developing the technology for making frozen concentrate orange juice, which was patented in 1948.

Citrus REC scientists have worked to thwart citrus diseases from yellow spot at the beginning of the 20th century, to greening today. Its scientists have led the way toward high-tech agriculture, such as the use of satellite and computer technology to help growers manage groves.

Last year the Citrus REC introduced Sugar Belle, the first University of Florida-created citrus variety intended for commercial production.

And earlier this year, a UF-led team of international scientists announced the genome sequences for two citrus varieties— sweet orange and Clementine mandarin—a first for citrus. Both are expected to help scientists unravel the secrets behind citrus diseases, as well as aiding those working to improve fruit flavor and quality.

ll Ri Brandon Tuten, Bu

Jack Payne, the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, has announced Jacqueline Burns’ appointment as director of the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred.

“Jackie Burns is a tremendous leader and a pre-eminent researcher in her own right. I believe very strongly in her leadership abilities and her vision for the Citrus REC,” Payne said. “She knows what the state’s citrus growers need and want and works tirelessly to ensure that our scientists get the most pertinent, valuable information to them.”

Burns has served as the CREC’s interim director since early 2009, following the departure of Harold Browning, who had held the director position since 1997.

Burns said she welcomes the challenge of leading the center’s faculty and staff as they work to support virtually every aspect of the state’s citrus industry. She will also oversee UF’s citrus research and extension efforts statewide as IFAS citrus programs coordinator.

“I intend to work hard to be sure our scientists have no obstacles as they work to solve citrus issues and help keep Florida’s citrus industry the strongest in the world,” she said.

Burns received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture from the University of Arkansas in 1978 and 1981 and a doctorate in horticulture from The Pennsylvania State University in 1985. She has been with the center since 1987.

Her research focuses on the physiological processes related

n Calf Roping & Team Roping

by Mickie Anderson

by Chass Bronson photos by Mike Rastelli Photography www.mikerastelliphotos.com Over 125 contestants gathered together May 5 – 8 with the same goal in mind, to become a Florida High School Rodeo Association state champion. With determination in their hearts and a carefully thought-out game plan in mind, contestants of the FHSRA traveled to the Okeechobee Agri-Civic Center to compete in the state finals rodeo. The competition was divided into three performances with 40 total points available for each event. Points gained by the contestants over the course of the weekend were added to their total points for the year. The contestants who then finished in the top four positions of each event earned their “admission ticket” to compete in the National High School Finals Rodeo which will be held in Gillette, Wyoming July 17 -23.

The four day event was filled with a silent auction, a covereddish dinner and a year-end awards banquet. The event winners received a custom trophy saddle and champion belt buckle. All state finalists received a belt buckle and year end prize from the event director. Categories such as sportsmanship and academic honor roll were recognized as well and received prizes at the awards banquet such as embroidered halters.

Wrangler Jeans Company supports the NHSRA contestants in a big way. All contestants that qualified for the national rodeo competition received two pairs of jeans and one shirt free of charge. The contestants that participated in the Florida state finals rodeo received a voucher redeemable through Eli’s Western Wear of Okeechobee that entitled them to “buy-1-get-1-free” on all Wrangler jeans. Wrangler didn’t stop with the contestants though. The official jeans company of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys even went as far as offering a buy any two Wrangler jeans and receive another pair free and $10 dollars-off any shirt to everyone through out the four-day rodeo weekend. Eli’s Western Wear provided bags filled with ball caps, water bottles and much more to each state contestant.

Other sponsors included the Florida Department of Agriculture, Waste Management of Okeechobee, Milking R Dairy, Tenniswood Dentistry, and Hauling S Trucking. A good time was had by all and good luck to the NHSRA national contestants!

The state champion for each event is listed below: • All-Around Cowboy: Cody Conroy • All-Around Cowgirl: Rachel Henderson • Bareback Riding: Justin Tyler Mills • Barrel Racing: Alexa Howell • Breakaway Calf Roping: Kaitlyn Grimaldi • Bull Riding: Brandon Tuten • Cutting (boys): Ryne Hartt • Cutting (girls): Skyler Bennetch • Goat Tying: Skyler Bennetch • Pole Bending: Jacey Johnson • Saddle Bronc Riding: Nat Stratton • Steer Wrestling: Kyler Herklotz • Team Roping: Curtis Culligan and Cody Conroy • Tie-Down Calf Roping: Cody Conroy

Cody Conroy, Tie-Dow

FSHRA Championship

Barrel Racing

t Tying Skyler Bennetch, Cutting (girls) & Goa

Jacqueline Burns Named UF Citrus Research & Education Center Director

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 59

AgCalendar

Heartland’s Growing Businesses

What’s going on InTheField?

• June 8—Vegetation Management for Wildlife Workshop & Field Tour, Ona

• June 22—2011 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, Fort Lauderdale

• June 11-12—Florida Bass Federation “Last Chance Qualifier” for State Championship Lake Istokpoga, floridabassfederation.com • June 13-17—83rd FL FFA State Convention and Leadership Conference, Orlando

• June 25—Arnold’s Wildlife Rehab Center Open House, Special Events, Educational Presentations - 32 different species of animals on the Nature Trail, a petting zoo and a half acre Butterfly Haven 10am-4pm, 14895 NW 30th Terrace, Okeechobee

• June 15-17—Florida Bass Federation “Last Chance Qualifier” for State Championship Lake Istokpoga, floridabassfederation.com

• June 30—2011 Range Cattle Station Youth Field Day, Range Cattle Research & Education Center, Ona

• June 17—7th Annual FL Citrus Industry Annual Conference, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, Bonita Springs

• June 22-23—Hardee County Cattlemen’s Association 3rd Annual Ranch Rodeo, Wauchula

• June 18—4H Year End Banquet, Turner Center, Arcadia

• August 1-4—National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Summer Conference, Orlando

• June 20-24—FCA Annual Convention and Trade Show, Marco

E D G E WO O D L A N D S C A P E COMMERCIAL

RESIDENTIAL

• IRRIGATION DESIGN SERVICE INSTALLATION

• LANDSCAPE DESIGN & INSTALLATION SOD RETAIL NURSERY Terry Hancock 502 N. Central, Avon Park FL

(863)453-7300

Please patronize these fine businesses in your area.

60 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

June 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Please patronize these fine businesses in your area. www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 61

C L A S S I F I E D S MOUNTAIN TOP #185445

Located in Blairsville Ga. Fantastic mountain views, like new, 2/2 with wood burning fireplace, loft, basement, porch, second home use only from original owners! $299,000 Call and ask For Jane Baer with Jane Baer Realty.

1-800-820-7829.

NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS!

Blairsville (Union County), Blue Ridge (Fannin County),Young Harris & Hiawassee (Towns County) as well as Murphy & Hayesville NC! Let us help you find your dream home getaway cabin! Call today 1-800-820-7829 and ask for Jane Baer with Jane Baer Realty. www.janebaerrealty.com • 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON •

Dyna Glide Streetbob, cobalt blue, only 368 miles, EXCELLENT condition. Extras added!!! Ready to ride. $10,000 Serious Inquiries (813) 659-3402

POLLINATION SERVICES

Strong bees when you want them.We also have honey and skin care products made with honey and ingredients from the hive.

Cantu Apiaries, 863-735-1679 ALL -PRO FLATBED TRAILER

7X20 with beavertail and ramps. Tandem 7,000 pd axels $2,500 Call Hank 863-559-8718 Call “The Land Lady”

Acreage, lakefront ranches, “mini” farms.

Mary Adsit, Realtor 863-285-7118 www.maryadsit.com PORTABLE BULK FEEDERS

Excellent Condition!!! Call 863-528-4356 Nottlely River Access Cabin #204623

One bedroom & one bath with great room and wood-burning fireplace. Back porch faces the woods for privacy. Mtn. views year round! Comes furnished $142,000.

Call and ask for Jane Baer with Jane Baer Realty. 800-820-7829

**Lake Placid Christian School Students: Have Your Parent(s) Sign Here:_________________ and please return to Mr. G.

H Now Hiring H Account Executive and Writers.

Please email us at:

“We have it all”

info@inthefieldmagazine.com We look forward to hearing from you!

TO PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS CALL 813-759-6909

and it’s all for you.

info@inthefieldmagazine.com www.inthefieldmagazine.com

ARCADIA 14+ ACRES

Only!

NEW HOLLAND REPOS

TN60A 2WD 2007 models w/front brooms and box blades. Never used, sold new $31,270. Sell $27,000, balance of warranty.

813-623-3673 42’-Reach forklift

3,952 hours. $29,469 Call 863-698-4114

1984 KUBOTA B6200

2 wd, w/4 ft. Finish Mower $3,000 Call 863-698-2967 HOMOSASSA LOT

One acre lot, high & dry, approx. 100 yds.

From the Mason Creek River. Fishing & Boating Heaven! 813-503-9033 WANTED UTILITY/POWER POLES

Call Robert 863-735-0808 or 863-445-0358 (cell) ANGUS FREEZER BEEF

$2.75/lb. cut and wrapped. Whole, Half or Quarter. Cash, Mastercard or Visa 863-206-2828

Mature oak trees, ready to harvest; fenced, pond, pasture, metal barn w/concrete floor, 3 wells, animal barn, catch pen. $108,000.00 A-260 Coldwell Banker Gamiotea Realty, 863-494-3600 or 888-494-4880. Each office independently owned and operated.

CASH FOR CARS:

All Cars/Trucks Wanted. Running or Not! Top Dollar Paid. We Come To You! Any Make/Model. Call For Instant Offer: 1-800-871-9638 Donate Vehicle Grocery Coupon

Receive

DISH Network’s DIGITAL PRICE!

LOWEST

TAURUS

2011 FORD

F150

NOAH’S ARC Support No Kill Shelters, Research to Advance Veterinary Treatments FREE TOWING, Tax Deductible, Non-Runners Accepted 1-866-912-Give ALL-

As low as $24.99/mo plus FREE HD FOR LIFE! Call for limited time BONUS! Call Now. 1-888-347-5931 2011 DODGE

FEDERAL POSTAL JOBS!

Earn $12 - $48 per hour / No Experience Full Benefits / Paid Training 1-866-4774953, Ext. 57 Now Hiring!!

1952 JOHN DEERE TRACTOR

Kioti 12OK Tractor

WRANGLER

TOWN & COUNTRY

UNLIMITED

Hours

Highway 70 Arcadia All stores available at one convenient location

Mon-Fri 8am-7pm Saturday 8am-5pm Sunday Closed

1-800-880-3099

4wd auto, only 87 hours NEW, $6950 firm.

Call 863-465-8144 or 404-862-5710

June 2011

2011 JEEP

Visit us 24/7 on the web. www.desotoautomall.com

CHEAP METAL ROOFING

pto hp, 2 wheel drive, shuttle shift, hydrolic remotes. $10,500. Call 813-752-8722 M MODEL Runs Good! $1,985 O.B.O. Jim 863-858-2226

2011 FORD

$1000

Discount Metal Mart 8’x10’ sheets in stock! Prices from $5 to $12. Custom lengths available. If you buy elsewhere, we both lose. Call 813-752-7088

2004 MASSEY FERGUSON 461-2-55

62 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

DESOTO AUTO MALL

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

June 2011

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 63

rhizogen

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE

fertilizers High Performance Organic, True Granular, Microbial, Fertilizers.

• • • • • •

Billions of beneficial microbes inside plus mycorrhizal fungi True granulated and homogeneous products Safe-Sterilized, low odor, and free of pathogens The most technologically advanced manufacturing facility in the U.S. Fully allowed under NOP, with no restrictions Research verified and field tested

www.rhizogen.com U.S. Patents 6,878,179, 7,044,994 & 7,442,224 FARMING

NURSERY

ORCHARD

TURF

FOR PROFESSIONAL APPLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION CONTACT:

4094 Paul Buchman Highway Plant City, FL 33565-7404 (813) 752-1177 www.prosourceone.com

LANDSCAPE