In The Field South Mississippi April Edition

April 2010

South Mississippi’s AGRICULTURE Magazine

The Purvis Rodeo Team They call it RODEO

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APRIL 2010

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South Mississippi’s AGRICULTURE Magazine INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

3

FFA Journal: Zac Howell

Brooklyn Chapter President & Senior at Forrest County Agriculture High School (FCAHS) As competition season rolls around, the members of Brooklyn FFA prepare for state contest. Last year, the officer team won state awards in Opening and Closing Ceremonies. With a title under our belts, we are prepared to defend our state title. We will have participants in the following categories: Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Livestock Judging, Forestry, Tractor Operations and Maintenance, and Welding. The members of Brooklyn FFA have worked extremely hard to prepare for the competition. Our advisors, Mr. Mike Dale and Mr. Yancie Ross, push us to maximize our skills and talents and it is difficult at times, but in the end it is well worth it. Mr. Dale and Mr. Ross are more than just advisors, they help the members of our chapter out in many ways. They expect us to do our very best, and in return they do their very best to advise us. As spring begins, the members of Brooklyn FFA work hard to make our chapter and school proud. While in Official Dress, we have our game faces on. We are 100 percent focused on our goal at state contest this year, being the very best we can be and, of course, winning.

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From the Editor

APRIL VOL. 1 • ISSUE 1 Cover Story

This Christmas I received a really unique present.

A magazine. Over the Christmas holidays while visiting our parents in Plant City, Florida, my husband, Brent and I met with Karen Berry, Publisher of In The Field Magazine and Owner of Berry Publications, Inc. and agreed to help expand this fine magazine into South Mississippi. Brent and I have known Al and Patsy Berry for over 30 years and Brent started writing a monthly column for the Hillsborough, Florida edition last year.

My husband and I spent 25 years in the newspaper business and after meeting with Karen, Sarah and Al we agreed to bring In The Field magazine to South Mississippi. Brent grew up on a farm on Trapnell Road in Dover, Florida and his Dad still farms to this day. It seemed like a perfect fit. My family and I have always been very supportive of the agricultural industry…. every time we sit down for a meal. Alex played football, Terry marched in the band and Megan plays soccer, so groceries have been very important to the Davis household for many years.

After talking with the Berry’s for a few hours it was decided that Brent would be the Associate Publisher of the South Mississippi edition and that I would be the Editor. My husband of 30 years looked over at me and said “Merry Christmas, you are now a magazine editor!”

Karen Berry shared with us her mission statement for this magazine and I wanted to share it with you. “We want to inform and entertain while serving as a conduit between valued advertising customers and our readers. We strive to also create a bond with those that are not directly involved in agriculture in order to build a better understanding of the agriculture industry. In The Field magazine reaches out to give the reader and the advertiser updated and timely information of what is going on in the realm of agriculture from local happenings to state wide events, feature stories, and interviews.” In The Field is packed cover-to-cover to keep you the reader informed. We hope you enjoy this edition of In The Field and we hope you and your family look forward to each edition just as we look forward to bringing it to you.

Until next month,

Lynn

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 In The Field® Magazine is published monthly and is available through local South Mississippi businesses, restaurants and other local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market.

Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 17773, Hattiesburg, MS 39404 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 601.794.2715 or 601-408-7812 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects.

In The Field® Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by their advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In The Field® magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

Publisher

Karen Berry

April 2010

South Mississippi’s AGRICULTURE Magazine

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Associate Publisher Brent Davis

Editor-In-Chief Al Berry

Senior Managing Editor

The Purvis Rodeo Team They call it RODEO

AWARDS • RECIPES • AND MORE INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

1

The Purvis Rodeo Team Page 14

4 FFA Journal: Zac Howell 6 Lamar County 4-H LiveStock Show 9 Rancher’s Wife Karal Smith 12 Mississippi’s Fishing Report 16 Cutting Corners in horse care 19 Whipping Bowl Recipes 20 Karen Berry Visits Hub City 24 Farmall Tractors 26 Business UpFront: Boot Country 30 Grub Station: Martin’s Antiques Sweet & Sourdough Bakery 32 Rocking Chair Chatter 34 No Video Games for these kids 36 Mentoring

Sarah Holt

Editor

Katherine L. Davis

Office Manager Bob Hughens

Office Assistant Megan L. Davis

Circulation Manager Terry L. Davis

Sales

Terry L. Davis Brent Davis

Art Director

Juan Carlos Alvarez

Designer

Lourdes M. Sáenz

Staff Writers

Brent Davis Katherine L. Davis Al Berry

Contributing Writers Phil DiFatta Ben Willoughby Dr. Larissa Heinze

Guest Writers Karla Smith Zac Howell

This issue is dedicated to Donald William Gay, USMC. October 28, 1939 to February 13, 2010 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Photography Karen Berry Brent Davis

APRIL 2010

5

2010 Lamar County Junior 4-H LivestockBy:Show Brent Davis Landon Dale

Lindon Dale

Logan Dale

15-year-old triplet bothers. We don’t name our goats, sir.”

What do you get when you cross an 8-year-old, 12-year-old and a 15-year-old Lamar County 4-H member with a 1360-pound prize winning market steer? Well…you will have to read the rest of this article to find out!

In January the Lamar County Multi Purpose Center in Purvis hosted the 2010 Lamar County Junior 4-H Livestock Show, Banquet and Sale. During the day the families and friends of some fine young people watched and supported as the 4-H members showed their livestock in competition.

Continues on page 7

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APRIL 2010

2010 Lamar County Junior 4-H Livestock Show Market Goat/Commercial Meat Goat Doe Showmanship Junior Goat Showmanship:

Wyatt Aultman and Emily Tibbs (Reserve Grand Champion, Mediumweight Champion)

Senior Goat Showmanship: Lindon Dale

Rebekah Davis, Sarah Turner (Reserve Grand Champion) and Logan Dale, Landon Dale, Lindon Dale (the Dales were awarded Champion Heavyweight and Grand Champion)

Dairy Cattle Showmanship Junior Dairy Showmanship:

Mathew Hartfield and Nancy Hartfield

artfield and Mathew H nd ner of seco in “Shorty,” w owmanship Place in Sh

Beef Showmanship

Junior Beef Showmanship: Mathew Hartfield (Reserve Grand Champion Brahman X) Elise 15-year-old Colto

n McMurry prep ares for Competition

“Roses McMurry and 8-year-old France Beef or ni Ju in e ac Pl bud” take third Showmanship

McMurry, Frances McMurry and Senior Beef Showmanship: Colton McMurry (the McMurrys were awarded Grand Champion, Reserve Grzand Champion and Reserve Champion European X) The goats ranged in weight from 58 lbs to 124 lbs. Cattle ranged in weight from 1260 lbs to 1340 lbs.

Later that evening the 4-H Junior Members, their families and friends were treated to a fine banquet. The food was provided by Movie Star Restaurant. Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Lester Spell spoke at the banquet and then stayed for the sale. During the sale the prize winning goats and steers were sold to the auction’s highest bidders. Lamar County 4-H Agent Kimberly Sullivan said, “These are my kids and I am so proud of them. I love working with the youth. Junior 4-H is a great program.”

Emily Tibbs an d “Willow,” Re serve Grand Champion, M edium Weight Goats

The answer to the riddle at the top of this article is…..Some really great photos of some fine McMurry youths with some great livestock and a winning auction bid of $5100!

Two Sisters Sisters Competing Competing

12-year-old Elise McMurry and “Bowhead”

8-year-old Frances McMurry and “Rosebud” INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

7

The Magnolia Center

Hosts Open Horse Show By: Matt McGovern

When I arrived at the Magnolia Center on Saturday, February 27 around 6:00 that evening, I was surprised to learn that this event was definitely an all day affair. The fine folks here at the Magnolia Center had started with the judged events around 8:00 am that morning. The folks in Laurel, Mississippi take their Open Horse Shows very seriously!

However, I was right on time for all of the timed events that were about to take place. For the next two hours I met some great people, watched some talented riders and saw some beautiful horses.

Before the show started, I met some of the participants.

There were men and women, and even young boys and girls preparing their horses for the big show. The horses were beautiful and majestic with names such as Flash, Belle, Shorty, Peaches and Molly.

This part of the show consisted of three major events. The first event was the stakes event. In this event, two poles are placed at opposite ends of the field. The average times recorded for this event were between 11 and 14 seconds.

The second event was the poles event. In this event, six individual white poles were set up. The horse, with rider aboard, weaves through all six poles twice. The participants were timed to see who could do this in the fastest time. This course was a little more tricky than the first one. The average times were between 24 and 27 seconds.

After the second event ended it was time for a brief intermission. The first person I spoke to was a man by the name of Jeff Murphy. He was the owner of the horses Flash, Belle, and Shorty.

“I think that horse racing is good for the kids,” Mr. Murphy said. “It keeps them out of trouble, it keeps them away from drugs, and it keeps them involved. It’s also a good family thing.”

I also had a chance to talk to Mrs. Lynn Blackwell, who describes herself as a “background worker.” Mrs. Blackwell had many responsibilities in order to make this horse show the successful event that it was. She states, “A horse is like a family member. A horse is like a child. You just gotta love it.”

After the break ended, it was time to start the third and final event, which was the barrel event. In this event, three blue barrels were placed In The Field (no pun intended) for the horses to circle around.

They were once again being timed to see who had the fastest time.

This show was full of a lot of talented people. What was really impressive was how well the kids could perform. They had a lot of talent considering how young they were.

I had a chance to talk to Tyler Crosby, 13, who has a very impressive background. Crosby not only went to the 2009 Regional 4-H Show, but he placed third in the pony division, which made him the third best in 13 states. His horse is named Skyler.

“I think I did okay,” Tyler says, referring to his performance of the night. “The horse I rode wasn’t really in any shows before this one.”

When I asked Crosby how he got started in horse competitions, he replied, “I went to a horse show with a bunch of friends. I started riding a horse in there and I just stuck with it.”

I then had a chance to talk to the Sholar children, John, 10, and Lexie, 14. Both of these kids have earned around nine belt buckles, 45 trophies, and 250 ribbons in competitions. John’s horse of the night was named Redrock and Lexie’s horse was Little Girl. I spoke with John Scholar first.

“I was three years old when I got my first horse. Then I started coming to a bunch of horse shows,” John says. He says about his performance of the night, “I did good, I felt good, but my times are usually quicker. My horse did good on the first run, but he cut wide on the barrels.”

I then spoke with Lexie Sholar. “I didn’t hit any poles or barrels,” she says. “I placed second in stakes, first in poles, first in barrels, and I won $40 and some roses in the morning show.”

Lexie also gave a lot of details on how she got her start in horse competitions. “I was three years old and I rode my Daddy’s pony, “Tony the Magnificent Pony.” He was a blind horse, and sometimes Daddy would take off his reins and Tony would run a barrel course perfectly. I had another horse named “Ol’ Smokey.” I learned everything I know from that horse. I started running timed events on my horse “Little Girl” when I was six years old.”

I enjoyed my visit to the Open Horse Show at the Magnolia Center in Laurel, Mississippi and I plan to attend the next Show in April. The Open Horse Show will be coming back to the Magnolia Center on April 10, June 12, July 17, August 21, and September 11.

Mark your calendars and remember, the shows start at 8:00 am. You can arrive at 6:00 pm (like I did) and still have a great time! We invite you to bring out the family on these dates and enjoy these great events.

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

Close to God An excellent wife, who can find?

For her worth is far above jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.

She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight.

She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar.

By Karla Smith Blessed!! I guess that is the one word I can say that I feel about my life. I am first a Christian, then a wife, then a mama, then everything else I do falls in place. My name is Karla Smith and I live in Purvis, Mississippi. We built our home nine years ago in the middle of 101 acres. Our driveway is a mile long and as you drive up to our house you see ponds, a cow barn, a horse barn, a hay barn, horses, cows, dogs, donkeys and geese. As you come down our driveway you learn what my family and I are all about.

I met my husband Lane 26 years ago this April. (I knew of him before then but had not really met him.) A friend of mine was meeting Lane’s brother so I went along with her one evening to meet him and that’s when I met Lane and his white donkey named Michael Jackson. I was 16 years old and scared to death of meeting his family, especially his daddy. Why? I don’t know. When you are 16 a lot of things scare you, I guess.

Lane ended up being my best friend and ally. And his mother sure knew the meaning of the word prayer. (I now know that having teenage children will teach you to talk to GOD every day and night.) I don’t think Lane and I have spent very many days apart since we first met. Sure we had our teenage courtship challenges but I loved him with all my heart from the very first time I met him and I had no doubt that he would be my husband one day, because he was the one I had dreamed of all through my adolescence and teenage years.

When Lane was seventeen he was one of the hardest working people I knew. AND he was good looking. (Still is at age 43…… Good looking and hard working that is.) We have been married now for 21 years. We have three children, Tiffany, our serious minded 20 year old, Tiff lives with us and is going to school to be a nurse. I dread the day she decides to move out. She can stay as long as she wants, but don’t tell her! Karly, our fun loving 16 year old daughter, and last but certainly not least our true blue through and through boy, Ethan, who is 12.

For the first 10 years we were married I worked out of the home. I just thought I was a busy woman back then. Then about 12 years ago now I was able to come home to work. Lane had started a small business and it was well on its feet. Now I take care of the book work for the business and I take care of the kids and animals.

Our animals….at the present we have five dogs around the house. Meg, a fiest, is 13 years old and ornery. There is Yellow

Karla Smith

She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong.

She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.

She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:10-31

Continued on page 11

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

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M A G A Z I N E Dr. Ben Burnett

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APRIL 2010

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Find out more about our mission.

Continued from page 9 the Labrador Retriever, Jake the yellow black mouth curr and Peso the Corgi. And don’t forget Dally, Tiffany’s Yorkie that lives in the house with our daughter Tiff. Oh and the 15 or so hunting beagles that are my husbands, the two donkeys, three very mean geese and 20 or so roping steers. And there are the cows, lots of cows, mainly Registered Black Angus. We have about 200 of them. They are a pretty gentle breed. Lane loves his cows.

We have had 50 new calves to be born in the last few weeks. They each have to be tagged to match their mama. I have truly learned a lot about Angus cattle and I am beginning to understand my husband’s love for them. But MY first love is horses! We have eight now and I could tell you about every one of them and each one has a unique personality.

Ever since I was a little girl I loved a horse. I had a white pony that I didn’t get to keep long and a sorrel welsh pony that jumped the cattle gap and ran down the road to the nearest creek trying to get me off of him. Needless to say my parents thought that was not good. I didn’t get to keep him long, either. Still I dearly loved horses and longed to have them. So I can’t tell you how excited I was when our oldest Tiffany wanted to ride horses.

Tiff was eight when she started riding. It scared me to death. So Lane told me to go inside the house until she learned how to ride. I was scared for Karly, too, as she was only three when she began to learn to ride. Karly had no fear. Our son Ethan started riding and roping, shortly after roping everything in sight, even my feet. So over the last 12 years I have learned a lot of lessons:

• One: Park the truck and trailer so that you don’t have to back it. Park it so you can just always pull forward. (I have since learned how to back any size trailer, any time, any where!)

• Two: Sometimes Daddy won’t be at the competitions.

We did a lot of that in the beginning because Lane was busy with the business, the cattle and other obligations. I have to be there for my kids. I can’t hide in the house anymore.

• Three: The kids have had to learn a lot of responsibility.

I cannot do it all. They take care of their animals in the morning and at night they ride them to keep them exercised so they look their best at the shows. I read a t-shirt one time that said, “Practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes champions.” I don’t know who said it but I believe it and Lane and I tell our kids that often.

The Purvis Rodeo Team keeps Lane and me pretty busy, also. For the last few years Lane has been president and I have been one of the coordinators. We, along with Donnie Hendrix (Vice President), Rene Keith (Secretary), and Robin Shows (Coordinator) are the community leaders of the team. We also have a host of other parents that help. There are 35 kids on the rodeo team, which is made up of

children from all over Lamar County. We put on two Mississippi High School Rodeos a year, plus whatever fund raising benefits are necessary during the year. This benefits the 35 members we have on the Purvis Rodeo Team with awards, scholarships and with funds to send Junior High and High School kids to the National Finals.

I could go on and on about this place I call home. I can go on about my kids and my husband because to me they are the best. They are my world. But, most importantly, I could not go on without the LORD. HE is my rock, my strength, for without HIM I am nothing. I want to thank HIM for HIS blessings on this once little girl with big dreams. With HIS blessings my dreams have all come true.

Smith Farms….. that is what we call our ranch. It was a name started

by Lane’s Daddy, Mack Smith. Mr. Mack passed away three years ago, leaving us all better people for having known him. His legacy lives on with my husband Lane, his brothers and sister and the grandchildren Mr. Mack loved so dearly.

My prayer is that when people think of me they will say, “Karla Smith, she LOVED more than anything else!”

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

11

MISSISSIPPI’S FISHING REPORT

By Ben Willoughby

The Deadly Jigger Pole Here in the tenth year of the 21st Century, the term jigger pole fishing usually will draw a curious look, then a question.

Jigger pole fishing, what is that? Certainly that is a pertinent question, because there aren’t many fishermen who fish using that method. The jigger pole has been around for many, many years and also goes by other names, doodle socking, shake pole and slaughter pole are three that come to mind.

I was introduced to this method of bass fishing well over 50 years ago by my grandfather. When I was just a young sprout growing up in the wilds of Amite County, Grandpa would take me along while he sculled a handmade cypress boat and fished the blow downs, logs and cypress knees in a large oxbow lake off the Amite River. He used a cane pole and a very simple homemade lure. The lure was an eight inch length of trot line staging with three treble hooks tied on it. For dressing, he used a strip of bacon threaded on the needle sharp hooks. Using this rather primitive gear, Grandpa was catching bass, and lots of them, way back in the mid 1940’s.

The philosophy behind the jigger pole method of fishing is quite simple. Since the beginning, smaller fish have been eaten by larger fish. That is the way nature has arranged things, so….as the tip of the long jigger pole is spattered on the water’s surface, the predator bass sees the spat, spat, spat of the pole tip as a fleeing minnow or other bait fish being pursued by a larger fish (the lure). The resulting strikes can be absolutely savage.

There are several brands of poles on the market that are suitable for use as jigger poles. Through trial and error, I have found the best of the lot to be the Black Widow, a twenty-foot fiberglass extension pole made by B & M, Inc. of West Point, Mississippi. These telescoping twenty footers are well made and, if handled correctly, can control and land large angry bass.

To rig up: This bass catching contraption is very simple.

12

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

(1) Using black plastic tape, tape the first three joints of the pole while extended. (2) Using 50# test mono, tape the line securely to the pole to within six inches of the tip. Leave eight inches of line hanging. (3) Tie on a quality #5 snap swivel. (4) Attach the lure of your choice.

Before going any further, be sure everything is wrapped and taped very securely. Why? Well, because there will be some very large, very angry bass on six to eight inches of line on the business end of that 20 foot pole. Everything should be right because it will get tested when a sizeable fish strikes.

Lures: I really do not think the type lure or lure color makes that much difference. The fish hit because they get excited over the mesmerizing melody made by the tip of the poles spatting the water’s surface. Mostly, I use the Ozark Mountain ¾ ounce Wood Chopper, made by Luhr-Jansen and Sons, Inc. This bait has an all wood body and is a solid well constructed bait. Black and silver foil is a good color combination as is a frog pattern. In fact, I seldom use anything except the Woodchopper. Crank baits will also produce good results, however, the resistance caused by the bill is a bit tiring after a spell of steady jigging.

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Feed Dealer INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

13

…..It’s boots and chaps, it’s cowboy hats, it’s spurs and latigo. It’s the ropes and the reins, and the joy and the pain,

And they call the thinG

By Katherine L. Davis

RodeO

The Purvis Rodeo Team was established over 20 years ago. When the team was first formed they only had a handful of members, all from Purvis. The average membership now is 35 and they come from all over Lamar County.

The Purvis Rodeo Team is a non-profit organization and everything they do is to benefit the young cowboys and cowgirls. Each year they put on at least two high school and junior high rodeos, one in the fall and one in the spring. The money raised goes to awards at the end of the year, for scholarships for high school senior members, and for sending junior high and high school members that qualify to the National High School Finals Rodeo and the Wrangler National Finals Junior High Rodeo. This year those who qualify for nationals will be headed to Gillette, Wyoming and Gallup, New Mexico respectively.

Continued on next page

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14 INTHE INFT IELD HEFM IELD AGAZINE MAGAZINEAPRILA2010 PRIL 2010

And they call the thinG

RodeO

The team consists of all ages from kindergarten to high school seniors. They compete in many categories from pole bending to bull riding.

The last four years either a junior high or high school girl team member from Lamar County has served as Rodeo Queen for Mississippi.

The current team members and the events in which they compete are: Cheyenne Atkins – 11th grade-Mississippi High School Rodeo Queen, competes in breakaway, pole bending, barrel racing, team roping, goat tying, and cutting.

Kennedy Baker – 8th grade – competes in pole bending, barrel racing and team roping Kamry Bond – 6th grade – competes in barrel racing, girls breakaway, and team roping Kye Bond – 4th grade – competes in team roping and boys breakaway Logan Breazeale – 8th grade – competes in team roping Owen Breazeale – 11th grade – competes in team roping Jeffrey Bryant – 9th grade – competes in team roping and calf roping Luke Chabert – 8th grade – competes in calf roping and team roping Shainah Chabert – 7th grade – competes in goat tying Campbell Grover – 5th grade – competes in pole bending, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and goat tying Neely Grover – 2nd grade – competes in pole bending and barrel racing Bailee Hendrix – 6th grade – competes in pole bending, barrel racing, ribbon roping, goat tying, and cutting Bethany Hendrix – 9th grade – competes in pole bending, barrel racing, goat tying, and cutting Halle Hendrix – 2nd grade – competes in pole bending, barrel racing, and goat tying Wesley Johnson – 8th grade – competes in boys breakaway Jake Keith – 12th grade – competes in saddle bronc, calf roping, team roping and bull riding Hunter Kohnke – 9th grade – competes in team roping Macy Kohnke – 5th grade – competes in barrel racing Cody McMahon – 11th grade – competes in calf roping Dustin Miley – 10th grade – competes in calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping and cutting Nicholas Parker – 10th grade – competes in team roping and calf roping Bergen Pitfield – 6th grade – competes in pole bending, barrel racing, goat tying, and ribbon roping Logan Pitfield – 7th grade – competes in boys breakaway, calf roping, ribbon roping, team roping, wrangler team roping, and boys goat tying Mason Pitfield – 10th grade – competes in calf roping and team roping Preston Pitfield – 9th grade - competes in calf roping and team roping Mary Catherine Reynolds – 10th grade – competes in breakaway, pole bending, barrel racing, and goat tying Colby Sellers – 11th grade – competes in team roping and steer wrestling Morgan Shows – 9th grade – competes in pole bending, breakaway, barrel racing, goat tying, and team roping Tanner Shows – 7th grade – competes in boys breakaway, wrangler team roping, and team roping Ethan Smith – 6th grade – competes in boys breakaway, TD calf roping, ribbon roping, team roping, wrangler team roping, boys goat tying, and cutting Kaci Smith – 12th grade – competes in pole bending and barrel racing Karly Smith – 10th grade – competes in pole bending, barrel racing, and cutting Jessica Swan – 5th grade – competes in pole bending and barrel racing Lauren Swan – 4th grade – competes in pole bending and barrel racing

We hear and read a lot about today’s younger generation spending too much time with loud music, video games and watching TV. (They said that about their parents generation, too, folks. Remember “PacMan”?) Let’s support our young people involved in a “Dream they call Rodeo.” Enjoy the excitement!

15 INTHEFIELD INT MHE AGAZINE FIELD MAGAZINE APRIL 2010 APRIL 2010 15

In uncertain economic times it is not always easy to make your dollar go as far as you would like. There are a lot of priorities that come before horse care, such as mortgage payments, insurance, utilities, food, things the children need for school, and so on. Sometimes all you can afford is just to feed your horses. There are some corners that shouldn’t be cut to prevent veterinary emergencies and more expense.

The most common emergencies with horses are colic, lacerations, and lameness. Colic is caused by many things, changes in feed, different hay, not enough hay, parasites, sand, and stress, to name the most frequent. There are 30 types of colic ranging from mild medically manageable to very serious requiring surgery to correct. Consistent management, rotational deworming, and plenty of good roughage are the best ways to prevent colic. Your deworming program will be based on how many horses you own, their ages, uses, amount of grazing acreage, and what other types of animals you have in the pasture. Most programs are three to twelve times a year, changing chemicals every time. Parasites rob your horse of nutrients and damage the animal’s intestines. Short pastures along with a moist/humid environment make parasites more prevalent.

If your grass is short your horse is at risk for sand colic and higher parasite load. If your horse drops feed when it eats because of its personality, teeth issues, or your management style and eats it off the ground, it is at risk for sand consumption. As the sand accumulates in your horse’s intestine, it weighs the intestines down so they don’t move properly, sandblasts the inside so they don’t absorb properly, and they leak, loosing nutrients. Horses that have sand tend to have loose stool, even diarrhea and lose weight. It can cause colic. A simple test can be done to check for sand. There are several products your horse can be fed along with changes in management to prevent sand accumulation.

in horse c are

By Larissa H

einz, DVM

Dr. Larissa Heinz (DVM) works from her home/office in Sumrall just North of Highway 98. “I make many, many house calls”, Dr. Heinz said.

A horse requires two to four percent of its body weight in roughage per day. That is 20 to 40 pounds for your average 1000-pound horse. They need more if it is cold. They get more heat from hay than from grain. To make up for what your roughage doesn’t have in quality, nutrients, and/or calories, feed grain to your horse. A general rule for the amount of grain to feed a horse is one pound of grain per hundred pounds of body weight. It is just a starting point. The factors that influence this general rule are age and use. Performance animals and mares with foals require more than most. To make your feed do the most good, float your horse’s teeth! If they can’t chew effectively their feed won’t get digested. Have their teeth checked yearly. Even young horses can have dental problems if they didn’t shed their baby teeth properly. They don’t have to be old and thin to have serious dental issues. They are easier and cheaper to fix/manage before they have malocclusions, and decreases in body weight. It is a lot easier to keep a horse in good weight than to feed a thin horse.

If you are not planning to haul your horse to shows, rodeos, and trail rides, your horse still needs to be vaccinated. The American Association of Equine Practitioners suggests vaccination for Eastern Encephalitis, Western Encephalitis, Tetanus, Influenza, Rhinopnueminitis, Strangles, West Nile Virus,

Dr. Heinz and “A Boy Named Sue”, a six month old horse she has been working with.

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

and Rabies. The majority of theses vaccinations are for diseases your horse can get by going places or mixing with new individuals. So, if you aren’t going and mixing you can get away with vaccinating for the diseases your horse can get at home. Eastern Encephalitis, Western Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, Tetanus, and Rabies. In the southeast, it doesn’t take very many warm days to have mosquitoes! Mosquitoes carry Encephalitis. I have seen more Eastern Encephalitis than any of the other diseases.

Lameness can be caused by many things, but regular hoof care will prevent a lot of problems. The majority of lameness is caused by problems in the hoof. Clean out your horses hooves regularly. Inspect for abnormalities. This time of year they are especially prone to thrush because of the mud and the muck, especially if they tend to congregate in one spot or you have drainage issues. Correct what you can and inspect frequently. The average horse needs its hooves trimmed every eight weeks, some more, some less. Not every horse needs shoes, especially if there aren’t any medical issues and you aren’t hauling/ showing, but every horse needs regular hoof care and trimming.

Lacerations are another veterinary emergency if stitches are required. Wounds needing to be stitched heal the best if sutured within six hours of occurrence. This is due to wound contamination, skin contraction, and swelling. It doesn’t take very long at all for a wound to get infected. Once it is infected and contaminated, it is very hard to clean up well enough for the wound to heal without complications. Horses commonly get cut on the legs, which are especially difficult because there isn’t extra skin to close the wound, location of joints, and tendons, and increased contamination. Because of these factors, not all wounds can be stitched. Then you may have a long period of wound management to heal an open wound, which may require bandages, antibiotics, or stall confinement, so the best thing to do is prevention.

Horses are fight or flight animals, mostly flight without thought, so take a walk around your horses pasture, stable, and stall. Look for anything it might run into, look up, look down. Branches, nails and tin are by far the most common culprits. As grandma always said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Easy Financing Available

in hor se car e

By Laris

sa Heinz

, DVM

Dr. Heinz and “M ichelle”. “This wa s when she came he re, but she is doing a very sick animal think Michelle will mu get to go home soon ch better, now. I !” Dr. Heinze shared

Laurissa J Heinz DVM has been working with horses for more than 30 years. She received her Veterinary degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1996. She works from her home/ office in Sumrall, Mississippi at 1108 Grantham Rd, just north of Highway 98.

Dr. Heinz can be reached at 601-731-0694.

Myers Small Engines 601-744-0072

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APRIL 2010

17

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Winston Churchill was born in a ladies’ room during a dance.

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters on one row of the keyboard.

Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

There are more chickens than people in the world.

There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

In the winter of 1932 it was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.

The sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter of the alphabet.

The cruise liner, QE2 moves six inches for every gallon of diesel fuel it burns. (I do not believe it) The average person’s left hand does 56 percent of the typing.

“Stewardesses” is the longest word typed with only the left hand and “lollipop” with your right.

Rubber bands last longer if refrigerated.

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

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You cannot sneeze with your eyes open!

The average American in a lifetime spends about six months waiting at red lights.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

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All fifty states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5.00 bill.

Almonds are a member of the peach family.

A snail can sleep for three years.

A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

The crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.

3704 Hardy Street ( University Mall ) Hattiesburg, MS. 39401

Phone Fax 18

601-296-0088 601-296-0705

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

•

The winter of 1932 it was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.

R E C I P E S MISSISSIPPI CAJUN CATFISH Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

4 (4 oz) fillets 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp dried dill weed 1/2 tsp dried thyme 2 to 3 tsp Seasoned salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp dried oregano, crushed 2 tsp onion powder 3/4 tsp chili powder 1 egg 1 tbsp milk 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp paprika 1/4 cup margarine, melted 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green Chile peppers partially drained

No Farmers No Food

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. Beat the egg together with the milk in a medium bowl. In another bowl, stir together the other dry ingredients. Dip catfish in the egg and milk mixture, then dredge in the cheese mixture until coated. Arrange fish in a single layer in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Pour melted margarine over the fish.

Bake for 30 minutes, then top with the tomatoes and Chile peppers and continue cooking for another 10 minutes, until fish is easily flaked with a fork.

STRAWBERRY PIZZA A Davis family treat for over 25 years By: Katherine L. Davis

Ingredients:

Topping

Crust

1 qt. strawberries 1 cup sugar 4 tbsp. cornstarch ½ tsp. vanilla 4-6 tbsp. water 3-4 drops red food color

2 sticks margarine 2 cups plain flour ½ cup powdered sugar Mix well and pat into pizza pan. Crimp edge.

Bake 20 min. at 350.

Filling

1 8oz. cream cheese (soft) 1 cup powdered sugar 4 oz. cool whip Mix cream cheese and sugar, fold in cool whip. Spread on cooked crust (crust must be cool).

Slice strawberries, add sugar, bring to a boil.

Mix cornstarch and water in a cup to make paste.

Add paste to berries cook until thick, add vanilla and food coloring.

Set until cool, spread on cream mixture. Refrigerate. Ready to eat in about an hour.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

19

Sarah Holt

Karen Berry

Senior Managing Editor

Publiser of In The Field Magazine

Karen Berry Visits Hub City

Karen Berry, Publisher of In The Field Magazine and Owner of Berry Publication, Inc., and Sarah Holt, Senior Managing Editor, visited Hattiesburg, Sumrall, Gulfport, Wiggins and Purvis during January.

At a South Mississippi edition kick off banquet, held at the Purple Parrot Café, Karen shared that In The Field Magazine was launched in November 2004 covering Hillsborough County, Florida (Plant City, Brandon, Tampa) and in September 2006 Polk County (Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Lake Wales) was launched with both counties teaming up with the intent to raise awareness of agriculture, the farmer, rancher and what goes into getting food on your table daily. We are pleased to announce the arrival of our newest edition, South Mississippi. In every issue you will find only positive editorial and clean advertising designed for readers from young to old.

Karen shared, “Monthly we look forward to partnering in the effort to advertise and promote your products and services. We are proud to offer the very best product and deliver a message to a target demographic with a positive light. In The Field magazines are distributed via direct mail, as well as racks and counter tops to high traffic, areas and stocked weekly, putting your ad out to the buying communities. Advertising is what is needed to make In The Field possible and, of course, advertisers need customers to stay in business and that is what makes the relationships between us crucial.”

Ms. Berry was proud to name Plant City, Florida native Brent Davis as the Associate Publisher to head up 20

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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the expansion into South Mississippi. “Mr. Davis has over 25 years of experience in the Newspaper Industry,” Ms. Berry said. “He started writing for us last year and this seemed like a perfect fit for our expansion plans.”

Brent and Lynn Davis have called Hattiesburg their home for over 19 years now. “Our oldest son Alex (a coach and teacher at Purvis High School and graduate of Southern Miss) started kindergarten here at Oak Grove. To our three children, Hattiesburg, Mississippi is home.” Mr. Davis also said, “Our 20 year old son Terry attended Southern Miss for two years, marching with The Pride both years.

Terry will be helping us with the magazine distribution and advertising sales. Megan, our 16 year old daughter, is a sophomore at Purvis High School. She is a member of the Purvis Lady Tornado Soccer Team, a member of the Beta Club and a member of the Student Council.” The Davis family moved to Purvis about a year ago.

“I have known the Berry family my entire life,” Mr. Davis shared. “It is impressive to know that in the past five years In The Field Magazine has grown to cover nine Florida counties with four different editions and a circulation of over 80,000. The magazine has been successful in spite of recent tough economic times because readers and advertisers love the magazine. The magazine is a full color product that is mailed to a target demographic group and will also be placed at “Point of Pick Up Locations.” Magazines will initially be available to be picked up in Forrest, Lamar, Jones, Covington, Marion, Perry, Stone and Pearl River

South Mississippi’s AGRICULTURE Magazine

®

Counties. We plan to increase these locations to cover all 23 South Mississippi counties by the end of 2010. A guaranteed home delivered subscription (to your mailbox every month) is available for only $25 per year. Of course, our target demographic group will receive a South Mississippi edition in their mailbox every month,” Mr. Davis re-iterated.

Forty percent of the advertisers that started advertising with In The Field magazine five years ago have advertised in every monthly edition. Eighty-one percent of In the Field magazine’s advertisers are in 12 or more consecutive issues. In The Field magazine is a magazine that everyone in the home will want to read. The magazine consistently enjoys great reviews from their readers. This is why advertising with In The Field Magazine works.

Karen Berry shared with the group, “Our mission today remains the same as the first day. To inform and entertain while serving as a conduit between valued advertising customers and our readers. We strive to also create a bond with those that are not directly involved in agriculture in order to build a better understanding of our industry. In The Field magazine reaches out to all of Hillsborough, Polk, Marion, Levy, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto, Charlotte and Okeechobee counties in Florida, and now South Mississippi, to give the reader and the advertiser updated and timely information of what is going on in the realm of Agriculture from local happenings to state wide events, feature stories, and interviews. In The Field is packed cover-to-cover to keep you, the reader, informed.”

In The Field’s Karen Berry, Brent & Sarah at USM

Karen Berry shares with Ms. Martin INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

21

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OUR REPUTATION IS GROWING

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601-264-3536 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

23

l l a m ar

F Tractors P

By Brent Davis

24

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

lease allow me to introduce myself. My name is Brent Davis. I was born in Plant City in April of 1960. We lived next door to my Grandparents in Valrico until I was six years old. Living next to one’s Grandmother and Grandfather is about the neatest thing in the world…..for the Grandchild. I was the oldest of the oldest, therefore I was the oldest grandchild. My Grandmother and Papa (Grandfather) treated me like I was the best thing since sliced bread.

Milk and cookies do not even begin to tell the story. My Grandmother Davis loved to bake. German chocolate cakes, red velvet cakes, peanut butter cookies….my oh my. Grandmother has been gone for over seven years now and we all still talk about her “Pecan Lassies.” (My mouth is already beginning to water……).

Grandmother and Papa were the first people I knew to have air conditioning and color TV. Grandmother Davis would invite me down to their house on a hot summer day, let me watch all my favorite TV shows on the 25” color television in that air conditioned living room and feed me milk

APRIL 2010

and treats. It really doesn’t get any better than that!

Then at age six my parents decided to do their imitation of Oliver and Lisa Douglas and moved us seven whole miles away from Grandmother, her air conditioned air, her color TV and her baked goods. We moved to Turkey Creek (our mailing address was Dover, but when you live only two blocks from Turkey Creek First Baptist Church, then you live in Turkey Creek, right?).

The first thing I remember my Dad buying for the farm was a red “Farmall” tractor, kinda similar to the one Mr. Douglas bought from Mr. Haney in the first episode of “Green Acres.”

The farm was, and still is, ten acres. My Dad now has FOUR of those Farmall tractors. I am no expert at farming, but I think that is a higher than normal ratio of tractors to the acre, ain’t it?

I learned to drive on that “Farmall” tractor. I was already too big to sit in Dad’s lap, so he gave me instructions on the steering wheel, the gear selector, the throttle, the clutch and the brakes. He told me to press in the clutch, put the “Farmall” into first gear and SLOWLY let out the clutch. I did just as he said, and with a very smooth take off, started driving around our yard. I could tell Dad was proud of my natural born tractor driving abilities because he went into the house to get my Mother to show her their farm boy prodigy. They were so impressed!

After about 20 minutes of creeping around that yard on that tractor (in granny low) while my parents took Kodak photos and eight millimeter home movies (hey folks, this was 1966, years before the first “camcorder”) my Dad hollered (over the “purr” of that tractor engine) that it was time to park the tractor. He yelled, “Park it in the barn.”

Now keep in mind all I had done was let the clutch out slowly and then steer that tractor around our rather large yard for about 20 minutes. I had yet to ever “stop” the tractor and here my Dad had said, “Put it in the barn.” As I am approaching our barn, he yells over the “purr,” just press the brake and the clutch and the tractor will stop. Simple enough. Hey, I was a farming prodigy, remember?

So as I approach that barn I pressed the brake. The tractor keeps rolling forward. I let go of the brake and press the clutch.

Tractor keeps rolling forward. I let go of the clutch and press the brake again. Tractor keeps rolling forward. Now I am in the barn and I am STILL moving forward. Dad! Mom! Put down the cameras and help me!

By the time Dad had realized what was going on I had taken out some wooded lawn furniture that was stored in the barn. (This lawn furniture would later be used for kindling.) I was about to take out a back wall when my Dad yelled, (real loud now) “Press both the brake and the clutch AT THE SAME TIME!” Oh, that is the trick. Now the stupid tractor stopped. My Dad ran up to the machine (now that it was safe) and pressed the “kill switch.”

I told my Dad the “kill switch” would have been a good thing to mention in my pre-flight instructions.

Dad just smiled and shook his head and said, “Shea.” “Shea” in the Papoo dictionary translates to: “You have a good point there, son.”

Montgomery Advertiser,” “The Alabama Journal” and “The Prattville Progress.” Many of his photos have been published in “The Tampa Tribune.” Mr. Davis now resides in Hattiesburg, Mississippi with his wife of 30 years and his three children.

Brent Davis graduated from Plant City High School in 1978.

The very next day after graduation he went to work full time for The Tampa Times in Circulation Management then later for The Tampa Tribune. He spent 25 years working for various newspapers around the Southeast. He has had columns published in “The Meridian Star,” “The Hattiesburg American,” “The

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

25

Business UpFront

Proud Sponser of the Mississippi High School Rodeo Association

By Brent Davis

One would be hard pressed to find a better selection of high quality boots in South Mississippi anywhere other than Boot Country in Hattiesburg. Located just off interstate 59 at 6467 Highway 49, Boot Country is an easy place to find and to spend some quality time.

Boot Country is a 4000 square foot store that caters to the guy or gal looking for a great pair of boots, stocking Tony Lama, Ariat, Justin, Red Wing and many other name brand boots. Boot Country also stocks cowboy (& cowgirl) hats, stocking Stetson, Resistol and many other name brands of fine hats. Jeans and shirts by Wrangler, Carhartt, Cinch, Cruel Girls, Cowgirl Tuff and many other top quality lines are in stock. Boot Country also carries belt buckles, belts and plenty of other great stuff for cowboys and cowgirls, young and not so young alike.

With plenty of inventory in stock, lots of space to roam around and shop, and dressing rooms at BOTH ends of the store, “Boot Country is a treat of a place to spend some quality time shopping with the family of some “I’m gonna treat myself to some shop alone time, ( I have earned that and I deserve that!)”

Owners Larry and Lana Jefcoat are proud to share that Boot Country is a sponsor of the Mississippi High School Rodeo Association, local 4-H and FFA. Larry is a past president of the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association and is the current president of the Mississippi Beef Council. Store Manager Ronald Jefcoat has over 18 years experience in the western wear business. Floor Manager Laura Cook has over 8 years experience and sales professionals Margo Pierce and Bret Gordon have over 4 years western wear experience.

The store itself is a neat place to visit. The posts that hold up the front porch came from the family farm outside of Soso,

26

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

Mississippi. The tin on the roof came from a barn that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Give Boot Country a call at 601336-5494 and49 let them you plan the drive On Hwy oneknow mile South ofover and visit for a while. Tell ‘em you read about them while reading InTheField Interstate 59 on the right Magazine.

601-336-5494

6467 Hwy 49 • Hattiesburg, MS 39401 www.bootcountry.biz

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

27

Submit your photos today for a chance to be a part of an upcoming issue of In The Field Magazine. This month’s photo contest is for photos of “Youth and Their Livestock”.

How to submit photos: Complete the entry form and send it along with your photo to: Photos, In the Field, P.O. Box 17773, Hattiesburg, MS 39404. If you can send a high resolution digital photo electronically, e-mail submissions to bdavis@inthefieldmagazine.com and include the information requested on the photo submission form below to identify your photo(s).

Each individual submission must be accompanied by a completed entry form, and each piece must be clearly identified.

Due to the limited number of photos to be used in the magazine, all photos will be reviewed and final selection will be at the discretion of In The Field Magazine’s Editors. If your photo is published we will send you a complementary In The Field T-Shirt. Please do not send an irreplaceable original print. ALL ELECTRONIC PHOTOS MUST BE 300 dpi TO BE CONSIDERED FOR PUBLISHING. In The Field Magazine will make every effort to protect and secure all entries but cannot take responsibility for loss or damage due to shipping. Your entry shall imply agreement with the above stated conditions and that you understand photos will not be returned.

By entering you give permission to In The Field Magazine to use your photograph in the project as described.

South Mississippi’s AGRICULTURE Magazine

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

Send completed form with photograph to: Youth and their Livestock

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

29

Grub St ation

n a g n i r B B e st

By: Katherine L. Davis

30

The first thing a person experiences when they walk into Martin’s Auction and Antiques and the Sourdough Bakery is all the items lining the hundred year old walls. Children’s green pedal John Deere tractors, red pedal Farmall tractors, pedal fire engines and police cars and much, more. And everything is for sale. Then you remember, oh my, I came in here to eat lunch.

The Sourdough Bakery serves an amazing buffet lunch from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday through Friday. The salad bar is one of the best in South Mississippi. The soups are fantastic.

The meats, potatoes, and vegetables are worth the drive from even 100 miles away. BUT, the specialty at the Sourdough Bakery is, you guessed it, the bread. Very possibly the best bread and cinnamon rolls in all of Mississippi.

Mrs. Ann Martin has been making sourdough bread for over 30 years. “Our sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls are made fresh every day,” Mrs. Martin tells us. “It is a three day process to make this bread.” It is the opinion of many a person living in Purvis that the cinnamon rolls and the fresh coffee alone are worth the price of the lunch buffet.

Fred and Ann Martin, both born and raised in Purvis, bought the 100 year old building at 134 Front Street in 2002 and opened the auction and antique store. “Where the restaurant is now located we had benches for customers to sit on during the monthly auction,” Mrs. Martin said. “Hurricane Katrina pretty much closed down the auction business because everyone had other things on their minds, but we still have two floors of antiques and everything is for sale. We have everything from scale model die cast cars to children’s toys, to furniture, plus primitive tools

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

A p p et i t e !

and kitchen gadgets. It was after Hurricane Katrina that we started the restaurant part of the business. Six months ago we started our lunch time buffet and it has been well received by the Purvis community. We have a number of lunch time customers who tell us they travel from Hattiesburg and Columbia to eat lunch with us.” Mrs. Martin tells that coming soon to the Sourdough Bakery will be an old fashion ice cream shop. Yummy!

The building at 134 Front Street was constructed in the 1890s and was utilized by the Rural Power Company until 1927. From 1927 to 1999 the building was used as a feed store. Today it is a place to enjoy some serious eye candy, purchase a treasure or two and to feed a hungry lunch time appetite. Bon appétit!

Located in downtown Purvis, Mississippi at 134 Front Street.

Everything is for sale! M y brother had a pedal toy like that when we were kids!

A table full of good food and smiling faces!

Fred & Ann Martin, Owners of Martin ’s Auction & Antiques and the Sourdough Bakery INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

31

My wife and I have three wonderful daughters, Kellie, Lori and Karen. Each has their own personality, but all three love animals, especially Karen. She always had a dog around the house. One would come up to the house and she would feed and befriend it. It got so regular with her I would have to take them off and tell her they ran away, otherwise we would have more dogs than the dog pound.

Now that she’s on her own, and publishing this magazine, she still finds time for her animals. She has a quarter horse and two Jack Russell dogs, Banjo and Arena. Banjo is somewhat reserved, very intelligent and loveable, while Arena is like a loose cannon in her youth.

Sarah Holt, (Patsy and I have adopted her as our fourth daughter) the editor of In The Field, is just like Karen when it comes to animals. She has not one, but two quarter horses, and can take on the best riders in the area when it comes to cutting.

Sarah also has two dogs. There’s Jake, her loveable Great Dane that’s big enough to throw a saddle on, and Bella, a Cairn Terrier that has more vim and vinegar than Arena.

Since I am around them quite often I have been more alert on the subjects of dogs. Lately I have collected a number of “Dog Ads” in the classified section of the newspaper. In the North Georgia Gazette, there were four I especially remember. Free Yorkshire Terrier, 8-years-old. Hateful little dog. FREE PUPPIES: ½ Cocker Spaniel ½ Sneaky Neighbor’s dog. GERMAN SHEPHERD 85 lbs. Neutered. Speaks German. FREE PUPPIES, part Collie, part stupid dog.

Every Tuesday I try to attend the Plant City Lions Club noon meeting at the Red Rose Inn and Suites in Plant City. Usually I sit with Gail Lyons, from Regions Bank, and Tim Haught, owner of

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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Haught’s Funeral Home. During lunch one Tuesday we got on the subject of funerals. Tim said different religions have different types of funerals. I asked Tim, where did the custom of the “Wake” come from? He said he didn’t really know.

Gail said she remembered studying about funerals in the third grade at Turkey Creek. She said in the early 1500’s, France used lead cups to drink ale and whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock them out for a few days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days, and the family would gather around and eat and drink, and wait to see if they would wake up. Hence Gail said, the custom of holding a “wake.”

To further such a story I told them that I read where England was so old and small that they started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and take their bones to a house and reuse the grave. In reopening these coffins, one out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside, and they realized they had been burying people alive. The mayor of one town ordered that they should tie a string on their wrist and tie it to a bell by the headstone.

For the first week someone would sit out in the graveyard all night to listen for the bell. Hence on the “graveyard shift” they would know that someone was “saved by the bell” or he was a “dead ringer.” Since that particular Lions Club meeting Tim Haught has moved to another table.

This story telling happens ever so often, with each one trying to out do the other from week-to-week. Bernie Caton took Tim’s place and told the story of the early days when bugs and other droppings could really mess up a nice clean bed. Bernie said they found if they made beds with big posts and hung a sheet over the top, the problem would be solved. He says that’s how the beautiful big four poster beds with canopies came into being. According to Bernie this is where the saying, “Good night and don’t let the bed bugs bite,” came from.

Yea, Bernie like bread was divided according to status back then, too! Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guest got the top, or the “Upper Crust.”

While we joke around at Lions Club and stretch a few stories to make them sound good, I remember one time we got on the subject of newspaper bloopers. Some of the ones shared I still remember. Like, “The Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.” “The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, Break Forth Into Joy.” “This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Jones to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.” “Don’t let worry kill you, let the church help.”

One of my readers of Rock’n Chair Chatter, after reading earlier articles of exercising, sent in her exercise program. Mrs. Graham writes, I agree physical exercise is good for you. I know I should do it daily, but my body doesn’t want me to do too much, so I have worked out this program for strenuous activities that do not require physical exercise. While I have a total of 25 things I do, I will share only six in this letter. These are the most important ones in my opinion. 1- Beating around the bush. 2Jumping to conclusions. 3- Climbing the walls. 4- Going over the edge. 5- Running around in circles. 6- Putting my foot in my mouth.

If anyone has stories or thoughts they would like to share please feel free to send them to me. You’ll find our address on the bottom of page 4 of this magazine.

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APRIL 2010

You don’t have to spend much time with Forrest County Agricultural High School teacher, Mike Dale, to know he loves his job and he loves the students that he teaches. Mr. Dale, whose complete title is Agriculture and Natural Resource Teacher and Farm Manager, has been teaching at FCAHS for 27 years. “Our school was founded in 1911 as an agricultural high school and the first classes were held here in 1912. Several families donated the 320 acres that make up our campus. The land that our campus sits on is not 16th Section land. The Forrest County Agricultural High School District owns the land outright. In 1996 our school was listed as a Mississippi landmark,” Mr. Dale said.

Mr. Dale also shared, “from 1912 to 1989 students were housed in our boys and girls dormitories. We have had students from all over Mississippi, the United States and quite a few students from Central America housed and educated on this campus. A large number of South American students from prominent families associated with Dole and Chiquita have lived here to learn English and to be educated. If a student lived on campus they paid their room and board by milking the dairy cows and maintaining a large vegetable garden which fed all of our students.

On April 9, 2010 FCAHS will host their annual homecoming. Guys and girls alike jumped in to feed the cows They are planning for 600 alumni to be in attendance. and to tag a young calf. It was immediately They will be honoring all classes that graduated in a year apparent that the education these students are ending with zero as this year also ends in zero. Alumni getting is more than if they were just studying from 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000 text books. “Our students spend a lot of will be in attendance. They will also induct the class time in classes with computers and text of 2010 into the alumni. “Forty percent of our faculty books, but here at FCAHS we also provide members are alumni,� Mr. Dale said. our students with FCAHS is a 9th -12th grade facility. The feeder schools hands on are South Forrest and Dixie Middle Schools, however, any experiences student in Forrest County can attend here free of charge as long in the field of as they provide their own transportation. agriculture,� Mr. After spending a few minutes in the classroom and visiting Dale said, as he helped Ž with Brooklyn Chapter FFA President, FCAHS senior Zack the students place an ear Howell and FCAHS Student Services Coordinator, Monica Gore, tag on a young calf.

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Mentoring

by Phil DiFatta

If you’ve ever seen a toddler being potty trained slip in to the toilet, you know exactly how I looked and felt on my first turkey hunt with Preston Pittman. Pittman is Mississippi’s own World Champion turkey caller and holder at one time (and probably still is) of more national and regional turkey calling titles than anyone anywhere.

When first I began hunting with World Champion turkey caller Preston Pittman, both of us had dark hair and plenty of it. The hair color has changed, as is evidenced by this photo at a National Wild Turkey Federation banquet. But our love for the sport of turkey hunting has not faded. By the way, I’m the ugly one on the left with the full beard.

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Pittman and I were hunting along the banks of the Pearl River near Monticello when, in an excited whisper, he proclaimed, “He’s across the slough and already on the ground.”

So we had to rush to a pre-determined slough crossing and find a couple of suitable trees to set up against.

“You sit there, and I’ll sit over here,” Preston instructed.

“The bird’s on your side, so you’ll probably get to shoot.”

You can’t imagine how excited I was until I had sat there motionless for about 30 minutes. And I do mean motionless.

As a relative novice to turkey hunting, I tried to mimic everything the pro did. If he shifted, I shifted. Trouble is, he never shifted, and I think he even quit breathing. He sat that still.

I dared not move, even though the tree he had selected for me was some kind of gnarly oak, and the jagged bark was cutting deep into my back. Recent flood waters from the nearby river had obviously swirled around the base of the tree long enough to create a perfect little moat, too.

So there I sat, knees up around my chin and rear end in the moat, thus the “toddler in the toilet” comparison. And I just thought the first 30 minutes were miserable, because the next half-hour was pure torture.

Finally the bird began to advance in our direction in a round about way. He circled a huge briar patch in front of us, and lo and behold, the big gobbler took the long way around and ended up on Preston’s side.

So much for me getting to shoot, as Preston rolled the big gobbler with one shot. At that point, however, I was so glad to get out of my toilet, uh, moat, that it didn’t matter who got the bird. Preston jumped up and ran to his bird, while I waddled over in fine duck fashion. Took two hours before I could straighten up.

If this is the end result you're looking for, study the birds in their natural habitat as often as you can.

Read and watch instructional videos, but best of all, find a mentor willing to teach you turkey tactics you'll need to become a successful turkey hunter.

Lessons learned As a novice turkey hunter, after I finally could stand up, I walked away from that experience with many lessons learned and a newfound appreciation for the sport. I’d killed a couple of gobblers before, but I really had no idea how much I didn’t know about turkey hunting.

First of all, I learned that it’s vital to know the lay of the land, or topography. Preston, as I, hadn’t set foot on that particular piece of property before that morning. But he’d taken time with the landowner to familiarize himself as much as possible.

By talking with the landowner, Preston learned where there was a suitable crossing on the deep slough. Otherwise, we’d have had to swim, or waste valuable time trekking all the way back to the road where there was a bridge, because the slough presented a natural barrier that even a World Champion would have trouble calling a gobbler across.

Still, we had a briar patch in front of us now that Preston knew the turkey would not negotiate. He figured the bird would go around, however, and all he had to do was turn his head and yelp with his mouth call to entice the bird to come to one side or the other. Guess who’s side the big bird came to! Preston grins to this day when I ask him if he did that on purpose!

Pittman never answered as to whether he snookered me…

But that’s not really important. What is important is how much I learned from him, which was more that one morning than I could have learned in years on my own. I’m not saying here that learning from the “School of Hard Knocks” is bad or wrong, just time consuming.

Take for instance that knotty oak tree. I still have scars on my back, but Preston sat there comfortably and quietly with a cushioned turkey vest. Oh, I know that’s old news these days, but back then turkey vests were relatively new, and of course I didn’t think I needed one. I thought I could simply tough it out. I was wrong! Comfort, without a doubt, is one of the most important factors in successful turkey hunting. You gotta be still, and if you aren’t comfy, that’s hard to do.

There were so many other things this greenhorn turkey hunter learned that day that it would take much more space than I have here. I could have read books and magazine articles. And I could have watched outdoor TV shows or videos to eventually learn to become a modestly successful turkey hunter. But nothing beats hunting with a seasoned veteran.

That having been said, read all you can, watch all the videos you want, and get out in the woods as often as possible to learn the wild turkey’s habits. But if I could give you just one bit of advice, it would be to find a mentor who’s been there, done that, and is willing to teach you.

Better yet, by the same token, if you are a veteran turkey hunter, please consider mentoring someone else.

Good luck, good hunting, and when you go, take a kid with you EVERY TIME YOU CAN. They will remember the trip for a lifetime.

After hunting with pros like Preston, the late Ben Rogers Lee and Tommy Bourne, I passed on what I learned to my son, Daniel. Here, he is pictured at age 14 with a fine bird he called in on his own. Now, he takes more boss gobblers than I. So, take a kid hunting EVERY TIME YOU CAN.

Phil DiFatta is a veteran outdoor writer who now resides in Purvis, MS. He writes for numerous regional and national publications, as well as a weekly column for The Hattiesburg American and The Clarion Ledger Online. Phil may be reached for questions, comments or story ideas at pdifatta@hotmail.com.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

APRIL 2010

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