In The Field magazine Polk edition

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Western & Outdoor Wear, Farm, Ranch & Pet Supplies

Pkwy. 2019 (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • southsidewesternwear.com I T F M I T S. F Jim M Redman August 23014 N HE IELD

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CONTENTS

AUGUST 2019 VOL. 12 • ISSUE 12 Polk County Cattlemen’s Association

Payge Dupre Elected to International Junior Brangus Board

28 PAGE 10 Contanier Graden

PAGE 33 Recipes

PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots

PAGE 34 Maintenance

PAGE 16 4-H Forestry Invitational

PAGE 35 Jack Payne

PAGE 18 Rancher’s Daughter

PAGE 36 John Dicks

PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter

PAGE 38 Endangered Species

PAGE 24 Tree Defender

PAGE 40 Activity

PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine

PAGE 41 A Closer Look

PAGE 30 Sea Grapes

PAGE 42 Florida’s Crew

PAGE 31 News Briefs

PAGE 42 School Anxiety

PAGE 32 PCSO

PAGE 45 CattleWomen

Hey Readers!

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

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

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P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – Carlton Taylor 9875 Hancock Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 858-1771 L2brangus@aol.com Vice President – Ray Clark 4484 Swindell Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay.rr.com Secretary/Treasurer - Justin Bunch PO Box 849 Highland City, FL 338460849 (863) 425-1121 justin.bunch@cpsagu.com State Director – David McCullers 1000 Hwy 630 W Frostproof, FL 33843 (863) 635-3821 crookedlakeranch57@ gmail.com Donald Conroy 3882 Wolfolk Rd Fort Meade, FL 33841 (863) 412-0790 Kevin Fussell 4523 Fussell Rd Polk City, FL 33868-9676 (863) 412-5876 Mike Fussell 4520 Barush Rd Bartow, FL 33830-2629 (863) 698-8314 fussell.flafarm@gmail.com Moby Persing 3380 Sam Keen Rd Lake Wales, FL 338989327 (863) 528-4567 Ken Sherrouse 13475 Moore Rd Lakeland, FL 33809-9755 (863) 698-1834 kensherrouse@yahoo.com

Dave Tomkow 3305 US Highway 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801-9623 (863) 665-5088 Dr. Lujean Waters 8750 Shreck Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 537-1495 Lujean.waters@gmail.com Alternate – Standing Committee Chairs: Membership Events- Kevin Fussell Trade Show- Bridget Stice Rodeo- Fred Waters PO Box 463 Alturas, FL 33820-0463 (863) 559-7808 Website – Adam Norman 2115 West Pipkin Rd Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 944-9293 Adamnorman1977@gmail. com Cattlewomen – President, Missy Raney PO Box 453 Homeland, FL 33847 (863) 205-3977 Raney747@gmail.com Extension – Bridget Stice PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048 bccarlis@ufl.edu Sheriff’s Dept. – Sgt. Paul Wright 1891 Jim Keen Blvd.

Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 557-1741 pw5281@polksheriff.org Warner University –

Scott Shoupe 6130 Allen Lane Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 581-7593 Scott_shoupe@hotmail. com WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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Letter from the Editor

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

It’s back to school time! Hopefully most of you have settled in to your new school year routine. Please continue to be aware of children walking, biking and boarding buses. It is a yearly reminder to be extra vigilant in school zones.

Agriculture, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is the science, art or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops and raising livestock and, in varying degrees, the preparation and marketing of the resulting products.

Agriculture is so much more than this. It means food from our country, a safe abundant source of food, is right here in the US, and even better, it is right here in Florida. It means going to the farmers market for the freshest food available. Agriculture gives us a sense of satisfaction from bringing in the crops after working in the fields or rounding up the cattle and seeing the fruits of our labors in the newborn calves running around, and sharing this with others who are involved in this age old industry.

Agriculture is full of beauty. When you are out in the field or pasture before the break of dawn, you can pause as the sun comes up to greet a glorious day. You get to witness nature at its finest as your crops and livestock grow.

Agriculture is also education. Education of the youth in our country is of the greatest importance. Of course we want to help those involved in projects with 4-H and FFA, but don’t forget those who may not have a chance to be on the farm. The education of those who are generations removed from the farm is important as well.

Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Melissa Nichols Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Anita Todd Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks

Agriculture is a lifestyle. It’s a responsibility to preserve and even enhance the connection agriculture gives us to the land. Farmers and ranchers know the land around them and understand its importance in the continuation of this thing we call agriculture.

In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Polk County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Polk County Catllemen’s Association.

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

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

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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

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Kelley Automotive Group

THE 20 BUCK TRUCK IS BACK!

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE TODAY TO PURCHASE A TICKET AND SUPPORT THE KIDS IN AGRICULTURE.

20bucktruck.com

We are excited to announce the all NEW 20 Buck Truck. To Benefit the agricultural youth of Polk & Hardee County.

100% of the proceeds go to charity, and that the proceeds will support youth in agriculture in Polk and Hardee counties

"We needed to support our youth in agriculture because they are our future leaders." ~Derrick Kelley Operated by Warrior Beach Retreat, Inc.

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Dear PCCA Members,

Location: Stuart Building, Bartow

August is here and the rains are in full swing, it is really wet in a lot of places and the weeds are taking off.

This time of year always keeps our cattlemen busy. We would like to thank everyone that came out to our summer dinner to learn more about Electronic Identification as we approach 2020. A special thank you to the Polk County Cattlewomen for always making our dinners extra special with their beautiful decorations and delicious cakes. These cakes are auctioned off to benefit their programs and our youth. We appreciate everyone that supported the cake auction.

Polk County Cattlemen’s Ranch Rodeo and Trade Show - February 22, 2020

I would like to make you all aware of the following upcoming opportunities: Winter Supplementation Seminar - August 22, 2019 Location: Sarasota Forage Management Tour and Workshop - September 19, 2019 Location: Brighton

Location: Bartow For more information on these opportunities, please reach out to: Bridget Carlisle Stice Polk County Cooperative Bridget Carlisle Extension Service 1702 S Hwy 17 P.O. Box 9005 Bartow, FL 33831 Phone: (863) 519-1048 Fax: (863) 534-0001 E-mail: bccarlis@ufl.edu http://sfbfp.ifas.ufl.edu/members/BridgetCarlisle.shtml Until next month, enjoy more BEEF.

Cattle Management for Women - October 11, 2019 Location: Sebring UF/IFAS Reproductive Management School - November 5-7 Location: Longino Ranch

Carlton Taylor

Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President

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Annual Polk Fall Dinner Meeting - November 14, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.

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Try CitroBio & RGA: The Best Tools for Farming!

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www.citrobio.com | 800-332-1647 | RGA is a Patented Product | Made in the U.S.A.

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CREATE YOUR OWN NATIVE PLANT GARDEN

– IN CONTAINERS!

By Molly Griner, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Did you know you can create a small habitat of Florida’s native plants – even if you live in a patio home, apartment or condo? By planting native plants in containers, you too can enjoy the presence of small birds, butterflies and other native pollinators who will visit your garden space!

Many native plants adapt very well to container environments; in fact, shrubs, palms, or small trees can thrive for years in containers. In addition, wildflowers produce seeds from which new plants will grow.

You can create a “mini” native habitat with a diversity of plants, including shrubs/small trees, ground covers that spill over their containers, vines and wildflowers! These container-grown plants will add beauty and interest to your garden space, and – best of all – provide shelter for small birds, nectar for visiting native pollinators, and host plants for butterflies!

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WHERE TO START: The following list is just a small sampling of native plants that are known to adapt well to container growing. If you select one or two from each category, you’ll be well on your way to creating a beautiful and nature-filled mini-garden. Be sure to include evergreen species in your garden for year-round interest. Have fun experimenting with other native plants to grow in containers!

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Trees/Large Shrubs: Simpson’s Stopper, Firebush, Sparkleberry, Walter’s Viburnum, Saw Palmetto Smaller Shrubs/Grasses: Coontie, Pink Muhly Grass, Bahama Senna* Vines: Pipevine*, Coral Honeysuckle, Corkystem Passionvine* Wildflowers: Gaillardia, Coccinea Sage, Coreopsis, Rosinweed, Milkweed* Ground Cover: Frogfruit*, Wire Grass, native Pepperomia (*indicates butterfly host plant) TIPS ON GROWING NATIVE PLANTS IN CONTAINERS: * Purchase your plants from a trusted source of native plants.

For a list of native plant nurseries, visit fann.org. Some native nurseries are not open to the public, but many are; best to call before a visit. * Begin by installing young plants in smaller containers, moving them to larger pots as their root system fills the pot. Aim to grow your plants in as large containers as you can, at least 14WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

16 inches – the larger the better, especially for woody shrubs or small trees (24 inches or larger)! For smaller plants such as wildflowers, you can group several in one large pot. The large containers will allow your plants’ roots to expand, supporting larger plants. Also, larger pots will need less supplemental watering. * Although native plants in the wild thrive on rainfall only, container plants will need supplemental water. Locate your plants near a water source (water spigot or rain barrel) to be hand-watered, as needed. * If your space is very sunny, include larger plant species that can provide a bit of shade for smaller plants, such as wildflowers. While many wildflowers in nature thrive in sunny areas, when grown in containers they can benefit from dappled shade especially in hot afternoon sun. * If you include butterfly host plants, it is a good idea to plant several of the same species in order to provide ample food sources for hungry caterpillars. * For growing vines, go vertical! Insert a trellis into the container or make your own (tall bamboo stakes with spiraling wire wrapped around). * If you are interested in growing native milkweed, be aware that growing native milkweed plants in containers can be tricky. Learn what native conditions support different native milkweed species, and experiment. Swamp milkweed species, such as A. incarnata or A. perennis, require wet conditions. They can be grown in containers that have no drain holes in the bottom of pot. Drain holes can be drilled about 3 inches from bottom of pot, so that standing water is avoided, but bottom soil remains damp to mimic their natural habitat.

* To support visiting wildlife, remember to include a source of water in your garden space, such as a bird bath. Remember to keep clean by replenishing with fresh water every other day or so, and scrub clean with a brush, as needed. * To provide a safe environment for visiting wildlife, do not apply pesticides on or around your native plants. If your plant is not thriving, contact your Polk County Master Gardener Plant Clinic, (863)519-1057; or polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu.

Grow your own native plant garden – in containers – and enjoy a bit of Florida’s nature in your own corner of the world.

HAPPY GARDENING! *** The Florida Master Gardener Program is a volunteer-driven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program extends the vision of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, all the while protecting and sustaining natural resources and environmental systems, enhancing the development of human resources, and improving the quality of human life through the development of knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and making that knowledge accessible.

An Equal Opportunity Institution.

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* Generally, native plants will need little to no extra fertilizing, but as nutrients are leached through containers, larger shrubs/trees may benefit from a springtime application of composted material or a slow-release fertilizer, if needed.

OPTIMIZING SOIL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS PAYS OFF IN SANDY SOILS Healthy soil is alive, a living ecosystem, and serves as the foundation for agriculture. Sometimes, it doesn’t get the respect it deserves.

When treated like dirt, soil is less productive, and the fertility of the land may be diminished.

One new technology, called Cool Terra®, provides growers a way to enhance soil vitality for greater yield in strawberry fields like yours. In fact, Cool Terra has shown some of the greatest results in the type of high sand, low organic matter soil common in Florida’s strawberry fields.

Just like a coral reef supports sea life by providing structure, resources, and habitat in an otherwise barren ocean floor, Cool Terra can support plant life by: •Optimizing water retention in the root zone •Enhancing nutrient exchange and availability •Building lasting soil structure •Providing an environment for microbes A 2018, 32 acre commercial trial in Polk County Florida using Cool Terra demonstrated improved strawberry yields by over 500 flats per acre. The increased strawberry yield provided a revenue impact of over $4K and a grower return on investment of 15.5x!

FIELD TRIAL: 32 ACRE COMMERCIAL TRIAL PLANT CITY, FL | 2017-2018 | STRAWBERRY VARIETY: RADIANCE Revenue Impact: +$4,055 | 1 year grower ROI: 15.5x 4000

+510 FLATS/ACRE

3500 3000

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2500

Cool Terra applied pre-bedding via broadcast spread

3,616 flats/acre

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LIMITED TIME OFFER AVAILABLE I N N O V A T O R S C O U L D E A R N 10% BACK !

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Full program details can be found at www.coolplanet.com/cool-terra/innovator-advantage

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A FIXED-CARBON MATERIAL SPECIFICALLY ENGINEERED TO PROVIDE LASTING SOIL PERFORMANCE BENEFITS Backed by over 120 independent, 3rd party field trials, Cool Terra provides, on average, a 12.3 increase in marketable yield and a greater than 3 to 1 return on investment. Give your soil the respect it deserves to establish a solid foundation for strawberry productivity and quality.

For more information, contact Cool Planet’s Regional Sales Associate, Jordan Schultheis: 330.770.1118 Available for sale today:

Cool Planet is proud to support and contribute to the FSGA to further soil health research and innovation.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL RETAILER TODAY INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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Tampa Bay Fishing Report September 2019 Capt. Woody Gore

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pieces of cut mullet, crab, threadfins, pinfish or ladyfish. Using dead baits often requires something most anglers never carry in the tackle box, that being “patience.”

Snook (Still Closed): As water temperatures rise later in day expect to find snook in deeper passes, washes, docks, and holes tight to structure. Greenbacks are the bait of choice around the bay. However, those who prefer artificial actions should try topwater lures early on shallow broken bottom flats. Night snook fishing always proves successful around docks and bridges, often resulting in a pleasant surprise when one of the big ones gets hungry.

Cobia seems to be reasonably plentiful this summer, around the bay.

They usually show up on the back of rays or manatees or just cruising the open water. Particularly attracted to structure, especially those holding bait, so always check the buoys and keep an eye out when Mackerel fishing. They tend to show up at the most inopportune time.

Redfish (Still Closed): seem on the schedule this year, and the bite should continue into September with plenty of action as larger schools begin showing up. Good grass flats with sandy potholes and mangrove shorelines hold redfish.

Greenbacks and dollar size pinfish always tempt hungry Redfish; however, something stinky on the bottom is hard to resist. For this, try

Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)

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Like other parts of the south, Tampa Bay fishing can also struggle through the summer, especially as water temperatures top out in the nineties. The fish still eat, but it seems you never catch the numbers like spring and fall. Anglers able to stand the heat are doing better on stronger tides. Folks have decent catches during summer months in the deeper cooler waters. Greenbacks, threadfins, small pinfish, sardines, and shrimp always catch fish, but for some real excitement, try tossing an artificial lure during the early mornings before the water heats up.

2019

Spotted Sea Trout (Still Closed): Trout action especially, on the deepwater flats and current active days is booming. They’re eating shrimp, pinfish, and greenbacks along deeper flats, with good moving water. Bigger fish seem to cruise early morning flats looking for an easy meal. Tossing a 7M MirrOlure or Top Dog Jr. often produces some real topwater excitement.

Mackerel, Bluefish, actions are still active with giants chasing any shinny artificial lure or spoon and always taking live baits. Just look for schools of live bait, net some to fish with and hang a chum bag over the side. Now just cast out a live bait and hold onto your rod and reel. If for some reason they seem to shy away from wire leaders, try using 60 lb. Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and tie on a Daiichi long shank #2 or #3 hook. Then free line your baits in the current with a #3 split-shot weight.

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Snapper & Sheepshead: are showing up throughout Tampa Bay. All the usual places are holding plenty of nice sized fish, Try fishing markers, bridge fenders, docks, seawalls, rock piles, oyster bars or any type structure. Shrimp, rock crabs, mud minnows, and small greenbacks work well for snapper, and of course fiddler crabs, rock crabs oysters, mussels and shrimp always catch sheepshead.

“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” 813-477-3814

Captain Woody Gore is the area’s top outdoor fishing guide. Guiding and fishing the west central Florida areas for over fifty years; he offers world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories.

Multi-boat Group Charters With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done.

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

We’re Growing the Population of Florida Scrub Jays Our efforts to protect native wildlife species have helped the endangered Florida Scrub Jay population not only survive, but grow. As part of the Mosaic mining process, we designated 850 acres of habitat, and then worked with local environmental experts to relocate Scrub Jays. Now the Scrub Jay population, which had only a five percent survival chance 15 years ago, is once again growing and thriving.

To learn more visit www.MosaicCo.com/Florida

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FLORIDA TEAM COMPETES AT NATIONAL 4-H FORESTRY INVITATIONAL

Left to Right: Alexander Thomas, Hunter Jernigan, Michaela Mathis, Makayla Taylor, Tammy Thomas (Coach)

Florida was one of 13 states that competed in the 40th annual National 4-H Forestry Invitational from Sunday July 28 through Thursday August 1. Teams from Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama placed first, second and third, respectively.

Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia also competed in this year’s Invitational.

Braden Harrod from Arkansas won the high point individual award. The second-place individual was Ethan Coker from Louisiana and the third-place high individual was Logan Snipes from Alabama. Alexander Thomas from Florida was the sixth highest scorer and Michaela Mathis from Florida was the 12th highest scorer. The Florida team won the forestry quiz bowl event.

The invitational was held at West Virginia University Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Camp and Conference Center near Weston, West Virginia. The event is sponsored by Farm Credit, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc., West Virginia University Extension Service, American Forest Foundation, Society of American Foresters, Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, F & W Forestry, WestRock, USDA Forest Service State and Private Southern Region, Southern Regional Extension Forestry, National Woodland Owners Association, and Black Diamond Resource Conservation and Development Council.

The Joe Yeager “Spirit of the Invitational” award was presented to Raven Friend from West Virginia. This award recognizes an outstanding 4-H contestant at the Invitational. It is presented to the individual who takes initiative, is enthusiastic, and is eager to lead academic and social situations.

While at the Invitational 4-H members competed for overall team and individual awards in several categories. Events included tree identification, tree measurement, compass and pacing, insect and disease identification, topographic map use, forest evaluation, the forestry bowl and a written forestry exam.

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The Florida team members were Hunter Jernigan and Makayla Taylor both from Lakeland, Michaela Mathis from Auburndale, and Alexander Thomas from Lake Alfred. The team coach was Tammy Thomas from Lake Alfred.

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4-H is a youth education program operated by the Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the state land grant universities. More than six million youth, 540,000 volunteers, and 3,500 professionals participate in 4-H nationwide, and nearly 100,000 are part of the 4-H Forestry Program.

The event would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. FCS has been helping areas grow and thrive for a century by providing farmers with capital and by financing infrastructure and communication services.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI®), Inc. is a fully independent, charitable organization dedicated to promoting WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

West Virginia University (WVU) Extension Service educators and volunteers build and sustain partnerships with people and organizations in West Virginia, to improve their lives and communities. WVU's programs and services strengthen individuals of all ages.

WestRock has a long history of entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation. That history includes game-changing developments in papermaking, packaging design and retail solutions, as well as strategically building and strengthening the company's capabilities over time. With operations around the world and expertise in every shopping category, WestRock focuses on working with brands to help them win across the board by providing an unbeatable portfolio of paper and packaging products.

The American Forest Foundation® (AFF) works with families, educators, and elected officials to promote stewardship and protect our nation’s forest heritage. AFF works with its partners to provide hands-on support for America’s 10 million family forest owners.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry, Southern Region programs bring forest management assistance and expertise to a diversity of landowners through cost-effective, non-regulatory partnerships. The staffs also play a key role in implementing the National Fire Plan.

The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States. SAF is the largest professional society for foresters in the world.

Southern Region Extension Forestry serves as a liaison between the USDA Forest Service and the thirteen Extension Forest Resources units in the South. The position has evolved into a regional programming, representation, promotion, and communication role within the forestry and natural resource communities.

sustainable forest management. The SFI® label is a sign you are buying wood and paper products from a certified source, backed by a rigorous, third-party certification audit.

F&W is an international forest resource management and consulting firm dedicated to helping landowners gain the most value and enjoyment per acre from their forestland.

F&W believes that environmentally viable timberland is economically viable timberland.

The Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP) is a professional society for natural resource Extension professionals. The mission of ANREP is to bring Extension professionals together to discuss mutual natural resource issues, needs, and opportunities and to advance natural resource Extension through continuing education.

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For more information on the National 4-H Forestry Invitational, go to: http://4hforestryinvitational. org/.

Contact: William C. Worrell, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Lebanon, VA 24266 (276) 889-8056. bworrell@ vt.edu

CONFESSION OF A RANCHER’S DAUGHTER

By Marisol Tarango A rancher’s daughter is known for always being eager to be outside. She jumps at any chance to ride her horse or to help work cows. The hard work and weather never faze her; she seems to thrive on it. As long as she has her horse and pocket knife, she can accomplish just about anything. If there is a rainy day, she paces around the house like a caged animal and darts out as soon as the rain lets up. If a rancher’s daughter is not outside, she is not happy.

CONFESSION # 3: Sometimes I would rather just stay inside.

When I was little, I always wanted to be outside or at the barn with my dad. When my siblings and I did our morning barn chores, we would find extra things that needed to be done before we went back to the house, like a fence that needed to be mended or a dog that needed to be exercised. Then, when we finally did make it back to the house, we would rush through our school work and house cleaning chores so that when daddy got home, we could ride horses with him. Outside chores were always more appealing to us, because that is what real cowboys did. No cowboy ever washed the dishes or cleaned the bathroom. Those chores weren’t really important for the survival of the ranch anyways.

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Even though I enjoyed being outside, there came a time when I realized that I enjoyed inside things too. By the time I was ten, I was addicted to reading. I would get caught reading when I was supposed to be doing my school work, and sometimes, I would rather read than play outside. With a book I could have adventures that the imaginary games I played with my siblings couldn’t produce. Even though we played with “props”

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and had whole pastures to roam in, there was something about a book that would just capture me. With a book, I didn’t have to pretend that a tree was a dragon or that a fence post was an enemy soldier. In a book it was all laid out for me to see in my mind.

When I was twelve, I began to notice that inside work was a little easier and more comfortable in the air conditioning.

On Saturdays I would volunteer to clean the kitchen instead of yard work. To me it seemed like the work outside never ended, but inside, once something was clean, it was clean (at least for the time being). Inside work also had less stress involved. Outside there was always the risk that I might stall the tractor, but the vacuum cleaner never stalled out. When we were working cows, the cows might decide to break out of the pens. Dishes on the other hand, rarely, if ever, jumped out of the sink.

Now, as an adult, I still volunteer for kitchen duty if I have the option, and there are days when I would rather read a book than go work cows in the heat or rain. But there comes a point where I have to be outside; I need to be outside. Being inside constantly can disconnect you from the real world. I need to see nature through my own eyes, rather than through an author’s description, and to feel the sun on my skin instead of florescent lighting. Working outside is also a welcome break when I have been cleaning the house all day. Even though cleaning the house is important, there is something about getting sweaty and dirty that is important for the soul. And sometimes, washing dishes is just too boring. Working cows, even though the stress level is higher, offers a perfect change of pace. Plus, nothing says adventure like chasing a runaway cow on your favorite horse!

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On a major league baseball diamond, the distance across the infield from the back top of home plate to second base is 127 feet, 3 3/8 inches.

In springtime, a wild male turkey’s head can turn a brilliant red, white or blue in a matter of moments.

A ten-gallon hat does not hold ten gallons. It holds about three quarts.

Squid is the number one pizza topping in Japan.

President Thomas Jefferson despised formal affairs and would often greet foreign dignitaries while wearing pajamas.

Zenith created the first TV remote control in 1950. It was called “Lazy Bones.”

Yahoo! Is an acronym which stands for “Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle.”

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Left Handed People I have always been a southpaw, and my handwriting is terrible. Thank goodness for the typewriter. My left-handed writing is used mostly to pay our monthly bills.

designed the Macintosh computer, four were left-handed. Benjamin Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with his left hand.

On a more positive note, right-handed people use the left side of their brains. Lefthanded people use the right sides of their brains. I guess that means only left-handed people are in their right mind.

A few years back Burger King published a full page advertisement in the April 1st edition of USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a “Left-Handed Whopper” specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans.

According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper, but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a followup release revealing that the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, and thousands of customers had gone into their restaurants to request the new sandwich. At the same time, according to the press release, “many others requested their own ‘right-handed’ version.”

There’s no denying it, left-handers are the odd men out. Sure, lefties make up about 10 percent of the population, but, frankly, it seems like society has forgotten about them with right-handed gadgets, awkwardly designed desks, cooking tools that fit comfortably in your right hand (now that’s just wrong!).

What causes someone to become a southpaw? Scientists aren’t exactly sure, but research points to a complex collaboration between genes and environment. While no exact set of “leftie genes” have been discovered, people who dominantly use their left hands do have more left-handed family members. And researchers have found different brain wirings in righties vs. lefties.

But no matter what it is that drives someone to use their left paw, science has also uncovered a particular set of personality traits that left-handed people tend to have.

So for all of you lefties, leftie-loving righties and ambidextrous folks out there it’s time to brush up on your left-handed knowledge and help put an end to leftie discrimination once and for all.

Being left-handed puts me in the minority, but at least I am in good company. Famous people and celebrities such as Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Jay Leno, Mark Twain, Natalie Cole and Whoopie Goldberg were/are lefthanded. Men are one-and-half-times more likely to be southpaws than women.

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I found some interesting facts about being left-handed. The nails on the left hand tend to grow faster than on the right hand. The Egyptians thought is was good luck to enter a house left foot first. Of the five people that

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Believe it or not the farming industry has a lot of left-handed equipment. Left-handed plows, hoes, and many more. They even make a left-handed sawmill!

Have you ever noticed while sitting on the pot that 95% of the time the toilet roll holder is on the right side of you and so close you can barely unwind it?

Not sure who named it, but there is a town in West Virginia named Left Hand. It has only one service station and more than 200 graveyards within 20 miles. Looney Cemetery is one of the oldest on the side of a mountain. Over the years some of the land has eroded away sending some of the buried down the side of the mountain.

According to ABC News, lefties “are more likely to be schizophrenic, alcoholic, delinquent, dyslexic, and have Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as mental disabilities. They’re also more likely to die young and get into accidents.” An indirect consequence of that fun little tidbit is that lefties are also far more qualified to make a joke about all those things. And doesn’t who a good dyslexia joke love?

Getting out of bed with the left foot first means that you will have a bad day and be bad tempered, i.e. getting out of bed on the wrong side. A ringing in the right ear means that someone is praising you, in the left ear it means that someone is cursing or maligning you. An itchy right palm means that you will receive money. An itchy left palm means you will have to give money. Wedding rings worn on the third finger of the left hand originated with the Greeks and Romans who wore them to fend of evil associated with the left-hand. The right hand often symbolises ‘male’ while the left hand is ‘female.’ If you hear the sound of a cuckoo from the right it will be a lucky year. If the sound comes from the left it will be unlucky.

If your right eye twitches you will see a friend, if it’s your left eye that twitches you’ll see an enemy. When dressmaking, it’s believed to be bad luck to sew the left sleeve onto a garment before the right sleeve. It is thought to be bad luck to pass a drink to another person with your left-hand or anti-clockwise around a table. If you apply an ointment with the forefinger of the right hand the sore will not heal. This is because this finger is said to be the ‘poison’ finger.

Passing or pouring wine with the left hand leads to bad luck. Driving on the left started so that horse riders could use their whips in the right-hand to fend off other road users.

The left hand does worst in the parable of the sheep and goats. The sheep are set on Christ’s right hand and the goats on the left.

Those on the right inherit the kingdom of god while those on the left depart into everlasting fire (to quote Matthew 25: verse 41: “Then he will say unto those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Studies have shown that left-handers are more likely to have allergies than right-handers.

There you have it. That’s all I know about being left-handed.

Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the August 2014 issue WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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TWO CITRUS GROWERS FIND PSYLLID SOLUTION

By Anita Todd Before 2005, most Floridians had never heard of citrus greening. Now, the deadly disease has reduced the number of citrus growers from 8,000 to 3,800.

grower. “They are doing all they can but, in the meantime, the citrus industry is dying. We wanted to let the industry breathe - hit the stop button.”

The reminders of what has happened can be seen around Polk County from the abandoned groves filled with dead orange trees to the shiny, new housing developments.

So, Thompson called his buddy, Thayer, a second-generation citrus grower and nurseryman, with the idea to “tent” new trees with a material that the psyllid can’t get through.

The fabric is the standard and industry-approved 50-mesh screening product used in plant nurseries and greenhouses.

The fine weave of the screen provides protection against insects — including the Asian citrus psyllid — yet the screen is permeable enough to allow for sunlight, air flow, and the application of chemical sprays.

But, along those same back roads, where many growers have given up, are the groves of the tenacious others who refuse to. And, some of those remaining have dressed up the young trees with a commonsense solution to the disease: The Tree Defender created by Thomas Thayer and Scott Thompson in Dundee.

The Tree Defender is a protective, breathable screen placed over individual young trees to protect them from the Asian citrus psyllid, the insect that causes greening or Huanglongbing (HLB). After four years, an enormous amount of testing, and trial and error, the men responsible for taking the fight against psyllids and greening into their own hands, are on to something.

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“For years now, the best scientists have had a lot of bright ideas that a lot of money has been thrown at but there is still no relief,” Thompson said. He is a third-generation citrus

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“We wanted our product to be practical, economical, sustainable and effective,” Thompson said. Expensive, excessive pesticide spraying – sometimes twice a month – against the psyllid was something most growers had resorted to. A normal spray schedule pre-HLB for processed oranges is about three to four times annually.

“Growers tried to out spray and out plant, but it didn’t work,” he said.

The design has changed and improved since its inception just five years ago thanks to research and trial and error.

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“All of our research is self-funded which allows us to evolve and innovate at a much faster pace. We can weed out what works and what doesn’t work on a practical applied basis.”

Thompson said. “It was and still is a lot of trial and error. We want to hear from the growers – good or bad - who are using it so that we can continue to improve it.”

They even spent time with plant crews to observe where there may have been issues in applying the covers.

“Just like with anything new, you have to get used to it. But once you get the rhythm and a little experience it doesn’t take excessive time to install,” he said. “We are always looking for ways to make it faster and more efficient.”

to every new idea that is presented to them. But, those who are still in business, after hearing that The Tree Defender has been 100 percent effective so far, are reaching out to learn more or already have them in place.

Now that the product has been in commercial use for about four years, there are 300,000 Tree Defenders in Florida groves.

“As our volume increases, we are becoming more efficient in our manufacturing so that we can pass on the cost savings to growers,” Thompson said.

The Tree Defender is also effective for other crops and is in patent pending status.

In addition to perfecting the product, they also observed several other ways it benefits the trees.

Due to the products’ success, there are some copycats out there that may be using sub-standard products.

The mesh seems to manipulate the ultraviolet light causing the trees to grow faster and produce larger leaves; keeps wild animals like deer from eating the leaves; and provides some protection from the wind and frost.

“We created this technology and we want to ensure growers have the best quality product,” Thompson said.

“The trees are, for lack of a better word, happy,” Thompson said.

Thompson said that although growers are desperate for a solution or a cure to greening, they don’t automatically agree

For more information on The Tree Defender, go to

TheTreeDefender.com.

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Growers should visit The Tree Defender website for a list of authorized distributors.

By Ginny Mink

Ornamental Gardening in Florida If you have traveled any distance with us on the Literary Time Machine, you will undoubtedly have discovered our appreciation for the sarcasm often found in Mr. Torrey-Simpson’s writings. So, this month we would like to look at a couple of those entries. Feel free to join us on this voyage as we continue through his chapter on exotic vines and creepers.

First, we’ll stop at the Lapageria. It’s not so much that he is sarcastic about this plant, but rather he suggests that we figure out how to get it to grow in Florida. In fact, he writes, “Lapageria. A single species called Chilean bellflower of great beauty which is not, so far as I know, cultivated here but it should be tried in the upper part of the state.”¹ According to Far Reaches Farm, it will grow here up to zone 9.² So, we aren’t sure why he didn’t have any more experience with the plant.

Further research revealed that it is the national flower of Chile.

Lapageria flowers in late summer and fall. Their flowers are pendant shaped, large, and waxy in texture and appearance.

Colors are typically red but they can also be found in pink and white varieties.² Having looked at the picture, these seem familiar to us, so we suspect that at some point someone took Mr. Torrey-Simpson’s advice and introduced these plants to Florida.

For the sake of our introduction on his sarcasm, we bring to you the passiflora. “Passion flower. P. edulis from Brazil with white and purple flowers produces fruit that may be eaten if one has nothing else to do. It is occasionally grown up the state.”¹ It is obvious, here, that he was not a fan of passion fruit.

Which we thought was rather interesting since we’d always thought people liked it, never having tried it ourselves.

So, we wondered why he felt like eating it was a way to waste time rather than an enjoyable endeavor. According to P. Allen Smith, passion fruit doesn’t ripen on the vine. You have to wait for it to fall off before it can be eaten. An expert he spoke with advised that they get sweeter as they wrinkle.³ It seems probable to us, that Mr. Torrey-Simpson didn’t know this about them and possibly tried eating them straight off the vine. No doubt that would have been an unpleasant experience.

In the next entry, he takes credit for introducing the Pithecotenium aubleti. He pens, “Pithecotenium aubleti is a high climbing vine which I introduced from Cuba, with handsome, trumpet-shaped, white and straw flowers, followed by great brown capsules covered with warts.”¹ That last part of the description makes us wonder what in the world he’s talking about and whether this ended up being a detrimental plant here.

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We tried to dive deeper into this plant, but there’s nothing by that name out there. We have run into this problem before in his writings, so we were forced to assume the name

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Part 59

was changed to: Pithecellobium abarema. Even so, the only information we could find was based on a 1981 volume of the Journal of the Arnold Arboretum published by Harvard. So, the best we can determine is that some of these plants were used for their wood, and there’s still a lot of debate over what to actually call them.⁴ As for the warty capsules? No clue! But definitely feel free to share with us if you find something out!

As a final sarcastic touch, we want to be critical of his next suggestion: Kudzu. He’s not sarcastic in his description but knowing what we do about this invasive species we definitely could have some interesting retorts to his introduction. He writes, “A rampant growing member of the bean family which is excellent for quickly covering buildings or any unsightly thing. The dark flowers are odd and striking.”¹ While he thinks it’s excellent for covering unsightly things, UF says, “This invasive vine has taken over entire tracts of land seemingly overnight.”⁵ They add that it smothers everything in its path, trees included. In fact, they say it needs to be totally eradicated. Thanks to people like Mr. Torrey-Simpson, who didn’t know better at the time, “Today kudzu covers about two million acres in the south…”⁵ Mr. Torrey-Simpson often introduces us to cool plants, but there are other times he reveals his contribution to the spread of invasive species. Of course, he didn’t know what these plants were capable of nearly a hundred years ago. Perhaps we should let that be a reminder to us as we consider adding new plants to our areas; we don’t know what they will be up to a hundred years from now. So, until next time, happy and safe gardening!

Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida.

Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 185-186). ²Far Reaches Farm. Lapageria rosea. https://www.farreachesfarm.com/Lapageria-rosea-p/p3222.htm ³Smith, P. Allen. (2015). Is Passion Fruit Edible? https://pallensmith.com/2015/04/03/is-passion-fruit-edible/ ⁴Cassens, D. & Miller, B. (1981). Wood Anatomy of the New World Pithecellobium. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum, volume 62, number 4. https://archive.org/stream/mobot31753003542161/ mobot31753003542161_djvu.txt ⁵UF|IFAS. Kudzu. UF|IFAS Gardening Solutions. http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/weeds-and-invasive-plants/ kudzu.html Photo Credits: Basil, Ashley. (2018). Lapageria looking good. (Flickr). https:// flic.kr/p/2bds2DL Sarowen. (2006). Passion Vine. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/Gi8bc Seeds, Clinton. (2009). Kudzu Bloom. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/ p/89kNxH WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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Payge Dupre

By Allyson Polston

ELECTED TO INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR BRANGUS BOARD

“Showing and owning cattle has helped me learn so much,” said 14-year-old Payge Dupre. A freshman at Lake Gibson High School, her passion for agriculture stared at a very young age. Through the years Payge has expanded her knowledge of agriculture and she wants to continue to help, teach and share her passion with everyone she meets.

When Payge was still in a baby carrier she was checking on cattle with her mother Melissa and brothers, Taeler and Hunter Dupre.

Her mother worked for Weeks Ranch, a commercial cow-calf operation in Lake County.

The late Ralph Weeks would give Payge and her brothers the calves that the cows would turn away. From the time she could walk Payge was bottle feeding calves and helping care for sick ones. She grew up around livestock, pitching in any way she could at the ranch and at home. She grew up knowing the importance of the cattle industry and what it means to be thankful for the plate on her table.

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At the age of four Payge began showing in PeeWee Showmanship. They began showing registered Angus cattle after buying a registered heifer from Dale Locke. In 2013, Payge began showing pigs to help raise funds to buy a show heifer. She knew what she wanted and worked hard. She knew that showing pigs was just a steppingstone to her future goal of showing cattle. The first calf she showed was a challenging bull calf. But she stuck with it and was able to show the yearling bull. Her first heifer came from Crooked Lake Ranch and was a purebred Hereford heifer. A couple of years later she added two registered Angus heifers to her show string. As Payge began to grow her herd she

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was able to grow her knowledge, including palpating cows, pulling blood, giving shots and inserting/pulling cidrs. These tasks don’t include the other responsibilities that come with raising and showing cattle.

Along with showing cattle, Payge has been highly involved with 4-H and FFA. In 6th grade she received Most Outstanding Non-Officer Member, Top Scholar Award and was recognized for her participation in Career Development Events. In the 7th grade she served as chapter treasurer and in 8th grade she served as chapter president.

Her Opening and Closing Ceremonies team placed 1st on the county level and 2nd at the district level. She also received many awards including Top Scholar, Discovery degree, and was again recognized for her participation in Career Development Events. FFA and her passion for showing cattle are a great match for her goals in agriculture. Payge also competed at the Florida Cattlemen’s Convention in Marco Island where her Quiz bowl team placed 2nd and her Team Marketing Team placed 2nd as well. Last year, with a steer she raised from a newborn calf, Payge placed 2nd in the Junior Florida Cattlemen’s Association points series for the year for Bred and Owned Commercial Steers. This was quite an accomplishment for an 8th grader who was actually completing her 9th grade course work to get ahead of schedule.

Her passion for agriculture doesn’t stop there Payge has already accomplished so many of her goals but this hasn’t stopped her from making new challenges for her future. In 2017, she had the opportunity to attend the Legacy Leadership conference put on by the International Junior Brangus WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Junior Brangus Show. At this time Payge applied for the Brangus Board and received a one-year term. “It is a great honor to represent such an important breed and be a part of this board of directors, I am looking forward to my year of service,” said Payge.

Through this year she will travel to the national Brangus point shows such as the Oklahoma State Fair, State Fair of Louisiana, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Youth Beef Industry Congress. She will be expected to work the shows as well as help any other way that is needed.

Other duties that come with being a board member are raising funds for the Junior Brangus Association, planning and executing the 2020 National Junior Brangus Show and helping plan the 2021 Legacy Leadership Conference.

“As an advisor for the IJBBA Board of Directors, I have seen a lot of great Brangus youth go thru this program. Payge’s election to the IJBBA Board this past July at the National Jr. Brangus Show in Texarkana, Ar. was the culmination of many long hard months of preparation, planning and hard work.

This even included making cookies and selling them to raise money for her trip to the Jr. Nationals. I am very much looking forward to the next several years with Payge Dupre serving on the IJBBA Board of Directors. Her enthusiasm, love and knowledge of the Brangus Breed will certainly enable this organization to achieve even higher goals in the future,” said Tom Hayford, IJBBA Advisor.

Association. The Legacy Leadership conference challenges young showmen to strive for success and educates them more about the Brangus Beef industry. Through this conference she found her new passion for Brangus cattle. She went home and immediately knew this was the next breed she wanted to own, raise and show. That same year she had the opportunity to attend the 2017 National Junior Brangus Show.

Without her own Brangus cattle to exhibit, she was still able to participate in all the contests. She won the High Point Exhibitor, meaning she participated in all contests and achieved the highest score.

In spring of 2018, Payge purchased her first Registered Red Brangus heifer from Lettelier Brangus. She knew she wanted the best and something that stood out from the other challengers. “Why fit in when you were born to stand out,” said Payge. That same year she attended the 2018 National Junior Brangus Show in Hutchinson, Kansas and placed in showmanship, speech contest, video marketing, salesmanship and team fitting.

Payge loves agriculture but has a true passion for the cattle industry. She is excited to build her Brangus herd with other Brangus cattle and genetics. She has expressed a lot of interest in breeding ultra-blacks and percentage calves. Percentage cattle in the Brangus breed is something relatively new so Payge is excited about the opportunity to further evolve this new idea.

Payge has been instrumental in helping plan the Polk County Youth Fair Beef (Beef breed and Steer) field day that is being held at Warner University on October 12. She and others will be working with exhibitors on daily care as well as showmanship. “Payge has been a very involved exhibitor for the last three years in the steer barn, even helping out when her steer didn’t make it to the show. She has been helpful to the committee and other exhibitors. We are proud of her accomplishments and can’t think of a better representative of the Brangus breed,” said Samantha Summerlin, Steer Chairman.

This is a busy new season for Payge. She is destined for greatness and success because she thrives off new challenges.

In fall of 2019 she acquired her second Brangus heifer, also from Lettelier Brangus, this time a black one with genetics that go back to a longtime family friend who also showed cattle, Leigh Ann Barthle Raney. In Spring of this year, Payge attended the 2019 Legacy Leadership Conference that was held in Stillwater, Oklahoma. That trip sparked an interest in running for the International Junior Brangus Board. Payge wanted a bigger part to play in the Brangus breed and she knew that being a board member would be that big part. “The International Junior Brangus Breeders Association has witnessed tremendous growth in Florida over the past several years. I am excited to see Payge step into a leadership role to continue that growth and promote the Brangus breed. Her enthusiasm and work ethic make her a perfect fit for the team on the IJBBA Board of Directors,” said Traci Middleton of Mill Creek Farms and IJBBA Advisor.

In July, Payge and her parents Reggie and Melissa Nichols made the trip to Texarkana Arkansas for the 2019 National INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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Florida

Sea Grapes

By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science The sea grape is an evergreen tree that grows along the shores and sand dunes of South Florida. The fruit is not truly a grape, as we know the fruit, but refers to the spherical shape of the fruit that hangs in clusters from the branches.

Sea grapes actually belong to the buckwheat family along with sorrel and rhubarb. Native to the Caribbean, sea grape is tolerant of both salt water and drought. In the United States, sea grape is found in Florida, Mississippi, and Hawaii. The sea grape is a popular ornamental tree in Florida because it provides shade, is easy to grow, and protects the elements from wind and stabilizes sand dunes. The fruit is edible and can be used to make wine and preserves. The grapes turn from green to a burgundy color when they ripen. They are in season between August and October. The taste is a mix of sweet, bright, and tart. In the middle of each fruit is a large inedible seed.

Nutritional Profile The nutritional value of sea grapes is limited, but thought to be similar to that of regular purple grapes. Grapes are considered a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, dietary fiber, riboflavin, and potassium. The outer peel is entirely edible and contains most of the fiber in the fruit. Sea grapes also provide vitamin E, folate, iron, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.

Antioxidants to fight disease Florida grapes are full of antioxidants including vitamin C, manganese, carotenoids, resveratrol, and other phytonutrients. The highest concentration of these beneficial compounds is found in the skin and seeds, and muscadine grapes may have more than other grape varieties. Antioxidants help protect the body’s cell membranes from harmful free radical damage and lower markers of oxidative stress. Very importantly, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of grapes offer protection against cancer.

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Resveratrol is a special phytonutrient that is believed to play a role in longevity. This compound has been positively linked

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to inhibiting cancer, heart disease, and viral infections. Found in muscadine and other grape varieties, resveratrol may also have anti-microbial and anti-hypertensive properties.

Antioxidants protect cell membranes from potential oxygen damage and inflammation. This decreases the risk for atherosclerosis and heart disease. Grapes, as well as grape juice and red wine, have been shown to play a role in reducing high blood pressure, reducing total and LDL cholesterol levels, decrease inflammation, and decrease clumping of platelets (which may help prevent blood clots).

Grapes are considered an excellent source of manganese, an antioxidant that plays many important roles in the body. It helps keep bones strong, maintain normal blood sugar levels and proper functioning of the thyroid gland. Manganese also helps the body utilize other nutrients such as vitamin C, thiamin, choline, and biotin.

How to select and store Choose plump, firm sea grapes that feel heavy for their size and are still attached to the stem. Look for richly colored purple skin that is free of blemishes. Store grapes in a shallow container in the refrigerator. Rinse under cool running water before eating or preparing.

How to enjoy Sea grapes are delicious eaten out of hand when ripe. They can also be juiced or cooked into jelly or jam. Remove the inner seed, and add sea grapes to cereal, yogurt, or salad or use them to garnish and top cakes and desserts.

Enjoy Florida’s delicious sea grapes today. In every juicy, sweet-tart bite is a load of great nutrition.

Selected References http://www.whfoods.com http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

NEWS BRIEFS FFB Seeks State Advisory Committee Nominations Florida Farm Bureau is seeking nominations for its State Advisory Committee. Nominees should be familiar with the commitment to serve and importance to FFB policy development and the implementation process when considering this opportunity.

Access to the nominee application is available at: https://floridafarmbureau.formstack.com/forms/advisorycommittee_ nomination_2020. The deadline for nominations is August 30.

Crop Advising Award Nominations Sought Nominations for the 2019 Excellence in Crop Advising Award are being sought by Florida Farm Bureau, in partnership with the Florida Certified Crop Advisors Board of Directors. Together, these two organizations sponsor this award which recognizes an individual who has performed outstanding service for farmer clients in nutrient, soil and water and integrated pest management, as well as crop production. The award winner will receive a $500 cash prize and plaque presented at Florida Farm Bureau’s annual meeting.

The deadline for submissions is September 6 and access to the nomination form is available at: https://floridafarmbureau.formstack.com/forms/2019_excellence_in_crop_advising_award_nomination_form.

FBGA Creates Hall of Fame The Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) has established the Florida Blueberry Hall of Fame and named the first five honorees, distinguished leaders who have made significant contributions to the Florida blueberry industry. The Blueberry Hall of Fame display will be located at the Straughn Professional Development Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

The inaugural class of honorees includes Dr. Paul Lyrene of Gainesville, Mr. Jimmy Miller of Interlachen, Dr. Alto Straughn of Archer, the late Prof. Ralph Sharpe formerly of Gainesville and Mr. Ken Patterson of Ocala. The celebration will take place October 24 at the Mission Inn Resort and Club located in Howey-in-the-Hills.

Compiled by Jim Frankowiak

Ag Labor Relations Forum Sept. 11-13 The annual Ag Labor Relations Forum is set for September 11-13 in Orlando. Topics include Wage & Hour compliance, Ag Housing, government audits, I-9 compliance and a half-day session on the basics of the H-2A program. More information is available at https://www.floridafarmbureau.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-forum-registration-packet-1. pdf Watch the Gators v. the Volunteers September 21 Tickets, starting at $50, are now available for the football game September 21 pitting the Gators against the Tennessee Volunteers. This is Florida Farm Bureau Day with the Florida Gators. The link to buy tickets is https://fevo.me/ffbgators19.

Questions may be directed to Group Sales Representative Megan Conlon, 352/692-6406, or email: meganco@gators. ufl.edu.

Glyphosate in Beer Beer is the 3rd most consumed beverage in the world after water and tea. A consumer watchdog group, U.S. PIRG, recently issued a report noting the presence of glyphosate in popular beer and wine brands it had sampled. Glyphosate is the main ingredient in Roundup. However, the German Federal Institute for Risk Management determined you’d have to drink 2,800, 12-ounce servings of beer in one day to even approach the risk level for glyphosate. For more information, visit: https://www.firstkey.com/glyphosate-in-beer/.

Water Management District Reducing Risk of Wildfires The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) is setting prescribed fires in controlled areas in the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (LHFDA) to help reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control.

These prescribed fires will take place through August in the area south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Morris Bridge Road near Thonotosassa. Approximately 300-acres will be burned in small, manageable units.

Cattlewomen’s College Set for October 11 The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) South Florida Beef Forage group is hosting a “Cattlewomen’s College: Cattle Management for Women” October 11 at the Highlands County Fairgrounds in Sebring.

U.S. DOT Wants Public Comment on Ag Commodity Definitions The U. S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking public comment on revising agricultural commodity or livestock definitions in hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. The agency is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide clarity to U.S. farmers and commercial drivers.

Classes begin at 9 a.m. and will conclude at 4 p.m. Some of the topics include Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) and health, cattle processing, nutrition, forages and financial management. “Tuition” is $30 for the one-day event.

Additional information on the advanced rule, including how to submit comments to the Federal Register docket, is available at: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/ hours-service-drivers-definition-agricultural-commodity.

The link to sign up is: https://cattlewomenscollege.eventbrite.com.

FCC Launching Precision Ag Connectivity Task Force The Federal Communications Commission is forming a new task force to advise the commission on how to ensure farmers and ranchers have the connectivity they need to use and benefit from precision agriculture.

Ag Patrol Deputy Offers Advice Collier County Sheriff’s Sargent David Estes has advice for farmers and ranchers regarding rural property crime and basic steps for protecting against theft of equipment, supplies and fuel. He’s on FFB’s News line at https://www.floridafarmbureau.org/newsline/.

Website Provides Mosquito Control Information The UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education (PIE) has launched a website as part of a multi-faceted communication campaign to increase awareness of mosquito control in Florida.

The website, www.preventmosquitoes.org, is part of this campaign to create communication materials public officials could use to address questions and concerns from community members regarding mosquitoes.

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The task force will work with the USDA to develop policy recommendations to promote the rapid, expanded deployment of broadband Internet service on unserved agricultural land, with a goal of achieving reliable capabilities on 95 percent of agricultural land in the U.S. by 2025. The 15-member task force will include farmers and ranchers from a variety of geographic regions and farm sizes, as well as farmers representing tribal agriculture. The task force will also include Internet service providers, the electric cooperative and satellite industries, precision agriculture equipment manufacturers, state and local governments and people with relevant expertise in broadband network data collection, geospatial analysis and coverage mapping.

By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff

“Meet Your Ag Deputies”

The Polk County Sheriff’s Agricultural Crimes Unit (or Ag Crimes, as we call it) falls within the Support Services Section, in the PCSO Bureau of Support Operations. The main Ag Crimes office is located at the Bartow Airbase, in Bartow, and includes the PCSO hangar, our aircraft, watercraft, specialty and heavy-duty equipment, trailers, and mobile command units.

With Polk County being one of the leading citrus producing counties in the nation, in addition to being one of the top counties for beef cattle production, we are committed to preventing and solving crimes that occur within our agricultural community. We have programs such as “Agricultural Watch,” where we partner with property owners to be our eyes and ears in the community, as well as provide you with “No Trespassing By Order Of the Sheriff” signs which assist deputies in locating property owners during investigations and to help ward-off would-be trespassers.

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Our Agricultural Crimes Unit includes a Sergeant, nine fulltime Ag Crimes deputies, two part-time Ag Crimes deputies, and the support of the clerical staff – a full-time secretary and part-time clerical assistant. The Unit, along with the entire Support Section, falls under the command of Lieutenant Paul Wright. These dedicated members are responsible for serving the citizens of Polk County 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are the subject matter experts on crimes that are committed in rural areas, and are responsible for the upkeep and the operation of our specialty equipment, all of which are essential tools needed to navigate Polk’s rural areas and waterways, and to keep Polk County safe.

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The Ag-Deputies possess many years of experience in investigating agricultural-related crimes, including: crimes against livestock, ag-thefts, criminal mischief, trespassing, metal thefts, etc.

The Ag-Unit works hand-in-hand with our Environmental Crimes and Marine Unit, supervised by Sergeant Jason Varnadore. The Marine Unit patrols many of Polk County’s 554 lakes, assist other agencies with their waterways, and focuses on environmental issues such as illegal dumping, littering, and enforce safe-boating laws. If you have ever been in the water or in the woods, you have likely seen one of these deputies patrolling in a boat, or in a four-wheeled drive vehicle.

Another vital group under the Support Services umbrella is the Aviation Unit, supervised by Robert Gray. It’s the Aviation Unit that flies our helicopter and plane. They are our eyes in the sky, and are valuable in locating suspects, missing people, and provide protection to the deputies on the ground.

Our deputies are the best in the business. They are available to you whenever you need them – just give us a call at 863298-6200 or 863-534-7205, and request an Ag Crimes deputy if you need assistance with a crime that is unique to the agricultural community. And rest assured that while you are sleeping peaceably at night, we are out there looking for the bad guys and preventing them from hurting you, your family, your property, and your livelihood.

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s e p i c e R

Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Chef Justin Timineri

Florida Guacamole q Ingredients q 2 Florida avocados, pit removed and mashed 1 Florida tomato, diced small 2 Florida Key limes, juiced ¼ red onion, diced small 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro, roughly chopped ½ teaspoon cumin Several dashes hot sauce (optional) Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

PREPARATION Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Veggie Stuffed Florida Mushrooms q Ingredients q 24 medium-sized Florida mushroom caps, rinsed and stems removed 1 cup Florida zucchini, finely diced ½ cup Florida onion, finely diced ½ cup radish, finely chopped ½ cup breadcrumbs ½ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese 1 egg 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

PREPARATION Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine all ingredients except mushrooms; mix well. Stuff mixture into mushroom caps and place stuffed mushrooms on a large baking pan. Bake until mushrooms soften and mixture begins to brown, approximately 15 minutes.

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WHEN SHOULD I CHANGE MY BRAKE FLUID AND WHY? We get asked all the time by our customers; “what service does my bike need”?

That is a great question…but one that requires a bit of discovery to answer correctly.

First off, most fluids and service intervals are based on time and/or mileage (or hours used). As the owner it is on you to keep good records of service completed whether you do the service, you have it serviced at a dealer, or even if you have an independent shop like Cycle Stop USA complete your services.

For this article, I am going to focus on brake fluid since that is one of the most overlooked fluid services that NEEDS to be changed at the minimum of once every 24 months (2 years).

There are two basic types of brake fluids: mineral based and silicone based. The difference is vast, and it is important to note that you cannot mix the two AND even if you flush a system completely, it is not recommended that you use one in place of the other.

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Brake fluids are categorized by their “DOT” rating.

DOT ratings are regulated by the Department of Transportation (hence the “DOT” in the name) and a brake fluid’s DOT rating is the indicator of its temperature rating in hundreds. A brake fluid that is rated DOT 3 has a boiling point of 300-degrees Fahrenheit, a DOT 4 brake fluid’s boiling point is 400-degrees and so on. Since braking temperatures can vary depending on use it is easy to see why a performance vehicle

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that sees a lot of heavy braking would benefit from a higher DOT rating whereas a vehicle with a more utilitarian intended use could easily use a DOT 3 rated brake fluid.

With the introduction of ABS braking systems on many new non-autos (like motorcycles, UTV’s and ATV’s) there is a need to look at our brake fluid in more of a maintenance lens than has previously been done.

Dot 4 brake fluid is the most common and is very inexpensive to manufacture. It is easy to find at most stores and has a very high boiling point (400-degrees) and does a great job in most applications. That said it has a couple of down sides, too. The first down side is that it will destroy paint if it comes in contact with painted surfaces and is left to sit on it. The second flaw is that DOT3 and DOT4 respectively also absorb water and once this happens the fluid’s boiling point is significantly reduced, and the brake fluid will gel (become a solid) in the reservoir and the lines. Once this happens the repairs can be costly, sometimes in the thousand dollars plus range. For this reason, all OEM manufacturers and service departments recommend you flush and replace your DOT 4 brake fluid once every two years.

Simple maintenance can avoid costly repairs. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call Cycle Stop USA at 813-7542959 and as always…ride safe!

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How You Can Participate If you are interested in becoming a produce supplier for the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County EFNEP program or participating in a class, please contact:

Renee Tungett

By Jack Payne

Jack Payne speaking at an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of EFNEP in Florida

There are folks who would be your customers if they only had a way to get to your food. Or the kitchen utensils to prepare it with. Or a $10 coupon to give them a taste of what you have to offer.

It’s not your food that’s the problem. It’s the food system, the complicated ways the world works that impede the journey from your fields to a consumer’s fork. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) addresses this on a global scale through research and computer modeling. But we also do it block by block in communities in Hillsborough County.

Hillsborough County is a microcosm of the planet – lots of food produced alongside hungry or malnourished people.

Getting food to the people who need it requires a whole system, not just one-offs and hand-outs.

That approach relies on a network – and that’s where UF/ IFAS plays a key role. We know who to call. And people know to call us. That’s because we’ve been part of your community for so long.

In fact, this year the UF/IFAS Extension’s Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) marked its 50th anniversary of serving Hillsborough County. It teaches low-income residents how to eat healthier, how to buy healthier, and how to cook healthier.

It’s this group of residents, many of whom have no grocery store in their neighborhood nor a car to get to one outside their neighborhood, whom UF/IFAS helped convert into customers for Reneé Tungett.

Tungett Produce and Citrus buys fruits and vegetables in Plant City and takes them to where people are, including the Ybor City Saturday Market and to a local technical college.

Now, through EFNEP, she’s brought a produce aisle to the people who have trouble getting to a supermarket.

Tungett sets up outside the nutrition education classes at Aparicio-Levy and Brewster technical colleges. The EFNEP students finish class, walk outside, and find tomatoes, peppers, jalapeños, cucumbers, eggplant, and more. None of it canned. Much of it grown in Hillsborough County, depending on the season.

Because this happens eight weeks in a row, after each class, it’s habit-forming. People who had previously done little cooking turn into their family’s dinnertime heroes. People who believed they wouldn’t have a taste for certain greens have expanded their palate. And anecdotally, we see that after eight weeks of class and eating the fruits and vegetables that Tungett delivers, people are healthier.

Those are the kind of results AdventHealth was hoping for in partnering with us in Hillsborough County. AdventHealth believes access to healthier options offers a path to greater community health. AdventHealth calls its partnership with UF/IFAS Extension EFNEP “Food is HealthSM.”

For four years, the healthcare system has supported EFNEP by providing students with a $10 voucher for each week of class to spend on produce that gets delivered right to their classroom doors. EFNEP buys the students cutting boards, measuring cups, produce brushes, and refrigerator/freezer thermometers. EFNEP instructors under the supervision of EFNEP Extension agent Pam Bradford teach students to use their new kitchen tools.

AdventHealth has also helped turn the program into a research project. By doing health screenings at the first and final classes and sharing data with UF/IFAS scientists, AdventHealth is helping us measure the program’s impact.

Federal tax dollars fund EFNEP, and positive behavior and diet change of participants has been documented for decades. With the introduction of AdventHealth food vouchers, we at UF/IFAS, want to measure the effect the vouchers have on participants’ diets and not just assume an effect. The scientists are still crunching the numbers, but preliminary results support our belief that the Food is Health voucher program is working.

After eight weeks of class and $10 a week to buy Tungett’s vegetables: • 50 percent of students have a decreased pulse rate; • 38 percent lowered their blood glucose levels; • 56 percent have a lower body mass index.

Hillsborough County government’s proposed budget recognizes the value of EFNEP. It includes funding for UF/IFAS to hire three additional program assistants to teach nutrition classes.

AdventHealth is focused on whole-person health and keeping the community well. The organization believes making healthier choices in the kitchen plays an important role in reducing the number of visits to emergency rooms. Advent Health needed a partner to get nutritious foods into homes, and UF/IFAS was its gateway.

Stephen Gran, Hillsborough County Extension Director, knew just which vendor was mobile enough to both acquire the right food and bring it to the people who needed it. Because he sits on the board of the Ybor City Saturday Market, he was familiar with Tungett.

Gran connected Tungett and EFNEP and AdventHealth, and the bridge from farm to fork formed.

It’s how UF/IFAS is not just in the food business. It’s in the food system business. And more people are healthier -- and a produce business just a bit more profitable -- because of it.

Jack Payne is the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

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Pamela Bradford Extension Agent/Nutrition Education Supervisor Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program UF/IFAS Hillsborough County Extension 5339 CR 579 Seffner, FL 33584 Phone: 813-744-5519, ext 54125 Email: pbradford@ufl.edu

A CHANGE OF SEASONS!

by John Dicks A change of seasons is upon us!

so awfully early to get going with some three weeks before Labor Day!

Yes, it’s still hot; very hot!

No, autumn doesn’t officially begin until September 23rd. It’s the day on which we have an equal number of hours for daylight and night (at least if you’re standing on the equator), and hence the name of Equinox.

Nonetheless, when you’ve lived here awhile, you just know that mid to late August each year we start feeling the changes. People start getting serious, moving a bit faster, paying more attention to things.

A lot of it has to do with two seasons. One is the start of strawberry season; the other season is signaled by the start of another school year!

August marks the month that both get geared up.

Strawberry growers are already shaping their fields, getting things ready to pull plastic and plant plants.

According to the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, the area in and around Plant City is the home to more than 11,000 acres of strawberries. The millions of plants growing in those thousands of acres produce 15% of our nation’s strawberries and provide essentially all of the ones grown and enjoyed in the winter.

With the 20 million flats packed each year, our area’s strawberry crop provides an economic impact on our community of more than $700 million.

Such tremendous production makes it no wonder we in Plant City proudly proclaim our fair town to be the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World!

Regarding that other “season” we are entering, yes, school is back in session!

For kids learning in both Hillsborough and Polk counties, the ringing of the bell started on August 12. That seems

Of course it’s been that way for years now, but still it looks to bite into summer sooner than many young brains can startup the synapses for some serious studying.

Then again, since Florida mandates a school year of 180 days, you’ve got to get started early even if it is “hotter than blue blazes” out on the playground.

When you’re a kid in Florida, there’s basically only two seasons to the year (and one has nothing to do with strawberries).

It’s either school season, or it’s summer. Neither particularly has much to do with the weather. It’s just a state of mind.

You’re either studying, or you’re dreaming. Sometimes, of course, the two do get mixed up.

The thing about school, though, is that it has a significant effect on all of us, even those of us who are no longer officially in the system. Even the workplace seems to get more serious when school starts up.

More than anything else which stood out to me this year was the number I read as the average amount spent per family on “back to school” stuff. I call it stuff since it contains items of every kind, including not just pens, pencils, and erasers, but also backpacks, computers and tablets.

For the past 17 years, the National Retail Federation has been tracking and studying the spending habits of families with children heading back to school. Total spending by families with children in grades K-12 is expected to total $26.2 billion!

That’s a lot of crayons and markers that are filling shopping carts.

Today’s list, though, is long, including not only notebooks, folders, paper and No. 2 pencils, but today’s parents more often than not are also packing into the backpacks a big bottle of hand sanitizer as well.

It’s a sure sign that, like the song Bob Dylan used to sing, “the times, they are a changin”!

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

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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es

Save the Slithery Scarers:

EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE By Ginny Mink

Snakes get a bad rap. In fact, they are generally about as well liked as spiders. In Florida, we have a plethora of these slithery scarers (not a real word but sounded good to us). And while many people would be perfectly happy to see a decrease in their numbers, anytime the decline of a species occurs, our world deteriorates. Such is the case of the Eastern Indigo Snake.

At first glance, you might be tempted to think that this snake looks just like the black racers that hang out all over Florida.

However, there are some significant differences between these two snakes. The black racer, of course, gains part of its name from its speed. Eastern Indigo snakes, on the other hand, are actually quite slow moving comparatively. And, because they are a threatened species, the likelihood of you having seen one is quite improbable. Black racers have white chins and are relatively skinny while Eastern Indigos are stocky and usually have red or orange on their chins.¹ These snakes are the largest native snakes we have in Florida and in the United States as a whole. In fact, they can grow to almost nine feet in length. They can be found throughout south and central Florida, but they are more likely to be discovered in northern Florida in sandhill habitats. They don’t appear to be big fans of wetlands. But, for the sake of their life cycle they actually need a variety of habitats. In the winter they have to find shelter and can be found coexisting with gopher tortoises within the tortoises’ burrow. But they are also known to seek refuge in hollow logs and the burrows of land crabs, rodents, and armadillos.² The Eastern Indigo is nonvenomous. Their diets consist of toads, frogs, lizards, small alligators, turtles and their eggs, small mammals, and birds. Between November and April, they breed, and then they nest between May and August. Female Eastern Indigos can lay up to 12 eggs a year and those eggs hatch 90 days after they are laid. Eggs are usually placed in gopher tortoise burrows. Scientists believe that these snakes may be capable of asexual reproduction, or that females can defer fertilization by retaining the sperm.³ As stated previously, the Eastern Indigo is nonvenomous. In fact, these snakes rarely bite people. They will, of course, bite enemies, prey, and each other when they are in the midst of aggressive male versus male competition. Because they are not constrictors, they must use their muscular jaws and sheer size to overpower their prey, which they consume head first.

Eastern Indigos eat all venomous snake species native to Florida and the Southeastern US. This makes them incredibly valuable. And, though they could get bitten by these venomous snakes, biologists have determined that they might be mostly immune to rattlesnake venom.⁴

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Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation are the main threats to the continued existence of the Eastern Indigo snake. Urban development is to blame for the majority of the habitat issues these beneficial snakes are experiencing. The more fragmented habitats become, the less ability these areas

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have to support viable populations of Eastern Indigo snakes.

Additionally, people who hunt for rattlesnakes in gopher tortoise burrows often kill these snakes needlessly. Thankfully, these snakes have been protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act as a Federally-designated Threatened species.³ The scientific name for the Eastern Indigo is Drymarchon corais couperi. That first word, drymarchon, means forest ruler. This is a suitable name for these snakes because they are at the top of the food chain in their native habitats. So, losing them is creating significant biodiversity issues. For this reason, Alabama is focusing on restoration of its longleaf pine forests so that they can reintroduce the Eastern Indigo there. They believe that returning the Eastern Indigo to their state will “restore a piece of the natural history of the state.”⁴ Obviously the scientists there are not underestimating the value of these native snakes.

Though we understand that many people are creeped out by snakes and would prefer they were all gone from the planet, it is important to understand that every species was initially placed here by the Creator. He always has a plan and a purpose for what He does. Therefore, maintaining the well being and existence of all animal and plant species is part of our jobs as stewards of this great earth. If you want to know how to get more involved in animal and plant life conservation efforts, we suggest contacting the Florida Wildlife Federation at (850) 656 7113.

Resources: ¹Evans, P. & Carnevale, S. (2018). Commonly Confused Snakes in Central Florida. UF|IFAS Blogs. http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ polkco/2018/04/26/commonly-confused-snakes-in-central-florida/ ²National Park Service. (2017). Eastern Indigo Snake: Species Profile. https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/easternindigosnake.htm ³Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Eastern Indigo Snake- Drymarchon corais couperi. https://myfwc. com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/snakes/eastern-indigo-snake/ ⁴Fish and Wildlife Service. Eastern Indigo Snake Fact Sheet. https://www.fws.gov/panamacity/resources/EasternIndigoSnakeFactSheet.pdf Photo credits: Braindamaged217. (2009). Indigo. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/ p/6LQ7d1 Florida Fish and Wildlife. (2010). Eastern Indigo Snake. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/dyxdkJ Peterson, Charles (Chuck). (2016). Captive Eastern Indigo Snake. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/22Q1m5v WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

CROP INSURANCE: IT PAYS TO MANAGE YOUR RISK When you purchase risk management coverage with Farm Credit of Central Florida, we return a portion of our commission as patronage dividends to eligible stockholders.

Patronage dividends could help lower the cost of insurance premiums, saving you money as you manage your risk.

Farm Credit of Central Florida is glad to discuss how we can save you money on your crop insurance with patronage dividends. Feel free to contact our crop insurance specialist, Regina Thomas, at 407.721.4687 or rthomas@farmcreditcfl.com.

Patronage dividend distribution is subject to eligibility. Certain limitations, conditions, and exclusions apply for crop insurance. Please refer to the policy for more details.

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Apiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 15 Blueberries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 20

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A Closer LookAmazing Activities Naturally

by Sean Green

Portable Toilet

Camping is a great experience for many of us. The challenge of surviving even a few nights without our modern creature comforts is part of the thrill. There are certain creature comforts for which there is simply no compromise, the most common of which is a toilet. Many campgrounds have facilities to accommodate our urban conditioning to make the camping experience more agreeable, but there are situations in which urban comforts will not be available. National forests for example, or worse, a natural disaster like a strong storm or hurricane. In these situations, it is good to have backup plan. This month we are making a very simple portable toilet that can be used to make backwoods primitive camping a little more comfortable and can be kept for use if any of our Florida storms force us out of our comfort zone.

Supplies: 5-gallon bucket Small trash bag Cat Litter (recommended but not required) Toilet paper Knife Swim Noodle

Production: • Cut a small wedge out of the noodle so it will clamp onto the side of the 5-gallon bucket.

• Cut a slit out of the bucket handle bracket (so toilet paper roll can easily be changed.)

• Pop one side of the bucket handle out and thread a toilet paper onto the handle, replace handle to the bracket.

• Place a small garbage bag into the 5-gallon bucket and add a little bit of cat litter.

• Press the swimming noodle onto the edge of the bucket for a comfortable cushiony seat.

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If you are camping, remember to pack your waste out with you just as if were trash. Human feces takes about a year to biodegrade, can be an environmental hazard. If the trash bag is tied tightly, it will be sanitary and will not produce foul odors.

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A Closer Look

by Sean Green

Azalea Caterpillar (Datana major)

I went hiking in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area in Hernando County recently to check out some of central Florida’s caves. In hopes of discovering new caves, we got off the beaten path and saw quite a lot of wildlife. Though our trip was not centered upon finding any specific species, we had hoped to find a Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar (Citheronia regalis) or at least a Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar (Papilio cresphontes) because…. well, the larvae look like bird droppings and adults are the largest butterfly in North America, two cool factors that make finding these caterpillars worth the effort. Though we did not find any of the caterpillars we would have liked to see, we were a little surprised to find what appeared to be Azalea caterpillars (Datana major). When I hear talk of Azalea, it’s usually in terms of a prized ornamental plant someone is trying to keep alive. I do not know much about the plants, but caterpillars in the Datana genus are easily recognized and kind of a big deal. This month we will take a closer look at the Datana caterpillar, commonly known as the Azalea caterpillar. You might find them in your own back yard if you grow Azalea, or any of the alternative host plants these critters like to eat.

can strip the host plant clean of its leaves seemingly overnight. Although this rarely kills the host plant it can slow its growth and is certainly unsightly for anyone that cherishes azaleas.

The Azalea caterpillar is a member of the Notodontidae family of moths, commonly known as “Prominent” or “Back Tooth” moths; a family that consists of around 3,500 species. These moths are medium-sized nocturnal moths and are generally pretty drab in color, typically shades of gray, olive green, tan or brown. Some may have black spots or streaks, but moths in this family are not particularly visually stunning. These moths can be found worldwide but most are found in the new world tropics. This species scientific name Notodontidae translates to back(not) tooth (odont), the back-tooth moth because of a prominent tuft of hair on the back edge of the four wings that tends to stick up, resembling a tooth when the adult moth is at rest with its wings in a tent shape.

Physically removing the caterpillars from the plant is always my preference over toxins, however this species feed in very large groups and hand removal may not be practical. It’s important to remember the natural enemies that help control these caterpillars in the wild live in the leaf litter and soil.

When we grow the host plant in our gardens and homes we may inadvertently disturb the habitat these natural enemies need to survive when we mulch and rake the soil to keep our gardens neat. Again, natural enemies are not always a viable solution because when the food source (caterpillars) diminish, so do the natural enemies until the food source becomes abundant enough to repopulate the natural enemies. A popular alternative to just letting nature take its course is the use of the microbial insecticide BT which is the bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis), commonly marketed as a control agent for caterpillars because it is less likely to effect beneficial insects as much as popular toxins.

The adult moths do not feed and remain alive only long enough to mate. Once mated adult female moths lay their eggs on the underside of the host plants leaves in clutches of up to 100 eggs. For most of the United States the species has only one generation per year, however, in Florida’s tropical climate we can see two or more generations per year, the most prominent populations occur throughout North America between July and October. The caterpillars, rather than the adult moth, are what makes this species a big deal. When the eggs hatch the tiny caterpillars emerge and immediately begin to feed on the leaves of their host plant Azalia and it is their eating habits that make this species so remarkable. For the first few instars, the young caterpillars only skeletonized the leaves, but as they grow, they will need more nutrition to prepare for pupation and begin to eat the entire leaf. This may not seem like a big deal if you are imagining a few caterpillars on your plant, however, unlike many other caterpillars, the azalea caterpillars do not wander around as individuals, but rather, feed on the host plant as a group and consequently

Another solution, (and one of my favorites) is the use of Diatomaceous Earth. It is non-toxic because it is little more than the fossilized exoskeletons of microscopic diatoms, a single cell algae that is distinguished as being the only organism on our planet with cell walls composed of silica. This is effective because silica is a quartz-like compound that is as sharp as glass. Diatomaceous earth works by literally cutting the insect from the bottom side as it walks across the tiny shards of silica.

Take a closer look at your garden this month, as we move into most active period for the Azalea caterpillar. If spotted in time you have a good chance of saving your Azalea during the next couple months that we should see large populations of this caterpillar.

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Although these caterpillars prefer to feed on Azalea they are known to also feed on blueberries, apple trees, red oak, witch hazel, crabapple and sumac. The caterpillars are easy to recognize, though their appearance changes slightly as the caterpillar grows. The younger caterpillars are reddish brown in color and have yellow stripes along the length of its body. In the latter stages of the caterpillar’s development it will grow to be two inches long and its coloration will change to black with yellow or white stripes and a red head. A fun characteristic of these caterpillars that can easily be observed is their group defensive posture. When they feel threatened, they assume a defensive posture by arching their back into a c shape, not just one caterpillar, but the entire group of caterpillars will assume this defensive posture and it can be quite entertaining to watch. They do not sting and can safely be touched or handled for mechanical removal from the host plant.

Florida Brangus Juniors SHINE at National Jr. Brangus Show Florida was blessed to have 19 outstanding junior Brangus members and more than 40 head of Brangus cattle travel nearly 2,200 miles round trip to compete in the 42nd Annual National Junior Brangus Show & Brangus Futurity (NJBS) that was held in Texarkana, July 14-19, 2019. The Florida Crew, as they are affectionately known, has been practicing with their various teams since the Florida State Fair in February 2019 in preparation for their time in the national spotlight. It was certainly evident as to why we are from the Sunshine State, because Florida’s Crew truly shined.

Leading up to the National Jr. Brangus Show, Emily and Lauren Lettelier of Lettelier Brangus hosted the Southeast Jr. Brangus Breeders for their 1st Annual Champion Drive Cattle Camp in Citra, Florida. This allowed the 100+ attendees to learn more about the Brangus breed and NJBS contests and rules they needed to be prepared and highly competitive for in July. This practice definitely paid dividends and Florida Crew’s took home a wealth of awards in this nationally renowned competition.

HERE IS FLORIDA’S CREW RESULTS FROM THE NATIONAL JUNIOR BRANGUS SHOW:

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▪• Harold Baxley, Madison, FL was 2nd place in PeeWee Showmanship, 3rd place PeeWee skillathon and 3rd place Costume contest.

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• Lynn Baxley, Madison, FL was a PeeWee Showmanship participant, 3rd place PeeWee skillathon and won 1st place in the very competitive Costume Contest.

▪• Lindsleigh Carte of Live Oak, FL got a call back and made it to the final drive in the coveted team fitting and showing competition. She also participated in several contests.

• Maddie Carte, Live Oak, FL won 1st Place Intermediate in the Computer-Generated Advertisement Contest and 2nd Place Salesmanship with team members Railee Steele and Carlee Taylor.

▪• Payge Dupre of Kathleen, FL placed 2nd in Intermediate Video Marketing, 3rd place in Intermediate Speech Contest and a Callback in Junior Showmanship. She was elected to serve on the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association (IJBBA) Board of Directors.

▪• Hunter Dupre of Kathleen, FL was awarded two scholarships from the International Brangus Auxiliary to be used for his college education.

▪• Madilyn Nichols of Kathleen, FL won 3rd place junior in the video marketing contest.

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in Salesmanship with Railee Steele and Maddie Carte and 2nd in the Junior Division for Video Marketing.

▪• The Ward Family of Christmas, FL was awarded the longest traveled award and their daughter Kylie won 1st place in the Senior Photography Contest and 3rd Place in Computer Generated Advertisement. Their son Connor won 2nd place in Senior Photography and Division Champion with his Brangus bull in the Brangus Futurity open show. Their daughter Kinley was named Champion Peewee Showman, 2nd place in the Peewee Photo Contest and 2nd place in the Skillathon contest – Peewee Division.

We would like to extend our thanks to Tom Hayford of Hayford Brangus in Bonifay for building and donating the Branded Bench, which grossed more than $11,250 for the IJBBA’s Legacy Foundation and for his service as a member the IJBBA Advisory Board.

▪• Casey Harper, Haines City, FL had the Champion Division Bull in the open Brangus Futurity.

▪• Cason Hayford, Bonifay, FL won 6th overall novice showman and was 1st Place in the ticket sales for the Branded Bench fundraiser to support the IJBBA Legacy Foundation.

He placed 2nd in his class with his percentage heifer and 4th in his class with his Brangus heifer.

▪• Jayden Pinkston of Pasco County participated in the speech contest, photography, computer generated advertisement, quiz bowl, barnyard olympics and skillathon. She placed 4th in her class with her Brangus Cow/Calf pair and 3rd in her class with her yearling Brangus heifer.

If any youth between the ages of 7-21 has an interest in showing Brangus cattle, the Southeast Jr. Brangus Breeders will host their Southeast Regional Jr. Brangus Show September 21-22 in Live Oak, Florida. For more information, please contact Tom and Vicki Hayford at 850-956-2319. We look forward to seeing you in Live Oak!

▪• Jesse Pinkston of Pasco County placed 2nd in his class with his Ultra Brangus heifer and participated in skillathon, photography, showmanship and barnyard olympics.

▪• Cassidy Eramo from Hillsborough County placed 1st in the class with her Ultra Brangus and 4th in her class with her Brangus heifer. She participated in livestock judging contest, skilla-thon, quiz bowl, team fitting and grooming and received a call back for showmanship.

▪• Allyson Polston Sapp and Cassidy Polston completed their service on the IJBBA Board of Directors.

▪• Railee Steele, Alachua, FL was on the 2nd place team for Salesmanship along with Carlee Taylor and Maddie Carte. In the show ring, Railee had the Reserve Senior Calf Ultra Brangus Champion in the NJBS and Brangus Futurity, and NJBS Junior Heifer Ultra Brangus Champion.

▪• Kameron Steele, Alachua, FL won Reserve Grand Champion Ultra Brangus Cow/Calf Pair.

▪• Carlee Taylor of Lakeland, FL was named the High Point Junior Exhibitor for the NJBS that had more than 165 exhibitors from 10 states. Carlee won NJBS Grand Champion Ultra Cow/ Calf pair, which she bred and owned, and Grand Champion Ultra Cow/Calf Pair in the Brangus Futurity open show. Carlee also had the Senior Division Champion Ultra Female. She placed 3rd in the Junior Division for Computer-Generated Advertisement, 2nd Overall in Novice Showmanship, 2nd place INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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ANXIETY ABOUT

SCHOOL

COULD BE FEAR OF

FAILURE

— 4-H HAS A SOLUTION

By Samantha Murray Is your child feeling anxious about the start of the new school year?

With increasing pressure to excel academically, some kids may feel like failure is not an option, said Stacey Ellison, interim associate director of the Florida 4-H Youth Develop Program, part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension.

Fear of making mistakes can make a child less successful in the long run, she said.

“The research tells us that if kids are afraid of failing, they’ll shy away from experiences where they might experience failure, missing opportunities for learning and growth. When kids have a space where it’s okay to fail, they’re more open to new things and more resilient in the face of challenges,” Ellison said.

One of the missions of 4-H, the nation’s oldest youth development program, is to create safe spaces where kids can experiment without fear of failure hanging over them, Ellison said.

The adult volunteers who mentor 4-H members provide a positive perspective on failures and celebrate moments of growth, she explained.

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“If a child forgets part of her speech, the feedback will be on what she did well and what she needs to practice more. If a child needed to spend more time training their animal, they know to start earlier next year. If a child has to rebuild a robot, then their perseverance is the success,” Ellison said.

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Fear of failure can also cause some kids to avoid the unfamiliar. If they stick to what they know, kids might struggle to figure out what interests them and, ultimately, what they want to do as adults.

“Unlike many other programs for kids, which usually just focus on one thing, 4-H offers youth a buffet of activities they can be involved in,” Ellison said.

And they don’t have to stick with just one activity.

“A child might come in the door because they want to learn about horses and then quickly decide they are much more interested in robotics or leadership. That’s all possible under the 4-H umbrella,” Ellison said.

4-H is available in every county in Florida. To contact your local 4-H program, visit http://solutionsforyourlife.org/findyour-local-office.

The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS web site at ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media at @UF_IFAS. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Polk County Cattle Women The annual Florida Cattlemen’s Convention in Marco proved once again to be very informative with a lot of fellowship and good clean fun for all ages. I hope that everyone that was able to attend had an awesome experience. I would like to give a special thank you to our very own Polk County Sweetheart Hannah Cline for participating in all the sweetheart event, even though we later found out that she was very ill. She continues to make us proud. Thank you, Hannah! I would also like to mention that the Polk County Cattlewomen participated in this years “Just Ranchin” Poster contest, and took first place, which awarded us $400 toward our scholarship fund. Thank you so much to Bailey Buchanon for putting that together for us.

We had a great turn out at the Polk County Cattlemen’s annual meeting, Summer Dinner and Cake Auction, the cattlemen prepared a delicious steak dinner and offered a brief presentation on the importance of the new EID requirements. Kenny Raney auctioned our homemade treats to help fund next year’s scholarships, and lastly the PCCW awarded the recipients of the 2019 scholarships. Again, good food and fellowship.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Forage Management Tour & Workshop – Sept. 19, Seminole Tribe of FL, Sebring Cattlewomen’s College: Cattle Management for Women Trade show, October 11,2019 10am – 12pm.

Alvin C. Warnick Reproductive Management School – November 5-7, Longino Ranch, Sidell For more information about these programs please visit the UF/IFAS South Florida Beef Forage Program’s Events page at http://sfbfp.ifas.ufl.edu/events%20 2019.shtml [sfbfp.ifas.ufl.edu].

As always, PCCW welcomes new members. If you are interested in joining, our next meeting will be at the Ag Complex in Bartow, Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30PM. We would love to see new faces. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, #863205-3977.

Missy McLaughlin-Raney

Polk County Cattlewomen President

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