In The Field magazine Polk County edition

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We have toys for ALL ages this Holiday season!

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CONTENTS

DECEMBER 2019 VOL. 13 • ISSUE 4 Polk County Cattlemen’s Association 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

PAGE 10 Winter Gardening

PAGE 32 PCSO PAGE 33 Recipes

PAGE 12 Tristen Walling

PAGE 35 Jack Payne

PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots

PAGE 36 John Dicks

PAGE 16 Frost Protection PAGE 18 Rancher’s Daughter

PAGE 38 Endangered Species

PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter

PAGE 40 Activity

PAGE 24 Bread Fruit

PAGE 41 A Closer Look

PAGE 25 News Briefs

PAGE 42 Crumble & Cream

PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine

PAGE 45 PCCW

PAGE 28 Harmonious Greens

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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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 Merry Christmas! It’s the most joyous time of the year. Or is it? Of course we have all the eating, drinking, gift giving, family and friend time that the holiday’s bring, but along with the fun, comes stress.

Everyone strives to create the concept of a “perfect Christmas.” The expectations from Christmas movies are a bit unrealistic, but that sets the bar for many people. Toss social media in the mix, with everyone searching for ‘Likes’ and to outdo each other, it’s a perfect storm for anxiety.

Christmas is a time for family, but often there is travel involved to get families together, adding yet another level of stress. We all know how much fun travel can be during the holiday season.

There are also those who have had tragic events occur during the Christmas season. A time of laughter, fun and family to some, becomes a time of sorrow and remembrance for others.

How do we avoid this holiday stress? It’s probably not feasible to think we can avoid it all together. But there are a few things you can do to help keep things in check so to speak.

Set a budget. Stick to it. Don’t give in to temptation!

Be realistic about your expectations. We don’t live in a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Take some time out for yourself. This could be the most difficult one of all, but a step back will help put the Christmas spirit back in your heart.

Most of all, have fun and remember the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Luke 2:11-14 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

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

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

Have a safe and Happy New Year!

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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Mon. - Sat.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

813-752-2379

3014 S. Jim Redman Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • southsidewesternwear.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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Dear PCCA Members, Well Christmas is upon us and as we close out the 2019 year, let us hope that 2020 brings better calf prices and a better outlook for the entire beef industry. I wanted to say thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve as president for 2018-2019. We are excited about focusing on our future with our youth and getting them involved in sharing our heritage and showing their passion for the cattle and beef industry.

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The Polk County Jr. Cattlemen’s Association has been re-established and will be becoming more active in 2020 with various activities and industry opportunities for the youth interested in cattle and the BEEF Industry to get involved. The dues are $20 a year and that includes the state JFCA $10 dues and a Polk County T-shirt. The Juniors will also be selling brands for their 2020 Branded Ta-

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ble, as well as selling $10 raffle tickets from January to April on the table to help send teams to the State Contests in June 2020. If you have any youth that are interested in being involved, please reach out to Joe Bennett at 863-581-6506.

I would like to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Until next time, ENJOY MORE BEEF!

Carlton Taylor Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President

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WHAT TO PLANT NOW:

WINTER GARDENING IN POLK COUNTY

By Anne Yasalonis UF/IFAS Extension Polk County

Its winter in Polk County, and the weather is cooling down. This time of year lends itself to a multitude of gardening and landscaping tasks. It is a great time to plant shrubs and trees, as well as many vegetables and herbs. If you need to know what to plant now, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County can help.

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Before selecting and installing any plant, make sure you have done some research. It is important to select the right plant for the right place. This is a principle of Florida-Friendly Landscaping that encourages working with the conditions in your

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yard versus against them. Determine the type of soil, water and light requirements, and available space before you purchase and install your new plant. The concepts of right plant, right place can help reduce future maintenance. Following the principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping can beautify your yard, increase energy efficiency in and around your home, and increase your property values--while at the same time providing environmental benefits such as reducing stormwater runoff, providing wildlife habitat and reducing water use.

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The following plants are great choices to plant in your yard now! If you have questions on any of the plants recommended, we suggest that you refer to The Florida-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design (found here: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/FYN_Plant_Selection_ Guide_2015.pdf).

Medium to large shrubs for sunny, well-drained yards: Firebush (Hamelia patens), Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), and Firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis).

Small to medium shrubs for shady locations: Wild coffee (Pyschotria nervosa), Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) and Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae genera).

Plants that tolerate a variety of conditions (they can grow in sun or shade and a variety of soil types, check mature size of plants before selecting): Coontie cycad (Zamia pumila), Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum), and Simpson’s Stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans).

Vegetables to plant: There are so many vegetables that grow well in the cool season. Onions,

Herbs to plant: Many herbs do well in the cool season, and many can grow over multiple seasons.

Parsley, chives, fennel and coriander/cilantro will produce well and add flavor to your cool season cooking.

Finally, remember that we are just a click (or phone call) away and ready to help!

Did you know that you can contact our Plant Clinic with any and all of your gardening and landscaping questions? Do you have an insect to identify?

A problem with your lawn? Is your favorite plant “mysteriously dying”? We can help find a solution to your query. Contact us Monday-Friday between 9:00 am-4:00 pm at (863) 519-1041, email us at polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu or visit us online at http:// sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk. We also have a monthly newsletter, Your Polk Yard, and you can sign up and subscribe on our website.

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turnips, beets, carrots, potatoes and broccoli grow well now. Don’t forget that our leafy greens grow in the cool season. Now is the time to grow arugula, spinach, lettuce, mustard, collards, cabbage, kale and chard.

LAKELAND NATIVE SELECTED TO BEEF SHOW TEAM Tristen Walling Selected as Member of CSC Livestock Show Team

Tristen Walling of Lakeland, FL was recently selected as a member of the Beef Show Team at Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma. Walling is a 2019 graduate of George Jenkins High School. She is the daughter of Tiffany and Tony Walling and is a freshman at CSC and pursuing an Associates of Science in Pre-Veterinary Medicine.

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Beef Show Team members work with breeding beef cattle. Members work with the college farm, feeding, grooming and complete daily maintenance of the herds. Students are responsible for preparing tack and equipment for the shows. They break the animals to lead and train them for display in the show ring. Connors State has a rich tradition at the over 100-yearold farm. Currently the farm has Santa Gertrudis that are exhibited by the team members. Students assist at Purebred Production Sales and County Livestock Shows in the area. Team members are also responsible for grooming the bulls and their presentation and han-

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dling during the college’s bull sales in December and April of each year. Show team members gain valuable experience and skills in livestock training and handling as well as an insight in the beef industry.

CSC’s Show Team travels and exhibits at the Ozark Empire Show, Missouri State Fair, Oklahoma State fair, Tulsa State fair, Arkansas State fair, Dallas State fair, Louisiana State fair, Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, San Antonio Livestock show, the Dixie National Livestock show, and the Houston livestock show and rodeo. “The Show Team members get the opportunity to show at some of the most prestigious show across the U.S. and the opportunity to network with other cattle breeders,” said Connors State College Show Team coach Larry McFarland.

Connors State College is a two-year agriculture college located in east central Oklahoma. For more information visit the CSC website at connorsstate.edu.

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RETAIL INSIGHTS Retail Insights is a subscription based product designed to enable the produce marketer the ability to see what the retail markets are selling their commodities for to the consumer. By seeing the retail sale to the consumer and marrying historical retail sales with historic volumes RETAIL INSIGHTS helps the marketer develop strategies as they plan out the promotion timing for the current crop.

Once the estimated volume and timing of the crop is determined the Marketer then is able to match up historically similar crops with retail promotions required to efficiently market the crop minimizing over supply and under supply with the end result being a more efficient system of farm to consumer.

The data used to develop Retail Insights is all open source.

Highland creates data analytics dashboards that help marketers digest and make decisions on how to promote based on real information instead of guessing which often times hurts the entire growing, distribution, retail and consumer.

Sign up

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

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

To take full advantage of the OFRR and for PSR compliance, one farm representative should first attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training.

Upcoming trainings can be found at: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/events

Funding for this statement was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Tampa Bay Fishing Report December 2019 Capt. Woody Gore

January means low tides, low humidity, pleasant days, and decent fishing.

Greenbacks begin getting scarce, but shrimp always catches fish. However, winter is still an excellent time to experiment with artificial lures.

So, as winter moves in try your hand tossing a few artificial lures around a Tampa Bay broken bottom grass flat and learn how you will always have something in the tackle box to catch fish with even when live bait is not available.

Snook - Snook can be found in Canals, rivers, and creeks, especially those with structure receiving heat from the sun. On bright sunny days, check broken-bottom grass flats with large sandy potholes because they are the ticket for snook. As the water cools, snook tend to migrate to these areas for protection from colder waters. You often find them sunning themselves in shallow sandy areas. Do not forget the bridges, pilings, and the deepwater docks along the Hillsborough, Alafia, Little Manatee, and Manatee River. They are decent places to start if you are looking for some larger linesiders. Try finger mullet, small ladyfish, pins, and jumbo shrimp; do not forget topwater lures early in the morning or jigs and soft plastics as the sun gets up.

Redfish - January is excellent fishing

Weedon Island, Double Branch, Port Manatee, Old Ferry Dock Flats, and Joe’s Island. Often larger fish over 30 inches work the outer edges and channels on low water. Serious redfish anglers discovered that redfish love hanging with mullet because as mullet feed on tiny sea plants and sea lettuce, they stir up food for the redfish. You need to learn to distinguish the difference between the wake of schooling mullet and redfish. Watch for any change in water movement, this is a sure sign. Redfish wakes are usually higher than mullet. You can expect and enjoy some excitement by pitching soft plastics around the mangrove tree lines. You never know when a large snook might strike. If you like wading, the low winter tides associated with winter offer excellent fishing for tailing redfish and others.

As you amble along slowly, be sure to shuffle your feet because we get plenty of stingrays this time of year.

Spotted Sea Trout - Drifting the

Tampa Bay grass flats and tossing soft plastic curly tail artificial lures also produces plenty of fun. Look to potholes to hold the larger spotted sea trout. Check the grass flats around Weedon Island, Culbreath Bayou, Pinellas Point, Joe Island, Tarpon Key, and Fort Desoto for decent trout action.

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for redfish. You often find schools of Cobia – Cobia should start showing reds cruising around the flats near up with the cooler water tempera-

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tures, so watch the hot water runoffs at local power plants.

Jumbo shrimp, small crabs, or pinfish work. If you are interested in artificial lures, try a large worm bait about 8 to 10 inches rigged on a Jighead. Cobia cannot resist anything resembling an eel.

Sheepshead/Snappers – You can find sheepshead and man-

grove snapper around the many fish attractors and rock piles located throughout Tampa Bay. Also, check out the bridges and deep water docks of residential canals. Try using shrimp, fiddler or small rock crabs, green mussels, or oysters. Scrape the pilings to get them going.

“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”

813-477-3814

Captain Woody Gore’s Guide Service: The area’s top-notch outdoor fishing guide service. He’s guided and fished the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years and offers first-class customer service, outstanding fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories.

Single Boat, Multi-Boat and Group Charters: With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coordinate any size group, outing, or tournament.

Website www.captainwoodygore.com Email fishing@captainwoodygore.com

With every generation, we get better at protecting our environment.

Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.

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By Brad Buck

LONG UF/IFAS TRADITION: CITRUS GROWERS CAN CALL FOR FROST PROTECTION INFORMATION

Just one freeze could cripple much of Florida’s citrus crop. It happened 30 years ago. Chris Oswalt, a multi-county commercial citrus agent for UF/IFAS Extension, remembers the frost-bitten evenings. Christmas 1983, January 1985 and Christmas 1989 marked three of the worst citrus freezes in the state’s history.

Even though you don’t see frequent frosts in citrus groves, Oswalt espouses the virtues of a service called “Winter Weather Watch.”

Citrus growers can subscribe to “Winter Weather Watch” each year, from November through March.

Through “Winter Weather Watch,” established about 50 years ago by UF/IFAS Extension, Florida citrus growers can get weather information and expertise on how to protect their fruit from a freeze.

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“Winter Weather Watch” costs $100 for updated weather forecasts targeted specifically to citrus growers, anytime, day or night, Oswalt said. To subscribe, go to http://citrusagents. ifas.ufl.edu/newsletters/oswalt/November2019.pdf. Growers call a number to get the latest short- and long-term weather forecasts to keep their crops from cold damage.

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“These are the official forecasts out of the National Weather Service (NWS) offices in Tampa and Miami,” said Oswalt. The forecasts cover the citrus-producing counties in Florida, from Polk in the north to Collier in the southwest.

Fred Crosby, formerly the meteorologist-in-charge for the weather service in Ruskin, near Tampa, helps UF/IFAS Extension with the interpretation of the NWS weather forecasts.

“He was there when the NWS provided agricultural weather forecasting and did a lot of that over his career in Ruskin,” Oswalt said.

The program originated because the growers needed information when cold weather was approaching. The weather service office in Ruskin always provided agricultural weather forecasts, Oswalt said.

But sometimes a phone line – or a forecaster – wasn’t easily accessible to citrus growers who needed weather information fast. Only two or three meteorologists might be working the overnight shift, so sometimes the line would be busy, and that does no good for the grower who needs weather and crop protection data as fast as possible.

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Because of limited technology, UF/IFAS Extension agents would record weather information on a machine, and growers could call that number. That was the genesis of “Winter Weather Watch,” Oswalt said.

“Growers could subscribe to this service and get this ag weather forecast,” he said. And they still can today. “We provide growers with weather information and the education they need to better help protect their crop.”

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CONFESSION OF A RANCHER’S DAUGHTER

By Marisol Tarango When people think of Christmas for the rancher’s daughter, they often think of the many Christmas movies that revolve around the rancher’s family finding the Christmas spirit and keeping secrets on the ranch. There might be a pony kept hidden in the barn until Christmas morning, or an emergency with the animals on Christmas Eve. In these movies the dad walks into the house from a hard day at work to be greeted by excited children wanting to show him the tree that they decorated. The mom spends extra time and saved up money to make sure each child gets the perfect gift for Christmas. These movies are idyllic and might cause some to roll their eyes, but there is actually some truth to these somewhat predictable movies.

by, along with his due date, and Christmas was drawing near.

My sisters and I were hoping that he would be a Christmas baby, but our mom was praying that he would come soon. Finally, about a week before Christmas she finally said that the baby was going to come. Since we lived a long way from the midwife, we stayed at our uncle’s house in town. The whole weekend we played with our uncle and other family members, always pausing to check in on our mom, and then run back out. Our uncle did everything to keep us busy, going to the park, decorating for Christmas in every way possible, watching movies, but finally five days before Christmas we woke up to a new baby brother!

CONFESSION #7: Yes, I have actually lived through some Christmas movie moments.

Sometimes childhood Christmases were not so sentimental, but just a memorable. One Christmas, when we were all older, all five of us told our mom we wanted a 4-slice toaster. We had seen a funny meme on Facebook of a guy all busted up from the Black Friday crowd, but by golly he had got his 4-slice toaster! A 4-slice toaster… Now, it probably sounds strange for all five children to ask for a toaster, but when there are six people waiting to get toast, and there are only two slots to the toaster, and people want seconds…it can take a while to get your toast. That Christmas morning, we got our 4-slice toaster and boxes of frozen waffles for our family gift! It was amazing what a difference that 4-slice toaster made. When people asked us what our favorite Christmas present was that year, we all said, without hesitation, the 4-slice toaster! We received some odd looks, but when you come from a large family you tend to appreciate different things.

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The Christmas that I was five years old, my sister and I wanted a pony. Not just any pony, a palomino pony with a golden mane and tail. Like any good father, my dad set out on a quest to find his little girls the perfect pony and didn’t stop until he finally found it. After only one day of trying to keep us from the barn, my parents decided that they weren’t going to be able to keep the pony hidden until Christmas. It was just a few days before Christmas and my grandparents were over for dinner.

My sister and I had no suspicion of the monumental surprise that was about to happen and were happily showing off our miniature Christmas trees when our dad announced he had a surprise. Waiting inside with our grandma and baby sister, we impatiently tried to guess what the surprise was and fought the temptation to peek out the window. Finally, our dad whistled, and we ran outside to find our Christmas pony! That was one My memories may be unique to a lot of people, but everyof the rare moments my sister and I were breathless, but there one has those first pony moments! A memory that makes your childhood Christmas come alive and makes you feel giddy stood our palomino pony with golden mane and tail, Bronco. about the season. So, this season, be on the lookout for those Another Christmas when we were much older, and there were moments and make them happen for the next generation! four of us girls instead of just three, we received an even better Merry Christmas!

Christmas present. A baby brother! Since it was just us four girls, we were excited to finally have a little brother to play with, but P.S. We still have frozen waffles for breakfast on Christmas this baby brother just wouldn’t come. Early December passed morning!

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

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

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

Hallmark introduced their first Christmas cards in 1915.

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

Come see what’s NEW at Fancy Farms Market

Strawberry Santa has the Perfect Gift for You This Season

Delicious Strawberry Desserts Using Family Recipe Full Selection of Produce and our Flavorful Strawberries And Much More

Produce Stand: 5204 Drane Field Rd. | 813.478.3486 or 813.754.4852 | FancyFarms.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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

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

dom used. Open any page and you’re likely to find a word you have never heard, whether it’s gongoozle, which means to stare idly at a watercourse and do nothing, or zwodder, a feeling of drowsiness. We see it, and think to ourselves that we absolutely must use it in conversation.

I went to Google on my computer and looked it up, and this is what I found:

Sometimes people never understand what you’re saying. They hear what they want to hear. Point in case! About a week before this last Christmas I was at the checkout stand at a local grocery store. The lady in front of me wanted to buy some postage stamps to mail some Christmas cards. Here’s the way the conversation went.

Figures of speech

An expression that uses language in a nonliteral way, such as a metaphor or synecdoche, or in a structured or unusual way, such as anaphora or chiasmus, or that employs sounds, such as alliteration or assonance, to achieve a rhetorical effect.

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

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

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice. The evening news is where they begin with “Good Evening,” and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.

The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on my list. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. Where there’s a will, there are relatives. And lastly the one most everyone can understand.

Well, his goose is cooked! There you have it. Now you know a figure of speech when you hear it or read it.

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

See if you can read this one without making a mistake. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?

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

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

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

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I have always thought the dictionary is filled with words that are sel-

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“Ma’am, I got these Christmas cards I need to mail today. I need 14 stamps, please.”

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

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

“Yes. I need 14 stamps, please.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please execute him.”

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

“Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.”

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

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

Chatter was originally printed in the December 2015 issue WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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FLorida

Breadfruit

By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science

Breadfruit is a unique, delicious fruit that grows in Florida.

Closely related to jackfruit and breadnut, the breadfruit tree originated in New Guinea and the Philippines. This fruit is grown in predominantly warm, tropical climates, such as Hawaii and Florida in the United States.

The breadfruit tree can grow up to 85 feet in height. It’s also a very productive tree, with each tree producing up to 200 or more fruit per season. On average, the fruit is about eight inches in length and diameter. With a thin green, scaly skin on the outside, the fruit is white and smooth on the inside when ripe. The texture is similar to a ripe avocado. Unripe fruit is hard and starchy. The taste and texture is similar to that of a potato, and smells like fresh baked bread when cooked.

Nutritional Profile Breadfruit is high in complex carbohydrates and fiber, low in fat, and contains all of the essential amino acids. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one 3.5 ounce serving (100 g) contains 103 calories, 1.1 g of protein, 0.2 g of fat, 27 g of carbohydrate, and 5 g of fiber. It also provides 35% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for Vitamin C, 10% for thiamin and pantothenic acid, as well as plentiful amounts of the other B vitamins, vitamins E and K, zinc, iron, magnesium, and folate.

Disease-fighting antioxidants Breadfruit contains many antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E. Antioxidants help protect the body from free radical damage. Free radicals damage cell membranes and are associated with conditions such as some cancers, heart disease, and atherosclerosis. Getting plenty of vitamins A and C may help ward off these diseases.

These nutrients also fight inflammation and may reduce the severity of inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and asthma. Some researchers have also linked a high vitamin A intake with lower levels of lung inflammation. Most of the benefits derived from vitamins A and C come from eating the vegetable itself, rather than taking a pill.

Heart-healthy nutrients

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Breadfruit is full of nutrients that work together to promote a healthy heart. This unique fruit is high in potassium, which is essential for proper heart and kidney function. Potassium also regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.

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Breadfruit also contains a significant amount of vitamin B6, which is needed to convert homocysteine into less harmful compounds. High levels of homocysteine have been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Eating more foods high in vitamin B6, such as breadfruit and other fruits and vegetables, can help protect your heart.

How to select and store Choose ripe breadfruit that is fragrant, yields to gentle pressure, and feels heavy for its size. Avoid any with soft spots, bruises, wrinkles, or feel light. Store breadfruit in a cool, dark place for up to a few days. To store longer, place in cold water.

How to enjoy Unripe breadfruit is starchy and can be prepared in similar ways to a plantain. As breadfruit ripens, some of the starch converts to sugar, making it sweeter. The seeds, young leaves and flowers are all edible. Breadfruit can be eaten raw when ripe, as well as boiled, steamed, baked, roasted or fried. It can be enjoyed in curries, soups, salads or made into chips.

Breadfruit has also been made into breads, pizzas, custards, cakes and even incorporated into alcoholic drinks. Here are some serving suggestions: • Steam cubed breadfruit with broccoli for a simple side dish or a colorful addition to a salad.

• Cut into sticks, toss with olive oil and salt, and bake for a healthier version of French fries.

• Cube and toss with olive oil and roast in the oven.

• Chop and toss into a soup or stew.

• Bake whole breadfruit and season with cinnamon and sugar for an easy dessert • Boil and mash for a more nutritious version of classic mashed potatoes.

• Make dessert! Breadfruit is great in flan, custards, pies, quick bread, muffins, or pudding.

Enjoy Florida breadfruit today. Delicious and nutritious, the breadfruit is a unique treat to savor in all kinds of dishes and desserts.

Selected References https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.usda.gov https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/

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NEWS BRIEFS Compiled by Jim Frankowiak

USDA Seeking Comments on Conservation Program The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comments on its interim final rule for the Conservation Stewardship Program, which is designed to help farmers have more robust conservation activities.

Comments are invited through January 13 electronically via regulations.gov (Docket ID NRCS-2019-0020).

New Cattle ID Requirements Effective January 1, 2023, any beef, dairy or bison that are required to have an official identification will need to have an Electronic ID (referred to as EID, RFID or Electronic tag) versus metal tags. As of December 31, USDA will discontinue providing free metal tags.

Approved vendor tags will be available for purchases on a state-by-state basis as authorized by each state animal health official through December 31, 2020. January 1, 2021 USDA will no longer approve production of metal ear tags and metal ear tags can no longer be applied to an animal for official identification. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags must be used as official identification for any newly tagged animals.

January 1, 2023 this rule will apply to all cattle.

More information is available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ traceability/downloads/plan-to-achieve-eid-factsheet.pdf - EID Factsheet or https://www.fdacs.gov/agriculture-industry/livestock/cattle-bovine/florida-livestock-identification.

District Awards Grants to 19 County Schools for Water Resource Education Projects The Southwest Florida Water Management District has awarded $119,000 in grants to 65 schools within the District as part of the Splash! School grant program that provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.

UF/IFAS says the virus is more severe for young plants and can result in yield loss of up to 70 per cent. There are no known health risks to humans from the virus.

NRCS Programs Undergoing Streamlining The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is working to streamline its programs to make it easier for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to keep their lands working, along with improving the quality of our air, water, soil and habitat.

NRCS provides producers and forest managers with free technical assistance or advice for their land. Those interested are encouraged to contact the local NRCS office, 201 South Collins Street, Suite 202, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813/752-1474, Ext. 3.

USDA Organic Survey Underway The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) has mailed letters with survey codes to more than 22,000 organic producers involved in certified or transitioning to certified organic farming.

Producers who self-reported organic farming in the 2017 Census of Agriculture receive a unique survey code to respond online and to be represented in this once-every-fiveyear data. The current survey has been expanded to include production, marketing practices, income, expenses and additional areas.

Recipients of the 2019 Organic Survey are required to respond by federal law, which also stipulates that NASS keep all individual information confidential. Survey results are to be available in October 2020.

Additional information about the survey is available at: www. nass.usda.gov.

Splash! Grants, which were awarded to 19 schools in Hillsborough County, encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities and involvement of the school community through awareness campaigns.

Tomatoes from Select Foreign Countries Subject to New Rules The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that tomatoes and pepper fruit from Mexico, Israel and the Netherlands must now be inspected for tomato brown rugose fruit virus, known as ToBRFV, upon arrival at U.S. ports.

The rule also requires tomato and pepper seeds and plants from countries where the virus is known to occur to be tested and certified.

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By Ginny Mink

Ornamental Gardening in Florida Part 63 Jumping back aboard the Literary Time Machine we continue our travels with Mr. Simpson attempting to identify the good and bad advice of nearly 100 years ago as it relates to ornamental gardening. We can admit that there are some wonderful snippets of direction that are worthy of consideration.

And, we are thankful for your continued presence as we travel through historic gardening resources.

To move onto the next plant for consideration, we arrive at the Furcraea. Mr. Simpson writes about it saying, “Succulent plants related to the Agaves and all from the American tropics. They form rosettes of large, long leaves and at maturity send up a great flower stem and after bearing an enormous number of white flowers the old plant dies…I have a specimen of this in very poor soil which has never had care or fertilizer that is nearly ten feet high and twelve across with leaves ten inches in width.”¹ Given the nature of Florida’s climate, succulents are a great ornamental idea for sure.

We next find a plant that he seems to be torn about. He writes about the Gynura aurantiaca, “(it) has purplish foliage but a rather weedy habit, hardly worth cultivating and just a little too good to throw away. The rather small flowers are yellow or orange and may, perhaps, be looked on as a sort of argument in favor of cultivating it.”¹ Given his reticence to take sides on this particular plant it seems worthy of further investigation.

The people at Epic Gardening seem fairly sold on the idea of cultivation. In fact, they write, “The purple velvet plant…is one of the most unique houseplants you can grow…add the weirdsmelling orange flowers to the equation and you have quite an interesting houseplant!”² Apparently the leaves are covered with purple hairs and the flowers actually have an unpleasant odor. It is not toxic, but that doesn’t mean you should eat it, nor should your pets.² They also require a good deal of care to ensure they are in optimum health, so using these as ornamentals in your garden may be more trouble than they are worth. However, they are pretty neat looking!

So, we travel on to the Heliotropium or the Heliotrope. Simpson writes, “Everyone loves Heliotropes which are raised extensively in our plant houses and rooms in the north and which grow and bloom so magnificently in summer when bedded out. Here, however, I have had poor success with them and most of the few I have seen tried in the state were not doing well.”¹ Since we aren’t sure what Heliotropes are, we figured we’d check them out, too.

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We relied on Gardener’s Path for useful information. According to their site, the Heliotrope smells great, like cherryalmond-vanilla, and has little purple blooms. As fans of the color purple, these sound like an interesting option for us, but since Mr. Simpson suggested they don’t grow well here we had to keep reading. The advice we found is that, “They do

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well in flower beds, and look particularly attractive placed in proximity to contrasting orange day lilies.”³ The main bit of info, though, is that they grow best in USDA zones 10-11. Plant City is zone 9B; that’s a serious bummer. But, if you are reading this and live further south, you might have some success.

We’ll draw to a close with a unique plant that should catch your attention. Mr. Simpson describes the Pedilanthus tithymaloides, or Shoe Plant, “A curious, rather fleshy plant with zigzag branches and small leaves bearing queer, one-sided red flowers which are shaped something like a human foot.”¹ A foot shaped flower has all the requirements of intrigue as far as we are concerned.

We have to admit that what we discovered on Florida Gardener was not at all what we were expecting. Apparently, these flowers look more like slippers than human feet and the common names for the plant are: Devil’s Backbone, Jacob’s Ladder, and Slipper Flower. And, according to that site, one can extract a substance comparable to gasoline from these plants.⁴ So, their unique appearance isn’t all that is attention grabbing about these plants. They grow in South Florida better than they do here, but having taken a look at the pictures, these are not unfamiliar to us, so some people must be having success with them in town as well.

Armed with some new plants for your ornamental hopes, you can hop off the Literary Time Machine and get busy planting.

We will look forward to our next voyage with you! Let us know how these plants are doing for you.

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. 193-196). ²Epic Gardening. (2017). Purple Velvet Plant (Gynura Aurantiaca) Care Guide. Epic Gardening. https://www.epicgardening. com/purple-velvet-plant/ ³Schiller, N. (2017). Growing Heliotropes: Fragrant Vintage Charmers. Gardener’s Path. https://gardenerspath.com/ plants/flowers/growing-heliotropes/ ⁴Florida Gardener. (2008). Plant of the Month Pedilanthus tithymaloides, variegated. Florida Gardener. http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/Pedilanthustv.htm Photo Credits: Zona, Scott. (2009). Furcraea longaeva. (The Furcraea flower).

Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/6DD5U7 HQ. (2005). Gynura aurantiaca Kadoorie Farm, Hong Kong.

(Flower). Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/f5TDjH Swallowtail Garden Seeds. (2016). Heliotrope. Flickr. https:// flic.kr/p/MbkzdL HQ. (2004). Pedilanthus tithymaliodes Kadoorie Farm, Hong Kong. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/f2pfUr WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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In Harmony with Science and Nature

By Libby Hopkins

Author Jane Austen once said, “It’s been many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable.” According to the website 100 Days of Real Food (www.100daysofrealfood.com/ how-far-does-your-produce-travel/), “Produce from your local grocery store chain, whether it is organic or conventional, travels on average 1500 miles from the farm to your plate. In most cases, the farther your produce travels the less nutritious and tasty it is by the time you eat it.”

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Ray Reed has spent his life crafting in the “art and science of nature’s anatomy.” His love for the outdoors started as a young boy and he has since dedicated his time to learning nature’s environment from growing to indulging in outdoor sports. He founded Harmonious Greens to produce what he believes is farming in the 21st century. “Harmonious Greens was established in 2017 as research and development phase,” Reed said. “Through two years of experimenting various growing methods to ensure the most advanced, genuine farming system was implemented to support objectives of the company and secondary research gathering on the critical exposure of contamination of our produce and other key facts, such as, on average our produce travels over 2000 miles to reach lo-

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cal grocery stores, we knew our market offering was critical in offering fresh, natural, organic, Non-GMO, no pesticides or chemicals to the local community.”

On April 24 of this year, Harmonious Greens officially open its business to commercial and household distribution in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “The ceremony hosted Pasco County Commissioner, Mike Wells, as well as the surrounding counties’ chamber of commerce, social media, chefs, friends and family,” Reed said. “The brand and name was developed directly from the green leaves themselves. During the farming process, we had always commented that the plants looked like they were waving and singing to us as they stood so tall, bright, perky and expressed harmony as the leaves unfolded.

Harmonious Greens was the perfect name.”

Harmonious Greens is a naturally grown farming process for all types of greens and herbs. “Our products are quality, fresh and clean-free,” Reed said. “With an impressive presentation and taste, you have access to locally grown, fresh greens all year around and shipping nationally.”Their facility is an indoor, climate controlled, technology-driven farming environment.

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“For the past two years, significant time has been invested to the research of the market to achieve a high-producing harvest of the yummiest, purest growing process, prettiest greens to enjoy in our restaurants, special catered events, family kitchens, dietary and medical facilities,” Reed said.

“The greens bought in a grocery store has an average shelflife of 3-5 days, if you are lucky. Harmonious Greens longevity has been tested and lasted up to three weeks or more with consistent freshness.”

Harmonious Greens is Tampa’s first commercialized farming system. This means they grow an equivalent of 7,000 plants monthly each day, every month, all year around. “Our sterilized and climatized facility is in-door and technology supported to ensure any risk is mitigated and all-important elements of the growing process is maintained, such as temperature and humidity,” Reed said. “We are beyond what is referred to as organic and what we mean here is that we use quality NonGMO and organic seeds for our plants that have not seen dirt or any uncontrolled elements or chemicals/pesticides of the outdoors. We can grow faster with greater quality and taste, as well longevity of the nutritional value. The comparison on the product is incomparable.”Harmonious Greens loves being a part of the Lakeland Downtown Farmers’ Curb Market and other artisan markets in the community. “The artisan and fresh markets are part of our company launch marketing plan,” Reed said. “These are fabulous venues to represent the local market and build community support. We have learned

Reed has very high hopes for Harmonious Greens. “We’ve gone on record to say, our goal is to grow a farm unit a year,” Reed said. “This would offer solid distribution and scale capabilities to all channels. Our mission is to provide access to quality and clean greens to all food resources that appreciate the importance of serving quality food. Just as important, the process that Harmonious Greens produces its products are directly beneficial the nutritional, medical and dietary concerns. We would be honored to serve the professionals, patients and individuals that are challenged with allergies or other extreme conditions that require nutritional-rich, chemical-free foods. Lastly, is teaching our youth and upcoming generations about new-age agriculture development. We believe our system is ‘farming in the 21st century’ and on a schedule, we have offered tours and knowledge sharing with school kids and garden clubs.”

If you would like to learn more about Harmonious Greens, you can visit their website at www.harmoniousgreens.com.

If you would like to know their market schedules, you can check out their Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/harmoniousgreens.

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a lot in the process as well that helped us refine our packaging, labeling and customer preferences. These organizations that run these events and the local vendors are hardworking, loyal to their products and health promoters and local community support. We’ve enjoyed these formats very much.”

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. Mail To: Florida Cattlemen’s Association Voluntar y Environmental Fund P.O. Box 421929, Kissimmee, FL 34742-1929

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By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff

HURRICANE SEASON AND BEYOND

Here we are…the conclusion of the 2019 Hurricane Season. I’m happy to say, that overall, we fared rather well.

Officially, the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t see a hurricane or tropical storm until next summer…it just means it is not as common. As I write this, we still have the remnants of Tropical Storm Sebastien way out in the Atlantic Ocean. And you may recall that back in 2016, we had Hurricane Alex form in January. In fact, this was the fifth straight season in which a storm developed before the official start.

People who were born and raised in Florida like myself are likely to understand this, but there are a lot of new residents here from out of state that may not be aware. Even our visitors from up north and abroad might not have really considered it.

Basically, it’s Florida, and hurricanes and tropical storms are always a potential threat just like alligators, fire ants, and the infamous Florida Man.

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At the start of every season we, along with everyone else, implore people with the importance of being prepared for the worst. Even though the threat is considerably lower outside of

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hurricane season, it certainly doesn’t hurt to keep necessities stocked in your home, not just for hurricanes, but for any kind of major emergency.

Just a suggestion, now is an excellent time to stock up on particular items that become scarce in the stores as hurricane season looms closer. There are lots of things you can store now and use later – because it never hurts to be prepared.

For those of you have livestock and property, make sure your brands and files are up-to-date.

While we can be grateful that hurricanes didn’t directly affect Florida this year, please remember those who were hit so hard in the past couple of years who may still be struggling.

The panhandle, for example, is still recovering from Hurricane Michael. We also still have Hurricane Maria victims who moved here from Puerto Rico, needing our support. Those of us in law enforcement are always ready to deploy and lend a hand to others in need, and it’s truly heartwarming when our citizens join us in those efforts. Be safe, everyone, and let’s hope that 2020 is another storm-free year.

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Recipes Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Chef Justin Timineri

Coconut Snapper with Spinach Endive Sauté

DIRECTIONS 1. Season fillets with salt and pepper.

2. In large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat.

3. Cook fillets 3 to 4 minutes per side until cooked through.

4. Remove fish from skillet and keep warm.

5. For coconut sauce, return pan to heat and cook garlic, ginger and 1/4 cup onion until tender.

6. Add coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce, hot sauce and bring to a boil.

7. Lower heat and add cilantro; simmer for 5 minutes.

INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 4 (6-ounce) snapper filets 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated 1/2 cup diced onion, divided 1 cup canned coconut milk

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 1 head Belgian endive, thin sliced 1 (10-ounce) bag spinach, washed

8. In a separate, large skillet, heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat.

9. Sauté remaining 1/4 cup onion, endive and spinach until greens are just wilted.

10. Serve fillets with sauce over sautéed vegetables.

Strawberry Pops Ingredients • 12 Florida strawberries • 12 (4-inch) lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks or 6-inch bamboo skewers • 1 cup lightly crushed whole grain cereal • ½ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt

DIRECTIONS 1. Rinse strawberries and remove leaves.

2. Dip berry in yogurt, then in the cereal.

3. Insert sticks into the narrow end of the strawberry.

4. Serve immediately.

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By Jack Payne | UF/IFAS | Photo by Tyler Jones Senator Kelli Stargel is up front about it. She says she can’t grow anything. The important thing, though, is she knows she depends on those who can grow things – and do.

That’s part of what drives her to support agriculture in the legislature. Another part is her passion for 4-H as a way to raise future advocates for agriculture and people who recognize the importance of Florida-produced food.

At the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, we celebrate legislators who represent farmers, 4-Hers, and agricultural scientists. We recognized Sen. Stargel’s support by presenting her with a UF/IFAS Legislative Leader Award in September. We also honored state Rep. Lawrence McClure.

Stargel helped get 4-H funding into the last budget as well as an increase in funding for the UF/IFAS, which runs 4-H. As chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, she consistently champions funding for UF/IFAS. She’s been a consistent advocate for 4-H. In the past session she sought funding to expand STEM 4-H programs and to repair Camp Cherry Lake. After the 2017 session, she advocated for an override of a veto of 4-H funding, writing to the thenSenate president that the veto would “negatively impact the development of leadership skills for young Floridians interested in the agriculture industry.”

Stargel gained an appreciation for 4-H because her children’s friends are 4-Hers. She has also welcomed visiting 4-H delegations to Tallahassee, where they advocate for funding. In those meetings in her office, she says both parties are learning – the senator is learning about what’s important to 4-Hers, and the children are learning to advocate for something they care about.

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Protesting on a street corner doesn’t accomplish much, Stargel said, except to raise awareness. Walking into a senator’s office and asking for action is an experience that will help kids grow into engaged adult citizens, Stargel said.

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Her self-effacing remarks about having little know-how in a garden aside, Stargel is a sixth-generation Floridian. Anyone with that kind of lineage has ag in their family tree. Hers has citrus and cattle branches.

So, she says, it’s in her DNA to defend the people who put food on our tables. Stargel says, for example, it’s important to keep citrus viable in Florida.

It’s part of a bigger picture outlook she has about what’s good for Florida. Our growers face tremendous pressure from unfair trade, global competitors with low-cost labor, and crop pests and diseases.

If we fail to support farm families, Stargel says, we may find ourselves dependent on other nations to decide what – and maybe even whether – we eat. It’s farming as a national security issue.

Stargel is a Lakeland resident who represents many agricultural areas. She works well with UF/IFAS because she recognizes the science and outreach it does for anyone who grows anything, from thousands of acres of groves to a single backyard tree.

Stargel says agriculture needs all the advocates it can get.

While she will continue to try to educate her fellow legislators on agricultural issues, she sees 4-H a great program for promoting agricultural literacy in the long run.

Though Stargel doesn’t yet know what kind of support she’ll lend UF/ IFAS and Florida farmers in the 2020 session, we know she’ll be there for us.

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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Fri. Mar. 6, 7:30 $25

Charlie Wilson Sat. Mar. 7, 7:30 $45

Eli Young Band Sun. Mar. 8, 3:30 $35

Lynyrd Skynyrd Sun. Mar. 8, 7:30 $56

Concert dates and times are subject to change

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

• Images Everywhere! • Verizon Wireless • Global Frequency Living • AT&T • Circle K • Wyndham Vacation Resorts • Vision Auto Glass • AMSCOT • Uncommon USA • Stingray Chevrolet • Candyland Warehouse • Local Ford Dealers • Master Spas • Dakin Dairy Farms • Good Health Saunas • Metro by T-Mobile • Grove Equipment Service • Astin Farms • Netterfield’s Concessions • Alessi Bakery • O’Reilly Auto Parts • Badcock Home Furniture &more • EVOLVE Pet Food • General RV Center • Florida Blue • T-Mobile INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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SPECIAL HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

by John Dicks Is there any place better than Florida to celebrate the Holidays?

hearty, frozen people cheering for the dropping ball in New York’s Time Square.

Nope, there’s not really any place better than right here. Most of you probably, you agree, too.

Are there other New Year’s Eve customs to consider? Here’s just a few to ponder.

For perspective, I remember once several years ago, doing some business in Hawaii just a few days before Santa was to arrive. I listened one evening with fascination to a children’s concert with kids earnestly singing about “dreaming of a white Christmas.”

CANADA – Sure, Canadians enjoy New Year’s with fireworks and live music, but those who are particularly filled with the celebration spirit enjoy the polar bear plunge. Basically, it’s a tradition involving a jump into freezing waters, generally to raise money for charities, or maybe bragging rights throughout the new year.

It was just simply amazing to hear Hawaiians singing about snow, and reindeer, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

At least here in Florida, unlike Hawaii, we get some cool, if not cold, weather to enjoy some holiday cider.

We get sweet smelling Frazier Fir Christmas trees, too. In Hawaii, at least where I was, there were no evergreens. Though I must admit that I was charmed by the sight everywhere of elaborate Christmas tree replicas made entirely of poinsettias, which were much in abundance.

Soon thereafter, I discovered that holiday celebrations south of the equator get really tossed upside down. I learned that folks in Australia and New Zealand share with glee the same tunes we all do even though it’s in the dead of their summer.

No doubt Frosty the Snowman suffers mightily from the heat!

Nonetheless, and however the custom, Christmas is celebrated the world over, though surprisingly, not always on December 25th.

Ethiopia, for example, divides its calendar into 13 months instead of 12. There are 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of either five or six days, depending on whether it’s a leap year. It gets rather complicated, but Christmas in Ethiopia will be January 7.

Nice to know, I guess, that Santa gets a two week vacation between delivering presents to kids in Florida before descending to homes in Addis Ababa.

Just a week in between, we’ll be celebrating our new year, singing Auld Lang Syne while watching on TV the

CHILE – Families in certain parts of Chile use the occasion to honor deceased loved ones by sleeping at the cemetery.

DENMARK: In Denmark, people celebrate by climbing on top of their chairs, and then jumping off of them in unison at midnight. Supposedly, this symbolizes jumping forward into the new year and leaving bad things behind.

ECUADOR – For more than a century, people in Ecuador celebrate New Year’s Eve by burning scarecrows. They’re made resemble public figures, who the maker feels has wronged the world and thus are burned in effigy.

ESTONIA: The folks in Estonia celebrate by eating a specific number of meals. Apparently, you get to choose the number, all lucky ones, of either seven, nine, or twelve. Probably it makes for a very long day!

PUERTO RICO – Pails of water are thrown out a window by Puerto Ricans to drive away evil spirits. To encourage a lucky future, families also sprinkle sugar outside of their house.

THAILAND – The Thais are said to have a tradition of smearing each other with gray talc. The talc represents the sins of the previous year, to be washed away with the water.

TURKEY: Similar to wearing green on St. Patrick’s day, many people in Turkey wear red underwear at midnight on New Year’s Eve in order to bring good luck in the coming year.

Maybe it works, because it’s said that folks do the same thing in Italy, Spain, and Mexico.

No matter how it’s done elsewhere, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a great New Year!

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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

Home to Many: Elkhorn Coral

We talk a lot about endangered plants and animals, but we often ignore the threatened species on, or near, our shores.

One such entity worthy of consideration is the Elkhorn coral.

Though it is not endangered, it is threatened, and the loss of these corals can have significant ramifications. So, let’s learn how to prevent that potential inevitability.

As one of the most important corals in the Caribbean, it helped build those coral reefs which are more than 5000 years old.

Elkhorn coral forms dense groups that are home to a variety of reef animals, including fish. These groups are called “thickets” and are capable of existing in very shallow water.¹ Elkhorn coral’s scientific name is Acropora palmata. This species of coral is relatively quick growing. In fact, they can add two to four inches to their size annually. Unfortunately, they are susceptible to a host of dangers. And, most of the reefs they created have become little more than rubble fields and are creating a loss of habitat for many other species.² They are notable for their elk-like antler shapes and are generally a yellow-brown in color. This is due to the presence of symbiotic zooanthellae. These wee creatures live within the cells of the coral. While it may not seem that way, coral is an animal. And these specific corals create massive structures.² They can spread out, branch wise, up to six feet tall and 12 feet wide.¹ And most researchers recognize them as keystones for the structure of coral reefs.³ This is specifically true in the more shallow waters where they are most commonly seen, usually at 20 feet deep or less.² Their complex structures create habitats for a myriad of invertebrates and reef fish.³ Sadly, in the early 80s, the population of Elkhorn coral declined by 97 percent due to a serious disease known as white band disease. This particular disease attacks the coral tissue.

The populations of these corals are still decreasing in the Florida Keys. But those located in the US Virgin Islands are at least stable and may even be abundant. Because successful reproduction is rare, it is hard to see these corals increase in number.¹ No doubt you are wondering how these corals eat, or at the very least, what they eat. They get their food from the algae (previously mentioned) that live within their cells. But they also feed on plankton which they catch with tentacles from their polyps. When the algae dies off, the coral starts to turn white, this is called coral bleaching and will ultimately lead to death through starvation.¹

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If you have decided that these are interesting, you can find them in coral reefs throughout the Caribbean, Florida, and the Bahamas. Of course, if you are hoping to locate them in our great state you will need to visit Broward County and those locales that are further south. Especially since they are relatively rare here.¹

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By Ginny Mink

There is a combination of factors that have contributed to the demise of the Elkhorn coral. Obviously, the disease we previously mentioned is significant, but there are other diseases that have emerged since that time that are also wreaking havoc on the coral reefs. Poor water quality can stress the coral out and make them more susceptible to these diseases as well. There are predators too: damselfish, predacious snails, and algae overgrowth.³ If we are hoping for these corals to come back, it is beneficial for us to know how they grow and reproduce. Apparently, they are simultaneous hermaphrodites. Each colony is able to produce both sperm and eggs, but they don’t typically selffertilize. They reproduce once a year in late summer after a full moon. But this isn’t the only way for them to grow. Broken pieces, or fragments, can reattach to hard surfaces and begin to grow again. This is beneficial since storms and waves often break these corals.¹ As far as conserving the Elkhorn coral, designation of critical habitats and the protection of those is essential. We can also support those who breed Elkhorn corals in nurseries and then plant them in the wild. And, after major storms we can support rescue endeavors specifically designed to target and help injured coral. Scientists will continue to track population trends, observe spawning processes, and experiment to find methods that will help propagation and strengthen the existent coral.¹ While it might not seem like there is much for you to do personally, the reality is, God made us stewards of this great planet. It is our responsibility to ensure that its wildlife, whether flora or fauna, is preserved to the best of our abilities. If you desire to help, there are numerous activist groups that would welcome your volunteerism.

Resources: ¹NOAA Fisheries. Elkhorn Coral. https://www.fisheries.noaa. gov/species/elkhorn-coral ²Florida Atlantic University. Endangered Staghorn and Elkhorn Corals. http://www.fau.edu/ehs/info/elkhorn-staghorn-corals/ ³Van Wagner, K. (2011). A Critical Reef Component. Living Oceans Foundation. https://www.livingoceansfoundation. org/a-critical-reef-component/ Photo Credits: Finney, Doug. (2013). Elkhorn Coral. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/fPvpeK Kieffer, Matt. (2004). Green Elkhorn Coral. Flickr. https://flic. kr/p/4zNji6 Hoelscher, Matthew. (2006). Elkhorn Coral Close-up. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/fZbBK

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© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2018

A Closer LookAmazing Activities Naturally

by Sean Green

Pine Scented Cleaner Many of us remember the original Pine Sol® cleaner.

It was invented in 1929 by chemist Harry A. Cole and reached its height in popularity in the 1950s. Pine oil has long been used as a disinfectant, fungicide, germicide, and even virucide.

Although the clinical effectiveness of pine oil as a catchall cleaner and sanitizer remains controversial, there is little contention that the scent of pine is a pleasant one. This month we are featuring a simple project that can make good use of the pine needles you will have a surplus of at the end of December. Vinegar is a great cleaner, but most agree that its aromatic quality has a little room for improvement. We are going to try to improve that by infusing vinegar with pine by soaking pine needles in vinegar.

Supplies: Vinegar

(apple cider vinegar recommended but not critical)

Pine Needles

(spruce is said to be the best)

Production: • Cut small branches of pine needles from the pine tree • Include not only pine needles, but also small twigs • Stuff as many pine needles and pine twigs as you can into an empty mason jar

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• Fill the mason jar with vinegar and let it sit for two months. The longer it sits the better it will smell.

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A Closer Look

by Sean Green

Thread Waisted Wasps (Ammophila)

Cooler months in Florida often mean I don’t see as many insects on my hikes as I would like. However, there are still some insects that are quite busy even in the cooler months. Pollinators are typically busy all year long in Florida. This month we’re featuring a pollinator that’s surprisingly docile despite its striking appearance. We came across this interesting wasp during a recent hike and were thrilled that she didn’t spook while we took pictures. Our wasp is a solitary wasp commonly known as the thread waisted wasp. This term, though descriptive, could refer to any number of wasps as most have a narrow waist. Ammophila is the more accurate taxonomic term that describes a specific genus of hunting wasps. These docile wasps are typically not bothered by human curiosity and go about their business as if we were not even there as long as they are not attacked. Should you see one, it would be worth your time to take a closer look at these spectacular hunters. You may be surprised to discover how entertaining watching insects can be.

The genus Ammophila is found throughout the warmer regions of the world. In North America we have 60 species; most of which are so similar in appearance they are difficult to distinguish. These are a medium size wasp; typically, black with an alarming patch of red or orange on the stinging end of the abdomen. The thorax and abdomen are connected by a thread like waist justifying the common name “thread waisted” wasp.

Ammophila are solitary wasps that nest and hunt alone. I have encouraged the attraction of solitary bees and wasps to your homes and gardens in previous articles and will emphasize again that solitary wasps do not have a “hive protection” instinct because they have no hive to protect. These wasps, like other solitary wasps, are not aggressive and will not attack you as you are working around your home or garden. For this reason, solitary wasps are an ideal tenant to attract to your home or garden. Ammophila are not common in gardens because they tend to hunt caterpillars that feed on deciduous trees. They seem to especially prefer the larvae of oak pests such as the variable oak leaf caterpillar (Lochmaeus manteo), and rough prominent moth caterpillar (Nadata gibbosa), however, they also prey on the False Unicorn moth (Schizura ipomoeae) which is a common pest of morning glory and roses, both of which are more common in the garden and around the home. Attracting this species to your home will benefit not only your large trees, but also a variety of common ornamental shrubs and even vegetables.

Ammophila will nest in bare sandy soil or leaf litter that is surrounded by flowering plants which provide nectar for feeding adults. Females dig cylindrical burrows into the soil by rapidly shoveling with their legs and remove pebbles with their mandibles. When the burrow is complete, she provisions it with a single large caterpillar or occasionally several small caterpillars on which she will lay a single egg. After the egg is de-

Female Ammophila build several burrows simultaneously, and this insect has maternal superpowers when it comes to keeping track of her brood. Each of her burrows may be at different stages of completion and she is able to remember the location and progress of each burrow perhaps by using visual markers such as rocks, twigs, or plants, or maybe a chemical trail, it is uncertain how she does it but impressive nonetheless. It is probably a combination of both because despite her excellent craftsmanship in disguising the burrow, parasitism is a common nesting behavior of this and similar species. Other female wasps routinely find such burrows and replace the hosts egg with an egg of their own, discarding the hosts egg and leaving their egg in its place so their brood can feed off the caterpillar that was provisioned by the host wasp. Some wasp species will steal the caterpillar entirely and take it to their own borrow leaving the host with an empty burrow and vulnerable if not destroyed brood.

If you have good ears you may be able to hear chirping sounds from the female as you are watching them. I cannot verify this personally because years of loud rock concerts in my youth have taken a toll on my hearing. My wife however can hear the flapping of a butterfly’s wing and could also hear this wasp make, in her words, “cute little noises like a cricket”.

Researchers do not fully understand the function of these chirps, but most suspect it is a function of attracting mates.

Though these wasps are tremendous hunters, they are not without predators, in fact they have more than I can list but include various birds, assassin bugs, and hover flies to name a few. The stark red coloring of this wasp is a method of warning such predators that a sting should be an expected response to an attack. Don’t let that part stop you from enjoying these insects though; so long as you are not mistaken for an attacking predator, this is a safe insect to observe. I hope you get a chance to take a closer look at these fine wasps and perhaps consider encouraging residency in your garden for toxin free pest management.

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posited in the burrow, she collects small pebbles by clamping them with her mouth and carefully packs them into the burrow filling the spaces in between the pebbles with sand.

When the burrow entrance is fully packed, she searches for a suitable pebble to use as a hammer. She grasps the pebble in her mandibles and packs the soil by thrusting the pebble against the loose soil like a bettering ram. Her masterpiece is not complete without camouflage and she is the master of “leave no trace”. She carefully disassembles the pile of small pebbles that she dug up in the process of making her burrow and arranges them to blend into the undisturbed pebbles hiding any evidence of excavation. To finish her masterpiece, she searches for bits of debris to scatter around the area that was previously cleared for the burrow, then she blends it all together by peppering the area with sand she kicks up make any evidence of the sealed burrow nearly impossible to find if you did not watch her create it.

International Sweets at Your Local Farmers’ Market

By Libby Hopkins

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I am a firm believer that calories don’t count on weekends or while you’re on vacation. Grit Rambusch’s clients that visit her booth at the Lakeland Downtown Farmers’ Curb Market may or may not agree with my belief. Rambusch is originally from Germany where she honed her dessert making skills. “I’m a German import and that’s where I got my pastry chef, as well as my hotel business degree,” Rambusch said. “I always loved traveling and my work in the culinary and hospitality field took me all over Europe. From the wine country in California, to Miami and then to Dubai, to name a few. I got the chance to prepare and taste plenty of local dishes and pastries in all those places, all while seeing differences and similarities with German baking.”Her work in the corporate world taught her skills and helped her gained valuable knowledge in every position she held. She feels now it’s time to make Crumbles & Cream her personal success story. “I’ve always wanted to have my own business, offering great food with a twist,” Rambusch said. “After I moved to Central Florida about five years ago, I did my research on how to start a food business without having to set up a full bakery kitchen. I started Crumbles & Cream three and a half years ago. Working my full time office job, then purchasing supplies and baking on Saturdays, I started selling my pastries on Sundays at the farmers’ mar-

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ket in Celebration. I did that for about two years and growing steadily. Then I took a leap of faith, went from my full time position to a part-time position and added the Saturday market in Lakeland. A great decision as it turned out. Six month later I was able to leave my office job behind and I started baking full time.”

What makes Crumble & Cream different from other bakeries at the market is Rambusch specializes in unique and seasonal German and European pastries. “I offer baked goods and sweet and savory culinary creations as well as a variety of breads, quiches and all natural fruit preserves,” Rambusch said. “I don’t use preservatives, trans fats, artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners and I always use less sugar but more fruit than any recipe requires. It might sound a bit corny but I put my heart and soul into every dish I make and I believe you can taste it. Everyone who loves and appreciates handcrafted flavorful baked goods and desserts will find their happy place at Crumbles & Cream.”

Rambusch feels local farmers’ and artisan markets are a fantastic place to test her product, while getting involved with the community at the same time. “The Florida cottage food law, that’s how I started, offers food entrepreneurs a great WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

opportunity to sell their products directly to the customers,” Rambusch said. “I absolutely love coming to the farmers’ markets. No market day is ever the same. I met so many wonderful people that I can call Crumbles & Cream fans and friends now. Having a connection with my customers is what matters most to me. I know about specific food allergies, family favorites, food likes and dislikes. Seeing someone savoring one of my creations right there at the market and enjoying my work is a great reward.”

Now she is working on the next chapter for Crumbles & Cream, which is opening a brick and mortar location. “That will give me the opportunity to bake around the clock, offer my products during the week and expand the menu.”

Keeping things local is extremely important to Rambusch.

“Local and seasonal have always been very important to me,” Rambusch said. “That’s how I grew up and continued ever since. Now I try to bake according to the season and the Florida harvest calendar. I’m very picky with my ingredients, especially when it comes to produce. I get most of my fruit, berries and veggies from farmers in Plant City. For example, I only use Parke Family Hydrofarms pesticide-free strawberries in my all natural strawberry preserve. Florida peaches are another staple in my baking.

Rambusch has been lucky enough to be part of Catapult Lakeland for some time, working out of their commercial kitchen space. “They provide wonderful support and guidance to the local entrepreneur community,” Rambusch said.

“The entire team is just so kind and helpful.”

If you would like to learn more about the products Crumbles & Cream has to offer, you can visit Rambusch’s website at www.crumblesandcream.com or call Rambusch at 321-442-9440.

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DISTRICT DETAILS SIX WAYS TO SAVE WATER AND MONEY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

By Jim Frankowiak

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has identified six ways to enjoy the holidays without increasing your water bill.

Water plays a role in everything from holiday food preparation to cleanup. Here are several ways to conserve water while preparing food and cleaning up during the holidays: • Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or the microwave instead of running hot water over them.

• Rinse fruits and vegetables in a sink or pan filled with water instead of running water. This water can then be used to water houseplants, keeping in mind an open

faucet can use up to 4-gallons of water per minute.

• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water and fill the rinsing sink one-third to one-half full, avoiding continuing running water in the rinsing sink.

• Use the proper size pans for cooking as larger pans require more cooking water than may be needed.

• Scrape food scraps into the garbage can or composting bin, rather than rinsing them into the sink’s garbage disposal, which uses up to 4.5 gallons of water per minute.

• Operate your dishwasher only when you have a full load. Dishwashers use between 7 and 12 gallons per load.

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For more conservation tips, visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/Conservation.

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Polk County Cattle Women

i

hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and took time to appreciate family, friends, and fellowship. Too often we do not verbalize our appreciation for each other as we should. I would like my fellow Cattlewomen to know how much I appreciate and respect every one of you. You have set such good examples of being upstanding women of Polk County, and of Florida, by educating, being stewards of the land, nurturing, selflessness acts of giving back to our community in the ways of scholarships, The Great American Teach-In, giving of your time, and so much more. For all that you have taught me and continue to teach me, Thank You. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

As always, PCCW welcome new members. If you are interested in joining, We love to see new faces. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, #863-205-3977.

Missy McLaughlin-Raney

Polk County Cattlewomen President

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