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POLK COU NTY

®

Contents

CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

POLK COU P.O. Box 9005POLK • Drawer HSNTY 0NTY 3 COU Bartow,CATTLEMEN’S FL 33831 -9005

® VOL. 7 • ISSUE 7 ®

CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION OFFICERS ASSOCIATION P.O.OF Box 9005 • Drawer HS0 3 B OARD DIRECTORS

VOL. 7 • ISSUE 7 & Contents VOL.7 8• •ISSUE ISSUE72 VOL. Contents Feature Story

P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS0 3 Bartow, FL 33831 -9005 FLClark 33831 -9005 PresidentBartow, - Charles

Rob Krieger

Page 34 Story Feature Feature Story

(863) 528-8537 OFFICERS OFFICERS cclark@expoco.com

Rob Rob Krieger Krieger Jason Grimes Page 34 Page 34

Page 28

Cover Photo by Melissa Nichols Photo by Melissa Nichols

& BBOARD OARD OF OFDIRECTORS DIRECTORS &

Vice President - Dave Tomkow President CharlesClark Clark President (863) 665-5088- -Charles (863) 528-8537 (863) 528-8537 cattlemanslivetock@earthlink.net cclark@expoco.com cclarkc4@yahoo.com cclark@expoco.com

Secretary/Treasurer - Justin Bunch VicePresident President- -Dave DaveTomkow Tomkow Vice (863) 425-1121 jbunch@agriumretail.com (863)665-5088 665-5088 (863) Al Bellotto - (863) 581-5515 cattlemanslivetock@earthlink.net cattlemanslivetock@earthlink.net

Ray Clark - (863) 683-8196 Secretary/Treasurer Secretary/Treasurer- -Justin JustinBunch Bunch rclark@tampabay.rr.com (863) (863) 425-1121 425-1121 jbunch@agriumretail.com jbunch@agriumretail.com L.B. Flanders, DVM - (863) 644-5974 Al Al Bellotto Bellotto--(863) (863)581-5515 581-5515 Dewey Fussell -Clark (863)- (863) 984-3782 Remmebering Buster Ray 683-8196 Ray Clark - (863) 683-8196 Mike Fussellrclark@tampabay.rr.com - (863) 698-8314 rclark@tampabay.rr.com fussell.flafarm@verizon.net L.B. Flanders, DVM - (863) 644-5974 L.B. Flanders, DVM - (863) 644-5974 The FFA Journal -Brett Wasden David McCullers (863) 528-1195 Dewey- Fussell - (863) 984-3782 Dewey Fussell - (863) 984-3782 Moby Persing - (863) Mike Fussell528-4379 - (863) 698-8314 Mike Fussell - (863) 698-8314 fussell.flafarm@verizon.net Tampa Bay’s Fishing Report - SPINNING REEL MAINTENANCE Ned Watersfussell.flafarm@verizon.net - (863) 698-1597 David McCullers - (863) 528-1195 watersn@doacs.state.fl.us David McCullers - (863) 528-1195 - (863) 528-4379 J.B. Wynn -Moby (863)Persing 581-3255 FFA Hall of Fame Moby Persing - (863) 528-4379 jbwynn29@gmail.com Ned Waters - (863) 698-1597 Ned Facente- -(863) (863)698-1597 697-9419 Alternate - watersn@doacs.state.fl.us Mike Waters watersn@doacs.state.fl.us Rocking Chair Chatter J.B. Wynn - (863) 581-3255 Standing Committee Chairs: jbwynn29@gmail.com J.B. Wynn - (863) 581-3255

Master Gardener: THE ANCIENT CYCAD

Page 10

Page 11

Page 12

Page 14

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jbwynn29@gmail.com Membership - J.B. Wynn Alternate - Mike Facente - (863) 697-9419

BLUEBERRY ASSOCIATION MEETING - Keeping the “Blue Wave” Rolling

Page 24

Alternate - (863) Mike Facente - (863) 697-9419 Events - Kevin Fussell 412-5876 Standing Committee Chairs: Standing Committee Chairs: Rodeo - Fred Waters (863) Membership - J.B.559-7808 Wynn

Everglades Farm Equipment Welcomes - Rodney Reis watersf@doacs.state.fl.us Membership - J.B. Wynn

Page 25

Polk County Sheriff’s office

Page 26

Florida Beets

Page 38

RECIPES:

Page 40

Taeler Dupre - District VIII FFA President

Events - Kevin Fussell (863) 412-5876

Cattlewomen - President Events--Fred Kevin Fussell (863) 412-5876 Rodeo Waters (863) 559-7808 Marjorie Wood (863) 660-4137 watersf@doacs.state.fl.us Rodeo - Fred Waters (863) 559-7808 onnie397@aol.com Cattlewomen - President watersf@doacs.state.fl.us Extension -Marjorie BridgetWood Carlisle (863) 519-8677 (863) 660-4137 Cattlewomen - President bccarlis@ufl.edu onnie397@aol.com Marjorie (863) 660-4137 Sheriff’s Dept.

- Sgt.Wood Howard Extension - BridgetMartin Carlisle (863) 519-8677 onnie397@aol.com bccarlis@ufl.edu

Extension - Bridget Carlisle (863) 519-8677 bccarlis@ufl.edu

Sheriff’s Dept. - Sgt. Howard Martin

Sheriff’s Dept. - Sgt. Howard Martin

Page 42

A Closer Look: Garden Spiders (Argiope)

Page 43

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Floridians can take a step to improve their overall health by making one simple change, eat more fruits and vegetables!

According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, simply changing your dietary habits can have an impact on overall health.

The report states that nearly 38 percent of all adults in this state do not eat at least one fruit serving per day, while nearly 23 percent do not have at least one serving of a vegetable daily. The most shocking news, adolescents eat even less than their parents with 42 percent not consuming at least one serving of vegetables a day.

Wow! Floridians are not alone. The consumption of fruits and vegetables here is close to the national average, with the exception of adolescents, with Florida youth eating fewer vegetables than their counterparts in other states.

In Florida we are blessed with access to fresh fruits and vegetables all year long! When shopping for you and your family, check the label, make sure you are purchasing Fresh From Florida food. And whatever you do, don’t bypass the produce section! It’s loaded with great food that can improve your overall health. And who doesn’t want that?

One family of fruits we are blessed to enjoy is citrus. And University of Florida researchers have some encouraging results in fighting greening. They have identified citrus cultivars, 16 citrus rootstocks, most of which show a lower rate of infection and more tolerance to citrus greening. For now there is limited data, but testing is on going.

In addition to citrus, we are blessed with an abundance of strawberries and season is upon us! So grab them up as soon as you can.

Until next month, eat your fruits and vegetables!

The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. _ Numbers 6:25

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Melissa Nichols

Karen Berry Al Berry Stephanie Humphrey Lacey Waters Melissa Nichols

Ace Air Conditioning & Electric.................16 Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers.............................16 Ball Clover/Fairlie Seed................15 Bankers South Group....................19 Brook & Poor...................................12 Carlton & Carlton, PA...................44 Cattlemens Livestock Auction.....21 Cecil Breeding Farm......................13 Combee Youth Rodeo Assc...........39 Corn Fusion Crop Maze.................25 Ellison RBM Inc...............................39 Everglades Farm Equipment.........2 Farm Credit....................................30 Farm Bureau Ins Bill William......33 Fields Equiptment Co. Inc............23 Fla Dpt of Ag & Consumer Svcs...........................18 Florida Ag in the Classroom.......30 Flordia Farm & Ranchers Supply........................34 Florida Fence Post Company...................................11 Fred’s Market Restaurant...............9 Frostproof Oil Company...............27 Gier Roofing, Inc............................39 Glarner Farms................................23 Grove Equipment Service.............17 Grove Equipment Service.............31 Grove Equipment Service............32 Gulf Coast Turf & Tractor...........35 Harold’s Feed & Pet supply.........................................11 Harvest Holler Corn Maze.........................................5 Harvest Meat Market....................33 Haystack Farms..............................44 Helena Chemical-Tampa...............21 International Market World........20 Jason Grimes Contracting.............5 Jeff Walden Paint...........................39 Key Plex............................................47 Kelley Buick.....................................45 Knights Station Feed.....................37 Lightsey Cattle Co.........................39 Long Cattle Company...................34 Mosaic.................................................9 MST Sod Equipment, Inc..............27 Parkesdale Farms............................3 Pathway Biologic...........................36 Polk County Cattlemen’s Association..................4 QLF Specialty Products..................7 Seedway...........................................23 Southside Western Wear..............48 Southwestern Produce..................31 Stephanie Humphrey.....................42 The Bug Man..................................39 Wallenstein of Florida...................29

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T

his article presents some history and facts about the Beef Check-Off program. There isn’t room here to cover the whole subject of the check-off program. Some states are proposing to double the current check-off fee.

The portion that goes into national programs is overseen by producers chosen by their state to sit on the board of the Federation of State Beef Councils.

Producers wanted the program to be based on four principles:

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board is made up of 106 beef, dairy and veal producers and importers. This Board budgets for and evaluates all national programs. Ten of these board members, plus 10 producers from State Beef Councils are elected to serve on the 20 member Beef Promotion Operating Committee, which is responsible for approving check-off programs and contracting with national industry governed organizations to implement these programs.

* All producers and importers pay the equivalent of $1/head each and every time a beef animal is sold throughout its lifetime.

Packers owning cattle more than ten days before harvest must pay the dollar per head.

* One half of the money collected by state beef councils goes to the national program while the remaining half is invested through the beef council in each state.

Importers pay $1 per head equivalent on imported cattle, beef and beef products.

The current fee has been $1.00 since it became mandatory in 1988 by a vote of producers, with 79% of them in favor of mandatory collection. Congress created the Beef Promotion and Research Act, the Beef Check-off program, by passage of the 1985 Farm Bill.

*All national check-off funded programs are budgeted and evaluated by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, a stand alone organization of checkoff paying producer volunteers.

As the discussion moves forward on increasing the current fee, stay abreast of the situation, look at past results and ask questions about how the increased fees will be used, and will it make your business more profitable.

* Cattlemen’s Beef Board producer members are nominated by producer organizations in their states and appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

Currently, a Qualified State Beef Council collects $1 on each head of cattle every time it is sold, 50 cents goes directly the Cattlemen’s Beef Board for national programs and 50 cents is retained by the State Beef Council. Producers on the State Beef Council Board determine how much of this 50 cents should be invested in local, state or even national programs.

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• The telephone was not widely appreciated for the first 15 years

One ear ofbecause corn people contains about 800 kernels. did not see a use for it. In fact, in the British it was mentioned there was nois need for telephones Over ½ of parliament the U.S. corn production used to feed livestock. because “we have enough messengers here.” Western Union Corn is grown on every continent except Antarctica. believed that it could never replace the telegraph. In 1876, an Corn is theinternal thirdmemo most in the world. read:important “This telephonefood has toocrop many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication.” Even Corn always has an even number of rows on each ear.

Mark Twain, upon being invited by Alexander Graham Bell to The recordinvest for$5,000 eating on thecould cob ½ ears in thecorn new invention, not is see33 a future in the in 12 minutes. telephone.

Rabbits have got a strong jaw and generally only show two teeth • President said that, “everything that can be invented but actually have McKinley 28 teeth in total. has already been invented.”

Rabbits are abundant in the wild and as pets. Over half of the • When Alexander Graham Bell passed away in 1922, every worlds rabbit population in North America. telephone served by theactually Bell system live in the USA and Canada was for one minute.

Rabbits are notsilent rodents like rats, mice, etc but are actually lagomorphs.

• Alexander Graham never phoned wife Rabbits have a LOT of Bell species andhisthere are over 45 recognized or mother because they were deaf. breeds of rabbits in the world.

• “Ahoy” was the original telephone greeting. Alexander Graham Rabbits that pets (domesticated) tosuperceded live much longer ʻahoyʼ (as used in ships), buttend was later Bell are suggested

by Thomas than rabbits in theEdison, wild.who suggested ʻhelloʼ instead.

• The concept of allocating numbers to individual Rabbits have long ears andtelephone longest ears ever tophone be recorded lines was invented by a doctor measured up to be a massive 79 cm long.

Rabbits and hares are completely different animals but can actually interbreed with each other.

Rabbits that are in the wild can be destructive and destroy around $600 million word of crops each and every year.

Goldfish do not technically become pregnant, since they lay eggs.

Bats are considered nature’s best bug control.

Trees in Africa and South America depend on bats to spread their seeds.

Night blooming flowers depend on bats for pollination.

The scientific name for bats is Chiroptera meaning “hand-wing”.

Bats are the only mammal that can fly.

The largest bat has almost a 6 foot wing span.

The smallest bat weighs less than a penny.

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MOS215 - Feed Division Ad_In The Field Magazine size: 3.56 x 9.75 • 4C

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THE ANCIEN T CYCAD

By Debra Howell

The Cycas genus of plants were named for a Greek word meaning “palm.” Ironically, though Cycads exhibit a palm-like appearance, they are no more a palm than a palm is a tree.

Cycads are often called “living fossils” and have changed little through the eons. They are among the most primitive of seed bearing plants.

These plants are Asiatic in origin and may be a source of edible starches in some countries. This starch is extracted and used as a food stuff called Sago in Asiatic countries, especially in New Guinea.

The inner bark of the Sago cycad was historically used as a food during times of famine in Japan.

During the 16th century, Spanish explorers reported the use of cycads as a food of Native Americans. Records show that Timucuan and Calusa peoples knew how to avoid poisoning from these toxic plants by removing cycasin, a chemical, from Coontie stems by washing and mashing them. They would take the resulting starchy residue and make bread, which they used for sustenance throughout the year.

Additionally, the more recent Seminoles used the stem to prepare Sof kee stew. In fact, the word Coontie comes from the Seminole language of Hitchiti and the term conti hateka which stands for white root or white bread.

sues, which we’ll discuss. King and Queen Sagos are gymnosperms native to southern Japan. They are present in nearly all botanical gardens, used as commercial landscape plants and, amazingly, used as a Bonsai plant, as well.

Kings and Queens are more central Florida friendly, being indicated as hardy for Zones 9-11. King Sagos grow to ten feet tall with stiff green foliage and a small confined root system. I’m sure that anyone who has had to remove a mature King would argue quite vehemently about the small and confined root system. They are cold tolerant to 10°F and may get magnesium deficiencies, which I have portrayed in the photos here. The Queen Sago grows to fifteen feet tall with beautiful soft fern-like leaves and a visible trunk. It is hardy to 28°F.

Settlers in south Florida made it a point to learn the procedure for the removal of the cycasin toxin from the Coontie plant to produce starch. Starch mills sprang up in Miami in the 1880s. During World War I, a mill produced about 18 tons of Coontie daily for the military.

In 1911, the starch came to be known as “Florida Arrowroot.”

Now here’s an interesting Coontie fact: with the recent interest in native landscaping the Coontie has gained popularity as a municipal landscape plant and for use in roadway medians. The collateral result of the repatriation of a native plant is the resurgence of the beautiful Atala butterfly, previously believed to be extinct. The Atala hosts on the Coontie and can withstand its natural toxins. In turn, the toxins incorporate into the larval tissues thereby rendering both adults and larvae unpalatable to predators like birds. These predators are warned off by the bright colors of the larvae and adult butterflies.

The Cardboard palm is another fine landscape Cycad with the misnomer “palm” attached to its name. Although it’s listed as a Zone 10a-11 plant, it is quite prolific in our own hardiness Zone 9. The landscape book infers that Cardboard plant may suffer heavy freeze damage, so you may desire to plant it in a protected locale.

Now for the real focus of this Cycad article - King and Queen Sagos.

These Cycads are still a landscape staple in spite of its health is10

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Both King and Queen Sagos are prone to on-going attack from the dreaded Cycad Aulacaspis Scale insect. This condition prompts a grandiose number of calls to our plant clinic with the query “what’s this white stuff on my Sago?” Here’s the skinny on that white stuff: get a really good magnifying glass or microscope and take a gander at the stuff. While it appears to the naked eye as white powder, that stuff is alive! The Asian Cycad Scale was unintentionally brought to North America through Port of Miami. In 1996, the scale was discovered in the Old Cutler Road section of south Dade. Today we find it on nearly all Sagos in Zone 9. It’s also now in Hawaii, Hong Kong and the Caymans. Unfortunately, Asian Cycad scale was imported without natural enemies, without that “predator” insect which would ostensibly control the scale.

So here’s how you can get rid of the scale - you probably can’t, but perhaps you can control it somewhat. University of Florida bulletin EENY-096 states that the most effective treatment to date has been spraying with oil, such as fish oil, at a rate of one part oil to 100 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Remembering Buster When my dad Nelson was suffering from poor health, his doctor jotted off a prescription - a dog prescription. But not just any dog, a rescue dog. He told him to adopt a rescue dog and it could prolong his life and afford the dog a new life, as well. This advice became very poignant to me recently.

Buster

Three weeks ago, I cuddled, kissed and crooned my beagle Buster on his deathbed. I spoke to him of the great times we had during the 14 years of his life. I reminded him of how we celebrated together when Uno the beagle won Best of Show at Westminster, of the fun we had on our daily walks where he would snuffle and bark in exultation while on a scent trail, of how I recently taught the old boy to sneeze for a treat thereby belying the adage “can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” I reminded him of his bravery and how when he was a young dog we had to retrieve him from a gopher hole after he followed a rabbit down there, and of the time last year when following surgery, Buster was unable to wear the cone of shame which would keep him from scratching his wound compelling me to attach him to my wrist at night with his leash during his recuperation. I felt this “umbilical cord” which ran nightly from me to my precious Buster punctuated the tie and bond between myself and our beloved Dan’s Bronco Buster, a dog which descended from our own well-bred beagles “Dark Alf ’s Dandy Dan” and Misty Magnum, dogs with multiple Field Champion and Ground Dog Champions on their pedigrees. I was rewarded for these bittersweet reminiscences with his biggest grin. He died on my bedroom floor three hours later. Vaya con Dios, my baby boy.

Although no dog could replace Buster, just as Buster could not replace Dan, we’ve welcomed into our home (and the holes where our hearts were wrenched out) a new beagle rescued by Hardee Animal Rescue Team at Hardee Animal Clinic in Wauchula.

Thank you God for all our pets and for helping us through this time with the gift of our little girl Sally Theresa Ruger, our new beagle.

Sally

parts water. Petroleum-based horticultural oil has been used with good results. Anecdotal evidence shows results attained from the use of coffee grounds, specifically Arabica grounds, for scale control when packed onto the growing tip of the plant and amended into the soil to the dripline.

The bottom line is that these are beautiful plants deserving of our due diligence and care. My own King Sago was kept on my porch (screened) in a pot for years before I bravely placed it in a protected place outside. I’m hoping for the best, as all my neighbor’s Sagos have succumbed and aren’t a threat to my plant.

Good luck with your Cycads. They are an ancient plant once consumed by Dinosaurs. They are beautiful, historic plants, worthy of your protection.

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THE

By Brett Wasden

FFA JOURNAL IN THE FIELD MAGAZINE

Hello Polk County! Whether it was traveling to Iowa, Chapter Officer Leadership Training, or the announcement of the 2013-2014 Florida FFA state theme, October has been another month for the record books.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to travel to Iowa for a full week funded by the Iowa Pork Producers. In this experience the entire state officer team was educated about American Agriculture. In Florida we have nearly 300 agricultural commodities. However, in Iowa they have four: corn, soybeans, cattle, and hogs. In fact, 33 percent of all American pork comes from the state of Iowa. I remember going to a fast food restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa’s capital, and it was surrounded by corn!

As you can imagine Iowa was a completely different atmosphere than the sunshine state. The purpose of our trip was to learn about Iowa’s role in not only American Agriculture but also the global marketplace.

Highlights of our trip included touring local family farms, seed companies, equipment companies, a processing plant, and much more. It is safe to say that this trip was an eye opening experience. An issue that many farmers were concerned with was how to feed a growing world population with less resources and inputs while producing enough food for domestic consumption. Currently, the world population is approximately 7 billion and by the year 2050 the population will grow to an over whelming 9 billion. However, in my opinion, 9 billion does not truly represent the true challenge faced by the American farmer because they will have to feed 9 billion people, three times a day, for a lifetime. American agriculturalists are accepting the challenge by improving yield, embracing new technology, and maximizing efficiency.

I have seen firsthand the progress that American farmers are making to feed our growing world.

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After our trip to Iowa, my team and I kicked off the Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT). COLT is a one day conference offered to FFA members across the state of Florida. There are six COLT conferences, one for each of the six areas in Florida FFA. This year, we had over 2,000 students attend this leadership conference. The theme for this conference was “United.” As the word united suggests, as chapter officers they must unite as a team. Students learned about teamwork, accountability, chapter opportunities, social media, and service leadership. The COLT conference was a complete success.

Each year, the Florida FFA state officer team is given the opportunity to create a theme for Florida FFA. I am excited to announce that the 2013-2014 Florida FFA state theme is “Living to Serve.” Our theme is actually the last line of the FFA Moto. As the theme suggests, my team believes that service leadership is fundamental not only for FFA members but also to every individual. Service leadership is how you impact those around you, some may call it community service. I believe that service leadership is very unique to the individual performing the task.

Whether it is starting a non-profit organization or simply going out of your way to make some else’s day better, service leadership is unique to every person. We believe that service leadership is important to all FFA members to practice.

October has been another great month for my team. I would like to extend a special good-luck to all the FFA members in Polk County as they compete in Career Development events. Thank you for reading.

Until next time,

Brett Wasden Area IV State Vice President

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October 2013

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Tara Troutcrop

SPINNING REEL MAINTENANCE

When shopping for a lighter tackle spinning reel, you can purchase those designed for fresh or saltwater. However, just because it’s made for saltwater doesn’t mean you can quickly splash it with freshwater after a day on the water and you’re done. If you take this shortcut, when you get out the next time, I can almost guarantee you’ll have a reel that does not work or is stiff to reel.

If you fish primarily saltwater make sure you purchase a reel made for saltwater, but remember they also work in freshwater. That is because saltwater reels are specifically designed to withstand corrosion and damage from salt water. Saltwater reels are created with extra layers that protect them from rust and corrosion. Regardless of how expensive your reel is, if it is not made for saltwater, it will corrode. In fact the more expensive the freshwater reel the more likely it is to become corroded and damaged from salt.

Most reel companies advertise whether a reel is safe for use in saltwater. But even if you use a spinning reel in saltwater, you still need to flush and clean all the salt after each use. A good flush with fresh water will usually suffice because it usually removes salt from your reel. If for some reason the reel was completely submerged it must be completely disassembled, cleaned, dried, re-lubricated and re-assembled.

Below is a quick review of maintenance for today’s fresh and saltwater spinning reels.

After Each Trip Start by removing the spool, gently rinse with fresh water, along with the rest of the reel. Then, dry with a soft cloth, loosen (but do not remove the line roller) and use a few drops of light oil to lubricate the line roller bearing, bail hinge springs, crank handle knobs and shaft, beneath the anti-reverse selector switch, and where the center shaft exits the top of the reel.

Quarterly Maintenance Remove the handle, spool, rotor, side plate and crank gear, use a small brush (paint brush or large artist brush) to clean exposed parts with water and a mild detergent (such as dish washing liquid, I use mineral spirits). Dry with a soft cloth then apply lubricant as suggested below.

Saltwater Maintenance After each fishing trip, remove the spool and soak in fresh water, thoroughly rinse the reel body with a light spray of fresh water (do 14

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October 2013

not soak the reel in a bucket of fresh water, it pushes the salt into the reel). Detailed cleaning after each saltwater trip is very important to the life and reliability of your reel. The reason for this is that every time saltwater gets on the reel and dries, it leaves a microscopic coating of “crystalline” salt residue. This salt coating will not only attack the components in the reel but will create the same wearing and/or binding effect as sand or dirt.

Lubrication: The following points document the proper maintenance guidelines that should be used for all Spinning reels: • When applying oil and grease it should be a good quality, designed for fishing reels and used in small amounts when lubricating.

• The more frequent or severe the use, the more often and thoroughly a reel should be serviced. Your reel should be cleaned and re-lubed after each trip of saltwater fishing or if dropped in dirt or sand.

Annually The reel should be professionally cleaned and lubricated, or for us DIY adventurist types, we do it ourselves. They really are not that difficult to clean yourself. Find an uncluttered location, an old white towel, a small set of screwdrivers, both Phillips and blades, pliers, good lighting and for us old guys, our glasses. Here’s a good tip, don’t forget to take close up digital photos as you disassemble the reel. It really makes putting it back together much easier. Remember, the worst scenario is, you’ll have to put it in a plastic Tupperware and take to a professional to put together. However, if I can do it I’m certain you can.

October 2013 - Let’s Go Fishing In Tampa Bay If August and September are any indication of what’s to come for the fall fishing season it should be excellent. The fish have been eating almost everything offered to them and we’re certainly doing more catching than fishing. This is a great time to fish, as late summer and early fall temperatures start dropping, it makes it more tolerable on the fish and most of all the anglers. If you want to catch a few fish, like snook, redfish, trout, snapper, grouper, or sharks, now is the time to do it. Just “Give Me a Call and Let’s Go Fishing” to make reservations for a charter, visit my website at www.captainwoodygore. com or email me at wgore@ix.netcom.com.

On recent trips, especially after the tide has slowed after the turn, we’ve been catching some really nice sea trout on the deeper WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Leon 30 inch Redfish Ed Large 38 inch snook

hard bottom grass flats. Many times when you catch one, there will be several in the same sand hole surrounded by lush grass. We’ve been having our success on smaller pilchard’s and small dollar sized pinfish, but remember, live medium shrimp always work. I nose hook my pinfish and pilchard’s and the shrimp in the carapace just under the horn, but very shallow. Depending on the depth, sometimes I use a popping cork sometimes not.

While checking an inshore reef southeast of St. Pete Pier, we noticed schooling tarpon feeding on a giant bait schools. Of course I hadn’t brought any tarpon gear and did not have any live or dead bait, I never expected to find what I’d stumbled upon. Unable to withstand the pressure to fish this large school of fish I decided to attempt it, if for no other reason than the fun of getting a few jumps. I secured my deepest sinking artificial lure in the box, a MirrOLure Catch 5, and began casting toward the schooling fish. To make a two-hour story short I jumped five tarpon and landed one nice cobia. Unfortunately, I lost every MirrOlure in the boat, but man… what a tarpon ride on artificial’s.

Gaston Snook

will be following the action. Mackerel, bluefish, jacks and ladyfish are feeding on bait schools everywhere. If its glass minnows they’re after remember to match the hatch.

“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 Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years, he offers world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories.

Single or Multi-boat Group Charters are all the same. With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done. Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM, send an email to wgore@ ix.netcom.com or give him a call at 813-477-3814.

As for the rest of Tampa Bay, Redfish and Snook are everywhere, hanging around the many lush grass flats and mangrove shorelines.

As redfish move from area to area scourging for food it’s usually easy to find them schooled up on the many grass flats as they move. It’s also the time of the year when the really big reds show up. You never know whether you’re going to catch one in the slot or one of the giants over 30 inches. These big reds often top the scales at 15 plus pounds. The upper Bay area is also holding good numbers of fish, but you must pick your tide days when fishing north of the Courtney Campbell Causeway, especially by larger boats. This area can get extremely shallow during low tide, so fish the higher tides with live pilchard’s or shrimp under a small cork.

Snook are open to harvest from, September 1, but will close December 1 through the end of February. It will also close on May 1 through August 31 on the Gulf Coast. (The new slot limit is 28 inches to 33 inches). With most of the snook being caught averaging in the 22 to 25 inch range, it’s often tough to put a slot fish in the boat. But if you work at it, you’ll catch one or two especially as fall approaches. We did catch one or two in the 29 to 35 inch range using live greenbacks. For those who like the night life associated with snook fishing, this is great time. You’ll find them hanging under residential docks watching the light line for a quick meal. Use a shallow diving artificial lure or free-line a big shrimp. Make sure to use a weighty leader like Seaguar 30-40 lb. so you don’t get cut off on the pilings.

As for the others, we’ve been catching good sized mangrove/ grey snapper at the bridges with some topping out around three pounds (remember they are a reef fish and you must use circle hooks and they must be 12” total length). Cobia are showing and for us it usually only takes a chum bag over the side to spark their curiosity.

If you hook-up, be ready with another rod and bait as other cobias WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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The “Fresh From Florida” brand is a symbol of quality and the logo is recognized around the globe.

Behind the logo is our dedicated team of marketing professionals with a proven track record of increasing sales of Florida agricultural products.

We achieve this by establishing strong retail and distribution partnerships and through consumer marketing on television, in print and online. We also provide export assistance, trade leads, signage, point-of-purchase materials and more.

Join today for a $50 membership fee and put the “Fresh From Florida” logo behind your business.

Visit FreshFromFlorida.com or call us at (850) 617-7399.

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FFA Hall of Fame

By Melissa Nichols • Photos By Ron O’Connor – Farm Credit

On Monday September 30, 2013 the Florida FFA hosted the 7th annual Hall of Fame Ceremony. Five new members were inducted into the Hall of Fame that night. These members are longtime supporters of agriculture, agriculture educators and FFA supporters. One of these men inducted into this prestigious group is near and dear to the heart of Central Florida. Mr. O. Edward “Ed” Swindle was recognized and inducted into the Hall of Fame for his years of dedication to youth and agriculture. Mr. Swindle was announced and recognized by Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam. Mr. Swindle was joined by his wife of 62 years Myrtle Lou and their family, sons Rodney (Sherrie) and Larry (Debbie), grandchildren and great grandchildren, who were all at the ceremony to watch Mr. Swindle be recognized.

Over the years Mr. & Mrs. Swindle have been financial supporters of youth involved in agriculture. The Swindle’s recently made a generous donation to the Florida Strawberry Festival to build a livestock barn. They have also made donations to South Florida Baptist Hospital to build the Swindle Diagnostic Center. Ed and Myrtle Lou Swindle are believers in agriculture and the benefits of youth involved.

For this reason, Ed has served on many committees and boards of directors over the years. He served on the Florida FFA Foundations Board of Directors and the Boards Finance Committee. He has made valued and generous contributions to the Beast Feast held annually at Leadership Training Center. Ed has been known to purchase market animals and give student’s top dollar for their animals as an investment in the student’s college fund. Mr. Swindle has been recognized several times over the years for his contributions and support of local programs. In 2010 he received the Honorary State FFA Degree.

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He was recognized as Citizen of the Year in Plant City in 2010, Farm Credit later honored him with the Supporter of Youth and Agriculture Award in 2012. Mr. Ed Swindle has a heart of GOLD, his dedication and support of youth in agriculture is an inspiration to the younger generations of supporters. Mr. Swindle will continue to support programs, livestock shows and youth.

All five inductees were men who made a difference in the future of the FFA program they were involved with. They are men who gave without expecting anything in return. These men, Thomas “Tom” Barrineau, Panhandle; Robert Philpot, Jr., Williston; Larry Reese, Alachua; Jack Williams, Columbia; and Ed Swindle are all men who touched lives, made a difference, and believe in the Future Farmers of America. Without supporters such as them Florida FFA would not be as successful as it is today.

These men are what FFA stands for as E. M. Tiffany said:

“I believe in the future of agriculture with a faith born not of words but of deeds--achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.”

Thanks to these men the current generation of agriculturalists have learned exactly what a faith born not of words but of deeds stands for. These men have given unselfishly of themselves and their plaques will forever be a reminder of their devotion, dedication and commitment.

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Cattlemen’s Livestock Market

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Back in the 50’s A few months back I was sitting on the porch overlooking the beautiful Blue Ride Mountains at our place just outside of Blairsville, Georgia. While watching the humming birds fight over the nectar my wife had put out in the feeder, I started thinking back when I was in high school back in the 50s. My how times have changed.

You old timers will remember when cars had fins, but it didn’t make them seaworthy. Your Schwinn bicycle had only one speed, and we rolled up the right leg of our dungarees to keep our pants leg from getting caught in the chain. We had two ice cube trays made of metal and both had levers for getting the cubes out of the tray.

I remember when our next-door neighbors, the Sweeney’s, got the first TV on the street. It picked up one station from Jacksonville, and you had to squint your eyes to make out the fuzzy picture. It would take five minutes for the TV to warm up, and oh yes, we had to get up out of the chair to change the channel. The 50s had great movies on TV, most of which are reruns today. Like, The Honeymooners, Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best, Sky King, Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, and the Patty Duke Show. My favorite, and still is, as I watch it on Encore cable most every night, is “Gunsmoke,” with Marshall Dillon, Chester, Doc Adams and Kitty!

Family life was much different in the 50s. To begin with most of us had a two-parent household, both a Mom and a Dad. We all sat down at the table together for dinner. My mother could make gourmet dishes out of leftovers. Dad would sometimes have her cook him up something special. I recall one day he brought home a pound of hog brains, and had her to cook them with scrambled eggs. Poor mother, she did it, but unwillingly. I still remember her holding her apron over her nose gagging as she cooked them up. We all left the kitchen table to dad as he savored every mouthful.

Those were the days when sneakers were made of canvas and only in black and white. We had a phone, but it was on a party line and you had to wait for who ever was on the phone to complete their conversation before you could make a call. In the 50s we called jeans dungarees, and knew all the words to “Purple People Eater.”

Nobody in the 50s had a purebred dog. I had a dog named “Butch.” I asked dad one day what kind of dog he was, and dad said Butch was a sooner dog. “A sooner dog,” I asked. “What is a sooner dog?” Dad said, “A sooner dog is one that just as soon do it in the house as in the yard.” To this day I have fond memories of rabbit hunting with Butch. I’ll bet he would have qualified to be buried in the prestigious “Coon Dog Cemetery” located in northwest Alabama.

My sisters, Nettie Mae and Betty Jean, wanted to have their ears pierced, but mom would not let them. She thought a pierced ear was for girls who were too fast. Mom always had dad to buy gas at Dillard Brewington’s Service Station because he gave S&H Green Stamps. Oh yes, they would check your oil, clean your windows and pump your gas. This was the time when no one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the ignition and the doors were never locked.

Some other things the 50s are noted for include Chevrolet rolling out the fiberglass-bodied Corvette. Hollywood brought in the first wide-screen process known as Cinemascope, first seen in “The Robe.” Sugar Smacks, filled with 56 percent sugar, was introduced

by Kellogg. The TV Guide was born. Playboy magazine began publication, featuring nude pictures of Marilyn Monroe. Baseball star and pilot, Ted Williams, was uninjured when his plane was shot down over Korea and Jacqueline Boozier married John F. Kennedy.

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Somehow we have survived being born to mothers who took aspirin, ate tuna from a can and never got tested for diabetes. The babies were put to bed on their tummies in a baby crib painted with lead-based paints. In our car we didn’t have booster seats, and no one had ever heard of a seat belt or airbags. Back in the 50s we had never heard of video games, Play stations, Nintendo’s, X-Boxes, DVD’s. No computer or Internets. What we did have were friends.

We had Little League tryouts and not everyone made the team.

Those that did not make the team just learned to live with it. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law. If we got in trouble, we got spanked, or even worse switched on our legs. As a kid we had broken bones, we would fall out of trees, get cut, chip our teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We didn’t have Wal-Mart, Lowes or Home Depot. We bought most everything from Sears Roebuck and Monkey Ward catalogs. We paid a nickel to mail a letter, and had ice delivered by a truck from the Artic Ice Plant in Plant City. Harold’s News Stand had the latest comic books and five cent Baby Ruth candy bars. The best way to travel outside of driving your car was either by Greyhound bus or train.

Bell’s Lunch had the best hamburgers for a dime, and Cones Dairy delivered fresh milk in a glass container to your home every other day.

But all of a sudden I have come to realize that I am headed to the far end of my life. Gee, how did I get here so fast? Yes, I have lost my youth physically, but not mentally. Last year I went to our class reunion. My how most of my classmates have changed. Guess they felt the same about me. Well here I am…my hair is white, and half of my teeth are gone, but thank goodness for eyeglasses, preparation H, Dulcolax and Depends!

The 50s…. those were the years!

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ALL BLUEBERRY ASSOCIATION MEETING FEATURES BROAD SUBJECT MATTER, STRONG ATTENDANCE

Keeping the “Blue Wave” Rolling

By Jim Frankowiak

Blueberry growers from across the state gathered at the Trinkle Center on the campus of Hillsborough Community College at Plant City last month for the latest information on a range of subjects important to them and the industry in the day long Fall Blueberry Short Course.

The “course” began with an interesting and informative presentation

by Kathy Blake on how the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council has helped to create and plans to continue the industry’s “Blue Wave,” that phenomenon that has sparked demand for blueberries since the council was formed in 1999 and continues to match increasing demand with the heightened production of members. Blake, an executive with Padilla-CRT, the agency charged with developing and implementing public relations and marketing initiatives for the council, noted “per capita demand for blueberries in the U.S. has grown from .26 pounds in 2000 to 1.3 pounds in 2011 with a 2015 goal of 3.0 pounds.” Blake’s firm has been involved with the council for more than 13 years.

In addition to health education initiatives based on the findings of medical research, the council is engaged in other activities designed to reach women ranging in age from 25 – 45 with average or above average income, typically mothers and young professionals, while females age 45 and up are secondary targets. The council has engaged Alison Sweeney of the “Biggest Loser,” the NBC reality television show, to help promote various aspects of blueberry consumption via consumer media outlets nationwide and paid media on the foodnetwork.com. Sweeney has appeared as a guest on the Katie Couric show, as well as the Rachael Ray Show and a host of others.

“We also place food and nutrition experts on regional television programs throughout the year,” Blake said. This coverage is typically on morning television programming that reaches primary and secondary targets of the council’s program.

Blake and her colleagues also utilize a range of social media to share important information about blueberries via Twitter and the @blueberry 411 account and Facebook with twice daily feeds, seven days a week. “I am pleased to report that our Facebook page has more than 50,000 followers and the number keeps growing,” said Blake.

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“We also share information with school nutritionists nationally and have available information materials for students to take home and share with their parents,” Blake said. She also noted the council has educational materials available for member use at no cost. Many of those items were on display throughout the day at the short course gathering and all are available for review on the council’s website: www.blueberrycouncil.org.

The council is also targeting exports specifically to China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, India, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Brazil and northern Europe. “Currently, seven percent of our domestic blueberry production is exported and the council wants to more than double that to 15 percent by 2015,” Blake said. She encouraged attendees to visit www.ridethebluewave.com for updates on the overall initiatives of the council, which are funded by annual assessments to growers, to continue increasing the demand for blueberry production in the U.S. both domestically and overseas.

Other presentations at the Short Course included: Spotted Wing Drosophila Update Production of sugar-free nutraceutical extracts from Florida blueberries as antiglycation dietary supplements Results of a blueberry grower survey Influence of kaolin clay applications on blueberry yields during lowchill seasons in west-central Florida Hydrogen cyanamide use in southern highbush blueberry production in Florida An update on the annual Florida Blueberry Festival On-farm research: A grower’s perspective Update on southern highbush blueberry cultivars from the University of Florida breeding program; and an overview of blueberry research projects In the UF Horticultural Sciences Department Effect of pruning time and intensity on vegetative and reproductive growth of southern highbush blueberry in Florida Sparkleberry: A potential rootstock for southern highbush blueberry Information on Fall Short Course presentations is available at: http://floridablueberrygrowers.com/grower/presentations/

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Everglades Farm Equipment would like to welcome their newest Ag Sales Specialist, Rodney Reis of Kathleen. Rodney recently joined the team of John Deere Salesmen at Everglades in Plant City. Earlier this year Rodney purchased a John Deere 7130 Premium from Everglades. After this experience Rodney was very impressed with both the sale team and customer service and decided to join the team. Rodney will be covering the Polk, Pasco and Hernando area. Rodney has a vast knowledge of many agricultural operations as he is a part time agriculturalist himself. Rodney has been actively involved in agriculture his entire life, and is a lifelong Polk County resident. He is a supporter of the local FFA Chapters and the Polk County Youth Fair. Rodney Reis hopes to make your experience with Everglades Farm Equipment the best buying experience you have ever had. He is a great addition to the Everglades sales team. Rodney can be reached at 863-581-9396.

A TASTE OF AGRICULTURE

Country Dinner Live Auction & Barn Dance 6th Annual Country Dinner

Mark your calendar!

Saturday, January 18, 2014 Social Hour 6:00 p.m.

Dinner & Live Auction at 6:30 p.m. all proceeds benefit the

Polk County Youth Fair

Join us for an evening of good food & great fun!

Ticket Prices: Early bird $25 Adult • At door $50 Adult • $10 Student/Children under 18

2200 Ewell Road, Lakeland, FL For corporate sponsorships or to purchase tickets please contact

Janice Jackson

jejack@UFL.EDU | PCYF.net | 863-519-1046

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By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff

FACIU - Networking For Success

Did you know that one of the many reasons we have enjoyed a historically low crime rate (crime is at its lowest in 41 years!) in Polk County is because we partner with other agencies? Our Agricultural Crimes deputies interact with and seek input from deputies all over the state who also specialize in this unique field, through our membership in the Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit, Inc., or FACIU. FACIU is a non-profit organization comprised of law enforcement officers from agencies across the state who work in the specialized field of agricultural-related crimes. Its members include Sheriff’s deputies, police officers, Fish and Wildlife officers, and investigators from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

FACIU members meet on the third Thursday of every month – the different counties take turns hosting. During these meetings, the officers discuss ongoing Ag crime trends, exchange suspect and person-ofinterest information, and basically pick each other’s brains about Agrelated matters. FACIU provides annual training for its members. FACIU also hosts an annual Sheriff’s Appreciation Lunch at Kissimmee State Park each year. This is an excellent opportunity for all of Florida’s Sheriffs and their Ag Units to network and discuss Ag issues.

PCSO recently hosted a monthly FACIU meeting in Winter Haven, Florida, during which PCSO Deputy Sheriff Gene Smith, who spent 13 years assigned to the Support Services Bureau as an Ag Crimes deputy, received recognition for his many years of service as the Treasurer of FACIU. Gene is currently a part-time deputy sheriff assigned to Animal Control, and he routinely assists the Ag Unit with animal cruelty investigations. His vast knowledge makes him a very valuable asset to our agency, and to FACIU. We are very proud of you, Gene!

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Support Services Bureau Welcomes Lieutenant Tommy Holland

The Polk County Sheriff’s Support Services Bureau, which houses the Aviation Unit, Marine Unit, and Agricultural Crimes Unit, has recently undergone a change in command. This month we introduce Lieutenant Tommy Holland, who directly oversees the Aviation, Marine, and Ag deputies.

Tommy was hired as a Telecommunicator at PCSO in 1984, and was sworn in as a deputy sheriff in 1985. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1989, and then to Lieutenant in 1994.

Tommy has spent the majority of his career in patrol, in the southeastern portion of the county. He has an Associate of Arts degree from Polk State College, and is a graduate of the 23rd Session of the Administrative Officers Management Program at North Carolina State University. He is excited about this new opportunity to interact with the members of our vast agricultural community. Tommy is a third generation Polk County native and his family is deeply rooted in local agriculture. His father, Irl Holland, was a long time citrus grower and cattleman in Lake Wales. Tommy and his wife Barbara live in Lake Wales. They have three adult children: Brandon Johnson, Blair Fitts, and Erin Holland. Brandon is also a deputy sheriff at the agency.

If you need to reach Lieutenant Holland for any agriculture, marine, or aviation concerns, please contact him at 863-287-7478.

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Jason Grimes

far from the average preacher,

By Melissa Nichols

U

pon first impression of meeting him you cannot help but notice his very southern accent and his hard working hands. Many people around Polk County recognize him for his years of building barns and doing construction work, but few people know the real man. Our feature story this month is a man who is not only an inspiration to anyone who wants to really go somewhere in life and not let their past hold them back, but also anyone who wants to strengthen their walk with Christ. Jason Grimes, owner of Jason Grimes Contracting is this month’s feature story. Jason is a humble man who is often a jokester, much of what he says comes out in a way that you aren’t sure if he is joking or not, until he begins to preach the Gospel of the Lord. At this point every word comes from his heart, experience, and the good book itself. Jason Grimes is a country boy with a much higher calling.

Jason grew up in a home that he wishes was much different than it was. He had very little when it came to material things. He began working as a young boy in sixth grade driving tractors around job sights cleaning up, and doing anything he could do to help support his family. Jason began helping with the family farm at a very young age so he was no stranger to work, driving a tractor, planting, or harvesting a crop. Growing up his home life was anything but Christian and nothing he is proud of. Jason’s grandmother knew this and made it a point to take him to church with her, which is when his faith started to take root. Jason was saved as a teenager as a result of his grandmother’s efforts, but the wheels didn’t really start turning until many years later. You see God had big plans for Jason Grimes, even when he had no idea why at the time. Jason had to live through the trials and tribulations he did because much later in life those same trials have made him who he has become and turned into a key point to help him relate to people.

Later in life, Jason spent many years as a member of Bethel Bap28

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tist Church in North Lakeland. He was a shy guy who was grounded in his faith and sat in church with his wife Monica by his side. Monica grew up going to Bethel Baptist and to her it was home. Monica came from a much different situation than Jason, and when they were married she quickly became his “rock” when it came to being faithful. Monica is a Sherrouse and anyone from north or central Polk County knows the Sherrouse’s are people who are very involved in every aspect of agriculture and church. Jason and Monica always knew they wanted their children Ashley, Keith and Garrett to grow up in church, and they have. Monica has always believed that God had a plan for Jason and after being involved in their church for many years she watched her husband continue to grow spiritually, starting off as a member, growing to become a deacon, and later chairman of the deacons.

Monica continued to pray for her husband never doubting God’s plan. Jason reflects back, not knowing the exact moment that it all made perfect sense, but knowing it occurred. Many, many times, he was told by a friend “Jason I will be praying for you.” It went over his head until one day, under the guidance of his Pastor Larry Taylor, Jason preached for the first time at a Baptist men’s day and when he did people stopped, listened and maybe even shed a tear.

Not a tear of pity, but a tear of joy, a tear of compassion and maybe even a tear of gratefulness. You see when Jason began to speak, all the years of people telling him they would pray for him made sense, all the years of being picked on, all the horrible things Jason went through growing up all added up, it was God’s plan.

After this experience Jason continued to grow spiritually and continued to pay attention to what the Lord laid upon his heart. He would go to Lighthouse ministries in Lakeland and preach to whoever was there to listen because he felt like he needed the outlet, he was on fire, and he had things to say and needed someone to hear him.

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Jason traveled across the United States doing revivals, sometimes in a tent on the side of the road, bringing people to know the Lord.

When God gives Jason a sermon, he is simple, he is bold, and he is passionate. He is ALIVE and he loves the Lord. Jason was later asked to pastor a church in Auburndale, Eastside Baptist Church, where he remained for several years. Jason has also worked with youth at several churches, and has done “cowboy” churches at Combee Rodeo. Wherever the Lord leads him Jason goes. Jason has led people to the Lord across the country on roadsides, during revivals, in chance meetings and by God’s divine intervention. The Grimes Family are members at First Baptist Church at the Mall and are very active there.

Jason and his wife Monica set an example for parents by their actions. They have homeschooled their children at their North Lakeland home where their children get first-hand experience with agriculture. They spend a lot of time working cattle, mending fences and bailing hay. The Grimes family has planted their roots deep into the agriculture community. The entire family is active in the local youth rodeo circuit and Keith in ranch rodeos. Their daughter Ashley was also involved in barrel racing for a few years when she was younger. Jason is often seen on horseback right next to his sons.

He has taught his boys to assist him when doing construction when they can, because he feels that it teaches them life skills. If they aren’t working they are usually found off somewhere working cattle.

Over the years and with the hundreds of jobs Jason has done, he has made an impression on people. I talked to a few people he has worked for and the general consensus is that Jason Grimes uses his platform as a construction worker daily to serve God. It is very pleasant to work with someone who is honest, has values and has a greater purpose in everything he does. Jason is respected in the construction industry for excellent quality, great value and dependability on top of being great a Christian, which is very few and far between. Jason builds large barns, metal buildings, pole barns, does tractor work and general carpentry. He does work throughout Polk county and surrounding area. Jason builds small barns, large barns and everything in between. His prices are very reasonable and he stands behind his work.

with me, his words are a vivid reminder of God’s mercy and grace. It has been a privilege to get to know the entire Grimes family. I once heard Jason say this “it is not how you start, it’s how you finish, so finish and finish well.” That is a literal statement that people should stop and think about. Next time you need some construction work or a barn built, keep Jason in mind. If you see him out and about at the rodeo or livestock market, ask him to tell you his story, hearing Jason Grimes preach is an amazing, uplifting experience that may change the way you think!

The Grimes family was recently invited to a Pastor’s conference in Tennessee. Jason was nervous about going, yet he knew it was something he needed to do. While attending this conference he learned a lot of things, he heard God speaking a lot, and when he returned home, he began researching going back to school. He is hoping and planning on signing up to attend Southeastern Theological Seminary. Although Jason is very skilled and gifted with his construction skills he knows Gods plan is much bigger than construction alone. Jason will continue to build barns and do construction work to provide for his family while attending the seminary.

Jason and Monica have raised three amazing kids who are all very strong in the faith in God that they have instilled in them. They all have a great future ahead of them and are reminders to Jason and Monica what devoting their lives to God has done for them. Jason is proud that his kids will never have to experience things he did as a child. Keith is currently in the tenth grade, Ashley has graduated and Garrett is almost a teenager. Jason and Monica have a home that is truly an example for others. They all work hard, play hard and most importantly they all love the Lord.

Jason Grimes is far from the average preacher, few barn builders are construction workers by day and preachers by night, although Jason preaches day and night. To Jason, preaching is not a job but an honor to share the blessed hope of a resurrected Savior. Jason is very humble even after traveling the country, bringing hundreds of people to salvation, Jason Grimes still feels he is a “nobody.” He has a motto and this motto keeps him going, “He is a nobody telling everybody about a somebody who can save anybody.” Jason Grimes is truly a one in a million type of person. His testimony sticks WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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deed restrictions dealing with landscape issues; pruning practices; problem plants such as invasive, non-native plants; pesticide and fertilization practices; plant nutritional deficiencies; mulch application; and irrigation system issues including frequency and timing of applications. Other frequent areas of interest cited by communities participating in the FFL Community Association Outreach Program have included stormwater pond best management practices, dealing with erosion caused by stormwater runoff and questions involving reclaimed water. Evaluations and recommendations are based on science-based research from UF/IFAS. In addition to site evaluations, the Community Association Outreach Program offers onsite presentations about the FFL principles.

The FFL Community Association Outreach Program is a free resource for HOAs and other community associations to provide for guidance in instituting sustainable landscape practices, reviewing landscaperelated covenants and working with landscape maintenance contractors. FFL has had several success stories with communities that adopted FFL practices from which they were able to see reduced water consumption and water utility and maintenance costs. Contact me at the Hillsborough County Extension Service, 813-744-5519 x 54142, if these services would benefit your homeowner or condominium association.

For more information on environmental horticulture topics, contact your local County Extension Service.

Additional information on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ can be accessed at http:/ /floridayards.org, http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu and WaterMatters.org.

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Community Association Outreach Program is sponsored by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Hillsborough and Polk Boards of County Commissioners and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

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FLORIDA

BEETS

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

V

ibrant and bold in color and flavor, fresh Florida beets provide natural sweetness and plenty of nutrients. The entire beet is delicious and edible, including the ball-like root, leaves, peel, and shoots. Beet varieties grown in Florida include Early Wonder, Detroit Dark Red, Cylindra, Red Ace and Little Ball. Though the reddishpurple type is most well known, beets also come in varieties that are yellow, white, pink, and multi-colored. Beets are members of the Chenopodiaceae family, along with Swiss chard, spinach, and quinoa.

The red and purple pigments responsible for beets’ vivid color contain healthy phytonutrients called betalains and anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Beets are commonly enjoyed raw, cooked, canned, or pickled. Beet greens are also edible, nutritious, and delicious. They can be eaten raw or lightly sautÊed, much like spinach, and are rich in vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids.

Nutritional Profile Beets are an excellent source of folate and a very good source of manganese, vitamin C, and potassium. They are also considered a good source of dietary fiber, copper, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of raw beets (136 g) contains 58 calories, 2.2g of protein, 0.23g of fat, 13g of carbohydrate, and 3.8g of fiber. It also provides 37% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for folate, 22% for manganese, 15% for fiber, 13% for potassium, 11% for vitamin C, 9% for tryptophan, 8% for magnesium, 6% for iron, and 5% for phosphorus and copper.

Disease-fighting antioxidants Beets are full of antioxidants, in the form of betalain, vitamin C, and manganese. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, harmful compounds associated with cancer, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and arthritis. A one cup serving of raw beets contains 11% of your daily vitamin C requirements and 37% of your daily folate requirements. These nutrients also fight inflammation and may reduce the severity of inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and asthma.

Manganese Fresh Florida beets are full of manganese, with a one cup serving providing almost a quarter of your daily needs. Manganese is a trace mineral that has many important roles in the body. It helps maintain strong bones, helps the body synthesize fatty acids, promotes proper function of the thyroid gland, and helps maintain normal blood sugar levels. Manganese is involved in many enzymatic reactions in the body and helps the body efficiently use nutrients such as biotin, vitamin C, choline, and thiamin.

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Folate Beets are very high in folate, a B vitamin, with one cup providing more than one third of your daily requirement of this vitamin. Folate plays a role in reducing levels of homocysteine, a compound associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. In conjunction with vitamin B12 and vitamin C, folate helps the body use and make new proteins, form red blood cells, support normal cell growth and division. Perhaps folate is more famous for its important role in preventing neural tube defects and other birth defects.

How to select and store Select beets that are firm, with deep color and smooth, unblemished skin. If the greens are attached, look for fresh looking greens with a bright green color. Smaller beets tend to be more tender and have a better taste.

Separate beet greens from the root. Store unwashed greens in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to three or four days. The greens are more perishable than the roots, which can be stored, unwashed, in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Cooked beets can be frozen for up to several months.

How to enjoy Beets can be enjoyed raw, grated and added to salad. They can also be grilled, boiled, steamed, pickled, or roasted. Beet greens can be boiled or steamed, with a similar taste and texture to spinach. Other ways to enjoy this nutritious, versatile vegetable include: Roasted with olive oil, salt, and pepper Made into soup, such as in borscht Grated raw and added to salads or as a topping for sandwiches Juiced with other fruits and vegetables for a nutritious drink Boiled and mashed with potatoes and other root vegetables Using pickled beet juice to flavor hard-boiled eggs, a Pennsylvania Dutch specialty Grated and used in dessert recipes, such as chocolate beet cake.

Enjoy fresh, sweet Florida beets today. Full of nutrients, these super vegetables add delicious flavor, beauty, and nutrition to any meal.

Selected References http://www.floridata.com/ref/B/beta_vul.cfm http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.usda.gov http://www.whfoods.com WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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RECIPES

Pan Roasted Florida Vegetables with Garlic & Fresh Herbs

INGREDIENTS

Recipes Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture

Florida Strawberry Cheesecake Dip

INGREDIENTS

1 large eggplant, large diced (remove skin if desired) 2 zucchini, large diced 2 large squash, large diced 2 bell peppers, seeded and diced large 6 cloves fresh garlic, minced 12 mushrooms, rinsed and quartered 1 large yellow onion, diced 1/4 cup fresh parsley, hand torn 2 teaspoons fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried oregano) canola or olive oil for cooking sea salt to taste fresh ground pepper to taste

1/2 cup fresh Florida Strawberries, rinsed, dried and chopped fine 1/4 cup Florida pecans, toasted and chopped fine 1/4 cup Florida honey 1/3 cup freshly squeezed Florida orange juice 1 cup low-fat cream cheese, softened 1 cup low-fat sour cream Assorted cookies, graham crackers and fresh Florida fruit for dipping and spreading

Directions

Set aside 1 tablespoon each of the strawberries and pecans for garnish.

Pre heat a large-sized sautĂŠ pan over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the hot pan.

Add half of the onion to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add half of the garlic and all the bell peppers to the onion mixture in the pan. Continue to cook the vegetables in the pan and add all of the yellow squash and zucchini to the pan.

In a small bowl, lightly mix the strawberries, honey and orange juice. In a separate bowl, blend the cream cheese and sour cream until smooth.

Add the strawberry mixture and fold together.

Fold in the pecans. Cover and chill.

Lightly season the cooking vegetables with salt and pepper. Let the vegetables cook until the squash is just crisp-tender (about two minutes).

Remove the vegetables from the pan into a large serving bowl. Place the sautĂŠ pan back over the heat and use a spatula to remove any debris.

Directions

Garnish the top of the dip with the reserved strawberries and pecans. Serve with cookies and fruit for dipping.

Once the pan is hot again, add 1 tablespoon oil and the other half of the diced onion. Let the onions cook for 2 minutes and then add the garlic, mushrooms and eggplant. Lightly season the cooking vegetables with salt and pepper. Let the vegetables cook until the eggplant is just tender (about 2 minutes).

Remove the vegetables from the pan and place them into the bowl with the other vegetables. Add the fresh herbs to the bowl of vegetables and stir to combine. Serve warm.

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To hold in moisture around your roses, and hopefully thwart the proliferation of weeds, an organic mulch is recommended. As it decomposes, you'll replace the mulch, bearing in mind that even when your mulch disappears, you're building nutritious soil. Mulch makes weeding much easier, too.

Roses have graced gardens literally for centuries, being used as ground covers, shrubs, vines, container and specimen plants, flowering almost year-round in central Florida.

Taeler Dupre

Roses appear in a plethora of colors and scents. They also come with a wide range of implications and situations. You may give If you plan to use your roses as cut flowers, think about your intended them on the occasion of a sweetheart, the Prom, a proposal, an arrangement and trim the roses length accordingly. Use larger blooms acceptance, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparents Day, low in the container and use smaller blooms and buds at the top for Boss' Day, Employees Day, Good Grades Day, Apology Day, height. Also, try to use odd numbers of flowers in your arrangement, as the Kentucky Derby (Run for the Roses)...well, let's just say florists do. If you cut buds when they are too tight they'll probably from birth to death, there's an occasion for roses.

In August of 2008, a shymake young boy walked the Agknife classroom refuse to open.

Always a clean cut withinto a sharp or cuttinghas had numerous high scoring individual ribbons and awards. He at Kathleen Middle School, nervous he would the summer between eighth and shears, trying to avoid a ragged cutand forwondering the sake ofif the plant. fit in. received Now his thatfirst youscholarship know that there's no need for an his excuse to give This young man was no stranger to being challenged as he had been ninth grade year, being awarded top scoring new camper at Forestry thisHis beautiful a garden for roses and bestow a part of the gifted (Alpha) program his entire elementary school camp.

Par-Pro flower, team isplan getting ready plot to head to Louisville this splendor of the rose some unsuspecting soon years. As he walked into that classroom, having just turned 11 years fall, the as they are currently theonstate winning Par Prosoul team.

He and has often. a 4.353 GPA, which also has him at the top of his class. old, he had no idea that the decision to join FFA and select Ag as maintained his elective would not only change him, but it would also help him become who he really was destined to be. This young man is Taeler A day in theroses life ofare Taeler Dupre goes something likedad this;Nelson he getsLunn, up at These in memory of my precious Dupre, who is currently a junior at Kathleen Senior High School, the 5 am to feed his cattle, catches the bus to Kathleen Senior where he athlete and great golfer, now playing through with his good Kathleen Chapter President and 2013-2014 District VIII FFA President. begins his day leading and practicing Opening and Closing ceremony. friend Art,onboth havinghisgone home on December 18th, 2012.

He then goes to attend 7 classes, all of which are honors or You've gotclasses. all myHe love andhis respect, dad.practice that lasts either As Taeler reported to class his sixth grade year he not only had Ag, college credit ends day with but his other elective was “Alpha” a program to make children with a until 3 pm or 5 pm. If he has an early day and ends at 3 pm, he high IQ learn to think outside of the box. This year his Alpha teacher heads off to work at the J&J Tack Shack in North Lakeland until they was his Ag teacher Bucky Day’s mother, Gerri Day. He quickly devel- close at 6 pm. When arriving home he works with his cattle and oped a relationship with Gerri Day that made a connection with Ag. feeds them, coming inside at dark with enough time to eat supper, Gerri said from the day she met Taeler, “One day you will be a State do his homework and prepare for the next day. There is very little FFA Officer.” At the time, Taeler didn’t even know what that meant time for anything other than school, livestock and Ag in his life and but thought it sounded like a challenge and he took that challenge he wouldn’t have it any other way. and “ran” with it.

Taeler is also the oldest of five, he has a younger brother, Hunter He quickly began to study everything Ag related, he tried out for Dupre, two younger sisters, Payge Dupre and Madilyn Nichols, as Some CDE roseshewill require weeklyafungicidal spraying towell as a step brother Jacob Nichols. He not only takes care of his every could and bought market hogortoinsecticidal begin SAE projects of rosehog care isanimals but sets an example to them by helping them care for their maintain thefollowing quality of thehe plant. aspect as well. The year took An the important money from his market and with the support andofguidance of hisspot. stepfather, Reggiewould Nichols, the proper management fungal black This disease not beproject animals. To say that Taeler has his plate full is a little bit of he bought a beef heifer.

Hiswhich SAE projects to grow as toan understatement. near as prevalent in states lack ourhave wet,continued humid climate.

Begin he hasroses continued take moneyemerges, from thecontinuing project thethrough year before and treat when to new growth the growing he now has two Registered Angus cattle, a bred and owned Angus His life has been filled with things that could have caused any good season.

One asset associated shrub roses these low-mainteBull, bred and owned PCYF with market steer andis athat Registered Maine kid to turn bad. Taeler has remained strong in his faith in God denanceheifer. roses are resistant to black very afew or no Anjou Taeler is working veryspot hardwith to make name for sprays. himself spite having faced things that no child should ever have to face. He in the beef industry, as not only an exhibitor with multiple Grand has used these things to help him focus on the ultimate goal that Champion wins, butdisease also aswhich a producer.

Taelerinhas spent Yet another fungal is a threat spring or the latelast fall five is pow-lies ahead. The goal for Taeler Dupre is to graduate at the top of his years showingwhich cattle at the Florida Stateand Fair,buds Polk with County Youth Fair dery mildew, covers new leaves a powdery whiteclass, get a full ride scholarship, become a Florida State FFA Officer and the Strawberry Festival. He also raises steers for the Polk County and eventually go into a career in agriculture. He truly is an amazsubstance.

Thismarket diseasehogs rarely the plant butFair. will He damage leaves anding young man, amazing leader, and an inspiration to everyone who Youth Fair, and forkills the Florida State has invested blooms. all his extra money in the equipment to go along with raising cattle. knows him. Those who know Taeler say he is just a born leader. He He saved money to buy a livestock trailer, grooming chutes, and all traveled to the Washington Leadership Conference this summer and the show supplies. also works part time to pay for the feed Other pests which Taeler you might encounter include caterpillars, aphids,said after that experience it is more obvious than ever to him, that that hisorcattle consume.

He has very quickly that thingsroses in isjoining FFA was the best decision of his life. Taeler was asked what thrips spider mites. The bestlearned hedge of protection for your life worth having are worth working for. led him to choose Ag that day many years ago, he said “I just thought early detection of infestations. But that should be easy considering theit sounded like it could be fun, interesting and a good challenge, and closeyoung scrutiny your beauties fall inhelove This manyou'll is notafford only actively involvedonce in SAEyou projects, alsowithit has been all that and more.” He is very grateful for the dedication them.

You may involved contact the office for BMP's (best has been heavily withextension every CDE he could over the pastmanagesix of his current Ag teachers, Kyle Carlton and Keitha Hall, as well has years.

He has competed Citrus, Horticulture, Livestock ment practices) for theseinand otherForestry, pest problems you may encounter.his former Ag teacher Bucky Day for helping him get where he is, as Judging, Parliamentary Procedures, Tool ID, and OH Demo. Taeler he knows without them he wouldn’t be so successful.

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A Closer Look:

Garden Spiders (Argiope)

By Sean Green Photo Credit: April Mcdonald & Karen Berry The orb weavers as a family of spiders have fascinated humanity for as long as we have coexisted with them, inspiring cultural and biblical stories that endow this spider with enchanting qualities. The classic children’s novel Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, for example, was inspired by the Barn Spider (Araneus cavaticus), a small member of the Araneidae family. Rabbinical references to Psalms 57 describe a spider weaving an intricate web at the mouth of the Cave of Adullam, discouraging King Saul from searching the cave in which the fleeing David and his men were hiding. These are the legendary image weavers that have evoked common names such as the Writing Spider, St. Andrew’s Cross spiders, Priest Spider, X Spider, and even Kogane-gumo, Japanese for (wicked looking spider). One thing is clear; while these harmless spiders may appear wicked, with a closer look, there are few that can resist being drawn into fascination by them.

Despite its alarming guise, Garden Spiders (Argiope) are rather timid. When threatened, some species may vibrate the web but more often, will plunge to the ground to hide in vegetation. Garden Spiders (Argiope) are large orb weavers that, unlike other orb weavers, are active during the day. One characteristic of daytime orb-weavers is the use of intricate zig zag patterns (stabilimentum) within their web. Scientists still debate the purpose of web stabilimenta and popular theories include prey attraction and the provision of structural stability. Though many theories abound, the theory that stabilimentum is a bird deterring design is compelling. In 1982 entomologist Thomas Eisner and ornithologist Steven Nowicki tested the hypothesis at Archbold Biological Station in central Florida and demonstrated that before birds became active at dawn both marked and unmarked webs survived at a rate of about 80 percent. In the timeframe between dawn and noon, all but 8 percent of unmarked webs remained intact compared to 60 percent of webs marked with stabilimentum. The presence or absence of stabilimentum has not been determined to be a significant factor in the predation by birds. Regardless of its function, this spiders fascinating use of stabilimentum has inspired a variety of common names for a truly extraordinary spider.

Building a web is no trivial task, Argiope spiders spin at least six different types of silk and the entire process of making a web takes a couple of hours. For those of you willing to get up a few hours before dawn, you may be able to catch this spider in the process of WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

creating her marvelous web. Juvenile Argiope tend to spin more elaborate stabilimentum and are a real treat when you find them.

The impressive web of the Argiope is usually immaculately clean.

Argiope dismantle, ingest and rebuild their web every night to refresh the sticky capture threads, consequently keeping it free of debris. Argiope are most abundant in autumn, spiderlings will soon emerge from egg sacks and can make interesting pets for those so inclined. Argiope is a prized beneficial insect and is reputed to eat a greater variety and volume of insects than birds do, prey include mosquitoes, moths, flies, grasshoppers, bees, and wasps.

Florida is home to four species of Garden Spiders (Argiope), all of which habitually build their webs within eight feet of the ground or on porches and window sills. The Black and Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia), is one of the largest and most common of orb-weavers. The natural habitats for this species include grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands and of all Florida species, this one is the most likely to show up in urban environments.

Argiope aurantia only breeds once per year, so survival of the young have necessitated some interesting survival characteristics. After mating, the female produces between one and three brown papery eggs sacks, each containing between 300 and 1400 eggs that will hatch in autumn. The egg sack is hung from the center of her web to prevent ant predation. The egg sack itself is a multi-layered fortress designed to prevail over the burrowing larvae of wasps and flies. In one study, 19 insect species and 11 spider species emerged from one Argiope aurantia eggs sack in addition to the unharmed Argiope spiderlings the egg sack was designed to protect. The Silver Argiope (Argiope argentata) and Banded Argiope (Argiope trifasciata) thrive in warm dry environments of the Southwest but are also common in Florida sand scrub, pine flatwoods, and Prickly pear in the fall.

The Florida Argiope (Argiope florida) also known as the Silver Backed Argiope, is similar in appearance to the Silver Argiope (Argiope argentata) and can be found throughout the southeast from North Carolina to Florida and west to Louisiana. Argiope leaves an impression with everyone; fear, fascination, or both. From her we learn to acknowledge virtue despite our fears.

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PRODUCE FRESH PRODUCE Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!

October 2013

info@inthefieldmagazine.com REAL ESTATE LAND WANTED 10 to 100 acres, no improvements, Hillsborough, Polk or East Pasco. Call Lee 813-986-9141 WANTED TO BUY Problem real estate mortgages. Will consider any situation, defaults, delinquencies. Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk County. CASH OUT! Call H. Lee 813-986-9141 FOR LEASE Barn Conveniently located off of Highway 60 E. 4000 sq. ft. $600 per month. Call 863-533-2579 or 863-221-0986 FOR SALE 2.66 acres, Pless Road, Paved Road by owner.

65K, 10% down, owner financing. 813-986-9141 4 ACRES FOR LEASE Livestock or farming located south Plant City, Neismith and Jackson King.

Call 813-210-6816 for details.

FOR SALE – 45 ACRES VACANT LAND (Pasco County) 45 acres are comprised of gently rolling hills with big trees & solid ground. A great setting for residential development. To the east of the property is a 60 acre parcel (Lake Gilbert) that adds significant aesthetic value to the 45 acres.

Zoning: AR (Agricultural-Rural) Call Heidi Cecil for more information 863-899-9620 FOR LEASE 24 Acre Farm 5" Well Gulf City & Willis Road.

Ruskin FL. Call or email Lee@leepallardyinc.com 813-355-6274 FOR SALE 50 acres farmland $275,000 Greenbelt in place.

6” Permitted well @175,000 GPD & 3 other wells irrigation in place. Near country road #579 and Safford road. Call 813-662-2744.

2.66 ACRE NURSERY FOR SALE OR LEASE N. Lakeland with 1,000 sq ft frame house, 2 sheds, irrigation throughout. Call Bruce 863-698-0019 FOR LEASE 15 acre for hay. State Road 70 & Vernon Road.

Manatee County. Call or email Lee@leepallardyinc.com 813-355-6274 JANE BAER REALTY Looking for that mountain getaway home?

We have what you are looking for. Check out our website at www.janebaerrealty.com or call us toll free 800-820-7829. We are located in Blairsville GA, North Georgia Mountains!

SERVICES CALLER ON HOLD A low cost service that enables you to communicate important information about your business to customers while they are on hold.

No monthly payments or annual payments.

Call today and ask for Al 813-763-2220

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2013

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813-752-2379

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

Western & Outdoor Wear, Farm, Ranch & Pet Supplies

3014 S. Jim Redman Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • www.southsidestores.com 48

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

October 2013

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