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Business Up Front By Melissa Nichols This month’s business up front is one that every single reader could potentially use one day. Whether you need a secretary, a truck driver or a general laborer, Express Employment Professionals can help. Located at 1805 Bartow Rd (US 98 S) Express is a unique full service staffing solutions business. The owner C.J. Marcello said, “I enjoy providing high quality associates to take the stress off business owners and human resources departments. It is rewarding to help them in a time of need, whether it is to fill a void for a day, a week or an evaluation to hire or long term we are here to help.” Unlike some staffing agencies, the Lakeland Express Employment Professionals is owned by a local retired Army Veteran, C.J. Marcello, who is dedicated to helping those that do business right here in our own community. Express offers multiple different products, evaluation to hire is the most common product that they offer. This is where the associate is working and getting paid while they are evaluated on their work ethic, abilities and dedication. After the predetermined amount of time, the associate is transferred to the individual companies’ payroll from Express. Direct hire is another product that is offered. With direct hire, Express will advertise and prescreen candidates for a specific position. They will evaluate them through a series of tests, review their resumes and schedule an interview if they match the individual criteria the business is looking for. Direct hire takes the stress off of human resources departments and allows them to focus on the many other important tasks they have at hand. Contract or seasonal em-
ployment is another product that Express offers for industries that have a busy time of the year who need additional workers just for a period of time. Whether it is the citrus industry or retail, for a week or six months, Express can help. Another service they offer is Temporary and year round contracted employment, such as a situation where you have a large order to fill or have someone out sick and need a truck driver, forklift operator or receptionist for only a few days, Express has associates who are qualified and ready to help. With over 31 years in the industry, Express is ISO certified, licensed and insured, they offer comprehensive background checks on associates, drug screening, cover them under workman’s comp, and are fully liable for the associates they employ. C.J. Marcello, Express franchise owner and retired U.S. Army Veteran, knows what it takes to help businesses be successful. He along with his staff, are dedicated to finding the perfect associates to help your business grow and expand. C.J. has taken the structure he developed in the Army, combined with his business skills from serving as the Executive Director of the Paso Fino Horse Association and Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park Authority, and used them to make Express what it is today. With a deep vested interest in agriculture, C.J. and his staff are here to help. Built on a philosophy where the client comes first, Express can make a difference in your business. Express is a one stop shop for all your staffing needs.
(863) 535-1318 1805 US Hwy. 98 South, Ste. A&C ExpressPros.com
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Lakeland, FL 33801
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Rod Mcdowell
VOL. 9 • ISSUE 4
page 24
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – J. B. Wynn (863) 581-3255 jbwynn29@gmail.com Vice President – David McCullers (863) 635-2821crookedlakeranch@verizon. net Cover Photo by Melissa Nichols
Contents December 2015 Business Up Front
Page 3
Master Gardener
Page 10
Kathleen FFA
Page 27
National FFA
Page 28
Building Boom
Endangered Species
Fishing Hot Spots
PCSO
Page 12 Page 14
Literary Time Machine
Page 16 Drones
Page 18 Meet the Minks
Page 20
Midway Farms
Page 21
Page 30 Page 34
Florida Persimmons
Page 39
Horse Tale Farm
Page 42 Activity
Page 44 A Closer Look
Page 45
Secretary/Treasurer Justin Bunch (863) 425-1121 jbunch@agriumretail. com State Director – Ray Clark (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay. rr.com
Dave Tomkow (863) 665-5088 cattlemenslivestock@ earthlink.net Mike Facente (863) 697-9419 Standing Committee Chairs: Membership- J.B. Wynn Events- Kevin Fussell (863) 412-5876 Trade ShowRodeo- Fred Waters (863) 559-7808
Website – Adam NorCarlton Taylor man 863-944-9293 863-781-1146 Carlton.Taylor@boehring- Adam.norman@gmfind. com er-ingelheim.com Charles Clark (863) 528-8537 cclarkc4@yahoo.com L.B. Flanders, DVM (863) 644-5974 Dewey Fussell (863) 984-3782 Mike Fussell (863) 698-8314 fussell.flafarm@verizon. net Moby Persing 863-528-4567
Cattlewomen – Vice President, Laura Slocumb (863) 660-7000 laura@higgenbotham. com Extension – Bridget Carlisle PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048 bccarlis@ufl.edu Sheriff’s Dept. – Sgt. Tommy Dixon (863) 534-7205 tdixon@polksheriff.org
Rocking Chair Chatter
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Letter from the Editor
STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry
Merry Christmas! It is a wonderful time of the year and this morning I even felt an ever so slight chill in the air. Even without the cold weather and snowy feel to the air, its evident that the Christmas season is upon us full force. Christmas lights have been strung since, well, it seems since before Halloween! Many homes have dedicated a space for the Christmas tree and kids are trying so hard to be good in hopes that Santa Claus will keep them on the “nice” list. Is this the real meaning of Christmas? The lights, gifts, cards in the mail, food and stockings and shouts of Merry Christmas? Perhaps for some it has come to this. So please remember, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. A brilliant star lit the skies over Bethlehem as a guide to those seeking His birthplace. Luke 2 8-12 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” As for the so-called politically correct “Happy Holidays,” sorry, around here we say Merry Christmas. You can respond with Happy Holidays if you like. I won’t be offended. After all, it is a free country. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Sarah The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Office Manager Bob Hughens Sales Manager Danny Crampton Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Nolan Lewis Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Stephanie Humphrey Melissa Nichols Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Libby Hopkins Melissa Nichols Contributing Writers Woody Gore In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 335630042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813759-6909 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. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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Giving back to our communities is
Mike Bennett, Supply Chain Operator, Florida phosphate operations
As a DeSoto County resident and operator in Mosaic’s supply chain team, I help ensure our phosphate crop nutrients get to farmers in America and all over the world. At Mosaic, we share our passion for agriculture and environmental stewardship with the next generation of local farmers and ranchers. In fact, I’m one of hundreds of Mosaic employees who volunteer annually with youth agriculture organizations and at county fairs. For me, giving back is more than a job. It’s about nourishing the communities where we all live, work and play.
®
We help the world grow the food it needs.
mosaicco.com/florida
© 2015 The Mosaic Company
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Dear Readers: As another year is coming to an end, it’s hard to believe how fast time goes by. It’s also hard to believe that it’s been almost two years since I wrote my first message as Polk County Cattlemen’s President. The end of 2015 brings the end of my term as president. It has been a great two years for me. I have attended many entertaining and fun events throughout the county, as well as attempted to conduct some business for our association while I was at it! I will have to say that this has been a great experience for me, as I have met and worked with a lot of stand-up people and made some lifelong friendships. I love the cattle industry and never take one day for granted that God has given me and my family to live in it. God gives us these great opportunities in life, and being a cattlemen is one of the greatest opportunities allowed.
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I look forward to continuing to be a director of the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association and hopefully being back on the steak-cooking crew at our summer dinner. I would like to wish everyone a Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year! Have a wonderful time with family and friends and remember all of the things we have to be thankful for as Americans and ranchers. God is Good!
JB Wynn
JB Wynn Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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Growing Christmas trees provides a habitat for wildlife. Recycled trees have been used to make sand and soil erosion barriers and been placed in ponds for fish shelter. Christmas trees remove dust and pollen from the air. Artificial trees will last for six years in your home, but for centuries in a landfill. 59 percent of real Christmas trees harvested are recycled in community programs. An acre of Christmas trees provides for the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people. Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska. Thomas Edison’s assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees in 1882. Christmas tree lights were first mass produced in 1890.
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Evergreens
M A S T E R GARDENER By Debra Howell Tis the time when consumers commence the selection and adornment process associated with evergreen trees and the Christmas season. It is, therefore, the perfect time to explore trees appropriate to Florida that are not deciduous and remain green throughout the winter. Together with several nice pines, other notable evergreens are arborvitae, bald cypress, cedars, hollies, Norfolk Island pine, ligustrum, podocarpus, Japanese blueberry and cedars. And, although some of these are not native to North America, they have been used here for years and normally thrive. My new favorite landscape evergreen is the Japanese blueberry. No, it is not a blueberry shrub. We have debuted this tree previously, but it merits further discussion. If allowed, this tree may reach heights of 40 feet with a 40 foot spread. It bears flowers during the spring and summer, which will then yield berries of blue, purple and black. These berries will provide food for wildlife. They are a deep green glossy tree that is definitely under-used in the landscape. The Japanese blueberry has great potential in municipal landscaping applications, where it is much more appropriate in the downtown area than most oak trees. Another tree that does well in the downtown landscape is ligustrum. Also, called Japanese privet, this small tree will mature to about 12 feet tall, with a dome-shaped crown and a 15 foot spread. It may also be used as a hedge or accent plant, or even be grown in the proper container. If you containerize, be sure to either weigh down the planter or anchor it, as your ligustrum will be top-heavy. This plant likes an acidic soil pH, so you will want to provide it with acidifying fertilizer. If you trim it into a hedge, keep the top narrower than the bottom. This provides for more uniform distribution of sunlight. The podocarpus is actually a tree capable of reaching 50 feet in height, but which people regularly corrupt into hedges. This plant 10
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has definite potential for espalier, as the branches would be easy to bend and train. The female trees would provide additional interest as they have small flowers which produce small fruit with purple flesh that are edible and tasty, and they also are attractive to birds. The narrow leaves and fruit are not a litter problem, enhancing its use in cityscapes. It may be used in areas of poor soil or where space is limited, like a downtown planting pit. My favorite native evergreen is the bald cypress. It is an iconic Florida symbol for the river swamp which has become my friend and of which I am quite fond. The cypress is capable of withstanding hurricane force winds, and indeed, is usually found in swampy areas. It is sadly overlooked in landscaping and could be more widely used. This tree is hardy in a wide range of areas, even as far north as upstate New York. Although it will drop some of its needlelike leaves in winter, it is only deciduous in its northern range. The “knees� on the bald cypress are pointed, whereas the knees on its close relative, the pond cypress, are rounded. The cypress is quite adaptable to drier environments, but does better in damper areas and is perfectly at home in your back yard if you have the space. If you are in the market for a classy evergreen tree with rapid growth rate, then the Norfolk Island pine is your tree. This stately native of the southern hemisphere regularly achieves heights of 80 feet and might grow taller, but is limited sometimes by lightning strikes. This tree boasts large, although rare, spiny pinecones up to 15 pounds. You will want to prune out multiple trunks in order to have the single, upright trunk of the classic Norfolk Island pine. They are fairly salt tolerant and grow on a variety of soils in a sunny location. These pines are not recommended for terraces or patios because they sometimes generate surface roots. An ever-present evergreen that is categorized as a shrub is the arborvitae. Arborvitae literally means tree of life and is prevalent in central Florida cemeteries. Their presence in cemeteries bears testimony of their drought tolerance. They are acid lovers with a spreading growth habit, which always maintain their lovely bright green color. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
There are several types of native pines that are hardy from zone 7A through 10A. They are longleaf, slash, pond, loblolly and spruce. Florida’s pine flatwoods contain slash, longleaf and pond pines. Understory plants are grasses, palmettos, shrubs like American beautyberry and wildflowers, some of which are rare or endangered. Pines are pyrophytic, meaning they need the benefit of periodic fires to eliminate a buildup of vegetation and invasive plants. Naturally, these fires would be stimulated by lightening, but, on a regular basis, scheduled burn-offs are conducted in order to protect housing developments and residential areas, and to accomplish the reduction of potential fuel for a forest fire. In actuality it is a hazard reduction burn. Pines suffer from certain diseases and pests. Some of these are fusarium fungus causing pitch canker, annosum root rot, sawflies, pinecone worm, bark beetles, turpentine beetles, engraver beetles and pine webworm. Several evergreen types may be used for the eye-catching and unique gardening technique known as espalier. It is pronounced “es-PALyer” or “es-pal-YAY”. Generations of Romans and Europeans developed the technique of training a plant to grow in a flat manner against a fence, trellis or wall. According to the bulletin, the English would choose a wall with a southern exposure to cultivate their fruit trees. Among the shrubs recommended for espalier were the evergreens: podocarpus, magnolias, hollies and ligustrum. In order to achieve the desired results, you must direct the plant continually along a flat surface. The caveat here WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
is that it is maintenance intensive, taking many hours for your completed project. Unless you like to trim and prune, you should probably attempt an espalier with horizontal branches. Make a sketch of your potential project and choose which plant you will use. Select a specimen with lots of flexible lateral branches. Get one with a nice central trunk. You may find pre-trained espaliers at nurseries if you look around, affording you a fast and easy “jumpstart” for your espalier garden project. Once you have selected your plant, it is best to keep it 6 to 8 inches from the wall, especially if the wall is wood. This space will enable you to prune, spray and maintain your plant, and will protect the wall from decay and termites. You may use eye-bolts to attach the trellis to the wall or privacy fence. When you have properly installed your plant, begin to very carefully bend the branches and wire them to suit your whims. Coming off the main or central trunk, leave 28-40 inches of space between branches. In addition, leave the same amount of space from the ground to the lowest branches. Make sure you do not cut the top of the central trunk until it reaches the desired height. Pay attention that no branches cross. When new shoots appear, encourage conformity by tying and pruning effectively. You will have to prune branches that grow outward or distort the pattern. If you choose flowering or fruiting plants, ensure that you prune them at the proper time. Initially, you may fertilize every three months, but when it has gained its desired form, cut back on fertilization to spring and fall. This garden technique is so different and unique that your yard will be the topic for conversation in the neighborhood. Happy evergreen planting. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2015
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Building Boom
Jack Payne, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida, cuts the ribbon on a 5,000-square-foot addition to the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center that will provide more research and office space for UF/IFAS scientists. Left to right: Mike Stuart, president, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Kenneth Parker, executive director, Florida Strawberry By Jack Payne UF/IFAS photo by Tyler Jones
UF/IFAS is as close as it’s ever likely to get to a building boom. It’s just in time, because we’re hiring dozens of new faculty to expand our research and Extension for the state’s growers. Hillsborough and Polk county legislators and growers helped us make the case for increased funding for expertise this year. We won’t touch a penny of it for construction. We cobble together money from donors, from royalties on the fruit and vegetable varieties we invent, and state facility money to finance the facilities for great research and Extension. We’ve got $5 million in projects under construction or in planning. That should boost productivity, retention, and recruitment of people who spend their days figuring out how to make Florida agriculture more prosperous and sustainable. It’s not enough to put out a help wanted sign and pay a competitive salary. Great minds can only achieve their potential with great tools. That means labs, offices, equipment, and, things like air conditioning. In November we cut the ribbon on a 5,000-square-foot expansion of our Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. The addition will make GCREC big enough to hold 150 people – double the number from a decade ago. In Lake Alfred, the urgency with which our researchers are attacking citrus greening has to be matched by our facilities. For example, we’ve recruited an exciting young flavor chemist to preserve the taste of OJ in the age of greening, and she needs a state-of-the-art
Growers Association; Reggie Brown, manager, Florida Tomato Committee; Tony DiMare, vice president of the DiMare Company; Jack Payne, administrative head of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; Jack Rechcigl, director of the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center; Jackie Burns, dean of research, UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
lab to do it. She’s getting one, and we’re currently installing a fume hood. We even have to upgrade the air conditioning to handle the heat generated by her equipment. Not sexy stuff maybe, but it’s all part of building and maintaining a cradle of innovation. It’s not just researchers at the Citrus Research and Education Center that deserve safe, clean facilities. The next time you attend a conference or Extension workshop at the Ben Hill Griffin conference center at CREC, you’ll see new furniture, carpeting, paint, and hear (or, hopefully, not hear) a quieter A/C system. The world’s largest citrus-related research library at CREC is now getting a makeover, as are the classrooms that I hope you’ll continue to make use of. In January we expect to finish expansion of our Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. It creates lab space for the new faculty and their graduate students to get to work on solutions to agricultural challenges. Immokalee may not be your neighborhood, but the expansion there means they’ll be nonetheless working on addressing more of your challenges and sharing what they learn.
forts to take a big-picture look at feeding the world, from production to post-harvest to transport to marketing to consumers’ plates. Further afield but of interest to the state’s entire agricultural community, we’re planning a 4-H camp in the Welaka State Forest to give our 200,000-plus 4-Hers a shot at life-changing experiences and develop them as leaders. Facilities matter. Modern UF/IFAS facilities mean Florida agriculture is more likely to get all it deserves from its land-grant university. We need to keep pace with Florida farmers’ growing needs. We can always use your help making the case for funding for facilities. The Florida Cattlemen’s Association, for example, has been invaluable in helping inform legislators how important the beef teaching unit is to the beef cattle industry. Ask your research center director or Extension office director about their facilities needs and how you can help. We hope we’ll see you at a celebration of a completed project. We hope even more that we’ll see you using the buildings to learn and let us know how we can help you.
And Polk County ranchers should be glad to know that this fall we had a groundbreaking for renovations on our beef teaching unit in Gainesville. Our vision is to provide housing for students, a center where we can put on workshops, and better facilities for the management of animals. Also on campus, we’re building a food security lab that will serve as the hub for ef-
Jack Payne is the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. jackpayne@ufl.edu • @JackPayneIFAS 12
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Express Employment Professionals has a solution for your hiring needs. Whether you want temporary help now, or you’re looking for the perfect fit for a long-term position, Express has skilled workers ready when your business needs them. Call or go online today to see how Express can help.
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December 2015
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Tampa Bay Fishing Report December 2015 Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
“Let’s Go Fishing in December” Tampa Bay is one of, if not the largest, open-water estuary in Florida, and it’s also home to innumerable sea grass flats, and marine life. These marine creatures attract many species of fish, birds, manatees and other wildlife, which come to feast on the rich food sources of Tampa Bay. If angling is your recreational pleasure and something you enjoy, then Tampa Bay and the inter-coastal waters of the gulf coast certainly offer some splendid fishing opportunities especially with www.captainwoodygore.com.
Spotted Sea Trout:
While fishing in Florida can be done comfortably year round, fall offers excellent opportunities on a variety of species. When fishing in December some species you’re likely catch include snook, redfish, cobia, tarpon, trout, grouper, kingfish, mackerel, snapper, sheepshead, and some 200 other species.
are one of our most delicate species, so returning unwanted or illegal fish promptly is necessary to maintain a healthy population. Sea Trout have a slim coat designed to help protect it, so always try to use a Dehooker or if you must handle the fish, do it with wet hands.
As we approach the cool water temperatures of winter, shallow water fishing improves. The fish are feeding more aggressively in their search for food and they’ll take an assortment of baits, from live to dead, including soft to hard plastic artificial’s. And since they will have large appetites anglers will have greater success using a wider range of baits.
Fresh (not frozen) spotted sea trout make an excellent meal especially fried or prepared “Pescado a la Rusa” look up the recipe on the web. Otherwise winter’s a great time for the big gator trout, especially as they start working their way into the back-country and deeper grass flats.
Snook:
Redfish:
The best bite has been at the beginning and end of incoming or outgoing tides and they respond exceptionally well to live white baits, top water lures, jerk baits and shallow diving lures. However, we’ve also had good success using dead baits on the bottom.
Kingfish, Spanish Mackerel, Bonito, Bluefish:
Snook are usually tops on the list as the fall transition begins and we are catching them on practically every shoreline. Occasionally, we’ll keep a slot fish, however, I personally encourage catch and release of all snook, primarily because they are such great inshore sportfish. If we continually keep slot limit fish soon there will be no trophy size snook to catch. If we do not protect our resources who will? Remember, snook do not taste any better than any other fish. A good mess of fried mangrove snapper, redfish or sea trout and a bowl of grits w/butter are just as tasty.
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Sea trout are found inshore and near shore in and around sea grass flats, mangrove shorelines, deep holes and channels and above oyster bars. Freeline live shrimp, small dollar-sized pinfish or whitebait near the bottom to entice trout out of grass-bed holes. Attaching a float will allow these baits to drift over the grass beds and into sandy pot holes. Casting soft-bodied jigs or top-water poppers can also be effective.
Trout
The reds are still biting and some are still schooled eating anything tossed in their direction. This should continue on the flats and around the mangroves. A variety of artificial lures are catching their share along with live shrimp, whitebait, and pinfish. The key to finding redfish is fishing dark patchy bottoms, especially around schools of larger mullet. On flooding tides most are holding close to or pushing back into mangrove shoreline. While chumming with live bait often works, tossing dead threadfins or cut bait around the mangroves on flooding tides usually brings them out to investigate.
December cold fronts are here and so are the traditionally high winds that follow. As the water temps fall with each passing front the near beach kingfish bite should improve. Tons
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of bait brings the kings, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and bonito within a mile or so of the beach or inside the bay. We’ve been having great success along the beaches and inside Tampa Bay.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” 813-477-3814 Captain Woody Gore has been guiding and fishing the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years; his level of customer service, experience and attention to detail allows him to offer 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 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Part 15 Ornamental Gardening in Florida This month we considered covering two chapters in Mr. Simpson’s book: Ornamental Gardening in Florida. This is mostly because when we started reading the chapter entitled: Climatic Plant Zones we got a little bored. But when we saw the next chapter’s title: Plant Enemies, that all changed, and we wanted to just skip right through to it. However, we will stick to previous procedure. That determined, we’ll take a trip back to 1926 and see what the climate zoning looked like in Mr. Simpson’s day. He starts out by explaining Florida’s latitude which we thought was a wee bit funny. Namely because we were forced to wonder if people of his day naturally understood those directional depths or if it were still just language common for the seafarer or pilot. In truth we have no idea if his statements are correct, but we will share them with you nonetheless, and then maybe we’ll look them up to see if Florida has floated anywhere in 89 years. He states, “From north to south Florida is a long state as it reaches from Latitude a little above 31˚ to about three miles below 24 ½˚ at Sand Key…This covers a little more than six and a half degrees or about four hundred and fifty-five miles…”¹ After looking at a map it would appear that we’re still in the same place. We wonder if that is a blow to the theory of plate tectonics. Wouldn’t that be something? Anyhow, he continues the chapter by telling readers that the northern part of the state welcomes plants that are seen, “…north of the fortieth parallel of latitude, while at the southern end the flora is entirely tropical and subtropical.”¹ He says that there are at least 60 tree species, “…whose metropolis is north of the Ohio and James rivers…”¹ and yet are found in Florida’s northern parts. In fact, he says, “…more than half are distributed well into the peninsula, some of them nearly to Lake Okeechobee and the northern part of the Everglades.”¹ However, he does admit, “Few of these trees grow close to the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean because of the fact that the proximity of the sea considerably modifies the temperature.”¹ Then he describes part of the Tampa Bay area saying, “…it is the land of the crape myrtle, the China tree, the Carolina jessamine, the 16
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December 2015
By Ginny Mink
Camellia, the Azalea and the confederate jessamine. It is above all things a region where what may be called in Florida ‘hardy plants’ will flourish and give the greatest satisfaction to the grower but for climatic reasons…it is not and never can be a place for successfully growing the vegetation of the tropics….it will live and even flourish for quite a while but sooner or later severe frost must come and destroy it.”¹ Yep, we’d say that sounds about right. Especially since he’s incorporating the Tampa Bay Area in his description of northern Florida climate zones. Notably, he continues, “At the other end of the state conditions, so far as climate goes, are very different…It is true that the common and black mangroves as well as the buttonwood, all littoral trees, extend their range as far north as Cedar Keys but this is only at such times as there is a succession of mild winters for they are always destroyed at the extreme northern range during the time of hard freezing.”¹ Two things struck us here, what in the world is littoral? And, what’s the story on the mangroves in Florida? Because we have developed a strange affinity for antique books we chose to bust out the Webster’s Brief Imperial Dictionary (©1907). Here we found that littoral means, “belonging to the sea-shore…”² Which makes sense given the fact that mangroves grow by bodies of water. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, “…Tampa Bay has lost over 44 percent of its coastal wetlands acreage; this includes both mangroves and salt marshes.”³ So obviously, Mr. Simpson was right about the mangroves reach although we doubt he had any idea how radically we would devastate the state. He switches sides and says, “On the East coast…The same littoral trees found so far north on the west coast here range to Mosquito Inlet or even Saint Augustine but are destroyed during extreme cold.”¹ Basically he sums up the state by saying, “It is not tropical in any true sense for all over it the cold northers blow, bringing down not only occasional frosts but freezes throughout every part of it.”¹ And he adds, “This is par excellence the home of the Caribbean pine, here are growing wild in great luxuriance the royal palm, the coconut, mahogany, the lignumvitae…Here the mangrove becomes a great WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
forest tree and the other littoral forms which are mere shrubs farther north assume arboreal dimensions.”¹ As he comes to the close of this chapter it becomes readily apparent that he has a great affinity for the East coast. He describes it with considerably more flare and passion than its West coast counterparts. He states, “It is distinctively the region of air plants; here every hammock is filled with a profusion of orchids of which we have perhaps twenty-five epiphytic species; Bromeliads, a matter of a dozen and a half, and fully fifty tropical ferns of which at least twenty live on trees, stumps or rotting logs.”¹ As if that isn’t enough he adds, “This is the land of the…glorious royal Poinciana which is the queen of the flowering trees…and a vast number of splendid plants…”¹ We would be remiss if we did not include this chapter’s closing statements. His love of Florida is apparent and refreshing. Mr. Simpson concludes,
“Whenever I go over the State of Florida I can only think of it as a land favored of heaven, a land with beauty on every hand, one whose resources and possibilities are only just being touched upon, a land in which each section has certain peculiar charms but it seems to me that no one part has any great advantage over any other.”¹ Maybe we were wrong about his East coast leanings. Regardless, this level of appreciation for God’s great creation would do us all some good. 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. 75-79). ²Russell, Thomas H. (Eds). (1907). Webster’s Brief Imperial Dictionary. The Saalfield Publishing Co.; Chicaco. (p. 269). ³http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/mangroves.htm
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Drones … Valuable Farm Tool … or Expensive Christmas Toy?! by John Dicks
Like a lot of people these days, I’ve been researching and considering buying a Drone.
ishing (some suggest annoying) speeds, purportedly recorded on a YouTube video at upwards of 50 mph!
I figured that I could more easily justify the not inconsiderable expense by using it at the farm. Surely others are already doing so and I could mask the adult male glee of flying one of the UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) by confidently proclaiming its usefulness and utility to the Ag industry.
No doubt there will also be a whole new set of regulations promulgated for commercial drones. These are the ones that companies such as Amazon and Google are experimenting with to provide less than an hour home delivery of your purchases. Already there is a company in Australia making drone delivery of its textbooks to students in the Outback.
Unfortunately, at least for now, it seems that drones for farmers share the moniker of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live. You’ll recall they were referred to as the “Not Ready For Prime Time Players.” That’s not suggest that there will be any pause to the buying frenzy people will be making for their loved ones this Christmas season by snapping up the flying gizmos. In fact, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has estimated that upwards to one million drones will fly with Santa to be delivered under the Christmas tree as presents to both kids and kids at heart. Visualizing one million flying machines as an actually number … 1,000,000 drones … has been giving the folks at the FAA a bit of a case of anxiety and heartburn. It has been reported that this year alone, the FAA has received reports of nearly 700 close calls between drones and airplanes. So concerned is the FAA about the prospects of UAV’s zipping around uncontrollably that it has released what it calls a “Pre-Flight Checklist” which advises enthusiast drone pilots to NEVER do things such as “fly over stadiums and sports events,” nor “fly near other aircraft,” nor “fly under the influence.”
This all brings us back to how drones might eventually become a valuable tool for farmers. Currently the most productive use appears to be surveying or monitoring crops by aerial video to target sections of the field that might need some irrigation attention or an increase or decrease of fertilizers, herbicides and fungicides. What would make them really productive would be to deliver and spread the fertilizer. But hoisting such weight is impossible, at least for now. Some had hoped that drones could be used to drive away birds, which like to prey on crops. Strangely though, animals seem to be more attracted to the UAV’s than they are repelled by them. In fact success has been reported for using them to herd sheep. The limitation here is in battery life, which at most runs only about 20 minutes. It seems that for now (and for Christmas) drones may be cool … but not yet a very valuable farm tool!
The FAA even ventured into the world of Twitter during the Pope’s recent visit to the USA. Its tweet encouraged drone owners to “Enjoy the Papal Visit and Leave Your Drone at Home.” Just the thought of such things gives nightmares to security personnel, and frankly, to the public too, when we start thinking about it. We can take some solace in knowing, and it is worth noting, that when the FAA refers to the estimated one million UAV’s likely to be flown down the chimney as presents this Christmas, it is including in that list everything from the $20 flying toy sold at Wal-Mart and Amazon to the multi-thousand dollar drones which are starting to be used in commercial applications. To be sure, the FAA did earlier this year set up its Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Task Force. It was given the responsibility to review matters and make recommendations for a registration process of the flying machines. It is expected that all drones weighing more than 250 grams (about 1/2 pound) will be subject to registration. That would make them apply to nearly all but the least expensive ones. But technology is an amazing thing and already there are advances in miniaturization which have made remarkably capable drones that fit in the palm of your hand and weigh less than 15 grams. Some, a bit heavier but still falling below the 250 gram FAA subject weight classification can record video while flying at aston18
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John Dicks is both a lawyer and a farmer. He and his family own 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. He and his wife, Sharon, live in Plant City, where he served nine years as City Commissioner, including three years as Mayor. WWW. THEFFIELD IELD AGAZINE.COM WWW. ININTHE MMAGAZINE.COM
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By Ginny Mink
Dead Things, Mikey- Tandy Leather Factory
As we near the holidays (literally, as tomorrow is Thanksgiving at the time of this writing) I wonder how much we have lost in the hustle and bustle, the technological age. I wonder if, given the state of affairs, we might not do better to learn those old ways, return to the old paths and walk in them. If electricity suddenly disappeared, some terrorist hit the power grid, would we know how to provide for our families? Would we know how to make our own soap? How to hunt and can and hand sew things? Would we know how to preserve meat without the fridge? Maybe some of our readers have all those areas covered, but the vast majority of Americans would be at a loss. I don’t want my kids to depend so heavily on modern niceties that they can’t survive without them. That’s kind of why I started doing the Meet the Minks series. This month I took them to Tandy Leather Factory. They had no idea what leather was, where it came from or why it was valuable. Before we walked into the shop I explained to them that we were going into a leather factory and that leather was made from the skins of dead animals. Zeke’s first question was, “Why did they die?” I didn’t really have an answer to that one so we just went inside. We were greeted by Rebecca, and I explained our purpose there. She set up a little station for the kids to try leather stamping and then she directed us to the various leather pieces. The kids were instantly enamored by the goat skin with fur. “It’s so soft!” They all declared, almost in unison. A little further down the row we encountered sheep skin (fur attached). Again, “It’s so soft!” was heard all around.
ted a red dyed piece and declared, as she rubbed her hands on it, “I LOVE this one! It’s my favorite color!” Down another aisle Jaidyn encountered something he apparently found repulsive. He stated, “I’m not even going to ask what this is.” The feel had apparently grossed him out because his tone was full of disgust. I laughed and informed him that it was rawhide. He still kept that look of disdain and only reluctantly touched it again for the picture. Having traversed the whole of the establishment, we returned to the leather working station where Rebecca had set out some leather tools and scraps. She showed Zeke (who demanded to go first) how to wet the leather and then with Jaidyn’s help he began hammering his stamp. He was thrilled at the opportunity to use a hammer and a squirt bottle in one activity. Hazel and Jaidyn took their turns and I tried not to get my fingers smashed when I held the tool for Hazel and Zeke on his next go round. Then, when Hazel and Jaidyn were completely engrossed in choosing stamps and hammering, Zeke made a discovery. There was a little box of rabbit pelts totally within his reach. Of course, he chose to stroke the fur and his face lit up. He declared, “It’s dead, but it’s soooo soft!” If you’d heard him you would have cracked up. The concept of something having to die, was a problem for him, but the fact that it was still so soft was impressive to his 2 year old mind.
They touched everything they came near declaring that they liked, or didn’t like, the feel of it. Rebecca called out to us saying that she had alligator hide. Zeke and Hazel went running over to her. She handed each of them Caiman skins and she was impressed with Zeke’s instinctive hold-it-by-the-tail approach. He seemed enthralled. Again he asked me, “Why did it die?”
Hazel announced that the leather place was, “Fantastic!” So I asked her, “Why?” She took a moment and answered, “I loved the stamps. I loved the goat hair the most.” She was thrilled when I purchased some bracelets and stamps for them to make later. Jaidyn was so enthusiastic about the leather stamping that he chose to spend his own money on two wolves and a dragon. I was more impressed with his practice piece because he utilized multiple stamps to create a pretty cool flower.
We then came across a giant snake skin and Jaidyn said, “This feels weird! On one side it feels all flakey and the other side is smooth.” Hazel and Zeke touched it then and informed me that they didn’t like that one “at all.” Which was kind of funny because it really was a pretty skin but I guess that texture wasn’t desirable. Hazel spot-
We got home and all the kids wanted to do was hammer leather! Imagine how loud the house was then! Zeke keeps telling me, “It was good,” whenever I ask him about his experience. Then he gets distracted by Monster, Inc. or a bottle of water in the fridge and wanders off before I can get a deeper answer out of him. Ugh!
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FULLY FORTIFIED
Business Up Front By Leslie Buchanon Located on the long stretch of road that connects Lakeland and Plant City is a hay and feed business you may have overlooked, however the big green hay barn may have caught your eye a time or two. Nestled back behind this hay barn full of hay are two feed silos and a liquid feed trailer, which make up the headquarters for Midway Farms, LLC located on Knights Griffin Road in Plant City. Representing Midway Farms are Joel Connell, and John Kicklighter, two men who are as knowledgeable as they are passionate about the products they market. You see, they don’t just sell these products, they use them in their own operations, as well. Joel Connell, co-owner of Midway Farms, and John Kicklighter, Ranch Manager for Midway Farms, are handson in all areas of the business, including the sale and delivery of the products they create and sell. What started off as a way to feed and hay their own cattle has turned into a business these men are proud to put their names behind. Midway Farms is a local dealer of round rolls of hay, bulk feed, and liquid feed supplements to residents in Polk and Hillsborough County. In addition to selling rolls of horse quality hay, Midway Farms also offers good quality rolls of cattle hay, liquid feed supplements, and a 15% all grain bulk feed to local cattlemen. Joel and John were both born and raised in Plant City, but they initially met as neighbors who began hog hunting together. Shortly thereafter John was hired by Midway Farms where he currently manages several hundred head of cattle. John grew up in the cattle business where he learned the ins and outs by helping his grandfather and local cattlemen with their herds. John also manages his own herds of registered and commercial cattle, along with his responsibilities as Ranch Manager for Midway Farms. Joel explains, “John has been with Midway Farms for quite a while now. We consider him part of the family and are proud of the way he handles that part of the business.” Accompanying their hay and bulk feed sales, Joel and John are proud to offer Suga-lik ® liquid feed supplements to their Midway Farms customers. Suga-lik ® is just one of many molasses based feed supplements produced by Westway Feed Products, LLC. Suga-lik ® is a fully fortified well-known liquid feed pasture supplement that has long been used by WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Midway Farms, LLC cattlemen in the Southeastern United States to complement the diets of their cattle. Suga-lik ® provides vitamins, minerals, energy and supplemental protein in each tank full and reduces or eliminates the need for the use of other mineral products in the diets of cattle. Westway Feed Products, a manufacturer and distributor of liquid feed products, molasses blocks and dried molasses, produces Suga-lik ® at a production facility in Clewiston, Florida using a by-product of sugar cane processing, pure sugar cane molasses. Josh McInturf, Westway Feed Products representative for Central Florida, offers a variety of personalized services to assure cattlemen are purchasing and receiving a blend of Suga-lik ® that enhances their current feeding program. The most exciting of these personalized services provided by Westway Feeds include a site visit to a cattlemen’s operation from nutritionist where he/she will obtain forage and hay/silage samples. Once the samples have been analyzed for nutritional content, a custom blend of Suga-lik® is created that best meets the nutritional needs of the rancher’s herd, while also complementing the existing forages. To access these personalized services contact Westway Feed Products Sales Representative, Josh McInturf at 352-433-6814. Midway Farms is proud to be the sole supplier of Suga-lik ® freechoice liquid supplements in Polk and Hillsborough counties. Joel and John are proud to offer this product locally, and they believe in the integrity of each load they receive and sell. This is due to the fact that each load of Suga-lik ® is quality tested before it leaves the processing facility, which ensures the delivery of a consistent, safe, and high quality product in an economical and efficient manner. Midway Farms offers on site tank fills and delivery of their 32% ration of Suga-lik ®, and ranch direct loads of custom blends of Suga-lik ® are also available. Midway Farms is located at 3850 E. Knights Griffin Road in Plant City. For more information about Suga-lik ®, or other products offered by Midway Farms, please contact Ranch Manager, John Kicklighter at 813-774-0136. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2015
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MOON PIES
Someone asked me what my favorite TV show was when I was growing up. I don’t remember, but I do remember my favorite radio program was “The Lone Ranger.” There were a number of things we didn’t have in my early years. We didn’t have fast food. We ate at home. My mother cooked three meals a day, and we sat down as a family, without cell phones, at the dining room table to eat. If I didn’t like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I did like it. Pizzas were not delivered to our house, but milk was! There was no such thing as a credit card. I never had a phone in my room. We were on a party line, and had to wait till the neighbor hung up to make a call. There were no movie ratings because all movies were clean and responsible for all ages. If you don’t believe me watch the re-runs of Gunsmoke, Wyatt Earp, and The Jackie Gleason shows. I remember when the headlight dimmer switch was on the floor of the car, and we used hand signals out the window when making a turn. I had a pant leg clip for my bicycle without a chain guard. No tenspeed bikes. Just one speed, and we had to pedal hard to get up hill. My mother used a Royal Crown bottle with holes in the stopper to shake water on the clothes as she was ironing. It always sat on the end of the ironing board. RC Colas were our favorite drink. We used it to wash down a Moon pie. Moon pies are still popular today. You can buy them at any Cracker Barrel store. I read where Bell Buckle, Tennessee has an annual “RCMoon Pie Festival” in the middle of June each year. This past year they featured, by popular demand, the return of synchronized wading, a 10K run and a Moon Pie eating contest. Men even compete for King Moon Pie, and the winner receives a cardboard crown. The Moon Pie parade features hundreds of locals all dressed up in their Moon Pie attire. For an “All-American” treat, there’s nothing like a Moon Pie and R.C. cola. Salley, South Carolina has a big event each year. Since 1966 they have put on a one-day event they call, “Salley Chitlin Strut Festival.” The Saturday after Thanksgiving the town is filled with the aroma of fried hog intestines (chittlerlings). It’s non-stop all day long with a beauty pageant. (Can you imagine being crowned “Miss Chitlin?”). There’s a dance, hog calling contest and a chittlin’ eating contest. You’ll en22
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joy the line up of country music, arts and crafts, a parade and carnival rides that rounds out the festivities. If you plan to attend the “Chittlin’ Strut Festival,” be sure to stand upwind from the cooker. For something different you might want to attend the Tuna Tossing Festival in Port Lincoln, South Australia. In recent years, with the world tuna stocks collapsing, they use a fake fish made of polyurethane. The contest is much like the hammer toss in track and field. Each year, contestants in four categories hurl fish weighing up to 22 pounds as far as they can. The “Fiesta of the Near Death Experience” is really a strange one that is held every year on July 29th in Neves, a small town in Spain. The town’s population nearly doubles to 4,000 each year as people come to pay their respects to the ‘Saint of Death.’ The idea of this festival is to give thanks to those who have had a near death experience, and say thanks to the Saint after surviving a close brush with death during the past twelve months. A procession of family and friends of the ‘celebrants’ makes its way through the streets of the town, all appropriately dressed for the funeral. The idea is crazy enough, for the most part, but they also have to carry their ‘escapee’ in his or her own coffin. Pallbearers are made up of family members. This unconventional pilgrimage is led by the effigy of Santa Marta, which in biblical terms is the name of Martha, the sister of Lazarus who was brought back from the dead by Jesus. The Fiesta of Near Death Experiences is one that fits right into the mold of Spain’s eccentric celebrations – up there with goat throwing in Zamora or jumping over babies near Burgos, Spain. No one knows exactly when or how the unusual goat throwing Festival started, but it has been going on for generations. The story is told that one day a goat ended up in the local church bell tower, and when the bells went off the extremely startled goat leapt out the window of the bell tower. Today some town folks get under the tower holding a blanket to catch the goat. If you would like to partake in the festivities, make your way over to Northern Spain to watch a bound goat be tossed out of a church and caught in a tarp. It’ll make an interesting story at your next cocktail party. In closing lets make plans now to attend the “Road Kill Cook Off Festival” in Marlingon, West Virginia. Enjoy a pleasant day of tasting strange cuisine, shopping for local crafts, tasting home made wines and enjoying live entertainment. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Rod McDowell
Field of Dreams By Melissa Nichols
“If you build it, he will come” helped define a genre of movies for a generation. It was those words that caused Ray Kinsella, played by Kevin Costner, to build a baseball field in the middle of a corn field, which became his “Field of Dreams.” While that film dealt with baseball, fields of dreams are being built all over the world, and this month, we visited one near Frostproof, where the dream is a cow herd, but the father-son connection is very much the same. When I went to what seemed like the complete opposite side of Polk County from where I live, I discovered that the Frostproof area was not only beautiful, but to a fellow cattle producer, it is like heaven. Upon arriving at the ranch that Rod McDowell’s cow herd calls home, I was welcomed by some of the highest quality commercial and purebred cattle I had seen in a long time. As we rode around the ranch with my entire family, because my sons were not going to miss out on an opportunity to talk show cattle, we listened and learned a lot about the industry we thought we knew so well, from Rod McDowell. Rod McDowell’s story doesn’t start with a fairy tale out of a book, it starts with generations of hard working cattlemen. First and fore24
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most his PaPa, Preston McDowell, spent nearly his entire working life either as a ranch manager or herdsman. Preston spent many years working in the registered Polled Hereford cattle business, which was his passion. His son Richard said of his father, “Cows came first.” Richard recalls how his father developed knowledge of how cows would react to every situation. The most unique part of the McDowell cattle operation is not that they are third generation cattle producers, but that they have never been land owners, instead they have been blessed three generations long with people entrusting them with cattle to manage or land to be able to utilize to raise their cattle. The entire McDowell family has become a well trusted name in the industry from years of hard work, high morals and dedication to cows. Preston’s passion for Polled Hereford cattle rubbed off on his oldest son Rodger, who spent most of his younger years working as a herdsman or ranch manager. It was this career that brought Rodger to Frostproof, where he was hired in 1976 as ranch manager at Crooked Lake Ranch, where he stayed until early 1981 when he married a plumber’s daughter and became a plumber. This didn’t stop him from being involved with cattle, as Rodger helped the local FFA chapter and ag program by assisting with calving or with show cattle. Recently, Rod asked his dad what he learned from his father, and his WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
response was “pretty much everything I’ve taught you.” When we sat down to talk about the cattle, Rod told me on several occasions, this isn’t about me, this is about carrying on the tradition that my dad, and his dad set out for his family. Rod recalls the closeness he feels to his dad and PaPa when he is standing in the middle of his herd of Angus and Charolais crossed cattle. He recalls the stories of growing up showing and managing cattle and the fact that all those experiences have made him who he is today. Just as many of the club calf producers in our area, Rod grew up showing cattle at the Polk County Youth Fair, Florida State Fair and Citrus festival. Rod recalls the night before a show trying to sleep and hearing his PaPa stirring around unable to sleep with the excitement of the impending show. Preston and Rodger were both competitive by nature, and they instilled that competitiveness in Rod, but they had a rule, that was they played by the rules. They never once compromised their integrity to cheat the system to win or be competitive. This integrity is the same foundation they used to build their cattle operation, which to say is impressive is an understatement. Rodger is and has always been the one to deliver calves. He knows the cattle so well, that Rod says, “he just knows when something isn’t right.” Although they have worked very hard in genetically getting away from any calving problems, cattle themselves sometimes just have trouble, and Rodger is one of the best in the industry when it comes to assisting with deliveries. This is one of the many things that Rod admires so much about his dad. While talking cows, Rod recalled his days of showing cattle and how he came close on several occasions to his dream of having the Grand Champion Steer at the Polk County Youth Fair. “I’ve shown cattle all over the country, but nothing compared to the passion and desire I had to win that steer show,” Rod said. It wasn’t until his showing days were over that Rod came to appreciate the two times he won Senior Showmanship. Showmanship is based on the individual on
the halter, not the quality of the animal. Rod recalls the last time he showed at the Youth Fair, when he was chosen by Judge Jay Clark to win the cherished title, and how that it’s still to this day one of the greatest moments in this life. He still remembers looking over at his dad and Uncle Jimmy Smith and the sheer joy both of them had. “The feeling of knowing you made people you love proud is the greatest feeling I can have,” said Rod. Showing cattle has truly been a family tradition when it comes to the McDowell’s and it is a tradition Rod hopes to keep going with his daughter Elizabeth. He purchased a Registered Angus heifer so she could start her own herd of cattle, with hopes this will provide her with an investment to pay for her college education. In this day in age, cattle are a much wiser investment than the stock market.
champion steer at the Polk County Youth Fair and the daughters became the bedrock of the herd for the next generation, and many are still around today on the ranch. It wasn’t until a few years later that luck wound up having Rod be able to purchase “Moonshine” his well-known Charolais bull. Moonshine, along with a few heavy muscled Angus bulls, have helped him add color, thickness, functionality and a great genetic foundation to every calf he produces. As we rode around the ranch, Rod was able to tell me generations back who each calf was out of, he pointed out characteristics that the naked eye wouldn’t even notice, his knowledge and love for the cattle is endless. He has worked hard increasing the bloodlines in his herd and doing so in a way that has his cattle survive the atmosphere here in Florida with limited supplementation and as little “babying” as possible. The McDowell’s have bred their cattle to genetically have a great udder structure, massive muscling in males, and to be moderate calving, plus they are getting better with each generation. Rod’s latest purchase, his new herd sire, M6 Cool Shoulder 574, is a purebred Charolais bull that is sure to produce some amazing offspring in the years to come. Under any condition, McDowell bred cattle are sure to increase your herd value and ease your worries. On top of being a cattleman, in 2009 Rod went to work for Cargill, a company that was able to help him grow professionally and allowed him to gain knowledge to apply to his herd. He was hired into Cargill by Jerry Mullins, Jr., a man he has admired and known since his involvement with Limousin cattle. Rod said, “Cargill and Jerry have both significantly impacted my life and future, both personally and professionally. Jerry has taught me a lot about the cattle business.” After living in North Carolina, marketing Brewers grain to Dairy and Beef producers, and Colorado and Nebraska where he worked with feed store owners, feedlots and cow-calf producers to provide nutritional solutions, Rod is glad to be back home in Frostproof, Florida. He plans to raise his daughter here and continue to expand on the family tradition of raising quality cattle and working hard to be able to go to the local shows and see his heifers and steers make him proud in the show ring. It will also give him a medium to have the kind of closeness and connection with his daughter that he has with his father, which, in Rod’s mind, is the most important thing.
Going back nearly 20 years Rod McDowell developed a love for Limousin cattle and chose them as his breed of choice. He says “I fell in love with their thickness, muscle, and liked the red color.” Rod bought show cattle and breeding stock from Oklahoma, Georgia and Canada. In 2000 Preston gave Rod a handful of Purebred Angus cattle which, along with his Limousin cows, he bred to his Limousin bull Top Meadow 45L, a black bull from Top Meadow Farms in Ontario Canada. This combination went on to produce a grand and reserve WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Recipes Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Chef Justin Timineri
Stuffed Florida Zucchini and Yellow Squash Parmesan
DIRECTIONS Cut off the stem side of the zucchini or yellow squash. Cut zucchini or yellow squash evenly in half lengthwise. Using a small spoon, scoop out the seeds from each half to create room to hold other ingredients. Preheat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
INGREDIENTS
2 medium-sized Florida zucchini or large yellow squash 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded 1 cup marinara sauce (your favorite)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs Olive oil for cooking 2 tablespoons fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Season the zucchini or yellow squash with salt and pepper.
Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumb topping mixture on top of the zucchini or yellow squash.
Place the zucchini or yellow squash skin side up in the sauté pan and cook for about 2 minutes on both sides. Remove from pan and place on a cookie sheet skin side down. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a small mixing bowl, com-
Preheat a medium-sized sauté pan over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil to the preheated pan. Add the corn kernels and diced peppers to the pan, and lightly season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook the corn mixture until the peppers and corn start to get slightly golden brown. Add the black beans and cumin to the corn mixture, stir ingredients to combine, and remove from heat. Place the corn mixture into a bowl. Let cool to room temperature or in a refrigerator until next step. To assemble quesadilla, lay out 4 tortillas on a flat, clean surface. Evenly distribute 1/4 cup of the shredded cheese on each tortilla. Next, evenly distribute the corn mixture on top of the
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Evenly distribute the ricotta cheese and marinara sauce on top of the zucchini or yellow squash. Top the yellow squash and zucchini with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
Ingredients
DIRECTIONS
Season ingredients to taste with salt and pepper, and stir to combine.
Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil to the preheated pan.
2 ears fresh Florida sweet corn, kernels cut off the cob 1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup Florida bell peppers (assorted colors), diced small
Florida Sweet Corn and Jack Cheese Quesadilla
bine panko bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon olive oil, chopped basil and Parmesan cheese.
Bake the stuffed zucchini or yellow squash for 10 minutes or until topping is golden brown and cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Serve warm.
8 soft corn tortillas (6 inch) 2 cups jack cheese, shredded 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 1 teaspoon cumin Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste Vegetable oil for cooking cheese, and add even amounts of the fresh cilantro. Add the last 1/4 cup of cheese on top of the cilantro, and top each one with a tortilla. Lightly press each stuffed tortilla to make it flat. Preheat a medium-sized sauté pan over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil to the preheated pan. Cook each quesadilla for 2 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and the cheese has melted. Remove the cooked quesadilla from the pan and repeat cooking process. Hold cooked quesadillas in a 300-degree oven until all are cooked. Slice the quesadillas like a pie and serve warm with fresh Florida salsa and guacamole. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Kathleen FFA Takes Top Honors in Citrus By Shelby Carlton Florida leads the country in citrus, producing 63% of the of the total United States production alone. Leading the state is Polk County with 90,050 acres of citrus production. With Polk’s number one ranking, it’s no doubt that this year’s Florida FFA state winning citrus team is from the Kathleen Sr FFA Chapter. Florida FFA hosts an annual Citrus Career Development Event (CDE), which challenges students to excel in the industry that is so prominent in our state. Students are requires to take a general knowledge exam that covers anything from disease control, to greenhouse production of rootstock trees, to commercial harvesting methods and everything in between. Additionally, students must learn to identify 38 varieties of citrus, 35 pests and predators, 27 weeds and 32 diseases and disorders that affect citrus production in our state. The contest consists of live samples that have been collected and displayed by leaders within the citrus industry. This event was held December 1 at the FFA’s Leadership Training Center in Haines City. Thirty-three teams traveled from all across the state to compete in this year’s event. Members of the Kathleen Sr FFA team were there to compete as well. Team member Lacee Richardson said, “I was really looking forward to competing in this year’s
event because we’ve put so much effort and time into studying, and I really wanted to see if our hard work would pay off.” The contest began around 9:30 am and didn’t complete until noon. The students definitely found the event to be extremely challenging. When the results were posted Kathleen came out on top this year. Team members were Sarah Shipley, Mikayla Myers, Alex Yelvington and Lacee Richardson. Sarah Shipley was also the high individual earning 458 points, followed by Mikayla in 2nd place with 454 points, Alex was 3rd earning 446 points and Lacee finished in 4th place individually with 430 points. After learning the results Sarah said “I knew my team members were working hard and we were all pretty close in knowledge, and it is very cool we were that close to each other as individuals. We really pushed each other to become better.” This is the fourth straight year that Kathleen FFA has won the state championship title in citrus. Other Polk County teams finishing in the top 10 were Lake Gibson High School, who finished in 5th place, Haines City High School, who finished 6th overall, and Auburndale High School who finished in 9th place. Congratulations to this year’s FFA State Citrus Champions—Kathleen FFA and all Polk County top ten teams.
813-767-4703 301 South Collins Street, Suite 101, Plant City, Florida 33563
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Kathleen FFA Wins National Forestry Title for the 2nd Time By Shelby Carlton
During the last week of October over 65,000 FFA members from across the nation attended the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Many of these members were national proficiency finalists, state winners, degree recipients and scholarship winners, while some members were there to compete in national career development (CDE) events. The forestry team from the Kathleen Sr. FFA chapter was there with a set goal in mind—to win the national forestry CDE for the second year in a row. Team members were Alex Yelvington, Cody Clark, 28
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Hannah Scionti and myself, Shelby Carlton. We left early on Saturday, October 24 and headed to Georgia for three days of practice prior to the national contest. The practice days allowed us to see trees that do not grow in Florida, as well as allowed us to practice working in the forest that contained steep slopes. We measured hardwood trees, identified diseases and pests, as well as worked on management problems. We had the privilege of meeting with a Georgia forester to discuss first hand current issues facing the forestry industry today. In the evening we studied for the written exam and practiced our interview skills for that portion of the contest. NeedWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
less to say, the extra practices days, away from everyday distractions, helped the team grow stronger and allowed us time to work on areas where we struggled. The contest began on Wednesday with the written exam. The exam covers all aspects of forestry, ranging from biology, plant pathology and environmental factors to industry trends and practices. Team member Cody Clark described the exam as “the hardest test I’ve ever taken in my life.” After the exam the team headed back to the hotel to get rested for Thursday’s practicum events. Thursday morning the students loaded the buses and headed to Bernheim National Forest. Once there we completed six practicums—dendrology, timber cruising, chainsaw use, wood products, forest issues interview and a team activity. Each team member had strengths and weaknesses in some areas, but as a team we felt that our performance was pretty solid.
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On Friday we went to the awards banquet and nervously awaited the announcement of the results. All four team members received a gold ranking as individuals so we were excited and knew we were in the top 13 teams. They only announce the top 10 teams, so after they read 10th place through 2nd place and we hadn’t heard our name, we knew we were 1st, 11th or 12th. Before we had time to get any more nervous than we already were, the announcer called out “the national champions for the second year in a row is the team from Florida—Kathleen.” All the team members jumped out of our seats with excitement and our coach, Kyle Carlton, just sat there in disbelief. Mr. Carlton said, “To have a team win the national contest last year was an amazing accom- Shad and Billy Simmons grow strawberries on land plishment, but I never thought the team could rise Billy’s grandfather bought in 1920 — both are past to the occasion and win a second championship. I presidents of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. was truly in awe of the students.” The most impressive thing to me was, that as a team, each member Loans made for farmers by farmers, since 1916. contributed to our success—no one was more impressive than another—it took all four of us to earn Farm Credit is the nation’s leading provider of Shad andcredit Billyto Simmons grow strawberries on land this honor. For our efforts, we each earned a $1000 agriculture andgrow Shad and Billy Simmons strawberries land Billy’s grandfather bought in 1920 — both areon past scholarship from National FFA, an engraved forestrural America. Billy’s grandfather bought in 1920 —813.719.7341 both are past er’s axe from Husqvarna, the national sponsor,presidents and of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. FarmCreditCFL.com our coach received a new chainsaw. At the end of the presidents of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. experience we concluded that we all learned a lot, Loans made forland, farmers by farmers, since had a blast, and set the bar high for future Kathleen Loans made forhomes farmers by farmers, since1916. 1916. Loans for & country living FFA forestry teams. FarmisCredit is the nation’s leading provider Farm Credit the nation’s leading provider of of credit to agriculture and Congratulations to Missy Shipley- Kathleen Srcredit for to agriculture and rural America. 813.719.7341 being a proficiency finalist, Maddie Dvorak for com813.719.7341 rural America. FarmCreditCFL.com
peting in National Creed and George Jenkins FFA for competing in National Veterinary Tech.
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You Sneaky Snake:
Not Really, Meet the Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake This month’s endangered species article is actually about a threatened species instead. Why? Well, I had a friend walk out in her garage only to be surprised by the presence of a snake. She killed it, of course, and then sent me a picture. When I looked at it I thought it was a cottonmouth. However, she informed me that it was simply a “water snake.” To which I responded, “Designed to look like a cottonmouth,” because it did indeed have similar markings though the head wasn’t quite wide enough. I laughed out loud when she replied, “Designed to give me a heart attack!” Snakes are quite common in Florida but the Atlantic salt marsh snake is not nearly as common as it used to be. This is especially concerning since it can only be found in Florida. When the Florida Environmental Protection Agency says that Tampa Bay has lost 44% of its wetlands acreage (including salt marshes) this is an issue worthy of further investigation. If we continue to destroy the habitats of these creatures (not just snakes) we will eventually create a planet devoid of God’s intended beauty. Yes, I understand that people don’t necessarily look at snakes and think, “Beautiful!” However, we sure do like the fact they have a tendency to keep the rat population down. We like that they eat those non-native bufo toads. So even if their grayish tan, striped bodies with reddish brown, centrally spotted, bellies isn’t the most awe inspiring of God’s great creation, we do need to recognize that they are here for a purpose. Far be it from us to eradicate something that is supposed to be sustained. Preaching aside, let us now take a deeper look at the Atlantic salt marsh snake! It’s a slender snake that makes its home in mangrove swamps and along coastal salt marshes. Supposedly the fact that it hasn’t developed salt glands, yet lives in brackish to full strength sea water, makes it a unique reptile. It has been listed as threatened because there has been concern about cross-breeding, habitat alteration and loss. Because of the minimal differences in appearances among the other salt marsh snakes, there has been a lot of debate surrounding the taxonomical distinction. At the time that the Atlantic salt marsh snake was designated threatened, it was being considered a subspecies of the southern water snake. However, further investigation determined that there really wasn’t a connection between fresh and salt water versions of the water snake. So, for the time being it will retain a separate species distinction. Therefore, for the purpose of this article we’ll just adhere to the: Nerodia clarkii designation. 30
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By Ginny Mink Photos courtesy of Jake Scott
These snakes appear to only be found along the Atlantic coast of the state in Brevard, Volusia and Indian River counties. They prefer to live in salt marsh tidal flats that have been overgrown with glasswort which is a salt tolerant plant related to cacti and often called pickleweed. The Atlantic salt marsh snake also likes mangrove swamps. Unfortunately, humans seem to like that waterfront property and their desire to own it all has destroyed the snake’s habitat. As a water snake, its meal preferences are attached to those invertebrates that get trapped in tidal pools. Therefore it feasts on shrimp, small fish, crabs and the like. Amazingly, and unlike a good multitude of snakes, it bears live young. From the months of August to October expectant females will birth three to nine wee baby snakes. If they are being stalked or if they’re simply resting, they can be found in fiddler crab dens. They drink fresh water found in rain or dew to protect against dehydration which can certainly occur when you don’t have the means to excrete excess salt through the typical use of salt glands. They are readily observed at night but can be active at any time as their feeding opportunities are based on the tides. Rising sea levels, while not immediately life threatening, may lead to increased salinity in the snakes’ habitat which could drastically affect the other species there as well. Most problematic though is humanities desire to ever encroach on coastal lands, to “develop” them in ways that pretty well destroys everything in its path. Sadly, there’s not much else known about these snakes. This is typical when a species is only considered threatened rather than endangered. We don’t generally invest money in a species until we see them almost wholly annihilated and sometimes then we’re too late. Ultimately, the US Fish and Wildlife Services, in a paper on the snake itself, has written, “the Atlantic salt marsh snake is a relict of historical and/or ecological processes unique to Florida and should be preserved (Kochman 1992).” We would have to agree with that sentiment. There really aren’t that many totally Florida based species out there. Why would we want to let anything happen to a creature that was given to our state alone? Seriously, think about it. Resources: https://www.fws.gov/verobeach/MSRPPDFs/ASMSnake.pdf https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-snakes/list/nerodiaclarkii-taeniata/ http://www.edc.uri.edu/restoration/html/gallery/plants/glass.htm WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
®
Advance Tickets on Sale NOW • www.flstrawberryfestival.com
Royal Fun for Everyone! March 3 –13, 2016 • Plant City, FL Artists Appearing on the
Charley Pride
Thu. Mar. 3, 3:30 $15 & $20
Josh Turner
Thu. Mar. 3, 7:30 $20 & $25
Soundstage:
BIG & RICH
Mickey Gilley
Fri. Mar. 4, 7:30 $25 & $30
Fri. Mar. 4, 3:30 $15 & $20
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Lecrae
Sat. Mar. 5, 3:30 $25
Gene Watson
Mon. Mar. 7, 3:30 $15 & $20
Cheap Trick
LONESTAR
Mon. Mar. 7, 7:30 $15 & $20
Donny & Marie
Shenandoah
Sun. Mar. 6, 3:30 $15 & $20
Sat. Mar. 5, 7:30 $20 & $25
Sun. Mar. 6, 7:30 $55
Dick Fox’s Golden Boys
Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell Tue. Mar. 8, 3:30 $20 & $25
Trace Adkins
Tue. Mar. 8, 7:30 $20 & $25
Ray Stevens
Wed. Mar. 9, 3:30 $15 & $20
Martina McBride Wed. Mar. 9, 7:30 $20 & $25
Visit www.flstrawberryfestival.com or call 813-754-1996 and get your tickets for the best seats available! Oak Ridge Boys
Casting Crowns
Thur. Mar. 10, 3:30 $15 & $20
Thur. Mar. 10, 7:30 $20 & $25
Tanya Tucker
Fri. Mar. 11, 3:30 $15 & $20
Free Grandstand 3:30 & 7:30pm Seating is on a first come, first seated basis. COLE SWINDELL Fri. Mar. 11, 7:30 $35 & $40
Merle Haggard Sat. Mar. 12, 3:30 $35
Charlie Wilson
Sat. Mar. 12, 7:30 $35 & $40
echosmith
Sun. Mar. 13, 3:30 $20 & $25
The Band Perry Sun. Mar. 13, 7:30 $40
Concert dates and times are subject to change
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By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
Working Together to Prevent Crime When we first entered into this partnership with In The Field magazine, we were pretty excited to be able to share information directly with you, the readers. It’s been four years since In The Field offered us this opportunity, and we want to thank this publication, its staff, and the readers for a wonderful partnership. In 2011, one of the first articles we submitted addressed how citizens can help our Agricultural Crimes deputies prevent and combat crime in the agricultural community. We want to revisit that topic with an updated illustration of how one grove owner helped solve a case.
and “Law and Order” portray detectives and crime scene technicians arriving at a scene, processing prints and evidence, making an arrest, and going to trial all within a 60-minute time span. In reality, it can often take days or weeks to obtain the results of evidence left behind at a scene, especially if the crime goes unreported for quite some time. It’s a simple matter of science. When science is paired up with good detective skills and community partnerships, however, crimes no matter how big or small, no matter how old or new, can be solved. Here are some other tips to help law enforcement prevent agricultural crimes:
In September 2015, J&B Grove Service was the victim of peach tree thefts from one of their properties in Haines City – the theft was immediately reported by the victim. Agricultural Crimes Detective Doug Tanner received a tip that a possible suspect was Timothy Morrison of Davenport. Detective Tanner interviewed Morrison’s associates and learned he was working with another suspect, Hinson McTeer of Haines City. Detectives met with McTeer, who admitted to buying 34 knowingly stolen peach trees from Morrison.
• Record and retain all serial numbers on your equipment. • Use signs identifying your pump houses. When possible, use locks to prevent access to your equipment. • Maintain a presence at your property as much as possible – drive by every day at different times, and check to see if anything has been disturbed. Ensure your property is clearly marked with “No Trespassing” signs. • Call the PCSO Agricultural Unit at 863-534-7200 if you see or hear about anything suspicious.
In addition to quickly reporting the theft, the grove owner also marked his trees with distinctive green tags. He was able to positively identify the stolen trees and they were returned to him. Morrison was arrested and charged with trespassing, grand theft, and dealing in stolen property, and McTeer was arrested and charged with Dealing in Stolen Property.
You are our eyes and ears in the community, and one of the biggest reasons crime is at an all-time low in unincorporated Polk County. We appreciate you and your willingness to help us prevent and solve crime.
The first rule of combatting agricultural theft is: treat your land as if it is your home. When you walk into your home, you can usually tell within an instant if someone has been there who shouldn’t have, and if something has been disturbed or stolen. Make an effort to visit your property on a daily basis. If this isn’t possible, enlist your friends and family to be your eyes and ears. Secondly: mark your property. Marking your property aids law enforcement officers when it comes to being able to properly identifying it, and returning it to you if it’s stolen. It also makes it harder for the criminals to sell it. Paint your name or any other unique identifying mark on your agricultural equipment, including vehicles, cables, pumps, and structures. Solving crime isn’t like what you see on TV – shows like “CSI” 34
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Florida
Persimmons By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Brightly colored, sweet, Florida persimmons are at their peak during the holiday season, from late fall to winter. The Latin word for persimmons translates to “food of the gods.” The persimmon is the national fruit of Japan. It was brought from Japan to the United States in the 1850s, where it grows in the Southern portions of the country, mainly in California and Florida. The two main types of persimmons are astringent and non-astringent, and many varieties exist in both categories. The Hachiya is the most common type of astringent persimmon, which contains high levels of tannins that must be fully softened and ripe before eating, yielding a sweet, delicate flavor. The Fuyu is the best known type of non-astringent persimmon, which has fewer tannins, making it less astringent before ripening. As a result, the non-astringent types can be consumed while still firm, as well as eaten when very soft. Fuyu persimmons resemble a bright orange tomato, while Hachiyas are a deeper orange color and more oblong shaped, like an acorn. Ripe persimmons can be eaten sliced or scooped out with a spoon, depending on its texture. Its taste is unique and can be described as pleasantly sweet, with a hint of cinnamon and dates.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
This sweet, orange fruit is a fantastic source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fiber, the B vitamins, and potassium. The outer peel is entirely edible and contains most of the fiber in the fruit. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one medium persimmon (168 g) contains 118 calories, 1 g of protein, 0.3 g of fat, 31.2 g of carbohydrate, and 6 g of fiber. It also provides 55% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for vitamin A, 21% for vitamin C, 9% for copper, 8% for potassium and vitamin B6, and plentiful amounts of vitamin E, vitamin K, omega 3 fatty acids, thiamin, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and calcium.
FIBER: KEEP THE PEEL!
Research has shown that dietary fiber has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases, by lowering blood cholesterol levels and slowing the progression of heart disease in high-risk individuals. Fiber binds to the cholesterol-containing bile salts, which helps excrete them out of the body. It also promotes bowel regularity, stabilizes blood glucose levels, and keeps you feeling full longer, all of which can help with weight control. A single persimmon provides almost 25% of your daily fiber needs!
ANTIOXIDANTS: EAT YOUR VITAMINS!
Fresh Florida persimmons are full of disease-fighting antioxidants, which neutralize destructive free radicals in the body. Persimmon contain large amounts of vitamins A, C, and K, which all have antioxidant properties in the body. When healthy cells are damaged, WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
they are more susceptible to disease and certain types of cancer, and antioxidants may help slow the progression of conditions like asthma, arthritis, and colon cancer. Diets that contain foods high in antioxidants, including persimmons and other fruits and vegetables, are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and multiple types of cancer.
VITAMIN A: KEEP YOUR EYES HEALTHY!
A single persimmon contains over half of your daily vitamin A requirement. Persimmons are also rich in beta carotene and lutein which helps to protect your eyes from damage caused by UV rays. Vitamin A appears to play a role in decreasing the risk of macular degeneration, a condition that leads to vision loss. In the landmark Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) sponsored by the National Eye Institute, people at high risk for the disease who took a daily multiple vitamin that included vitamin A (in the form of beta carotene), vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and copper had a 25% reduced risk of advanced AMD during a six-year period.
HOW TO SELECT AND STORE
Choose deeply colored fruit that feels firm and heavy for its size. Hachiyas may have some black streaks on the skin when ripe, and is a sign of superior sweetness. Persimmons can be purchased when firm, since they will continue to ripen and soften at room temperature. Rinse under cool running water before eating or preparing.
HOW TO ENJOY
Persimmons are delicious when ripe and simply eaten out-of-hand. The fruit can also be dried or cooked. Persimmons are commonly used in desserts, such as pies, puddings, cakes, cookies, and ice cream. Other ways to enjoy fresh persimmons include; • Slice firm Fuyu persimmons and add to salads. • Puree persimmon flesh and add it to drinks, smoothies, or fresh fruit sauces. • Slice and spread with lime juice, salt, and chili powder. • Cube and mix with grapes, pomegranate seeds, and diced apple, for a colorful winter salad. • Top hot or cold cereal with sliced persimmon. • Dice or puree and add to pancakes, waffles, and French toast. • Cut in half, freeze the fruit, and scoop out of the shell for an instant sorbet. Enjoy this beautiful, juicy fruit during Florida’s peak persimmon season today. It’s a delicious way to get plenty of fiber and other nutrients.
SELECTED REFERENCES
http://polk.ifas.ufl.edu https://hort.purdue.edu
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Help Us Teach Them About Agriculture Through your purchase of the Florida Agriculture License Plate, Florida Agriculture in the Classroom is able to provide: Funds for school gardens PreK-12 agriculture curriculum Agriculture field trips Volunteer and teacher grants Teacher workshops Florida Agriculture Literacy Day And much more.
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Horse Tale Farms Does the Neigh Neigh: A Fundraiser By Ginny Mink
Well, maybe we didn’t do any urban dancing at the fundraiser but I can assure you that I watched plenty ‘o’ people joyously dance their way out of the barn sale. Yep, there were great deals to be had by all and given the fact that all the funds went to help abandoned and abused horses, well, how could it get any better than that? Pam, the owner and operator of Horse Tale Farms, called me several months prior to the event and asked if I would set up a booth to help bring in attendees. Plus she was thinking I might just be able to make a little money. I probably spent as much as I made but, well, it was all for a good cause. I say that especially since my daughter, Hazel, is hugely fond of horses and would hate to think anything bad had happened to any of them. There were a couple of venders on site to add to the interest but I’m pretty sure that the barn sale, auction and BBQ were the belles of this ball. In fact, the BBQ place totally sold out (before I could get a meal to bring home to my husband since he was at home with the kids). It was delish, so it is no wonder that people bought it by the pound and went home with vast quantities. Bee Haven Honey graced us with their presence. I have to admit, they seem to be everywhere I go: Cornfusion, Craft Fairs, Horse Fundraisers! Yep, they are getting that magnificent honey out every chance they get and with good reason. They have some top ‘o’ the line products. My intern purchased her first honey straw while we were there. She told me she’d never had honey before. Who reaches 26 years old without eating honey? Apparently my intern! So, I handed her a dollar and sent her on her way to sweet magic. The lady in the booth next to us was a sewing genius. I mean that. She had some super cool sewn plastic bag holders that were shaped like headless scarecrows. By this I’m trying to say that they were made in decorative infant sized overalls and the bags were retrieved from the elasticized leg hems. I’m certain that I am not doing them justice but I can tell you that I saw people buying them. So, they really were way cool and I wasn’t the only person who thought so.
hook me up with two birdhouse kits. They were extra kind and gave me two aprons too! Needless to say (but I’m going to anyway) Hazel and Zeke (the 2 year old) were ecstatic! I’d write about my booth* but then that would be sneaky since the article is really about the fundraiser. I can tell you that I purchased a Stetson hat, some jewelry, a piece of stained glass and a couple of watches while perusing the barn yard sale. My friend got an antique kid’s rocking chair and was beyond elated. People were seriously walking out of there glowing. They had helped the horses and attained things they felt were of great value. After it all went down, I asked Pam how they had done. She told me that they made more money this year than they had the year before. That’s the kind of progress you hope to see when you are running a non-profit. On the bright side of it all she said they would now have the money to install another section of fence. Fence is über important when you’re trying to maintain the safety and security of the animals in your care. She also told me that the other proceeds would be applied to vet bills, feed, hay and other horse essentials. She seemed quite pleased with the overall turnout even if she couldn’t give me any definite numbers. Money was still coming in from the auction when I talked to her. As to the number of people in attendance? She couldn’t give me an answer because there wasn’t anyone standing around with one of those clickers that counts people as they enter. Suffice it to say, if she thinks it was a success and the horses are continuing to be well provided for then, woohoo, it was a success. *Shameless plug: By the way, I sell homemade, all natural soap at: www.thewisesheep.com.
Home Depot was there too. That was pretty great except for the brief period in which they became inundated with children. You couldn’t hear yourself think, thanks to all the hammering away at birdhouses. The kids were having a great time, and if your thought processes were unaffected by the noise (probably because you’re a mother engrossed in noisy wee ones daily), then you were able to enjoy the thrill in their eyes. Since my littles were with the husband, I asked Home Depot to 42
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Naturally Amazing Activities
By Sean Green Photo by Jennifer Pohlhaus
Rustic Wine Rack If you’re looking
for a fairly simple craft to accommodate the holiday spirits, why not make use of the abundance of shipping pallets that will be tossed in the trash this time of year. Used pallets, crates, wooden boxes and the like make terrific stock to repurpose into useful items, especially if you like the rustic look. This month’s project involves a shipping pallet that was actually in pretty good shape but destined for the county dump nonetheless. With very few tools and a little bit of time, a discarded pallet became a rustic wine rack that could be a nice addition to country decor. For this project, blemishes and imperfections in both the wood and the craftsmanship add character to the finished wine rack. Because the wood was in fairly good shape, I needed a means to distress the wood for an aged look. A friend of mine suggested that the Vinegaroon mixture I use to blacken my leather work will also give new wood an aged look, depending on the type of wood and the abundance of tannins in the wood. I tried it and the suggestion worked very well. There are many ways to create the glass holder portion of the wine rack, I do not have a shop to work in or a large variety of tools, the method I am sharing in this tutorial is not sophisticated and can be done with very few hardware resources.
Tools: Hammer & Nails
9
Vinegaroon Dye
Glass Jar with lid Vinegar Steel Wool, cheapest you can find,.... (not stainless steel) Filter (cheese cloth, coffee filter, old shirt) Fluff the steel wool by pulling it apart a little Fill the glass jar ¾ with steel wool Pour Vinegar into the jar to cover the steel wool Place the lid on the jar, allow to sit until the steel wool is dissolved. (3 to 14 days) Filter the solids out of the mixture by straining through cheese cloth or any other appropriate filter.
Saw Paint Brush or Sponge Wood Glue
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Cut the pallet in half, just beyond the side indentions and remove extra boards leaving only one on each side.
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Stain the wood with Vinegaroon Dye.
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Nail one of the extra boards to the end of the pallet to create the bottom of the rack.
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Trace the circumference of the wine glass in the center of the bottom of the rack.
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Repeat the wine glass pattern (for reference) leaving about 1 inch between circles.
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Cut ¾” strips out of another board to use as riser set in between each wine glass.
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Cut squares the same width as the bottom of the wine rack. • These will be centered on the risers to create slots for the wine glasses and may not necessarily be square. • The actual dimensions will depend on the size of your wine glass..*
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Test fit the wine glasses before securing the riser assembly, once correct, glue and nail to the bottom of the rack.
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Mount to studs with heavy lag bolts
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December 2015
Pallet
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A Closer Look
by Sean Green
A Brief History of Florida Citrus - Part 2 Government archives confirm the existence of early commercial orange groves in St. Augustine, such as the 10,000 acre plantation known as El Vergel (The Garden) that belonged to Jesse Fish, on what is now known as Fish Island. Jesse Fish moved from New York to St. Augustine with his father Captain Thomas Fish in 1718. His father worked for William Walton Exporting Company of New York furnishing supplies to the Spaniards at St Augustine. The British attacks on Florida during the Seven Years’ War, included the expulsion of all English from St. Augustine. Jesse Fish was relieved of such expulsion by virtue of his family ties to the mariners of Long Island, Walton merchants, and Lawrence family of sea captains that constituted a vital link between British New York and Spanish St. Augustine. By 1763, the British gained control over Florida and began settling in New Smyrna, just 75 miles south of St Augustine. Governor James Grant issued a proclamation to all the existing colonies advertising land grants in East Florida for workers to build the new colony, this effort led to the increasing colonial dependence on slave labor for agricultural plantations. Andrew Turnbill, one of the early settlers, was a Scottish physician and personal friend of James Grant. From Turnbills letters to the governor, we know that small groves of sweet oranges were planted in New Smyrna shortly after its founding in 1768. In a letter to Governor Grant, dated March 19, 1770, Turnbill writes: “La Jardiniere du Vilage presents her respects to your Excellency. She has hundreds of young sweet orange trees just come out from the seed of the oranges you sent her.” In 1765, Two Quaker naturalists, John and William Bartram visited St Augustine and the surrounding area with high recommendations from British officials and even King George III himself. Having perfect confidence that these two American naturalists would produce discoveries that would improve trade and manufacture in the two new colonies of Florida, the King encouraged governor Grant to assure these gentlemen were shown perfect hospitality and were accompanied by two Native Americans. Nearly echoing the findings José de Acosta described 200 years earlier, Bartram confirmed extensive stands of wild orange groves among magnolia, oak, hickory and bay trees along the St Johns River. Unlike José de Acosta, Bartram noted that the wild patches of orange trees seemed to correspond to shell mounds, roadways, and Indian campgrounds, one such grove stretching a half mile wide and 40 miles along a ridge that Turnbill would eventually clear to plant Indigo. By the turn of the 19th century, St Augustine and the surrounding area became known for its sweet oranges and exported upwards of 2,500,00 to the northern states. The Dummett family, originally from Barbados, were among the first settlers. In 1825, Colonel Thomas Dummett purchased the 2,000 acre John Bunch sugar mill plantation near the mouth of the Tomoka River. He had a sugar mill and rum distillery built using the first steam-powered cane crushing mill in the area. His son Douglas Dummett operated the plantation from 1828 to 1835 and served as the first postmaster at Tomoka between 1833 and 1836.
proved successful when his citrus survived a severe freeze in 1835 that nearly wiped out the entire citrus industry in the area. During the Second Seminole War (1835 to 1842), the young Captain Douglas Dummett of Barbados, was wounded at the battle of Dunlawton (1836) plantation. In 1843 Dummitt filed for a new homestead under the Armed Occupation Act. After returning to Mosquito Lagoon he settled on property that was tucked between two lagoons in what is now the North end of Merritt Island. Dummett returned to the coast to acquire and transplant some trees to his property that would later become the first known citrus grove in what is now known as the “Indian River Citrus District.” Dummett continued to develop his grafting technique and began selling budwood to other growers to help develop new groves in the region. In 1809, a Spanish nobleman by the name of Don Phillipe migrated from the West Indies to what is now known as Safety Harbor in Pinellas County. Phillipe brought with him the seeds of “The Forbidden Fruit,” a hybrid of the Jamaican Sweet Orange (Citrus × sinensis) and the Indonesian Pomelo (Citrus maxima) that was first created on the island of Barbados in the early 18th century. Because the fruit grew in clusters, it became commonly known as “grapefruit.” In 1823 the French Count Odet Philippe also settled in Safety Harbor and is largely responsible for not only the citrus industry but also the cigar making industry in Tampa. Odet Philippe homesteaded property that was characterized by a large Indian mound; on his property, he established St. Helena, the first post-colonial plantation on Florida’s west coast. St. Helena’s 160 acre plot was populated with crops that he had brought from the Caribbean; avocado, pear, and banana, as well as a variety of orange and lime crops but grapefruit was the most significant crop and his was the first in Florida. The Indian mound on his plantation sheltered his crops from a hurricane in 1848 that would have otherwise devastated his crops. Count Philippe was able to rebuild and by 1885, regularly shipped grapefruit to New York and Philadelphia, incubating the Florida grapefruit industry. Count Philippe had a reputation of generosity and frequently shared not only his budwood, but also his knowledge of grafting wild sour orange trees into producers of sweet oranges but grapefruit was his primary passion and crop. The renowned “Duncan” variety of Grapefruit is genetically the oldest grapefruit cultivar, and widely believed to have originated from a seedling Count Philippe grew from his original Cuban stock and generously gave to A.L. Duncan of Dunedin, whom later introduced the variety as the “Duncan” grapefruit.
Dummett discovered some sweet orange trees on the old Turnbull lands and began experimenting with a new grafting technique that involved grafting buds from the hybrid Sweet Orange (Citrus × sinensis) onto the base of the hardier root stock of the hybrid sour orange (Citrus × aurantium). This method became known as “top working” because the bud was worked at the top of the sour root stock and began a few feet off the ground. His method WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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7X15 LAWN TRAILER Used Lawn Trailer with aluminum plate tool LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES box. 5ft tongue & heavy duty gate. $1,650 Call BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR Alvie 813-759-8722 Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 FORD 600 GAS TRACTOR Call Alvie 813-759-8722 Good Condition. $2,750 RUBBER MULCH 813-759-8722 Ask for Alvie All Colors, buy 10 bags, get 1 FREE! HUSTLER RAPTOR $8.99 a bag. Call Ted (813) 752-3378 42” cut, 21 hp Kohler engine. BRAND NEW BUSH HOG 3 year warranty. $2,799 ES2052 zero turn mower. Price Call Alvie (813) 759-8722 reduced from $5,425 to $5,000 Call Alvie 813-750-8722 FOR RENT Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mullcher. BRAND NEW HUSTLER X1 For blueberry farms, six yard, 60” cut price was $10,356 buy now PTO drive need at least a 30hp for $8,800. Call Alvie 813-759-8722 tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
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Ext. Siding 4’X7’ sheets stucco texture & 12” on center. $18.95 Call Blake 813-752-3378
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Metal brand new in bo 54” Mobile Home Tubs Call Ted (813) 752-3378 $185.00
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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 signifiFOR SALE cant aesthetic value to the 45 acres. Zoning: AR (Agricultural-Rural) Call Heidi KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the Cecil for more information (863) 899-9620 BIG Box STORES! Call Today! HOME FOR SALE Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 20 acres mol fenced & crossed fenced w/3-2 DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER brick home. 700 sq ft barn. Located in north Lakeland 5 minutes from shopping. $370,000. No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Call Leah Brumley 863-512-9563 Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
TRUCK
1988 F350 7.3 diesel flatbed dually, 5 speed with granny low, will haul whatever you put on it. $3,000 Call Chad 813-508-8128
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4X4 Tractor with loader. Runs good. $10,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 Brand new, 200 gallon, 9 row hydraulic boom sprayer, never used. Brand new Hypro pump Output is 19 GPM Pressure is 290 PSI Speed is 550 RPM Just needs to have plumbing hooked up, which we have most of too big for our small farm. $3,000 Call Chad 813-508-8128
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is looking for agriculture/tractor mechanics at both the Bartow & Plant City locations. Having own tools is a plus. Pay based on skill and experience. Call Bartow at 863-537-1345 or Plant City at 813-759-8722
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POLK FURNITURE
Polk Furniture Consignment Store. Purchase $637.00 worth of furniture & receive two tickets to a 3 day, 2 night cruise. 863-332-3954
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