In The Field magazine Polk edition

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

1

Business Up Front Closing Up the Competition: S&S Garage Doors

By Ginny Mink

If you live in a subdivision or a “cookie cutter” house as I generally refer to them, chances are great that you’ve got a standard garage door to match your 2.5 car garage (that’s a joke). No doubt you have probably given little thought or consideration to your garage door unless of course you’ve had a problem with it. Maybe it chose not to respond to the click of your button in the middle of a Florida thunderstorm or maybe your grandmother decided it might be time to play bumper cars with it. Whatever the case may be, most people don’t focus on their garage doors unless something goes wrong. So, who do you call when that massive door breaks, goes on the fritz or gets nailed by your 90 year old Gigi? Try S&S Garage Doors.

Their website states, “We specialize in all your garage door needs! We provide installation and repairs to residential garage doors and commercial roll up doors, operators and springs.” Specifically, Amanda Hendricks, co-owner with her husband, Sean, informs us that, “he can fix any door that goes over your head!” This is to include the giant agriculturally based barn doors. She told us, “My husband did my dad’s barn doors and he completely raves about it. It’s a cool animated way of getting into a barn.” Comparatively he would have to get off the tractor, perhaps turning it off first, and then physically raise up or pull open the massive doors. No doubt an electric door is a better option. Which, when you think about it, makes S&S a pretty cool company because they aren’t wholly focused on the residential customer (though they do that and commercial work as well).

Now that you’ve gotten a bit of a briefing on the company, we’d like to share with you our conversation with Amanda. She shared with us, “My husband is not originally from Polk County, but he grew up here his whole life. I was born and raised here. He grew up in Lake Alfred and I grew up in Winter Haven but we’ve lived in Polk City for years now. My dad is the owner of DC Cattle. My parents have always owned ranching style stuff so I’ve grown up in the Ag community with that. My husband, not so much, but he’s always been local.” Therefore, their affinity for the Polk County populace is understandable.

We asked what led them to the garage door industry and Amanda explained, “He started working in garage doors with a friend of his 21 years ago and about 15 years ago he branched off on his own and started his own business. He kind of fell into a job that turned into a career, it’s pretty cool!” Then she elaborated on what they specialize in, stating, “We do garage doors, installs, new construction, residential, commercial the big agricultural style doors for barns and stuff, we do those as well. Any door that goes over your head, that’s the kind of door we work on. We also do lots of repairs.”

We wondered if they had a store front and what areas they reached out to. She explained, “We work from home. We live in Polk City so we service all of Polk County and parts of Hillsborough County. It’s pretty easy with the I4 corridor. We’re right down the road from I4 so we can get anywhere in the county pretty quick.”

Given the opportunity to let her company shine. She readily informed us, “One of the big things about our company is that we’re a small family owned business but we strive on customer service. Even though we do a lot of work for contractors, they know they can call us on a Tuesday and we can get the job done for them right away. We guarantee our work! If there’s ever any problem with our door, we go out and take care of it right away; but usually there’s not a problem.

2

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

Everybody that works with us on a regular basis comments on that service; it’s what they like. They know they can just call him and he takes care of it, they don’t have to stress about it.” In the construction industry, that’s a big deal.

We asked about more specific aspects of the business and she shared, “We’ve done some pretty complex doors that you can see on the website. I don’t know how to describe them, they’re kind of gourmet, that’s the word I use. We do anything from impact rated, to hurricane protection to insulated so somebody can air condition their garage.

The garage door business is more diverse than you would think. Sure we do a couple hundred of the same door, but we also do these intricate, delicate jobs installing in small amounts of space. We even do wood doors.” No garage door project is too elaborate for S&S Garage Doors.

When we asked for a garage door story she chuckled and recalled, “We had a lady whose 17 year old son drove through their garage door and into the house, unfortunately. But, we were able to take the door apart and put a new door in, in a matter of an hour or two and that seemed to make them pretty happy. She wasn’t thrilled with the 17 year old, but she was glad that it didn’t take weeks to get the door.

It was a basic door so we normally have those in stock and we actually had one on the truck and she called and we were right down the road so we were able to make her extremely happy right away.” Quick fixes in challenging moments always alleviate stress.

So what makes them the garage door company for you? Amanda confidently replied, “We have very fair prices, I think. One of the things we pride ourselves on is our honesty. If we go to somebody’s house and they need new rollers, we’re not going to try to sell them new cables, a new motor and all this mess. If all they need is new rollers, that’s what we sell them. It’s an honest approach. We don’t upsell. We have that whole Golden Rule mentality, treat everybody how you would want to be treated. That’s how we operate, it may not be more lucrative, but it’s right so that’s what we do.” That last line really moved us because we are in a world where so many things are not right.

This is a company that isn’t just about the almighty dollar, they want to make a difference too. Amanda told us, “We do some special things, I’m previously a law enforcement officer so we offer law enforcement and firefighter and school board discounts because anyone who serves the public we try to reward, as we can. Teachers have a hard job and the same thing with firefighters and law enforcement officers and any school board employee. They’re working for their community and anyone working for their community should be acknowledged. One of our favorite charities to support is the Special Olympics because I did law enforcement Special Olympics runs when I was in law enforcement.”

She concluded the interview by telling us, “We’ve done some pretty spectacular doors. Sean and his nephews do the work, like I said, it’s a family business. I go out and do the quoting. We all work together as a family. I’m the accounts manager and he’s the President. We have four kids together and we’re involved in all their sports and stuff.”

This is a well-rounded business entity seeking to be outstanding examples to the community and their children. We support businesses like these. You can find them at ssgaragedoors.com or give them a call at (863) 325-5300. Amanda and Sean look forward to your business.

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

3

VOL. 9 • ISSUE 1

Smith Family

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 Stephanie Humphrey

Contents SEPTEMBER 2015 Business Up Front

Recipes

Master Gardener

Endangered Species

Fishing Hot Spots

Say Cheese

Page 2

Page 10 Page 14

Literary Time Machine

Page 16

Kelley Buick GMC

Page 20

Rocking Chair Chatter

Page 22

4

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Page 26 Page 30

Page 34

Eat More Produce

Page 35

Florida Boniato

Page 39

WHCS Ag Program

Page 42

September 2015

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

WWW. WWW. IN INTTHE HE FFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

5

Letter from the Editor

STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry

September is here, the days are getting shorter and the kids are back in school.

The progressively shorter days are leading up to September 23, the day of the autumnal equinox, when night and day are of equal lengths.

The freshest, safest, best tasting food is just around the corner! Buying local is easy, just find a farmer’s market near you and encourage your local grocery stores and area restaurants to purchase more products from local farms. This small step will help boost your local economy and get you exceptional flavor from fruits and vegetables that are recently harvested and packed with nutrients.

How do you know what’s in season? We are lucky to have something fresh and nutritious available in Florida 365 days a year. Check out the Florida Department of Agriculture’s web site at www.freshfromflorida.com for a chart of what is in season.

It is so important to support your local farmer and rancher. They are the lifeblood of this county, state and our great nation!

As always, we would like to extend a special thank you to all of our advertisers for the support you show us each month. It is important to us to continue spreading the word about agriculture and you allow us the opportunity to do just that. !

Until next month

Office Manager Bob Hughens Sales Manager Danny Crampton Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols 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

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

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.

6

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

7

Dear Readers:

cow dog trial followed by the rodeo that evening.

I don’t think I’m alone when I say I’m glad the Fall season is right around the corner. Cooler, drier weather is definitely welcome.

Saturday morning starts off with the Heritage Festival, which includes a beef cook-off, whip popping contest, storytelling, arts, crafts and jewelry for sale and more. Saturday is also the ranch horse competition in the arena. A great steak dinner wraps up the afternoon before the grand finale of the rodeo that evening.

I hope the abundance of water is not hurting everyone too bad. I can tell a difference in some of my calves, as I had to move some heifers yesterday to drier ground. We are also getting into the season of bull and heifer sales. I am interested to see what the prices do this Fall. I attended a sale in Texas last month and the bred heifers sold fairly high.

Don’t forget that the Florida Ranch Rodeo State Finals & Heritage Festival is Sept. 26 and 27th. Once again, it will be held in Kissimmee at the Silver Spurs Arena. Friday afternoon will be the working

The G7 Gukich Ranch rodeo team is representing Polk County this year. Make your plans to come cheer them on!

Sincerely,

JB Wynn

JB Wynn Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President

88

IINNTTHE HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE

SSeptember eptember 2015 2015

WWW. WWW.IIN NTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM

• Agritourism, one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry, includes visits to working farms, ranches, wineries and agricultural industries.

• Farm attractions help people to understand the skill and hard work that go into producing the food and fiber we all depend upon.

• In order to produce one quart (32 ounces) of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 11 pounds of olives need to be pressed.

• On average, the world consumes approximately 2.25 million tons of olive oil each year.

• Corn and its by products are also found in many non-food items such as fireworks, rust preventatives, glue, paint, dyes, laundry detergent, soap, aspirin, antibiotics, paint, shoe polish, ink, cosmetics, the manufacturing of photographic film, and in the production of plastics.

• Corn can be produced in various colors including blackish, bluish-gray, purple, green, red, white and the most common yellow.

• The first corn maze was created in the early 1990s in the US • Corn mazes are created with the use of GPS or a simpler grid system to create geometric patterns and pictures.

• A 50 by 50 foot lawn releases enough oxygen for a family of four, while absorbing carbon dioxide, hydrogen floride, perosyacetyle nitrate.

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

9

Irises in the Home Landscape

M A S T E R GARDENER

By Debra Howell Irises are the genteel ladies of the Southern garden landscape. These plants are wonderful additions to your yard for purposes of flowers, foliage and inflorescences. They perform well when used in a mass planting, along borders, in containers or, in the case of the irises, in conjunction with a water garden. In fact, the blue flag iris is described as an herbaceous grass and aquatic plant.

Irises are grown for their foliage as well as the flowers which occur in blue, purple, yellow, white, red, brown and orange. After the flowers are spent, the upright foliage, in variations of green, impart a linear look to the yard. In the iris genus, there are upwards of 300 species of flowering plants. What an appropriately named flower! The name iris literally means rainbow. The flowers themselves symbolize eloquence. You may determine how many you need for your job by measuring the area and planting your irises on two-foot centers. In about two years they will create a thick ground cover.

Irises are shown regularly and grown, not only in the home landscape, but showcased in botanical gardens as well. One example is the Presby Memorial Iris Garden in New Jersey. This garden houses more than 10,000 irises. Florence, Italy contains the giardino dell’iris, which translated is literally the “Iris Garden.” Annually, outstanding irises come together to be judged for the prestigious Dykes Medal.

To date, the tall bearded iris has achieved this medal more than any other iris.

In addition to their use as an esthetically appealing landscape plant, the rhizomes of both the sweet iris and the German iris are used as “orris root.” These rhizomes are dried, aged and utilized in perfume and to aid teething babies. In addition, some brands of gin use not only orris root, but also the flowers to flavor and color the gin. Please note though, that irises should only be used medicinally under the care of a qualified medical professional.

10

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

Irises perform best in an environment which is partially shady. The soil in which you plant them will need to be well drained. Though listed as a water garden plant, when cultivated in earth, they need to be able to drain. The blue flag iris is native to boggy areas and may be grown in standing water.

As pertaining to fertilization practices, irises just do not need that much fertilize. A light fertilization once or twice annually is sufficient as applying too much fertilizer will most likely produce an abundance of foliage and few flowers. Pests and diseases are almost non-existent with irises. Nematodes are the primary pest issue.

The irises described in the University of Florida IFAS Extension bulletins are: evergreen, Louisiana, walking, blue flag, African/butterfly, blackberry and Japanese roof iris. The iris most used in municipal applications is the African or butterfly iris. It has stiff, dark green leaves which reach a height of two or three feet. This allows it to impart that upright linear look to your landscape. This iris is also readily available at big box stores most any day. You may choose to use this iris within the midst of a short groundcover such as peacock ginger.

The walking iris has lighter green leaves which are not nearly as stiff as the African iris. It bears short-lived yellow flowers, but seems to always flower. One method of propagation of walking iris is through small “plantlets” on the flower stalk tips. The stalk simply bows to the ground under the weight of the plantlet where it then proceeds to take root. Although these may freeze to the ground in winter, they will reappear in spring. I, personally, have never experienced this and because of their easy propagation, I have many walking iris in my landscape.

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Evergreen iris is a clumping variety with weeping, floppy leaves reaching a height of about three feet. The leaves are narrower than those of the African cultivar. As with the other irises, it is listed as an herbaceous, ornamental grass. This type, not as readily available, bears yellow flowers throughout the year. Don’t you love the idea that you can obtain a plant which will flower most of the year?

The iris virginica, or blue flag iris, is the one which you may encounter while in the confines of an area park or preserve, especially if standing water is present. I have photographed blue flag irises on the wildflower walk at Circle B Bar Reserve. So, these plants will grow in standing water. The flowers on this iris are large and showy, but usually bloom in the spring. The University of Florida bulletin, FPS288, “Iris virginica Blue Flag, Blue Flag Iris,” indicates that it can be an aggressive spreader, so bear this in mind when using it in the garden.

The iris with the most diverse flower colors is the Louisiana Hybrid iris. They have large flowers of three or four inches, and occur in colors of cream, white, purple, blue, yellow, bronze, red, pink, blue and almost black. These irises are either spreading, upright or clumping, and should be used as a specimen or background plant. They also flower in the spring time and prefer acidic soil.

Japanese roof iris is one of which I have never before heard. The light green foliage emerges directly from the ground and bears showy white flowers within the foliage itself. This will not be readily available, but you may be able to order it from other areas. It is well-suited for mass plantings or as a ground cover.

The blackberry lily has just gained status as an iris. The foliage is like that of the walking iris and it bears orangey dotted flowers. Following the flowers are the seeds which are the reason for the name blackberry

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

lily. The fruit pods will split open to reveal black seeds borne in a cluster on the short upright stems which are about two feet tall.

The belamcanda, or blackberry lily iris, will bear continuous flowers from spring through fall. It flowers best in part shade/part sun in a range of soil types. While it flowers best in full sun, since the Florida sun is sometimes relentless, they also have the ability to flower well in part shade. The blackberry lily iris is one of my favorite “no brainer” plants, and is very low maintenance. They reproduce pretty readily and the black berry-looking seeds make it a snap to start on outcropping elsewhere.

Now one thing that makes the iris family so maintenance-free is that they are tolerant of a wide range of soil types and pH ranges, and some even tolerate growth in standing water. In addition, the long term health of irises is normally not impacted by pests. One cultivar which may be affected by disease is the blackberry lily iris. If these irises remain to wet, they develop crown rot disease. Conversely, too much sun and too little water will cause scorch to occur.

Throughout history, the iris has been appreciated and used in art, poetry and as a symbol, such as the fleur-de-lis logo of the New Orleans Saints pro football team. Used by Vincent Van Gogh, they starred in artwork like his 1889 painting entitled “Irises.” It is the provincial flower of Quebec.

Irises are such a wonderfully dramatic landscape plant, make your iris purchase today and allow them to speak the eloquence of the rainbow in your home landscape.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

11

12

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

13

Tampa Bay Area September 2015 Fast… Hard Fighting… Drag Screaming Action

take care of the rest. Tip: when you feel the first strike, pause before setting the hook; it’s best to give the fish a second or two waiting for them to load the rod. When the rod bends… then it’s time to start reeling.

These are two saltwater fish found throughout Florida that provide awesome light tackle action and are willing to challenge the best anglers. These toothy swimmers weigh in around 2 to 4 pounds, in our area, and anything over is a real treat.

Fast moving artificial lures resembling a baitfish, especially those including metal spoons, jigs, and tube baits, will certainly catch mackerel and bluefish. If you like jerk baits the new Sure Strike Lure can do the trick. This lure has the action and looks of a live sardine and the Spanish and Blues seem to like the action and flash. But make sure you take a couple of bags along because their teeth do a number on them.

can only describe two of Tampa Bay’s September Scrapers. So, if you’re looking for something different this month try one of these “Bad Boys” on, I’m talking about Spanish mackerel or a Bluefish.

Both are schooling pelagic (see caption) fish with relatively large heads, powerful jaws and a mouth full of incredibly sharp teeth.

Their tapered bodies end with deeply forked tails making them powerful swimmers and equally matched fighters for any light tackle rod and reel. Bluefish on the other hand, are decorated with blue/green backs, silvery sides, and white/silver bellies, but don’t sell them short; these beautiful fish have plenty of muscle, incredible speed, and aerial antics to match the Tampa Bay Ladyfish. But pound for pound the Spanish mackerel is definitely one of the most beautiful fish, especially when first hooked.

(Pelagic) Like tuna mackerel are fast, streamlined-swimmers found near coastal and open water. They need to swim to maintain a sufficient flow of oxygenated water over the gills.

Rigging for mackerel and blues is much like rigging for any toothy fish. Some folks use #4 or #6 wire leaders I use 50# - 60# Seaguar Fluorocarbon Leader with #2 - #3 long shank Daiichi hooks. When fishing live baits use a short piece (approximately 24 inches) of Seaguar leader tied to your braid and a long-shank Daiichi hook. I belly hook the greenback at the pectoral fin, cast it out and the fish 14

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

Again, if you like artificial lures try a shiny silver spoon or for some “reel” fun try an old topwater lure tied to your braid with a dark wire leader using a loop knot. But make sure it’s an old lure; there is good chance you might not get it back.

On these hot, humid, no wind days you might also try trolling. Then once you hook-up, stop and start fan casting the area. Being pelagic means they are constantly on the move, but you know they are in the area; so you just need to find them.

It’s not uncommon to find schooling mackerel and bluefish sharing the same bait schools as ladyfish and jacks. One good indication is diving birds. So, if you’re using whitebait/greenbacks start tossing a few overboard, if the fish are there it won’t take long to get them going. Keep the live chums going and the fish will usually stay within casting distance; as long as you’re mindful of the current flow.

If you like eating fish; bluefish and mackerel are good table fare. I try to bleed them quickly and put them in a mixture of slushy ice and water. When you’re ready to clean your catch use a sharp fillet knife to fillet them, removing the bones and skin, cut into two inch WWW. ININTHE MMAGAZINE.COM WWW. THEFFIELD IELD AGAZINE.COM

strips, and deep fry. Serve with grits, tomato gravy and hush-puppies.

Another excellent way to prepare mackerel is by smoking the fillets using only garlic salt for seasoning. Enjoyable right off the smoker or used later for smoked fish spread. For other recipes, visit my website – www.captainwoodygore.com.

September 2015 Fishing Report Tampa Bay Area Fishing in September should be good and whether you use live bait or artificial lures remember to take a kid fishing.

Snook season opens and as usual the action should be excellent.

You’ll find plenty of fish, especially at night with free-lined baits like pinfish, greenbacks and jumbo shrimp. Fishing the flats around broken bottom potholes and mangroves will also be good. For some exhilarating experiences try tossing a good topwater walk-the-dog lure.

MirrOlure and High Roller are excellent choices. If you like jerk baits the new Sure Strike Lure can do the trick. This lure has the action and looks of a real live sardine.

If you’re not into artificial lures greenbacks always do the trick. However, this usually requires some experience throwing a net and a good circulating live well.

“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

Trout fishing is always productive around lush grass flats. It takes

moving water to get them eating but when they start… its fish-on.

Popping corks with artificial plastic tails or live shrimp will produce..

Redfish

action will be steady with schooling fish moving around the area. Approach schooling fish carefully you don’t want to split them into several groups because it’s often difficult to group them back up. Always pole or slow troll to within casting distance, PowerPole down and present a low profile by getting off the bow. Try to pick off fish at the outer edges and never cast into the middle of the school. Reds eat shrimp, greenbacks, and pinfish. If they’re not looking for live bait, cut bait on the bottom usually works, but you must be patient.

Snapper If you’re looking for some late summer fun, particu-

larly for the youngsters, take them snapper fishing. Not only are these fish fun to catch but they are great eating. Small free-lined greenbacks or pieces of fresh shrimp around markers, bridges or rock piles will usually result in a limit of fish. If the tides a little strong add enough split shot to keep the bait down 3-6 feet. Don’t forget a chum bag.

Mackerel & Bluefish

Tampa Bay is still be loaded with plenty of threadfins and the mackerel and bluefish will be all over them. Mac’s and Blues are excellent targets this month. If you’re looking for awesome, light tackle action this is it. Threadfins are everywhere but look around marker cans, range markers or shallow reefs.

Anchor up current, toss out a few baits for chum and throw to the striking fish.

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SSeptember eptember 2015 2015

15

By Ginny Mink

Part 12

Ornamental Gardening in Florida Sometimes we wish we could actually hop aboard a time machine and return to the 1920s, the time when flappers were cool and prohibition was a challenge. What a different time that must have been, a time when the news wasn’t inundated with senseless murders (not that they didn’t occur but knowledge of them wasn’t so readily broadcast). A time when socializing meant face to face time and not “face time” via a time delayed screen. Seriously, take a look at some of the “cool” attire then, there’s a link in the resources section².

Since we can’t really take that voyage, we do well to enjoy Charles Torrey Simpson’s descriptions of ornamental gardening during that time. This month we have the pleasure of diving into his chapter entitled: Wind Breaks and Hedges. This might actually be helpful as we enter hurricane season full force. He explains, “It will often be found necessary to throw a screen or protecting wall of trees or shrubs around all or part of a place as a shelter against wind or frost.

In fact,”¹ he states, “in many locations fronting on large bodies of water…it is almost impossible to get ordinary vegetation started without something of the kind.”¹ This really wasn’t something we’d ever considered as we contemplated the concept of ornamental, or decorative, gardening. And perhaps you are like us, envisioning a straight border. However, this is not what Mr. Simpson suggests at all, quite the contrary. He tells readers, “As a general thing I do not like straight rows of trees in an informal garden for the reason that they look too artificial.”¹ On that point we would have to agree as God certainly didn’t get out the straight edge when He scattered the seeds, or spoke and the plants arose. Therefore, Simpson suggests, “…it is better to make an irregular border.”¹ If you have been on our time machine this past year, you have become quite fond of Mr. Simpson’s proclivity toward beauty. No doubt his next statement then will come of no surprise. He adds, “This may consist of lofty growing trees, shrubs and even herbaceous plants so arranged that they will give an irregular sky line and a variety of form and color.”¹ He does admit that a straight hedge can be used when one is simply separating one part of the garden from another, although he concludes that irregular shapes are preferable. According to Mr. Simpson, the main concern is, “…that it will have a natural appearance.”¹ We have to love that about him because he lived in Florida when it was still wild and wooly and was adamant about maintaining its native woodland feel and presentation. Oh that people had taken his advice and adhered to it.

He then delves into the nitty gritty of his recommendations stating that, “…it will be necessary to use trees which are practically evergreen and wind resistant,”¹ at least that’s the idea, but he continues, “and as yet, we have scarcely had sufficient experience to be able to select the best species.”¹ He then suggests the Australian pine explaining, “It is one of the most rapid growers known, is fairly wind resistant and is little affected by salt air, but it will not stand fire or frost.”¹ Which of course amuses us because it would seem that no tree would stand fire too well. So, we chuckled, hopefully you did too. He obviously saw no problem in the statement.

Next he discusses date palms stating, “…the date palms will stand the wind well and if used for wind breaks should be allowed to sucker fully.”¹ Maybe you know what “sucker fully” means, but we didn’t so we had to look it up. Apparently, palms that are multi-stemmed are “suckering” palms. You are supposed to allow them to grow their “suckers” or additional stems to about six inches in diameter before you start pruning for propagation³. You can read more about that on 16

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

the site we notated in our resources section. Newly informed, we can imagine that a multi-stemmed palm would be beneficial in creating an irregularly shaped wall as Mr. Simpson suggests.

Recent chapters have revealed Mr. Simpson’s love of the sea and his ornamental gardening suggestions often focus on landscaping done in that area. That said, he moves on to how best to create a wind break on the coast. He says, “A wind break planted against the sea has to withstand not only the power of the wind but driven sand and salt spray and hardly any plants are known but what may be injured somewhat during a severe storm from the ocean. Even our native mangroves are sometimes hurt in a West Indian hurricane.”¹ Surely we have all seen the ravaging a hurricane can bring on our shores and the plants and shrubs found therein. He chooses then to give credit to the authors of a book entitled: In Florida Gardens, for their recommendations of the loquat, red maple, wax myrtle and various other plants/trees/shrubs that appear to be, “…adapted to seaside situations in the northern part of the state…”¹ Of his own accord he suggests, “If one has the common saw palmetto growing on land facing the sea it should not be disturbed for it is a most excellent wind break throughout the length of the state.”¹ This is of course an interesting statement as we’ve often heard people complain about the saw palmetto and describe their desire to remove it from their lands. That’s why his next suggestion makes us all the more amused. He says, “Some of the bamboos make fine wind breaks if planted away from the sea and they are more effective if placed alternately in a double row.”¹ Surely we’ve all listened to people bellyache about the invasiveness of bamboo and how desperately they wish to rid themselves of it. Perhaps we should take a second look at these two common Florida irritants?

He comes to the end of that chapter and enters into a chapter on Plants for Special Purposes. This chapter is comprised of four pages and lists plants for: seashore, shady places, hedges, house foundation work and those with “striking growth or foliage.”¹ He says he is frequently asked for, “…lists of plants suitable for certain places…”¹ Interestingly enough, he cites the authors of In Florida Gardens again, but this time he uses their names adding, “Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Ferguson have given several in their excellent book…and these are mostly hardy species. I have freely copied from these lists…”¹ He shares that he added some tender plants and marked them each by suitable location. These lists are far too long to include here, but if you are interested in seeing them, send Ginny Mink an email (ginnymink@gmail.com) and she’ll send you a picture of the lists.

Finally, Mr. Simpson warns, “It should be remembered that dead air fills spaces left among plantings and that in such places frost is more likely to occur than in open spots. Any unplanted area on the north or west of a forest or wind break is peculiarly subject to frost for the reason that cold air is driven in and lodged there.”¹ Take note of that as we approach our winter months. Perhaps we will see the cold spells we all hope for while anticipating that they will only sit a spell and then be on their way! Happy planting!

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. 60-65) ² http://www.bluevelvetvintage.com/vintage_style_files/2015/03/12/whatthey-wore-1926-spring-fashion/ ³ http://homeguides.sfgate.com/prune-palms-side-sprouts-64424.html WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September eptember 2015

17

18 18

IIN NTTHE HEF FIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE

SSeptember eptember 2015 2015

WWW. WWW.IIN NTTHE HEF FIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

19

Support Polk County Youth And Maybe Win a Truck!

By Melissa Nichols

Local business owner Derrick Kelley saw a need for more businesses to get involved in supporting local youth in agriculture. Derrick decided the place to go to get involved was right down the road from his Bartow location of Kelley Buick GMC, the Polk County Youth Fair. Derrick reached out to the youth fair and asked how he could help. Director of the Polk County Youth Fair, Jimmy Bolden, said he could help by buying some animals and providing add on donations to other exhibitors.

Four years ago this journey to support the youth began. The first year, Derrick sat in the arena on sale day and bought market hogs and steers from exhibitors. The next year Derrick, along with his staff, decided they would match any add on brought into the dealership and he also bought multiple market animals. Last year Derrick supported the youth by giving an add on to every steer and hog exhibitor across the board, which totaled up to $37,654 in donations.

This year Derrick, along with Commercial Sales Manager Patty Currier, thought of a way they could help the local 4H and FFA Chapters, while still supporting the exhibitors of the youth fair. Kelley Buick GMC is giving away a truck on the night of the steer sale at the 2016 Polk County Youth Fair. The team selected a 2015 GMC 1500 4x4 with a 6 inch lift, custom tires and steps. The truck is wrapped in vinyl graphics and decked out as a cow. Tickets are being sold for this truck. They can be purchased at Kelley Buick GMC by contacting Patty Currier or through the local 4H and FFA Chapters. Half of every ticket will go directly to the selling 4H or FFA Chapter, and the remainder will go to the Polk County Youth Fair and be distributed to exhibitors via a point system. This point system is currently being established and will include, large and small animal exhibitors and is not limited to market animals. It will also include horticulture and Family and Consumer Sciences entries. This system means the more the exhibitor does and the better an exhibitor does, the more their add on from Kelley Buick GMC will be. Tickets are on sale now and will be until January 20. Tickets will not be sold the week of the youth fair.

starting at 9 am. September 24 the truck will be at the Lake Wales Country Club for the Duck Unlimited Banquet. September 26 it will be on display at the Cattlemen’s Cook-off at Silver Spurs Arena for the Cattlemen’s ranch rodeo finals. October 2 it will be on display at Bartow High School FFA’s BBQ from 11am to 2pm. On the October 16 it will be on display at Kathleen Senior’s Rib Sale from 11 am to 3pm, and at Friday fest in Bartow from 5:30 to 8:30. On October 17 it will be at the 4H Ghoul Shoot in Bartow. On October 24 it will be at Catfish Creek Sporting Clays Tournament. November 5 it will be at the Bartow Ducks Unlimited Event, November 7 Catfish Creek Shoot, November 13 Friday Fest Winter Haven Downtown 6-9pm, and November 20 Friday Fest Bartow Downtown 6-9pm. If you have an upcoming 4H or FFA event and would like the truck on display or if you would like your chapter to sell tickets, contact Patty Currier at Kelley Buick GMC. I asked Derrick why he decided to get involved. He responded, “I cannot think of a better way to invest, than to invest in the future agriculturalists.” Kelley Buick GMC is a dealership full of staff members who really care, their relationship with their customers is very important to them. Kelley Buick GMC also supports the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association and the Hardee County Fair youth exhibitors. Next time you’re in the market to buy a new or used vehicle or need service for your existing vehicle, I challenge you to support a business that supports the youth. You may walk into Kelley Buick GMC or Kelley Preowned as a customer but you will leave feeling blessed to have them as family!

The truck can be seen at Kelley’s location at 255 W. Van Fleet Dr. in Bartow unless it is out on display at an event. The following are dates the truck has been requested to be at an event. September 18 the truck will be at Friday Fest in Bartow from 5:30 to 8:30. September 19 it will be at FishHawk Sporting Clays for the Hunger Shootout 20

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

AgAmerica Lending brings top Florida Whip Crackers to the Sunbelt Ag Expo stage Photo credits: Dustin Prickett

Well-known across the Southeast and nationwide for its land lending expertise, AgAmerica Lending will bring its unique financial perspective and Florida “Whip Cracker” heritage to the Sunbelt Ag Expo stage this October.

Since the 19th century, Florida cowboys have been known for their unique method of herding cattle. Rather than Western-style lassos, their primary tools were cow whips and dogs. The extremely loud pop or cracking sound that the whip makes helped get the cattle moving.

The term “Florida Cracker” is also used informally by some Floridians to indicate that their families have lived in the state for many generations. In the case of AgAmerica’s four performers, both meanings of the phrase apply. “My great uncle and great grandparents were all Florida Crackers. It runs in the family – it’s in my blood,” explained Cameron. The Waldman brothers got an early start with cracking whips, too. “My cousin started teaching me when I was just four years old. Since then, I’ve been hooked,” remarked Ryan.

AgAmerica’s four sponsored performers, all natives of Polk County, Florida, include (from left to right): Josiah Waldman, 12 Cameron Cato, 18 Ryan Waldman, 17 Grayson Waldman, 14

The AgAmerica Lending whip crackers will perform live on the Sunbelt Ag Expo’s Priefert Horse Arena stage:

Tuesday, October 20 at 9:15am and 12:45pm Wednesday, October 21 at 9:15am and 12:45pm Thursday, October 22 at 9:15am and 12:45pm Additionally, they’ll be available for autographs and demos at the AgAmerica Lending exhibit in Block A-9.

“Cattle ranchers are proud owners and stewards of the land in Florida and across the nation. We’re honored to partner with them in making their dreams of land ownership come true, and thrilled to bring a bit of Florida cattlemen heritage to the Sunbelt stage,” AgAmerica’s VP of Marketing, Phoebe Moll explains.

About the Sunbelt Ag Expo: Crowned as North America’s Premier Farm Show and the largest Farm Show in America with field demonstrations, the Sunbelt Ag Expo brings together all segments of rural living from research and education to the live farm harvest and agribusiness. The Sunbelt Ag Expo features 100 acres of exhibit space and a 600-acre research farm. The three day show runs October 20-22nd in Moultrie, Georgia and hosts 1,200 exhibitors and an estimated 90,000 guests from across the U.S.A. About AgAmerica Lending: AgAmerica is the nation’s premier land lender, specializing in loans that use rural, vacant, and agricultural land as collateral. With expertise in cattle, timber, and row crop land, AgAmerica custombuilds term loans and lines of credit to suit a variety of agri-business operations.

AgAmerica is headquartered at 4030 S. Pipkin Road in Lakeland, Florida. For more information about AgAmerica Lending, please visit AgAmerica.com, or call 863-607-9500.

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

21

High Heels Recently I received a sort video of a young girl receiving her high school diploma. The setting was a football field. She waddled over the track in her high heels (must have been her first time in heels) onto the grass to go up on stage. When she hit the grass she fell flat on her face. With a little help she made it on stage only to fall into the arms of the school principal who was handing out the diplomas.

Heels, as many wearers know, present a physical problem. They can harm your feet, spine and your general ability to stay upright. In spite of all the problems they cause, shoe stores still do a booming business.

In Russia a “High Heel-A-Thon” race was held in Red Square. Each participant, to qualify, must have high-heels at least 3.5 inches high.

According to the media this bizarre international event had girls show up in short skirts and sexy cocktail dresses to match their shoes.

This event was a stunning contrast to the American version that took place in New York City.

The US event was hosted by fashion magazine Glamour, and the winner received a $4,000 shopping gift certificate. Some participants spent over two hours preparing for the race to make sure they looked glamorous enough to catch the eyes of the judges. Many used duct tape to tape their shoes to their feet. Some fell 30 seconds into the race.

Don’t know how true this is, but they say the man that invented highheels, Francois Dullard, died recently at the age of 102. According to the record he created the evil torture implements for his wife Julie – she was only two and a half feet tall, and he was tired of always kicking her in the head when they walked through a park in Paris dodging pigeon poop!

The Paris fashion houses soon caught on to the craze and female shoes, which were once comfortable to wear, were converted into lopsided, lethal stilts.

At the beginning, woman had to be trained to wear them and instruction manuals with diagrams were provided in every shoebox. In the first year alone, 6,447 women died in accidents directly attributed to high-heel shoes.

In order to promote his invention he actively started wearing the shoes himself, but the trend for men never took off, mainly due to a number of unfortunate instances of ground troops wearing them during World War One. For you runners that want something different, you might sign up for the “Big Foot’ race in Traverse City, Michigan every March. They 22

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

have a lot of pre-race activity that’s fun filled for everyone. Usually they have about 500 to register, and about 100 rent snowshoes, probably their first time on snowshoes. The learning curve is zero, just strap em’ on and run.

This is serious stuff, as it’s the Midwest qualifier for the yearly National Champion Snowshoe race to compete in the World Snowshoe Championship.

As a kid I always had two pair of shoes. One black leather pair for Sunday, and a pair of tennis shoes. I remember my sisters wouldn’t let me listen to the radio in the living room with them because they said my feet stunk. Even after I took them off, they would make me go back and take off my socks and wash my feet. They aggravated me more than my mother making me wash behind my ears.

They use to tell the story of a three-year old that learned to put his shoes on by himself. His mother noticed that the left shoe was on the right foot, and the right shoe was on the left foot. She said, “Jimmy, your shoes are on the wrong feet.” He looked up at her and said, “No there’re not, Mom. I KNOW they’re my feet.”

I have never seen so many different styles and colors of jogging and running shoes as they have on the market today. I heard the story of a man that went into a sports store in Brandon. He told the clerk he wanted a basic pair of jogging shoes. The shoe clerk brought a couple of pair. He mulled over them and said, “What is this little pocket thing here on the side for?” The clerk replied that’s to put your change in so you can call your wife when you jog to far.

Did you hear about the teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten students put on his boots? He asked for help and she could see why. With her pulling and him pushing, the boots still didn’t want to go on. When the second boot was on, she had worked up a sweat. She almost whimpered when the little boy said, “Teacher, they are on the wrong feet.”

She looked, and sure enough, they were. It wasn’t any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the boots back on the right feet.

Then he said. “These aren’t my boots.” She bit her tongue rather than get right into his face and scream, “Why didn’t you say so?”

He then said, “They’re my brother’s boots. My Mom made me wear them.” She didn’t know if she should laugh or cry. She then mustered up the grace to wrestle the boots onto his feet again.

She said, “Now, where are your mittens?” He said, “I stuffed them in the toes of my boots...

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

23

The

Smith

Family Ranch Growing Strong

By Melissa Nichols

It is rare today that you meet a family that has four generations involved in their family ranch. The days of people finding means to live off their land has become harder and harder to locate. That is unless you know the Smith Family. The Smith’s live on Moore Road on their family beef cattle ranch and have lived there for 35 years. They are the true meaning of perseverance as they have always found a way to make a living off their land even when the economy has changed, when cattle prices dropped and when it seemed everyone around was throwing in the towel and selling off their land to developers. The Smith’s have done the exact opposite, as their family has grown they have become more involved, each and every one of them.

In 2009 the Smith family, Ted and Donna, along with Ted’s late father L.M. and his mom Carlene, and Ted & Donna’s children Colt (Suzanne) and Dakota (Jessica) decided it was time to change the family land focus after utilizing their land for a cow calf operation and a St Augustine Floratam sod production farm for nearly 25 years. The 24

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

economy and the reduced number of new houses being built hurt their ability to make a living straight off their land. So the family sat down and asked themselves what they could do to keep the family ranch going. They researched ideas on how to be able to open their property up and let others who aren’t blessed to be able to live on a ranch see the ranch life first hand. Donna and Ted came up with the idea of having a crop maze and allowing visitors to see agriculture in its entirety. Agritourism is an industry that our area lacks, people often pass by large ranches and farms and dream about what the life of a farmer/rancher really is. Agritourism allows the visitors to “tour” the property and see things they may have never witnessed before, cattle living off the land, crops growing, tractors working, and nature, the whole agricultural life.

The Smith Family established CornFusion Crop Maze & Fall Festival and began growing their first crop in 2010. Over the years they have overcome many obstacles, from a drought to years where they have WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

had standing water from rain, but they have not given up. Instead, the family has continued to grow, expand and offer more of the farm life to more and more visitors. This year’s maze is over eight acres of Egyptian wheat and corn, the theme of the maze is Big Allis and the maze’s five year celebration. They offer the main attraction, the maze, Big Allis, an Allis Chalmers monster tractor ride, “Little Farmer Land” where you will find bounce pillow (oversized bounce houses that are in the ground) and tractor train rides for the youngsters, swing sets, and corn barn (where kids are able to play in the corn filled play area.) They also have Paintball Arcade, which is fun for the big kid in your family, hayrides where you can tour the back of the ranch and see the cattle up close, air cannons, where you can launch water bottles or tennis balls at bales of hay, and this year they are very excited to have a fresh grown pumpkin patch. The Smith’s also open their property up to vendors from around the area to sell products, a chance to ride a pony, photography sessions, face painting, crafts and homemade goodies. This year’s event is open from September 26 to November 1. In the last five years Donna says her favorite part of the event is “seeing families get together, some come out just to buy a pumpkin and never walk through the maze, but it is about being together as a family.”

Good ole fashioned family activities are not a thing of the past, at the Smith’s they are available the whole month of October.

After doing the maze for several years, the family enjoyed seeing people tour their ranch so much that they decided to expand and remodel the existing hay barn and turn it into an event venue.

This facility is now available to be booked for weddings, parties, gatherings, reunions and corporate events. The barn is beautifully decorated and closed on three sides allowing a breathtaking view of the ranch, the cattle, the Longhorn cattle, Watusi cattle (an exotic breed the Smith’s raise) along with their buffalo, Ms. Ruby. While sitting in the barn you are likely to see wildlife visiting one of the nearby bay heads. Wildlife in the flatwoods of North Lakeland often include wild turkey and hogs and whitetail deer. The barn is equipped with large fans to cool you off on a warm summer day along with an array of tables and benches that they furnish for use. They have a horse drawn carriage on the premises that is able to be used for events. The barn is just another way to diversify and utilize the property for agritourism year around.

This year the Smith Family is excited to reach the milestone of five years of having a maze right here in Polk County. They are grateful for the support of their sponsors and visitors. Donna said, “it is thanks to the sponsors who make it possible to open the maze up to charities such as The Children’s Cancer Center in Tampa.” CornFusion crop maze hosts this group along with several others, where everything is free to the children and their parents. The Smith family feels this is just one way they can do their part and make memories.

This coming January the Smith family has taken on hosting “A Taste of Agriculture,” an event that is a fundraiser for the Polk County Youth Fair. A Taste of Agriculture has been hosted by Marty and Angela Higgenbotham for the last several years. This event will be held the second Saturday in January. Tickets are purchased for the dinner, live auction and live entertainment, all proceeds from this event will go the Polk County Youth Fair. Ted said, “We believe in supporting WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

the youth involved in agriculture, so when asked we did not hesitate to open our ranch up to help such a worthy cause.” Donna is also involved in the Polk County Cattlewomen’s Association where she has been actively involved in the Ranch Rodeo, the Cattlemen’s Fundraiser suppers as well as Agrifest, an event held at the Polk County Youth Fair building, where 4th graders from around the county are educated on the agriculture industry. During Agrifest, Donna loves helping and teaching these youth that their groceries don’t really come from the grocery store, and her passion is educating them about BEEF. In true tradition of the Smith Family, Ted and Donna’s son Colt has teamed up with his good friend Guy Callahan and Teneroc Ag Teacher Amy Glenn. They have founded a non-profit organization, Seed Starters for Young Harvesters Florida, to help educate the youth about agriculture year around. Seed starters will be at CornFusion to help answer questions the youth may have, as well as hands on activities to help educate. Just ask around and you will find Guy, Colt or Amy there.

My personal favorite part of the Smith family ranch would have to be the warm welcome feeling you get when you are there. Ted and Donna, along with their entire family, have a way to make you feel so welcomed at their ranch. My other favorite part is seeing the family work together. The entire family works year round to keep up the ranch. The Smith’s continue to raise 250 head of cattle for their cow-calf operation, they also continue to sell sod. Each year the family finds more ways to diversify the ranch to offer more of their lifestyle to the community and visitors alike. Ted says at the Smith Family Ranch, “Agriculture comes first and everything else comes second.” This is a motto Ted likely got from his late father L.M. Smith who is known to have been influential in Polk County’s dairy production industry for many years. Ted and his brothers grew up working for the family dairy. He recalls helping before and after school, a value he passed on to his own sons. Colt and Dakota are very proud to work on the family ranch, they also look forward to the day they can pass the values down to the next generation of Smith children, their own.

This fall as the weather cools down and you are trying to figure out what to do with your family, I encourage you to pay the Smith’s a visit. You can follow them on Facebook by liking the CornFusion page and the Smith Family Ranch LLC page. The family will host the public from 3-6 pm on Fridays, 9-6 on Saturdays and 12-6 on Sundays. On October 17 they will host “Rock the ranch III” where a Christian band will be performing. Zombie paintball will run Fridays and Saturdays starting at 7pm. October 24 will be the first annual charity cornhole tournament to benefit Seed Starters for Young Harvesters and a concert by upcoming Nashville recording artist Renea Roberts. The 31st is the family fun event, the haunted maze. Check the website at www.cornfusion.com or the Facebook page for updates and weather conditions at the maze. At CornFusion there is literally something for everyone in your family. Come out and enjoy a little piece of their lives as they share it with the visitors, enjoy some goodies from the Branding Iron Grill. Come and see the family work together all while making memories with your family, because after all memories is what life is all about.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

25

Gator is one of those meats that either you love it or are afraid to try. To those of you who love gator meat, there is no convincing involved because you are willing and ready to bite into these delectable corn dogs. To those of you who are on the fence, take the step and make my gator corn dog the best first bite of gator you will ever try. The blend of the pork with the gator provides your palate familiarity in the flavor of the sausage. Secondly, who doesn’t love a corn dog? It is comforting and brings back nostalgic memories of your childhood and ball games.

Now that I have your mouth watering, let me tell you how easy it is to make corn dogs. I have to admit that I thought it was more complicated than it is. For easy preparation, make the gator sausage links a day ahead. If you can make pancake batter then you can make the corn dog batter. It is 26

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

as simple as cornmeal combined with the pancake mixture. After a quick dip of the sausage link in the batter and then into the fryer, the corn dog is ready to eat. It has everything you want in a corn dog from its crispy exterior and moist, slightly sweet interior of the coating to the savory, succulent sausage.

So, its game day and your thinking what should I make for tailgating. Look no further than these gator corn dogs. Your tailgating guests will definitely be impressed with the food but don’t forget presentation as well. To serve, fill a deep bowl or cute bucket with grits or corn and then stick your corn dogs inside. Serve the sauces in individual bowls or mini mason jars for easy dipping. Now the rest of the décor is up to you but for my family, its orange and blue.

September 2015

Find other great tailgating recipes in the cookbook Whitney Miller’s New Southern Table, to be released in October. Whitney Miller, winner at twenty-two of MasterChef, has been featured across the globe in Southern cuisine cooking promotions and as a judge in food competitions including the 2013 World Food Championship. Her recipes and articles have appeared in People, Women’s Health, MasterChef, Clean Eating, and Cooking Light magazines, and her cooking demonstrations have been featured in the MasterChef app. She lives in Plant City, Florida.

“Whitney’s God-given ability to cook can only be matched by her incredible desire to serve others. For 5 years, Whitney has faithfully dedicated her time and talent in support of my foundation and the children we serve around the world. It has been a blessing to see the joy she brings through the gifts she has been given, and now we can all enjoy the recipes that I have seen bless everyone from firefighters to W15H children!”

-Tim Tebow WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Gator Corn Dogs 2 pounds ground gator/pork sausage 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup yellow cornmeal 3 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 1/2 cups whole buttermilk 1 large egg Canola oil for frying Honey Mustard (recipe included) Remoulade (recipe included)

Creating one sausage link at a time, layer two medium-size pieces of plastic wrap on the kitchen counter. Measure 1/3-cup of the sausage and form into a 4 1/2-inch log, by rolling in your hands. Place the sausage in the middle of the two layers of plastic wrap and tightly roll the sausage link in the plastic. Twist the ends tightly and tie a tight knot with the plastic at each end. Set aside and repeat with the plastic wrap and additional sausage to make 12 sausage links altogether.

Bring a large saucepan full of water to a boil. Place the sausages in the boiling water and cook for 4 1/2 minutes. Transfer the sausage links to a baking sheet with tongs. Allow cooling at room temperature for 10 minutes and then cut the plastic knot off each end of the sausage links and remove the plastic.

dogs around while cooking for even browning. Cook until browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack to drain for a couple minutes. Repeat the process with the additional sausage links.

Serve the gator corn dogs with the honey mustard and remoulade dipping sauces.

Makes 12

Honey Mustard

1/2 cup coarse ground Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons honey 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard

Preheat a charcoal grill to 300 degrees F. Grill the sausage links over indirect heat for 8 minutes on each side.

Allow cooling for 10 minutes and then store in a zip-top bag and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Combine the Dijon mustard, honey, and yellow mustard in a small bowl. Stir until smooth.

To prepare the batter, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

Melt the butter in a small bowl.

Add the melted butter and buttermilk to the dry ingredients. Whisk to combine. Add the egg and whisk until smooth.

1/2 cup mayonnaise 3 teaspoons ketchup 2 teaspoons ground horseradish* 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper Pinch cracked black pepper Salt

Pour the oil in a large heavy pot and heat to between 365 and 375 degrees F. Insert a bamboo skewer into each sausage link two-thirds of the way through.

Working with half of the sausage links at a time, dip each sausage link into the batter and allow excess to drip off for a second. Immediately drop into the oil. Using tongs, pinch the skewer to flip the corn WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Remoulade

Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, mustard, lemon juice, cayenne pepper and black pepper in a small bowl. Stir until smooth. Season with salt to taste. *Find the ground horseradish in a jar in the refrigerator section of the grocery store.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

27

Grove Equipment Service, Inc. 908 E. Baker Street• Plant City You can own one of these machines for as low last $189.00 per month (with approved credit)

Financing Available

28

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

29

Save the Sawfish!

Another Endangered Species

By Ginny Mink Ichthyology, it’s just a cool word, but do you know what it means?

It’s fish science, or a branch of biology devoted to the study of fish.

What’s that got to do with our endangered species series? Simple, we’re going to introduce you to a mad cool species of fish that is endangered. Meet the smalltooth sawfish, or Pristis pectinata.

This incredibly unique looking fish was first described in the late 1700s, by Latham (1794). Pristis is the Greek word for saw and these fish are described as having, elongated, blade-like snouts that are studded with a bunch `o’ teeth on both sides. The smalltooth gets is difference in appearance because its teeth are smaller than the other fish in the same genus. There are a number of names utilized to describe this fish. They include: sawfish, comb shark, and wide sawfish.

Historically these interesting fish had a wide range of habitat spanning from Brazil all the way to New York. They like the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, but they also like the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. It is believed that they may have inhabited the Mediterranean Sea at some point and have even been found on the southwestern coast of Africa. However, it is possible that the green sawfish and the dwarf sawfish were misidentified in those locations, which would then imply that the smalltooth sawfish is really only found in the Atlantic Ocean. This is seemingly up in the air according to our research.

The sawfish can tolerate both fresh and salt water, so it is possible that one might encounter one in a river or offshore island location.

Typically though they appear to prefer lagoons, bays and other coastal habitats. This fish is very distinctive in appearance as verified by the pictures provided to us through Gregg Poulakis of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and one from George Burgess (taken off the coast of Georgia). Gregg is a member of the Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Implementation Team along with some other very dedicated individuals. In fact, we spoke with George Burgess (another team member) from the Florida Museum of Natural History, and he provided us with some additional information.

30

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

Here’s what Mr. Burgess shared with us, “The process of dealing with this endangered species is at the hands of the National Marine Fisheries Service. This is a critter that is considered a marine critter, although a point of fact is that it actually moves into freshwater as well. The smalltooth sawfish, and its close relative the largetooth sawfish, were on the original petition to list sawfish as endangered but because the data was so lacking on the largetooth sawfish in the original petition, the National Marine Fisheries Service felt they could only list the smalltooth with some degree of accuracy. Then of course the largetooth would be covered through a clause in the Endangered Species Act, which allows you to provide coverage for lookalike species. For the average woman or man out there, telling these species apart is not an easy task so the largetooth got some coverage until it was listed later on. That said, the largetooth has not been seen in US waters for decades and for all intents and purposes it is extinct in US waters.”

He returned then to describing the listing process, “You have to prove that their populations are going down. We looked at all available data on the things through museum collections or the occasional written word in the scientific coverage of geographic areas where sawfish were included. And probably more importantly through the popular press where captures of these things were often recorded in newspapers as curios, large curios, because these things got up to over 20 feet in length. We did a lot of data mining through old newspapers along with getting all the museum records and anything in scientific literature. We put it all together and were able to show the shrinkage of the range over the past 300 years. We started out in the 1700s.

At one point, back in the Revolutionary War days, they were seen around Brownsville, Texas all the way down to Brazil, but were now shrunk in the United States to basically the southern tip of Florida.

We were able to make the case of a perfect example of an animal in great distress even though we didn’t have actual numbers. We were able to prove that the animal was in decline, grossly. So it got listed.”

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

He then went on to explain the protection process. He told us, “Both of these animals are now protected, which means they cannot be taken in any way. ‘Taken’ is the official scientific jargon for capturing an animal. In theory, you are not allowed to capture this animal at all, but realistically that is not the case because an animal will take a hook and bait or will occasionally get caught in a net. The latter, getting caught in a net, is something National Marine Fisheries Service takes very seriously. In the case of sport fishing, it is a little bit of a difficult task because these things are going to take a hook. In South Florida, where sport fishing is king, and sawfish prefer shallow waters, the two are going to mix. Sawfish are captured and released by sport fishers on a regular basis but clearly the concern for all of us is that they be handled appropriately such that they aren’t injured and have a chance to make it and go back in the water. No death is allowed, period!”

He admits that what they know about the smalltooth sawfish is limited. He told us, “I was fortunate enough to be on the listing team and am now on the recovery team. The next step is what are we going to do to get them to come back and how long is it going to take? Our understanding of the biology has been particularly low because they always were rare animals and scientist never really got to study them very much in part because they have no constituency. They were not a food fish, or a sport fish. There was no cause to put money into sawfish research because they weren’t going on a plate or on the end of a line. When we got to the stage where we did, which is when the populations had dwindled to very low numbers, we had very little information to go to.”

So what’s taking these cool fish out? He said, “The losses were built from two major factors: the fishing mortality, with the saws they’re easily hung up on nets and these are animals that live in very shallow waters, exactly where humans fish and recreate and build docks and channels. The fishing pressure took its toll and then secondarily, modifications in the environment which have grown as populations use near shore waters as our own. We are putting in seawalls, and channels and getting rid of sea grass beds and most importantly mangrove habitat, which is an absolute requirement for the early stages of their lives. They have to have mangroves but we’re removing the mangroves.”

Sadly, he shared, “Based on our calculations as a group, the recovery time for the smalltooth sawfish, assuming zero mortalities, no death by humans in any fashion, will be a hundred years. It’s an indication of how fragile our shallow waters can be and how we have impacted WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

the health of the ecosystem. In this case we’ve affected the largest single fish in Florida waters. There is not another species that gets as big as this species, over 20 feet long, that lived in Florida! The same thing is occurring worldwide. There are five species of sawfish worldwide, we have two of them here in the Western Atlantic and three elsewhere in the world and all five species are endangered on an international basis for the same exact reasons.”

How can we help? Mr. Burgess explained, “It’s not so much planting mangroves as it is preserving mangroves that’s the great challenge for us here in Florida. Obviously mangroves grow well in South Florida.

Their northward distribution is limited by the cold water. Right now they’re in such bad shape that management is pretty easy, you can’t catch any and you can’t kill any, that’s the bottom line, period. It’s going to take time for them all to recover. Once we see these animals start to migrate out of Florida into areas that they did in the historic past, then we can start thinking about upgrading their status and determining that recovery is making progress in the way that we want it.”

Preserve habitat sure, but more importantly Mr. Burgess shared, “The biggest thing you can do for us is report your encounter with a sawfish if you see one, or you catch one, we want to know about it. They’re so rare that we want to milk as much data as we can out of even just a sighting. The International Sawfish Encounter Database, which we oversee, records every sawfish that is seen anywhere in the world including here in Florida. We have a questionnaire online.

We are interested in where, when and how, the size, what habitat they were in and so forth. Each sighting is valuable, so if people see them or catch one they need to know that they’re endangered, you’ve got to keep it in the water, don’t take it out, no pictures out of the water.

We need a report about it here at the University of Florida so we can record that for scientific use, which includes an indication of abundance. This will help tell us if our recovery efforts are working, will tell us the critical habitat for the animal and will help us identify nursery areas, know when reproduction occurs, movement patterns, etc.”

If you happen upon a sawfish you should submit your information to: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/sawfish/form.html http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/sawfish/sawfishencounters. html Or email: sawfish@flmnh.ufl.edu For more information visit: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/ descript/stsawfish/stsawfish.html INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

31

FLruneche

starts at 11:30 s last)

(while supplie

Grand Prize Dr awing for a Br ute Cooler 50 qt. Or a Pair of Corral Boot s. Drawing held at 5:00pm . do not have t o be present to win any prizes.

Door Prizes and Drawings throughout the day

813-752-2379

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

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

32 32

NTTHE HEF FIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE IIN

eptember 2015 2015 SSeptember

WWW. THE FIELD AGAZINE.COM WWW. ININ THE FIELD MM AGAZINE.COM

llets a W s n e m o W & Purses

20% off s t l e B s n e Wom 20% OFF S E S S E R D l l a 20% off Y R L E W E J all 20% off

WWW.IIN NTTHE HEF FIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.

Select JEANS 20% off SELECT Boots up to 75% off

o r t e R s ’ n Me F F O % 0 2 s Jean Men’s t a i r A & h Cinc F F O % 0 3 s t r Shi Select Clothin $5.00 $10.00 $15.00

NTTHE HEF FIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE IIN

eptember 2015 2015 SS eptember

33 33

Market Watch: Say Cheese There is an old saying that says “Sometimes all you need is an old friend, a good chat and a luxurious block of cheese to make everything better.” Well, if you and your old friend are looking for a place to find that luxurious block of cheese for you good conversation, I’ve found it for you. It’s at the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market and the booth is called Say Cheese. Cute name, don’t you think? I think so! Rebecca Smith-Fortier owns it and she is a Lakeland resident originally from the culinary hub of New Orleans. “I grew up in New Orleans and that’s where I got my love and passion for food and drink, from the lowly Po-Boy to the elegant Café Brulot,” Smith-Fortier said.

Smith-Fortier moved from New Orleans to Chicago, where she lived for eight years trying new styles of food. “German, Polish, Greek, Mexican and Italian; plus all the fusion trends,” Smith-Fortier said.

“I have lived in Lakeland since 1999 and have seen it grow into a sweet metropolis.” Smith-Fortier wanted to find a way to share her food experiences with her know home. She wanted to offer the Lakeland community some delicious and exotic specialty cheeses, so its residents wouldn’t have to drive to Whole Foods in Tampa for some tasty cheese. “I have worked in the food and beverage industry since my college days at Loyola University in New Orleans,” said SmithFortier. “My culinary experiences have all been real-life experiences through jobs.” She works with local wholesalers across the United States, as well as international ones to bring the best tasting cheeses to the community. “We are also working to procure cheese from Winter Park Dairy outside of Orlando,” Smith-Fortier said.

Cheese is a staple food of our diet. It has been produced throughout the world and it is an ancient food with origins that predate recorded history. It is also good for our bodies as well. According to The Dairy Council of California’s website (www.healthyeating.org) “Cheese 34

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

By Libby Hopkins

contains a host of nutrients like calcium, protein, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin B12. Calcium is one of the nutrients most likely to be lacking in the American diet. According to government statistics, nine out of 10 women and six out of 10 men fall short of calcium recommendations. The high-quality protein in cheese provides the body with essential building blocks for strong muscles.”

Smith-Fortier strives to offer a variety of cheeses at the market and on her website. She offers standard cheeses like Baby Swiss to the more high-end cheeses like Ripened Brie or Gayo Azul Edam. She also offers a variety of cheese plates and other treats. “I’ve always loved farmers markets and have shopped at our Downtown Farmers Curb Market for years, so it was a natural fit to sell at the market,” Smith-Fortier said. “It keeps the overhead low and promotes the type of community that strengthens small business.” She also believes the customers who shop at the market are some of the greatest people.

“They’re invested in community, neighborhood, entrepreneurship, and there’s a real connection that’s made in the market environment,” Smith-Fortier said.

Keeping things local is also very important to Smith-Fortier. “Local is the new black. It’s extremely important that everyone shops local, or at least tries,” Smith-Fortier said. “When buying local, you are directly giving back to the community and making that real-life connection. When I buy local, it seems to taste better because of that connection.” If you would like to learn more about the different cheeses Say Cheese has to offer or what cheeses they will have available at the market, you can visit their website at www.saycheeselakeland.com or call 863-221-2678. All customers who purchase cheese at the market are given a freezer pack to take with their cheese to keep it cool until it can be refrigerated. For more information about the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market, you can visit their website at www. downtownfarmerscurbmarket.org. The market is open every Saturday during the months of September through July from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. The market is located in the 200 block of N. Kentucky Ave and in the 200 block of E. Bay St. in Downtown Lakeland, Fla. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Eat More Produce Farmers Markets can help you find the freshest, in season produce that is at its peak in flavor and nutrition. A great place to find just that is Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. That’s right! The hospital!

“The farmers market here has been going on for about 18 months now,” said Gerald Quick, Director of Dining and Nutrition Services at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. “It initially began to help promote our “Better 4U” program, a healthy initiative to improve the health of our internal guests and give that same opportunity to a lot of folks here within the community.” Internal guests are the team members who work at Lakeland Regional.

According to the brochure, “The Better 4U program is designed to create a culture of healthy eating, where our employees and customers can effectively manage and improve their personal health by making informed decisions about their food choices.” This is especially important in Polk County. “As you may be aware,” said Quick, “Polk County has the seventh highest BMI in the country. So we, as a culinary nutrition department, feel an obligation to help improve those numbers.”

The Better 4U program also includes signs in the café listing the nutritional value of all of the meals. “We’ve accompanied that,” added Quick, “with what we call our ‘Red Light,’ which shows the level of processing that our foods go through.” Green means it is much closer to the earth, yellow has minimal processing and red is highly processed food and should only be consumed minimally.

The initiative seems to be working. “We’ve been very proud that we’ve made a tremendous impact. Over the course of when we initiated the Better 4U program, until the end of July, at least 63 percent of our products that are purchased meet the healthy criteria,” said Quick. “And we are going to continue to move forward as we introduce new and fresh, trendier items to our menus, to provide a great meal and also something that is going to meet the Better 4U initiative.

The farmers market is open to everyone, not just employees of the hospital. “We use our vendors that provide produce for the hospital, so that produce comes from local, regional and throughout the country,” said Quick. “We want to make sure we have a nice diversity of items to encourage folks to come in.”

Of course it is seasonal and the available produce will change depending on what is growing during that time of the year. They also buy produce from local growers and all they ask is that the growers stand behind their product. During blueberry season a local grower provided blueberries for the market. “There were well over 500 pints WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

of blueberries sold within about five hours,” said Quick. Obviously ordering produce is a best guess scenario. But they track what sells best to keep up with the demand.

If you are looking for another reason to visit this farmer’s market, as if a great selection of fresh produce in a climate controlled atmosphere isn’t enough, everything sold is sold at cost. “We are not here to generate a profit,” said Quick. “Our mission with the farmer’s market is to encourage our guests to incorporate more fresh produce in their daily diets.” There is also a section to of produce where you can fill a provided bag with selected items and pay only $1.

Another great aspect of this market is that there is always a demonstration of some type, freshly made with the available produce.

About half the time it is a cooking demonstration and may be something very simple dealing with how to sauté mushrooms. “This is an encouragement for our guests to come in and sample something they may have been reluctant to try,” said Quick. “It’s one of the dieticians who mans the stand,” added Registered Dietician Claudia Morgan.

“If they have any questions as to how it fits into their diet or if they’ve got any nutrition related questions as to what fits with their personal diagnosis, we can help them.”

“The ratatouille that we do just disappears,” said Morgan. “It is a blend of vegetables and comes bagged up with everything you need including a recipe card.”

There is always a culinary presence at the market and they are available to offer suggestions on preparing the produce and answer questions like, why is one mushroom different than another and what onions are sweeter.

If you are interested in attending the Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center’s Farmer’s Market, the dates for the next three months are: October 9 November 20 December 18 You can always check their Facebook page www.facebook.com/ LakelandRegional for upcoming dates or call the main number at 863-687-1100. It is held in the B Lobby at the Parkview Café. Also in the Café you will find a variety of brochures relating to health and nutrition.

So join the more than 5500 employees of Lakeland Regional Health in shopping for fresh, delicious produce. Your health will thank you.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

35

36

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Cattle • Truck Farming • Citrus • Game Hunting

1401 Sam Keen Road Lake, Wales, FL 33853 863.692.1013 We Support Agriculture.

Featuring Tractors from 23HP to 97HP Shuttle Shift Transmissions, Hydrostatic Transmissions. 4WD, loader, air conditioned cabs, open platform all with 5 year warranty.

Come by and check out our inventory of Tractors and Implements, Sales, Parts and Service. Low rate financing.

MST Sod Equipment • www.mstsodequipment.com

8110 US 98 NORTH • Lakeland • 863-853-4247 H H H Call for THIS MoNTH’S SPECIalS H H H

NEw LS G3033

NEw LS G3038H

4X4 TRACTOR

$21,995

Low rate financing available WAC

• 33 HP, 3 Cylinder Diesel • Shuttle Shift Transmission • LL3102 Quicktach Front End Loader w/ Quicktach Skidsteer Style Hookups w/5 ft.

Modern Galvanized Brush Cutter • Safety Chains & Heavy Duty Clutch • 18 ft. 5 Ton Tandem Axle Trailer with Brakes

WWW.IIN NT THE HEF FIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.

4X4 TRACTOR

Call Jason for a Demo!

$23,995

• 38 HP, 3 Cylinder Diesel • LL3104 Front End Loader with Skidsteer Style Hookups • 66 inch Disc & 18 ft. 5 Ton Tandem Axle Trailer with Brakes

Low rate financing available WAC HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE IINNTTHE

September 2015 2015 September

37 37

38

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Florida

Boniato

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

Not a potato and not a sweet potato, the unique Florida boniato is like a mix of both tubers. Boniato, a tropical sweet potato, is also called Cuban potato, camote, or batas. With an irregular shape like a sweet potato, the skin of a boniato can be purple, pink or red and the flesh inside is white or cream-colored. Boniato is drier, fluffier, and less sweet than sweet potatoes, making it taste like a cross between regular spuds and sweet potatoes. Once peeled, cover with water or the flesh will rapidly become discolored. With its mild flavor, boniato complements a variety of dishes, including meat or cheese dishes.

Boniatos can be used in place of regular potatoes.

proper heart and kidney function. Potassium also regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.

Originating in Colombia and Peru, boniato in the United States is cultivated most widely in Florida, thanks to its tropical climate. Now an important commercial crop in Florida, the estimated value of boniatos in Dade County was estimated to be 10 million dollars in the 1980s, with over 5000 acres devoted to growing boniato. Though mostly available year-round, peak season for this tuber is late summer and fall. The two main commercial varieties in Florida are Picadita, with purple-red skin, and Campeon with lighter red skin.

Choose boniatos that are hard, and feel heavy for their size. Avoid any with soft spots, bruises, wrinkles, or feel light. The skin may be pink, purple, cream, or red and these are normal variants. Store boniatos at room temperature for up to a few days. Boniato is sensitive to cold and should not be stored below 55°F, such as in the refrigerator.

NUTRITIONAL PROFILE

The boniato, much like its relative the sweet potato, is full of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins A and C. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one 3.5 ounce serving (100 g) contains 86 calories, 1.6 g of protein, 0.1 g of fat, 20 g of carbohydrate, and 3 g of fiber. It also provides 89% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for Vitamin A, 25% for Vitamin C, 16% for vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid, 12% for manganese, and 7% for phosphorus, potassium, and thiamin. Boniato also contains notable amounts of riboflavin, niacin, folate, zinc, and calcium.

DISEASE-FIGHTING ANTIOXIDANTS

One serving of boniato meets almost your total daily vitamin A requirement, as well as a quarter of your daily vitamin C requirement.

Both of these vitamins are important antioxidants which protect the body from free radical damage. Free radicals damage cell membranes and are associated with conditions such as some cancers, heart disease, and atherosclerosis. Getting plenty of vitamins A and C may help ward off these diseases. These nutrients also fight inflammation and may reduce the severity of inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and asthma. Some researchers have also linked a high vitamin A intake with lower levels of lung inflammation. Most of the benefits derived from vitamins A and C come from eating the vegetable itself, rather than taking a pill.

HEART-HEALTHY NUTRIENTS

Boniatos are full of nutrients that work together to promote a healthy heart. This tropical tuber is high in potassium, which is essential for WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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

HOW TO SELECT AND STORE

HOW TO ENJOY

Boniato can be used in the same way as potatoes or sweet potatoes.

They can be enjoyed steamed, boiled, baked, fried, roasted, mashed, or broiled, and their cooked taste is something like a slightly sweet potato. Wash under running water immediately before use. Keep the peel (and eat it) because that’s where many of the nutrients, fiber, and flavor are concentrated. Once peeled, submerge in water immediately to prevent discoloration. Here are some ways to enjoy this nutritious root vegetable: • Steam cubed boniato with broccoli for a simple side dish or a colorful addition to a salad.

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

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

• Chop and toss into a soup or stew.

• Bake whole boniato and pack in a lunch box or picnic basket for a portable lunch.

• Prick the skin with a fork and microwave for 3-4 minutes until soft.

• Boil and mash for a more nutritious version of classic mashed potatoes.

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

Enjoy Florida boniato today in its peak season today. Delicious and highly nutritious, the boniato is a unique treat to savor in all kinds of dishes and desserts.

SELECTED REFERENCES

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/he610 http://www.whfoods.com http://www.usda.gov INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

39

40

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Working In Harmony With Nature And Science

For The Future Of Agriculture Pathway’s PGPRs (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria) improves nutrient use efficiency, supporting plant health by encouraging positive plant immune responses.

The Pathway approach helps farmers achieve a level of sustainability that benefits their bottom line, and their way of life. ™

Microbial solutions to maximize ROI of conventional crop production products!

Manage™ Manage™ PowerBlend™

PowerCoat™

www.PathwayBioLogic.com // +1 813-719-7284 111 E. Tever Street, Plant City, FL 33563

We want to become your technology partner today.

813-767-4703 301 South Collins Street, Suite 101, Plant City, Florida 33563

•

P o rtrait Ph o tograp h er Spe c ializ ing in H igh Sc hool Se niors

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

•

September 2015

41

Change has Sprouted:

Starts an Ag Program

By Ginny Mink

We had the opportunity to speak with Brandi Fountain, a part time teacher at Winter Haven Christian. She contacted our office about getting multiple copies of our magazine. So we wondered what she was up to. She informed us, “We are starting an agriculture program this year, an agriculture academy, and I want to get the students informed about as much agriculture as I can and so I thought your magazine was a great way to start. My students are totally green in the aspect that they don’t know a lot about agriculture.” In the Field definitely knows a lot about Ag, so we are honored to assist her.

Of course we were interested in her background, so she told us, “I have taught agriculture for seven years and I have little ones and have come home for five years. I’m just now getting back into teaching, but I grew up with it. My family is known for the Thomas Fish Company in Eagle Lake. It’s wholesale and retail fish for consumers to eat. I also took agriculture all through high school and I graduated from the University of Florida with an Agriculture Education degree in 2003. I taught at George Jenkins my first year, and then I transferred to Lake Region where I taught six years. I just had a lot of fun times with students learning about different types of agriculture and what FFA has to offer.”

Apparently she’s got the chops for the job, so we asked about her plans for this new endeavor. She shared, “This is the first year that they are having a high school graduating class. They just moved to k-12. So this will be the first year they have graduating seniors so they’ve added five academies to their curriculum and agriculture is one of them.” How did she find out about this new plot? She answered, “My two kids are five and seven and they attend Winter Haven Christian, so over the summer I found out that they were looking for an agriculture teacher and the rest is history.”

Brandi seemed quite enthusiastic about this new avenue and thusly we asked her what her goals were. She told us, “This year I’m hoping to accomplish getting the kids informed about the basic information as far as agriculture and what FFA has to offer. We want to have a small chicken coop; we want to have rabbits, a garden and then each year just build upon it a little bit. We want to grow each year from that. Right now, honestly, it’s just in the very early stages and so me and the students, throughout the school year, plan on building the rabbit pens and the chicken coop and all of that kind of stuff. We do have a little bit of property that we plan to eventually have a barn, not a huge barn, but just a small animal livestock barn. That’s in the future as well.”

Numbers are always important so we were curious how the program was starting off. Brandi revealed, “Right now I have thirteen students enrolled in the agriculture class. The whole school itself has about 42

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

380 students. We’re hoping to grow each year. The school itself is hoping to start with construction on building a whole high school building. We are eventually going to have middle school Ag as well.

This year we just wanted to start with the high schoolers and kinda see how it goes from there. The school itself also has a 4H program for elementary.”

Having been a public school teacher, we questioned her switch to Christian school. She said, “My kids are involved in it. I like the atmosphere of the Christian school. I like the numbers, as far as my personal children being in a classroom with not as many students as they would be in the public system. So that’s what geared us to looking into Winter Haven Christian and then once we were in it, I just absolutely fell in love with how the school is set up, the curriculum.

That’s how it all started.” Then she admitted, “Until my kids started going to one, I hadn’t looked a whole lot into Christian schools. Now I really notice that they all are producing students that are qualified and intelligent.”

In our opinion, this next statement was supremely profound and worthy of great amounts of thought. Please note the fact that she is a parent and an educator. She disclosed her personal summation on the topic, “I feel that public school is trying to please too many people and they’ve lost their way when it comes to education.” In truth, we’re not sure we could have said that any better. This is in no way meant to bash public school educators, we fully understand their frustration with the current design of academia. Our hearts go out to all people who endeavor to make the world a better place through education in any arena.

In closing, we asked Brandi if there was anything we could do to assist her in this new undertaking. She told us, “We are definitely looking for anyone who is willing to help with supplies. We are looking for anyone who will help to fund any of the projects that we hope to get accomplished for the year. Sponsors for student projects, anything that a business or an individual is looking to help support, we are definitely looking for any help we can get.” That said, if you can offer them any assistance, including opening your fields, farms and ranches to her students, please get in touch with her at Winter Haven Christian School. You can reach her through their website: http:// whcsonline.org/contact-us/ or via phone: (863) 294-4135.

Her final comment was a mom one and we just couldn’t leave it out of the article. She opened up to us by stating, “My main goal for my children was to get them a strong foundation for school and I believe WHCS will give them that. We are not getting a do over with parenting so I am trying to get it right the first time.” Aren’t we all?

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

We Help Your Business

GROW.

“Farm Credit is easy to work with and meets our needs.”

— Shad and Billy Simmons

Web Design Graphic Design Lead Generation Online Marketing Content Development Branding exocreative.com 929.500.1396 301 S. Collins Street, Plant City

Shad and Billy Simmons grow strawberries on land Billy’s grandfather bought in 1920 — both are past presidents of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association.

Loans made for farmers by farmers, since 1916.

Farm Credit is the nation’s leading provider of credit to agriculture and rural America.

813.719.7341 FarmCreditCFL.com

Loans for land, homes & country living

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

43

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

All Of Ser ving orida Fl Central

• • • •

New Installations Septic Pumping Drain Field Repairs Lift Stations

863-668-7264 44

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Septic

Lic#SR0890218

FREE ESTIMATES

Re s i d e n tia Commer l & cial

• • • •

Grease Traps Fill Dirt Culvert Pipes Septic Inspections

“Your Septic Specialists”

www.southeasternseptic.com

September 2015

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

45

Classifieds

Tel: 813.759.6909 Info@inthefieldmagazine.com

ANIMALS & NEEDS ANIMAL & BIRDCAGES

Equipment serving the fur bearing animal & exotic bird industry! Cages built to order. Wire by roll or foot. (813) 752-2230. Call Don Ammerman. www.ammermans.com July 19, 2015, Nov. 29, 2015

CHICKEN MANURE FOR SALE

Dry and available immediately! Call Tim Ford or Danny Thibodeau (863) 439-3232

7X15 LAWN TRAILER Used Lawn Trailer with aluminum plate tool IN THE FIELD MAGAZINE is lookbox. 5ft tongue & heavy duty gate. $1,650 Call ing for independent account managers to join our team. Appointment setting Alvie 813-759-8722

YANMAR F205 TRACTOR Tractor with loader. $5,550 Call Alvie 813-759-8722

FORD 600 GAS TRACTOR Good Condition. $2,750 813-759-8722 Ask for Alvie

2002 EXISS

3H Slant w/Mid Tack and full living quarters, $19,000. Email brie1936@gmail.com for more information.

BUILDING SUPPLIES METAL ROOFING

& presenting marketing plans to prospective clients. Develop & Maintain relationships with clients. Ensure proper/effective input from client for advertising campaign & evaluation. Extreme focus on client service: client retention & growth. Multi-Tasked. email us: info@inthefieldmagazine.com

LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR

Thousands of 8ft. & 10ft. sheets. In Stock.

Prices from $6 and up. Custom lengths available. 813-752-7088 ask for Ferris.

Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722

ALUMINUM

RUBBER MULCH

We have all your aluminum needs!

Screen Room, carports & awnings.

Call Blake (813) 752-3378

All Colors, buy 10 bags, get 1 FREE! $8.99 a bag. Call Ted (813) 752-3378

WINDOW SCREENS

We make window screens of all sizes available in different frame colors.

Call Ted(813) 752-3378

CABINETS

All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities.

Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size.

Call Blake 813-752-3378

SIDING

HUSTLER RAPTOR

42” cut, 21 hp Kohler engine.

3 year warranty. $2,799 Call Alvie (813) 759-8722

FOR RENT

Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mullcher.

For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.

Ext. Siding 4’X7’ sheets stucco texture & 12” on center. $18.95 Call Blake 813-752-3378

MOBILE HOME TUBS

Metal brand new in bo 54” Mobile Home Tubs Call Ted (813) 752-3378 $185.00

CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE. We are a Simonton/Amcraft dealer. Our windows are energy star, lifetime warranty & accidental glass replacement at no extra charge.

Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378

FARM EQUIPMENT MASSEY FERGUSON 135

Diesel Tractor, good condition. $3,950 Call Alvie 813-759-8722

KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES

28hp, HST, w/loader 5’mower, 5’ box blade, 6’ scraper blade, 150 hours. $13,500 813-759-8722

FRESH PRODUCE

Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17.

Come out and see us!

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

Zoning: AR (Agricultural-Rural) Call Heidi Cecil for more information (863) 899-9620

SERVICES CALLER ON HOLD

A low cost service that enables you to Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the communicate important information about BIG Box STORES! Call Today! your business to customers while they are Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 on hold. No monthly payments or annual DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER payments. Call today and ask for Al (813) 763-2220 No upcharge. House & Mobile Home.

Many standard sizes in stock.

Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 MISC.

JOBS

2010 MASSEY FERGUSON 1528

HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL?

FOR SALE

PRODUCE

WALK IN COOLER

12 ‘ X 20’ walk in cooler.

Works Great! $6,000 is looking for agriculture/tractor mechanics Call Greg 813-763-1340 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

GROVE EQUIPMENT SERVICE

Call us today! 813-759-6909 or email us: info@inthefieldmagazine.com Let us help you get rid of it!

www.brokepoor.com 46

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

47

WE WANT TO BE YOUR PARTNER FOR THE LONG HAUL- ASK ABOUT THE BEST LEASE PROGRAM IN THE BUSINESS.

Package a fleet of tractors, gators, commercial mowers and other equipment together with a 2 or 3 year lease and always have new, worry free equipment with service available from Everglades Farm Equipment’s fleet of road service technicians and convenient locations.

ShopEFE com

John Deere Parts/New/Used Equip.

Plant City

2805 SR. 60 West Plant City, FL 33567

Leesburg

1800 US HWY. 441 Leesburg, FL 34748

813-737-1660

352-315-1016

Odessa

2240 Success Drive Odessa, FL 33556

Okeechobee

727-842-8618

820 US Hwy. 98, North Okeechobee, FL 34972

Clearwater

Since 1963 Everglades Farm Equipment has been serving the agriculture and commercial equipment business now closer to you than you think.

863-763-1921

5090 Ulmerton Road Clearwater, FL 33760

727-828-8200

Fort Pierce

6150 Orange Ave. Ft. Pierce, FL 34947

Palmetto

772-461-5568

906 US HWY 301 North Palmetto, FL 34221

941-722-3281

Loxahatchee

13295 Southern Blvd.

Loxahatchee, FL 33470

Fort Myers

561-784-4000

9501 State Road 82 Fort Myers, FL 33905

239-332-5045

Belle Glade

Corporate Headquarters

Immokalee

775 E. Main St. Immokalee , FL 34142

239-657-4413

2017 N. W. 16TH Belle Glade, FL 33430

Naples

561-996-6531

1945 Pine Ridge Road Naples , FL 34109

239-260-8800

48

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

September 2015

WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM