In The Field magazine Polk edition

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2014 1WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

2 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2014 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM 2 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2014 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


By Melissa Nichols

Business Up Front

The story behind Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction Market, goes back to 1951, a day when society and ranching were much different from today. Mr. McCullum and Mr. Robinson, two local cattle ranchers, were tired of driving all the way to Kissimmee with a load of cattle to sell. At the time, Kissimmee was the nearest market. They decided that Polk County, being in the center of major cattle areas, needed a livestock auction, so in January of 1951 they opened Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction. It is still housed at the same location. The doors to the auction originally opened 60 + years ago at 3305 US 92 E at the corner of Fish Hatchery and Hwy 92. The owners today are the sons of the late Mr. Mike Tomkow, who was the second owner in partnership with Mr. Hamilton. Dave and Mike Tomkow have been instrumental and involved with the auction since the 1970’s although they didn’t purchase the business until 1992.

This past year, Dave and Mike celebrated their 20th year of being in business together. These brothers are a dynamic duo. They both also own and operate cow-calf operations together (Tomkow Broth-ers Cattle.) Over the years they have seen and witnessed first-hand what the average rancher is dealing with. They have experienced the ups and downs in the industry and dealt with every aspect involved in raising cattle. This experience makes them able to relate to the customers who come in to sell their cattle. They know what it takes to raise cattle these days. It is important to both brothers that when you walk into Cattlemen’s Livestock you feel welcome. They like to know everyone’s names, and if you come and visit and they don’t know you, it is likely they will come up and shake your hand and find out a little about you.

Cattlemen’s is a unique auction. They offer many luxuries of the larger auctions, such as having an air conditioned sale arena, and re-clining lounge chairs. Over the years they have invested in a computer system that has expedited the process of selling livestock and getting paid. From the time your animals sell to the time that you can get a check from one of the skilled office staff is now less than 30 minutes on average. It is not uncommon for the girls who work the front desk

to have your check ready and hand it to you as you are leaving. An-other awesome part of Cattlemen’s livestock is the food stand just outside the door of the auction ring. Kellie Noles, serves the best burger and sweet tea you will find anywhere around.

The Tomkow brothers are also Representatives for Superior Live-stock. If you are selling off your whole herd and have 90-100 head of cattle (48k lbs.) they will come out and film your cattle and “rep” them to be sold via internet or TV sale with Superior Livestock. Cat-tlemen’s Livestock Auction also has a specialty all breed bull sale ev-ery year, it’s the first Friday in February. They annually have a replace-ment heifer sale as heifers become available. Dave is looking towards having a specialty Angus only sale in the future. On an average week they have around 900 cattle come to the sale, about 80% of them are calves. Dave prides himself on having an auction that is there for the seller. He will assist you every step of the way with any questions or concerns that you may have. Their current market is mostly geared toward the beef cow calf operations and beef feedlot cattle, although they do have the occasional dairy cow. There is no limit on the num-ber of animals that you must bring to be able to sell them at Cattle-men’s (no herd too large or small).

The Tomkow Brothers are huge supporters of local youth agricul-ture programs and sponsor many events. Dave is actively involved with the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association. With the ever chang-ing industry such as the cow calf operation, it is important that you place your livestock auction needs with trustworthy people. Dave and Mike Tomkow are just that. If you have any questions give them a call. They will talk to you personally and be there every step of the way, just the way their dad raised them. You don’t get to be in busi-ness for 60 plus years by not investing time in the customer and Dave and Mike know this. Come out and visit the sale, every Tuesday and starts at 12:00 Noon. Cattle receiving hours are Mondays 8am-9pm (April to October) and 8am-8pm (November to March) and Tues-days from 7 am to the end of the sale. You can also watch the sale online at LMAAuctions.com.

At Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction, you may come as a stranger, but you will leave as a friend. Office (863) 665-5088 Dave Cell (863) 559-3266 Mike Cell (863)559-5091


4 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2014 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Cover Photo by: Melissa Nichols

VOL. 7 • ISSUE 7

Page24

Ranch RodeoPolk County

Contents

Business UpfrontPage 3

Master GardnerPage 10

Fishing Hot SpotsPage 14

Tractor ReviewPage 18

Ag Literacy DayPage 19

Rocking Chair ChatterPage 22

Sheriff’s Crime ReportPage 28

Saunders Gives BackPage 29

Market Watch: Turtle LabsPage 32

Recipe: Sue Harrell Page 40

Florida CoconutPage 41

Naturally Amazing:Oxidation

Page 42

Meet The MinksPage 43

Polk 4HPage 44

FFA FederationPage 45

Contents

POLK COU NTY

CATTLEMEN’SASSOCIATION

0P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS 3Bartow, FL 33831 -9005

OFFICERS& B OARD OF DIRECTORS

President - Charles C lark( 863) 528-8537

cclark@ expoco.com

V ice President - Dave Tomkow( 863) 6 6 5-50 88

cattlemanslivetock@ earthlink.net

S ecretary/ Treasurer - J ustin B unch( 863) 4 25-1121 jbunch@ agriumretail.com

A l B ellotto - ( 863) 581-5515

R ay C lark - ( 863) 6 83-819 6rc lark@ tampabay.rr.com

L .B . F landers, DV M - ( 863) 6 4 4 -5974

Dewey F ussell - ( 863) 9 84 -3782

Mike F ussell - ( 863) 69 8-8314fussell.flafarm@ verizon.net

David McC ullers - ( 863) 528-119 5

Moby P ersing - ( 863) 528-4 379

N ed W aters - ( 863) 69 8-1597watersn@ doacs.state.fl.us

J .B . W ynn - ( 863) 581-3255jbwynn29 @ gmail.com

A lternate - Mike F acente - ( 863) 697-9419

Standing Committee Chairs:

Membership - J .B . W ynn

E vents - K evin F ussell ( 863) 4 12-5876

R odeo - F red W aters ( 863) 559 -780 8watersf@ doacs.state.fl.us

Cattlewomen - President

Marjorie W ood ( 863) 6 6 0 -4 137onnie397@ aol.com

E xtension - B ridget C arlisle ( 863) 519 -8677bccarlis@ ufl.edu

S heriff ’s Dept. - S gt. Tommy Dixon

F eature S toryRob Krieger

P a g e 3 4

VOL . 7 • IS SUE 7

®

Website - Chris Nelson

President -JB Wynn(863) 581-3255

[email protected]

Vice President - David McCullers(863) 528-1195

Treasurer -Justin Bunch(863) 425-1121

[email protected]

Al Bellotto - (863) 581-5515

State Director -Ray Clark -(863) [email protected]

L.B. Flander, DVM - (863) 644-5974

Dewey Fussell - (863) [email protected]

Moby Persing - (863) 528-4379

Mike Facente - (863) 697-9419

Charles Clark- (863) [email protected]

Dave Tomkan - (863)[email protected]

(863) 533-1020

Cattlemen’s Association




Agro-Culture

Liquid Fertilizers..............................16

Alan’s Air Conditioning....................5

Bankers South Group....................27

Broke & Poor...................................31

Cattlemens Livestock Auction......21

Cattleman’s Feed.............................16

Cecil Breeding Farm.......................13

Choo Choo’s Lawn Care................12

Choo Choo’s Lawn Care...............47

Country Village

Power Equipment...........................34

Darn Grills & Ranch Supply........34

Ellison RBM Inc...............................39

Everglades Farm Equipment........48

Fancy Farms....................................23

Farm Credit.....................................35

Farm Bureau Ins Bill William.......31

FFA Beast Feast & Auction.............9

Fla Dpt of Ag

& Consumer Svcs..........................26

Florida Fence Post Company........15

Fred’s Market Restaurant...............9

Grove Equipment Service.............17

Grove Equipment Service............30

Gulf Coast Tractor.........................38

Harold’s Feed & Pet supply............11

Helena Chemical-Tampa...............21

International Market World.........20

Jason Grimes Contracting.............7

Kelley Buick.......................................2

Key Plex............................................37

Lightsey Cattle Co.........................39

Mosaic...............................................35

Napa.................................................20

Pathway Biologic............................36

Polk County

Cattlemen’s Association...................4

QLF Specialty Products...................7

Seedway............................................9

Stephanie Humphrey.....................42

Stoller ..............................................33

The Bug Man..................................39

Wallenstein of Florida...................45

Publisher/PhotograPhy

Karen berry

senior Managing editor/associate Publisher

sarah holt

editor-in-chief

al berry

editor

Pasty berry

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

staff Writers

al berry

sandy Kaster

JaMes franKoWiaK

sean green

ginny MinK

libby hoPKins

Melissa nichols

contributing Writers

Woody gore

Sarah

March is the month set aside by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as National Nutrition Month, a campaign to focus attention on making informed food choices, developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

This year the theme is “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right.” When you are planning your meals, plan right by checking the labels and purchase food grown in your state, so it is Fresh From Florida!

According the web site www.eatright.org, “An easy way to focus on eating better is to start with the ba-sics, build your nutritional health from the ground up. Start slowly and give yourself a good founda-tion as you work toward a healthier life.”

The web site also lists the following tips:

• Focus on Fruits and Vegetables — Add a serving each day and increase it every few weeks.• Look Locally — Try farmers’ markets and community-supported agriculture.• Make Calories Count — Focus on foods with more vitamins and minerals.• Test Your Taste Buds — Try a fish you haven’t eaten before, or find a new vegetable recipe.• Trick Yourself with Treats — A healthful diet doesn’t mean deprivation. If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert.

Don’t miss next month’s issue of In The Field. It will be full of coverage from the 2014 FloridaStrawberry Festival!

Until Next Month

The Lord make His faceshine upon you andbe gracious to you.

_Numbers 6:25


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We welcome the Spring on March 20 with green grasses and high cattle prices. As I’m writing this letter, I am reflecting on how good it is to be in the cattle business and how thankful I am to get to work with such a good group of people. Speaking of good people, the Polk County Cattlemen’s Ranch Rodeo & Trade Show was a big success once again. Held on February 15 at the Agricultural Center in Bartow, approximately 1,500 attendees came out to watch cowboys and girls compete in various events including Wild Cow Milking and the Wild Horse Race. Twelve teams competed and tried their hardest to win a coveted event buckle or especially the first place prize of a trophy saddle. First place title and saddles went to Lightsey Cattle Company. Congrats to Clint and Cliff Lightsey, Dusty and Charity Crosby and Michael Grimal-di. This team will represent Polk County well in the 2014 Ranch Rodeo State Finals in Kissimmee this Fall. The committee would never be able to pull off this ro-deo event without the help of volunteers who provide their time, trucks, trailers, stock and equipment. A big thank you as well to all of the sponsors! These compa-nies and individuals donate their money, so make sure to remember these companies when it comes time to do business. The CattleWomen provide the food at the

concession stand - and they never disappoint! Fred Wa-ters has chaired this committee every year - so thank him when you see him. Without these people, this event would never happen.

March is the month for the Polk County Agri-Fest which takes place in Bartow at the Agricultural Center. Running from March 10-14 and 17-21, this program teaches Polk County 4th graders the importance of agriculture in our state and it’s huge impact on our economy. Volunteers are always needed. Also, the Florida Cattlemen’s Legisla-tive Quarterly takes place in Tallahassee on March 11-13. This gives the cattlemen and women an opportunity to meet with state legislators regarding issues facing our industry. If you have a chance to attend the FFA’s 11th Annual Beast Feast & Auction on March 22 - it’s always a great time (especially to try new wild food). Hope to see you at any of these well-organized events!

JB WynnJB WynnPolk County Catlemen’s Association President

Well, it looks like we made it through another Florida “Winter.”



The almond is a member of the peach family.James Buchanan was the only unmarried president of the US.Jet lag was once called boat lag, before jets were invented.Twenty seconds worth of fuel remained when Apollo 11’s lunar module landed on the moon.Ketchup was sold in the 1830’s as medicine.Kleenex tissues were originally used as filters in gas masks.Lee Harvey Oswald’s cadaver tag (dead body) sold at an auction for $67,500 in 2008.Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors, played the viola and spent12 years painting the lips of Mona Lisa.In Hartford, Conn. it is against the law to cross the street walking on your hands. Abraham Lincoln was the only US president ever granted a patent.Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.The average person’s left hand does 56% of the typing.There are more chickens than people in the world.No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver or purple. All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.A whale’s heart beats only nine times a minute.A ten-gallon hat holds only three-quarters of a gallon.A starfish can turn its self inside out.


By Debra Howell

2014 Florida State Fair

The Florida State Fair holds a prominent position in my high school memories. As a 4-H member, I was firmly ensconced at many fairs – Florida State Fair, Central Florida Fair and Polk County Youth Fair. I exhibited a variety of dairy cows and judged dairy, eventually win-ning Florida 4-H Dairy Sweetheart and judging cattle at the National level. As an adult, I have visited the Florida State Fair with my precious mom, Mrs. Velma, who turns 102 in April. Traditionally, we would take in a horse show, attending a different breed show each year. We would go to the beef or dairy shows, see the goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and watch new baby animals being born at the “Mooternity Ward.” But, we would always make a stop at the Horticulture exhibit and purchase some plants which we would then struggle to keep alive. My constant perus-al of IFAS bulletins while composing articles has assisted in my struggles and averted certain catastrophes since the on-set of writing gar-dening articles four years ago. Consequently, I have been able to abate some of my previous problems and have a better track record today. Several years have passed since Mrs. Velma has felt froggy enough to make the trip to the fair, but that didn’t deter me and my friend, Vic-toria Clanton (of Clanton Gang fame), from journeying to Tampa to avail myself of photo ops for In The Field. I was successful in pho-tographing the winner of the Horticulture ex-hibit, the Gesneriad family, including African violets. One cool aspect of researching many horticultural subjects is the discovery of vast diversity within plant families. For instance, the Gesneriad family contains not only African violets, but other plant types whose inclusion was a surprise to me.

One example is the Aeschynanthus species, including the “lipstick plant,” a type which grows like gang-busters in hanging baskets and produces spectacular tubular flowers in orange, yellow, red and com-binations of those colors. I figure these blooms would be attractive to hummingbirds, which love the tubular shapes.

When I was still in elementary school, there was a neighborhood flower shop that also sold potted plants for special occasions. Coo-per’s Flower Shop was located in an area that comprised Fort Meade’s “Old Town.” I can still remember the floral aroma emanating from that quaint place. From Cooper’s I would buy (with my allowance of fifty cents a week) a lovely Gloxinia for my mom for Mother’s Day.

Little did I know that this plant was also kin to the African violet. The Gesneriads family boats over 2,500 plant species located world-wide in temperate and tropical areas such as Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba and in Asia, as well.

Now wrap your lips around these genus names: Codonanthe, Chirita, Phinaea, Nautilocalyx, Columnea, Gesneria, Kohleria, Sinningia, Saintpaulia, Episcia and Streptocarpus. The Gloxinia falls under the genus Sinningia. Our focus here will be on Saintpaulia and its Afri-can violets. As a child, Mrs. Velma and I would go into the woods beneath the wild dogwoods where the soft green moss grew abundantly on the forest floor and search for native wild vio-lets. But, Saintpaulia are quite different. The

African violets of the Saintpaulia genus were discovered in 1892 in Africa and are graced with splendid blooms in blue, white, pink, yel-low, red, green or combinations of these colors.

The Gesneriad FamilyHorticulture Winner –

MASTER GARDENER



No gardener is perfect and that particularly applies to me! We all make mistakes, so reconcile yourselves to a few failures along your journey. I should never have removed my beautiful violets from their plastic pots. I attempted to grow them in clay pots, from which they absorbed too many fertilizer salts and too much humidity. Hindsight is indeed 20/20. My early success came from leaving them in a medi-um in which they were already thriving. I will not revisit this failure. So, here is the skinny on cultural practices for growing your African violets. While violets like bright light, they don’t want direct sun-light. This would amount to the light available within three feet of a southwest or southeast oriented window. Your plant will tell you if the light is too much or insufficient. Excessive light will cause leaves to appear pale or greenish-yellow. They may be grown under artifi-cial light, especially fluorescent, which emits less heat. To produce blooms, these plants need 8-12 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness daily.

The bulletin says that African violets are hardy in night temps from 65-70° F, but I was advised to bring in my State Fair-bought Episcia when it is 60° F or less or it will surely die. One of the most impor-tant cultural practices is sufficient drainage for your plants. Water your African violets (or members of the Gesneriad family) when the pot feels very light when lifted. Water needs will vary according to your soil mixture, but I prefer to purchase a good quality potting mix specifically designed for African violets. Some people prefer to water from the bottom or use a water wick, the particulars of which may be gleaned from University of Florida Bulletin ENH17. As for fertilization, I would use a water-soluble fertilizer for use on African violets in either 15-30-15 or 20-20-20 mixture. Your plants need feeding if they exhibit a reduction in blossoms or growth habit. You may actually propagate by leaf cuttings, but I have been unsuc-cessful at that pursuit so far. You may also propagate by division for plants with multiple crowns. Just divide gently so each part contains some roots. These roots are tuberous and easy to see. To repot leggy plants, the leafless stem must be planted below the soil line where it may be able to produce new roots.

The main threat to your plants is root diseases from over-watering. Pests you may encounter are mealybugs and mites. These pests may be controlled with insecticidal soaps. African violets and their cous-ins are some of the most popular parlor, flowering, potted plants and hanging baskets globally. They bring back a time when people actu-ally used their “parlors”. If you don’t already own some Gesneriads, buy some soon and begin a rewarding new hobby.

You will notice I have included photos of livestock from the “Mooternity Ward” at the State Fair. Represented are two large and lazy Nubian goats and a really nice Zebu bull. I guess it is true what they say: “Old habits die hard!”

Mooternity Ward



INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2014 13WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2014 13WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


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Tampa Bay Fishing ReportMarch 2014Fishing around Tampa Bay has been hit or miss since the cold fronts show up at seemingly unpredictable intervals. One day its cold and overcast with a falling barometer and the fish seem to eat. Then two days later the front passes, skies turn blue, temperatures warm, barometer begins rising and the fish get lockjaw.

However, when the fish are biting it’s been decent with catches including redfish, a few snook and trout. And if you’re into sheeps-head the larger ones are showing up around bridge fenders, docks, seawalls, marina pilings, rock piles, and oyster bars. The bait of choice for this time of year when fishing for reds, snook and trout seems to be live shrimp, tail or head hooked using a light weight jig head or circle hook. Or for sheepshead, live or frozen regular shrimp broken behind the head then threaded on the hook followed by the head hooked from the side under the horn.

If you’re looking for greenbacks, they’re not on the grass flats as far as I can find. However they are at the Skyway Bridge and it’s usually one and done if you’re quiet setting up under the fishing pier. Remember, fish get sluggish during the winter and don’t seem interested in chasing a fleet footed greenback too far. It might help to damage the greenback by squeezing it before casting or try cut-ting off the tail fins.

Winter is a good time for you to try your hand at one of my favorite pastimes, fishing artificial lures. Often anglers fish their entire lifetime and never get the opportunity to experience the thrill of targeting fish with artificial lures. If you never get the chance or have the desire you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s fun, exciting and helps you develop a skill that is never lost. Ask any old-school arti-ficial angler and they will tell you that practically anyone can catch fish with live bait, but if you really want to see how you’re angling skills match up, try it with plastic.

Once you’re hooked (old fishing pun) you’ll love it. It’s fishing at its best, pitching lures into that perfect spot, working it ever so gently, and watching with heightened anticipation because you know some-thing is about to happen.

If you’re just not sure about artificial’s… at least give it a try, but when you do, never take live bait along. “Leave the live bait at the bait shop.” It’s a fact that if you bring it along and you’re not catch-ing fish in fifteen minutes using artificial’s, you’ll surely reach for the crutch. Remember, folk’s it’s not always about catching… some-times it’s just about fishing…

Snook (CloSed SeaSon)If live bait is your choice, shrimp fished on a free-line usually entice snook to bite. However, artificial’s usually work fine when fished correctly. Soft plastic jerk baits on a 1/8 oz. jig head will also produce good action during the winter. But, remember to slow it down in the winter… never work it too fast. Topwater lures seem to produce better during early mornings. Snook, redfish, and trout seemingly cannot resist a walk-the-dog lure on a calm morning broken bottom flat.

SheepSheadSheepshead are everywhere during the winter months right through March. Tough, toothy, boney mouths mean aggressive hook sets. Try fishing for these great fighters around markers, bridge fend-ers, docks, seawalls, rock piles, oyster bars or practically any type structure. Shrimp and fiddler crabs always produce, but green mus-sels and oysters also work. Many anglers like oysters and mussels the best and so do sheepshead. Don’t forget to smash the shells into small pieces in your bucket using it for chum. It really gets them going.



v

McKenna Trout

RedfiShRedfish continue eating, especially the smaller rats. Grass flats with broken bottom, submerged oyster bars and mangrove shorelines like those found around Picnic Island, Simmons Park, Bishop Harbor, Joe Island, Weedon Island, Fourth Street, Cypress Flats, Rocky Point, Double Branch, and Culbreath Isle Flats are good starting points.

Again, artificial’s work for redfish. Cut baits, small pinfish and dead-sticking stinky baits will usually attract their attention. Try suspending stinky baits, cut mullet or chunk of crab and letting it sit in the water, if a redfish is in the area they’ll find it.

Spotted Sea tRoutSpotted Sea Trout are readily found around deepwater flats on strong tides. They eat shrimp, pinfish, and greenbacks. A popper cork proves deadly, at enticing nice Trout, especially when rigged with shrimp, either live or artificial. Also, try bouncing a soft plastic jig off the bottom, but remember the bite always comes on the fall, so don’t be surprised to have a fish on just after the lure hits the water.

Also, don’t be shocked if you catch a Flat Fish (Flounder) while fish-ing the sandy pot holes. Look for hard sandy or rocky broken bot-tom flats (grass flats with plenty of potholes) around Picnic Island, Simmons Park, Bishop Harbor, Joe Island down into Bradenton and Sarasota. Upper Tampa Bay sports good fish around Weedon Island, Fourth Street, Cypress Flats, Rocky Point, Double Branch, and Culbreath Isle Flats.

CobiaCobia like to piggy back of large Rays and Manatees. As the waters cool you should see them around the hot water discharges of power plants. But don’t think you’re going to be alone in these areas… there will be plenty of boats to keep you company. Large shrimp on a ¼ oz. jig head normally does the trick. But small or chunk crab also works. You’ll also catch plenty of smaller sharks, Spanish mackerel, and some pompano. Also watch out for the manatee’s, there are hundreds in the hot water runoffs.

“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” – 813-477-3814 Captain Woody Gore is the area’s top outdoor fishing guide. Guiding and fishing the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years, he offers world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories.

Single or Multi-boat Group Charters are all the same. With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experi-enced captains, Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or

tournament. Just tell him what youneed and it’s done.

Visit his website at:WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM

send an email to [email protected] give him a call at 813-477-3814





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Looking for a tractor that can handle more with less hassle? Looking for a higher level of comfort and ease of operation that can’t be found in competi-tive tractors? Look no further than Kubota’s new Grand L60 Series tractors. With a spacious ergonomically designed cab, and a wide range of versatile features to make jobs easier, the Grand L60 Series combines luxury with out-

standing productivity never before seen in its class. And with a choice of five clean-emission Common Rail engines and three advanced trans-

missions, the Grand L60 offers a higher level of performance while going easy on the environment and your budget. Whether you’re

replacing your existing tractor, upgrading to a bigger one or even buying for the first time, the Grand L60 Series will

surely provide everything you need plus a whole lot more.

Common Rail System (CRS) withExhaust Gas Recirculation system (EGR) and

Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) MufflerThe CRS electronically controls the timing and amount of injected fuel pro-

viding high-pressure injections in stages, rather than all at once for an optimal combustion rate that results in greater efficiency, better fuel

economy and less engine noise. Its combination with the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Muffler and Exhaust Gas Recirculation

system (EGR) reduces emissions to meet the latest emission regulations.

Do you own five to twenty acres and are looking for the perfect tractor at the right price? Well John Deere and Ev-erglades Farm Equipment have the right tractor for you! The John Deere 3E series of tractors come with great fea-tures like: hydrostatic transmissions with twin-touch ped-als, powerful John Deere built loaders made just for these tractors, strong three point hitches to lift those heavy im-plements and even add an iMatch Hitch to make hooking and unhooking implements simple and easy. This is a basic tractor with lots of available options that make it far from “basic.”

3038E Specifications:• 36.7 Gross Engine HP• 30 HP Power Take Off (PTO)• 4 Wheel Drive• Twin Touch Hydrostatic Transmission (Two Range)• Tractor weight: 2,087 lbs

We have heard many people over the years come into our dealerships and say things like, John Deere’s cost more than all the other brands or you are paying for that green and yellow paint. Well allow me to set the record straight! Owning a John Deere piece of equipment does not have to cost more than the other quality brands out there. Truth is in a lot of cases we cost LESS! John Deere 3038E Compact Utility Tractor

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Selection

The mForce 100 horse power tractor is a great new product not only for Mahindra but also for Grove Equipment Service. End users range from farmers to custom operators. This tractor utilizes the reliable 100HP Perkins engines which have withstood the test of time. With this brute power, Mahindra did not compromise on the comfortable operator environment. These models are available with or without loader, test drive one today at Grove Equipment Serve in Bartow and Plant City.

Grove Equipment Services908 E. Baker StreetPlant City, FL 1-800-717-8333813-759-8722

AND

5905 Highway 60 E.Bartow, FL 1-800-833-2460863-537-1345


Tuesday, April 29 will be Agriculture Literacy Day across Flori-da. This is the 11th anniversary of the event during which volun-teers, representing Florida agriculture, will conduct readings for young students in kindergarten and elementary grades at school classrooms throughout the Sunshine State. Those interested in taking part in this event are encouraged to volunteer at their local elementary school by way of Florida Agriculture in the Class-room (FAITC).

The book developed for this year’s event highlights agriculture-rated programs that are already available in many schools in Florida. It is entitled Florida Farms at School and features Agri-culture in the Classroom activities, FFA projects, 4-H, the Farm to School program, school gardens and related subject.

“The day’s readings help to highlight the importance of agricul-ture for our state and encourage agricultural education for all children,” said FAITC Executive Director Lisa Gaskalla. “Farm-ers, growers, ranchers, FFA teachers and students and other vol-unteers will read in kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms around the state as part of this event.”

The book and related materials are provided to volunteer readers at no cost as a result of funding FAITC receives from sales of the agriculture specialty vehicle license plate commonly referred to as the “Ag Tag.”

Teachers and volunteers interested in participating are encour-aged to visit the FAITC website: www.agtag.org. Volunteer read-ers are asked to schedule their classroom visits first, then register on the FAITC website. The book and associated materials will then be mailed to the volunteer readers. Each volunteer reader will receive one book, one Teacher’s Guide on a disc and a set of stickers and bookmarks per classroom.

FAITC is a non-profit organization that helps to educate teachers and students about where their food, fiber and fuel come from through classroom lessons, materials, grant programs and other projects.

If you would like to help support FAITC programming, con-sider purchasing an Ag Tag online by visiting: http://www.my-floridaspcialtyplate.com/gallery.html. Additional information on FAITC and Florida Agriculture Literacy Day is available by contacting Gaskalla via email: [email protected] or by calling her at 352/846-1391.

FLORIDAAG LITERACY DAY• APRIL 29

By Jim Frankowiak

VolunteerReaders

Needed!

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE JANUARY 2013 21WWW. INTHEF I E LDMAGAZ INE .COM

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MY MOTHER

Every time I turn around I read or hear something about how bad things are for you. The latest is the lemon. My wife, Patsy, said she heard on TV that the lemon skin collects bacteria and things that will make you sick. She no longer asks for lemon when she orders water or tea at a restaurant. I have never understood why they ask you if you want lemon in your water when you order it. If I wanted lemonade I would have ordered it. Now I ask for “diet water” with no lemon.

How did we ever survive? My mother would defrost ham-burger on the kitchen counter. She used the same cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, and I can’t recall anyone in the family ever getting sick. They say that the kitchen sponge is 200,000 dirtier than a toilet seat. That’s it, no more sponges in our house. How did our grandparents ever survive bringing water in with a bucket that sat on the side of the well all day?

Looking back, it’s hard to believe that we’ve lived this long. As children we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Our baby cribs were painted with bright colored lead based paint. We often chewed on the crib, ingesting the paint. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes we had no helmets. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

Years before germs and viruses were discovered, illness and sickness were blamed on everything from curses to bad air. We now know better. However, some old remedies are still around, and people continue to use them.

Mother would put the inside of a banana peel on a bug bite or poison ivy. My sisters would use a mashed banana as a

facial—they said it was great for moisturizing dry skin. Now days some folks are using duct tape to remove warts. They say it works better than freezing them off.

Early settlers had an unusual treatment for infant diarrhea. They would cut the lining from a chicken gizzard and let it dry. Then they would put it in boiling water to make a tea. The baby was given one teaspoonful every half hour. Early settlers would take the skin of a boiled egg and apply it to their hemorrhoid to relieve the swelling. You can cure hiccups within one minute by swallowing a teaspoon of dry sugar. I have been told that the easiest way to eliminate foot odor is to wipe your feed a vodka-soaked rag.

Here are a couple of ideas you may want to try. Place a mousetrap on top of your alarm clock. This will prevent you from hitting snooze, rolling over and going back to sleep. Avoid arguments with your wife about lifting the toilet seat by simply using the sink. If you have a bad cough take a large dose of laxatives, then you will be afraid to cough.

Food for thought! The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a flat tire. It is always darkest be-fore dawn, so if you’re going to steal your neighbor’s newspa-per that’s the time to do it. Never test the depth of the water with both feet. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in his or her shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day. And finally, there are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

Then there’s the story of a couple who were empty-nesters. They decided to start doing more things together to get to know each other again. They started with grocery shopping. The man reaches for some cookies. His wife slaps his hand and tells him, “No, put those back.” On the next aisle the man reaches for ice cream. His wife slaps his hand and tells him, “No, put that back.” On the next aisle the man puts some soft drinks in the cart. His wife slaps his hand and tells him, “No, you cannot have that. Put it back.” He gets tired of being told no and tells his wife he is going to wait in the car. Then he climbs out of the grocery cart!

NoLemon!



By Melissa NicholsLightsey Cattle Company Takes Top Honors at Ranch Rodeo

Within minutes of arriving at the Polk County Cattlemen’s Ranch Rodeo, it was quite obvious this was not the average RODEO. You see, a ranch rodeo is not professional rodeo perform-ers. It is actual working ranch hands competing in events that can and will take place on a ranch. In my opinion, the ranch rodeo is much more re-alistic and entertaining than one of the profes-sional circuits. This year’s event started with the Cattlemen’s trade show which hosted a variety of vendors from animal health and nutrition to Jr. Cattlemen to Farm Credit and the Polk County Sheriff’s office, and just about everything in be-tween. This three hour trade show is held just outside the rodeo ring. While the ranch hands are getting ready to compete in the rodeo, the Polk County Cattlewomen are busy preparing a feast at the concessions stand. They usually have beef tips plus an array of desserts, snacks and treats that are heavenly. This entire event is organized and hosted by the Polk County Cattlemen’s As-sociation and UF/IFAS Extension Polk County. This is the main fundraiser to support the Polk County Cattlemen’s organization and the UF/IFAS Extension livestock program.

The events started with the calf branding com-petition. One of the team members stands along the fence while the others sort and rope a calf af-ter their calf number is announced. Once the calf is roped and on the ground the freeze branding iron is brought out to the calf and returned to

the bucket. The time stops as the iron is returned. The day rolled on with the double mugging con-test, team sorting, wild cow milking, colt riding and senior sorting. These events are all based on events that can actually take place on a working ranch at any given time, such as needing to sort and pen desired calves by roping them instead of having pens in place to utilize. Wild cow milking, when you have a calf that isn’t nursing properly and you need that liquid gold to save a calf, you have to milk a beef cow. And colts don’t break themselves.

This event would not be successful without the supporters. The Saddle sponsors this year were Boerhinger-Ingelheim and Animal Health In-ternational, Cattlemen’s Livestock Market, Everglades Farm Equipment, Lightsey Cattle Company and M&D Overstreet Ranch. The sec-ond and third place team award sponsors were Bankers South and Darn Grills & Ranch Supply. The event sponsors this year were Cattlemen’s Livestock Market, Higgenbotham Auctioneers Int’l, KMR Concrete, Lakeland Animal Nutri-tion, Lay’s Western Wear & Feed, Merck Animal Health, Greg Woodard, Putnam Grove & Ranch. The livestock sponsors were Bob and Holly El-liot, Bud and Jean Greenwood, Danny McLellan, Mike Tomkow, and Waters Cattle Co. It takes a lot of community support to put an event togeth-er such as a ranch rodeo.



One of the things that is unique about Polk’s ranch rodeo is that all of the teams represent ranches located in Polk County. The ranches that competed this year were Cattlemen’s Livestock Market, Tra-vis Dorma, Kevin Fussell, Jeremy Newman, Meghan Talbo, Mike Tomkow; Crooked Lake Ranch, Buddy Duke, Dakota McCullers, Moriah McCullers, Clay Snively, Jeremy Walker; Fussell Farms, Wyatt Carlton, Reed Fussell, Wes Fussell, Morgan Johnson, Cliff Rigdon; G7 Ranch, Bob Conroy, Donald Conroy, Laci Whaley, J.B. Wynn, David Yates; Gizmo Cattle Ranch, Erin Blair, Lauren Bra-nam, John Michael Peebles, Tanner Ross, Calvin Waters; H&H Cattle, Austin “Cracker” Brown, Kaci Farrell, Brain Hamilton, Scott Newsome, Brent Stokes; Heartland Animal Services, Catlin Corson, Cole Corson, Brandi Gilbert, Coy Mueller, Ike Stein; JMC Ranch, Leann Barthle, Travis Manley, Kenny Raney Jr, Ethan Walk-er, Kevin Yates; Lightsey Cattle Co, Juan Alcazar, Charity Crosby, Michael Grimaldi, Cliff Lightsey, Clint Lightsey; M & D Overstreet Ranch, Jake Anuez, Buddy Fussell, Paul Fussell, Debbie Overstreet, Choice Ryan; Norman Brothers Cattle Company, Brandon Barthle, Scott Shoupe, Fred Waters, LuJean Waters, Stewart Wynn; Sullivan Ranch, Amie Facente, Marshall Godsey, Jason Heyward, Dusty Holley, Hunter Holley.

At the end of the day Lightsey Cattle Company won first place and the beautiful saddles. H&H was second and M&D Overstreet placed third overall. There is nothing easy about the events that take place at a ranch rodeo and the fact that so many teams participat-ed is amazing. The levels of experience of the ranch hands ranged from beginner to many years of experience. The crowd spent hours on the edge of their seats as they watched the teams competing. Before the day was over the Senior Sorters got out in the arena and reminded the younger competitors, that years of experience shows. The winner of the Senior Sorters Event was Brown Ranch, William C. Brown, Jeff Brown and Fred Waters.



Spivey Family Farm

Stephen, Zachary, and David2013 Fresh From Florida Members

The Florida Strawberry Growers Association joined the Fresh From Florida program on behalf of all of its members.

“We joined Fresh From Florida because the program supports our best interests and the interests of all producers in the state. We’re proud to be Florida strawberry growers.” – David Spivey

Fresh From Florida: Nurturing Success.Growing the Future.

For more information on member benefits visit FreshFromFlorida.com or call (850) 617-7399.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2014 27WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2014 27WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


Crime Down 6.53%Crime Down 6.53%

by Sheriff Grady Judd

Great news, Polk County! Crime continues to decline in our neck of the woods. According to the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) statistics, as reported semi-annually and annually to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), there were 646 fewer crimes in 2013 than in 2012 in the Sheriff’s Office primary jurisdiction[i].

There were 9,894 crimes in 2012 as compared to 9,248 crimes in 2013, a total reduction in reported crimes of 6.53%.

Non-Violent crime is down 9.5% in Polk’s unincorporated area and Sheriff’s Office contract cities. There were a total of 8,754 non-vio-lent crimes in 2012 and 7,922 in 2013, a reduction of 832 crimes.

There were decreases in the following crime categories: homicides; robberies; burglaries; and larcenies. Some crime categories showed an increase, but overall crime was down 6.53% and the crime rate (crimes per 100 persons) is down 7.25%.

Crime in the Polk County unincorporated area and Sheriff’s Office contract cities:

TOTAL CRIMES 9,894 9,248

Polk crime rate is at historic low.

Polk County’s crime rate in the unincorporated areas and contract cities[i] (for which the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is responsible) dropped from 2012 to 2013, according to the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) statistics reported annually to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The crime rate, which is the number of crimes per 100 residents, is down 7.25% from 2012 (2.48) to 2013 (2.30). This is the lowest crime rate ever measured in the Polk County Sher-iff’s Office jurisdiction, breaking the previous record low of 2.48 crimes per 100 from last year. Reliable crime statistics in Polk County started in 1971, when the crime rate was recorded at 4.16 crimes per 100.

Since 1997, the crime rate in Polk County has fallen by 65.6%

The Polk/PCSO crime rate is 39% less than the most recently pub-lished Florida state crime rate (2.30 compared to 3.80)[ii].

We could not be more grateful for the continued decrease in crime in Polk County. This ongoing progress towards improving the qual-ity of life in Polk County for our communities, families, neighbors, friends, and visitors is our top priority. There are many factors that contribute to lower crime, but there are two critically important rea-sons why crime remains low. First: convicted felons who are sent to prison stay there for a minimum of 85% of their sentence that is mandated in statute. This Florida law, among other tough-on-crime measures, has been tremendously successful in holding criminals ac-countable for their crimes and separating them from society. When people who break the law are punished—fairly, swiftly, and without apologies—our communities become safer. Second: we have devel-oped more effective policing strategies. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office implemented its Proactive Community Attack on Problems (PROCAP) program in 1997. Since then, the crime rate has fallen by 65.6%! Our policing philosophy emphasizes proactive strategies, fo-cusing on known community problems, effectively using technology to implement our prevention strategies, and working hand in hand with the community. Because we lock up those responsible for crime, and work hard with the community to prevent, solve, and fight crime, Polk County is a better place to live, work, and play.

[i] PCSO Contract Cities: Polk City, Frostproof, Eagle Lake, Ft. Meade, Dundee, and Mulberry. [ii] 2012 FDLE published state crime rate (the 2013 rate has not yet been published).

2012 2013Homicides

Forced Sex Offenses

Robberies

Aggravated Assaults

Burglaries

Larcenies

Motor Vehicle Thefts

19 8118 128

154 147

849 1,0433,186 2,693

5,098 4,689

470 540

0 1500 3000 4500 6000

2012

2013

in Polk County Sheriff’s OfficeJurisdiction Comparing 2013 to 2012



Agriculture, specifically Florida agriculture, is very important to Dean Saunders, a Lakeland-based real estate expert, for a number of reasons. His family has been engaged in agriculture in the state for six generations, he earned a BSA from the University of Florida in Fruit Crops, Food and Resource Economics and is a recognized Florida land and conservation easement authority.

Additionally, Florida land purchases and sales are the foundation of the brokerage firm he formed in 1996 as Saunders Real Estate and is now known as Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate as a result of his affiliation with the Coldwell Banker brand in 2006. Though Saunders began his real estate career in 1985, he also served in the U.S. Senate as Agricultural Liaison, Special Assistant and Di-rector of External Affairs to U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles then Gover-nor Chiles. From 1992 to 1996, he was elected to the Florida House of Represen-tatives where his support for landowner property rights and conserv-ing the integrity of a property’s natural resources culminated in his authorship of groundbreaking conservation legislation.

Given this legacy, it was no surprise in mid-2013 when he introduced “Saunders Gives Back (SGB),” a program through which his firm would donate five percent of its commission earned from land pur-chases or sales during which the involved party would register with the SGB administrator and indicate a desire to participate in the program. “Initially this program was focused on Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) members who were involved in buying, selling or referring property to our firm that results in a sale,” said Saunders, who is a long time FCA member. “However, we now encourage par-ticipation from both FCA and non-FCA members.”

The recipient of SGB proceeds is the Florida Cattlemen’s Associa-tion Foundation which is dedicated to the preservation of the his-tory, heritage and ideals of Florida cattle producers. The initial SGB donation of $2,445 was the result of a transaction by registered FCA member Dr. Bennett Flanders, DVM, of LBF Ranch, LLC, who also sits on the board of the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association. His purchase of approximately 800-acres in Polk City was represented by long time FCA member Jimmie Allen of the Saunders firm. Allen is a past president of the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association and a 10-year member of its board of directors. The foundation promotes a sustainable cattle industry by building viable programs in scholarship, continuing education, research and leadership development both for the current industry and for future industry leadership and entrepreneurs.

“SGB is typical of the kind of out of the box thinking Dean has brought to Florida and our industry for several decades,” said FCA Foundation President Jim Strickland. “He consistently brought this type of leadership and innovative thinking while on the staff of Sena-tor Chiles and then Governor Chiles, as well as through his real es-tate endeavors. We are most grateful for his continued leadership and thankful for this example of how grassroots cattle country philan-thropy works in Florida.”

Founded in 1999, the FCA Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) corporation, has undertaken several significant projects since organized. The founda-tion, together with producers, individuals and businesses from across Florida, collectively contributed more than $230,000 for the construc-tion of two multi-purpose buildings for the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The buildings, located at the Range Cattle Research and Education Center at Ona and the North Florida Research and Education Center, Marianna, serve as resident resources for students and visiting scientists conducting re-search at the centers. The Foundation has also developed and contin-ues to support and expand the Florida Cattle Ranching Exhibit at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Entitled, Five Centuries of Tradition, the exhibit tells the story of one of Florida’s oldest and most important cultural activities from its origins in colonial Florida through present day cattle ranching.

Scholarship and youth programs are another focus of the foundation and its mission to help advance, promote and educate the industry’s future leaders. Among recipients of foundation financial support in this area are Florida FFA, the Florida State Fair Champion of Cham-pions Program and the FCA Young Cattlemen’s Tour, Junior Florida Cattlemen and University of Florida Livestock Judging Teams. The foundation is also involved in the annual Ranch Rodeo and Cowboy Heritage Festival, mixing fast-paced rodeo action with the best of Florida cowboy heritage, art and history. It also hosts the live and silent auction held in conjunction with the FCA annual convention, an endeavor that typically raises nearly $10,000 for the foundation.

“Dean’s program will help to support these programs and others that are so important as we strive to preserve our heritage, address cur-rent needs and help prepare the future leaders of our industry,” said Strickland.

Additional information on the SGB Program is available at Saunder-sGiveBack.com while FCA Foundation information is accessible at floridacattlemen.org/foundation.

INNOVATIVE ‘SAUNDERS GIVES BACK’ PROGRAM RECORDSFIRST DONATION TO FLORIDA CATTLEMENS FOUNDATION By Jim Frankowiak




Market Watch:by: Libby Hopkins

Reusing, up-cycling, recycling is on the rise nowadays. People are be-coming more aware of where their products are coming from and how their purchases are affecting the local economy. Small businesses are making their mark again, even if they don’t have a brick and mor-tar building to house them.

The Lakeland Downtown Farmer’s Curb Market is home to many of these up and coming small businesses. The market gives their vendors a place to spotlight their wares and their talents. One of those busi-nesses is Turtle Laboratories. Joey Sacco and Tegan Strautmann are the owners and they make beautiful metal art-work and furniture. “I always had a fondness for tinkering ever since I could walk and I was always fixing things and making them work,” Sacco said. He got into welding after he pur-chased an old Jeep that was a fixer-upper. “I learned how to weld because I couldn’t afford to pay someone to fix it and I found that I re-ally loved welding,” Sacco said. “I started it as a hobby and it kind of just grew from there.” He and Strautmann met while they both were engineering students at the University of South Florida in Tampa. They both have degrees in mechanical engineering. Their hobbies blend-ed together, and they wanted to create a busi-ness where they could build and create for the rest of their lives. Sacco took his welding skills and decided to make a piece of furniture out of raw steel and wood. “It ended up being our dining room ta-ble, that’s how this all started,” Sacco said. After some coaxing from their friends, they decided to start making more furniture. Then they moved onto making artwork out of metal. They came up with their company name from Sacco’s love of turtles and the word “green” was the one Strautmann’s first words as a child, so they felt it clicked, just like their business. “One of our goals with our business is to fabricate things for cars,” Sacco said. All of their work is performed by hand and is made in the U.S.A. They believe in keeping as much work inside the country as possible. “We are happy to contribute to our country,” Strautmann said. “We love a challenge and we loved designing things for our customers.”

Their mission is to leave a lasting impression on their clients. “Our pieces are meant to showcase themselves in any environment and strike up a conversation within a group of people,” Sacco said. Their furniture and artwork are very popular at the market and they love the creative vibe that is prevalent at the market. It was that vibe that drew them from Tampa to Lakeland to be a part of the market. “Our friends in Lakeland told us about the market and the awesome envi-ronment it has, so we thought we would give it a try,” Strautmann said. “It has been wonderful and we have gotten wonderful feedback from all of our customers.”

They also liked the local component to the market and how every vendor strives to use local products in everything they create. “It’s really important because you can go online and buy anything from anywhere and that is taking away from keeping things in America,” Sacco said. “Keeping things local is how it should be.” Strautmann loves that more people want to keep things locally and invest in small businesses. “I think it’s awesome be-cause you know what you are getting and you get to know the person who created your furniture or artwork.” They hope that their business will continue to grow

and they will be able to do it full-time. “We want this to replace our regular jobs so we can live life and be creative,” Sacco said. They are currently converting an old school bus into a camper to live in while they build their future home out of shipping containers. “Since we are comfortable with metal, we thought a house made out of shipping containers would be a good fit for us,” Sacco said. If you would like to learn more about the furniture or artwork Turtle Laboratories has to offer, you can visit them on the web at www.theturtlelab.com or stop by their booth at the Lakeland Downtown Farmer’s Curb Mar-ket. For more information on the market, you can visit their website at www.ldda.org. The market is located at 200 N. Kentucky Ave. in downtown Lakeland.

Captions for couple photo:Joey Sacco and Tegan Strautmann are the owners of Turtle Laborato-ries. They offer beautiful custom furniture and metal artwork.


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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2014 35WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE JANUARY 2013 27WWW. INTHEF I E LDMAGAZ INE .COM

deed restrictions dealing with landscape issues; pruning practices;problem plants such as invasive, non-native plants; pesticide and fer-tilization practices; plant nutritional deficiencies; mulch application;and irrigation system issues including frequency and timing of appli-cations. Other frequent areas of interest cited by communities partici-pating in the FFL Community Association Outreach Program haveincluded stormwater pond best management practices, dealing witherosion caused by stormwater runoff and questions involvingreclaimed water. Evaluations and recommendations are based on sci-ence-based research from UF/IFAS. In addition to site evaluations, theCommunity Association Outreach Program offers onsite presentationsabout the FFL principles.

The FFL Community Association Outreach Program is a free resourcefor HOAs and other community associations to provide for guidancein instituting sustainable landscape practices, reviewing landscape-related covenants and working with landscape maintenance contrac-tors. FFL has had several success stories with communities that adopt-ed FFL practices from which they were able to see reduced water con-sumption and water utility and maintenance costs. Contact me at theHillsborough County Extension Service, 813-744-5519 x 54142, ifthese services would benefit your homeowner or condominium associ-ation.

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

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

WaterMatters.org.The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Community AssociationOutreach Program is sponsored by the University of Florida’s

Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Hillsborough andPolk Boards of County Commissioners and the Southwest Florida

Water Management District.

mosaicco.com/florida

Mosaic congratulates the 4-H and FFA students who

worked tirelessly to make the Polk County Youth Fair a

success. We also salute the community members and

fellow businesses that turn out annually to support

youth ag.

This year, Mosaic donated more than 6,800 pounds of

meat from the fair to local organizations such as HELP

of Fort Meade, George Harris Youth Shelter, Florida

Sheriff Youth Ranch Girls Villa, Bartow Church Service

Center, Mulberry Community Service Center, Bradley

Community Service Center and Volunteers in Service to

the Elderly.

We’re proud to carry on this tradition of supporting

local agriculture and hunger-relief efforts in the

communities where our employees live and work.

We help the world grow the food it needs.

CONGRATULATIONSto the 4-H and FFA students who participated in the Polk County Youth Fair.





WE’VE BEEN COVERING WHAT’SGROWING SINCE 2004!

PLEASE PATRONIZE THESE FINE BUSINESSES IN YOUR AREA.

TO JOIN THE LINEUP OF HILLSBOUROUGH’S GROWING BUSINESSES, CONTACT

DANNY CRAMPTON. EMAIL: [email protected]

OR CALL 813-759-6909

Cattle • Truck Farming • Citrus • Game Hunting

We Support Agriculture.

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863.692.1013

Now Hiring Experienced Painters



Submitted by Strawberry Sue Harrell ofthe Florida Strawberry Growers Association

RecipeSfrom the FSGA

Rustic Strawberry Tart

Strawberry and Avocado Salsa

INGREDIENTS• 1 tablespoon butter or enough non-st ick cooking spray to grease ski l let• 1 /2 (15 ounce) package refr igerated pie dough• 3 cups Flor ida strawberries, washed, caps removed, a l lowed to dr y and sl iced into quar ters, lengthwise• 1/3 cup sugar• 1 tablespoon cornstarch• 1 teaspoon ice water• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar• 1 /2 pint whipping cream• 3 tablespoons confec tioners’ sugar• 1 /4 teaspoon vanil la

DIRECTIONSPreheat oven to 350°F.

Prepare bottom and sides of a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with butter or non-stick cooking spray. If you’re lucky enough to own a skillet that was passed down from your grandmother or other great family cook, that’s perfect. Or try Lodge Cast Iron Cookware.

Arrange one of the uncooked crusts in the skillet, more or less, evenly. It’s not even necessary to roll out the dough. It will fit nicely. Note: Most refrigerated pie dough brands have enough product in each package to give you a second oppor-tunity to make a delicious pie or tart another day.

Place cut strawberries in a medium bowl; add sugar and corn-starch and toss gently. Set aside for about 20 minutes. Pour strawberry mixture into center of skillet and fold the edges of the dough toward the center, leaving a 2-inch border so the strawberries are visible in the center of the skillet. The dough will only partially cover the strawberry mixture. Brush edge of dough with 1 teaspoon water and sprinkle evenly with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside to cool slightly.

Whip cream until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and continue beating for about 20 seconds. Stir in vanilla.

When tart has cooled slightly spoon into individual serving dishes. Pass the whipped cream. Makes four servings.

Note: Chill cream bowl and beaters before whipping. Don’t over whip. Stop when peaks are soft. Add sugar and vanilla at the end of the whipping. Dollops of cream may be frozen on waxed paper.

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There is absolutely no easier and more delicious breakfast dish than this. I usually serve it when I have overnight guests or as a delicious treat to a Sunday brunch. A combination such as fresh peaches and Florida strawberries are a perfect duo.

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Ingredients• 1 1/4 cups Flor ida strawberries• 1/2 cup avocado• 1 jalapeño• 1/4 cup red onion• 1 l ime• 1 handful c i lantro• salt and pepper to taste

Begin by chopping and dicing fresh ingredients. Chop strawberries and avo-cado into small pieces. Dice jalapeño (remove the seeds if you want a milder salsa) and red onion. Combine in a mixing bowl.

Zest and juice one lime into the mixing bowl. Add in some chopped cilantro and season to taste. Toss and serve.

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DIRECTIONS



By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science CocoNutsCoconuts and coconut palms are what many people picture when they think of Florida. Coconut palms flourish in warmer weather and are grown widely on the east and west coasts of the state. The most widely grown and used nut world wide, the coconut is an important commercial crop in many tropical areas. It is valued as both an orna-mental and an edible fruit in Florida and is harvested year round. The flesh of the coconut is called copra, which is the source of coconut oil. Copra is used in cooking oils, margarine, soaps, shampoo, and cosmetics. The inner apical buds of the palm, also called hearts of palm or palm cabbage, are edible, nutritious, and high in fiber. The water inside the green coconut, coco frio, is a refreshing, nutritious drink that has skyrocketed in popularity in the past year.

NUTRITIONAL PROFILECoconuts have longer been thought of in a negative light nutrition-ally because of its saturated fat content. However, not all saturated fats are equal. The type found in coconuts are predominantly me-dium chain fatty acids (MCFA) that have health benefits and are not as harmful as long chain fatty acids. Coconut oil contains some of the healthy MCFAs including lauric acid and capric acid, which have been used as dietary supplements in people who have poor absorp-tion of nutrients. Coconut water, the water inside young coconuts are very high in electrolytes, minerals, and vitamins, and has gained popularity as an ideal, natural sports drink.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one ounce of shredded fresh coconuts (28 g) contains 99 calories, 9 g fat, 4 g car-bohydrate, 3 g of dietary fiber, and 1 g of protein. It also provides manganese, copper, zinc, vitamin C, iron, phosphorus, and potas-sium. One cup of coconut water (240 g) contains 46 calories, 0 g fat, 9 g carbohydrate, 2.6 g fiber, and 2 g protein. It also provides 17% of the Daily Reference Intake for potassium and manganese, 15% for magnesium, 11% for sodium, 10% for vitamin C, 8% for riboflavin, 6% for calcium and 5% for phosphorus and copper. Both forms of coconut provide plenty of fiber and vitamins and minerals!

FiberFlorida coconuts contain a significant amount of dietary fiber, which can help lower cholesterol, provide satiety, assist with digestion, and prevent constipation. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of several types of cancer including colon, rectum, breast, and pancreas.

One ounce of fresh shredded coconut or one cup of coconut water provides over 11% of your daily fiber needs. Fiber can also help main-tain steady blood sugar levels and aid in weight control. Eating foods high in fiber, such as coconuts, can help you feel fuller on fewer calo-ries since fiber is not digested in the body and doesn’t contribute any calories.

MagnesiumCoconut water is a rich source of magnesium, providing 15% of your daily needs in a single cup. This mineral is involved in hundreds of

biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium is essential in main-taining normal nerve and muscle function, a healthy immune system, and strong bones. Like potassium, magnesium is also important in healthy functioning of the heart. It also is involved in the produc-tion of energy and protein and the regulation of blood glucose levels. Magnesium may also play a role in preventing and managing high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

PotassiumCoconuts are high in potassium, a mineral which is essential for the heart to function normally. A diet high in potassium also protects against high blood pressure and counters the effects of high sodium in the diet. Potassium helps regulate fluids and mineral balance, aids in muscle contraction, and helps transmit nerve impulses. People with low potassium levels are more prone to muscle cramps. Fortu-nately, vegetables and fruits, such as coconuts, are a rich source of potassium, and one cup of coconut water provides almost 20% of your daily requirements.

How to Select and StoreChoose a fresh coconut that feels heavy for its size. Shake vigorously to find one that makes a sloshing sound, which is the coconut water inside moving freely. Coconuts have three eyes. Look at the “soft eye,” which does not have the shell raised around one side of it. Pick a coconut that does not have any discoloration around the “soft eye.” The coconut should be brown without any gray areas or staining.

To open the coconut, use a hammer and screwdriver to pierce the soft eye on the shell. The shell will loosen and break apart. The juice can be strained and then is ready to drink. The skin can be removed with a vegetable peeler. The white flesh can be picked out, and is more easily removed if the coconut is first toasted in the oven for 10-20 minutes.

How to EnjoyCoconuts can be eaten straight out-of-hand, and you can simply plunge a straw into the open coconut to drink the juice. They are also delicious made into jams, jellies, and candies, or used in sweet or savory dishes.• Spread coconut oil on a bagel or toast as an alternative to butter• Sautee vegetables and fish in coconut oil as you would any other oil• Use coconut milk in your favorite curry dishes• Place straws in whole coconuts for a refreshing pool-side drink• Use in cookies, such as macaroons• Use shredded coconut as a garnish for any fruit salad or cake• Toast shredded coconut and use to top ice cream or yogurt• Mix coconut water or milk in a variety of beverages or with lime juice or sparkling water

Savor fresh Florida coconuts and enjoy their tropical flavor year round!

SELECTED REFERENCEShttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg043http://www.whfoods.com


Materials:Sealable BagHighly active yeast (¼ teaspoon)3% hydrogen peroxide (1 oz)pipette or medicine cup

Directions:• Pour dry yeast into a sealable bag• Fill a pipette or medicine cup with hydrogen peroxide (do not pour it in the bag yet)

• Set the pipette or medicine cup inside the sealable bag• Gently squeeze the air out of the sealable bag and seal it shut• Grabbing the pipette or medicine cup, mix the hydrogen peroxide with the yeast

You will see an immediate reaction in the form of bubbles. The bub-bles are caused by the release of oxygen. The energy released during the process of releasing oxygen creates heat that you can feel through the bag. If the right combination of yeast and hydrogen peroxide are used, the sealable bag will pop from the internal build up of oxygen. When the beetle does this, it releases the compound before it builds up enough to explode the insect.

Naturally Amazing Activities By Sean Green

Bombardier Beetles create a blast of steam by creating chemicals in their body and mixing them together to create a chemical reaction. One of the chemicals it creates is hydrogen peroxide (23%). The beetle also creates enzymes in its body that, when mixed with the hydrogen peroxide, break down the hydrogen peroxide causing a chemical reaction that release oxygen and heat.

This activity demonstrates a similar reaction using a much weaker solution of hydrogen peroxide (3%) and baker’s yeast, which con-tains enzymes that act the same way the yeast in the beetles body does to break down the hydrogen peroxide and create both oxygen and heat.

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

• Portrait Photographer Special iz ing in High School Seniors •

1 23Chemical Reactions: Oxidation


First stop: Feather Your NestBy Ginny Mink

The Minks and their three (mostly) darling children live in a one road subdivision. To attach the word country to any of them would be wholly inaccurate. Truth be told, the grown-up Minks are definitely city people, never having been involved in 4H or FFA (rather, guilty of making fun of those who were – please forgive them). That revealed, since Ginny writes for an agricultural magazine (ie: the one you’re reading) it has become increasingly obvious to her that agriculture and agricultural education is of inestimable value. Thusly, she and her husband, Chris, are endeavoring to provide their three with some experience therein, thereby creating the concept for this series: Agri-culture, meet the Minks!

This month, Ginny and her brood visited Linda Hawkins at Feather Your Nest, located in Lakeland, where she houses a true brood! Try 50 pairs of adult chickens and three hundred hatched chicks! Of course, there’s also two pairs of peacocks (one white pair and one indigo pair), geese and ducks. It is highly probable that the Minks haven’t seen that amount of caged creatures anywhere else but the State Fair which they attended this year. Imagine the expression on sweet Hazel’s face when she entered the backyard and was instantly accosted by all that is fowl. Zeke, the baby, was enamored, his head swiveled right to left as if his, “No!” button was on repeat. Of course he was just responding to each, here a squawk, there a squawk, ev-erywhere a squawk, squawk going on around him. It was lot for him to take in.

At first, Hazel looked a bit confused and then, comprehension lit her up. “Chickens!” she squealed, clapped and chuckled. Pen after pen she pointed, “Chickens!” she’d say, “More chickens!” eyes wide, “And…more…chickens!” Linda showed us the various breeds, in-formed us that the wee little chickens in the back were Seramas, the tiniest chickens in the world. Then she shared that she’d gotten her start after a friend gave her a pair of white Silkies. Apparently the Silkies hatched a chick and carried it around the yard on their backs. She said, “I just fell in love!” Hazel enjoyed the chickens too, but she was most taken by the honking geese in the opposite corner. She didn’t want to leave them. She was least fond of the peacocks, though they were certainly the most beautiful birds on site, probably because the males appeared so much bigger than she is, and when they fanned out their tails the vibration of the feathers wigged her out a bit, she beat feet from there.

As we neared completion of our yard visit, Jaidyn, the eldest of the three, found an egg in one of the cages. Linda retrieved it and let all three of them, even Zeke who looked like he might squeeze it to bits,

hold it. Later Hazel questioned, “I liked holding the egg; can I do it again?” When the egg was back, safe and sound with Linda, she took us inside to see the chicks. First though, she revealed the day’s egg basket. Hazel got to hold a number of different sized and different hued eggs. That was pretty cool, seeing that each of the nine different kinds of chickens laid uniquely designed eggs. It makes you appreci-ate the grand design given by our Creator.

The chick room was a little on the noisy side, cheeping and chirping seemed to come from every direction. There were great bins slam full of multi-colored hatchlings. To the Minks’ amazement, Linda pulled a wee-one out and carefully demonstrated the proper holding tech-nique and then, with glee on her face, Hazel reached out to accept it. Of course, that glee rapidly transformed to what bordered on terror, both for the chick and Hazel. Ultimately though she managed to get a hold of it without too much neck strangulation. Then Linda let Zeke hold one. She even put the little yellow chick on his head. He did not cry or whimper but his eyes begged the question, “What are y’all doing to me?”

Before we left, Linda presented Hazel with two giant feathers. “That was so nice of Linda to give feathers to me, that was very nice of her,” Hazel stated. On the way home she was asked, “Do you want a chicken?” To which she emphatically replied, “Yes!” Then she was asked, “What will you do with it?” Quickly she responded, “I will put it…” she halted, eyes big, thinking, she con-tinued, “NOT in my room! I will hold it in my lap.” After laughing about her quick reconsideration on a storage location we asked, “Why not in your room?” With a very serious, matter-of-fact face and tone she declared, “Too much

poop!” She discovered that fowl can be foul, but that didn’t dissuade her desire for one of her own. By the way, if you’re in the market for some chicks and have the proper place to put them (not your room), give Linda at Feather Your Nest a call: (863) 213-4565 or (863) 614-8264.



Polk County 4-H would like to recognize Erica Curtis and Grace Colston, who have been honored for their ex-emplary volunteer service, with a President’s Volunteer Service Award. This award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of the President.

Curtis has been involved in Polk County 4-H for eight years and is a member of the Clovers on the Ridge 4-H club of Lake Wales. She serves as a 4-H rabbit project leader, creating lessons and teaching younger 4-H mem-bers about rabbit health, care, and showmanship. She also proposed and helped coordinate the Polk County Youth Fair’s first ever rabbit showmanship competition earlier this year.

Colston, a member of the Live and Learn 4-H club in Auburndale, has been involved in 4-H for six years. She is engaged in various community service projects such as Relay for Life, Auburndale Oaks nursing home activi-ties, and church childcare.

“The recipients of these awards demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contribu-

tions to the health and vitality of their communities,” said John Strangfield, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. Volunteer activities were judged on criteria in-cluding personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact, and personal growth.

Congratulations to both Erica and Grace for their achievements and service to the community!

For more information on the Prudential Spirit of Com-munity Award and Volunteer Award program, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About 4-H: 4-H is a community of seven million young people around the world learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. In the United States, 4-H programs are implemented by the 109 land-grant universities and Co-operative Extension through more than 3,000 local of-fices serving every county and parish in the country. Out-side the United States, 4-H programs operate through independent, country-led organizations in more than 50 countries.

Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, find us on Face-book at www.facebook.com/4-H and Twitter at https://twitter.com/4H

On February 12, 2014, Polk County 4-H welcomed National 4-H CEO, Jennifer Sirangelo, and Executive Director, Don Mo-hanlal, on their visit to Florida. Along with Dr. Nick Place, UF/IFAS Extension Dean and Director and other UF/IFAS Extension faculty, the delegation stopped at St. Paul Lutheran in Lakeland to meet with local 4-H members and leaders. The 4-H members took the visitors on a tour of their hydroponic gardens, nature trail, and archery range. Sirangelo conducted a listening session with 4-H members to learn more about their 4-H experience, achievements, and aspirations. Although short, the visit was an educational and inspirational experience for all.

The St. Paul Lutheran 4-H club is led by Debra Wagner and Julie VanWinkle, who are both teachers and 4-H volunteers. Their hydroponics gardening system introduces students at the school to issues such as sustainability and science, technology, edu-cation and math (STEM) through innovative and hands-on educational activities. In addition, students learn about the value of supporting the local community with produce grown at the school garden being distributed to community organizations. Sirangelo noted that gardening is one of the universal 4-H projects, involving youth from various backgrounds and areas in the learning experience. Special thanks to St. Paul Lutheran 4-H members and leaders for hosting National 4-H and representing Polk County 4-H!

National 4-H CEO and Executive Director visits St. Paul LuteranArticle by Amanda Squitieri, Polk County 4-H Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County

Curtis and Colston Honored for Volunteer ServiceBy Amanda Squitieri, Polk County 4-H Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County


By Meagan Meredith

• Agriculture• Youth Steer Projects• Residential

Property• Hunting &

Recreational Properties

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Farm Credit of Central Florida President & CEO, Reggie Holt (L) discussed agricultural issues with former Florida Governor, Jeb Bush (Right) at the Farm Credit Council’s Annual Meeting in Orlando.

Photo by Ron O’Connor – Farm Credit

T H E

POLK COUNTYF E D E R A T I O N V I C E P R E S I D E N T

HelloMy name is Meagan Meredith and I am the Polk County federation vice president. It has been a very busy month for Polk County FFA. This past month we had the preliminary horse and livestock judging Career Development Events, so congratulations to those teams who participated. Also thank you to the exhibitors who represented Polk County at the State Fair. February 15 I was able to attend the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association 9th an-nual ranch rodeo, it was very entertaining all the way from the calf branding to the wild cow milking. I have to say the that the Cattlemen’s association did a great job. National FFA week was held from the 15th through the 22nd. To kick off national FFA week, on Sunday the 16th, Little Flock Church had the 4th annual FFA day. Clay Sapp, the 2012-2013 national FFA president, Wally Martin, the 2013-2014 state secretary, and Brett Wasden, the 2013-2014 Area 4 state vice president attended the Little Flock Church FFA day and explained to the FFA members, church members, and guests about how to truly serve. This was a great presen-tation which was personally very inspiring. On February 18th FFA members of Polk County competed in the annual Quiz Bowl, which is a competition where FFA members must answer a series of questions including the topics of FFA history, parliamentary procedure, agricultural laws, and general FFA knowledge. This is

a rigorous competition, so congratulations to Lake Gibson Middle for winning quiz bowl at the middle school level, and Kathleen Senior for winning at the high school level. The Thursday of National FFA week my home chapter, Tenoroc High School FFA, hosted our annual farm fair where different industries of agricul-ture come to our land lab, set up a booth and explain to nearly 2,000 pre-K and kindergarten students what the industry is all about. Farm Fair was a huge success and could not have been accomplished with out the help of all the presenters who came out to explain their industry, the students and staff who set up in the morning and cleaned up when it was all over, and to all the schools and individuals who came out to participate in our farm fair. To wrap up the month I went to the state leadership summit at the leadership training center in Haines City where I got the opportunity to serve my community and state by packing meals for food insecure people in my area and by being a voice for the FFA members in recommending changes that need to be made in the Florida FFA organization, which will be further discussed at state convention. Overall this past month has been very eventful and inspirational. I look forward into seeing what else is in store for the Polk County and the FFA.

Sincerely,

Maegan Meredith


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