By Pauline Fletcher Cogdill

Farmers Cooperative and Bonnie Plant teamed up again for their Ninth Annual Cabbage Plant Growing Contest. The Cooperative Cabbage Program included all third grade classes at Suwannee Elementary School, Branford Elementary School, Madison County Central School, Madison Creative Arts Academy, Lee Elementary School, New Testament Christian School, and Pinetta Elementary School.

Growing With Farmers Cooperative is the theme used again for this year’s Cabbage Plant Growing Contest. When you see a third grader wearing one of our Cooperative T Shirts with the logo, “Growing With Farmers Cooperative” you’ll know they spent a lot of time caring for their cabbage for the weigh in on Saturday May 13th in Live Oak, and on May 20th at our Madison Co-op store.

General Manager, Todd Lawrence, Agronomy Division Manager, Barry Long, and Madison Manager Eddie Curl and Heather Bennett delivered 800 plants to the various elementary schools in their area. Heather Bennett, and Denise Watts, and all the managers provided pizza parties for the winners.

IN ORDER FOR THIRD graders to be eligible for the Bonnie Plant Farms Cabbage Contest, they simply had to plant the free Bonnie cabbage plant, provide the nutrients and attention the cabbage needed, and just watch it grow. Farmers Cooperative

provided a small bag of fertilizer and a garden trowel free. Farmers Cooperative’s website provided complete instructions on how to grow their Bonnie Plant cabbage.

We had a total of 18 class winners in the Cabbage Plant Growing Contest this year. Additionally, class winners will be entered into the State Bonnie Plant Farms drawing for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship from Bonnie Plant Farms.

Our third grade gardeners learned responsibility along with a real sense of accomplishment to see how they can grow their own food. Children were encouraged to bring their cabbage to the weigh in regardless of the size or weight. In fact, they ranged from 29.34 pounds on down.

All the winners and their cabbages can be seen on our Facebook site at Facebook.com/FarmersCooperativeInc. Also, when you visit the Live Oak Cooperative Store, you will be able to see the cabbage plant winners on our store monitors. We would like to recognize all the winners. First Place Winner at Suwannee Elementary School, Mindi Clark’s cabbage weighed in at 29.34 lbs. Mindi is in Ms. McIntosh’s class. Miranda Ramsey’s cabbage weighed 16.75 lbs and she won second place. Miranda is a student in Ms. Hurst’s class. Third place winner,

Bryce Geiger’s cabbage weighed in at 13.47 lbs. Bryce is in Ms. Huston’s class. Suwannee Elementary School class winner and pizza party winner is Ra’Darian Griffin, and is a student in Ms. Gay’s class.

SUWANNEE Elementary School had several students participating. They are as follows: Sarai Ovando in Ms. McIntosh’s class; Natalie Sapp, a student in Ms. Hurst’s class; Yuliet Lugo, a student in Ms. Berry’s class; River Hahn, a student in Ms. Hurst’s class. These student’s cabbage weights ranged from .65 to 29.34 lbs.

Class winners are: Mindi Clark, Ms. McIntosh’s student; Miranda Ramsey, Ms.

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LIVE OAK, FLFARMING NEWSVol. 30, No. 4 Live Oak • Madison • Florida July 1, 2017

9th Annual Co-op Contest

Third Graders: Kids Grow Cabbages

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1st Place Mindi Clark, Suwannee Elementary, Ms. McIntosh’s Class 29.34 lbs.

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Hurst’s student; Bryce Geiger, Ms. Huston’s class; Easton Alcorn, Ms. Berry’s class; Anndelyn Lundy, Ms. Edward’s class, Avery Beth Crocker, Ms. Furry’s class, Muhammad Lee II, Ms. Patrick’s class, and Ra’Darian Griffin, Ms. Gay’s class.

Mrs. Knighton’s third grade Branford Elementary School participants included five students: Chris Moore’s cabbage weighed 13.76 lbs; Layla Sedor’s cabbage weighed 12.5 lbs; Thomas Sikes’ cabbage came in at 12.05 lbs; Sadie Miller’s cabbage weighed 10.42 lbs and

Arkayvion Jones’ cabbage weighed 9.47 lbs.Mrs. Conger had one student participating

in the cabbage program. Reagan Anthony’s cabbage weighed 20.62 lbs. Ms. Garrett’s students included Gracie Gregg with her cabbage weighing 5.84 lbs, and Gage Brown’s cabbage weighing 2.23 lbs. Gracie Gregg is the class winner with her cabbage weighing in at 5.84 lbs.

Ms. Heffner’s class included Aubrey Wood with a 2.08 lb cabbage, and was the lucky winner for the pizza party for her class.

Branford’s First Place Winners are as follows: Reagan Anthony with a 20.62 lb

Cabbage Winners

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Miranda Ramsey 16.75lbsSuwannee Elementary

Brady Thomas 18.73 lbs.Lee Elementary

Mindi Clark 29.34 lbs.Suwannee Elementary

Shelby Klinesmith 18.83 lbs.Pinetta Elementary

Ra’Darian Griffin 0.65 lbs.Pizza Party Winner - Suwannee Elementary

Chris Moore 13.76 lbs.Branford Elementary

Addison Jones 25.8 lbs.Madison Creative Arts Academy

Bryce Geiger 13.47 lbs.Suwannee Elementary

Ar Moni Ivory 5.13 lbsPizza Party Winner - Pinetta Elementary

Reagan Anthony 20.62 lbs.Branford Elementary

Aubrey Wood 2.08 lbs.Pizza Party Winner - Branford Elementary

Layla Sedor 12.5 lbs.Branford Elementary

Congratulations to all Students!

For the Past Quarter

NEW CO-OP MEMBERSLIVE OAK STOREDanny R. Daniels, Jasper Jack Jenkins, Live Oak Rose Saraco, Live OakLola Annette Johnson, Live OakSusan Stalnaker, WellbornMarcel Djuivez, McAlpin Avery McCabe, Live Oak Crystal Whitt, O’BrienKathryn Creasy, Live OakBrenda Moradel, Live OakGranville Peterson, Lake CityJeffery W. Thomas, MayoChris Harrell, LeeGary Thiele, JacksonvilleSuw. Valley Humane Society, MadisonStephanie Walker, Live OakGary Campbell, McAlpin Corey Salisbury, LeeDonna Morgan, Live Oak Barbara Coulthurst, MayoAshlee Wooley, Live OakL. E. Combs, Jr., WellbornNancy Rogers, Live OakNorberto Diaz, Live OakRobert and Judy Shepard, Lake CityJanette S. Schneck, Live OakRobert Hare, Live OakTijonna S. Olender, Live OakWilbur L. Johnson, JasperBetty Radcliff, Live OakJason Brantley, Live OakBarbara Blount, Live OakErin Brinkman, WellbornFrances L. Underwood, McAlpinJordan Richards, BranfordKitty Kruegar, O’BrienBenjamin Ivey, Live OakMark & Debra Barnett, LeeRichard Stauffer, Live OakNoel Perez, Ft. WhiteTeresa B. Frier, Mayo Fox Haven Farm, Inc., JenningsCole Herring, McAlpinTheresa DeRush, Live OakKiah Shields, Live Oak

Rachel Lyons, Live OakRuby W. O’steen, Cross CityMartha Scott, Live OakKenneth Gaskill, LamontTeri Grantham, Live OakNed Mosley, Live OakKelly Crews, Lake CityJohn M. Carpenter, Live OakJason Weschrek, Live OakSara Leavell, Live OakCharles N. Bean, Live Oak Megan Hale, Live OakMary Cheek-Cason, McAlpinJoe Moody, Lake City Sam Cloud, Live OakFrancisco Guerrero, Live Oak Grace A. McCoy, Live OakStephanie Mumford, Live OakSusanne Glatz, Live OakSteven A. Heggs, Jacksonville Kelly M. Rodriguez, Live Oak Samuel Perry Willingham, Jr., St CloudCharles Corbitt, Live OakJames Hizer, White SpringsCherise & Matt Remmert, McAlpinEvelyn Hunter, Live OakJeff Fraddosio, McAlpinTammie Johns, Lake CityDeda McCray, MayoDaniel Hale, Live OakJames E. Locke, O’BrienTiffanee Moody, JasperFred R. Reeder, ParrishChristian Schomburg, Live OakRebecca Hauser, Live OakHazel Holland, Live OakSharon Rothenberger, O’BrienKountry Kin Farm, Ft. WhiteBrian Huff, O’BrienNat Tuten, Live Oak Austin McDonald, JasperAlicia Stoltzfoos, Live OakDavid Joy, McAlpinRudolph Mach, McAlpinDouglas Bowles, Live Oak

Peter F Nicholls, Dowling Park Dewayne Nash, Lake City Williams Fence Services, LLC, Live OakMichael Keith Kirkland, LeeRicky Mills, Live Oak Michael Braun, Live OakJason Bullock, Ocala Gregory Conner, Live OakDarrell Smith, Bell Jerry D Stewart, O’BrienGlenn D. Mihlfeld, Dowling ParkBrenda Page, Live OakChristine Williams, White SpringsClarence Carlisle, Live OakTrevor Williams, Live OakJeffrey C. Hallberg, White SpringsBrad Johnson, WellbornChristine Ellis, Live OakRonald Lynd, Live OakChiquita Sanchious, Live OakJames Wingard, Live OakJames R. Bennett, Lake CityJason L. Turner, BranfordRoger H-Despointes, LeeJoe Jenkins, Live Oak Patricia Laurie, MayoDonna Newton, Live OakKylie Giddens, Live OakPaul Powlin, Live OakJohn & Betsy Fajen, Live OakWalter D. Wilder, Live OakTerrance Wilkes, Live OakWilliam Mathews, WellbornRobert A. Young, Live OakJacob Grantham, Live OakBradley Taylor, Live OakBarbara J. Smith, WellbornSteve Gross, Live OakClenton Thompson, MayoJeff Cross – Canamera, Albany, GAYunior Acosta, Live OakCynthia Hawes, Live OakJonathan Carter, Live OakManuel Folsom, Jr., MayoDonovan Holloway, Sr., JasperPhillip M. Hall, Live OakGeorge E. Rutherford, McAlpinBenjamin Fisk, Live OakBryan VanAuken, Live Oak

Will Baker, Live OakAngela True,,Lake CityIgnacio Perera, Live OakErnie & Lori Sodrel, Live OakWilliam Dunn, Live OakJohn C. Owen, Dowling ParkAlicia Delegal, Live OakSuwannee River Services, LLC, Live OakMartin Owens, MacClenny

MADISON STORE Lee & Donna Bloomstine, Pinetta Diane R Denny, Lee Judy L Mclain, Madison Tiffany Wilson, Lee Penny & George Elliott, Lee Melanie Terrill, Madison Jeff Townsend, Madison M & M Pipeline Services, Eupore MsCarey Bell, Perry William Lee Haney, Perry JW Smokehouse Grill, Lamont Tommy Daniels Jr, Lee Bertha R Allen, Madison Marisa Bryant, Madison Mark Barnett, Lee Angel Sanchez, Madison Dean T Geary, Perry Todd Peacock, Lee Paul R Sweat, Madison William Spradley, Greenville Vance Willms, Madison Curt V Burlingame, Madison Richard D Daniels Jr, Zephyrhills Barbara Memorial Inc, Madison Ben Kirkland, Lee Tyler Chutz, Madison Travis Kinsley, Pinetta Gloria Powell, Greenville Mary Inverso, Jennings Deborah & William Sperry, Pinetta Dan C Harris, Lee Margie McMorrow, Madison Dawn Millis, Lee Rebecca Johnson, Valdosta GaHigh Cotton Farm, Lee Erin Tate, GreenvilleRonald & Peggy Kirkland

cabbage. Second Place Winner, Chris Moore’s cabbage weighed 13.76 lbs, and Third Place Winner went to Layla Sedor with a cabbage that weighed 12.5 lbs.

Madison’s First Place Winner, Addison Jones’ cabbage weighed in at 25.80 lbs and she is a student in Ms. Copeland’s class at Madison Creative Arts Academy.

Students also included in Mrs. Copeland’s class were: Savahnah McHutt’s cabbage weighed in at 14.24 lbs; Dalton McHutt’s cabbage weighed 13.61 lbs, Logan Bass’ cabbage weighed 13.11 lbs, and Landyn Bontrager’s cabbage weighed 6.91 lbs. Shelby Klinesmith is the Second Place Winner with her cabbage weighing in at 18.83 lbs, and she is a student in Ms. Griffin’s class at Pinetta

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Cabbage WinnersElementary School. Also in Ms. Griffin’s class, Caylee Crooks’ cabbage weighed 8.68 lbs. Heather Spires’ cabbage weighed in at 5.37 lbs. Ar Moni Ivory, a student in Mrs. Autum’s class, watched her cabbage grow to 5.13 lbs, and she won the pizza party for her class. Caleb Baughman’s cabbage weighed 4.41 lbs.

Third Place Winner, Brady Thomas’ cabbage weighed 18.73 lbs, and he is a student of Ms. Gurley at Lee Elementary School. Other classmates of Brady Thomas include Leland Summers with his cabbage weighing in at 18.64 lbs. Ms. Salls’ students Belinda Albritton’s cabbage weighed 8.26 lbs and Addison Webb’s cabbage weighed 2.8 lbs.

NEW TESTAMENT Christian School’s teacher Mrs. Glenda is very proud of her one participant in the cabbage program. Kadyn Lewis’ cabbage weighed in at .60 lbs.

First place winners won a $30.00 gift card from Farmers Cooperative, A “Growing With Farmers Cooperative” T-shirt and a Co-op hat. Second place winners won a $20.00 gift card from Farmers Cooperative, a “Growing With Farmers Cooperative” T-shirt and a Co-op hat. Third place winners won a $10.00 gift card from Farmers Cooperative, a “Growing With Farmers Cooperative T-shirt” and a Co-op hat.

Each class winner’s name was put into a random drawing to win the pizza party along with a $10.00 gift card from Farmers Cooperative, A Growing With Farmers Cooperative T-shirt and a Co-op hat.

Congratulations third graders for your great participation in the Farmers Cooperative/Bonnie Plant Cabbage Growing Contest. And a special thank you to the teachers that made this another very successful Bonnie Plant Cabbage Growing event.

Farming Newswww.farmerscooperative.org

Is published quarterly, or as the need arises, by Farmers Cooperative in Live Oak and Madison.Todd Lawrence, Publisher & Editor

Ted Henderson, Live Oak (Suwannee County)Eddy Roberts, O’Brien (Suwannee County)William T. Carte (Suwannee County)Tim Steichen, Wellborn (Suwannee County)Kevin Morgan (Hamilton County)Kenneth McLeod (Madison County)Jeff Lee (Suwannee County)Jeffery Hamrick (Madison County)

Co-op Directors

P.O. Box 610 P.O. Box 390 Live Oak, FL Madison, FL 32064 32341 Phone Phone 386-362-1459 850-973-2269

New Employee, Ben Glass on RoGator

By Todd LawrenceMeet our new Director of Precision Ag

Technologies, Ben Glass. Ben enjoys being outdoors, so this is the perfect job for him. Ben is a recent graduate of the University of Florida with a Masters Degree in Food Resources Economics in Agri-Business.

Ben will be working with the latest technology in precision ag. As with most everything in today’s world, technology has a significant impact. From cell phones to tablets and many other items, we all continue to adopt new technologies everyday. Farmers Cooperative and our farmer customers are no different. Farmers Cooperative saw the need to have a staff member that can help our farmers not only collect data but also interpret the data and help farmers make good decisions based on accurate and reliable data.

BEN IN HIS new position will help the farmer gather data throughout the growing season so that better decisions can be made in the future that will improve yield and the bottom line as well.

Collection of the data begins before the crop is planted with soil samples in 2 ½ acre grids. The samples are sent off to the lab for analysis. The data is then interpreted and a variable rate prescription is prepared for the application to the field. The prescription is then entered into the computer of the Ro-Gator’s variable rate applicator. When the application is made, the computer and GPS will automatically adjust the rates as the RoGator applies fertilizer across the field as the prescription is applied.

The next tool in our precision ag tool-box is Aqua Spy soil moisture monitoring probes. Ben has been busy installing these probes in fields that will help to better manage irrigation usage.

Once again, Ben helps the farmer in-terpret the real time data so the farmer can make better informed decisions about water consumption of the crop. The data shows the most direct impact to superior yield is assuring that water and nutrients exist in the Active Root Zone (ARZ) when and where the plant attempts to uptake these vital elements. The use of soil moisture probes have seen yield increases of up to 40% from managing the Active Root Zone. Ben will continue to work with farmers throughout the growing season, and he will help collect yield data at the end of the crop season. At the end of the crop season he will help farmers look at all the data that was collected during the growing season to start working on a plan for the next year’s crop. With the collected data, Ben can help the farmers see what areas were managed well and what can be improved the following year.

Co-op’s Newest Tool: Ben GlassFarmers Cooperative believes that

setting yourself up for the best possible yield by controlling what you can is far superior than leaving it up to nature only. As you can see, Ben has a lot of tools in his Precision Ag Toolbox to help our farmer customers. Of course, as technology continues to change, Farmers Cooperative will continue to add tools to the toolbox.

Mr. Glass comes from a long line of farm-ers. His grandparents, Kenneth and Jane Mc-Leod have been loyal patrons of Farmers Coop-erative for over 50 years. In fact, the McLeod’s Family Farm dates back to 1867, so Ben knows just a little bit about farming from poultry houses to row crops. Although his Dad’s parents, Hilda and Fred Glass, are deceased, Ben remembers many of the les-sons they taught him to be considerate of other people.

Ben is a Suwannee County Native with lots of good work experience. For example, he has worked on his Aunt Barbara and Uncle Eustis Gamble’s farm, and you can be assured he knows a lot about keeping poultry houses clean. Working on Grandpa Kenneth McLeod’s farm he learned many ways not to waste time or money on the farm.

BEN’S ALSO worked as customer service at a local pawn shop that gave him great insight about the lack of money cus-tomers had when they would pawn some of their prized possessions.

Probably some of the greatest knowl-edge he gained was when he was employed with the Suwannee County Courthouse in Live Oak. Ben remembers the massive Re-cords Section of deeds, marriages, divorces, and final judgments and so much of Suwannee County history.

Sunday morning is a time for family at Clayland Baptist Church where Ben learned a lot of the good values that are instilled in him today. He is an active member at Clay-land and teaches the College and Career Level Class as well as serves on the Cemetery Committee.

Welcome Aboard Ben! We feel we are very fortunate to have our new employee, Ben Glass with such great credentials.

Help, HelpWHERE ARE THESE

FOLKS?Farmers Cooperative is trying to locate the following people whose patronage refund checks have been returned from the U. S. Postal Service as “undeliverable.”

Mary Algiere, Timmonsville S C Mable Allen, BranfordJames Russell Anderson, McAlpin Gladys Canncey, Live OakFrank Cantey, Madison Charles Odum, Live OakMitchell Owens, Trenton Charles F. Patton, Sr., Live Oak

Ben Glass presented the lucky winner, Frankie Allen of Live Oak, two free general admission weekend passes to the Suwannee River Jam that was held on April 27th thru April 30th.To be eligible to win the Suwannee River Jam tickets the customer only had to buy Bonnie Plant vegetables and be entered into a drawing.