heartland in the field - september 2011

www.InTheFieldMagazine.com September 2011 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 1

September 2011

HARDEE • HIGHLANDS • DESOTO • GLADESCHARLOTTE • OKEECHOBEE • HENDRY

Covering What’s Growing

WilliamsonCattle Company

2 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE September 2011 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com www.InTheFieldMagazine.com September 2011 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE 3

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In The Field® Magazine is published monthly and is available through local businesses, restaurants and other local venues within Hardee, Highlands, Charlotte, DeSoto, Okeechobee, Glades and Hendry counties. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes members of the Farm Bureau and those with ag classification on their land. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to Heartland in the Field, P.O. Box 3183, Plant City, Florida 33563 or you are welcome to email them to [email protected] or call 813-708-3661.

Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field® Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by their advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In The Field® magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

The experience of ages has shown that a man who works on the land is purer, nobler, higher, and more moral... Agriculture should be at the basis of everything. That’s my idea. Nikolai Gogol

Agriculture, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is the science, art or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops and raising livestock and, in varying degrees, the prepara-tion and marketing of the resulting products.

Sounds relatively simple doesn’t it? But agriculture is so much more than the sum of this definition. It means food from our country, a safe, abundant source of food is right here in the United States of America, and even better than that, it is right here in Florida. It means going to the farmers market for the freshest best food. Agriculture also gives us a sense of satisfac-tion, bringing in the crops after working in the fields or rounding up the cattle and seeing the fruits of our labors in the newborn calves running around to find their mommas, and sharing this with others who are involved in this age old industry.

Agriculture is also full of beauty and wonder. When you are out in the field or pasture before the break of dawn, you can pause as the sun comes up to greet a glorious day. You get to wit-ness nature at is finest as your crops and livestock grow with each passing day.

Agriculture is also education. Education of the youth in our country is of the greatest importance. Of course we want to help those involved in projects with 4H and FFA, but don’t forget those who may not have a chance to be on the farm. The education of those who are generations removed from the farm is important as well.

Agriculture is a lifestyle. It’s a responsibility to preserve and even enhance the connection agriculture gives us to the land. Farmers and ranchers know the land around them and under-stand its importance in the continuation of this thing we call agriculture.

Until next month,

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

From the Managing Editor

Sarah HoltVOL. 3 • ISSUE 12

SeptemberHeartland’s AGRICULTURE Magazine

Williamson Cattle Co.cover photo by Jim Davis

Pg. 32

Cover Story

8Advertisers Index

102011 Citrus Expo Recap

12FL Citrus Commissioner

Marty McKenna

16Florida Farming

Ron Lambert

24Hunting Regulations

28Rocking Chair Chatter

36Woman in Agriculture

Carol Sanders

38-43Food Section

48Farmer/Rancher Spotlight

Joe Collins

54-59Events


September 2011

HARDEE • HIGHLANDS • DESOTO • GLADESCHARLOTTE • OKEECHOBEE • HENDRY

Covering What’s Growing

WilliamsonCattle Company

Publisher Rhonda Glisson

Karen Berry

Senior Managing Editor

Sarah Holt

Assistant Editor Morgan Taylor Norris

Operations Manager Lizzette Sarria

Office Manager Bob Hughens

Sales Manager Danny Crampton

Sales Karen Berry

Morgan Taylor Norris Chass Bronson

Ron Brown Tina Richmond

Creative Director Amey Celoria

Staff Writers Al Berry

James Frankowiak Robbi Sumner

Tanner Huysman Justin Smith

Contributing Writers Ron Lambert

Brenda Valentine Jay Houston

Lindsey Wiggins

Photography Jim Davis

Karen Berry Justin Smith

Morgan Taylor Norris

Tel: 813-708-3661Fax: 813-754-4690


HIGHLANDS COUNTYFARM BUREAU

6419 US Highway 27 S.Sebring, FL 33876

FARM BUREAU INSURANCE

SPECIAL AGENTS

OFFICERS ANDEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS FOR 2010-2011Sam Bronson • Steve Farr

Carey Howerton • Charles LanfierMike Milicevic • Lindsey Sebring

Mike Waldron • Jim WoodJeff Williams • Frank Youngman

County SecretaryJanet Menges

President ..............................Marty WohlVice President ................ Scott KirouacSecretary ......................... Drew PhypersTreasurer ............................. Doug Miller

Office Hours: Monday-Friday8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Phone:863. 385.5141

Fax:863.385.5356

Web site:www.highlandsfarmbureau.com

Agency ManagerChad D. McWaters

AgentsJoseph W. Bullington

6419 US Highway 27 S.Sebring, FL 33876

(863) 385-5141

CHARLOTTE/DESOTO COUNTY FARM BUREAU

1278 SE US Highway 31Arcadia, FL 34266


SPECIAL AGENTS


DIRECTORS FOR 2010-2011Jim Brewer • John BurtscherMike Carter • Steve Fussell

Lindsay Harrington Richard E. Harvin • Ann H. Ryals

Mac Turner • Matt HarrisonKen Harrison

County SecretaryKatherine Renfro

President ............... Jim Selph

Vice President ..... Jeffrey Adams

Sec./Treasurer ..... Bryan K. Beswick


Phone:863.494.3636

Charlotte Line:941.624.3981

Fax:863.494.4332

Agency ManagerCameron N. Jolly

AgentsDawn A. Hines

1278 SE US Highway 31Arcadia, FL 34266

(863) 494-3636

HARDEE COUNTYFARM BUREAU

1017 US Highway 17 NWauchula, FL 33873


SPECIAL AGENTS


DIRECTORS FOR 2010-2011Joseph B. Cherry • John Platt

Corey Lambert • Daniel H. SmithSteve A. Johnson • Bill Hodge

David B. Royal • Greg L. ShackelfordBo Rich

Susan ChapmanCounty Secretary

President ............... David B. RoyalVice President ..... Greg L. ShackelfordSec./Treasurer ..... Bo Rich


Phone:863. 773.3117

Fax:863.773.2369

Agency ManagerN. Jay Bryan

AgentGeorge L. Wadsworth, Jr.

1017 US Hwy 17 N.Wauchula, FL 33873

(863) 773-3117


4-H Clovers Pumpkin Patch ...................53Agri Services ................................... 13, 15Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers ..............19All-Around Septic .................................60Arcadia Stockyard .................................47Big T Tire .............................................28Blinds ASAP .........................................57Buckeye Connection Show Pigs ..............43Callaway Farms ...................................... 2Camper Corral ......................................60Cattlemens Livestock Market ................49Center State Bank .................................37Central Florida Show Pigs .....................25Central States Enterprises ....................... 9CF Industries ........................................21Christy Montoyne, DeSoto Automall ....60Cowpoke’s Watering Hole .....................64DeSoto Machine Shop ...........................53DeSoto/Charlotte Farm Bureau .............. 7Dixie Pride Seasoning ............................60Dusty’s Camper ....................................57Edgewood Landscape ............................60Fields Equipment ..................................25Florida Cattlemen’s Association ............55Florida Fence Post .................................39

Florida Golden Honey ..........................60Fly-N-Hi Enterprises .............................53Friends of NRA Banquet .......................25Glade & Grove Supply ..........................51Glisson’s Animal Supply ........................60Goin’ Postal ..........................................60Griffin’s Carpet Mart ............................27Hardee County Farm Bureau .................. 7Heartland Gold ....................................31Heartland Growers ...............................63Heartland Periodontics, Dr. Kirsch ........61Helena Chemical ...................................37Hicks Oil ..............................................43Highlands County Farm Bureau ............. 7Highlands County F.B Annual Dinner ..... 6Highlands Cty. F.B. Heritage Sponsors ....45KeyPlex Nutritionals .............................. 5KJ Guns & Ammo ................................61Langford Ford, Nick Smith ....................61Laye’s Tire ............................................39Mason G. Smoak Foundation 5K ............31Merrill Lynch, Jim Webb .......................53Miller’s Central Air ...............................43Mosiac .................................................47Okeechobee Dodge ................................ 3

Peace River Citrus .................................57Platinum Bank ......................................45Precision Lock & Safe ...........................59Prestige Home Center ...........................45Purina Field Day ...................................57Quail Creek Plantation .........................25Rhizogen ..............................................41River Pasture//Metal Art .......................17Robbins Nursery ...................................39Sherco Surveying Services ......................31Spurlow’s Outdoor Outfitters ................61Sunshine Family Denistry ......................61Superior Muffler ...................................61Taylor Oil Company .............................19The Andersons ......................................53Tree T Pee .............................................11Triangle Hardware ................................61Trinkle, Redman, Swanson, Cotón, Davis & Smith, P.A. ..............................23Wauchula State Bank ............................27Wicks, Brown, CPA ...............................53Wild Turkey Tavern ...............................61WinField Solutions .......................... 23, 49Wish Farms ...........................................29

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813-708-3661 [email protected]

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Assistant Editor Morgan Taylor Norris

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Sales Manager Danny Crampton

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“Florida Farm Bureau’s mission is to increase the net income of farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of rural life.” In concert with that statement, we work to strengthen our communities in the rural and urban counties. Farm Bureau members live, work and are actively involved in their home towns. Strengthening communities includes, but is certainly not limited to, working with elected officials, speaking to youth and adult groups, being involved in various organizations and working on economic development.

Florida Farm Bureau’s newest initiative, “Strengthening Family Farms and Communities Since 1941” is providing another opportunity to become involved. This campaign is designed for county farm bureaus to promote Farm Bureau, agriculture and the stability we provide to our economy.

I will be working with the leaders of each county farm bureau to begin planning the implementation of this new program. If you have been thinking about becoming involved but you are not quite sure

how, this is your prime moment! I challenge Farm Bureau members who have not been involved in the past to give some serious thought to beginning your involvement today.

Ideas to consider include working with the conventional media, electronic media, speaking to groups, working at various functions using printed material and talking to people one on one. The opportunities are endless. Please give it some serious thought as to how you, the Farm Bureau member, can help your county farm bureau and work to promote the industry that feeds all of us on a daily basis. If you are not a Farm Bureau member, simply go to www.floridafarmbureau.org/membershipsignup and join!

Andy NeuhoferField Representative District [email protected]

District 6 UpdateFrom the Desk of Andy Neuhofer

Pasco County DistributorFloyd’s Nursery

10548 Singletary Rd. Dade City, FL 33525

(352) 521-3571www.FloydCitrus.com

Polk County DistributorFrostproof Growers Supply

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The 2011 Citrus Expo was held on August 17th and 18th at the Lee County Fair Grounds. As has come to be expected the docket of speakers addressed a wide array of topics important to the citrus industry today. As always there was a touch of future speculations thrown in. The trade show was equally held up to the high bar that has been set in the past. Also, as customary, there was no lack of drawings for promotional items, like the yearly sought after John Deere gun cabinet. Many attendees made sure to stay for the end and get their chance at the ceramic grill given away by Cabela’s, Howard’s fertilizer drew for an iPad and numerous exhibitors had fishing gear or gift baskets. Of course there is also the delicious lunches everyone looks forward to, especially Thursday’s steak.

The speakers this year kept the audience’s attention with various topics composed of new research, updates on older research items and even branched off into areas such as market-ing. Nutrition was spoken of quite a bit. Delivery methods, plant uptake and the nutritional cocktail mixes were also discussed. All of the topics seemed to draw good grower participation and questioning.

Among the topics, which is not as common, was that of marketing. Typically marketing is not as prevalent in the growers’ spectrum as they leave that in the hands of the juicers and Florida Citrus Commission. However as the market is declining and costs are rising it is becoming, as it has at points in the past, more on the minds of the average producer. Mr. Allen Morris spoke on possible ideas to fund marketing without sacrificing research monies.

Although there is no question about the importance of dis-ease research, Mr. Morris did put it into perspective. He stated, “If in a few years we beat greening and every other disease but we can not sell the fruit we are producing, then we can’t stay in busi-ness.” These words are vitally important to the industry. Produc-tion can only be market driven. There is no way to sell something that there is no demand for. Mr. Morris also commented that without marketing, orange juice substitutes would take away from sales. Some of his suggestions revolved around the ideas of partnering with other large companies.

On a similar note, Dr. Tim Spreen spoke of another reason to heavily promote Florida orange juice. He stated Brazil has re-ported as much as a 10% increase in next year’s citrus crop. This is not the best news for the pocket book of Florida growers.

To change gears just slightly, Dr. Fritz Roka addressed the very real concern over the cost of labor. Specifically he talked about the cost of picking and hauling fruit. His information veri-fied picking and hauling was 1/3 of the total cost of production. Not of labor, but of all production. Dr. Roka’s information also directly correlated an extreme rise in labor cost with the same time the Florida E-verify bill narrowly escaped passage in this past year’s legislative session.

Citrus Health Management Areas (CHMA) were heard about from several speakers. Mr. Greg Carlton, the CHMA statewide coordinator with the Department of Agriculture, spoke on their efforts. He also reviewed the website information avail-ability and encourages growers to get in contact with their local CHMA leader or county extension agent.

There were also growers who shared their success with large area wide spray programs. John Gose, with Lykes Bros. Citrus Management, shared data of psyllid populations in areas which were under intense area wide spray programs and those which were not managed as strongly. The information provided clear proof that CHMA’s work to the growers benefit.

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) were discussed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration was represented by Commander Stewart Watson. He lectured on the FDA regulations in relation to GAPs. As always the point was driven home to document everything which was done in a production operation.

One of the speakers which seemed to draw quite a bit of interest was Dr. Ron Briansky. His topic covered the Phloem of trees being given high amounts of nutritional cocktails compared to those not being treated. The results were impressive. Using nutrition sprays with florescent dyes and a black light, he was able to show the uptake ability of the varying trees. The trees that were greening positive and being treated already had a much larg-er amount of uptake than those not being treated. Dr. Briansky’s experiment gives more proof as to the importance of nutritional sprays. The unattainable factor at this point however, is still, why do these nutritional sprays work and will they continue to do so over time?

The topics covered this year were all informative. It seems as though there is a never ending slate of issues facing the industry. That is why it is so important to have times like this to get so much information out to everyone.

With all the thought of speakers and problems it is impor-tant not to forget the other part of the Expo, the trade show. There are so many services out there and this is just the kind of show to find what you need. It could be insurance, most all agricultural insurances agencies are there. Maybe you need some-where to purchase safety equipment. You can find vendors to help with the new GAPs just discussed. It is a great opportunity to get by and meet the leaders of some of the groups who work so hard for citrus producers. The growers associations, Mutual all of these organizations have a booth. Maybe it’s time to replace a tractor or a spray machine, those can be found there as well.

The Expo is also a great opportunity for networking. Get with people you rarely catch up with or meet friends of friends. There is never a lack of substance or people to see and talk with. If you missed the Citrus Expo this year then just plan to attend next year and you won’t be sorry.

by Justin Smith

2011 Citrus Expo rECap


be attentive to everything. Likewise, the market of orange juice is slipping and is another challenge that cannot be overlooked. Marty believes the greatest of all may be in the ability to strike a balance between funding research and growing the market at the same time.

Although the market has declined, a combination of disease pressures and changes in ownership from growers to developers have shrank production faster. This has afforded a sustained price and kept profit margins up. McKenna’s fear is as options come into existence to combat greening, production will rise. If there is more production and less market then prices will plummet. He stated, “In an economy like we have today, it is very hard to sell anybody anything.”

Even with the threat of diseases, the question of how to sell and to whom, McKenna maintains his optimism for the future. He believes any time a challenge arises a decision must be made to either succumb to it or turn it into an opportunity. “The citrus in-dustry has historically faced great challenges and has always made them into opportunities. I believe the challenges we face today will be no different.”

McKenna also has great faith in the “young” citrus com-mission. As there are several new commissioners and some who are returning after taking off for a term or longer. McKenna believes the current commission has the least cumulative hours of service as commissioners ever. However, this does not mean they are not qualified. On the contrary, this commission has a very strong grower influence which can only be a valuable asset for the industry as a whole. Aside from Mr. McKenna’s point of view of the commission, the industry could take the approach that with a young commission there is at least no one stuck in the old ways.

One of the primary reasons Marty enjoys his leadership role in the industry is that it gives him a greater ability to give back. In an industry filled with so many people who are known for giving freely he feels it is his time to return the favor many have given him. Not to them directly but to others in the same fashion, particu-larly young people. A few of the mentors he states afforded him so many opportunities include Joe L. Davis Sr., Mack Griffin and Paul Huff.

Although Marty is intricately tied to citrus he does occasion-ally take a break as we all need to do. Once again if it is not citrus though, it’s all about family. He is what would be called a true family man. He says he likes to hunt and fish but always adds the family. If he goes to the hunting camp, it’s with the “kids”. The McKenna family also enjoys fishing all along the coast of Florida and particularly in the Keys and it is always a family affair. If they are not together doing one of those activities then they enjoy watching Gator games, sometimes on TV but they also love to visit the Swamp from time to time. For baseball they travel outside of Florida as their team of choice is the Boston Red Sox. Marty even has a date with his wife planned for the coming season - he will be taking her to the Red Sox vs. New York game this year. At this point Karen has not confirmed it, but Marty assures that she enjoys this type of trip as much as he does.

Family man, business man, Com-missioner and a good ol’ citrus man, any of these could be used to describe Marty McKenna and any one of them would be accurate. He loves the citrus industry almost as much as his own family. There is no mistaking his desires are to see it thrive and to see the next generation have the op-portunity to succeed. In his words, “This is a great industry!”

There is really no other way to put it, Marty McKenna truly loves the Florida citrus industry. Marty is a fourth generation Florida citrus grower, holds a degree from the University of Florida in fruit crops and owns two successful citrus based businesses. The first is McKenna & Associates Citrus, Inc., which he and his wife operate. He and his brother own the appropriately named business McKenna Brothers, Inc. Between the two companies they manage 850 acres of family citrus and manage 5,000 acres of citrus for large and small customers throughout the central and southern portions of the state. McKenna was also recently selected by the Governor to be a commissioner for the Florida Citrus Commis-sion, a position that shapes much of the industry.

Although there is no doubt as to his devotion to citrus it still pales in comparison to that of his family. Marty is the proud husband of Karen and is very quick to point out she runs the of-fice for their business and he relies on her heavily. They met back in their days of college at the University of Florida more than 30 years ago. Together they have four children. The oldest is Michael who served in the U.S. Marines for five years. He is a graduate of Santa Fe College and is currently seeking a criminal justice degree at the University of Florida. Their second child is Elizabeth who presently lives in Charleston. She graduated from the College of Charleston and is employed in the insurance industry. Next in line is Emily, a senior at UF who will soon have her degree in food and resource economics. Finally, there is Riley who recently left for his first year of college and plans to pursue ag engineering. Marty says it has only been a few days but an empty nest takes some get-ting used to. In his own words, “Raising children is not work. It’s a joy that will pay many dividends one day.”

Marty was raised in Polk County. His grandfather and great-

grandfather moved there in the 1920s and planted about 20 acres of citrus. They were experienced agriculturists with a background in dairy farming in Michigan. Having traded in their milking buckets for orange crates, McKenna’s family would be some of the pioneers of the Florida citrus industry. Marty still owns 35 acres of the original grove his family planted 90 years ago.

Having been raised with orange juice in his blood it was just a natural progression for Marty’s life to revolve around the industry. He grew up in groves, got an education focused on the industry, raised his own family in the groves and has been an active part of helping the industry to remain viable. Attaining a seat on the Florida Citrus Commission was just one more step in the cycle and one he welcomes with open arms. Not only was Marty selected for a position on the Citrus Commission but his fellow commis-sioners also elected him as the Chairman. When given the oppor-tunity to give back to the industry in a leadership role McKenna didn’t hesitate.

Marty knows there are great challenges which must be faced, but believes the industry has a positive future. A sentiment which he says is echoed by all of the mostly new commissioners. One of the challenges he believes will be on the horizon includes the rising cost of inputs to maintain production, although he related this challenge to that of a weather event. “We may see it coming but it will be something which must be monitored as we don’t have a lot of control over it.” Challenges that are more on the long-term spectrum are continued funding for diseases. Greening is still a top priority however there are others out there that must also be ad-dressed. He states he feels much better about the future concern-ing greening than he did two years ago. However, he stressed that greening is not the only disease out there and the industry must

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It is the early 1900’s, and things are being done differently in the Paul family grove in Wauchula, Florida. Citrus trees, which are usually watered by hand, are being watered with a new sys-tem -- a pump. It is one of the first to be used in any citrus grove in central Florida.

The grove founder and Paul family progenitor, A.G. Smith, was an original ground breaker in more ways than one. Ever the innovator, he traded a downtown Wauchula city block for a pump, and he pioneered the implementation of flood-style irriga-tion. The doom-and-gloomers came out en force, convinced of the folly of this new endeavor, but of course, the grove flourished. Many things have changed in the citrus industry over the last one hundred years, but one thing has remained a constant, a desire by the Paul family to be innovative and progressive.

The latest trail blazer is the family’s current president, John Paul. John, who attended Cornell University and then the Univer-sity of Florida for his Master’s Degree, has long been concerned with the reports of glyphosates, potentially binding minerals in the soil. Additionally, he has always been dissatisfied with the high cost of maintaining low volume irrigation systems. To com-bat these issues, he has researched alternative ways to chemically treat weeds. The best candidate is an inter-row cultivator that mechanically removes weeds between trees.

The first hurdle in preparing the citrus grove for mechanical cultivation is to relocate or remove the polyethylene tubing and emitter assemblies. John has identified three different approaches to irrigating a citrus grove without the polyethylene tubing and emitter assemblies.

The first of these approaches is underway in the Wauchula grove, where the polyethylene tubing is supported 36 inches off the ground with a galvanized cable. The emitter is not a stake assembly, but a vertical hanging emitter that is inverted. John explains the system, “I really like this approach. We are gather-ing data to prove the efficacy and ease of maintenance over time. Tree farmers currently utilize irrigation systems in this manner. Of course, their rows are as close as six feet apart, but with high margins, they have been able to justify the expense. In citrus, our rows are currently 20 to 25 feet apart with a potential to be as close as 12 feet apart in high density plantings. This system will also limit emitter clogging and ant and critter damage, an ad-ditional savings to the grower.”

The second approach, which is taking place in the LaBelle grove, is subsurface irrigation/drainage. In this trial, large diameter corrugated pipes are installed as mains and submains. The distribution points are corrugated pipes, smaller in diameter than the mains, which are wrapped in mesh socks. Water is introduced into the corrugated mains for irrigation and released for drainage. John explains the genesis of this idea, “I saw this technique used by a sod grower in Arcadia and thought it could be converted to citrus. The method doesn’t require any above ground polyethylene tubing, so it is a natural for mechanical inter-row cultivation.”

The final alternative is a hybrid of residential and agricul-tural systems. The emitter would be a gear rotor installed in the center of the bed. John notes, “ I saw this as being more appli-cable in the high density plantings that are on the horizon. The installation is similar to the old solid set irrigation. The emitter is a gear rotor at ground level and not an impact sprinkler 20 feet off the ground. However, the higher operating pressures may make this form of irrigation cost prohibitive to many.”

John Paul believes that any of these options are viable depending on soil type, growing region, and tree density, and that potential users must capture all the variables and monitor them. In order to make an educated decision regarding these innova-tions, citrus growers will have to weigh the costs of maintenance for the irrigation system and the inter-row cultivator against the savings realized through the use of contact herbicide and the ef-ficiency of the new system over time.

The expectation is that these new irrigation practices will inspire and stimulate additional ideas so that citrus growers can continue to improve their existing systems. While the current system has served the industry well, it has many limitations. With new technology, the citrus industry can certainly push beyond these boundaries. John Paul extends a welcome to all who are interested in visiting his grove to see the current system in action. He is particularly interested in an open forum and looks for-ward to any ideas or suggestions that would improve the citrus industry.

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by Ron Lambert

Today is Thursday, August 18, 2011. Time surely seems to fly by at a blinding speed. The year is well on its way into becoming part of his-tory. I set out this evening to write a little about recollections of memorable events through out my life.

Having been connected with agriculture throughout my life, I naturally remember events that involve extremes of the weather. Storms, heat, hail, rain and lightning strikes have af-fected all of us over the years. The subject that I would like to write about this month is going to be my memories of freezes here and how they affect and change life here in Florida.

I was born in 1951 and lived near Ft. Meade, FL in 1957. There was a significant freeze in December of 57 followed by a very cold spell in February of 1958.

The freeze in 1957 began with a measur-able snowfall over much of the state. Citrus fruit was frozen badly and trees that weren’t killed lost most of their leaf cover. Warmer weather throughout January hastened a flush of new growth on citrus and the freezing temperatures in February did significant damage to orange groves over a wide area.

My father worked at Goochland Nursery during that time and spent many hours burning heaters in that nursery.

Another significant event in that decade was several days and nights of very cold rain that killed a lot of cattle from exposure. I am told that this event occurred in 1954.

As I mentioned last month, we moved back to Hardee County in 1960. On December 12, 1962 a very bad freeze struck the citrus belt again. The majority of fruit was lost in many groves and there was a lot of damage to large branches on mature groves. Many young trees were frozen to the ground. I remember that my grandfather had a crew come in to prune the groves that spring and summer of 1963.

I recall that they were imported workers from Jamaica here with temporary visas. At that time, Hispanics were just beginning to emigrate from Mexico.

We hauled a great deal of brush out of the groves to clear out the frozen branches. After that, Florida had a few years with mild winters and everything was fine. How-ever, in 1970 around November 20, a very early freeze struck unexpectedly. Because it was so early and trees had not had any cold weather to harden them, quite a bit of dam-age was felt on nursery stock and citrus. Of course the remaining vegetable crops were wiped out completely.

During the remainder of the 1960s, many growers bought oil heaters and put in storage tanks for storage of inexpen-sive diesel fuel to fire groves when a freeze threatened. This was a chance for quite a few teenagers to earn what seemed like a heap of money. You see, teenage boys thought it was just fine to have an excuse to stay up late and talk with their friends while waiting for word from the grove owner to light the heaters. This did not happen often, but when it did the smoke would cloud the area with a smelly black cloud that hung in the area like smog. The reflection from the fires would light up an area giving enough light to make your way to the next heater. When you had a still calm night those heat-ers did a lot of good in protecting both trees and fruit.

Unfortunately, a freeze event almost al-ways lasted two nights and sometimes three. You could count on at least one night with high winds that blew away most of the heat. Still the grove owners who had a way to put out heaters and could afford it continued to make these preparations year after year.

The end of this era came about with

the Arab oil embargo of 1974. Diesel fuel costs soared to a level that prohibited burning heat ers in an open orchard. Some nursery growers continued to use them in enclosed greenhouses and shops for heat. Of course these were what were known as a return stack heater.

They would put off a lot of heat and very little smoke. Even so these heaters have all but disappeared from view, another part of bygone history.

Growers began to realize the benefits of under tree irrigation about this time and found that a water spray under a tree could indeed provide a great benefit in released heat from the irrigation water.

We are able to pump enough water over sensitive plants in our nursery to blanket them with ice as shown in the accompanying photos. This ice cover insulates all but the most delicate of plants and prevents freeze damage from occurring.

But there are drawbacks to all good ideas and practices and freeze protection with water is no exception. First of all you must start your pumps before the temperatures got below freezing. Secondly, you must monitor to ensure that your pump operated non stop through out the night. A power outage or diesel failure would mean significant damage to the crop. If the water flow was interrupted for any length of time, the temperature would drop severely. In addition, the sprinklers or emitters would freeze solid very quickly and you could not resume water flow through a frozen line.

Even so, water is a very effective means of cold protection on a wide variety of crops. The greatest problem to come about from heavy pumping seems to be the increased occurrence of sinkholes in areas in and around Plant City. The strawberry growers rely on water cover to protect the berry blooms and fruit. While this works very well for them, the surrounding residential wells are very likely

to go dry. Many hard feelings and much public resentment has resulted from this.

In 1977, when I was 27 years old, central Florida was hit with another significant snowfall and extended period of freezing tem-peratures. This freeze came at a time when citrus crops were huge and prices were very low. The result was that citrus prices soared to a level that no one had ever dreamed of. Growers who had a grove in a warm location and especially those with Valencia oranges, got a very good price for their fruit.

I am going to close this months article in the late 1970s and pick up again in the most memorable decade of freeze events in memory. The 1980’s !!!

Until next month, enjoy God’s blessings as they come your way.

Florida Freezes

32°

23°

20°

18°

16°

15°14°

12°

9°

-2°

1982

197019341905

19711906

19771886

1895

19581940

19811962

1899

Florida Freezes


Producing an abundant crop, durable and full of flavor at a profit is more of a challenge today than ever.

The demands of today’s consumer require more from our nation’s growers. To compete, we are forced to produce a product more profitable than in years past and one that exceeds general standards as well as meets the expectations of the consumer. This can be difficult for some producers.

Quite often the obstacle in meet-ing demand today is that we attempt to maintain or improve our production using old methods without the benefit of new technologies.

As producers, we are some of the best in the world at growing a crop and getting it to market but as businessmen and inno-vators, we tend to function in a rut doing the same thing over and over.

Think about it. The one thing that remains the same is our intention of growing a crop. Everything else is subject to change. Our acres might change, prices may change, and the weather, soil condi-tions, and nutrient levels will also change. How many of us are doing what we have always done but struggle to maintain production and quality.

Those using new technologies are enjoying greater return on their invest-ments. New varieties and stronger genetics add benefit to their production, advances in pesticides and equipment too add value. Many of these advances have already been introduced to crop production, the exception seems to be advances in liquid fertilizers.

The technology available today can put nutrient use back in the hands of the grower and in response to the requirement of the crop, not dictated by limitations of the product nor guided by historical treat-ment methods. How often are we forced to make treatments with conventional fertilizers in such a way just to manage the negative attributes of the product, such as instability, chlorine, by- products of in-dustry or high salt content? Likewise how many times have we staged treatments due to incompatibility with other fertilizers or pesticides? Available today is the technol-ogy that puts prescriptive use and applica-

tion back in your hands.Manufacturing processes employed

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Unlike the conventional fertilizer arena, we at Agro-Culture Liquid Fertil-izers, along with our dealerships, can be prescriptive with the use of our products. The target of Maximum Return on Invest-ment will suggest that attention to crop removal values, nutrient balances and pos-sible antagonizing influences in the soil be considered when building a fertilizer pro-gram. With this information, along with the cropping intentions of the grower, a program targeting a desired crop response can be created. Face it, you spend money on fertilizer products to get an intended plant response in return.

As a grower you know what your production goals are. Soil test reports provide us the knowledge of the nutrient levels and conditions we begin with and at the same indicate what deficiencies, imbalances or limiting factors that need to be addressed.

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by Captain Mark King

The hearTland’S FIShInG rePOrT

As hurricane Irene heads our way all we can do is pray that we get a lot of rain north of Lake Okeechobee and the winds leave us alone. The lake level is at 10.53 above sea level and has come up a little with the rains that we have been receiving, but we really need a tropical depression to get this lake back to a water level we need. The fishing has been good all summer and I look for it to remain good through the rest of the summer. I have been catch-ing bass out on the main lake as well as in the dynamite holes and even a few in the rim canal. With the lake level at 10.53 feet above sea level, running the lake is still tricky and if you are not sure where you are going don’t go unless you are idling or using your trolling motor.

I have been fishing the main Clewiston channel, the outside of Uncle Joe’s Cut and some holes in the reef, for the past few weeks and my success has been pretty good. The topwater bite has been great throughout the day and if it does slow down a shakey head or Carolina rig will keep you catching some really nice bass. For topwater, a Zara Super Spook is hard to beat but there are days a small popper or prop bait works great also. While I’m talk-ing about the topwater bite, this is a great time to catch some bass on a fly rod, and a larger popper, like the ones I use in saltwater, seem to work best. When the bite slows down on topwater get out a Carolina rig with either a Gambler Ace in junebug color or a Su-per Fluke in watermelon-red color and you will continue catching these bass. I like to get out a Gambler Giggy head jig in ¼ ounce with a junebug Sweebo worm on it and slow drag it along the bottom, especially in the rocks out on the reef. A lot of people like to hop there shakey head up off the bottom but I have found that with the shallow water if you just drag it slowly across the bottom you will get a lot more bites.

A lot of the areas out on the main lake are covered with shrimp grass now and the Carolina rig works much better than a Texas rigged worm. With the Carolina rig the worm floats up on top of the shrimp grass and doesn’t get buried up like a Texas rigged worm does.

If you are fishing the dynamite holes I would stick with a Shakey Head and a lipless crankbait to catch bass, and don’t be

afraid to fish in the middle of these dynamite holes as most people only fish around the outside edge and leave the middle untouched. As far as the rim canal fishing, I would concentrate on the open-ings to the lake and dynamite holes, these cuts will hold fish year round and a lipless crankbait and soft plastics worms work best. Fishing with wild shiners has been okay, but as it usually is in the summer, you can catch just as many bass on artificial lures and I think it is more rewarding to catch them on artificial lures that you cast and work yourself than wild shiners that do all the work for you.

I’m still doing some guide trips in the Keys for bonefish, permit, and shark if anyone is interested and the nighttime bully netting for lobster has also been pretty good.

I also want to mention that I attended a meeting for the Friends of Okeechobee, a new group to unite people with interest in Lake Okeechobee together to stop the horrible mismanagement of the lake, including water levels, dredging, and spraying. The meeting went very well with about 50 people attending including guides, farmers, business owners, and just concerned residents of the lake area. We need to get more people together if we are going to fight this cause. I will let everyone know when the meeting next month will be held and where. The main focus is the water level that the Corp of Engineers in Jacksonville control. They could care less about the folks around the lake trying to make a living. All the lake is to them is a big holding pond. We have to get every-one on board if we are going to win this fight. Good luck, tight lines, and hope to see everyone out on the water soon.

Captain Mark King is a full time guide and tournament angler guiding out of the world famous Roland Martin’s Marina and Resort in Clewiston Florida and in the Florida Keys. Mark is an IGFA Certified Captain, active member of the Florida Guide Association and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association. Captain Mark is sponsored by Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Roland Martin’s Marine Center, U.S. Reel, Deep South Rods, Power-Pole, Minn Kota trolling motors, Gambler Lures, AFTCO clothing, Smartshield Sun Protection Products, RMR Industries, Fuel Medic Ethanol Treatment, and Frigid Rigid coolers.

Mark can be contacted to book a guide trip, seminars, personal appearances, test rides in his Evinrude powered Ranger or to fish a tournament with him at 863-677-0983 or at www.markkingfishing.com.

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Retired Army Sergeant Eric Edmundson, along with his par-ents Ed and Beth, left their homes in New Bern, North Carolina August 5 on a quest to fulfill Eric’s dream of harvesting big game. Both avid hunters, Ed stated that he and his son “have hunted together since Eric was old enough to walk.”

A Purple Heart recipient, Sgt. Edmundson suffered a trau-matic and anoxic brain injury while on a combat mission along the Syrian border near the Tigris River in October 2005 when the Stryker 8-wheel armored vehicle that he was driving came under improvised explosive device (IED) attack. Eric now requires full-time assistance from his wife Stephanie and other family members. After years of hospital visits and rehabilitation he can now feed himself, stand and walk with assistance, and even com-municate through the use of specialized electronic devices. He is a symbol of human spirit and resilience.

Eric’s family contacted the Wounded Warrior Project™ about fulfilling his dream of attempting a Grand Slam and in the process conducting public outreach activities. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Their goal is to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

This request from the family was met with enthusiasm and WWP has partnered and coordi-nated with many organizations across the country to make Eric’s dream a reality. When the organi-zation contacted Danny SantAn-gelo of Okeechobee Outfitters regarding hosting one of the hunting excursions, they learned that Danny founded and operates the Sportsmen’s Foundation for Military Families, a local not-for-profit group focused on aiding the families of combat veterans. Ac-cording to Danny, SFMF typically hosts about three donated hunts per month. Travel and other ex-penses associated with the hunts are funded by private donations.

Land owners sometimes offer their properties so that hunts can be held in other states such as Texas and South Carolina, thus reducing the distance that hunt recipients must travel. Danny was thrilled to become a part of this 12-week event, as it was a natural fit with SFMF’s mission to provide “back-home support to military families.”

Along with SFMF Board member Alex Johns, Danny was able to host the Edmundson group at their Seminole Prairie lodge and 2,000 acre property. During his stay, Eric was able to harvest a Sika deer, a wild boar and an alligator – a great start for his Grand Slam! Taxidermy services donated by Skins & Scales in Naples will provide Eric with trophy mounts to commemorate this leg of his hunting expedition.

Sgt. Eric Edmundson’s Hunting and Outreach Excursion will consist of a 9,000 mile roundtrip experience with hunts ranging from alligator and bison to black bear and antelope. The group will travel to eight states - Florida, Montana, Texas, Missouri, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho and Wyoming – with outreach activi-ties planned in Wyoming, Colorado and Montana. They are traveling courtesy of a modified Ram 3500 4-wheel-drive pickup hauling a 30-foot trailer with living facilities. The trailer also hauls an all-terrain vehicle with a joystick-controlled gun mount with camera to aim through. The adventure will be featured on “Beyond the Battlefield” a television show that focuses on veterans and their struggles as they rediscover hunting. Beyond

the Battlefield can be seen on Versus and Charter Sports South channels. Trip updates will also be posted on Wounded Warrior’s Facebook site: www.facebook.com/wwpinc.fans.

“Eric’s dreams for his life have not gone away. We have just had to modify how he can reach them,” said his father Ed. “We think this is an important message for anyone who may be struggling with a severe injury or illness. We hope our story will inspire those folks to change their own philosophy from ‘I can’t’, to ‘I can and I will.”

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The Sunshine State is blessed to have one of the nation’s largest wildlife manage-ment area (WMA) systems; it encompasses more than 5.8 million acres of public hunt-ing land. The FWC manages 1.1 million of these acres, and the FWC’s “partners for public hunting” contribute the remaining acreage.

Thanks to our many land-management partners and cooperators, the future of hunting in Florida looks bright. The FWC continues to support and promote the hunt-ing tradition by helping open up new public lands for hunting, expanding hunting op-portunities on public and private lands, recruiting new hunters and developing programs to get families more involved in the hunting heritage.

Because of these partnerships and the shared interest of continuing to grow Florida’s WMA system, 34 new public hunting areas have been added since 2005, total-ing more than 146,000 acres.

We are always looking to form new partnerships and will continue to foster existing ones with the intent of opening up more public hunting land and further expanding hunting opportunities. We also continue to seek creative ways to recruit and retain hunt-ers, involving more families in the hunting tradition.

In 2005, we launched the Youth Hunting Program of Florida to provide quality hunting experiences for 12- to 17-year-olds and increase the number of youths involved in hunting. The statewide program averages nearly 60 hunts and introduces about 600 youths and parents to the sport each year, giving many of them their first taste of hunt-ing in a positive, safe, educational and mentored setting.

Today’s youth spend half as much time outdoors as kids a decade ago did, so in 2009, the FWC launched the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network to help reverse this trend. Currently, there are eight centers identified in the network designed to strengthen the connections between youth and their support for wildlife conservation through activities like hunting, archery, fishing, kayaking and wildlife viewing.

Another opportunity to help recruit young hunters and encourage adults to take kids hunting was establishing the new Youth Turkey Hunt Season. The two-day, Saturday-Sunday hunt occurs the weekend prior to the opening of spring turkey season in each hunting zone. Only those under 16 are allowed to harvest a turkey, and they have to be supervised by an adult, 18 years or older.

We encourage everyone to get outdoors and enjoy the benefits of connecting with nature in our wonderfully diverse state. Thanks to the stewardship of generations who lived here before us, opportunities are boundless. Take a kid hunting with you—this is their Florida too, and they will be happier, healthier and even smarter for it.

Visit MyFWC.com/Hunting for up-to- date information on hunting and wildlife management area rules and regulations, limited entry permits, including special-opportunity and quota hunts, monthly hunting opportunities, news releases, hunter safety courses, public shooting ranges and more.

Today’s youTh are The fuTure of florida’s hunTingFWC Commissioner’s Message

Wesley Georges’ bobcat died with a rabbit in its mouth.


Born in Lakeland, FL, Thomas grew up around the swamps and flatlands of central Florida. As a child he realized his love for art and continued to show a strong interest in developing his talent. Although considering himself largely as a self taught artist, his work has been influenced by several different venues of art, including wildlife art, as well as the fine art traditions. He brings into the popular view his own vision of wildlife and places that could not be as soulfully done through any other medium.

Field excursions, photography and on location studies aid Thomas in gathering factual information for use in the studio to faithfully record a scene or impression.

The works of Thomas Brooks now appear in many corporate, public, and private collections. His works have also been featured in many publications such as Sporting Classics, Wildlife Art, and Inform Art Magazines. Dona-tions of his works have also been instrumental in fund raising efforts for many charitable, wildlife, conservation, and environmental organizations such as The American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, SPCA, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Safari Club International, Coastal Conser-vation, and Sierra Club, just to name a few. It is Thomas’ desire as an artist to preserve on canvas his vision for future generations to enjoy. In a world of never ending change and progress he feels it is important for artists of all medi-ums to express their emotions and impressions of the world in which we live.Honors and Awards

Mood and light of the natural world dominate the paintings of Thomas Brooks. For his inspiration he relies on personal experiences as an essential ele-ment in creating the authenticity and atmosphere for which his work is known. Thomas’ work has gained wide recognition and he now distributes his limited edition prints and original works nationally. His work has been juried and ac-cepted into national wildlife art exhibitions, and his honors and awards include the following

• Winner of the 1995 Florida Wild Turkey Conservation Stamp Compe-tition

• Winner of the 1996 Florida Wild Turkey Conservation Stamp Compe-tition

• Winning artist for three consecutive years of the National Wild Tur-key Federation Art Competition

• Commissioned by the state of Arkansas to create their State Wildlife Conservation Stamp Prints

• Artist of the year in 2002 for the Florida National Wild Turkey Fed-eration

• 2006 Print of the Year for the Florida NWTF • Commissioned by the Florida NWTF to create a five year series of

sponsor prints from 2007-2011• Commissioned by the Boy Scouts of America to create limited edition

sponsor prints• Featured artist for the 2007 Plantation Wildlife Art Festival - Thomas-

ville, GA• Featured artist for the 2009 Southeastern Wildlife Expo (SEWE) -

Charleston, SC• Painted 2008 White House Christmas tree ornament. Attended artist

reception at the White House December 2, 2008. • Selected by the National Wild Turkey Federation to create their 2011

national stamp of an Osceola turkey and a limited edition canvas print for distribution in their national print package

All content is from www.couturesart.com/thomas_brooks.htm

Thomas Brooks“My paintings begin with a moment in time that creates

a desire within me to paint a particular scene. With the use of value and color I strive to create the desired atmosphere necessary to achieve the authenticity that brings the viewer into the painting. I strive to compose the work in such a way as to portray the inner essence of the subject rather than its out-ward appearance.”

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In July my wife and I spent a couple of weeks at our place on Bearpaw Road over looking the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains near Blairsville, Georgia. A couple of times I slipped out early and had breakfast with the boys at the Sawmill Place restaurant.

Each time I sit with some of the “locals” who are regulars for the morning get together they take off bragging’ and yarn tellin’.

Buford Lucus was the last to come in around 7:30. He walked over grinning like a ‘Cheshire cat’. Crawford Little looked up and said, “Buford have you been hit’n the shine before breakfast again?”

“No, but I had a good snort last night and slept hard as a rock,” he said as he pulled up a chair and sat down. Buford immediately took a sip of black coffee that his waitress earlier handed him as he made his way to our table and said, “Boys, I’ve got three questions for you this morning. If you can answer them all three right I’ll buy breakfast for everybody at the table thru this Friday. If you don’t answer them, you buy my breakfast for the rest of the week.”

Elfert Smith spoke up, “Buford, remember last month you pulled this stunt, and it cost you! I hope you have better questions than last time like who’s buried

in Grants Tomb and how many months in a year have 28 days!”

They all agreed to take him on, knowing Buford flunked out of Union High School three times. “Get with it Buford, you’ve got a deal,” said Crawford as everyone nodded in agreement.

“O.K., here’s the first one. In what year did Christmas and New Year’s fall in the same year? My next question is, Why can’t a woman take a picture of a man with a wooden leg in Ellijay? And the third and final question is, A woman living in Hiawassee married nine different men from Hiawassee in one week, yet she didn’t break any laws. None of these men died, and she never divorced them. How was this possible?”

Everybody laughed and started in on Buford. “For cry’n out loud, Buford, did you fall off a turnip truck? Who ever heard of Christmas and New Year’s in the same year?” Elfert said. Everybody sided with Elfert.

Buford said, “Boys I got you on this one. They fall in the same year every year. New years Day just arrives the first day of the year, and Christmas arrives very late in the same year. Now that’s one and two to go.

“What about the second question?” “Buford, who are you try’n to kid, you

know very well there ain’t no law in Ellijay about take’n pictures up there,” Elfert replied.

Buford responded, “I know that Elfert, but you have to use a camera, not a wooden leg.”

Well you guys lose again. Well, you guys have lost two out of three so far. Now what’s the answer to my third question?”

“Dang if I know,” Crawford said. “I’ve lived up here all my life, and I have never heard of anyone marrying nine men, and neither have you.”

“Sure you have,” Buford retorted, “Don’t you remember Annabelle Limpkin? She was the Justice of the Peace in Hiawassee for 22 years. I am sure she married many more than nine men during her term. You guys lose again.” There was a lot of grumbling, but they all realized that Buford had out smarted them.

Fred, better known as “Boss” to his friends, had been quiet during this ordeal. He leaned back in his chair and said, “Dad burn it Buford, how can you out-smart this table when you’re so dumb you plugged your power strip back into itself and called me over to see why the TV wouldn’t come on?”

Buford replied, “Well you ain’t so smart yourself. I recall you’re the only man ever

to get trapped on an escalator at Macy’s in Atlanta. Heavens Boss, I don’t know what makes you so dumb, but it works.”

A few minutes later we all pitched in and paid for Buford’s breakfast, left a tip, and moved on.

On the way back to the house on Bearpaw Road I was listening to a talk show on the radio. It reminded me of the Art Linkletter show “Kid’s Say the Darndest Things”. The moderator was talking to some four-year-old kids. He asked them numerous questions, and below are some of their answers:

• The four seasons are salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

• In the spring salmon swim upstream

to spoon. • To prevent a head cold you should

use an agonizer to spray into the nose until it drips into the throat.

• The main cause of dust is the janitor.

• The people who followed the Lord were call the 12 opossums.

• In the middle of the 18th century, all the morons moved to Utah.

• Temperatures are hottest next to the Creator.

Those comments brought back a lot of memories of my days in school. When we got out-of-line punishment was carried out in the cloakroom. I recall Mrs. Smith, our English teacher in high school, would always read the Tampa Tribune during our morning study period. Earl Livingston and Earl Bone got away with one when they substituted the metro section with a metro section from the week before. We all knew what they did, but never told. She had one more confused morning as I remember.

In closing, my daughter Karen, who owns this publication, has a big tough dog named “Hope” and she can lick anyone! Look for my story in this column of having lunch at the “Hole in the Wall” restaurant in Blairsville. Good food and a great experience.

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• Tennessee is bordered by 8 states. Can you name them?

• Toilets average 35 percent of indoor water use.

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• The names of all the continents both start and end with the same letter.

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• The most com-monly used letter in the English alphabet is E.

• Money is the number one thing that couples argue about.

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Healthy Schools For Healthy Lives Act Offers Multiple Benefits

The passage of the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act consolidated state level food and nutrition programs under the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which had previously been involved along with the Department of Educa-tion, will streamline nutrition programs for Florida’s children. There were challenges, inconsistencies and inefficiencies under the former system whereby the Department of Education admin-istered School Lunch, Breakfast and Summer Programs, while the Department of Agriculture oversaw commodity Food Distribu-tion, Disaster Feeding and Emergency Food Assistance Program.

The act, which was sponsored by Senator Gary Siplin, em-powers the Agriculture Department to educate Florida students on health and nutrition and to ensure that they have access to the healthy and nutritious products abundant throughout the state.

It is anticipated that through the school food and nutrition programs, the Department of Agriculture and Consumers Ser-vices will be able to instill a value and appreciation for fresh and nutritious foods in students, leading to a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

“As the state agency re-sponsible for supporting the industry that produces Flor-ida’s healthy and nutritious foods, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer services is the most experi-enced and best positioned to manage the state’s school and food nutrition pro-grams,” said Amanda Bevis, communications director for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Passage of the act also provides an opportunity for increased coordination between the families and businesses providing Florida’s fresh produce and the school programs providing food for Florida’s next generation. Through existing relationships and distribution networks with the Department, Florida’s farmers are able to easily source high-quality local produce to the schools.”

The Department has a long-standing commitment to child nutrition as evidenced by existing programs such as Fresh From Florida Kids, Xtreme Cuisine Cooking School and Farm to School, that collectively education children and families about healthy eating. This latest development will enable schools to more effectively reach Florida’s students with the valuable lessons and practices of healthy eating.

Fresh From Florida Kids is a Department program to help parents instill healthy eating habits in their young children. Re-search suggests that taste preferences and eating habits are fully developed by the time a child is three years old. This program,

which has three phases: 6 months to 1 year old; 1 year to 2 years old and 2 years to 3 years old, teaches parents how to make homemade baby food using fresh, wholesome ingredients. Reci-pes are continually updated and participants have online access to professionals for added information.

Xtreme Cuisine Cooking School introduces students aged 10 to 15 to the world of cooking and good nutrition through the preparation of foods such as whole-wheat pizzas, fruit parfaits and other nutritious and tasty treats. They also learn how Florida fruit and vegetables used in these recipes provide vita-mins and minerals that can help prevent heart disease and other obesity-related illnesses. Students are also taught the dangers of excessive amounts of salt, sugar and fats in their diets and how fiber may eliminate their desire for high-calorie, low-nutrition snacks foods. These programs are presented by trained instruc-tors and industry volunteers.

Farm to Schools connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafete-rias, improving student nutri-tion, providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities and supporting local and regional farmers. It is part of a national network.

Florida’s Department of Agriculture works closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as noted previously, and that agency had previously announced pro-posed changes to school meal standards, which would add more fruits, vegetables, whole

grains and fat-free and low-fat milk to school meals. “Our department is the logical choice to continue USDA’s initiatives on healthy eating at the state level,” said Bevis.

In July USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and Good and Nutrition Service announced a pilot program for acquiring fresh fruits and vegetables to build on farm-to-school programs in Florida and Michigan. The pilot effort will use commercial distribution models already in place and allow schools to obtain locally grown produce.

“Consolidation also means inefficiencies will be eliminated in these programs and that is important as we all seek ways to re-duce the current financial stress on Florida’s budget,” said Bevis.

“Lastly, expanded access to healthy and nutritious foods through school programs is one more example of the efforts of Commissioner Adam Putnam to expand access to the state’s lo-cally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables to those who are unable to access or afford healthy eating options,” said Bevis.

by Jim Frankowiak

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The story of the Williamson Cattle Company is one rich with history, both that of the land and of the family. Since

the early 1950s, through four generations and counting, the Williamsons have grown their family-owned business from a Florida cattle operation to a diversified agricultural interest including cattle, citrus and catfish, now operating in three states.

by Robbi Sumner

Williamson Cattle Company


Frank W. Williamson, Sr. moved to Okeechobee from Clearwater around 1940 to manage the Dixie Cattleman’s As-sociation of South Florida, a cooperative funded by a federal agricultural development program that purchased approxi-mately 170,000 acres from the Kissimmee River to St. Lucie County. This property, bought by the “Dixie” and funded by a government loan, was operated as a beef cattle ranch by the members. With its size, the ranch provided the membership a competitive position and provided support for the ranchers. Starting in 1942, it operated the Okeechobee Livestock Market, an essential marketing avenue for the area cattlemen.

After World War II, the Federal government ordered the cooperative to shut down and its land and assets were offered for sale. Mr. Williamson partnered with a friend to purchase a large portion of the original tract, which was then split in 1948. He retained about 10,000 acres on the east side of High-way 441, establishing Williamson Cattle Company in 1951.

Frank W. “Sonny” Williamson, Jr. spent summers working with his father at Dixie, staying in the cow camps, building fence and learning about the cattle operation. In 1950, after graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Management, Sonny also decided to make Okeechobee home.

Sonny’s initial introduction to Betty Chandler was made over the phone, as Sonny was passing time recuperating from a surgery. Betty went to visit the switchboard operator in town and found her talking to Sonny on the phone. During their first date, each knew they had found “the one.” Married April 20, 1952, Sonny and Betty will celebrate their 60th anniversary next spring. Each fifth-generation Floridians, they enjoy study-ing and researching genealogy and Florida history. In fact “Miz Betty” as she is known by many, has been President of the Okeechobee Historical Society for over 10 years and co-au-thored the book “Strolling Down Country Roads Okeechobee County” which provides an enjoyable account of local history.

Their family includes son Wes, daughters Kim and Karen, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. While all family members are shareholders in the company, only Wes, his son John and daughter Heather are employees, playing

an active role in day-to-day operations. Kim is an attorney in Phoenix, Arizona, and Karen enjoys life as a newly-wed house-wife in Okeechobee.

The cattle of Williamson Cattle Co. are high quality commercial Brangus that are sold to feedlots, predominately via satellite and video sales. A few select calves are also sold to local 4-H and FFA participants, with several becoming Grand Champions at local livestock shows.

While Sonny does consider the cattle to be more low maintenance than the catfish or citrus, he also recalls some “real headaches” that have been endured, like the Texas Fever Tick which caused the need for dipping in the late 1950s. Then there was brucellosis in the 1960s, which required all infected cattle to be sold and others to remain barren for a year.

The Williamsons’ 800-acre citrus grove produces mostly Hamlin and Valencia oranges, with about one-third of the crop in red and white grapefruit. The oranges are typically sold to juice processors like Tropicana, Louis Dreyfus and Cu-trale. Some is sold fresh domestically, although that is not the intended market due to the increased labor and fungicide costs involved in keeping the fruit blemish-free. The grapefruit are sold as fresh packed fruit, mostly to markets in Japan and Eu-rope. Eliminations are graded out for juice. According to Wes, the greatest challenge for citrus is disease, specifically greening and canker. “We can prepare for weather, but disease can travel unseen and once it’s detected, it’s too late.”

In the early 1970s, Sonny’s dad bought property in Ala-bama as a way of diversifying the cattle and citrus operations. At the time, the land was planted in soybeans and also held cattle. Replacement heifers from Okeechobee were raised in Alabama until transportation costs began to outweigh the cost of feed. After several very dry summers, the soybeans were abandoned and in 1983 the first 20-acre catfish pond was dug. The catfish operation has proven to be successful and the farm now has just less than 150 ponds, ranging in size from 3 to 33 acres.

Ponds are stocked twice a year with catfish fingerlings, typically five to six inches in size. The fish were originally fed by hand from a small boat, but the increasing numbers (they

feed 15,000 pounds of feed annually) have necessitated the use of trucks equipped with digital scales to track the amount of feed that is blown out into the ponds.

Catfish at an average 1.75 pounds are harvested three times a year by seining each pond. Nets allow the smaller fish to slip through and continue growing until the next harvest. The large nets typically catch about 25,000-50,000 pounds of fish which are loaded into live haul trucks that provide oxygen and keep fish cool until they are arrive at one of the five differ-ent processers that are contracted with. Most of the 15 million pounds of catfish harvested annually are either sold fresh or as frozen filets.

“We’re always looking to grow through diversification or expansion,” said Wes’ son John, who lived in Alabama seven years and continues to manage those operations.

According to Wes, “Our diversification sets us apart. We try to be prepared to take advantage of opportunities that come up.” Examples of this diversified approach include being part owners in a feed mill in Alabama, allowing them to pro-duce their own catfish feed, as well as owning a commercially leased building in Okeechobee.

One year ago the Williamson’s purchased a ranch in Aspermont, Texas. While beef cattle are raised on the ranch, it is predominantly used for trophy hunts, providing yet another aspect to the business.

For those who know the Williamsons personally, it is not only their business acumen that sets them apart. It is the caring and genuine character that has been passed down through the generations. Sonny has stated that he “learned how to run a business and treat employees” from his father. Multiple genera-tions of family members have worked for WCC, offering proof of the respect and appreciation that is shown to the employees. “It is our responsibility to provide for our workers first, the environment second, and our shareholders third.”

“Mom and Dad’s involvement in the community has always been an inspiration to us,” said Wes. Sonny has been an integral member of local bank boards, the South Florida Water Management District governing board, the University of Florida and Indian River State College Foundations, and Farm

Bureau, just to name a few. The family also supports several non-profit organizations such as Dunklin Memorial Camp, the American Red Cross, and the American Cancer Society.

The Williamsons have been recognized for their civic and industry contributions by a number of associations through the years. Some of the agricultural awards include WCC being chosen by the Florida Cattlemen’s Association for their 2003 Environmental Stewardship Award. In 2005, they were the first operation east of the Mississippi to be named as winner of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Environmental Stew-ardship Award. According to Sonny, “In agriculture you try to not only do things the cheapest way to enhance profit, but also in a way that does the least damage to the environment.” In 2005, Sonny was also inducted to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame.

“I don’t plan on ever letting Dad retire, he’s such a resource to the entire community, and especially to me,” says Wes. “I hope my children some day say the same about me.” As history influences the future that is sure be the case.


In the early 1920s, Carol Sander’s grandfather Mel Smith bought 20,000 acres in Hardee County for the purpose of cut-ting timber. As the timber was cleared the land was converted to pasture and Mr. Smith soon became a cattleman. Raised in Orlando, Carol was introduced to horses and the ranching way of life during childhood visits with her grandparents on their rural property. Now, she and her husband Mike call Charlie Creek Cattle Company home. The 4,000 acre ranch is part of her grandparent’s original timber holding.

According to Carol, she and Mike “are a pair” and they do some things a little differently than many ranchers. Their cross-bred beef cattle are handled on a regular basis. “We’re in the cattle all the time, checking on them, maybe putting out feed, and just getting them used to us,” she said. When gathering cattle, they drive and lead them and the cows know to bunch up when coming in from the marsh or woods areas. Dogs are not used to work when calves are on the ground. The Sanders break heifers to become used to horses and wait an extra six to eight months before breeding, so typically the heifers are far in to their two-year old year when bred the first time. Those younger cows are kept in smaller cross-fenced pastures so they can be fed and kept close watch over. Once a cow has successfully born its third calf and has aged to be better capable of taking care of itself, it is turned out into the larger marsh and wooded areas.

The cows are typically bred to Cow Creek Brangus and Lemmon Angus bulls. “We prefer cows that carry more Brahman traits and are developing a small purebred herd that are crossed on Angus bulls to provide replacement heifers,” said Carol. They pur-chase bulls based on genetics and breed traits rather than price, believing that the bulls are an important investment.

When asked about her typical day she laughs, stating that there is no such thing on a ranch as unexpected tasks always arise. However, she wakes at 4:30am, starts the coffee pot, and reads her Bible each day regardless of whether they are planning to work cows, train young horses, or simply conduct routine chores.

Carol says that horses are her passion and she can’t imagine life without them. She and Mike met while both were involved in the cutting horse industry and that common bond led them to their life together on the ranch.

Mike owned a Quarter Horse operation in Fort Myers but a great deal of their time was spent between Florida and Texas competing in National Cutting Horse Association events. Both are NCHA Life Members and have been quite successful, in and outside of the arena. Among their successes were owning and showing NCHA Hall of Fame member Charoakter Eyes, a 1986 sorrel gelding with over $250,000 in NCHA winnings. Because most of the larger cut-ting events are held out west, the two eventually agreed to focus on cattle ranching in order to spend less time on the road.

These days Carol spends time with their 16 horses, riding the younger ones on the expansive ranch, both for pleasure and when working cows. Five years ago she and Mike purchased eight colts and Carol had the opportunity to train many of them from the ground up. Among them was a beautiful gray dubbed “Batman” who is today is one of her favorite mounts. “My desire for any horse I work with is for him to meet his potential, athletically and mentally.”

Carol is also quite gifted at two other hobbies: woodwork-ing and writing. Among her woodworking accomplishments she has built two tables, one for their cook shed and another that adorns the back porch of their home – both are exquisite and of high quality. She collects wood from various places, like around the ranch or abandoned railroad crossings, often having the wood before she determines its final use.

In 2004, Carol’s first novel was published. “And She Smiled,” a fictional love story with a string of show horses providing strength to the main character when faced with life’s challenges, is the result of Carol’s imagination paired with true life situations. In 2010,

she put together a collection of Bible verses along with short stories and photos from the ranch. Titled “Life,” the spiral bound work is a touching read that allows family and friends an inside look at the joys, as well as the occasional trials, of life on a work-ing ranch. She says that each of her three grown daughters helped put the book together, making it all the more special.

Carol enjoys spending time with her ten grandchildren when distance and family schedules allow. It is her chance to share that little slice of para-dise, as her grandparents did when she was growing up.

by Robbi Sumner

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Looking for a reasonably priced, home-style meal served to you with a smile? Then head on over to the Lake Placid Family Restaurant, located at the south end of town on Highway 27, just three miles north of the Highway 70 intersection.

Once known as the “old Union 76 Lewis Truck Stop,” the business has been owned by the same family since the 1960s when it was purchased by W.T. Lewis and his wife Edith. The business was later passed to their daughter Reba and her husband Sam Weaver who, in the mid-80s, contin-ued the restaurant tradition. These days daughters Shannon and Sonya have been running the restau-rant, with their brother Terry assisting when time allows. Photos of family members are posted on the wall providing opportunity for diners to remi-nisce on the history of those who have influenced the local truck-stop-turned-restaurant.

Known for “Good Country Cookin’,” the extensive menu also includes “Health Conscience” and “Carb Conscience” options. For the rest of us, breakfast is served all day with a selection of tasty treats like pancakes and French toast. Or choose a platter like The Traditional – two eggs with your choice of bacon, sausage, ham or corned beef, choice of home fries, hash browns, grits or fresh fruit, and choice of toast, biscuits, English muffin or a pancake – all for just $4.99.

My daughter Shelby and I stopped in for lunch and had a tough time deciding between soups, salads, and hearty sandwiches like the

catfish filet or pulled pork. For larger appetites, there are also entrees like pork chops, hamburger steak and grilled beef liver. Finally, she ordered a smoky chicken sandwich and I went with the daily special of a quarter fried chicken served with two veggies and bread. The grilled chicken sandwich was served with tangy BBQ sauce, crisp bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato with homemade potato chips on the side – yum! The fried chicken was cooked to perfection and served with southern fried okra, crunchy cucumber salad and melt-in-your-mouth cornbread. Of course we washed it all down with generously poured sweet iced tea.

A sampling of desserts includes homemade banana pudding, lemon chiffon cake, and Florida orange sunshine cake – that is, if you still have room! You might need a to-go box to make certain that you don’t miss out.

The relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant welcomes everyone from ranchers to business people and retirees, and you see them all there to-gether enjoying the well-cooked food and friendly, prompt service. According to regular diner Ken Krug, “The meals are reasonably priced and are served in a welcoming environment that keeps people coming back.”

So go with an empty stomach! Located at 1506 US Highway 27, the Lake Placid Family Res-taurant is open Monday through Friday, 6:00 am to 3 pm and Saturday 6:00 am to 2:00 pm.

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The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s 68th Annual Convention, set for Sept. 18-21 at the Ritz-Carlton in Palm Beach, will focus on issues that are dominating the headlines and continue to affect how Florida producers do business.

The convention will feature thought provoking speakers such as keynote Scott Rasmussen, a political analyst, author and in-dependent public opinion pollster. His company, Rasmussen Re-ports, gathers and publishes public opinion polling information. He reports on a wide scope of topics at RasmussenReports.com and has been named among the top 100 in the “2010 Dream Talk Show Guests List” for his appearances on Fox News, CNBC, BBC and other major media outlets. Rasmussen’s commentary has been published in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Investor’s Business Daily, The Christian Science Monitor and other major publications.

The convention’s “Issues Forums” will provide timely up-dates on major issues such as food safety and the regulations that are being written by the Food and Drug Administration; labor-related legislation, including a bill proposed in Congress that re-quires the use of E-Verify; and an overview on the future of water

policy in Florida. Each forum will be led by industry experts who bring their perspective to the issues.

The convention includes a silent auction by the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation. Proceeds from the auction this year will benefit FFVA’s new Emerging Leader Development Program. The program identifies up-and-coming leaders, provides issues education, and teaches them to effectively participate in industry advocacy.

“FFVA’s convention gives growers, handlers, shippers and others the valuable opportunity to network and hear the latest information on the issues that affect their ability to stay competi-tive in a very tough marketplace,” said Mike Aerts, FFVA’s direc-tor of membership. “It’s a busy agenda, but our goal is to make attendees’ investment of time away from the office pay valuable dividends.”

For information about the convention and to register, visit ffva.com/ffva2011 or call (321) 214-5200.

Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association is an agricultural trade organization representing Florida’s producers of fruits, vegetables and other crops.

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Asian PearsAsian pears have become popular within the last decade for

their taste, texture, and juiciness. Also known as apple-pear, Chinese pear, or Japanese pear, it is a fragrant fruit with a very crisp texture. Although “apple-pear” implies that the fruit might be a cross between an apple and pear, it actually is not. Asian pears are also different from the traditional European ones we think of when we envision pears. When ripe, Asian pears tend to be rounder, firmer, slightly sweet, and extremely juicy due to their high water content, compared to the sweeter, softer European pear. Asian pears come in many varieties, with slightly varying flavors and subtle notes of apple, citrus, vanilla, or honey.

For centuries, Asian pears have been grown commercially in Asia. More recently, the fruit has been grown in other parts of the world, including the US, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, and France. Within the United States, California, Oregon, Washing-ton, and Florida harvest the fruit from August through October.

Nutritional ProfileThis super-juicy fruit is a fantastic source of vitamin C, vi-

tamin K, dietary fiber, riboflavin, and potassium. The outer peel is entirely edible and contains most of the fiber in the fruit. Ac-cording to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one medium Asian pear (122 g) contains 51 calories, 0.61 g of protein, 0.28 g of fat, 12.9 g of carbohydrate, and 4.4 g of fiber. It also provides 8% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for Vitamin C, 7% for Vitamin K, and 4% for manganese. Most notably, one medium fruit has 18% of your daily fiber needs.

Fiber: Don’t peel the fruit!Research has shown that dietary fiber has a protective effect

against cardiovascular diseases by lowering blood cholesterol levels and slowing the progression of heart disease in high-risk individuals. Fiber binds to the cholesterol-containing bile salts, excreting them out of the body. It also promotes bowel regularity and increases satiety levels, which can aid in weight control.

In addition to the effects of fiber on regularity, other com-pounds in Asian pears promote healthy digestive functioning and offer protection from colon cancer. Pears are one of the top foods for high fiber.

Antioxidants: Eat Your Vitamins!Florida Asian pears are bursting with disease-fighting anti-

oxidants, which neutralize destructive free radicals in the body. The vitamin C and vitamin A in Asian pears, as well as other compounds, have antioxidant qualities. Copper also supports the function of antioxidants, sweeping up free radicals. When healthy cells are damaged, they are more susceptible to disease

and certain types of cancer, and antioxidants may help slow the progression of conditions like asthma, arthritis, and colon cancer. Diets that contain fruits high in antioxidants, including Asian pears and other fruits and vegetables, are linked to a re-duced risk of heart disease, stroke, and multiple types of cancer.

Vitamin C: Beauty, Health & More!Asian pears are a good source of vitamin C, which has many

important functions in the body. Eating foods high in vitamin C significantly raises the amount of iron your body absorbs, which is a good way to prevent anemia. Vitamin C also supports the body’s immune system in its ability to fight infections and viruses, and may possibly shorten the duration and intensity of a cold. Additionally, this vitamin is involved in keeping capillaries, gums, and skin healthy and supple.

How to Select and StoreWhen ripe, the color of the outside peel changes from green

to brown. Unlike European pears, Asian pears stay firm when ripe.

Choose a yellow-brown skinned fruit free of blemishes that feels firm and heavy for its size. It should yield slightly to gentle pressure and have a fragrant smell. Handle gently because they bruise easily. Store Asian pears at room temperature for up to five days or in the refrigerator for up to two months. Rinse under cool running water before eating or preparing.

How to enjoyTraditionally, Asian pears are often given as gifts or shared

with guests. They are delicious and burst with juiciness when eaten out of hand. They can also be used as a sweetener instead of sugar when ground and cooked in vinegar or soy-based sauces. Their juice or pulp is sometimes used to marinate meat. Other ways to serve Asian pears are as part of a fruit salad, or combined with watercress, cheese, and nuts for a salad. Make a grilled cheese and pear sandwich. Chopped Asian pears can be added to cold or hot cereal or combined in a stir-fry. For dessert, try poaching Asian pears or dicing them to use as an ice cream or yogurt topping. Or use the fruit in cake, crisp, and pie.

Enjoy this beautiful, juicy fruit during Florida’s peak Asian pear season today. It’s a delicious way to get plenty of fiber and other nutrients.

Enjoy this beautiful, nutritious fruit during Florida’s peak season today. Eat it out of hand or combine with other fruits for a healthy treat.

Selected Referenceshttp://www.clemson.eduhttp://www.whfoods.com


Florida Cattlewomen News: The Fall Quarterly meeting will be held September 1-3, 2011 in Sebring at the Quality Inn. It will be hosted by Hardee and Highlands County Cattlemen and Cattlewomen. At the quarterly meeting the Cattlewomen will be distributing children’s names from the Hope Children’s Homes to the ladies who wish to purchase gifts and bring them to the December quarterly for these children who are less fortunate. We will also take donations for BEEF Certificates for our “Beef for the Holiday’s Charity”. Last year we gave over $2000 in certificates to use for Beef throughout the year. This will be the fourth year we sponsor the home, it is such a great opportunity for us to be able to help them and educate them about the Beef industry.

Upcoming Events:Southern Women’s Show, Orlando-October 13-16, 2011December Quarterly, Gainesville-November 30-December 2, 2011Cattlewomen Clay Shoot-Okeechobee (Quail Creek Plantation)-January 7, 2012

Sonoma Steaks with Vegetables BocconciniMarinade time: 15 minutes to 2 hours. Total recipe time: 30 minutes.Makes 4 servings

Ingredients2 boneless beef top loin (strip) steaks, cut 3/4 inch thick

(about 8 ounces each)1 container (9 to 16 ounces) herb-marinated small fresh

mozzarella balls (bocconcini)3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar1 medium zucchini, cut diagonally into 1/4-inch thick slices

1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch wide strips

1 cup small red grape tomatoes

Instructions1. Drain bocconcini, reserving 1/3 cup marinade. Combine reserved marinade and vinegar in small bowl. Toss zuc-chini and bell pepper with 2 tablespoons marinade mix-ture in large bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Place beef steaks and remaining marinade mixture in food-safe plastic bag; turn steaks to coat. Close bag se-curely and marinate in refrigerator 15 minutes to 2 hours. 2. Remove steaks from marinade; discard marinade. Remove vegetables from marinade; place in grill basket. Place steaks on one half of grid over medium, ash-covered coals; place grill basket on other half of grid. Grill steaks, covered, 7 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, times remain the same) for me-dium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally. Remove steaks; keep warm. Grill vegetables 10 to 13 minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes during last 2 minutes of grilling.

3. Combine grilled vegetables and bocconcini in large bowl; toss gently to combine. Carve steaks into slices; season with salt, as desired. Serve with vegetable mixture.

Contact Dale McQuillen 863-414-2622Email: [email protected]

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Ag Fest is an Agricultural Festival that includes a large trade show held at the DeSoto County Turner Agri-Civic Center in Arcadia, FL. This event offers attendees a chance to see what is available in the agri-culture industry. We will offer vendors the opportunity to sell, plus educate the public on their products and services.

So mark your calendar for November 19t, 2011. You are invited to be a part of a new exciting event in DeSoto County where we honor our heritage through recogni-tion of yesterday’s and today’s farmers and ranchers. Comprised of equipment and equestrian demonstrations, beef shows, livestock exhibits, local entertainment and vendors, Ag Fest will be a day full of fun where friends and family can gather for good times and good memories. Come hungry and grab a plate at our steak and

swamp cabbage cook off where teams com-pete, serving up secret family recipes. After enjoying the festivities and cooking those “in the know” will be sharpening their wits while earning CEU’s at the classes offered by our local University of Florida / IFAS office. You may even learn a thing or two on old ways of canning your own garden vegetables. Come be a part of the festivities or relax and enjoy all that we have to offer, either way plan to stay for the entire day, with 100 acres of activities, an air condi-tioned arena, barns and an exhibit hall you are sure not to be disappointed.

At our Ag Fest Heritage Banquet on Friday night we will honor legends of the past with a pictorial tribute and we will recognize our Young Farmer/Rancher of the Year. Banquet tickets can be purchased at the Turner Center.

November 19, 2011

To Highlands County Farm Bureau’s Heritage Sponsors.

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Increases in support for beef demand-building efforts were approved by directors of the Federation Division of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) at the organization’s Board meeting held in conjunction with the 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Kissimmee. Addi-tional funding will go to programs funded through the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC) and a special Federa-tion Initiative Fund that channels money from states with large cattle populations to those with large consumer populations.

Federation directors voted to allocate $750,000 in expected surplus Federation funds to supplement the funding requests that will be considered by the BPOC in September. The BPOC determines nation-al and international programs for building beef demand. The funds are invested by state beef councils and are in addition to a $5.13 million initial FY2012 investment approved by the Federation Executive Committee and Federation directors.

According to David Dick, a beef producer from Sedalia, MO, and chair-man of the NCBA Federation Division, the additional funds will be put to good use. “Matched with funds from the Cattle-men’s Beef Board (CBB), this money will support demand-building programs that benefit U.S. beef producers,” he said. “It’s important that we put the money where it

will do the most good.”In that spirit the Federation also ap-

proved $198,300 in spending on demand-building projects through its Federation Initiative Fund. A total of $246,550 had been requested from the fund by 10 state beef councils in large consumer popula-tion states. The fund is made possible by state beef councils that have more cattle than people.

“Producers on state beef council boards across the country control half of the $1 mandatory national beef checkoff they collect,” said Dick. “While most of that money is used for in-state demand-building programs, we’re also able to strengthen the national program and get other funds where they’re needed badly.”

The NCBA Federation Division repre-sents the 45 Qualified State Beef Councils, and elects 10 members to the 20-member BPOC. The other 10 are elected by the CBB. The BPOC determines which proj-ects and programs will be funded through the 50 cents of each checkoff dollar sent to the CBB.Other Actions

Also at the Summer Conference, Federation directors heard more about progress made through a Charter they approved at their meeting in Denver in February. The Charter establishes that the Federation is independent within NCBA.

Among the steps taken since Febru-ary have been the hiring of a senior staff member whose sole responsibility is Federation activities, and the hiring of a compliance officer who helps assure that time and expense controls of Beef Check-off funds are properly implemented.

“As a committed partner with CBB, we want to make sure that we have 100 percent accountability,” said Dick. “At the same time, we value the synergies that our association with NCBA provide.”

At the event’s Federation Forum, state beef council representatives presented ways the Federation was involved with programs taking place in their states. Staff from the Idaho Beef Council utilized Federation assistance in a state-initiated consumer promotion project, while the Nebraska Beef Council provided signifi-cant assistance in a nationally developed Issues Management program in Nebraska.

“State beef councils and their staffs are key to the Federation’s success,” said Dick. “Not only do they financially support national Federation efforts, they directly participate in Checkoff-funded efforts taking place in their states. It’s a close relationship that works well.”

2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference


South Florida Water Management DistrictAugust Agricultural Highlights ReportCharles M. Shinn III, Assistant Director, Government & Community Affairs, Florida Farm Bureau

$100 Million Allotted for Everglades May Help Agricul-ture to Remain on Land

Last Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it will use $100 million to acquire permanent easements from farm-ers and ranchers in Hendry, Glades, Highlands and Okeechobee Counties to restore wetlands on nearly 24,000 acres. These ease-ments are not a panacea for ranchers but on specific parcels they provide an alternative source of income by raising water levels on lands that were drained in the past.

Ditching, depressions and sloughs was standard practice in the mid 1900’s on ranches when the mindset was to remove as much water as possible. It was thought that lowering the water table will result in increased grazing land for cattle.

More recent range research indicates that the dried areas produced only marginal grazing and increasing ground wa-ter back towards historical levels does not depreciate grazing and enhances water management. This is an extension of the ‘dispersed water storage’ concept being promoted by the South Florida Water Management District.

Dispersed water storage is a means of holding water back on private lands and compensating the landowner. This storage is cost-effective due to little infrastructure being needed to con-tain the water. Many times the water is held by simply adding a board or two to a culvert structure. Instead of stacking water up by feet in reservoirs, dispersed water management looks at inches where much of this storage is actually just below the ground surface.

Florida Farm Bureau Federation supports these cost-effective measures of water storage on private lands when willing growers and ranchers are able to use this concept as part of their business plan to remain farming and ranching on the land.

Bellwether of South Florida Water Continues to Inch Up-ward

Like watching a play in slow-motion, agriculturists in South Florida are buoyed by the rising level of Lake Okeechobee but remain highly concerned about the increasing likelihood of water shortage restrictions remaining into our next dry season.

The lake level was 13.78 feet NGVD last year and 10.33 feet NGVD today. The lowest level this year was 9.53 feet NGVD re-corded on June 24. Since the summer rains started in mid-June, the lake has been slowly inching upward to the level it is today. The rainfall for August thus far has been normal but at least one

wet, slow-moving tropical event is needed to bring the lake up to the normal level of 14 – 15 feet NGVD before the end of the wet season.

There currently is a 75 percent chance that water restrictions will remain in place as we head into the next dry season, which runs from November 2011 through May 2012. If this occurs, it is likely that the lake will approach the historical low level of 8.82 feet NGVD which was set July 2, 2007. This will certainly be devastating to agriculture as well as residents and the environ-ment in South Florida. We encourage the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restrain from making releases from the lake to allow it to rise as much as possible.

Water Management District Continues to Scale Back Employees

The terminology “cutting to the bone” comes to mind when thinking of the process that the South Florida Water Manage-ment District is taking to reduce staff. Numerous pink-slips were issued to personnel as the District works on complying with a smaller budget.

The layoffs are after 123 employees voluntarily separated from the District last month by accepting an early retirement package.

Many Floridians believe that the District is much too large and has spent too much effort on programs that are not directly within the core mission of flood protection, water supply and restoration.

Farmers in the EAA and C-139 Basins Exceed Goals in Removing Nutrients

For the past 16 years, farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area have been surpassing the goal of reducing phosphorus runoff by at least 25 percent. This past year was a banner year with a reduction of 79 percent, bringing the average reduction to 55 percent.

In the C-139 basin located west of the EAA, farmers achieved their water quality performance goal by maintaining historical levels.

Essential components of a successful agricultural source control program include a comprehensive Best Management Plan (BMP) that includes fertilizer management, water manage-ment, and sediment control. The goal is to use the right amount of fertilizer to optimize crop growth and place the fertilizer where it is most effectively utilized by the crop. Water manage-ment likewise targets the correct amount of water directly to the root zone while minimizing excess runoff. These BMPs are well accepted by farmers as they lower costs while helping the sur-rounding environment.

Some news reports give credit to the dry year that resulted in less runoff from farms. It is erroneous to say that the dry year gave the edge to agriculture when during wet years, the same reporters blame agriculture completely. In Florida we must all consider the averages because our climate tends to go from one extreme to the other.

Monthly Reports Available on Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s Website

This report is also available on Florida Farm Bureau Federa-tion’s website (www.floridafarmbureau.org). Click on ‘Issues and Public Policy’ on the left side of the home page, then click on the ‘Water and Natural Resources’ subheading.

One Year Ago This Year

46 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE September 2011 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

Monday’s Sale - 12 noon(Bring Your Cattle Sunday 10am - 7pm or Sale Day)

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Mo Brangus & Hines Cattle Co. Brangus & Angus Bulls

November: Friday, Nov. 11th at 1:00pm Black & White Bull Sale

American Marketing Services, Meadows Creek Farm & Pintlala Cattle Company Charolais, Angus & Brangus Bulls

December: Wednesday, Dec. 28th at 12:00 noon Special Slaughter Cow & Bull Sale

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LABOR DAY

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I help the land yield its best.

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Originally from Bonifay, Joe Collins received his Agricultural Engineering degree with a specialty in Water Resources from the University of Florida and immediately went to work for Lykes Bros. Inc. as an ag engineer. At the time Lykes was constructing several new groves that required a great deal of environmental resource per-mitting and low-volume and drip irrigation design work. Joe gained a great deal of practical knowledge in all aspects of design, taking it through permitting and construction. Now Vice President over the Ranch Division, Joe oversees the cattle, sugarcane, timber, turf and leasing operations.

The Lykes Ranch, located in Glades and Highlands counties, encompasses 337,000 acres and is one of the largest contiguous pieces of land in Florida. The “7L” brand and corporate logo rep-resents each of founder Dr. Howell T. Lykes’ seven sons who joined him in incorporating the business in 1910.

The cow-calf operation ranks among the top five largest in the United States. Brangus bulls are bred to Brangus and Beefmaster cows, with Charolais and Angus-cross bulls used as terminal cross sires. Calves are shipped in late spring and late summer and sold to feedlots through private treaty and video sales.

Sugarcane has been a part of Lykes’ operation for several de-cades. They currently plant about 1,500 acres that are cut and sold to U.S. Sugar for processing, and additional acreage is leased for cane and vegetable farming.

Lykes has over 52,000 acres of native and planted pine that are utilized for mulch and fuel wood. With 11,000 acres of eucalyptus, they are one of the largest producers in the continental US. At this time, all of the eucalyptus is used for landscape mulch, although there is potential future use of the trees for biofuel conversion.

Through land-lease and farming agreements, Lykes is partnering with Vercipia to fur-ther a cellulosic process first developed at UF that converts warm season grasses to ethanol. The process utilizes the stalks, leaves, and even weeds, mak-ing it a more efficient use of the plants. “It is exciting to be work-ing in the area of Biofuels,” said Joe. “Florida is uniquely situated for this type of project because we have substantial amounts of farmland coupled with nearby population centers.”

In 2009 Joe was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to fill an at-large position representing

Charlotte, Collier, Hen-dry, Highlands, Glades, Lee, Okeechobee, Or-ange, Osceola and Polk counties on the South Florida Water Manage-ment District Governing Board. In March of 2011 he was elected by his Board peers to serve as Chairman. His experi-ences as an engineer and ranch operations manager in the private sector make him uniquely qualified to understand the challenges faced by those who are governed by the District. As the Board faces the challenge of an over $100 million budget reduction, he says that the District will continue to focus on its core mission of flood con-trol, water supply, and environmental restoration.

An alumnus of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute Class VII, Joe said, “It is a great program for people who are associated with agriculture and natural resources.” The program is coordinated by Dr. Hannah Carter at the UF/IFAS Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources with the intent “to develop and refine the leadership capabilities of young leaders who, in turn, will be prepared to become increasingly involved in policy forma-tion.” The 22-month program includes several study/travel seminars held throughout Florida, with one seminar in Washington D.C., and one international seminar in a developed or developing country. Joe’s class traveled to diverse locations such as a homeless shelter

in Miami, the Federal Reserve Bank, the U.S. Capitol, and Chi-na and Vietnam. Participating in the WLI was an incredible expe-rience and Joe is proud to have graduated from the program.

According to Joe, he is “blessed to be working at Lykes – the company is very involved in the local community.” He, his wife Lisa, and their three sons Ben, Eli, and Pate, live in Sebring where the family is active in the First Baptist Church and the boys enjoy athletic activities. Joe is also a member of the Florida and Highlands County Cattle-men’s Associations, Florida and Highlands County Farm Bureau, and the American Water Re-sources Association.

Farmers & Ranchers

Joe Collinsby Robbi Sumner

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Hello fellow members! I hope you all are having a great start to the new school year. My name is Haley Webb, and I am serving as your 2011-2012 Florida FFA State Secre-tary. It was great having the opportunity to meet many of you at the 83rd Florida FFA state convention in June. Since then, the state officer team and I have been quite busy. The week following FFA convention I traveled to Marco Island with my family for the annual Cattlemen’s Convention. While there, I competed on the Desoto Beef Quiz Bowl team, which placed second, and got to mingle with many young cattlemen and cattle-women. It is truly inspiring every year that I go to be with people who share the same passion and drive for the beef industry as I do.

Following a great week in Marco Island I headed to Gainesville to meet my team-mates to embark on our first journey together. This journey took us to Peachtree City, Georgia for the National Leadership Conference for State Officers (NLCSO), where we met the state officer teams from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Indiana. We spent the week getting to know the other state officer teams, and our own team as well. This was our first week together and it gave us the chance to really learn our strengths, not only on an individual level, but on our team level. The week was a great experience! Following NLCSO, our team traveled back to Gainesville for a week of BLAST OFF training. We had an amazing presenter named Ms. Amy Nicol, who helped us to further discover our individual strengths and the positive attributes we all bring to our team. BLAST OFF was a great time where we got to know each other on a deeper level, and become a family.

The last week of July, Charlie and I traveled to Washington DC for the State Presi-dents Conference. While there, we had the opportunity to go to the Capitol and advo-cate FFA and agriculture education to congressmen and representatives, as well as go to the USDA building and talk with the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack. In addition, we started the delegate process and established committees for the issues that will be voted on at National FFA Convention in October. Our week at SPC was very productive and we made some memories to last a lifetime.

Since then our team has been planning for Chapter Presidents Conference (CPC) and the Chapter Officer Leadership Training Conference (COLT), both in September. We’ve got great programs planned for Florida’s FFA members this year, and can’t wait to share them with you. On behalf of the team and myself, I would like to tell you all that we are beyond excited for what is to come in the next year and we can’t wait to meet all of you! God Bless!

Haley WebbFlorida FFA State Secretary

The Hendry County 4-H Horticulture Judging Team cap-tured first place in the Florida 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest during 4-H Congress in Gainesville the week of July 25 – 29, 2011. The team, coached by Patricia Gonzalez and Pat Johnson, consisted of Wolfgang Lynn, Andy McAvoy, Harry Plamondon and Stephen Woosley. In the Overall Individual Standings, Harry Plamondon led the way by achieving first place in the competi-tion.

For those unfamiliar with the 4-H Horticulture Judging Pro-gram, it is a program that provides 4-H’ers with the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in identification and selection of horticultural products such as vegetables, fruits, flowers, and ornamentals.

The team will continue to practice to compete in the National competition to be held October 7-10, 2011 during the National Junior Horticultural Association Conference in San Diego, California.

4-H Horticulture Judging Team Excels at State Contestby Sonja CrawfordHendry County 4-H/ Livestock Agent

Come See Us for All Your Farm and Construction Equipment Needs


The 3rd Annual State 4-H Dog Conference was held August 4-7 in Lake Placid, Florida at 4H Camp Cloverleaf. In attendance were 54 members of the Florida 4-H Dog Project with 64 dogs.

Florida 4-H members arrived at Camp Cloverleaf on Thurs-day afternoon to get checked in and geared up to have some fun and training with their dogs. The main training for the 4-H members and their dogs were Obedience, Showmanship, Rally, and Agility. 4-H members worked in assigned groups every day in order to participate in all four areas. Training this year is important as some of our 4H Dog Club members are participat-ing in the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship for Junior Handlers that will be held in Orlando, Florida in December.

The 4-H Dog Club members also had some fun. A cup-cake decorating class was taught to all who attended the Dog Conference. They also made tab leashes and dog pull toys. To make things a little more interesting, a pet costume contest, a dog photo contest, and a Dog Quiz Bowl were held. The Dog Club members also had time to enjoy swimming and kayaking at Camp Cloverleaf.

To add to our enjoyment, we had several guest speakers visit us throughout the week. Dr. Laura VanHorn, President of the Heartland AKC Dog Club, spoke to us on the importance of Responsible Dog Ownership. Kaley Terrell and Kimber Harris, Heartlanders 4-H Dog Club members, spoke to us on the benefits of adopting a pet from The Humane Society. The Highlands County Sheriffs office did a demonstration with their search dogs. It is astounding to see what a trained dog can do!

This is an amazing experience for anyone who wants to work with their dog. Thank you to Mrs. Beverly Ruble, Heart-landers 4-H Dog Club Leader for coordinating the State 4-H Dog Conference once again. If anyone is interested in joining the Heartlanders 4-H Dog Club, please contact the Highlands County Extension Office.

Florida 4-H Dog Conferenceby Cassandra Hare

ONE DAY EVENT!!!!Saturday, October 15th from 9am-1pm

Stuart Park - Lake Placid - Interlake Blvd. (across the street from Caladium Co-op & the Blueberry Patch)

Come join the Fun!!!!Come early to get the BEST Pumpkin!!We will have, Free Games, Free Face

Painting, & Great Photo Ops.For Sale: PUMPKINS, CORNSTALKS, HOT DOGS, COKES, SNOW CONES,

COTTON CANDY, POPCORN!!!!Please come out & support our club. Money raised

helps pay for our Community Services that we provide, i.e Meals, Toys, Clothing, Donations,

Visits to the Nursing Homes, etc.For more info or special orders please contact

Paula Sapp-Leader 863-441-1506

Lake Placid Clovers 4-H2nd Annual Pumpkin Patch

DeSoto Machine ShopTriangle Spreader Manufacturing Co.

(800) 494-0335(863) 494-0703

2692 N.E. Nat Ave.Arcadia, FL 34266

www.desotomachine.com

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Accessories Air Ride Systems Alignments BrakesCold Air Intakes Dog Boxes Electrical Exhaust SystemsPerformance Parts Programmers Rv Parts Suspension Tool Boxes Towing/Winches Tires/ Wheels

Monster Trucks Available for Birthday Parties & Special Events!!!

(863) 763-8866 | 4375 US Hwy 441 South | Okeechobee, FL 34974 Automobile - RV - Trailer - Service & Repair

James D. Webb, Jr.Senior Vice President–Investments

Financial Advisor

(863) 402-2009 • (800) 937-0259

2623 US Highway 27 South, Sebring, FL 33870

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management is a registered trademark of Bank of America Corporation. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a registered broker-dealer and member SIPC, and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. Investment products:

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Certified Public Accountants

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140 South Commerce AvenueSebring, Florida 33870

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Lake PlacidW. Bruce Stratton, CPA, Partner

OkeechobeeCheryl M. Williams, CPA, Partner

Corey A. DeHays, CPA

Serving Central Florida for Over 40 Years


Shine up ‘yer boots and head on down to the Silver Spurs Arena, because the cowboys are in town! Osceola Heritage Park will host the 2011 Florida Ranch Rodeo Finals, where 16 teams will gather to compete in events that represent the daily tasks on cattle ranches throughout the state of Florida. The teams are sponsored by a local ranch/cattle operation and are competing for the grand champion prize - a hand-made leather saddle, as well as trophy belt buckles and cash to fill their pockets. The teams will compete in two rodeo performances, starting at 7 p.m. Friday night September 30th and Saturday night October 1st.

Saturday starting at 10:00 a.m. the cowboy heritage festival will begin. The day will be filled with a wide as-sortment of cowboy activities such as a ranch horse com-petition, a whip cracking contest, beef cook-off, saddle, spur and whip making, cowboy poetry, storytelling, and swamp cabbage cookin’!

Come on out and experience what a real day is like in the life of a Florida cowboy! For more information, visit www.floridacattlemen.org

2011 Ranch Rodeo Finals

Competing this year:• Baker Ranch• Belflower Cattle• Beville Ranch• Cummings Cattle Company• Diamond S Ranch• Grace Ag• Hilliard Brothers• KICCO Ranch• KL Bar Cattle Company• M & N Cattle Company• Marion Cattle Cattlemen• Orange County Cattlemen• Rafter G Bar Livestock, Inc.• Rocking U Cattle Company• Stevens Land and Cattle• Williams Ranch

2011 Florida Ranch Rodeo FinalsSponsored by

The Florida Cattlemen’s Association&

Florida Cattlewomen, Inc.

To benefit the Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation

Friday, September 30 - Saturday, October 1 Rodeo Finals begin at 7 pm each day

Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm

Cowboy Heritage Festival

Whip Cracking Contest • Story TellingCracker Cow Camps • Cowboy Poetry and Artwork • Leather Crafts

Saddle, Spur & Whip MakingSwamp Cabbage Cooking • Beef Cook-off

Silver Spurs Arena at Osceola Heritage Park, KissimmeeRodeo Tickets — $10.00

Children 10 & Under FreeFor more information visit www.floridacattlemen.org


Get Ready for Classic Cars, the throaty sound of American muscle and the smell of burned rubber. The 2nd annual Sebring Thunder event will be held September 16 - 18. This unique event will have something for everyone. Cool cars, food, music, a swap meet, and a good time for all.

The event will begin with a Kickoff Friday September 16 at 5 pm with a welcome reception at event headquarters, historic Ke-nilworth Lodge. There will be registration available for those that have not pre registered. Registration is $25 and includes a t-shirt, entry into the burn out, tickets to the BBQ on Saturday night, and a drive on the track at the Sebring International Raceway on Sunday. The fun continues on Friday evening with a burn out in downtown Sebring at 7:00 pm. Entered cars will get a chance to participate in a drag style burn out.

Saturday morning starts out at 8 am with a drive from the Kenilworth Lodge to the circle downtown. Members of the local Rotary Club will be on hand to help exhibitors park their cars. The Car show runs from 9 am to 3 pm. A live band and a DJ will be on hand to keep the music going throughout the day. There will be a swap meet, food vendors and other fun and interesting things to keep everyone entertained. Cars will be judged and awards given in various categories. At 3 pm, everyone will head back to the Kenilworth Lodge with a poolside BBQ at 5pm.

Sunday Morning starts out with a ride down the Sebring International Raceway. Exhibitors will get a chance to run a few laps on the track behind a pace car.

This event promises to be a great time for exhibitors and attendees alike. Classic cars, food, music and fun, it just does not get any better than that. Organizers are expecting 250 to 350 classic cars on hand. It is going to be a fantastic weekend and you will not want to miss a minute of the fun. So make plans now to attend. For more information on this event, call 1-800-423-5939, or check them out on the web at www.sebringcruise.com.

Sebring Thunder II

(863) 314-9790Village Fountain Plaza | 237 US Hwy. 27, N Sebring, FL 33870

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them at competitve prices, provide superior customer service and

maximize returns to Florida growers.”

For Fruit Sales & Pricing Please Contact:

Fran BeckerV.P. Fruit Procurement

Office: (863) 494-0440 • Mobile: (863) 990-8582

Serving Highlands County and the Peace River Basin area since 1994.

YOU’RE INVITED!FIELD DAY – BRISKET LUNCHLAND O’LAKES PURINA FEED• HeiferDevelopmentwith

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Where: PutnamRanch&GrovesParnellRoad–ZolfoSprings

When: Thursday–September15,2011

Time: 9:00AM–3:00PM

Please RSVP by September 12, 2011

For Information Contact:• RonnieDurrance,HardeeRanchSupply

863-773-4322• CraigCannady,Glisson’sAnimalSupply

863-471-3333• DurwardSmith,SmithRanch&GardenSupply

863-494-2142• MattPearce863-634-3489• JeffButler813-763-1832

Highlands County Ag Venture will be held this year October 25, 26 and 27 at the Highlands County Fair Grounds. Ag Venture is a three-day program for third graders in the county to gain experience, understanding and appreciation for local agriculture. This program started 12 years ago with just an idea to share a passion for agriculture and has grown to be successful and a great opportunity for the kids. The students go through 14 dif-ferent learning stations: alligators, beef, bees, caladiums, citrus, dairy, farm animals, forestry, grapes, ornamental horticulture, poultry, strawberries, vegetables, and water and soil conservation.

This great program is put on solely by volunteers and funded by donations from the community. For the program to run ef-fectively, they need over 150 volunteers each day.

Right now Ag Venture needs your help! They are still in need of volunteers and sponsors for the program as well as door prizes for volunteers. You could help with set-up, clean up, or during the week at stations. Any help will guarantee the pro-gram to run smoothly and successfully.

If you are interested in volunteering your time, money or efforts, you can contact Danielle or Darlene at (863) 465-2313 or Judy at (863) 655-0123. You can also e-mail Danielle at [email protected]

For more information visit www.highlandscountyag-venture.com.

October 25-27, 2011Highlands County Fairgrounds

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On July 22 and 23, the National Day of the American Cowboy was celebrated with a variety of festivities, including a cattle drive through town and a two-day ranch rodeo sponsored by the Okeechobee Cattlemen’s Association and Okeechobee Main Street. The cattle drive was held Saturday, beginning at Eli’s Western Wear and concluding at the Agri Civic Center where spectators enjoyed a number of vendors offering everything from BBQ to western wear.

During the opening ceremony of the Florida Cattlemen’s As-sociation sanctioned ranch rodeo, Pete Clemons was honored for being one of eight who were chosen to receive the 2011 Cowboy Keeper Award from the non-profit National Day of the Cowboy organization. Selection for the annual award is based on the level and significance of contributions to the preservation of pioneer heritage and cowboy culture.

A famed former rodeo star, Clemons has been the owner/operator of the Okeechobee Livestock Market for over 50 years. He is held in high regard for his friendliness, honesty, and genuine desire to help people.

Twenty teams from around the state competed for $9,000 in prize money and the chance to compete in the Florida Ranch Rodeo Finals which will be held in Kissimmee, September 30 and October 1. Events included Ranch Bronc Riding, Team Tying, Team Branding, Team Sorting, and Cow Decorating. The first place team in each event won $500, and points were awarded to the top 10 teams in each event with final point totals determining the overall winners and additional prize money.

In the Ranch Bronc Riding, one member of each team took a shot at making the eight-second whistle using a standard working saddle and bucking horse halter with one rein. Pearce Ranch won the event with a score of 76 points.

Team Tying is similar to Tie-down Roping, except that all five team members work together to cut out a yearling from the herd, then one member ropes the calf, others mug it, and one ties three legs together. The yearling must stay tied down for six seconds for a qualified run. A five-second penalty is assessed for

any other calves that cross the line before the designated calf. The Grace Ag team made it look easy with their winning time of 36.1 seconds.

In Team Branding, a herd of numbered cattle are at one end of the arena and the team is charged with cutting out a specific steer, roping it by the head and the heels, and branding with a dusted brand, all within a two-minute or three-loop limit. Again Grace Ag came in first, posting a time of 30.4 seconds.

Team Sorting involves working together to sort from the herd three sequentially numbered calves. For example, the judge calls “5” and the numbers, 5, 6 and 7 are to be cut out in that order within the two-minute time limit. Any other calves crossing the line results in a no time. The Syfrett Ranch team showed how it was done in 31.4 seconds to take the points and the prize money for the event.

In Cow Decorating, team members work to sort their desig-nated cow from the herd, then one member ropes the head and others mug the cow allowing a ribbon to be tied to its tail. The timer stops when the head rope is removed. There are two-minute and two-loop limitations, and five second penalties are added for any other cows crossing the line. The Rough Ride Cattle Com-pany won this event in 34.5 seconds.

After the dust cleared and total points were tallied, the KIC-CO Team of Bobbie Joe Fulford, Billy Adams, Cole Fulford, Cody Storey, and Whitney Storey Savoi won the rodeo with 31.5 points, taking home $2,600 plus winning their entry for the state finals. The Grace Ag team of Bobby Lines, Rafe Durrance, Brad Moss, Matt Davis and Heather Clemons came in second and earned $1,950 with 27 points. Pearce Ranch members Levi Pearce, Donnie Crawford, Myron Albritton, Tommy Rodgers and Maci Culligan took third and $1,300 with 25 points. Durando Ranches’ team of Jay Bellflower, Pat Thomas, Dennis Carlton, Slade Bronson, and Chass Bronson placed fourth with 21 points and won $650.

The National Day of the American Cowboy became a nationally recognized event in 2005 after President George Bush signed an official letter of support to the resolution calling for observance of America’s cowboy heritage on the fourth Saturday of July each year.

Okeechobee Celebrates theNational Day of the American Cowboy

by Robbi Sumner

photo by Melissa C

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by M

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What’s going on InTheField?

AgCalendar• August31-September2—FloridaCattlemen’s

Association/FloridaCattlewomen’sAssociationFallQuarterlyMeeting,Chateau Elan Hotel, Sebring

• September3-5—AnnualCattlemen’sLaborDayPRCARodeo,Agri-Civic Center, Okeechobee

• September5—AnnualCattlemen’sLaborDayParade,Okeechobee

• September10-11—Spurlow’sOutdoorOutfittersOutdoorExpo,Convention Center, Sebring

• September16—FridayNightLive,Main Street Heritage Park, Downtown Wauchula

• September16-17—SebringThunderCarShow,see page 56 for more information

• September20-21—FloridaFarmBureauStateDirectorsMeeting, Sebring

• September23—17thAnnualFCAHeiferSale, Arcadia Livestock Market

• September29—FriendsofNRABanquet, see page 25 for more information

• October1—2ndAnnualSmokin’intheSwampBBQContestCookoff, Fred Smith Rodeo Arena, Brighton-Seminole Reservation, www.rezrodeo.com

• October1-2—MarthaJoseyBarrelRacingClinic, Agi-Civic Center, Okeechobee (863) 763-1666


Please patronize these fine businesses in your area.

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James E. Oxer, D.M.D.(863) 465-2037


AnimalsPollination ServiceSStrong bees when you want them.We also have honey and skin care products made with honey and ingredients from the hive. Cantu Apiaries, 863-735-1679

Worm caStingSAdd living microbes to improve your soil, use less water. Call Sean, Green Leaf Worm Farm, 941-626-5970. www.GreenLeafWormFarm.com

Building SuppliescheaP metal roofingDiscount Metal Mart 8’x10’ sheets in stock! Prices from $5 to $12. Custom lengths available. If you buy elsewhere, we both lose. Call 813-752-7088

Equine ServicesDiScount equine Service BunDleCoggins, vaccination, teeth float. Call 813-752-0224 or 813-951-0118

Farm Equipment1952 John Deere tractor m moDelRuns Good! $1,985 O.B.O. Jim 863-858-2226

1984 KuBota B62002 wd, w/4 ft. Finish Mower $3,000 Call 863-698-2967

2004 maSSey ferguSon461-2-55 pto hp, 2 wheel drive, shuttle shift, hydraulic remotes. $10,500. Call 813-752-8722

42’ reach forKlift3,952 hours. $29,469 Call 863-698-4114

all-Pro flatBeD trailer7X20 with beavertail and ramps. Tandem 7,000 pd axels $2,500 Call Hank 863-559-8718

neW hollanD rePoSTN60A 2WD 2007 models w/front brooms and box blades. Never used, sold new $31,270. Sell $27,000, bal-ance of warranty. 813-623-3673

PortaBle BulK feeDerSExcellent Condition!!! Call 863-528-4356

FoodanguS freezer Beef$2.75/lb. cut and wrapped. Whole, Half or Quarter. Cash, Mastercard or Visa 863-206-2828

Real EstatearcaDia 14+ acreSMature oak trees, ready to harvest; fenced, pond, pasture, metal barn w/concrete floor, 3 wells, animal barn, catch pen. $108,000.00 A-260 Cold-well Banker Gamiotea Realty, 863-494-3600 or 888-494-4880. Each office independently owned and operated.

BlairSville, georgia mlS#191458Prepare to love this well kept 2 bdrm. cabin with a Sea-sonal mtn. view. This enticing 1-1/2 story provides gas Fireplace. Loft, wood flooring, main-level laundry. Central air, Ceiling fans. Nottley River privileges, covered porch, simple, no-fuss landscape. Fishing. Call Jane Baer w/ Jane Baer Realty. 1-800-820-7829

call “the lanD laDy”Acreage, lakefront ranches, “mini” farms. Mary Adsit, Realtor 863-285-7118 www.maryadsit.com

homoSaSSa lotOne acre lot, high & dry, approx. 100 yds. From the Mason Creek River. Fish-ing & Boating Heaven! 813-503-9033

leeSBurg laKe front home7 ac (mol), Lake Front w/beautiful sunset, 3/3/2 home w/det workshop/barn covered equip port, plus cabin. Dock, good fishing, skiing, boating. Small citrus grove w/variety of fruit. $450,000. Call Coldwell Banker Gamiotea Realty at 863-494-3600 or 888-494-4880.

arcaDia- 9.97 ac (mol) w/custom built 3BR 3BA 3C garage home with beautiful rural setting. All upgrades available in this home. Adjoining 9.97 AC (mol) can be purchased separately. $397,500. Call Coldwell Banker Gamiotea Realty at 863-494-3600 or 888-494-4880.

north georgia mountainS!Blairsville (Union County), Blue Ridge (Fannin County),Young Harris & Hiawassee (Towns County) as well as Murphy & Hayesville NC! Let us help you find your dream home getaway cabin! Call today 1-800-820-7829 and ask for Jane Baer with Jane Baer Realty. www.janebaerrealty.com

Which magazine are you ordering? circle one. The Heartland Hillsborough County Polk County Two Issue Package 12 months/12 issues 12 months/ 12 issues 12 months/ 12 issues 12 months/ 12 issues ea. $25.00 $25.00 $25.00 $45.00 (circle 2)First issue to begin in: Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Name: _______________________________________________________________________________________________Phone: _______________________________________________________________________________________________Company: ____________________________________________________________________________________________Shipping Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________Billing Address (if different than above): _____________________________________________________________________Payment Information circle one: check enclosed credit card Credit Card Type: MasterCard VISACredit Card Number:_______________expiration date:________security code: ______________________________________Mail to us at: Heartland In The Field Magazine, P.O. Box 3183, Plant City, FL 33563

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64 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE September 2011 www.InTheFieldMagazine.com

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