heartland magazine april 2012

Heartland InTheFieldMagazineApril 20121

HEARTLANDA Way of Life.

MAR 2012

A Natural Florida Treasure:

Babcock Ranch

APR 2012

Heartland InTheFieldMagazineApril 2012 3

863-357-0500 www.okeechobeedcj.comOkeechobee Dodge Chrysler Jeep 4224 US Hwy 441 S. Okeechobee, FL. 34974

$49.95

95


A Natural Florida Treasure:Babcock Ranch

Index of Advertisers

Heartland’s Youth Hunting Spotlight

Arcadia Stockyard

Home Gardening

Florida Farming

Citrus Update

Dakin Dairy: A Model of Sustainability

Women In Ag: Danielle Larson

Farmer and Rancher: Roger Butler

Grub Station: Dutch Oven Cooking

Florida Cattlewomen’s Recipe:Confetti Beef and Spinach Pie

In Season Now: Florida Sweet Corn

FFA Spotlight: Okeechobee Jr.

Fair Updates

Ag Calendar

What’s Inside28

34

46

48

50

58

60

70

36

10

13

14

18

19

22

24


APR 2012

36 A NaturalFlorida Treasure: Babcock Ranch


Central States Enterprises, LLC, 668 NW Waldo Street, Lake City, FL 32055,

800-275-4429, www.csefeeds.com.

. Free-choice supplement for beef cattle on pasture or with all-roughage rations

. Scienti!cally balance to be fed free-choice to cattle

. All mineral & vitamin ingredients are selected for high biological availabilty and stability


Phone (813) 708-3661Fax (813) 283-4978

Publisher

Rhonda [email protected] Berry

Executive Editor

Morgan Taylor [email protected]

Business Manager

Art Directors

Allie Schotanus

Staff Writers

James FrankowiakRon LambertMorgan Taylor NorrisJustin SmithRobbi Sumner

Contributing Writers

Chass BronsonRussell HancockJay HoustonTanner HuysmanBrenda ValentineLindsey WigginsDee Dee JacobsonBrian Norris

Photography

Jim Davis PhotographySharon GlissonRussell HancockMorgan Taylor NorrisBrian NorrisAmber JohnsonKelley Baker

Graphic Design Intern

Allison Kenny

Heartland in the Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local businesses, restaurants and other local venues within Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Hendry and Okeechobee Counties. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market,

Advertisers warrant & represent the description of their products advertised are true in all respects. Heartland 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 G Five Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in Heartland In the Field Magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications and G Five.

As Earth Day is approaching, we are reminded of the importance of conserving the resources with which we have been blessed. This month, we are featuring agriculturalists in the Heart-land who are doing just that. Through sustainability and conservation efforts now, generations to come will be able to enjoy the very land and animals that we are harvesting and hunting today.

Our cover story this month will take you back in time to the ‘old Florida’ that some of you original Cracker Cowboys may remember. Babcock Ranch and Preserve is a natural Florida treasure tucked away in Charlotte County. Read about the rich history of the ranch and their efforts at sustainable practices. If you haven’t already, take a trip to the ranch and ride along on an eco tour where you will see Florida wildlife and the Telegraph Cypress Swamp. Don’t forget to stop by the Gator Shack for a Florida favorite, gator bites.

As a model of sustainability, Dakin Dairy uses innovation and state of the art technology to produce world-class products. Read more about their industry leading practices on page 24.

This month is the All Florida Ag Show hosted by the Highlands County Farm Bureau and Meister Media. It will be held at the Highlands County Convention Center in Sebring on April 25 and 26. The two-day event is a program and tradeshow targeted for the success of all

As we spring into this new season, I know that gardening is fresh on everyone’s mind. When you start to plan your own garden, give Fresh from Florida a more personal meaning by read-ing tips from Buckhorn Nursery’s Ron Lambert. Also, be sure to read extension agent Dee Dee Jacobson’s article about Florida friendly landscaping on page 20.

Happy Easter from all of us at the Heartland.

Morgan

I’d love to hear from you! Please send any comments or questions to [email protected]

Editor’s Note



HARDEE COUNTY FARM BUREAU1017 US Highway 17 NWauchula, FL. 33873

Monday – Friday8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

863. 773. 3117Fax:

863. 773. 2369

OFFICERS ANDEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President……David B. Royal

Vice President…Greg L. Shackelford

Sec./Treasurer……..Bo Rich

DIRECTORS FOR 2010-2011Joseph B. Cherry John Platt

Corey Lambert Daniel H. SmithSteve A. Johnson Bill Hodge

David B. Royal Greg L. Shackelford Bo Rich

Susan Chapman

N. Jay Bryan

George L. Wadsworth, Jr.1017 US Hwy 17 N.Wauchula, FL 33873(863) 773-3117

HIGHLANDS COUNTYFARM BUREAU6419 US Highway 27 S.Sebring, FL 33876

Monday – Friday8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

:863. 385. 5141

Fax:863. 385. 5356

www.highlandsfarmbureau.com


President………Scott Kirouac

Vice President…Doug Miller

Secretary………..Carey Howerton

Treasurer……..Mike Waldron

DIRECTORS FOR 2010-2011Sam Bronson Steve Farr

Mike Milicevic Jeff WilliamsFrank Youngman Marty WohlJim Wood Lindsey Sebring

Janet Menges

Chad D. McWaters

Joseph W. Bullington6419 US Highway 27 S.Sebring, FL 33876(863) 385-5141

Cameron N. Jolly

Dawn A. Hines1278 SE US Highway 31 Arcadia, FL 34266(863) 494-3636

CHARLOTTE/DESOTOCOUNTY FARM BUREAU1278 SE US Highway 31Arcadia, FL 34266

Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

863.494.3636

941.624.3981Fax:

863.494.4332


President…………....Jim Selph

Vice President……….Jeffrey Adams

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

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

Lindsay HarringtonRichard E. Harvin Ann H. RyalsMac Turner Matt Harrison

Ken Harrison

Katherine Ryals


The Florida Legislature ended the session on time this year. Agriculture was well represented and Farm Bureau was highly successful. Farm Bureau members worked to reduce regulatory burdens and taxes this year. Keep in mind, as of this writing;; we are waiting for the Governor to sign the legislation.

-dustry. Beekeepers have faced many burdens placed by counties and local municipalities. This law is designed to reduce those burdens.

they do not cause a safety hazard.

storm water preemption.

groves and are exempted from having a state issued tag.

working towards a state run program vs. a federal program which is what we have had for many years.

electric taxes. The corporate income tax exemption will now be $50,000. That will help all Florida businesses.

property taxes will be forthcoming.

farms will not need a commercial driver’s license.

recover costs from customers for such projects.

state for their property to be used for outdoor recreation.

dealers will be required to improve record keeping.

to the Farm Bureau members who made these accomplishments successful!

diligently with Meister Media to promote the inaugural All Florida Agricultural Show. It will be in Sebring on April 25th and 26th. The All Florida Agricultural Show welcomes those involved in any commodity grown in Florida. There will be speakers and many exhibitors to enhance your attendance, to learn about other commodities and to meet pro-ducers from other areas of the state. For more detailed information, you may go to the

As always, please contact me with any questions, comments or concerns you may have. My information is listed below.

District 6 Update

Andy Neuhofer Florida Farm Bureau District [email protected]

From the Desk of Andy Neuhofer


Index of Advertisers

Karen Berry

Chass Bronson

Ron Brown

226314747299691757536557151726070827271242666945558311663

694976221695659533432257196165116622136969673570236949515269

Danny Crampton

Rhonda [email protected]

Morgan Taylor Norris [email protected]

Sales Team

All Florida Ag ShowAgro Culture A & K Development Arcadia Stockyard ATP LogisticsBuck Daniel Ranch Big T Tire Burns Citrus Callaway Farms Carlos Ramon CPA Cattlemens Livestock Market Center State Bank Central States CF Industries Chemical ContainersCowpoke’s Watering Hole Delaney Photography DeSoto Machine Shop DeSoto/Charlotte Farm BureauDeSoto Memorial Hospital Fields Equipment Florida Fence Post Glade and Grove Glisson’s Animal Supply Goin’ Postal

GSI Supply, Inc.Hardee County Farm Bureau Helena Chemical Hicks Oil Highlands Farm Bureau

Highlands Soil Holland PumpKeyPlex LaBelle FeedLayes TireMichael G. Kirsch Miller’s Central Air Mosaic Newton Crouch Okeechobee Dodge Pathway Peace River Citrus Precision Safe and Lock River Pasture Metal ArtSeacoast National BankSky Power Sports Smith’s Ranch & GardenSpring Lake Hardware Sorrel’s Grove CareSpurlows Outdoor Sunshine Family Denistry

Tater Hill Fun Shoot Taylor Oil The Andersons Tree T Pee Triangle Hardware Trinkle Redman Coton Wauchula State Bank Wicks, Brown, Williams & Co. Wild Turkey Tavern

Wyatt [email protected]

Tina Richmond


APR 2012

One Stop-Shop for all your Gardening, Lawn Care & Hardware Needs

MORE THAN A FEED STORE

Feeds Garden Supplies-

Herbicides,Pesticides, Fertilizers

Leather GoodsBoots & Hats Pet Supplies

Fishing Tackle Ammo

Featuring:

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117 W. Magnolia St.Arcadia, FL 34266

Phone: 863-494-2142Fax: 863-494-5359

Monday-Friday 7:30am to 6pm Saturday 7:30am to 2pm

Closed on Sundays


The National Wild Turkey Federation’s outreach program, Women in the Outdoors, is introduc-

much more.

Since 1998, the NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors program has worked to provide women the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors by providing expert instruction and hands-on education

The Women in the Outdoors program is about encouraging women to try new outdoor activities in a safe environment that makes them feel at ease. The events are an opportunity for women from all walks of life to spend a weekend outdoors, having fun and making new friends. NWTF chapters have hosted more than 3,000 Women in the Outdoors events since the program began. Cherie Smith, the 2009 Annie Oakley Award Winner said, “Women in the Outdoors has given

others.”

The 6th Annual Women in the Outdoors event hosted by Quail Creek Plantation, NWTF and the Okeechobee County Tourist Development Council will be held April 27-28 in Okeechobee. Courses offered include Archery, Baubles and Beads Jewelry Making, Canoe and Kayaking, Couponing 101, Cracker Living and Cowboy Roping, Duct Tape Totes, Dutch Oven Cooking, Florida First Aid, Hand Gun Safety, Leave No

Trace, Let’s Go Fishing, Outdoor Digital Photography, Self Defense, Shotgun and Sporting Clays, Stretches for the Outdoor Woman and Traditional Swamp Cabbage Cooking. As you can see, there is truly something for everyone! For more information on this event and to sign up, contact Event Coordinator Denise Helms at 772-475-1158, Instruction Coordinator Kelli

You can also check out updates on special events, links to gear retailers and uplifting stories at www.womenintheoutdoors.com

-tion that is dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage. Together, the NWTF’s partners, sponsors and grassroots members have spent more than $306 million in the conservation of nearly 14 million acres of wildlife habitat.

"The NWTF Women In the Outdoors program is about learning, sharing, empowerment, experiencing and confidence as it en-ables women a hands-on opportunity to learn a variety of outdoor skills. So, step out of your everyday life and learn something new and interesting with other women in a noncompetitive environment. Have fun at Quail Creek in Okeechobee, ladies!”

-Brenda Valentine, The First Lady of Hunting


Addyson Smith, daughter of Mitch Smith

November 19, 2011 and her second turkey on March 10, 2012. Her turkey had a 9.5-inch beard, 1¼-inch spurs and was about 18 pounds. Addyson and her Daddy love noth-

the weekends. He claims he may just have to start leaving his guns at home. Addyson has hunted with her Daddy since the age of 3. Since then she has put in a great amount of time in the woods. She loves it just as much as he does and has showed the poise, patience and understanding of a true sportsman since a very young age.

April’s Hunting Spotlight brought to you by

Spurlow’s Outdoor Outfitters 1 East Wall Street Frostproof, FL 33843 [email protected]

863-635-0240 www.spurlows.com

Submit your children’s hunting pictures for the Monthly Hunting Spotlight to [email protected]

I always laugh that boys never smile, but he was truly THRILLED to get this Tom. He has been hunting deer, turkey and exotics with Brandon

all with Brandon. It has been a lot of fun watch-ing him grow up and enjoy hunting more and more every year.

-Amy Storey


Arcadia Stockyard In 2005, Carl McKettrick saw a need to build a new


As a 23-year order buyer for Thomas Cattle of Williston,

he had been through many sale barns as he traveled for the company buying and selling cattle.

The old Arcadia State Livestock Market had been around since 1939 and after years of history, the auction was moved to Arcadia Stockyard, Florida’ s newest sale barn. They opened for business on September 14, 2005 and the rest is history.

Owners Carl and Libby McKettrick and Joe and Chelsa Hilliard II started the Arcadia Stockyard with a goal to be friendly-oriented and they have continued to run their busi-ness that way. Long-time employee Kathy Tanner said, “What is important at this market is the service. We are hands-on and Carl is here visiting with the customers.” Kathy’s grandfather, John D. Kelly, was one of the manag-ers of the old market so she has been around the industry and seen many changes over the years.

catches my eye is the welcoming wraparound front porch where buyers gather to visit and talk about the cattle indus-try. They also may enjoy a hot juicy hamburger from the café and a sweet tea as they watch the hustle and bustle of sale days. The café has delicious country cooking, daily specials and is always packed;; which is a sign of a great cook!

When you walk through the doors of the stockyard, one special wall stands out-the Wall of Brands. When building the stockyard, they put up one wall of wood behind the ring. Carl said they put it up then tried to come up with a way to deco-rate it. The wall eventually became the branding wall that now boasts about 300 brands;; mostly local but also some from customers even out west. There is plenty of room and they are still branding today so all you need to do is bring in your brand and you can place your family’s mark on the historic wall at the stockyard.

Since Hurricane Charley swept out the remains of the old Arcadia State Livestock

of cattle sold has increased to the 105,000 head sold in 2011. McKettrick says they cannot take all of the credit as cattle are at an all-time high right now and he sees it remaining very good for another two to three years until numbers are built back up. Kathy Tanner adds, “I have never seen it like it is right now. We saw high prices in the 70’s, but this is amazing.”

The stockyard holds sales every Monday and Wednesday at Noon.

Sale days are busy as the number of employees to run the show increase from the six full-time staff to 30 people needed to kick off the sale.

With all the help, Arcadia Stockyard is able to sell 200-225

a long-time employee put this speedy rate of sale into perspective as he said that they were only selling about 150 head per hour at the old market.

I asked Carl to share with me the process from when the loads of cattle arrive to when they are leaving on another truck to head out. The process begins when the producers bring in their cattle. They can unload them on the day of the sale or bring them in the day before. They check in the cattle at the west end of the barn. Arcadia Stockyard has a user-friendly drive thru unloading facil-ity. This is helpful to all who don’t want to back up a trailer;; all they have to do is pull right through and unload with ease. At check-in, they are given a lot number including a head count.


From there, the cattle are moved to holding pens. The stockyard is equipped with fans, sprinklers, and a misting system to keep the livestock cool in our hot summer months. As the sale starts, they are moved to the hot corner area that leads into the auction ring where they are weighed and sold. After the producer’s cattle are sold they can pick up their check within 5 to 10 minutes and they are on their way with the assurance that Arcadia Stockyard assumes all the risk. That is the auction way. Upon the sale of the animal and as it leaves the auction ring, it immediately becomes possession of the buyer. The cattle are then placed in individual pens for the buyer to load out. Most of the cattle leave the same day, but some slaughter cows and bulls are held until the packer is ready. Any livestock held are put on feed and water.

-tend the sales. The buyers are grading cattle as they come through the ring as a number

The calf buyers are buying for different companies and then shipping out west. Carl said that about 90-95% of calves in Florida are shipped out of state. The majority of slaughter animals could be going to one of the two slaughterhouses in Florida, Central Beef and Dairymen Marketing Service, or to houses in Georgia and North and South Carolina.

Over the years from when the old market started in 1939 to now, there have been many -

prove 100% over the years and improvement all around. He says that the industry is more competitive now and that there are better quality cattle and better marketing facilities than in decades past. Kathy Tanner mentioned that she has seen huge growth over the years in both customer base and head of cattle sold. For example, sales used to only be one day a week and because of demand, they have increased to both Monday and Wednesday.

Everyone is welcome to come enjoy the thrilling sale days at Arcadia Stockyard. Sales start at noon and run until the last animal is sold. The fall is busier as they average 3,000 head per week versus the spring when they are selling about 1,500 head a week. You can stop in, grab a great lunch and watch what is sure to be an exciting sale.

For more information about the Arcadia Stockyard, industry news and current price trends, you can visit their web site at

www.arcadiastockyard.com or call 863-494-3737. See you at the market!


Well here we are already in the middle of windy March. Those of us who are outdoors all dread the effects of March winds. Here at our nursery, you can expect to have

a battle to keep plants straightened up and watered.

We also usually have some damage to our shade house from strong winds. This is all part of the grand scheme of things and you just have to go forward.

Since it is a perfect time to plant I thought that I would write this month on the topic of home gardening.

I have grown up in a family that has always planted a garden, both spring and fall every year that I can remember.

I expect that most of you have tried to grow at least some form of a garden at home, especially in the spring of the year.

Vegetable plants and seed displays seem to pop up everywhere. There are many communities that may have an area set aside on a local farm where you can rent a small plot for your very own garden. These farms often have tools available to help make the jobs a little simpler. For example, the ground may be tilled already and prepared for planting.

Whether you take advantage of a community garden or go at it on your own property, be assured that it will require a lot of work to make it a success.

Weeds will come up and compete with the vegetables for both space and nutrients. You can’t let the weeds get ahead of you and that is likely the main reason for a failure in the home garden.

Once you have your spot cleaned up and ready to plant, you can use mulch, bark, pine needles or plastic to reduce weed pressure. Mulch also helps keep moisture in the ground and thereby saves water as that is very important today.

You also must be sure to provide a well balanced fertilizer to your garden. This must be spread on the ground and worked in to ensure that your plants will get a healthy start.

If you are around plants enough you will notice that some plants in a group seem to be more attractive to insects such as aphids. You can choose from control methods ranging from dish washing soap to insecticide of many different types. You must keep insect population in check, for they will do a great deal of damage to your harvest.

Over the past few years, my parents have been growing a wide range of winter vegetables in nursery plant containers. They have had very good results with a wide range of cool weather vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, carrots, spinach, onions, potatoes, squash and collard greens. Every day at lunch there will be something on the table that was harvested that day and put on the noon table.

This culture in pots is somewhat easier than growing in the ground and also takes up less space. The quality is good and yields are high for the area used.

We have also found that you can continue to add other varieties in the pots as the season changes. With spring weather you can grow to-matoes, eggplant, peppers, okra and other warm weather vegetables.

Believe me you can succeed at this! Your young children will love to go out and eat fresh vegetables. It is healthy as well as a great out-door activity to draw families together.

Enjoy this months article and if you have any questions call me at (863) 381-9406. I will be glad to try to help you.

Go ahead;; give Fresh From Florida a more personal meaning.

GARDENINGHome by Ron Lambert


FloridaFarming

by Ron Lambert

In the month of March 1949 the following was found on the pages of the Diary of Porter Lambert.We are really having winter weather here and have for the last two weeks. We had a little frost this week. Our crop looks bad, we have had so much windy weather and it is dry. We picked ninety-six crates of cucumbers this week. (March 14th-21st) They brought as high as $5.85. We picked 153 crates of cucumbers this week (March 21st 28th) they brought $517.73. We are watering grove all along. We picked 156 crates of tomatoes and they brought $365.70 (April 25th to May 2nd) Tomatoes were very cheap this week. We have nice tomatoes and they are a good size. We sure had to work hard this week. Dry weather makes things look very bad. Powell Jones put down a well in Baillods grove this week. I think it is a good one. We had a nice rain Friday and Saturday.We ate dinner at Lillian’s Sunday (Lillian was my grandparents oldest daughter)I, Esther and Lillian went to Cora’s Sunday evening. Cora was an Aunt and the mother of former Sheriff Newton Murdock.We picked 115 crates of tomatoes this week. We got $440.00 for last picking. I got Baillod’s grove fertilized this week. It took 11 ½ tons.I put 25 lbs. to large pineapples, 20 lbs. to large Valencias and the Hamlins in the Stewart block and 15 lbs. to small Valencias.Esther and I went to McMillan’s Sunday. I traded for a 1948 truck Monday morning. It cost $875.00 and old truck. It is a nice truck.

The family named McMillan was lifelong friends of my Grandparents. A descendant of the McMillan’s recently contacted me. I had an enjoyable chat with him and his name is J.N. Stancil, he lives in Charlotte County. Thank you Mr. Stancil for your interest and encouragement.


We are in a world where you hear on everyone’s lips global warming, going green, sustain-ability, and yes, even water shortages. Floridians as a whole are more aware of environmental impacts and saving our resources. However, I wasn’t even aware of the water impacts facing our state due in part to population increases, tourists, and current drought conditions. Irrigation of lawns and landscaping in Florida represents the single largest use of water from our municipal water supplies. This water use has seriously impacted the aquifer, which is a source of our drink-ing water and water that supports our ecosystems. In addition, fertilizers and pesticides used on lawns are major sources of pollution in our lakes and rivers.

To combat the problem with so many homeowners that “ain’t from around here,” I devel-oped a threefold plan: introduce plant material on a weekly basis through a local newspaper on landscape plants that do well here in Highlands county, design a demonstration garden to show homeowners a typical example of what a “Florida friendly” landscape looks like, and introduce a mobile irrigation lab to help homeowners with their irrigation systems and clocks.

According to Michael Dukes, University of Florida Irrigation Specialist, regular irrigation checks with installation of rain sensors constitute up to a 50% savings of water use in your landscape and since 80% of Highlands County’s population has never used an irrigation system, education is the key.

So to reduce Highlands County’s potable drinking water usage and pollution to our water systems a volunteer mobile irrigation lab (MIL) was formed. The MIL visits homeowners by

check the condition of the landscape, and observe and document the existing irrigation system. The goal is to achieve the highest distribution

improving the design of the homeowner’s landscapes, and design, installation, operation and maintenance of the irrigation system. The MIL to date has provided a water savings of 102,720 gpd (gallons per day) of potable water. An added bonus is that the volunteers have discovered 35 low volume lateral line breaks saving an additional 1,512,000 gpd (gallons per day) of potable water. What the MIL volunteers found is that 93% of the irrigation systems had unmatched precipitation rates (mixed head types) and 72% of the homeowners had their clocks set on the wrong duration, time of day, not adjusted to seasonal needs or didn’t know how to set their irrigation clocks at all. If you need help with your irrigation system, don’t hesitate to call.

Going Green…What does it all mean?

Dianne Dilger Jacobson Horticulture Extension AgentUniversity of Florida Faculty


-onds, while Will Lane and Seth Rodriguez tied for second with 9.0

9.5, and Clayton Shaw taking sixth in 9.6 seconds. Competition was stiff in the Barrel Racing, with less than eight-tenths

Christi Torborg 17.81, and sixth Laura Kennedy-Silver 17.82. Lorie Manning and Jewels DeNapoli tied for seventh with 17.86, while Lara Dewees’ 17.89 placed ninth, and Alexa Schweiger placed tenth with a 17.95.

Only three Bull Riders made the eight-second buzzer, with Clint Craig earning 76 points on Silver Spurs Club’s “No. 8-68” to win the event. Winston Cheek and Cole Long tied for second, each scoring 72 points.

Spunk Sasser took home the All-around Cowboy title at the Okeechobee Cattlemen’s Spring Rodeo, winning a total of $789 in the Steer Wrestling and Team Roping competitions. Over $25,000 in prize money was paid out to the top cowboys and cowgirls at the annual PRCA sanctioned event held March 10th and 11th at the Okeechobee Agri Center.

Announcer Jerry Todd called the action and the crowd was enter-

Lepard and The Ghost Riders, a dog and monkey specialty act, pro-vided additional family fun. Stock was provided by the Silver Spurs Club and Five Star Rodeo.

Other event winners included Matthew Smith, earning 77 points in the Bareback Riding on Silver Spurs Club’s “Romeo”, Blade Elliott who placed second with a 76, and a third place tie for Dusty Whidden and Zack Kiestler, with each scoring 74.

Chris Bradley won the Steer Wrestling in 4.2 seconds, while Ben Goodman had a close second with 4.4. There was another third place tie, this time between Casey Harmon and Bucky Harmon, each clock-ing 4.6. Fifth place went to Spunk Sasser with 4.7, and Tyler Wagues-pack took the sixth place money in 4.8 seconds.

The team of Justin Morgan and Jerry Wayne Courson won the Team Roping in a smoking 4.8 seconds, while T.J. Smith and Jimmy Hen-dricks took second with a 5.3. Jacob Locke and Zak Richardson’s 5.8 won third, Spunk Sasser and Casey Smith took fourth with 6.4, Travis

In Saddle Bronc action, Chuck Schmidt scored 88 points on Silver

second with an 84, and Curtis Garton and Andrew Counts tied for third with 82 points each.

Okeechobee Cattleman’s Spring Rodeo


Winter has come and gone and spring is evident everywhere. With the lack of cold weather this past season spring got a little jump start. Hope-fully, if you’re a citrus grower, you were ready for it. The bloom started out slow, but turned out to be very impressive. As things begin to gear up for the extra long season, one of the top priorities for growers must be a strong spray program. This year we are armed with more information than we ever have been, on the importance of that fact. A study from the University of Florida IFAS, which was released on January 24th, states greening alone has cost Florida $3.6 billion in the

practices to combat greening lie in two parts. Number one is to reduce the number of the Asian Citrus Psyllids. Number two is to give the trees anything they need to keep them as strong as possible.The strategy of managing the number of psyllids has been embraced by the USDA, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Ser-

vices and by a large number of growers. There are Citrus Health Management Area’s (CHMAs) with coordinators in almost every citrus produc-tion area in the state. Both of the government agencies have been monitoring programs for psyllids and many growers are participating in both of these. The goal of everyone is to simply keep the number of psyllids as low as possible. The fewer psyllids the less ability greening has to spread.

Because we have a relatively small number of pesticides available and psyllids can become resistant to over use, it is imperative for as many as possible to get on the same cycle. There is also low volume as a less expensive option for pesticide application. Low Volume allows for more frequent and faster applications in between regular sprays.

-

in this method of combating greening. Pest management and nutrient management are both pieces of the

same puzzle but make no mistake they have separate functions. In the war on greening neither of these components are completely autono-mous. The end result, of effectively combating greening, will only be as strong as the least of these two methods. It may not be evident in one season but if both of these management practices are not followed,

Unfortunately greening is not our only concern either. We still must think about canker. Since the winter was extremely dry there is not a lot of sign of it yet, but make no mistake, it is there just waiting. Hopefully, the citrus production areas will soon begin to see a reprieve from the drought. If adequate protection from canker is not in place it will spread

well, primarily copper. IFAS, through their Florida Automated Weather Networks (FAWN), has a wonderful copper application scheduler. This

and amount of copper used. The goal is to empower growers with the

If greening and canker weren’t enough, now black spot has come into play for many growers in South Florida. Although it seems to be somewhat isolated to certain geological locations for now, if history has taught us anything in this business, we must get prepared. Black spot is more than likely headed right for all of us. There is extensive research going on and hopefully there can be some better solutions for this ail-ment as it spreads. Now the statement, a strong spray program must be a priority, makes

a little more sense. Growers everywhere are banning together to co-ordinate spray programs. Government agencies and researchers are spending huge amounts of money and time to help growers make the best decisions for their individual program. Ultimately each grower is responsible for their own grove, but remember, the decisions and plans you make may also affect growers around you.

Citrus Update by Justin Smith

A Strong Spray Program


863-990-2095Johnny Georges

White T Pees Now Available!

treetpee.comtm

Looking for a quality ranch, performance, or just solid all-around horse? Don’t miss the upcoming Buck Daniel Ranch online live auction to be held on Saturday, April 21st at 2:00pm. Live bidding will also take place at the Okeechobee Livestock Market.

World Champion Jr. Tie-down Roping Horse “Peppers Paniola” will be fea-tured. Colts carrying the bloodlines of 2008 World Champion Calf Roping horse "Mega Buck Boon”, who is currently being hauled by Professional Roper Shane Hanchey, will also be offered.

Choose from two-year olds with 10 rides, three-year olds started and ready to be trained in any discipline, or four-year olds on up to aged mares that are all making amazing horses. Barrel racing prospects with proven siblings and ranch/working horses are all part of the mix.

and Andy Dyer;; barrel racers Crystal McIntire, Bob Haberlandt, Ashley Lott, and Heather Clemons;; team penner/sorter Cheryl Kirton;; and ranchers Buck Lee, Gene Fulford and Buddy Adams.

You must pre register to bid at http://www.producerscattleauctions.com. The live bidding will also take place through the site.

All horses are available for viewing by appointment prior to the sale day at the Buck Daniel Ranch in Okeechobee. For more information contact Kristin Hanchey at 863.634.2121 or Jason Hanchey 863.801.9953.

Buck Daniel Ranch to Offer Quality Quarter Horses


A Model of Sustainability

Sustainability is one of the most important concepts in agri-culture. The idea of being sustainable is simple in theory but

of Myakka City there is a couple who have made their operation as sus-tainable as any around. Jerry and Karen Dakin are the owners of Dakin Dairy Farms. This farm uses innovation and state of the art technology to produce world class products.

There are very few dairies left in Florida and Dakin is one of the last three dairy farms in Manatee County. Some of the reasons for this operation’s long-term achievements lie in careful planning, precise execution and a dedicated family. Sustainability is no accident. Even before purchasing the land to start this operation there was a consider-able amount of time invested into planning for success. The Dakin’s own approximately 350 acres and lease another 3,000 acres adjacent to their operation. They also employ 75 full-time workers. The primary 350 acres houses the production cattle and milking facilities while the 3,000-acre lease is for heifers and growing much of the feed that aids in the farm’s sustainability. On site, the Dakin’s produce hi-protein grasses and corn year round. Having the ability to produce the feed the dairy needs ensures consistent production, quality and costs.

Dairy Dakin

The dairy business is nothing new to this family. Jerry spent his childhood growing up on his father’s dairy in Parrish, Florida. His fa-ther, Romanus (Pete) Dakin, had been a dairy farmer in Maine before moving to Florida and trying his hand at chicken farming. After a few years Pete decided to return to what he knew best and converted their operation into another dairy farm. When Pete retired he sold the family farm to Jerry and one of his brothers, Rodney.

Eventually Jerry and Rodney split their operation so each would have their own dairy. After a few years Jerry and Karen, who had since married, decided the family farm was not able to progress with the changing regulatory climate. The couple knew if they wanted to continue in the dairy business it was time to make some changes. Af-ter careful consideration, they chose the property in Myakka City and began their project. Dakin Dairy Farms in Myakka has now been in business for 10 years and there is no sign of slowing down. Since their move to the new farm Dakin has expanded into bottling their own milk and public eco tours.

Much of the reason for this farms ability to stay competitive has been in their dedication to sustainability. The entire farm has been de-signed to reuse as many of their resources as possible. Water, manure, and even methane gas is recycled for further use at Dakin Dairy.

By: Justin Smith


One of the most limiting factors of any agricultural operation is water.

waste. Fresh water is used for cleaning milking barns and any other nec-essary area. The water is then gravity drained into holding areas along with manure and soil, deposited by the cattle as they move in and out of the barns. At this point there are three main components in the settling/holding area: liquids, solids and sandy soil. The sand is removed and used for cattle bedding where it can start the process all over again. The solids or solid manure is taken and made into compost to apply to the soil to increase its organic content and make it (the soil) more productive. The water, which is now extremely nutrient rich from the manure, is ap-plied to the grasses used for feed. Because of the high nutrient content and almost constant water supply the Dakin grasses grow vigorously and are intensely managed. This allows for the freshest feed for the cattle.

-tense management, there is much less pest damage, which reduces the need of pesticide. So, not only does all of the effort of recycling reduce usage, but it also saves money and has much less impact on the environ-ment.

Another goal of Dakin Farms is to produce the best tasting milk avail--

ably sweet and creamy. Karen says, “It’s all in their fresh grass salads that the cows get served twice a day.” The “salad” is a blend of hay, grains, fresh grasses and minerals.

“It’s all in their fresh grass salads that the cows get served twice a day.”

This is not something that is just thrown together to look appealing

keep the livestock at the peak of health and producing the highest quality milk possible.

The bottling facility has taken off since its inception, just a few years ago. The Dakin’s have marketed themselves to restaurants and stores locally. There is an impressive list on their web site of both stores and restaurants that carry Dakin Dairy Farms’ products. Sustainability was also designed into the bottling at Dakin. This was simply by placing the bottling plant right next to the milking facility and eliminating the need of transportation. All of the milk

is piped over next-door and bottled right there. This not only removes the uncertainty of transportation cost, but also ensures the freshest product is attached to the Dakin name. And that is a lot of product, too. Currently Dakin produces 80,000 gallons of their rich and fresh, creamy goodness every week.

If the dairy itself was not enough for Jerry and Karen to keep up with, they also offer educational tours at

the dairy. Every year, from October thru April, the gates at the dairy

fun. The Dakin’s have a passion for teaching the importance of where food comes from. Children and adults can learn where milk


ws, how pasteurization works and how to make the different per-centage levels, skim 1%, ect. of milk. The Dakin’s also understand the best way to educate is to keep it entertaining. While visiting the farm, there are several fun activities. There’s an animal barn where you can feed and pet the animals, swings, slides, a sand mountain to climb and a fossil dig. But, a favorite seems to be the hay ride, which covers much of the farm ending with a pig race and bottle feeding a calf. There is also a farmers market to visit while at the dairy. They have many locally produced goods to choose from and a concessions area with homemade pulled pork. One thing you do not want to forget to do while there is to taste some of the fresh Dakin milk. A trip to the dairy is a great way to learn and make lasting memories.

Dakin Dairy Farms has become a model for sustainability. This operation proves, a well designed infrastructure can make an agri-

The task, however, is not completed. As with any good business there is always a look to the future and what other possibilities await. Currently they are experimenting with different methodologies to capture methane gas from the farm run-off to produce electricity. Just think one day the dairy may be able to produce everything it needs to operate with no other inputs. One area Karen particularly wants to explore is expanding into the cheese industry and add more Fresh from Dakin products to their line-up.

Jerry and Karen have spent so much of their life developing this farm and they have, graciously, opened it up to teach everyone about all of its aspects. So, get the family together one day and head out to Myakka City to learn all about the Dakin Dairy Farm and how sustainable agriculture works.


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WomanIn AGRICULTURE

Danielle Larson Danielle Larson spent most of her early years in the Orlando suburb of Winter Garden but that did not hinder her love of agriculture. “My

mom and her parents are from Mississippi and I spent a lot of time there on my grandparents’ dairy farm,” she explains.

For a “city girl” Danielle took advantage of every opportunity to expand her exposure to, and knowledge of, all things agriculture. She says that she was fortunate to have “really great FFA advisors” and was able to keep her hog and cattle projects at the school, another huge

She developed a love of Angus cattle during her involvement in the Junior Angus Association. “They have a great youth program, with very supportive people who were accepting of my largely non-agriculture background. It was easy to get involved.”

Danielle completed her Associates degree at Valencia Community College during which time she says she “had many different jobs - everywhere from Disney to the Orlando airport - that sealed the deal that I did not want to stay in the city!” So she continued her education at the University of Florida, earning an Animal Science de-gree with a minor in Ag Education.

She credits Rose Cameron with “taking me under her wing” and allowing her to

show several of their cattle and helped me learn a lot,” Danielle says. She later had the opportunity to live at the Horse Teaching Unit, which expanded her knowledge of the equine industry.

During her time in Gainesville, Danielle served as President of Block and Bridle, a club for college students with an interest in animal agriculture. She participated on the livestock and horse judging teams, was President of the Gator Collegiate Cattle-women’s Association, and was named Outstanding Collegiate Cattlewoman in 2001.

by Robbi Sumner


She completed her teaching internship under Roger McWaters at Okeechobee High School, but after graduation, there were no local Ag teaching positions available so Danielle joined the Okeechobee Soil and Water Conservation District as a Technician for two years. Her primary responsibilities were to share information on cost shar-ing programs with producers, attend South Florida Water Manage-ment District meetings, and act as a liaison with various governmen-tal agencies.

From there she joined the USDA working in the Bovine Spongi-form Ecephalopathy (BSE) program. The next two years were spent collecting brain samples from down and dead cattle in order to prove the non-existence of BSE locally, and help to improve foreign markets for beef. Since her goal was to work with live animals, she transferred to an Animal Health Tech position when it became available and spent the next three years focusing on import/export inspections on everything from cattle and horses to exotic birds.

Danielle is married to dairy-man Jacob Larson and as their family expanded (they have three beautiful children, Luke age 6, Lilly 4, and Levi 2), Danielle’s focus was drawn to their children. These days she stays busy with home schooling, raising Angus cattle and breeding yellow labs. “I just love the Angus breed. They are so gentle and easy to work with, they make great 4-H and FFA projects,” she shares. Their cattle are also bred to perform well in the harsh Florida climate. A few years ago, she and Jacob purchased property in

Mississippi, so they travel there several times a year to work the cattle there and on her family’s dairy.

After establishing a website to market their Angus and selling live steer calves to the public, Danielle sought out a different approach to market their grass fed Angus steers. They now also do cooperative work with Terra Verde Farms, a local Community Supported Agricultural Program (CSA). “We have started to supply grass fed Angus beef for their customers. This niche market is new to us and really gives us an opportunity to both educate and supply the local community,” she shares excitedly. “Grass fed Angus is a high quality, value added prod-

Danielle is a local “MOPS” Coordinator (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers), is a member of the Okeechobee Cattlewomen’s As-sociation and the First Baptist Church of Okeechobee, participated in the Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Group 2009-2010, is a Farm Bureau Women’s Committee member, and judges various beef cattle showman-ship shows. It’s a lifestyle that involves the entire family, and the kids enjoy playing with the dogs and checking the cattle during their

study breaks. She and Jacob look for-ward to the kids becoming involved in 4-H

and showing cattle of their own.

You can learn more about the Larson’s Registered Black An-gus by visiting www.southernpointangus.com.


Roland Martin Marine Center is a full service marina including boat, motor, and tackle sales and boat and motor service by one of the top service crews in South Florida. Are you looking for a new or used Ranger boat or maybe you just need a new outboard to put on a boat you already have well than a new Evinrude E-Tec would put you right back out on the water. They have the hottest tackle on the market in the story with names like Gambler, Reaction Innovation, Charlie’s Worms, Duck-ett rods, Lews Reels, and Live Target Kopper. They also have all your boating needs from oils to anchors and everything in between. With two full time mechanics and a fully stocked parts room getting your boat back out on the water will be no problem. They also have minnows, worms, crickets, sodas, beer, and ice at all times. If you are looking for a one stop marina than Roland Martin Marine Center is the place to go. They are conveniently located just before the ramp in Clewiston on world fa-mous Lake Okeechobee. Stop in and see my wife Diane in the parts department and she just might give away a

T -some and it doesn’t seem like it is going to slow down anytime

wild shiners, and the wild shiner bite has been off the hook with eight dozen shiners only lasting until noon. The water level is at 12.59 feet above sea level and going down but still a foot higher then it was last year at this time. The bass have spawned and are still spawning on

cleared up enough to start seeing the beds.

on which direction the wind is blowing. But the main thing to keep in mind is that most of the bass are either in the reeds closest to the lake or out in open water up to one hundred yards out from the reed line. I have been catching some schooling bass out in open water in the morn-ing on spinnerbaits, look for the birds diving on bait and that is where

lot of bites but the ones you get will be good ones. The spinnerbait bite

time to make it happen. The bluegill will be going on the beds soon and the bass will be hanging around eating them like candy. I love to throw a wake bait in a bluegill pattern over the beds to catch bass during this time of the year. All of the guides here on the south end of the lake out of Roland Martin’s Marina and Resort have been having a great year catching lots of bass and making clients happy, while the tournaments have been setting record catches with lots of big bass making it to the

I still have a few open days in April for here on Lake Okeechobee

and June. Until next time good luck, tight lines, and I hope to see ev-eryone on the water soon.

THE HEARTLAND’S F ISHING REPORT

by Captain Mark King

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 also in the Florida Keys out of Marathon area. Mark is an

and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association. Captain Mark is sponsored by Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Roland Martin’s Marine Center, Power-Pole, Minn Kota trolling motors, Charlie’s Worms, Okuma Fishing, AFTCO clothing, Smartshield Sun Protection Products, RMR Industries,

Fuel Medic Ethanol Treatment, and Yeti coolers.

Mark can be contacted to book a guide trip, seminars, personal appearances,

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from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to work in the private sector. What his fellow employees and peers didn’t know was

investigation was named Operation Smorgasbord, and within 24 hours of Al-len’s new assignment, he made contact with a Putnam County resident who

-cies.

Allen had been reassigned to the FWC’s Covert Investigations Section, which is operated out of headquarters in Tallahassee. One of the unit’s mis-sions is to protect Florida’s natural resources from illegal commercialization.

into the private sector, undercut law-abiding, legitimate businesses.

Businesses are required to work under strict health code regulations, quality control standards, handling requirements and also must report harvest infor-

Legal commercial businesses invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment, traps, fencing, supplies, insurance, land, boats, taxes, em-ployee salaries and commercial licenses, and they work long and hard hours to make a living. However, black market prices truly undercut legal

a pound. Legal red snapper sells for $10 per pound, while the black market price is $3 per pound.

wildlife that came from a clean, healthy and legal source. The public safety and health concerns for seafood are no joking matter. Products like

Another bad aspect of poaching is that it robs the average citizen by steal-

enthusiasts who follow harvest limits and seasons.

become a covert operative. When Allen attended the FWC covert school in 2009, he stood out among his peers. He was clearly the right choice for Op-eration Smorgasbord.

Florida’s black market for natural resources is statewide and enters many arenas. For example, grouper and red snapper are illegally caught and shipped to markets out of state;; prohibited species like piranha and turtles are sold on the Internet;; protected elk horn corals are illegally harvested and sold

A glimpse into the covert world of FWC investigations


oysters are harvested from closed waters and shipped to unsuspect-ing buyers;; Native American mounds are looted and the artifacts sold internationally;; and freshwater turtles are illegally harvested and shipped to Asian markets. The list goes on.

-sues, the FWC Investigations Section prioritizes initiatives through a process called the Test of Five. This is a basic system to establish priority investigations through their:

1) Impact on public health and safety and other disease concerns;; 2) Public perception and the public’s expectation of the FWC;; 3) Effects on other species and the environment;;4) The status of the natural resource involved;; and 5) Commercial impact on legal business.

When Operation Smorgasbord was assessed using the Test of Five, it was an easy decision to undertake the operation.

Allen assumed a false identity and quickly established himself within the local communi-ties of Putnam, St. Johns, Alachua, Flagler and Marion counties. Within several months, the FWC decided to merge a parallel investigation from Volusia County that had a covert operative by the name of Investigator James “Van” Bar-row. Both Barrow and Allen quickly became

markets of Northeast Florida. Lt. Don McMil-len, their case agent and a 30-plus-year veteran of the FWC, provided direct support and local supervision of the operation, while Capt. Rett Boyd and Capt. Gregg Eason provided direc-tional oversight.

Several months after the investigations merged, criminal charges started to mount. The level of exploitation of illegal product would amaze the average citizen, and would even

-tinued to grow, and violations varied. They included illegal selling

possession/solicitation of cannabis.

The investigation determined that multiple loosely connected poach-

rings were not directly connected with an organized structure, they all displayed the same disrespect for conservation laws and for their fellow citizens’ rights to the natural resources they were poaching.

After 15 months of investigation, the FWC had 34 felonies and 280 misdemeanor violations on 56 suspects. The decision was made to bring the operation to an end and move into the takedown phase. On Feb. 28

-

designating teams to apprehend the violators.

On the following day, during the early morning hours, 18 separate teams descended upon six counties to arrest felony suspects. Those who were charged with misdemeanor violations received mandatory notices to appear in court.

The operation was an overwhelming success and will certainly help to deter future violations.

Covert investigations such as Operation Smor-gasbord are exceptionally rare, and the risk as-sumed by the covert operative can be great. Despite common misconceptions portrayed by Hollywood spy movies and TV shows, there is no glory or glamour in the undercover world. These operatives are required to work long hours, day and night, behind the scenes, associate with poachers and earn low wages. Barrow and Allen volunteered for the assignment for the right rea-sons;; they did it for a higher calling. With that be-ing said, we are extremely proud and grateful for

natural resources.

Poachers are stealing from you, the business -

life viewer, the landowner and the average Flori-da resident and visitor. Please join us in protecting Florida’s resources by reporting violations to Wildlife Alert at 888-404-3922, online at MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert, or text [email protected]. You can remain anonymous and receive a reward of up to $1,000.

Maj. Curtis BrownInvestigations and Captive Wildlife, Section LeaderFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Happy Easterfrom the


Most people who know him associate Roger Butler with dairy farming, but there are many more dimensions to this High-lands County farmer.

Roger’s family relocated from Broward County in 1965, bringing But-ler Dairy, Inc. with them. The youngest of three sons, Roger explains that he was a shareholder in the family dairy before he turned 16, so it was only natural that he would continue the tradition.After high school, Roger spent a year at Troy State University where

he played football before transferring to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. There he earned his Associates Degree and did some rodeoing before returning home to assist with expansion of the family dairy.After college, Roger also completed the Cattle Management and

Breeding course at the Graham School in Garnett, Kansas. “It was the -

nancy checking. Dad made sure all three of us boys attended,” he shares.In 1995, his late father Robert K. Butler decided to take a proactive

approach to estate planning and the Butler Dairy and Butler Operations

R.D. took over the beef cattle operation at what is now known as Ar-buckle Creek Ranch, and Roger and brother Bob split the dairy property, developing what are now known as B-4, Inc. and Butler Oaks Farm, Inc., respectively.

still uses the same desk that his father moved here from Hollywood. “But,” he offers, “to tell you the truth, I don’t spend much time at it - I’d rather be outside.”

by Robbi Sumner

B-4 is currently milking approximately 750 cows, and raises its own

Brown Swiss, and Holstein cows. As Rogers explains, “We still feed a lot of commercially purchased feed, but our cows eat mostly forage and hay and we don’t give silage like with free stalls.” They have 14 full-time employees, of which Roger and wife Zoe are two. While Roger has the title of Manager, he says that Zoe’s “quite capable of taking care of things around the farm,” which is a good thing, as Roger is active in a number of organizations that require him to travel off the farm periodically.

He currently serves as a board member of Florida Dairy Farmers, Inc., our state’s milk promotion organization. Through consumer pro-motions and education, FDF works to enhance the industry’s image and thereby increase milk and dairy product consumption statewide. Roger is also an alternate board member for Southeast Milk, Inc., the cooperative responsible for marketing the majority of milk in Florida.

After serving approximately 6 years as a Florida Dairy Farmers rep-resentative on the Florida Beef Council, Roger was asked to serve as Chairman and is in his second term in that position. The Beef Council is comprised of representatives from Florida Cattlewomen, Farm Bu-reau, University of Florida, Allied Trade, FDF and the Florida Cattle-men’s Association. The Beef Council receives its funding through the USDA mandated Beef Check Off program, and the primary function of the Council is to determine which educational and promotional programs will be funded. As Chairman of the Beef Council, Roger also serves on the Executive Committee of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Roger Butler Farmers & Ranchers


As Secretary of United Feed Co-Op in Okeechobee, Roger explains that the purpose of the co-op is to provide a small farmer with the same purchasing power as that of larger or-ganizations. In August 2011, the mill suffered

-bustion of cottonseed. “We lost our milling ca-pacity but with the help of good friends in the industry, namely those at Dairy Feeds, Syfrett Feed, and Gator Feed, we’re able to continue providing feed for our members. And, we are committed to rebuild in the same location,” he stated.

After about 12 years of competitive Hare Scramble motorcycle racing, Roger remains active with the Treasure Coast Trail Riders as-sisting with local races. “But,” he says, “I’ve al-ways been a hunter and these days really enjoy deer hunting at our place in Southwest Geor-gia.” He beams when describing his 15 point buck that green scored 167.25 points, and says his family also enjoys boating and lobstering in the Keys. Roger and Zoe have two children, 24-year old Ryan and 21-year old Jamie.

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Cover Story

A Natural Florida Treasure:Babcock Ranch by Justin Smith

Heartland InTheFieldMagazine April 2012 37

How many people have ever seen the “real” Florida? Mil-lions of tourists visit our state every year and many know Mickey Mouse or the pristine coastlines with gorgeous

homes and yachts. But, how many ever really get to know what Florida is all about: the abundant wildlife and the beautiful scenery adorned with wild irises and Spanish moss. Only a select few of the actual native Floridians know the tranquil bliss of sitting in an oak hammock watching the sunset over the Florida landscape. There is that special moment when the air changes from the intense Florida heat to the peaceful evening calm. About the same time the birds stop singing, the frogs and crickets begin competing for the evening airwaves. Listen closely and the sound of a turkey going to roost may be heard;; watch intently and a group of deer or wild hogs can be seen in the distance as they set out on a nocturnal quest. All of these wondrous things abound in our state, but very few have the privilege of experiencing them.

Luckily there are places that still preserve some of the true Flori-da. These glorious refuges from concrete, water parks and shopping malls are great in shear size but not in accessibility. There are some places that are available to those who don’t have the opportunity to see the Florida beauty on a daily basis;; many times they are tucked

neon signs to light the way. One of these places is Babcock Wilder-ness Preserve.

If you have lived in Florida very long, you have undoubtedly heard the name Babcock Ranch before. The original ranch was purchased by the Babcock family in 1914 and consisted of 156,000 acres. At that time, Edward Babcock lived in Pennsylvania and operated Bab-cock Lumber Company. Edward, an avid hunter, found his Florida paradise while on a hunting expedition. The property was full of native timber ready to be harvested, which was one of the original draws for this purchase. Between the extreme beauty of the location and the desire he had for agriculture, Edward could not pass up the opportunity.

Heartland InTheFieldMagazineApril 20123838 Heartland InTheFieldMagazineApril 2012


Over the next few years as the Babcock’s progressed with timber cutting, a small community grew on the property. Comprised mostly of workers, there was also housing for the Babcock family, a school-teacher and a medical doctor who doubled as the local barber. The timber harvesting continued, and the tiny little community was rather happy. Being great stewards of the land, the Babcock family knew only cutting timber was not sustainable.

Every effort was made to best manage the natural resources of the ranch. In the 30’s cattle were brought to the ranch, thus expanding the agricultural endeavors of the family into new areas. Once these cattle were introduced, the small community began to be transformed from logging crews into cowboys. Axes and tow straps were exchanged for bullwhips and cur dogs. Quarter horses, with their keen sense of cattle behavior, became the preferred method of transportation. The endeavor to improve the pastures and create the best cattle ranch pos-sible was undertaken and the Crescent B Ranch, the Babcock family brand, thrived for many generations.

Over the years many things have changed for the ranch. It survived the great depression, many economic ups and downs in the industry and countless environmental changes. Great ranchers have come and gone on this land as well as some of the greatest agriculturalists the state has ever seen.

Throughout all of the changes, the idea of preserving the natural beauty and resources of the land and its

wildlife has been the constant.

The evidence of this can be seen in the land itself. Its pristine condition seems as though it has scarcely been touched in the last 100 years.

-serve. Fred Babcock, Edward’s son, was the donor of the property. After his death in 1997, the property was renamed the Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area. This left the Crescent B Ranch with 91,000 acres, still a sizable operation and one of the largest single operations in the state. In perspective, the 91,000 acres or 143 sq. mi. is 6 times larger than Manhattan Island at only 15,168 acres or 23.7 sq mi.

Again the ranch underwent a major change in 2006 when the Babcock family sold the entire property to a private developer. As a condition of the sale, the developer sold 73,239 acres to the state of Florida and kept only 18,000. The development company of Kitson & Partners has future plans of developing a community on the prop-erty. Deemed the city of the future, it is planned to run completely off of solar and renewable energy sources.

The purchase of the 73,000+ acres by the state of Florida for use as a preserve was monumental. There was a special legislative provision made in order to procure and fund the project. It also

This allows for the ranch to continue operating on a business basis under private management. There is still a massive cattle operation, along with a timber business, eco tourism and leased property. The money made by the operations is what funds the entire ranch.


The cattle operation of Crescent B is not so different as that of years’ past. There are still thriving herds of Charolais, Brangus and Braford scattered throughout the ranch. There is even a herd of the original Florida Cracker Cattle. These are the descendants of the oldest known bovine inhabitants of the state. Originally, cattle were introduced to Florida by Ponce de Leon on his second voyage when he landed in Charlotte Harbor. These rare speci-mens are of the toughest and hardiest cross breeds known. They can thrive on very little for sustenance and, unlike many other English breeds, take little notice of intense heat and humidity. The original Florida Cracker Cattle are superb for the Florida cli-mate, however, as they are not greatly sought after for their meat nor do they “grow off” vigorously, they are of little use as com-mercial cattle. Nonetheless a beautiful herd of these auspicious beasts are maintained on the preserve as a remembrance of the old Florida.

Like the cattle themselves, the cowboys are very little changed. There are subtle differences such as the addition of cellular phones, but the mode of transportation for a Babcock cowboy is

still the quarter horse and the primary tools used during round-ups are still the cur dog and bullwhip. A hand full of cowboys including the ranch manager still live on the premises as well.

The timber operation is managed by means of the latest forestry technology and the cutting and burning of the timber areas are carefully planned and executed. However, cypress removal is all but non-existent. Although at one time in the early history of the ranch, cypress logging was done, developments in ecology have proven it had negative environmental impacts. For that reason, the cutting of cypress trees ceased many years ago on the Babcock property.

There are also large areas of leased property on the preserve. The leases are for farming, sod and hunting purposes. The acreage associated with Babcock’s leases provides a wide variety of vegetables, fruits and all sorts of products. There are countless families fed by the food produced on the ranch. Hunting is also an important portion of the ranch’s business plan. Although Babcock is now a preserve, without hunting there would be no way to stop over-population of certain species. When over-population occurs, there are many negative impacts to the en-vironment. Food sources can be devastated, which can destroy entire ecosystems or disease can become a problem, which has the potential to eliminate entire populations of species. There are also invasive species, such as wild hogs that must be kept in check by hunters.

Another business operated from Babcock is that of an alligator ranch. There are very few licensed alligator ranches in the state of Florida, and Babcock is one of them. Given its superb envi-ronment, it is a perfect place for gators to thrive. Gator ranching allows a safe area for mother gators to hatch their young and for them to grow to maturity. In the wild the survival rate of a hatchling is only about 10%;; in open captivity it is 90%. This also allows for a way of providing gator meat and skins with out impacting the wild populations.

The Babcock Preserve has kept true to the intent of the Bab-cock family in preserving the land and its natural resources. There is one further aspect, which is education in the form of eco tours.

The experience of a Babcock tour is hard to describe. For anyone who is not accustomed to native Florida land and the absolute beauty it has to offer,

there is no accurate portrayal, less seeing it for yourself.


When heading to a Babcock eco tour, the idea of being far removed from the urban environment is set on the journey to get there. Although it is not too far from Ft. Myers

located and your vehicle turns onto the ranch property there is still a 2 and a half-mile ride just to get to the parking lot. Along the way you begin to be transported into an-other land. A land we natives call, “The Real Florida.” For anyone not familiar to this “real Florida,” it is a true experience. A rather narrow roadway goes through the heart

air abounds and the unmistakable surge of energy produced by the activity of growing plants encompasses the entire area. Upon reaching the parking area there are simple signs marking the directions of travel. The visitor area consists of the gift shop, rest-rooms, a small museum and the Gator Shack restaurant. There is plenty of covered area to enjoy a picnic or just sit and take in all of the wonders surrounding you.

In the gift shop there are numerous items like t-shirts, gator jerky and even locally--

cluding a Florida favorite, gator bites. The museum may seem just a little familiar in some strange way, which would be because it is somewhat famous. It was the set prop

-nated once the movie was completed.

greeted by your tour guide and asked to board your transportation. As there are no win-dows on this transport, your feeling will be one of great openness to the environment.

As the expedition gets underway you will experience a certain thrill of anticipation. The guide, extremely knowledgeable of Florida history, will keep you informed and entertained from the moment you begin. She will continually

Although there is not a dull portion of the trip and the 90 minutes seems to pass all too quickly, there are a few highlights. One such is stopping on the lower portion of a spillway. With swamp on either side of you, and the vehicle sitting in a lowered position, you will have the feeling of be-ing in a boat gliding down a Florida river. The rendezvous with the Cracker Cattle herd will delight many, as a few of the cows will come right over to the bus and the guide will feed them out of her hand. All the while you will be inundated with stories of history. Upon turning into Tele-graph Cypress Swamp there is a wondrous feeling, as the temperature will drop just a few degrees and the air will be freshened with a brisk clean breeze, as it intertwines through the native foliage. The history of the telegraph wires will be relayed to you as you pass by and see a few of the wires still hanging. This is the very same telegraph wire that, at one time, ran between Cuba and Washington, D.C. The variety of messages that passed through those cables and their importance is immeasurable. The equivalence of today’s World Wide Web is still preserved in this 10,000-acre swamp in Southwest Florida.

A couple of special surprises wait just ahead. A short boardwalk tour into a cypress bay head reveals one of nature’s largest cats in all of its gracefulness. Getting back aboard the tour transit there will be an added passenger. This visitor, of the reptilian species, is a real crowd pleaser. No more will be revealed on this subject, as there should be a few sur-prises to entice your appetite.


“Just Cause,” but also a few other cinematic

Upon returning to the visitors’ area you will be amazed at the time. You will be-lieve your tour was cut short for some rea-son. But, on inspection of what ever time piece you use, you will be assured your adventure indeed spanned the allotted time. Luckily you do not have to end your stay only your ride. You are free to hang around and enjoy the scenery as long as you wish.

To say you entered into another world as you tour the preserve is not doing it justice. This experience is one for all ages young and young at heart. Anyone who has never seen Florida as it was, or anyone who does not get to often enough, will enjoy this af-

ternoon trip. For more information or to schedule a tour, go to www.babcockwilderness.com.

The beauty of the Crescent B Ranch is second to none. Its history is amazing and will enthrall any who listen. This piece of property has seen such changes and only because of the dedication of its owners has it remained in this wondrous condition. Since it is now, technically, the property of the people of Florida, there should be a certain amount of pride, which is taken in its radiance. Any visitor to our Sunshine State should not pass up the opportunity to visit such a place as Babcock Ranch.

The next turn will take you right down Tucker’s Grade, the same one that can be taken as an exit off of I-75 between Fort Myers and Port Charlotte. This joint of the corridor is slightly bumpier than the one more frequently traveled off the interstate, but the vehicle you are traveling in is well equipped for its environment and you will not notice the difference. The stop coming up however is not for the faint of heart. Af-ter a slight turn in the road there is a bridge. Upon traversing roughly half the span of this wooden structure the driver stops. The next bit of information told may increase the hemoglobin pressure to slightly higher than your normal level. You are now sit-ting over the deepest portion of the swamp in the area. You may be thinking, it’s just a swamp and you’re on a bridge, no big deal. Then you get the second tidbit of information. Within just a few yards of your present location and encompassed on all sides, you are sur-rounded by over 200 alligators. Suddenly your mind begins to reel with the understanding you are over water, whence they (the gators) can undoubtedly swim much faster than you. Luckily the structure is very sound, and never has an expeditioner been lost. Even with this understanding there is a certain sigh of relief when the bridge has been exited fully by the transport.

A few more areas of interest are pointed out for the remainder of the voyage. The cross roads by where the afore mentioned movie had sev-


Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Attorney General Pam Bondi joined four explorers of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedi-tion today for Day 63 of the team’s 1,000-mile, 100-day trek from the Everglades to the Okefenokee. Commissioner Putnam and Attorney General Bondi started the day in the St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge, paddling several miles north on the St. Johns River.

“The Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition team is braving through Florida’s natural lands and waters to showcase the fragile ecosystem that depends on the connections that make up the wild-life corridor,” said Commissioner Putnam. “Florida’s working farms and ranches are a critical component of Florida’s wildlife corridor. In connection with natural lands and waters, they help protect a functional ecological corridor for the health of people, wildlife and watersheds.”

"Florida abounds with beautiful natural lands, waterways and wildlife,” said Attorney General Bondi. “It was great to appreciate all that Florida has to offer from a kayak on the St. Johns River, and this type of excursion is a perfect way for families to enjoy time together."

The Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition Team, comprised of photographer Carlton Ward, Jr., biologist Joe Guthrie, conservation-

-ing, biking and paddling the 1,000-mile journey to raise awareness for the Florida Wildlife Corridor – a visionary project to connect natural lands and waters throughout Florida into South Georgia.

The group’s 10-mile paddle today highlighted the history of the St. Johns River’s in Florida. From providing food, water and trans-portation for the Timucuan Indians to ferrying tourists and goods to towns and trading posts along its banks, the St. Johns River played a vital role in the state’s development.

For more information about the Florida Wildlife Corridor project, visit www.FloridaWildlifeCorridor.com.

Commissioner Putnam and Attorney General Bondi Paddle St. Johns River with Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition Team

Putnam and Bondi Join Explorers to Explore Florida's Wildlife Corridor, a Connection of Natural Lands and Waters throughout Florida

Welcome New FCA Staffer Dusty Holley

Dusty Holley will begin working in the role of Field Services Director for FCA on March 5. Dusty is the son of Rebecca Finley and Donald Holley. He is a seventh generation Floridian, and his family has been in the cattle business since the 1800's. Dusty has always been involved in his family's cattle operation, but has spent the last four years in Washington, DC as a Senior Policy Advisor for Congress-man Tim Mahoney (110th Congress) and Congressman Larry Kissell (111th and 112th Congress). While he handled many different issues while in DC, his main focus was on the Agriculture Committee (both the Members of Congress he worked for were members of the House Agriculture Committee). He handled the agriculture committee portfolio and was the chief agriculture advisor for both members. Dusty

-ing assistant in both undergraduate and graduate level Animal Science classes while in Grad School, was the Animal Science Grad Student

Committee Chairman. Email Dusty at [email protected]


Say, isn’t there something else we can cook when we go camping besides hamburgers & hot dogs? You bet there is! All you need is an outdoor camping oven called a Dutch oven.

Dutch oven cooking can be as simple or complicated as you want it. Anything that you can cook in a regular oven you can cook in a Dutch oven. In the pioneering day, you

Dutch oven cooks use charcoal to heat their black pots, most made of cast iron. When cooking with cast iron, al-ways remember low and slow. That is, medium low heat and cook it slower. The pot I recommend everyone to start with is a 12-inch, 6-qt. Dutch oven. It is the easiest

pot is made a lot easier by using a charcoal chart. It tells you haw many pieces of charcoal to put under the pot and on the lid. That’s right, I said the lid.

2 Tbsp butter or Margarine, melted 1 (16oz) can pineapple slices, drained1 (8oz) jar maraschino cherries½ cup brown sugar1 (18.25 oz) box yellow cake mix, prepared ac-cording to directions

Line the bottom of a 12 in, 6qt Dutch oven with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Add butter or marga-rine and arrange pineapple slices on top. Set a Maraschino cherry in the center of each slice, and sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the fruit. Pour prepared cake batter on top of the fruit

Place the Dutch oven over 8 hot coals. Cover with Dutch oven lid and place 17 hot coals on top. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Lift the cake out of the Dutch oven using the alu-minum foil lining and set it on the table. Cover the top with aluminum foil, and tuck the edges under the cake. Cool for 10 minutes;; turn upside down and peel away the foil.

Serves 10-12Recipe was taken from the book “Camp Cooking 100 years” by the National Museum of Forest Service History. The recipe was submitted by Dian Thomas, from “Recipes for Roughing it Easy”.

by Robbi Sumner

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you can apply heat to the top of the pot. You can see the tem-perature chart below.

Use the KISS (Keep It Simple Silly) method when starting out. I recommend using pre-seasoned pork tenderloin, and sweet potatoes. You place the meat in the pot with the potatoes around the meat. Cook at the recommended temperature for the meat for one hour. Depending on the brand of charcoal you may have to replace the charcoal after 35-45 minutes to keep you temperature up. One of the simplest deserts is a pineapple upside down cake;; just follow the recipe below. You can make this ahead of time and it will be ready when dinner is done.

The best way to learn how to use your oven is to practice. So try it in your back yard before heading out to the woods or the beach. That way if it doesn’t turn out like you planed, McDonalds is just down the road. Happy trails and keep those black pots warm.

Pineapple Upside-Down CakeBaking Temperature Chart for Dutch Oven Cooking

by Dave Colman


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Ingredients

Instructions

1 pound ground beef1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped

spinach, defrosted, drained well

crumbled2 eggs, slightly beaten

crushed1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)4 to 8 sheets frozen phyllo dough, defrosted, cut lengthwise into 1/2-

inch thick strips (4 cups)

-ion; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off

well. Wipe out skillet.

nonstick cooking spray. Place 1/2 of phyllo strips in bottom of skillet; top with beef mix-

Total Recipe Time: 55 to 65 minutes

Instructions


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www.ffva.com twitter/ FlaFruitandVeg Facebook: Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association

4 ears fresh sweet corn, kernels removed1 cup green pepper, chopped1/2 cup red onion, chopped2 tomatoes, chopped2 garlic cloves, chopped2 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar1/2 teaspoon black pepper1/4 teaspoon salt

PreparationCombine all ingredients in a large bowl. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving with chips or as

servings.

Roasted Corn on the Cobb

4 ears fresh sweet corn with husks removed2 tablespoons of melted margarine2 garlic cloves, chopped2 teaspoons black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Tear off four pieces of aluminum foil (enough for each piece to

aluminum foil. In a small bowl, combine melted marga-

over each corn cob. Wrap each cob in foil and place on baking sheet. Bake 15-20 minutes, turning once.

Recipes are from the USDA Household commodity Fact Sheet

One of the joys of springtime in Florida (yes, niece in Chicago, we do have seasons down here) is fresh sweet corn. The harvest is going

nation will celebrate with yummy fresh sweet corn on the grill.Some people don’t realize that Florida grows more sweet corn than

any other state in the U.S. And it’s not to be confused with the type of corn that’s grown in the Midwest for miles and miles in every direc-

their peak of tenderness. Field corn, generally destined to be animal

sweet corn is grown in the U.S.This year, the Florida growers got together to offer a branded sweet

corn that emphasizes its Florida roots. Members of the Florida Sweet Corn Exchange are rolling out the Sunshine Sweet brand this month with a “Fresh from the Sunshine State” slogan. The branding will help retailers plan promotions and appeal to consumers looking for fresh and delicious vegetables that are grown in the U.S. The Exchange, which represents about 95 percent of Florida’s spring corn, plans to place U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors on shippers’ docks to

Sweet corn (and all corn) didn’t exactly spring from the ground orig-inally in the form it takes today. Corn or maize descended from a type of wild grass, which early Americans cultivated thousands of years ago. Today’s varieties stay fresher and sweeter longer than the corn of decades ago. It’s best to eat it as soon as possible after purchase, but it will retain its freshness for several days if refrigerated. Wrap the ears loosely in a plastic bag or damp paper towels before refrigerating. If it’s still in the husk, remove any dry leaves.

A and a splash of iron. It can be prepared boiled, roasted or in the microwave. You can also add cooked or raw kernels to salads, salsas, soup and relishes.

Fresh Corn Salsa

Florida Sweet Corn


The rodeo was held in conjunction with LaBelle’s notorious Swamp Cabbage Festival the last weekend in February. Over 1,000 spectators

Cattlemen’s Association Ranch Rodeo Finals this Fall….and the win-ner was: Audubon Ranch, consisting of Dennis Carlton Jr., Jay Bel-

team was awarded $750, trophy buckles sponsored by Multi-Min, and their entry fee at the State Finals.

Contestants participated in the following six events on Friday and Saturday nights: Calf Branding, Double Mugging, Cowhide Drag, Team Branding, Team Sorting, and Bronc Riding.

in every event, and behind them, in 2nd place, was Stevens Land & Cattle consisting of Charles Robert Stevens, Billy Adams, Marshel Godsee, Christi Pryor, and Cody Story. The second place team won

$500. In third place was B&S Cattle consisting of Beau Anastasio, Ladd Bass, Justin Feagle, Jenny Schueller, and David Yates – they won $250. Event winners were paid $200. Syfrett Ranch won two events: Calf Branding and the Cowhide Drag;; KL Bar won Double Mugging;; Lonesome G Ranch won Team Branding;; and Inmate Ranch also had 2 victories: Team Sorting and team member Cole Fulford won Bronc Riding with an amazing ride. The total payout for the weekend was $3,200! This would not have been possible without the support of Multi-Min, Top Draw Bar & Grill, LaBelle Dodge, Devil’s Garden Mud Club, Okeechobee Livestock Market, Seminole Youth Ranch, Triple W Airboats, and the Swamp Cabbage committee.

The Hendry County Cattlemen’s Association is grateful for every team that competed and hope to see them next year: A Bar L Cattle Co, Audubon Ranch, B&S Cattle, Babcock Ranch, Bar Diamond, Carl-ton Ranches, Diamond K Cattle, Flint Cattle Co., G7 Ranch, Hilliard Brothers / Lazy JB, Inmate Ranch, J&E Fencing, JTF Performance Horses, J.L. Shewmaker Ranch, KL Bar, Lonesome G Ranch, Stevens Land and Cattle, and Syfrett Ranch.

Many thanks to the sponsors and the volunteers who donated their time, trucks, trailers, and sweat to help make the rodeo a success. Pro-ceeds will support local youth – the Hendry County Cattlemen’s As-sociation awards scholarships to local students studying agriculture, exceeding $1,500 annually and the Hendry County 4-H program also

Speaking of youth…the 1st Youth Ranch Rodeo was held in conjunc-tion with the above mentioned rodeo. Five kids, between the ages of 8 and 17, formed a team to compete in: Trailer Loading, Calf Branding, Team Sorting, and Steer Decorating. Team names were very creative: Swamp Boys, Bad News Bears, Young Guns, Red Liners, and Top Draw! The winning team was the Red Liners: Aubrey Lee, Alejandro Madrigal, Kyle McClure, DJ Nelson, and Windall Tindall – each won a trophy buckle. HCCA thanks all Youth Ranch Rodeo participants: Blain Albritton, Blake Crawford, Aubrey Lee, Alejandro Madrigal, Kyle McClure, DJ Nelson, Adam Reinbott, Tyler Sweet, Windall Tin-dall, Carl Willis, and Wyatt Woodruff.

Hendry County Cattlemen’s 3rd Annual

Ranch Rodeo was a Huge Success!


Don’t Miss...


To create and nurture a partnership between a visually impaired

independence and dignity.

In sunny Palmetto, FL lies a bucolic campus where Southeastern Guide Dogs breeds, raises, trains and matches guide dogs with the visu-ally impaired. Through their programs Paws for Independence™, Paws for Patriots™, and Gifted Canines™ they serve more than 600 active guide dog teams across the nation. Every year, more than 70 teams are added. All of Southeastern’s services are provided at no charge to the recipient, thanks to the generous support of donors and volunteers.

How it all started

The idea for starting a guide dog school in the South came about be-cause there was a need for working guide dogs that were already condi-tioned to the sometimes brutal heat and humidity we endure. Therefore, if they were bred, raised and trained here, they would be more comfort-able with the weather than would a transplant from the North. South-eastern began with humble roots taking advantage of loaned land and donated golden retrievers to start the program. As the program grew, so did the push to provide the highest quality guide dog, leading to cultivat-ing their own breeding colony of dogs that contained all the qualities needed to be successful guides.

Throughout the years, land was purchased and facilities created to where they are today. Kennels were built to house 100 dogs-in-training plus the approximate 200 puppies that are born on campus each year (the puppies are sent to live with volunteer Puppy Raiser families at 9 weeks of age until them come back for harness training at approximately 1 ½ years). Dormitories were built on campus for the students to stay for a 26-day training period, during which they learn to function as a team with their new guide.

Southeastern has created more than 2,600 guide dog teams since in-ception, providing mobility and independence to people in need. They are one of only twelve guide dog schools in the United States and the only one in the southeast.

Important Milestones

continued. March 3, 2012 marked the 26th Annual Walkathon. It was held at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg and had a record number of people (4000) and dogs (+700) and it is projected to have raised $425,000 by the time all funds are tallied.

1993 saw the creation of the Graduate Panel;; a group of past graduates who provide input on their experience and aid in improving the program for incoming students.

In 2002, the Gifted Canines™ program was started as an outlet for dogs who did not meet the stringent guidelines for guide dog work. Dogs from this program have gone on to work for law enforcement and as therapy dogs. The new “Canine Connections” program pairs gentle companion dogs with visually impaired children to introduce them to the joys and responsibility of dog ownership in preparation for a future guide dog.

Paws for Patriots™ was started in 2006 and pairs visually impaired veterans with professionally trained guide dogs. In addition to provid-ing guide dogs to blinded soldiers, the organization also provides Vet-eran Assistance Dogs to veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition, Southeastern has placed therapy dogs at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD to spread encouragement to soldiers during their grueling physical therapy as they learn to recover from their injuries.

Location, Location, Location

Southeastern Guide Dogs’ campus is a 23-acre site in Palmetto that includes the Administration Building/Student Dormitory, Receiving Kennel, Training Kennel, Puppy & Breeding Kennel, and the “Freedom

guides.

Southeastern Guide Dogs Downtown Training Center is located in downtown Bradenton and is a base-camp for students and trainers dur-ing the initial phases of their training. Visitors and those who work downtown have become accustomed to seeing the trainers in their blue shirts putting their charges through their paces throughout the down-town area.

Another location was opened in Sarasota in September 2010. It is a place where the public can visit to learn all about guide dogs and the amazing service they provide. They also host weekly educational seminars on a variety of dog-related topics and puppy hugging sessions. It also includes a unique pet boutique where the discriminating shopper

dogs-in-training use the facility as a home-base while working the dogs in the hustle and bustle of downtown. Students also utilize the location during the second phase of their training while learning to negotiate Main Street and all its hazards.


A Caring & Nurturing Culture

Southeastern Guide Dogs’ 94 employees and 350+ volunteers are guided by a Board of Directors made up

businesspeople along with CEO Titus Herman. The

functioning business that is

sound decisions.

The atmosphere at South-eastern is one of camaraderie and teamwork where every-one is working for the greater good. They understand the impact a guide dog can have on a visually impaired person’s life and are mind-ful of that in all interactions. Approximately 368 people have a hand in breeding, whelping, raising and training each successful guide dog team.

You, too, could have a hand in the activities at Southeastern. If you are in or visiting the Tampa Bay area, they are the only guide dog school to invite the general public in to help socialize their 6-9 week old puppies during Puppy Hugging Sessions. Every day (except Thursday and Sunday) residents and visitors alike are invited on campus 9:00 – 11:00 am to interact with the puppies in the puppy kennel and walk the guide dogs-in-training. There are also volunteer opportunities at many different levels of commitment and that need not be in the immediate area of the school. For more information, visit www.guidedogs.org or call 941-729-5665, they can also be found on Facebook and Twitter (@SEGuideDogs and @DogGuideTrainer).

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28 Years Experience


Learning by doing…DeSoto County 4-H along with community sponsors and volunteers held their 1st annual AgVenture program on March 9th. Over four hundred 4th grade students, teachers and parents were provided with in-formation and hands on activities related to many of our agricultural com-

and/or local farmers were recruited to conduct workshops for the children us-ing materials donated by the commodity group, farmers themselves and com-

learning stations that were placed within two separate learning tracts. Over sixty volunteers donated their time to chaperone groups, assist at learning stations, pack lunches etc. This event was a wonderful opportunity for our DeSoto County students to gain an appreciation of where their food comes from, as agriculture is a large part of the county’s economy, culture, and his-tory. Making students aware of this truly helps to insure that we will preserve the value of agriculture in years to come. DeSoto County 4-H as well as the AgVenture committee would like to thank all of our supporters, volunteers, and community members who helped make this event possible.

It did not matter if the children were learning about bees and making bees-wax candles with Mark Negley, planting veggies with Anna Beswick and Laurie Langfang, learning about Peaches with Nicole Adams from Florida Sweet Peaches, digging for Fossils with Heather Nedley from Mosaic, plant-ing a garden with Brad Burtscher of Fields Farm Equipment, learning about caring for cattle with Justin Fussell, or juicing oranges with Barbara Carlton of Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association, they seemed to be hav-ing loads of fun on Tract A. The same went for Tract B, where the students made butter and taste-tested milk with Dakin Dairy Farms, planted sod with Jonathan Brown from Bethel Farms, learned about cane syrup with Mike Williams, played in the water while learning about different types of irri-gation with Ed Johnson from United Irrigation, learned about poultry and

scavenger hunt with Kathleen Roehm from Sandhill growers, learned about composting and received pet worms from DeSoto County Extension Director

O Bingo with DeSoto County Cattlewoman’s Association members Joyce Hunter and Janet Harvin.

If you have any questions about AgVenture or 4-H, please contact Kristie

4846.

Desoto Ag Venture


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public at their Grand Opening celebration held Friday, March 16th. Af-

hundreds of well-wishers in attendance.

A live radio remote hosted by True Country 100.9 DJ Charles Murphy entertained the crowds who were encouraged to register for giveaways

-vertible. “Switch Agents” were available to assist customers with mov-ing their banking relationship and receiving “Three Free” – a free gift, free checking and free debit card with new qualifying accounts. Conveniently located at 2100 S. Parrott Avenue (across from

WalMart), CenterState Bank offers “banking services that bring togeth-

checking accounts include free debit cards, online banking and bill pay, -

nancial services including trust and investment services, cash management, merchant services, leasing and more. Personal, residential, and com-mercial loans are also available.

Okeechobee Area President John Williams shared that he is excited to have the opportunity to work with newly named Community Advisory Board members Frank Altobello, Susan Clemons, Roland Durrance, Frank Irby, Kelly Owens, Phoebe Raulerson, Chuck Syfrett, Emory Walker

“We’d like to thank the people of Okeechobee for their support, and we look forward to serving the community for years to come,” stated Bank-ing Center Manager Tabitha Trent.

CenterState Bank is a Florida-based community bank providing online banking, commercial lending, residential mortgages and investment services from 69 branches throughout the state. For more information, please visit www.centerstatebank.com.

CenterState Bank Celebrates Grand Opening


An Okeechobee High School graduate and former FFA member, Brian earned his Bach-elor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Florida, and then began his teaching career at Clewiston Middle School. After three years, he took the opportunity to return to Okeechobee, teaching Ag at Osceola Middle School for two years before moving to the high school. After his first year at OHS, the Freshman Campus was opened and Brian became the Ag teacher there.

He explains that while the 9th graders always had their own officers and separate ac-tivities, they were still technically part of the Senior Chapter. While this arrangement had its benefits, the decision was made to start their own Chapter, a move that also held several benefits, among them being able to have more voting delegates from Okeechobee and being able to field two separate teams in various contests. “There were freshmen who wouldn’t try out for teams because they were intimidated by the upperclassmen. Now they can work among their peers and be better prepared and more experienced to participate when they join the Senior Chapter,” says Brian.

This year the Chapter has teams in Food Science, Parliamentary Procedure, Prepared Speaking, Creed, Tractor Driving, Veterinary Assistance, and Livestock, Horse, Land, Meat, and Vegetable Judging.

Okeechobee Jr. Chapter Officers for 2011-2012 include President Taylor Pearce, Vice President Julie Sharpe, Secretary Payton Byrd, Treasurer Brittany Baker, Re-porter Bailey Kirton, Sentinel Matthew Evans, and Parliamentarian Shayla Pendry.

“We’re still a work in progress,” Brian says humbly. But it sounds to me like they are well on their way to success!

Brian and his wife Donna have two children, ten-year old Kevin and 14-year Kristen, both of whom have been active in 4-H. Now that Kristen is in middle school, she is also a busy FFA member. With their father’s influence, odds are that they will both excel in FFA!

FFA Spotlight Okeechobee Jr. FFA Chapter

While the Okeechobee Jr. FFA Chapter was just chartered in the

2010-2011 school year, Advisor Brian Dryden is no rookie to FFA.

by Robbi Sumner

Member Julie Sharp

According to Mr. Dryden, Chapter Vice President Julie Sharpe “has taken on a lot of leadership responsibilities this year and is one of the most reliable, most active members we have.”

This is the well-spoken 9th grader’s fourth year in FFA, and while she has shown hogs in the past, being an officer and participating in the Parliamentary Procedure, Creed, and Meat, Land, and Veg-etable Judging contests has kept her busy this year. She also participated in a Quiz Bowl competition and a History of FFA contest where she placed second. Mr. Dryden praises Julie for often organizing and running the Chapter meetings when others are absent, and shares that she also planned and acted as emcee for a special Veteran’s Day program that was held.

“I like helping people,” Julie shared when I caught up with her at the recent Okeechobee Youth Livestock Show where she was helping her younger sister, 8th grader Jeri, with her hog project.


When asked what she likes most about FFA, Julie responded, “I really appreciate the leadership opportunities, and have seen great improvement in myself and others who participate.” She has a fantastic role model in older brother James, whose name many of you may recognize as the current District VI State FFA Vice President.

The daughter of Bo Sharpe and Staci Sharpe, Julie is also active in a Book Club that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays to discuss and debate current readings. “I read everything but mostly focus on science fiction and books that involve medical topics.” She shared that she really enjoyed reading The Hot Zone, a non-fiction bio-thriller about the origins and incidents involving viral hemorrhagic fevers, particularly Ebola and Marburg viruses.

As for her plans beyond high school, Julie says that she is interested in a career as a medical researcher in genetics and disease. “I want to contribute my verse to the world’s poem.” Given her high levels of dedication and professionalism, she will no doubt succeed in whatever path she chooses.

I advance our science, to help farmers grow our food.

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Grand Champion: Riley Kate AlbrittonReserve Jansen Walker

Showmanship:Senior: 1st Dillard albritton 2nd Wyatt maddox 3rd Kaitlyn ShawInterm: 1st Willie Baker 2nd Taylor Roberts 3rd Faith HaysJunior: 1st Gage Cough

2nd Racheal Garland 3rd Joelynn Carver

Hardee County

Grand Champion Angus Bull : Abby Clark

Reserve Colton albritton Grand Champion Angus Female: Chase DeBoard

Reserve Victoria Braddock Grand Champion Brahman Bull: Aaron Bunch

Reserve Dawson Cantu Grand Champion Brahman Female: Avery Bunch

Reserve Kipp Copper Grand Champion Chimaine Female: Morgan Crews

Grand Champion Hereford Bull: Eric Klein

Cameron CantuReserve Laina Durrance

Grand Champion Commercial Female: Seth Durrance

Reserve Allison Farr Supreme Champion Female: Seth Durrance

Reserve Allison Farr

Best in

Show

Grand Champion: Laina DurranceReserve Morgan Crews

Third Taylor PohlFourth Kramer RoyalFifth Abby Clark Showmanship:

Senior: 1st Allison Farr 2nd Dillard Albritton 3rd Kramer RoyalInterm: 1st Laina Durrance 2nd Ellie Palmer

3rd Hayden LindseyJunior: 1st Seth Durrance 2nd Chase DeBoard 3rd Hunter Little

under the direction of Mark Delaney, Sr. Now, nearly forty years later;; they are still here to meet your photog-

marketing director, and graphic artist on staff. Their equipment is high quality and staff is professionally trained offering only the best in photographic products.

Fair Updates

Best of Show: Cade RobertsReserve: Hunter Atchley

Standard Division Grand Champion: Hunter Atchley

Reserve Aaron Bunch Bantam Division Grand Champion: Cade

RobertsReserve Hunter Graham

Waterfowl Grand Champion: Avery BunchReserve Dalton Bryant

Showmanship:Senior: 1st: Danielle Weeks 2nd: Garrett Ham 3rd: Ryan HamJunior: 1st: Cade Roberts 2nd: Avery Bunch

3rd: Elizabeth WeeksMini: 1st: Aiden Thomas 2nd: Hunter Graham 3rd: Blake Rucker

Best of Show: Parker Sasser

Grand Champion: John W RobertsReserve: Dylan Lambert

Best of Breeds:Andon Whaley - Mini RexDylan Lambert - Holland Lop

John W Roberts - Netherland DwarfKatie Henderson - DutchParker Sasser - English LopSarah Gibson - Mini Lop

Christopher Castaldi - ChinchillaHaley Grice - HimalayaKale Henderson - Polish

Samantha Shackelford - Jersey Wolsey

Showmanship:Junior: 1st: Jack Driskell 2nd: Addison Smith

7 & Under: 1st: Cason Gough2nd: Luk Holt

Delaney Photography(863) 471-3284 www.delaneyphotography.com

brought to you by


Hardee County Best in

Show

Seacoast National Bank(800) 706-9991 www.seacoastnational.com

brought to you by Okeechobee County

Held in conjunction with the Okeechobee County Fair, the 2012 Okeechobee Youth Livestock Show and Sale kicked off with the Rabbit and Poultry shows on Saturday, March 10th.The Small Animal (rabbits, poultry, goats, and lambs) shows were sponsored by St. Lucie Battery & Tire.

Rylee Lopez’s English Spot doe was named Grand Champion Rabbit. Showmanship winners were Junior Grace Luna, Intermediate Rebecca Corby, and Senior Kaylie Corby.Cody Deloney’s Jersey Giant rooster was selected as the Poultry Grand Champion. On Sunday, an exhibition

Poultry Showmanship class was held, with Johnny Sprouse sharing his time and knowledge with participants. Pee Wee Aiden Scalf, Junior Dylan Hodges, Intermediate Jarred Corby, and Senior Kaylie Corby each won their respective class.The Goat and Lamb shows were held on Monday. In this inaugural year of Boer Goat competition, Sarah Hel-

en Davis’ goat was chosen as Grand Champion with Jessica Humphrey’s entry Reserve Grand Champion. Junior Shelby Kirton, Intermediate Bailey Kirton and Senior Sarah Helen Davis were chosen as Showmanship winners.In the Lamb show Katlynn Lawrence took Grand Champion honors, with Carolanne Lundy as Reserve Grand

Champion. Showmanship awards went to Junior Will Conner, Intermediate Tyffani Zeller, and Senior Taylor Poiter. The Dairy show, held on Tuesday and sponsored by J&J Ag Brand, saw Megan Perona and her Jersey cow

named as Overall Grand Champions. First place Showmanship awards went to Junior Makalyn Jones, Intermedi-ate Alex Pluskot, and Senior Raychel Rabon.

With over 140 entries, the Swine show was split with Showmanship, sponsored by Gilbert Chevrolet, held on Wednesday and the Market Hog show, sponsored by Tree Locators, Inc., on Thursday. Showmanship winners included Junior Joseph Fanizzi, Intermediate Emily Crews, and Senior Cody Phillips. Justin Ray’s hog won Grand Champion and Shyanne Prescott’s won Reserve Grand Champion. The Steer and Beef Breeding shows on Friday were sponsored by Seacoast National Bank. The Grand

Championship steer was shown by Shelby Kirton. Sarah Helen Davis’s steer took both Reserve Grand Cham-pion and County-Bred Champion honors.Josie Stratton’s steer was chosen as Reserve County-Bred Cham-pion. Junior Shelby Kirton, Intermediate Maria Grisales, and Senior Sarah Helen Davis were named as Steer Showmanship winners. In Beef Breeding, the Grand Champion Bull was shown by Felipe Soto, with Raybon Carrier showing

the Reserve Grand Champion Bull. The Overall Female Grand Champion was shown by Sarah Helen Da-vis. Showmanship winners included Junior Shelby Kirton, Intermediate Carolanne Lundy, and Senior Sarah Helen Davis.At the sale Saturday, prices held strong in all categories. During the

dinner break, Linda Syfrett was named as the 2012 OYLS Distinguished Service Award recipient. Mrs. Syfrett is well known throughout the state for her dedication to youth programs. Just a few of her volunteer activities include serving as President of the Okeechobee County Fair Association since its inception in 2005, being Secretary of the Florida State Fair, being a 4-H leader since 1989, being named the 2000 Florida 4-H Volunteer of the Year, and having served on the Okeechobee Youth Livestock Show committee from 1990 to 2011. According to Linda, “It’s nice to know that your work is recognized. I did it for the kids and will keep doing it for the kids.”Herdsman Award buckles were presented to Shyanne Prescott and

Taylor Beal for Swine, Shiloh Anuez for Dairy, Cody Mars for Beef Breeding, and Josh Lea for Steers. In the all-new Triple Crown contest, which recognizes exceptional performance across three different catego-

ries, Sarah Helen Davis was named the high-point winner.Over $2,000 was raised for FFA through the “Kiss the Pig” contest. Shyanne Prescott and Brad Lundy

tied as top money raisers earning the right to kiss the pig, which was then auctioned to high bidder Gilbert Chevrolet.Congratulations to all participants, and a big “thank you” to all sponsors and buyers without whom the show and sale would not be a success!

Okeechobee, Arcadia, Wauchula, Lake Placid, LaBelle, Moore Haven and Clewiston

2012


Best in

Show Labelle Ranch Supply Inc.

(863) 675- 4240 281 South Bridge St Labelle, FL 33935

brought to you by LaBelle Youth Livestock Show

LaBelle Youth Livestock Goat WinnersBack Row – Alexas Caputo, Cassidy Willis, Harley Yates, Kim Kemp Middle Row – Lauren Glenn, Han-nah Bechtel, Emilee McNeal, Madelynn Childers

Front Row - Shirley

Not just a feed store! Find all your needs here from Feed, Animal Health, Saddlery, Fencing Supplies, Archery, Guns and Ammo, and Hardware! Come see us, we have even more new items coming in daily!

LaBelle Youth Livestock Swine Winners

LaBelle Youth Livestock Heifer Winner

Windall Tindall, Grand Champion Heifer and 1st place in Junior Showmanship

Kayla Hood – Grand Champion Swine

LaBelle Youth Livestock Rabbit WinnersCiara Rutter (Best of Show), Roy Beckford (Judge),

and Lane Rutter (Best Opposite)

LaBelle Youth Livestock Rabbit WinnersHarley Yates (2nd place Junior Showmanship),

Dustin Padgett (2nd place Junior Fitting and Groom-ing), Dakoda Rutter (2nd place Senior Showmanship and 1st place Senior Fitting and Grooming), Alexas Caputo (1st place Senior Showmanship and 2nd

place Fitting and Grooming) and Brittney Harrell (1st place Junior Fitting and Grooming)

LaBelle Youth Livestock Steer WinnersRachael Reinbott, Grand Champion Steer and Grand

Champion County Bred Steer

LaBelle Youth Livestock Steer WinnersLeah VanWagner, Reserve Champion Steer, Re-serve Champion County Bred Steer, and 1st place

Senior Showmanship

LaBelle Youth Livestock Steer WinnersBlake Crawford, 1st place Junior Showmanship

LaBelle Youth Livestock Poultry WinnersLeft to Right – Justin Mickelsen, Standard Breed

Best Opposite;; Dustin Padgett, Standard Breed Best of Show.

LaBelle Youth Livestock Poultry WinnersLeft to Right – Dakoda Rutter (2nd place Senior Showmanship), Alexas Caputo (1st place Senior Showmanship), Dustin Padgett (2nd place junior

Showmanship), and Maggie Gacula (1st place Junior Showmanship)

Left to right- Justin Mickelsen, Bantam Breed Best of Show;; Harley Yates, Bantam Breed Best

Opposite

Photography By Jerri Lynnwww.photographybyjerrilynn.com

2012


Labelle Ranch Supply Inc. (863) 675- 4240 281 South Bridge St Labelle, FL 33935

brought to you by

Hendry County

The 2012 year started out with a bang for the 4-H and FFA members of Hendry County that show livestock in the Hendry County Fair and the LaBelle Youth Livestock Show. The LaBelle Youth Livestock Show was held at the LaBelle Rodeo Grounds from February 11th through February 17th and the Hendry County Fair and Livestock Show was held at the Clewiston Fairgrounds from Febru-ary 18th through February 24th.

In the LaBelle Youth Livestock Show there were 3 bulls, 1 heifer, 7 steers, 69 swine, 66 rabbits, 4 cavies, 42 poultry and 12 goats. The highlights of each of the shows: Payton Conly - Cutest Pet;; Vivianna Rodriquez - Happiest Pet;; Justin Mickelsen - Best Pet Trick;; Emma Willis – Most Look A Like Child & Pet;; Marisa Burchard – Most Unusual Name of Pet;; Kaylee Cabana – Best Dressed Pet;; Windall Tindall – Grand Champion Heifer and 1st place Beef Breeding Showmanship, Fitting

and Grooming;; Rachael Reinbott – Grand Champion Steer and Grand Champion County Bred Steer;; Leah VanWagner – Reserve Champion Steer, Reserve Champion County Bred Steer and 1st place Senior Steer Showmanship;; Blake Crawford – 1st place Junior Steer Showmanship;; Kayla Hood

Junior Swine Showmanship;; Trace Burchard – 2nd place Junior Swine Showmanship;; Ryan Howard – 1st place Senior Swine Showmanship;; Herod Spangler – 2nd place Senior Swine Showmanship;; Evan Farless – 1st place Swine Average Daily Gain;; Marshall Platt – 2nd place Swine Average Daily Gain;; Dustin Padgett – Standard Poultry Breed Best of Show, 2nd place Junior Poultry Showman-ship, Best of Show Cavy, and 2nd place Junior Rabbit Fitting & Grooming;; Justin Mickelsen – Standard Poultry Breed Best Opposite, Best of Show WaterFowl and Bantam Poultry Breed Best of Show;; Harley Yates – Bantam Poultry Breed Best Opposite, 2nd place Rabbit Showmanship and 1st place Senior Dairy Goat Fitting & Grooming;; Maggie Gacula – 1st place Junior Poultry Showman-

ship;; Alexas Caputo – 1st place Senior Poultry Showmanship, Best Opposite Waterfowl, 2nd place Senior Rabbit Fitting & Grooming, 1st place Senior Rabbit Showmanship, 1st place Senior Dairy Goat Showmanship and 2nd place Senior Dairy Goat Fitting & Grooming;; Dakoda Rutter – 2nd place Senior Poultry Showmanship, 1st place Senior Rabbit Fitting & Grooming and 2nd place Senior Rabbit Showmanship;; Ciara Rutter – Best of Show Rabbit and Best Opposite Cavy;; Lane Rutter – Best Opposite Rabbit;; Brittney Harrell – 1st place Junior Rabbit Showmanship, Fitting & Grooming;; Cassidy Willis – Best of Show Dairy Goat and 2nd place Senior Dairy Goat Showmanship;; Hannah Bechtel – 1st place Junior Dairy Goat Fitting & Grooming;; Emilee McNeal – 2nd place Junior Dairy Goat Fitting & Grooming and 1st place Junior Dairy Goat Showmanship;; and Madelynn Childers – 2nd place Junior Dairy Goat Showmanship.

In the Hendry County Fair and Livestock Show there were 2 heifers, 12 steers, 65 swine, 9 goats, 5 chickens, and 2 rabbits. The highlights of each of the shows: Kyle Mann – Grand Champion Heifer and 1st place Senior Beef Breeding Showmanship, Fitting & Grooming;; Lane Keen – Reserve Champion Heifer, Grand Champion Hendry County Bred Grand Champion Steer, 1st place Junior Beef Breeding Showmanship, Fitting & Grooming and 1st place Junior Steer Showmanship;; Dylan Abowd – Grand Champion Steer and 2nd place Senior Steer Showmanship;;;; Joshua Santiago – Re-serve Champion Steer and 2nd place Junior Steer Showmanship;; Ryan Nesbitt – Hendry County Bred Reserve Champion Steer;; Landon Sutton – 3rd place Junior Steer Showmanship;; Jimmy Davis - 1st place Senior Steer Showmanship;; Hunter Abowd – 3rd place Senior Steer Showmanship;; Bryce Lawson – Grand Champion Swine;; Tylan Tarter – Reserve Champion Swine and 1st place Junior Swine Showmanship;; Zoie Cotton – 2nd place Junior Swine Showmanship;; Jenna Hernandez – 3rd place Junior Swine Show-manship;; Linda Atkinson – 1st place Senior Swine Showmanship;; Kelsey Mata – 2nd place Senior Swine Showmanship;; Micah Murphy – 3rd place Senior Swine Showmanship;; Carlie Lawson – Best of Show Goat, 3rd place Junior Goat Fitting & Grooming, Best of Show Poultry and 1st place Junior Poultry Fitting & Grooming;; Luke Lawson – Reserve Champion Goat, 1st place Junior Goat Fitting & Grooming and 2nd place Junior Poultry Fitting & Grooming;; and Madisyn Thomley – Grand Champion Goat, 2nd place Junior Goat Fitting & Grooming, Best of Show Rabbit and 1st place Junior Rabbit Fitting and Grooming.

All of the exhibitors enjoyed their week and the many memories obtained from participating in the Hendry County Fair and the LaBelle Youth Livestock Show.

Best in

Show 2012

64

The Livestock Shows and Sale are part of a busy week leading up to the Chalo Nitka Festival. This year will go down as another success for all the exhibitors involved. Mr. Gator Sapp was our wonderful an-nouncer and Pastor Charley Watts from the United Methodist Church of Moore Haven opened with Prayer and led the Pledge of Allegiance for the Shows and Sale all week.

The Dairy Show started the week off on Monday, February 27th.There were 14 exhibitors displaying 19 animals. These animals were classed according to age. The Judge for the evening was Mrs. Deb-bie Clements from Okeechobee. She praised all of the exhibitors and awarded all of their entries with blue ribbons. The Jr. Calf Grand Cham-pion was awarded to Chloe Ahern with her Brown Swiss, “Dinero”. Jessica Smith took Jr. Calf Reserve Grand Champion with her Holstein, “Delilah”. Sr. Calf Grand Champion was awarded to Kelsey Ahern with her Holstein “Snickers”. Chloe Ahern took the honor of Sr. Calf Reserve Grand Champion with her Brown Swiss named “Toodles”. The Overall Grand Champion was Kelsey Ahern with “Snickers” and the Overall Reserve Grand Champion was Chloe Ahern with “Toodles”. Jesse Espinosa won Jr. Showmanship and Sr. Showmanship was award-ed to Cooper Bartley. The Dairy Exhibitors are members of the “Ud-derly Unique” 4-H Club led by Tycee Prevatt and the Moore Haven FFA Chapter led by Phillip Cosby.

On Tuesday night February 28th the Swine Show was held. The swine were classed according to their weights, and there were 8 classes ranging from 226 lbs-309lbs. There were 45 entries, including 1 swine for the 4-H Chapter raised and exhibited by Tanner Mathis and 1 swine for the FFA Chapter raised and exhibited by Kaleb Langdale. Mr. Pat Hogue of Okeechobee was the Show Judge for the evening. He awarded all the exhibitors with blue ribbons for their great looking swine entries. Alexis “Alley” Auler was awarded Grand Champion Swine with her 283-pound Yorkshire X. Brice Prowant was awarded Reserve Grand Champion for his Yorkshire X weighing in at 284 pounds. Dr. Paul Bry-ant, DVM was our Showmanship Judge for the evening. Kasey Estes won Jr. Showmanship, and Jordan Drayton received Sr. Showmanship. The exhibitors are members of the 4H Club “Rooters” led by Ragen & Laura Mathis, and the Moore Haven FFA led by Phillip Cosby.

Best in

Show Glades County2012

One of the crowd’s favorite events of the week was the Pee Wee Show, which was held on Wednesday, and Thursday nights just prior to the Steer Show and Livestock Auction. The Pee Wee exhibitors paraded their animals around the ring for the judge and all in attendance to see. There were 22 exhibitors altogether. Two had a goat, three showed rab-

calves. They all did a wonderful job and received blue ribbons and me-dallions for their efforts. Vivian Hart is the leader of the “Little Rascals” Pee Wee group.

Wednesday night February 29th was the Steer & Commercial Heifer Show. 21 steer exhibitors proudly displayed their animals. The steers

classes according to their weights. Mr. Jim Selph from Desoto County presided as judge over the show. He awarded all the entries blue rib-bons for their great looking animals. Gracie Goodwin won Grand Cham-pion with her 1,230 pound steer. Bronson Bass was awarded Reserve Grand Champion as well as Home Grown Grand Champion with his 1,380 pound Sherri Petti Ranch bred steer. Home Grown Reserve Grand Champion went to Amery Bass with his 1,120 pound steer bred by B & S Cattle Company. Amery Bass also received the Jr. Showmanship award and Bronson Bass the Sr. Showmanship award for their skill in showing

pounds, which earned him the Weight Gain award. The Commercial Heifer Show followed with 5 exhibitors and their 5 great entries. Grand Champion was awarded to Dustin Chapman. Reserve Grand Champion went to Nathan Simmons. We also had a Showmanship competition in the commercial heifer division and those awards went to Dustin Chap-man for Sr. Showmanship and Jr. Showmanship went to Lacy Green. These exhibitors are members of the “The Beefmakers” led by Calinda Chapman and the FFA Chapter led by Mr. Phillip Cosby.

Throughout the week we were graced with the presence of our 2012 Chalo Nitka Royalty. The Chalo Nitka Queen Haley Stephens, Jr. Miss Chalo Nitka Megan Whitehead and Chalo Nitka Princess Lacy Green did an excellent job presenting all the exhibitors with their ribbons and the winners with their ribbons and belt buckles. Glades County Youth Livestock would like to thank all of those who helped make the 2012 Livestock Shows a great success!

Photos by Calinda Chapman and Picture this Photography


Whoa! This last month has been jam packed for my teammates and I! We started off this busy time with our work at the Florida State Fair. We were there throughout the whole fair and assisted with the live-stock shows, the skillathon competition and everything in between!

and the Attorney General. It was quite an experience. Following our exciting time at state fair, we traveled to Haines

State Leadership Summit Conference. At SLS, we begin the delegate process and selected the committee issues that will be reviewed and voted on at State Convention in June. During the conference, we also spent a day touring the Dun- D Citrus Groves as well as the Florida’s Natural Visitors Center. It was an amazing weekend and the members greatly appreciated the agricultural tours. Thank you to those who made it happen! Our next great adventure led us to Tallahassee for Ag On The

Hill 2012. Many of Florida FFA’s members attended the event. While there we had the opportunity to speak with Commissioner Putnam,

to sit in on a session, where representatives discussed and voted on issues facing Florida today. Ag On The Hill was an experience that I will never forget! In the upcoming months, our team will continue doing chapter

programs as well as begin attending end of the year banquets. If your

celebrate your accomplishments with your chapter over this past year. As I close, I would just like to remind you all that each day is a gift. Live it to its fullest potential and never take it for granted, because life is not about the number of breaths you take, but about the number of moments that take your breath away. God Bless!

Until next time,Haley Webb

State FFA Secretary

Journal

Brought to you by:

Glisson’s Animal Supply, Inc.863-471-FEED (3333)

4525 US Hwy 27 South Sebring

SPRING LAKE HARDWARE

Tom Culverhouse- Manager

PARTS SALESSERVICE

8955 US Hwy 98Sebring, FL 33876

(863) 655-2600/ Fax (863) 655-[email protected]

Scott Kirouac, president of Highlands County Farm Bureau, presents a check for $1,500 to Highlands County 4-H agent, Lauren Hrncirik . The donation is made possible from the many Highlands County Farm Bureau fundraisers that are supported by Highlands County business owners and residents. Lauren accepts the gift on behalf of the Highlands County 4-H Foundation whose main function is funding local 4-H clubs and their activities. For more information on how you can support 4-H, call 863-471-

for Lauren. Highlands County Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Insurance

are located at 6419 US 27 South, Sebring. 863-385-5141

Highlands County 4-H

Receives Generous Donation


TO PLACE

A

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EMAIL

[email protected]

Classifieds NEW HOLLAND REPOSTN60A 2WD 2007 models w/front brooms and box blades. Never used, sold new $31,270. Sell $27,000, balance of warranty. 813-623-3673

Food ANGUS FREEZER BEEF$2.75/lb. cut and wrapped. Whole, Half or Quarter. Cash, Mastercard or Visa863-206-2828

Animals POLLINATION 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 avail-able. If you buy elsewhere, we both lose. Call 813-752-7088

Equine ServicesDISCOUNT EQUINE SERVICE BUNDLE

0224 or 813-951-0118

Farm Equipment 1952 JOHN DEERE TRACTOR M MODELRuns Good! $1,985 OBOJim 863-858-2226

1984 KUBOTA B62002wd, w/4 ft. Finish Mower $3,000Call 863-698-2967

2004 MASSEY FERGUSON 461-2-55 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

PORTABLE BULK FEEDERSExcellent Condition!!! Call 863-528-4356

3 BARNS W/ 27 STALLS FOR RENTFt. Ogden area. Call Lisa 941-234-7660.

2003 CATERPILLAR MT225 CHAL-LENGER TRACTOR 23 HP with 4 wheel drive making it much stronger and more ver-sitile.2 ptos rear and middle. Used for mowing only so light wear- 833 hrs. $5, 199Excellent tractor for a small farm. Great cond-tion-barn kept. email for more pix:[email protected]299-1635 Arcadia, Fl

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Morgan Norris

863-381-8014 or


Heartland’s Growing Businesses

~ Cosmetic & Restorative

Dentistry

~ Extractions

~ Implants

~ Root Canals

~ Dentures and Partials

~ Implant Denture

Stabilization

~ Wisdom Teeth Removal

~ Financing Available

Sunshine Family DentistryFor your complete family dental care.

James E. Oxer, D.M.D.

(863) 465-2037


AG CalendarMarch 28th-31st Big “O” Birding Festival

throughout Glades and Hendry (863) 517-2136

April 5thSebring’s Centennial CelebrationSebring Chamber of Commerce

April 10thHerd Health Management

CALS Gator Gathering, Sebring 6 pm Bert J harris Agricultural Center

April 13th -15th20th Annual BB & T Venice Sharks Tooth Festival

Venice Airport Festival Grounds

April 13th-15th 26th Annual Clewiston Sugar Festival, “Raising Cane”

www.clewistonsugarfestival.com

April 14thHighlands County Farm Bureau Cracker Shoot

Quail Creek Plantation Okeechobee(863) 385-5141

April 14th-15thRanch Rodeo—Arcadia Rodeo Arena

April 19th-21st City of Pahokee’s Annual Q Fest and City of Pahokee Fair

April 20th Moore Haven 4-H Archery Club Bbq

April 21st 2012 Horse Short Course & Trade Show 8:30 -2:00 Parrish Equestrian

Punta Gorda Block Party [email protected]

April 21st (34th Annual) Black Gold Jubilee Festival

Belle Glade

April 21st “Spring North American Migration Count Teams” and Bird Watching Tours at STA5 and surrounding areas led by Hendry Glades Audubon Clewiston

April 21stYouth Rodeo Finals

Arcadia

May 1stAg Literacy Day

May 2nd-4thUF Beef Cattle Short Course –Gainesville

May 4th –May 6thSandy Kuhn Memorial El Clair Ranch Ride

sponsored by the Putnam Family and the Florida Cracker Trail Association 8290 Martin Lane, Zolfo Springs (863) 441-2139

What’s going on In the Field?

Barney Cherry 863-441-1482

Custom Blended Foliar, Suspension & Solution Fertilizers

Bruce Hutcheson 863-441-2018

May 19thSmall Farms Livestock Production Conference

DeSoto Turner Center Exhibit Bldg

22nd Farm Safety Day Immokolee IFAS Center, Cost is $15 pp nd includes educational sessions,

handouts, pencils, refreshments, lunch, and a cap.


Celebrating Earth Day by conserving and protecting natural resources Every Day.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY. At our Plant City Complex, we convert excess steam into power to provide for all of the complex’s electrical demands, reducing the need to build more conventional power plants and reducing our dependency on foreign oil. WATER. We are one of the largest re-users of reclaimed water. We recycle 95 percent of the water used in our phosphate mining process and have pioneered a project in Hardee County that will help to recharge Florida’s aquifer. ENVIRONMENT. We protect the most sensitive areas, including pristine wetlands and other habitats, from our mining impacts. We work to protect wildlife, and to maintain the integrity and functionality of key habitats. And after we mine, we reclaim the land, guided by a commitment to restore the land for future generations.

CF Industries

Phosphate Rock Mine & Beneficiation Plant | 6209 County Road 663 | Wauchula, FL 33873

Phosphate Fertilizer Manufacturing Plant | 10608 Paul Buchman Highway | Plant City, FL 33565 Tampa Terminal and Warehouse | 2520 Guy Verger Blvd | Tampa, FL 33605

heartland magazine april 2012

Documents

ydlod inthefieldmagazineapril

natural florida treasure

field magazine

babcock ranchapr

naturalflorida treasure

beef cattle

okeechobee counties

freechoice supplement