Page 24 - CFAN_Mar2014

SPRING AND W
YOUR LAWN’S

AGRIYOUTH | from page 22
LAUNDRY LIST

BECKONS

NOTHING SAYS “spring is here” than
the azaleas when they bloom (besides birds

chirping and the trees sprouting new leaves).
With increasing urbanization, youth are less aware of how food is grown. Warmer temperatures are here, helping to

Agri-Fest, 4-H, and FFA have stepped in to create greater awareness about lure you outdoors. There is a lot to be done,
agriculture. “Everybody needs to know that their food doesn’t just come off so roll up your sleeves and put on your gar-

the shelf in Publix,” Webb says. “A lot of sweat and labor went into growing dening gloves. It is time to treat your soil, so
and harvesting that food.”
here’s the laundry list for your lawn.
Keep out unwanted growth and apply

Weed and Feed where necessary. It’s also
a great time to fertilize lawns, azaleas,

camellias, palms, woody shrubs, and trees.
Fertilizing your lawn with a quality 16-4-8

formula is preferred if you don’t have fungus.
Yet, they also help youths find their This will help prevent future problems with Ag organizations help students

niche in life. Seventeen-year-old Allyson your grass.
broaden their vision about agriculture,
Polston, who joined 4-H six years ago, beyond the stereotypical image of the NICOLE
After the flowers bloom, fertilize your
started showing Brangus cows in 4-H. azaleas and camellias with a special acid farmer on his tractor. “Being on the WALKER (LEFT)
Now a senior, she sits on the board of land and in the field is a big part of it,”
fertilizer. It’s also a good time to prune your AND CAROLE
International Junior Brangus Breeders’ azaleas and shape them.
McKenzie concedes. “We also want them MCKENZIE are

Association. “I’ve learned about the Palms need extra manganese, magnesium, to be thinking about the many jobs that two of the many
ag industry and the beef industry. I’ve and potash to maintain a vivid green color. contribute to the industry . . . there are volunteers for the

learned how to show my animal, as well as Woody shrubs and trees, especially fruit trees, so many different careers that are directly annual Agri-Fest
how to present myself.”
should be treated with a good nutritional related to agriculture production that event. Here, both

Polston, who is homeschooled, is spray to keep them vibrant and attractive.
don’t involve actual farming.”
ladies stand next
planning to earn her associate’s degree These roles include scientific research to a display at
You’ll also want to do some basic
at Hillsborough Community College in gardening maintenance. Replacing mulch (a critical field in light of the citrus the citrus station,
Plant City, before possibly heading to UF greening threat to the citrus industry),
will help you control aphids on new growth, ready to illustrate
to major in animal science. “It [4-H] has before the leaves of shrubs and fruit trees are geneticist, nutritionist, biochemist, for students how

basically just made me the person I am affected. Now is also a good time to air layer, biological engineering, climatologist, the Florida fruit
today. I honestly don’t know where I’d be graft or bud plants and plug bare areas of marketing broker, accountant, food safety is grown and

without it,” says Polston, president of Polk your lawn with Palmetto grass. Protect your specialist, plant pathologist, toxicologist, harvested in the
City 4-H Club.
grass by keeping blades sharp!
and more.
Sunshine State.

Keep your roses in good shape by using Whatever career path they choose,
Triple Action to control Thrips; a half- young students are learning leadership.

and-half mixture of Thiomyl and “FFA has not only educated me on
agriculture, it has sculpted me into a young
Daconil or Dithane
M-45 controls leader. That will help me be successful in
life,” says Moriah McCullers, a 16-year-
black spot and
powdery old junior serving as vice president of the

mildew.
Frostproof FFA Chapter.
Her sister, Scarlett McCullers, went

through the program and now teaches
agriscience at Frostproof Middle-Senior

by WILLIAM "BILL" DOTY
High School. “My FFA career started in
the very classroom that I now teach in. I

learned how to speak publically, run an
BIO: William R. “Bill” Doty is owner of Doty Farm and orderly business meeting according to

Garden Supply Inc., founded in Winter Haven in 1954. Bill correct parliamentary procedure, and set
graduated from Winter Haven High School and Florida
State University. Growing up, he learned valuable lessons goals to reach my full potential,” she says.
in listening and asking questions and was a student of the Amanda Squitieri, Polk County
family business. Bill shares his knowledge with his customers
daily and with our readers monthly.
4-H agent with UF/IFAS Extension,

24 | CFAN
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