Page 32 - CFAN_Apr2014

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FEATURE |

FOOD LEGENDS

at the FFA Beast Feast

A Celebration of Florida Fun and Food
F

at the Annual Fundraiser

story and photos by KATE MARTIN

FROM FRIED DILL PICKLES, to sweet potato fries, to venison tacos, this year’s 11th Annual Beast Feast
and Auction was quite the culinary success. Living up to its name, the Beast Feast had countless varieties of

exotic foods and a great string band, to boot. People of all ages and backgrounds came together to celebrate the
southern lifestyle, focusing on raising money for the one-of-a-kind Florida FFA Leadership Training Center.

“his center enables our students to come here inexpensively for fellowship, team-building, and a general great
ANTHONY time,” says Tim Lopez, Chairman of the Beast Feast. “he money raised at this fundraiser goes back to what’s
CRAIN AND MIKE
really important: educating our students and supporting our center.”
BOYETTE’S famous
sweet potato fries

and homemade he Beast Feast also houses a silent and the Beast Feast for three years now. “What started out as raising money for
live auction with an impressive variety of “Everybody loves it, says Crain. “Our our mortgage turned into a really good
chicken tenders.
items and trips. Some examples include homemade BBQ sauce is always a hit.” fundraiser.”

livestock feed and supplies, amusement Scrumptious fried gator, boiled corn, he Florida FFA Leadership Training
park tickets, jewelry, art, and kayaks. he fried conch fritters, swamp cabbage, and Center, home of the Beast Feast and

big-ticket trips were an African safari and a BBQ’d whole pig were only some of the Auction, is right of of Highway 542
a dove-hunting trip in Argentina. he delightful southern-inspired examples on Firetower Road near Haines City. his year’s Beast Feast and Auction was

event also had drawings worth $2,500 in showcased at this year’s event. Full plates Other than occasional events, the LTC a good eating, money-raising good time.
value. Who doesn’t love that?
and happy stomachs really put the feast in hosts a variety of conferences, meetings, If homemade ice cream, beef bites, fried

Anthony Crain and Mike Boyette, Beast Feast.
and workshops for the FFA and other okra, homemade macaroni and cheese,
Suwannee FFA members and the culinary “he Beast Feast gives a chance for organizations. With a beautiful backdrop
or fried green tomatoes doesn’t get you to
artisans behind the magnanimous sweet alumni to return and the community to of Lake Pierce and Bok Tower in the come out, well there’s always Cow Poop

potato fries and delicious homemade come out,” says Gary Bartley, executive distance, it is hard not to love old Florida Bingo or an auction to go to! ag
chicken tenders have been cooking for
director of the Florida FFA Foundation.
like this.

MORE THAN JUST ‘APRIL SHOWERS’ FOR YOUR LAWN AND GARDEN

THE OLD SAYING GOES “April showers bring already, and palms. hose palms need to be fed three
May lowers,” but for our Florida lawns, the preparations times a year with a fertilizer containing manganese. Spray

for summer growth are a little diferent during this month. fruit trees with a nutritional spray to protect the fruit and
Now is the time to prune branches damaged by the winter control melanose, a fungal disease.

cold and prepare for the growing season. When lowering Monitor for whitelies, spider mites and powdery
shrubs inish blooming, it’s time to shape them.
mildew, and treat promptly. Acephate will control

Mulch your garden now to control weeds, retain thrips, insects which are very damaging to roses,
moisture, and protect roots from that hot summer sun. gladiolas, gardenias, and other spring lowers.
by WILLIAM "BILL" DOTY
Plant summer annuals to bring color to your lower garden Use thuricide to control caterpillars—it won’t

and plant vegetables to eat, using plenty of compost, peat, harm beneicial insects.
and manure.
You’ll need to monitor your lawn and plants, and BIO: William R. “Bill” Doty is owner of Doty Farm and Garden Supply
Inc., founded in Winter Haven in 1954. Bill graduated from Winter Haven
You’ll also want to fertilize and use pesticide sprays. water as needed. April is also the best time to sod, plug or High School and Florida State University. Growing up, he learned valuable
Feed azaleas with special acid fertilizer ater they bloom. seed your lawn. Be sure to power rake Bahia and verticut lessons in listening and asking questions and was a student of the family
business. Bill shares his knowledge with his customers daily and with our
Remember to feed your lawn and shrubs, if you haven’t
St. Augustine if necessary.
readers monthly.

32 | CFAN
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