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Three Polk County CTE Student of the Year Runners-up Show How Hands-on Learning Turns into Leadership by SHAYLYNN MARKS While the honor of Career and Technical Education Student of the Year goes to one student, nomination forms for the runners-up reveal the impressive work of even more students building skills for life after graduation. Polk […]

Kyndall Curtin and Billy Humphrey Honored for CTE Excellence in Agriculture by SHAYLYNN MARKS Two Polk County students are being recognized for agriculture achievements through Career and Technical Education programs: Winter Haven High School senior Kyndall Curtin, the county’s CTE Student of the Year for Agriculture, and Fort Meade Middle-Senior High School senior Billy Humphrey,

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida Did you know that nearly none of the fruit you can find at the supermarket is native to North America? While many popular fruits have some genetic contribution from North American species, such as the strawberry (a cross of Chilean and European species), only two

Industries Assess Damage; Some Blueberry Growers Report Devastating Losses by PAUL CATALA photos provided by MIKE ROBERTS, RAY ROYCE, KYLE STRAUGHN & RYAN ATWOOD The recent freeze may have dealt a blow to Kyle Story’s citrus trees, but the season won’t be a wash. Story is vice-president of The Story Companies in Lake Wales, where

Growers Brace for Tough Harvest After Freeze Damages Plants, Berries by REBEKAH PIERCEphotos provided by BOB McDOWELL The 2025-2026 strawberry season in Central Florida was going great.  That is, until it wasn’t. The weekend of January 30 marked one of the coldest periods Florida had seen in over 15 years, with temperatures plunging to 20

by RYAN MILEJCZAKSponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida If you ask a room full of people what their favorite fruit is, you’re likely to hear quite a few of them say “strawberries.” In fact, according to popularity polling by YouGov, the strawberry is the single most liked fruit in the US, while as of

March Event Brings Consumers, Ranchers Together for Education & Networking by DEMI GUILLORY On March 21-22, Meet Florida Meat 2026 will take place on Great Scotts Farm in Mount Dora. The annual event will mark its fifth consecutive year of providing Florida consumers with direct access to some of the freshest meat available from farms

by REBEKAH PIERCE Sponsored by Visit Central Florida First, he was stealing bases. Now, he’s growing greens. In both aspects of his professional life, Dee Strange-Gordon is proving his ability to work hard and make history. Strange-Gordon, who played first with the Los Angeles Dodgers before doing stints with the Miami Marlins, Seattle Mariners, and

by ALEXANDRIA BASTIEN, UF/IFAS Extension Highlands County On January 29, Highlands County Extension hosted its annual Livestock Ag Tour, an educational event designed to connect community members with the importance of Florida’s livestock industry. The tour highlights agriculture’s vital role in Highlands County, including its economic impact, environmental stewardship, and contributions to conservation and wildlife

by MARK JACKSON Sponsored by Visit Central Florida Nobody likes to pay taxes…and I mean nobody.  But in Florida, we’re lucky enough to have visitors leave a good portion of their money behind, lessening the overall tax burden on Florida residents.  Let’s start with taxes we already don’t pay that other states are subject to.