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by MATT COBBLE Photo courtesy of agclassroom.org When the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO) announced the 2019 winners of their National Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture award, one winner stood out from the pack. A team of teachers from Millennia Gardens Elementary School in Orlando – Dawn Chehab, Joshua Garrett, John Martinez, Erica […]

by J.P. SMITH   What brought world travelers and water skiers, Rob and Carol Bemman, to settle in Polk County on Eagle Lake and establish a horse trail? Their journey to this place in time, is waft with reminiscent sights, smells, and sensory delight, of beautiful Cypress Gardens, where it is their memories that still

Bringing Together Florida Agri-Business and Florida Law Enforcement to Protect the State’s Rural & Agricultural Communities by DAPHNE RENELUS We often hear quotes that emphasize the importance of coming together to accomplish a goal, but rarely do we make a conscious effort to really follow these quotes’ messages. When it comes to the value of

Florida Cattle & Livestock Industries Giving States Economy a Boost by TIM CRAIG Carlton Taylor, the president of the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association, leads a group of ranchers who impact the state economy in ways the general public may not readily see. Together with the state and the national association, Taylor wants to spread the

A Look at Research Being Done to Understand Equine Genetics by MATT COBBLE Every living organism on this planet is built by a set of genes. Genes that people have been influencing (or, if you prefer, ‘encouraging strategic traits’) since Gregor Mendel first discovered them while hybridizing pea plants in the mid nineteenth century. And

Hannah Cline Ready for New Role to Fight for the Beef Industry by MARY TOOTHMAN Hannah Cline has her cowgirl boots on, a smile on her face, and her plans and goals set for 2019. The true-blue cowgirl is the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association’s new Sweetheart. The youngest child of Dan and Sheri Cline, she

New Professor Looks to Help Florida Grapefruit Industry by TIM CRAIG   A new hire for the University of Florida’s Indian River Research and Education Center should have an impact on the state’s ailing grapefruit industry as part of her research.   Sandra Guzman, an assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, will lead the

On Saturday, February 16, the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association held their annual Trade Show and Ranch Rode in partnership with the UF/IFAS Extension of Polk County. Held at the Bartow Horse Arena, this event featured various booths, local artists, and craftsmen. Additionally, attendees were treated to a spectacular rodeo while cheering on their favorite local

Money Being Pumped Back into Florida Citrus by MATT COBBLE   NO ONE WHO works in agriculture is afraid of hard work. That being said, between three major hurricanes in as many years and the continuing struggle against citrus greening, the past few years have been especially hard. But there is good news on the

Local Program Uses Books to Unite Children and Rescued Horses by MATT NORMAN Have you ever considered the benefits of reading to a horse? Have you ever considered that it would actually benefit both the horse and the reader? A local group is seeing those benefits first hand. The Reading with Rescues program is giving