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Local Teen, Emily Turner, Knows What it Takes to Be a Barrel Racing Champion Emily Turner has a lot of good influences in her life, and she credits those good influences with helping her and her horse—Honey Blossom Wonder, or Belle for short—to win the 2017-2018 Florida High School Rodeo Association Barrel Racing Championship.  “I’m […]

Getting to Know Polk County Cattlemen’s Association Sweetheart, Paxton Evans Each year young ladies around the state have a chance to apply for their county Cattlemen’s Association Sweetheart, where if selected, they will represent their county’s cattle industry for a full year and compete in the State Cattlemen’s Sweetheart pageant that is held during the

Pat Schirard Becomes Newest Member of FL Citrus Commission Meet Governor Scott’s appointment to the Florida Citrus Commission, Pat Schirard. In mid-May, Governor Rick Scott appointed new member, Pat Schirard, to the Florida Citrus Commission, filling a vacant seat previously held by Lee Bouldin. Schirard’s term will span from his appointment date on May 24

Proving the Power of Beef One Race at a Time by MATT COBBLE  For a long time, beef was considered the king of meats.  A certain fast food chain once asked its competitors “where’s the beef?”  A particular grocery chain proudly proclaimed themselves as “the beef people.”  The Yeoman Warders, guards at the Tower of

Blueberry Production Up In Spite of Environmental Obstacles by CHERYL ROGERS Environmental challenges shed some Florida blueberry growers’ hopes for an abundant crop this year, slashing anticipated yields statewide by about 30 percent.  But overall, about 20 million pounds of blueberries were picked, up from about 19 million pounds in 2017, says Brittany Lee, president

Tips for Managing Your Equine’s Health During the Rainy Season by TERESA SCHIFFER  Rainy season is here in Central Florida, and for horse owners, that can mean more time in the stable and less time in the saddle. Thunderstorms, muddy fields, and mosquitoes can all mean problems for horses. So what should you do when

Dr. LuJean Waters is a big animal veterinarian making a living in what used to be a man’s profession. Just two miles from her family’s old homestead, LuJean Waters practices veterinarian medicine on large animals, including cattle, horses, sheep and goats. A 7th generation Floridian, descended from a family that migrated to the Lake Garfield

Emily McKenna Lassiter is a woman deeply dedicated to her family, and the family citrus business. She also has a strong affection for citrus groves. And no wonder; her childhood and family memories center around the groves, and now she makes her living in the business. “One of the things I love is driving down