Some members of Class VIII were able to accept Mike Janeczek's gracious invitation to attend The Andersons Inc.'s Customer Appreciation and Dove Shoot yesterday in Lake Placid. WLIANR alums were also well represented. Joe Hodges, The Andersons' Southern Region Vice President (and one of FFAA's Board members), is a Class IVgraduate and I also saw Dave Dymond/Class VI, David Evans/Class III graduate, Class II's Bob Adair and Pam Fentress there too. If I missed someone -- my apologies!

Thanks Mike for the hospitality and warm welcome! Class VIII members Stanley Perry and Jeremy Fountain were also there but not in this photo (I did get to meet their sons -- what a pleasure!).

L to R: Fred Fanizzi, Mike Janeczek, me, Kim Erickson, and Roland Yee (who got maybe 4 hours of sleep during this week of hard freezes -- hope he's caught up on some well-deserved rest!)

Happy Holidays to all!

Thinking about Dr. Burl Long's presentation on the value of reflection. This George Eliot quote made me think of his lesson: "The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us and we only know them when they are gone."

Thanks to all of you who will be helping me see those golden moments and recognize the angels in the next two years.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Michael, Jim, Will, Staci, Marcie & Jeremy about to take off and tour Gainesville.

Fellow Class VIII members-


WOW! What an amazing first week! From the ropes course to our airplane ride and all those presentations. You made the class fun and exciting. Just think, this is only the beginning.

Greetings WLI Alumni and a big welcome to Class VIII! Last week we had a wonderful experience in Gainesville getting to know everyone and getting reintroduced to the concept of leadership. Though I wasn’t part of the group, I personally took away much from being around Florida’s greatest leaders in its strongest industry.

To begin the blogging adventure for Class VIII, I have decided to post two photos. Both photos are of Stanley Perry conquering the high ropes challenge course. The first photo shows him about to jump off the platform to in order to hit the bell. The second shows the support structure of fellow class members.

It amazed me that thirty strangers could come together the first day, and begin to COMPLETELY trust eachother within the first few hours of knowing one another. Stanley knew that when he jumped, he would not fall, since Jeremy, Jenn, Jaime and others provided reassurance.

In agriculture, in our occupations, in our community involvement, and in life, we need to be reminded that someone is there to catch us and support us. We can attempt something new and take a risk, and those who surround us will not let us fall, and aid us in hitting the bell.

Have we surrounded ourselves with people that will support us? Will we support others during times of risk?

Happy Blogging!

IFAS/CALS TailGATOR 2010 - Sept. 25

TailGATOR 2010
September 25
3 hours before kickoff
Stephen C. O'Connell Center
www.cals.ufl.edu/TailGATOR

2010_TailGATOR_web.jpg

Join us on Saturday, Sept. 25 as we tell the story of IFAS and the College
of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the 14th annual TailGATOR.

The celebration begins three hours prior to kickoff of the UF vs. Kentucky
game in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Tickets are $12 and include a meal
catered by Hill's Bar-B-Que. Be sure to register by September 10.
<http://www.cals.ufl.edu/tailgator>

Talk with departmental representatives, take your picture with Albert and
Alberta, and watch as we celebrate the story of five of the most
<http://cals.ufl.edu/tailgator/2010awards.shtml> distinguished alumni in
the college as well as the CALS Alumni and Friends Scholarship recipient.
CALS Alumni and Friends will have several tempting silent auction items
<http://cals.ufl.edu/tailgator/silent-auction.shtml> available to raise
funds for its scholarship endowment.

See who's attending and learn more about TailGATOR and CALS Alumni and
Friends at www.cals.ufl.edu/TailGATOR.

Cathy Herren Carr
Director, Alumni and Career Services
Univ. of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
PO Box 110270, Gainesville, FL 32611
2002 McCarty Hall D ▪ <mailto:chcarr@ufl.edu> chcarr@ufl.edu
352.392.1963 ▪ Fax: 352.392.8988

Hannah at the podium

Very nice in her red dress. Giving out awards.
Sent via BlackBerry.

Jeff Lee at the podium

Sent via BlackBerry.

Live from WLIANR Ritz Carlton

Class VII rocks the Ritz with superior class representation once again. I think only a few of us couldn't make it. I missed the Annual Business Meeting, but heading out to the sessions now. Someone defaced Greg's nametag and for whatever reason he thinks it was me, so the guilty party is off scot free. It wasn't me Greg. The Hospitality Suite is overloaded with hospitality and everyone worked really hard at lowering the liquid volume last night. I think tonight will do even more damage to the supply. The recycler was clanging all night long. I wonder who closed the room last night. John Cooksey was probably still sleeping in there...

IMG00003-20100813-1729.jpg

Sent via BlackBerry.

Cartoon from 1934 --

This cartoon was in the Chicago Tribune in 1934. Look carefully at the plan
of action in the lower left corner.
98ec12.jpg

"Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it."
===========================================================================

Lisa

Happy birthday Lisa!!!
Sent via BlackBerry.

China puts the eco back in economy | Jonathan Watts

Published on May 25, 2010 by Editor   ·   No Comments

 

As biodiversity declines, China recalculates the value of its forests and other natural resources

Amid all the doom and gloom during the past week about the global loss of biodiversity, there have been a couple of potentially positive steps forward by the usual villain of the piece: China.

For the first time, the government in Beijing has put a hefty value on its forest ecosystems and began drafting new regulations that would oblige rich urban coastal regions to pay compensation fees to unspoiled inland areas that provide carbon sequestration and other environmental services.

These steps suggest China is moving in tandem with United Nation recommendations that environmental costs should be factored into the global economy.

A degree of scepticism is warranted. China has some of the world's most enlightened environmental laws and policies, but all too often they are ignored by local officials and businessmen who won't let anything get in the way of making a fast yuan.

But a marriage of the environment and the economy might provide a new set of financial incentives for maintaining eco-systems that would otherwise be seen merely as obstacles to development.

Serious money is involved. The State Forestry Administration estimated last week that forest ecosystems contribute 10 trillion yuan, or about a third of China's gross domestic product.

This figure – which takes into account carbon sequestration, water conservation, biodiversity protection and biomass production – suggests the administration is seeking not just a new set of values, but a new role for itself now that the nation's forests are logged out and 2,000 species reportedly threatened with extinction.

More intriguing still are reports that the government is drafting an ecological compensation scheme, which would expand and strengthen existing measures such as payment for wildlife reserves, environmental levies imposed on mines, compensation from upstream river polluters to downstream users and economic redistribution schemes that aim to close the income gap between manufacturing hubs on the east coast and rural hinterland.

Depending on how it is written and enforced, this could be either a boon or a menace to the environment. Set the value of conservation high and establish an effective mechanism for compensation transfers and this policy could help to correct the market's failure to protect the commons and recognise the long-term value of biodiversity.

On the other hand, if the price of nature is set too low and regulation is too weak – both currently the case – then this policy could accelerate the unsustainable extraction of resources.
The ministry of environmental protection – arguably the most idealistic but weakest branch of the government – has a tough task ahead in calculating regional ecological accounts.

But, at the very least, such an eco-accounting ought to stimulate a new way of thinking about environmental values.

China surges to No 1 U.S. farm export market: Vilsack

By Charles Abbott and Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China bought more than $10 billion of U.S. farm exports in the first six months of the fiscal year to become the country's No. 1 buyer, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Thursday.

During an interview with Reuters, Vilsack said U.S. farm exports during the first half of fiscal 2010 totaled $59 billion, "the best six months ag trade has had." With the strong start, the Agriculture Department probably will raise its forecast of sales for the year, he added.

The forecast now is $100 billion for total U.S. agriculture exports for the fiscal year ending on September 30, up from the recession-hit $98 billion tallied in 2009 and second to the record $115 billion in 2008. USDA will update its export forecast on May 27.

"One of the factors is that China is our top market in the first six months, well over $10 billion," said Vilsack. A USDA official said the exact figure was $10.6 billion.

China is the world's largest importer of cotton and soybeans. It roiled grain markets with a purchase of 369,000 tonnes of U.S. corn on May 13, its largest purchase since 2001, creating hopes of steady, large sales to Beijing.

On Thursday, an official of state-owned COFCO Co Ltd said it bought an additional two cargoes of U.S. corn, boosting Chinese purchases since April to about 600,000 tonnes.

Vilsack declined to comment on the likely size of U.S. corn sales to China.

In February, USDA said China would be the No. 3 export customer this year, displacing Japan and trailing Canada and Mexico. Undersecretary Jim Miller said China could become the overall top U.S. customer "in just a few years."

At present, USDA estimates sales of $11.7 billion to China during fiscal 2010.

U.S. farm exports are rising due to economic recovery around the world, said Vilsack. "Our hope is that it will continue," he added.

Exports of cotton and oilseeds such as soybeans have been "very strong," he said, and livestock sales are "up a bit. The only downside is grains."

Happy Birthday Annie

Another WLI Birthday celebration. Happy Birthday to Annie, seen here being treated like a princess in the royal carriage on top of the city wall in China.

Pest Control Supports Putnam

The pest control industry in Florida showed its support for Adam Putnam at a recent meeting in Orlando. The Florida Pest Management Association, the Florida Fumigation Advisory Council, and several industry leaders were present to meet and greet with our next Commissioner. The fundraising went very well within our industry. I am hoping to work with Adam's crew in the future for an event in or around Pinellas county.

Maybe someone could post something sometime on this blog?

China's Private Party

This Wall Street Journal story in Saturday's paper is fascinating.... deals with the lock the Communist Party has on the country despite the appearance that Western influences have taken hold and that market economics are being allowed to work. You see one thing on the surface, but if you look closely you can see something different entirely. Class VII certainly experienced that firsthand during our international trip.

Richard McGregor writes, "The Party has made strenuous efforts to keep the sinews of its enduring power off the front stage of public life in China and out of sight of the rest of the world... (but) Peek under the hood of the Chinese model, however, and China looks much more communist than it does on the open road."

"For all the reforms of the past three decades, the Party has made sure it keeps a lock-hold on the state and three pillars of its survival strategy: control of personnel, propaganda and the People's Liberation Army."

A subscription may be required, but take the time to read the full article here.

Class VII Representin'

Please join our hosts

Drs. Van and Christine Waddill, Whitney and Katrina Lavene,
Dr. and Mrs. Robert McMillan, Sanford and Robin Stein, and Keith Wedgworth (Host Committee in Formation)

for a fundraiser-reception in support of the State House campaigns



Representative Ron Saunders
and
Katie A. Edwards

Wednesday, June 2, 2010
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Please come visit with these two outstanding individuals and
watch the sun set on the Florida Bay at the home of
Drs. Van & Christine Waddill, 27 Bay Road, Key Largo.
Get Directions Here

Kindly R.S.V.P. to Chris Waddill at 1 (305) 451-3871.

If you cannot attend but wish to contribute, please mail contributions to:

Campaign to Re-Relect Ron Saunders, P.O. Box 2909, Key West, FL 33045
Campaign to Elect Katie A. Edwards, P.O. Box 900398, Homestead, FL 33090



Make checks payable to Campaign to Re-Elect Ron Saunders.

Make checks payable to Campaign to Elect Katie Edwards.

Maximum contribution per person or business entity is $500.
Contributions are not tax deductible.

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Ron Saunders, Democrat, for State Representative, District 120. The purchase of a ticket for, or a contribution to, the campaign fund raiser is a contribution to the campaign of Ron Saunders. Political advertisement paid for and approved by Katie Edwards, Democrat, for State Representative, District 119. The purchase of a ticket for, or a contribution to, the campaign fund raiser is a contribution to the campaign of Katie Edwards

Putnam Throws Tar Balls Back

Putnam blasts false tar ball report, urges agencies to avoid rumors

Published: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 4:49 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 4:49 p.m.
WASHINGTON - Congressman Adam Putnam on Wednesday sharply criticized the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for helping to spread a false rumor that tar
balls from the Deepwater Horizon oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico had begun to
appear on one Florida beach.

The agency had posted the rumor as fact on the Twitter social networking
site today and then an hour later posted a retraction, according to a
release issued by Putnam's office in Washington, D.C.
"Florida's beaches remain open, clean and welcoming to all visitors," said
Putnam, a Republican from Bartow. "The prevailing wind and currents have
kept the plume from Florida's shores, and no oil, tar balls or other effects
of the leak have been seen here. If you have plans to visit one of Florida's
beaches, you can expect a very enjoyable time. "
In the release, Putnam admonished all organizations involved in monitoring
the oil leak to avoid spreading inaccurate information that could further
damage Florida's beach tourism industry. Many hotel and resort operators are
reporting high numbers of cancellations even though there have been no signs
of the spill on Florida's shores.
"The oil spill is a very serious matter," Putnam said. "But it serves no
purpose other than to drive people away, further hurting our tourist
industry if agencies of the federal government spread false reports. The old
proverb has it that a lie will have traveled halfway around the world before
the truth has pulled on its boots. That was coined long before Twitter was
invented."

From Reuter's

Florida citrus growers reject EPA water rules
Fri, Apr 23 2010
* EPA proposal seen costing Florida agriculture billions
* Agency urged to set "reasonable" goals on nutrients
* EPA warns against "false choice" of health vs economy
By Tom Brown
MIAMI, April 23 (Reuters) - Plans by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency to clean up Florida's waterways set unattainable goals and would
saddle the state's farm industry with billions of dollars of costs it cannot
afford, Florida citrus growers said on Friday.
"There is no way Florida agriculture, including the $9 billion citrus
industry, can survive if the EPA actually follows through with their
proposal," said Michael Sparks, head of Florida Citrus Mutual, the state's
main citrus growers association.
"Of course we all want clean water, it is essential to our livelihood in
agriculture, but we need to set reasonable goals," Sparks said in a
statement.
New restrictions on the release of phosphorous and nitrogen, also known as
"nutrient" pollutants, into Florida's lakes and waterways could cost between
$855 million and $3 billion to implement, the statement said.
It cited a report issued on Thursday by the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) that said recurring costs from the
EPA restrictions would total between $902 million and $1.6 billion per year,
with additional indirect economic impacts to the state of $1.15 billion
annually.
The EPA's proposals, which are open to public comment until the end of this
month, are in line with the agency's January 2009 determination that numeric
nutrient standards were needed in Florida to meet requirements of the Clean
Water Act.
The state, with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and recreational use
of its waterways, suffers from substantial water quality degradation due to
nutrient over-enrichment.
The EPA has said the problem is expected to worsen due to population growth
and land-use changes.
The FDACS report said the EPA had estimated the annual cost of compliance
with the restrictions on nutrient pollutants at about $35 million. But it
said that estimate was incomplete, both in terms of the estimated number of
agricultural acres affected and the methods used to determine the economic
impact.
The EPA did not respond specifically to the question raised by the FDACS
about its cost estimates.
But in a statement provided to Reuters, the agency said "clean and safe
waters are central to Florida's prosperity" as well as to people's health.
"We do not have to make a false choice between our health and the economy.
EPA is proposing a cost-effective rule to curb the impacts of nutrient
pollution that decimates property values and can cause costly illnesses,"
the EPA said.
"We are working closely with Floridians to make sure that these waters are
drinkable, fishable and swimmable, which then ensures a future for those
industries that want to prosper in Florida."

IFAS Transitions

From: On Behalf Of Arrington,Larry R
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 2:13 PM
To: .

Subject: Transitions

As you know, Jack Payne will begin his tenure as Senior Vice President on June 1. I believe that Dr. Payne will be a great asset to IFAS and the University of Florida.

As we approach that date, I wanted you to know what a privilege it has been to serve as Interim Senior Vice President. The faculty and staff in IFAS are extremely dedicated, and I appreciate everything that you do to make IFAS the best in the country.

I also wanted you to know that I have decided not to return to my position as dean for Extension. I will spend the next few months assisting Dr. Payne with transition issues before moving back into my faculty role as professor in the Agricultural Education and Communication Department. I look forward to, once again, having the title of professor.

Thank you for your support over the past 16 months.

Larry

Hannah's Birthday

Dr. Carter is having a milestone....She is turning 25 again!! Happy Birthday, Hannah. You are our favorite!!!!

Happy Birthday Jorge!

WLI Focus Group

Right now there are 8 participants on a WLI web broadcast reviewing and discussing the WLI program. This is a great new technology being utilized for WLI and I hope you all get to participate on one of these. It is very cool. Thanks, Crystal.

Pesticide Use on School Grounds

Heard from the Hill
NY Senate Bans Applying Pesticides to School Playing Fields
From April 21, 2010 Syracuse Post Standard (NY), by Delen Goldberg
New York recently approved a measure to ban pesticides on school and day care playing fields, meaning grounds superintendents will have to begin using more organic ways to care for grass.
Many schools in the state use pesticides on athletic fields to kill bugs, pests and weeds. A number of scientific studies have shown that exposure to pesticides can increase children's risk for cancer, exacerbate asthma and trigger seizures.
http://t.ymlp171.com/uqqheazamemaiahhhmaaaehes/click.php

Absolutely ridiculous once again. Guess how this would work in Florida with fire ants and sod destroying insect pests. I guess that pouring on the "green" solutions will be so much safer and so much better for the kids. Liquid manure is always nice to have them play in.

Click the link and read some of the comments from the normal people and then laugh at the ones from the mentally challenged lefties.

Anyone working with today's pesticides knows the ultra low concentrations, product chemisty, scientific testing, and registrant requirements for a labelled proper use equals miniscule possibilities of secondary exposures, if any at all. It is horrifying to watch the creep from common sense into liberal agenda and the continued effort at legislation based on opinion only with no scientific approach. While the taxpayers burdens grow and budgets remain in flux this type of agenda is promulgated.

Happy Birthday to Elizabeth on Saturday, April 24th! She will be 29.

Lisa's Son's Song Vote

If you have a sec, would you please go to this Magic link and vote for
Lisa's son Matt's playoff theme song? They've already picked a winner but
are asking people to vote for their favorite from among the top 12.
They're ThaPrestige - the third from the bottom. Hoping he'll win!
Voting ends tonight.


http://www.nba.com/magic/news/themesong_vote_041910.html

New watermelon queen looks forward to promoting agriculture

The 2010 national watermelon queen is Jessica Lauren Southard, a 20-year-old University of Florida sophomore.Southard, who is from Bronson, a small city near Gainesville, held a number of titles including Newberry watermelon queen before she won the national title in March.Like many of the strawberry festival queens, Southard has a love for agriculture.The high school valedictorian and class president was active in FFA and showed feeder steers at an area livestock show. She is majoring in agriculture communications at the university.She is the first Florida watermelon queen to win the national title in 13 years.Since taking the crown, she has been busy promoting watermelons at conventions and trade shows around the United States and beyond. She also has traveled toelementary schools, educating students about basic nutrition and the fundamentals of agriculture, tying in the connection of watermelon.Southard calls her role "an amazing opportunity."

Farmers Celebrate Earth Day

In celebration of Earth Day, the producers of “America’s Heartland” said they wanted to share some of their favorite stories about people they’ve met who are true environmental stewards. “For them, it’s more than just good business – it’s what they believe in. View our very special Earth Day Webisode here! We’ve met a lot of farm and ranch families.Each one is unique, but almost all of them have a few things in common. They’re incredibly hard-working; they’re very good businesspeople; and most important, they share an abiding love of the land.”
The America’s Heartland Earth Day Webisode includes the following four stories:
· Adam's Ranch: 82 year old Florida rancher Bud Adams is excited about cattle and conservation. The Adams Cattle Ranch is famous for its beef, but Bud is also well known as an award winning photographer. His work has captured life on the ranch as well as the dramatic environment in which he lives and works.
· Carbon Capture: Global warming is an issue that’s generated heated debate around the world. Now researchers at Kansas State University are proposing that those in agriculture could play a major role in reducing carbon emissions by expanding their use of “no-till” farming.
· Harvest & Heritage: Innovation is at the heart of modern agriculture. For one farm family in Washington State, innovation is also a part of how they view production in the total picture of “sustainable” agriculture.The Stemilt family is famous for its produce and for its practices that protect the environment.
· Life Choices: While Jen Johnson’s Ivy League education provides her with opportunities that could take her anywhere in the world, she’s chosen to continue her life as a cattle rancher. Working with the Nature Conservancy, Jen and her family have instituted changes on their Colorado ranch that are proving beneficial to the environment.

WLI News

Class VIII nominations are on the way. The alumni need to be thinking about their lists.

Also. Why is it so quiet on here?

Sent via BlackBerry.

Cows absolved of causing global warming with nitrous oxide

Cows absolved of causing global warming with nitrous oxide
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7564682/Cows-absolved-of-causing-global-warming-with-nitrous-oxide.html

Shared via AddThis.com

New Highlands County Citrus Growers Association President Charlie Wilson speaks to the 300 members and guests attending the Association's Annual Meeting on February 18th.

This well known leader has recently been elected to serve as the President of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association for the next year, so congratulations to Charlie!

February Class VII seminar: Catching up

A good time was had by during our Feb. 5-6 seminar when members of Class VII got together at the Florida State Fair. We had a wonderful dinner at The Columbia restaurant in Ybor City, a nice morning of programming (wouldn't be WLI without programming) from Dr. Carter, and then a windy but fun afternoon at the Florida State Fair. We capped it off with an evening at Crystal Springs Preserve, complete with dinner and a roaring bonfire. It was great to see everyone again, and we missed those who weren't able to make it because of family and other obligations. I hope we have a solid turnout for the WLI Alumni Association event in Orlando Aug. 13-15. Check out the photos from the weekend on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=21413292283&view=user

"Someday" thinking

I would love to see the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park, and someday I will. And New England, too ... someday. Plus I have a whole bookcase of cookbooks with recipes I've earmarked that I'm planning to cook. Someday.

Are you a "someday thinker," as I tend to be? I've realized recently that I can't really afford to have that mindset. A program I'm participating in, "One Month to Live," (http://www.onemonthtolive.com/), points out that the things we think are important are the things we should be spending our time on. (And my health is just fine, thank you.) Yes, the car has to be maintained, we should be working out, and oh yes - there are bills to pay. But we need to be living life deliberately, and we need to be doing it now.

That goes to every facet of our life, including our responsibilities as leaders. We talked a lot about what's next for us as WLI alumni once the Class VII program ended. Florida agriculture can't afford for us to be involved someday. What's on your list of leadership "somedays," and what's stopping you from getting started now?

Where are you today?

It seems like yesterday I was driving to the Clewiston Inn with Ady for my interview into a program I had no idea about and walking in, not knowing a soul and not really expecting to get selected. I would have never thought two and a half years later some of the people in that room I would consider friends and that I would miss once the program was over. The support group is there...all we need to do is pick up the phone, send an email or maybe even send a message through Facebook. Sometimes we don't make the time because we are too busy and we will get to it later.

Two years of programming perfectly carved by Dr. Hannah Carter, Rochelle Stickland, Janice Barner and the great support of the WLIANR alumni to then step out and look at our community, industry, Florida, the US and for that matter the rest of the world in a totally different way. I enjoyed it so much and now I want to see it in a different perspective. A business point of view. Prior to leaving to China, I applied for an Executive MBA program at FIU not really thinking I would get accepted. (There is a pattern ya think!) While Sandy and I were at the Dallas airport ready to go home, I receive an email on my Blackberry (need to thank the program for allowing me to embrase techology) and I was granted an interview that Thursday. The program at FIU is a 16 month cohort where I start with the 35 people and hopefully will graduate with the same 35. There is an international trip to India and we are the guinea pigs to a leadership portion of the program at the end. (Nothing close to what we had.)

I have stepped back from some of my previous responsibilities to concentrate on my family, business and school. Times have been challenging no doubt! Business is slow and it has taught us to micromanage and correct our productivity. Working the family business is sometimes difficult because my dad does not want to take risks and try new things. We have the clientele that will support us and after some give and takes, cold issues we are taking it to the next step. Baby steps...and I know we are going in the right direction.

As for school...wow!! My brain hurts! They are making me think in ways I never dreamed of and seeing things from a different perspective. I am looking at my enviroment totally different. Our international trip will consist our groups being consultants of a firm and help them trouble shoot issues.

The family...Ady and D are great. D will be bridging to the Boy Scouts this year. If you want to know more...drop me a line. This was a New Years trip to Boone, NC.

So, where are you today? Fill us in with what you have been up to!!

HUGZ,
Jorge

Happy New Year!

The beginning of a new year is often a time for us to reflect on where we’ve been and what we’ve accomplished in the past year, and set new directions for where we hope to go and what we hope to achieve in the year ahead. As leaders, this often includes an assessment of our personal growth, and how we can improve ourselves to better serve others.

As our world and the agriculture industry is quickly changing around us, we have a responsibility as leaders to keep up with these changes to play an active role in shaping policy or communicating about potential impacts when necessary. Having a set of go-to resources with accurate, up-to-date information is one of the best ways to stay on top of local, state, national and international news and industry changes.

I recently asked you all to cue me in on the resources you use regularly to stay current with industry issues, events and happenings. The following is a collection of the resources most cited by you and your fellow Wedgworth Alumni as regular reads. If you’re looking for something to add to your reading list or personal growth plan in 2010, here are a few ideas!

Periodicals

• Florida Trend
• FloridAgriculture
• Forbes
• The Economist
• American Nurseryman
• Ornamental Outlook
• National Geographic
• Smithsonian

Newspapers

• Wall Street Journal
• Orlando Business Journal
• Palm Beach Post
• Tampa Tribune
• The Packer
• Orlando Sentinel
• The Apopka Chief
• The NY Times

Websites

• FoxNews.com
• CNN.com
• drudge.com
• tallahasseedemocrat.com
• Gatorsports.com
• Google Alerts

Books

• John Adams
• Joker One
• Broken for You
• People of the Book
• My Utmost for His Highest
• Into the Wild
• You Can't Fire Me, I'm Your Father

Organizational Information

• FFVA Newsletter and Daily Updates
• Florida Citrus Mutual
• Florida Farm Bureau Legislative Requests and Updates
• DEP News Releases
• Highlands Co. Citrus Growers Newsletter and Email Updates
• Sod Growers Coop Alerts
• FNGLA Updates
• ANLA Newsletter
• Ornamental Outlook

Other

• WSJ Podcasts
• My-Cast Weather Center
• ICSC SmartBrief
• Facebook

Happy New Year, happy reading and all the best for a fabulous 2010!

Crystal Mathews