A small group of musicians sat in the shade of a recreational vehicle this afternoon, picking, grinning, singing and talking as a stream of people entered the Thanksgiving Bluegrass Festival at Sertoma Youth Ranch. Beside banjo player Bill Rich was his daughter, Amy, on fiddle, and son, Nathan, on acoustic guitar. Family friend Jim Waldeck joined on a second six-string. Bill and Nathan Rich and Waldeck are from West Palm Beach; Amy Rich lives in Nashville. The ensemble went from one song to the next with the relaxed precision of an experienced quartet. As a stream of people converged on the campground, they sang with gusto: "Well, somebody robbed the Glendale Train ...more

November 28, 2008

Patsy Nathe, co-owner of R.J. Nathe and Sons logging company and Tall Timber Cattle and Grove, has been selected Florida's "Woman of the Year in Agriculture" for 2008. The award, now in its 24th year, recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture. The award is sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida State Fair Authority ...more

November 21, 2008

Dade City Commissioners passed a resolution this week to formally oppose a plan to extend the Florida State Fair from 12 to 18 days. ...more

November 21, 2008

Few events offer as much all-around fun as a fair - right down to the second the rides are dismantled, food vendors offer up their last temptations and the lights are turned off until next year. ...more

November 13, 2008

The Pasco County Fair Association will do everything in its power to stop the Florida State Fair from extending its dates by another six days. ...more

November 1, 2008

An annual autumn rite has heads and steering wheels turning into the grassy lot at a local church, where piles of pumpkins and other fall fare will be on sale through October. ...more

October 9, 2008

Mason Smoak will be posthumously inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame next year along with three other individuals being recognized for their leadership and dedication to the agriculture industry. ...more

October 4, 2008

On harvest day in August at Blue Heron Vineyards, Mary and Don Johnson chose a quiet row in a far-off corner of the fields to fill their belly buckets with fruit. ...more

October 1, 2008

On harvest day in August at Blue Heron Vineyards, Mary and Don Johnson chose a quiet row in a far-off corner of the fields to fill their belly buckets with fruit. ...more

September 24, 2008

Bob Paulish cut the engine of his grape harvesting machine to take a 20-minute break with Bonniejean, his wife and fellow grape-grower. ...more

September 23, 2008