By Pauline Fletcher Cogdill

Last April Barry Long was instrumental in making a good investment for Farmers Cooperative by hiring our sales associate, Teresa Weber. Teresa has a positive, insightful attitude and works very well with

our employees and patrons. She is a natural fit for the Co-op with her strong work ethic, outstanding communication skills, and her love of horses. In fact, she loves all creatures. Also, she is bilingual, which has been a big asset for many of our patrons. Se habla espanol.

In 2009, Teresa left Costa Rica after 15 years of working with property investment and management as well as continued equine management, training and breeding programs.

Ms. Weber’s decision to come back to the United States was because her son, Luke Dantzler, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma and she knew she had to take him to the best qualified doctor she could find for his treatment.

Teresa, Luke and Olivia headed for San Diego, California, for some additional tests and Luke’s diagnosis was so grave in San Diego, she was advised to take him to a hospital that specialized in Ewing’s Sarcoma. The end result was she rented a car and they drove to Gainesville, Florida (he was too ill to fly), since the University of Florida’s Shands Hospital was known to be making great strides in pediatric cancer patients. After 1 ½ years of chemo and radiation, Luke was released and continued on with his education. Luke graduated from high school as valedictorian with straight A’s even after missing two years of school due to his cancer, and everything seemed to be going along quite well.

Luke entered UF in 2013 with a scholarship and is majoring in Mathematics and Anthropology. Of course, he was maintaining

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LIVE OAK, FLFARMING NEWSVol. 27, No. 4 Live Oak • Madison • Florida July 1, 2014

Fundraiser for Sales Associate’s Son

Co-op Employees Tackle Youth Cancer

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Luke Dantzler and his mom, Teresa Weber Continued on Page 4

Continued on Page 3

Lilybeth Wallace, Madison County

2nd Place winner, 10.05 lbs.

Bonnie Plant Contest

Cabbage WinnersBy Todd Lawrence

Farmers Cooperative and Bonnie Plant teamed up again for their Sixth Annual Cabbage Plant Growing Contest. The Cooperative Cabbage Program included all third grade classes at Suwannee Elementary School, Westwood Christian School, Branford Elementary School, Madison County Central School, Madison Academy, Greenville Elementary School, Lee Elementary School, Pinetta Elementary School and New Testament Christian School.

Growing With Farmers Cooperative is the theme used again for this year’s Cabbage Plant Growing Contest. When you see a third grader wearing one of our Cooperative T Shirts with the logo, “Growing With Farmers Cooperative” you’ll know they spent a lot of time caring for their cabbage for the weigh in on Saturday on April 26th in Live Oak, and on May 3rd at our Madison Co-op store.

General Manager, Todd Lawrence, Agronomy Division Manager, Barry Long, and Madison Manager Eddie Curl, delivered 800 plants to the various elementary schools in their area. Heather Bennett, Denise Watts, and all the managers provided pizza parties for the winners.

In order for third graders to be eligible for the Bonnie Plant Farms Cabbage Contest, they simply had to plant the free Bonnie cabbage plant, provide the nutrients and attention the cabbage needed, and just watch it grow. Farmers Cooperative provided a small bag of fertilizer and a garden trowel free. Farmers Cooperative’s website provided complete instructions on how to grow their Bonnie Plant cabbage.

We had a total of 19 class winners in the Cabbage Plant Growing Contest this year. Additionally, class winners will be entered into the State Bonnie Plant Farms drawing for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship from Bonnie Plant Farms.

Our third grade gardeners learned responsibility along with a real sense of accomplishment to see how they can grow their own food. Children were encouraged to bring their cabbage to the weigh in regardless of the size or weight. In fact, they ranged from 24.78 pounds on down.

All the winners and their cabbages can be seen on our website at www.farmerscooperative.org and then click on photo gallery.

We would like to recognize all our winners: First Place Winner at Suwannee Elementary School, Maddie Carte’s cabbage weighed in at 24.78 lbs. Ms. Lewis’ is Maddie’s teacher. Joshua Meyers cabbage weighed 11.62 lbs and he won second place. Joshua is a student in Ms. Lewis’

class. Third place winner, Jake Wooley’s cabbage weighed in at 9.92 lbs. Jake is in Ms. Roberts’ class.

Other SES class winners included: Tori Hill, Ms. Taylor’s class; Steven Garrett, Mr. Phillips’ class; Logan Spitzer, Ms. Hurst’s class; Heather Pitts, Ms. Robertson’s class; Kamryn Lee, Ms. Berry’s class; Brody Slone, Ms. Henerson’s class; Taylor Johns, Ms. Edward’s class; and Westwood Christiam School’s class winner was Braxton Townsend. Braxton is a student in Ms. Nobles’ class.

Mrs. Knighton’s third grade Branford Elementary School First Place Winner was Erica Spikes with a 9.24 lb cabbage. Second Place Winner, Brice Criggall’s cabbage weighed 8.21 lbs. Third Place Winner was John Coker, Jr. and his cabbage weighed in at 7.44 lbs. Erica Spikes was the lucky winner for the Pizza Party for Mrs. Knighton’s Class.

Madison’s First Place Winner, Seth Nash’s cabbage weighed in at 14.35 lbs. and he is a student in Ms. Day’s class. LilyBeth Wallace was the Second Place Winner with her cabbage weighing 10.05 lbs, and is a student in Ms. Pickles’ class. Hannah Kervin’s cabbage weighed in at 8.76 lbs, and she is a student in Mrs. Salls’ class. The lucky class winner for the pizza party was Lakyra Pryor, who is a student in Mrs. Clark’s class.

Class winners for other Madison County classes included Ivelissie Lee, Ms. Ross’ class; Jasim Odom, Ms. Petta & Ms. Alexander’s class; and Matthew Reader, Ms. Peters’ class.

First place winners won a $30.00 gift card from Farmers Cooperative, A Growing With Farmers Cooperative T-shirt and a Co-op hat. Second place winners won a $20.00 gift card from Farmers Cooperative, a Growing With Farmers Cooperative T-shirt and a Co-op hat. Third place winners won a $10.00 gift card from Farmers Cooperative, A Growing With Farmers Cooperative T-shirt and a Co-op

Seth Nash, Madison County

1st Place winner, 14.35 lbs.

Hannah Kervin, Madison County

3rd Place Winner, 8.76 lbs.

Lakyra Pryor, Madison CtyPizza Party Winner

Ms. Clark’s class

Brice Criggall 2nd place winner BES

8.21 lbs.

Erica Spikes 1st place winner BES

9.24 lbs.

Joshua Meyers 2nd place winner SES

11.62 lbs.

Maddie Carte 1st place winner SES

24.78 lbs.

Jake Wooley 3rd place winner SES

9.92 lbs.

Katyn MillerPizza Party winner SES

Ms. McIntosh’s class

John Coker, Jr.3rd Place winner, BES

7.44 lbs.

For the Past Quarter

NEW CO-OP MEMBERSLIVE OAK STORELouis E. Free, Live OakRosemary Norris, Live OakShirley A. Summers, Live OakThomas H. White, WellbornSable Woods, Live Oak Kevin Norton, WellbornJohn D. Matranga, O’Brien Helena Curtis, Live OakCody Stratton, Live Oak Deidre McManaway, Live OakTony D. Sloan, McAlpin Brian Bennett, Lake CitySuwannee County Airport, Live OakFred Weller, NewberryClyde Holland, Trenton, NJ Andy Gregory, CallahanNeal K. Crisp, O’Brien Michael W. Oliver, LakelandKen’s Bar B Q, Live Oak Reba Hurst, MayoAllen Welch, Jasper Jennifer Jergens, WellbornCynthia Poe, Jasper Robert Morgan, Live OakRonnie Gaskins, Wellborn Judy Bannister, Lake CityScott Pomerleau, Live Oak Brandy Hunt, WellbornSeldom Rest, Inc., Donalsonville, GADonald Lee Richards, Sr., O’BrienAngela Shaw, JasperEthel Glee, Live OakRoger Klay, Lake City Cher M. Mahan, Miami

Douglas Root, Live Oak Edith Shook, Lake CityAdrian King, Mayo Joyce Ann Hall Marshall, Live OakDonna Stevenson, McAlpin Thomas Tormala, MayoMichelle Sallie, Lake CityWilliam G. Kuhn, Lake CityRichard B Davis, Pierson John J. Kassab, JacksonvilleHal E. Boyette, Lake City Susan Bozeman, JasperSusie H. Baxter, Gainesville James Crews, McAlpinVirginia Boyette, Lake CityChadwick Rogers, Lake Park, GAWayne Turner, Live OakWilliiam R. Slaughter, II, Live OakRobert L. Moore, Lake City Debra Zak, Live OakAda B. Perez, Live Oak Warren B. Ranch, LLC, OkeechobeeKurt A. Schrader, Live Oak Teresa Smith, LeeCynthia Connell, Live Oak Ronald & Mary Evans, Live OakDonna Stevenson, McAlpin Daniel McMullen, Live OakBruce Antognoni, White SpringRobert G. Webb, JasperJennifer & Eric Blalock, WellbornMichael Sellers, Live OakKeith E. Hammock, Live OakJerry Linton, PerryJeffery Linton, Perry Mario Martinez, McAlpin

Kenneth N. Kietur, Live Oak Justin King, Live OakWilliam E. Dewey, Branford Billy Gene Starling, Live OakDavid L. Claridy, Jasper Bonnie McLean, Live OakDan E. Rexrode,Sr., Live OakClara Lee, Live OakCharles E. Rye, Jasper Daniel L. Cockerham, IslamoradaSegundo Gonzalez, Live Oak Jerome Voldness, Melbourne BeachJesse Lane, Live OakWilliam R. Burdick, O’BrienWaldo Flores, Loxahatchee Danny K. Brant, PinettaGwendolyn Wier, White SpringsGregory Lower, Port OrangeAdam Verner, Rutledge, GA Randall L. Norton, Lake CityMike McCrimon, Live Oak Patrick Cordell Brown, Live Oak

MADISON STOREKurl Ainsworth, Sanford Garry & Michele Gronskis, Lee David R Bailey, Jasper Lucile Day, GreenvilleThomas E Mcgee, MadisonM Grace Snyder Donahoo, HolderReva Greene, Lee Rebecca Diaz, Lee Audrey Francine Glover, Live OakHarry J Lykins, JasperDawson Wiles, Perry

Free Bonnie Plant Passes

Ethel Barefoot, MadisonWaldo Flores, LoxahathcheeKatherine J Watterson, BrooksvilleLawerance Edward Whaley, KissimmeeKatelyn Bates, MadisonTodd S Bryant, TrentonJimmy Kramer, MadisonGreg Renfroe, Madison John O Shaw, PerryKen Gallagher, LeeBurt Yarbrough, JenningsJanice Williams, MadisonJason Robinson, MadisonJoyce Wright, MadisonJane Stokes Conner, MadisonMichael Hillman, Lake ParkNorthwood Property Owners Assoc. Inc.,

Madison,Jason Justus, MadisonTransfield Services Infrastructure, MadisonPaula Rodgers, MadisonRonald W Poppell, PerryWarren S Soule Jr, JasperMichael Schuster, LeeBryan Phillips, MadisonMadison Church of God, MadisonFloree Williams, Pinetta, Long Pond Management LLC, Winter ParkMacedonia Baptist Church of LeeDonna Leslie, MadisonJohn Hurley, TampaFulford 6 Farming Company, LLC, MonticelloPhyllis Young, MadisonKenneth “Les” Goins, LeeAlvin Hammock, PinettaKevin Skinner, Madison

hat. Each class winner’s name was put into a random drawing to win the pizza party along with a $10.00 gift card from Farmers Cooperative, A Growing With Farmers Cooperative T-shirt and a Co-op hat.

Congratulations third graders for your great participation in the Farmers Cooperative/Bonnie Plant Cabbage Growing Contest. And a special thank you to the teachers that made this another very successful Bonnie Plant Cabbage Growing Contest.

Shortly after the cabbages were weighed and the pizza parties were over, Farmers Cooperative received a small package from Mrs. Knighton’s third grade class with so many beautiful, personal hand made art work cards thanking Farmers Cooperative

for the cabbage program and for the pizza party. Unfortunately, we do not have enough space in our newsletter to display their awesome art work. However, we will have them in our photo gallery on our website: farmerscooperative.org. We will also display them in our Live Oak Cooperative Showroom. We definitely see some future artists at work. And thank you, Torrie, Dakota, Devon, Nathan, Hannah, Lexi, Adrianna, Texas, Erica, Mari, Brice, Braxton, John, Brooke, and Caden. We appreciate your thoughtfulness. Of course, a special thank you to Mrs. Knighton, you have all the characteristics of a superior teacher.

Carol Dewulf of Live Oak is the lucky winner of two free general admission weekend passes to the Suwannee River Jam that was held on April 30th thru May 3rd

To be eligible to win the Suwannee River Jam tickets all the customer had to do was buy Bonnie Plant vegetables and be entered into a drawing.

photo left to right Barry Long, Carol Dewulf & granddaughter,

Jamie Costa.BES Winners (photo left to right)

Barry Long, Todd Lawrence,

Erica Spikes-1st place winner and pizza party winner,

Brice Criggall-2nd place winner,

John Coker Jr.- 3rd place winner, and

Mrs. Knighton

School Kids Grow, Win Continued from Page 2

Mango SaladRipe and/or slightly green mangos 5 -6 (I use mixture of each)Red Onions 2-3Ratio of 3 parts mango to 2 parts onionFresh Basil or fresh mint – 3 or 4 TablespoonsFresh squeezed lime juice – 2 good sized limesSalt to tasteOlive Oil - 3 Tablespoons (more or less)Slice mangos and onions into slivers

of about ½ inch thick. Mix together.Chop the mint or basil and mix into above with olive oil, lime juice and salt

Ceviche2 lbs very fresh white fish, especially sea bass, cut into ½ inch cubes1 ½ red onion choppedA big bunch of cilantro chopped½ cup Sprite2 cups of freshly squeezed lime juiceSaltJalapeno if desired…choppedMix all together in a glass bowl, cover and refrigerate at least 2 hrs (overnight is great). ServeIn margarita glasses on a saucer with saltine crackers.

Farming Newswww.farmerscooperative.org

Is published quarterly, or as the need arises, by Farmers Cooperative in Live Oak and Madison.Todd Lawrence, Publisher & Editor

Kenneth Dasher, McAlpin (Suwannee County)Ted Henderson, Live Oak (Suwannee County)Eddy Roberts, O’Brien (Suwannee County)E. Richard Terry, Madison (Madison County)William T. Carte (Suwannee County)Tim Steichen, Wellborn (Suwannee County)John C. Webb, Lee (Madison County)Walter K. Brown (Suwannee County)Kevin Morgan (Hamilton County)Kenneth McLeod (Madison County)Jeff Lee (Suwannee County)

Co-op Directors

P.O. Box 610 P.O. Box 390 Live Oak, FL Madison, FL 32064 32341 Phone Phone 386-362-1459 850-973-2269

The Weber family (from left to right) Luke Dantzler, Teresa Weber, Olivia and Holly

straight A’s again until this past February when he noticed a spot on his head and it was not good news; his Ewing’s Sarcoma was back, this time on the brain. Now Luke will continue going to Gainesville and Jacksonville for the next eight weeks for daily radiation and rounds of chemo. He will then continue another six months of chemo at Shands.

Luke’s sisters Holly and Olivia will maintain the farm while Teresa and Luke are traveling back and forth to Gainesville and Jacksonville for his treatments. Her children are multilingual and very resourceful in doing whatever they have to do from taking care of injured animals to running the household. Olivia, Luke’s twin sister, attends Sante Fe College and works part-time at Publix as well as helping care for their horses, goats, dogs, and chickens. All of Teresa’s children are multilingual. In fact, Olivia also took Mandarin in school, and Luke is fluent in sign language. Holly has elected to stay home and do whatever farm, animal and home chores necessary to keep the household running smoothly while Luke is in treatment. When she can slip away, she is farm sitting for others. Luke has always desired to help other people, and he does just that as an ambassador for Shands Children’s Cancer Hospital. Teresa and Luke

have addressed numerous doctors, benefactors and dignitaries to gain their support for the children’s hospital at Shands.

General Manager, Todd Lawrence knew the expenses for Teresa would be overwhelming and decided Farmers Cooperative would have a fundraiser for Luke, on June 18th. It was a very successful event with so many members of our community supporting Teresa and her family. And, we would like to express our thanks to so many individuals that worked many hours to make the lunch a great success. Employees and their families served, baked brownies (lots of brownies) and packaged the lunches. Damon Wooley smoked the delicious pork that so many people enjoyed. The outpouring of so much support from businesses, government entities, and so many individuals that we could not begin to thank everyone for their generosity to Luke. We appreciate all your efforts in whatever capacity you worked, donated or just your good thoughts for the Weber Family.

However, the core of planning and organizing this event would not have even appeared to be such an easy job without those Shick Sisters: Karen Fraley and Kim Hammock. Kim had the bags for delivery marked and ready to go, and everything ran as smooth as silk. Teresa’s lovely daughters, Holly and Olivia also worked kitchen detail from making sandwiches to the final cleanup in our kitchen.

While Teresa has many uncertainties ahead of her, one thing she is sure of now is that she and her family are members of a large cooperative family.

Teresa would like to share the following Costa Rican inspired recipes that she makes for her children and they always want seconds and more:

Continued from Page 1

Co-op Employees Tackle Cancer