By Pauline Fletcher Cogdill

Rudy and Pat Reimsnyder have been members of Farmers Cooperative, Inc. for several years. It’s only when his grandson, David Sloat, won the Big Buck Contest, we learned so many interesting things about Rudy. In fact, Rudy is a re-tired high school Vocational Coordinator and taught high school for over 34 years. He was also a high school coach for girls for 23 years. His dedication to the girls softball team and the development of fast pitch softball earned him a spot in the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in Palm Beach County.

Rudy is also a certified firearms instructor, a master bow education instruc-tor and a certified range master who has been teaching the Hunter Educational and Safety Program for the Florida Wildlife Commission for over 40 years. As a result of a need in Suwannee County he helped start the 4-H Shooting Sports Program where he is currently the leader. Mr. Reimsnyder’s volunteering does not stop with the youth, he is very active in help-ing the Wounded Warriors Organization as an instructor and guide. Anyone who knows Rudy, understands he does not do anything without giving all of his efforts to achieve the best results.

Coach Reimsnyder is still working with young people through the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) where he serves as Treasurer and full-time worker to support this very worthwhile organization. The NWTF participated in a Kicking Bear Day Camp Adventure

for the young boys and girls from ages 7 – 14 at Skeeter Ranch in Hamilton County, Florida.

The NWTF ran the shooting range and offered kids a chance to shoot an air gun at a turkey target.

FARMERS COOPERATIVE

STANDARD MAIL

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT # 130

LIVE OAK, FLFARMING NEWSVol. 28, No. 3 Live Oak • Madison • Florida April 1, 2015

Hunter Education And Safety

‘Coach’ Rudy Is The Best Teacher

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Richard Padgett, Hamilton Co. Chapter Pres., Floyd Brown, and Rudy Reimsnyder, NWTF committee members instructing a Kicking Bear Camp Participant (unidentified).Photo courtesy of Dr. Donald Walker, Dir. of Missions, Suwannee Baptist Assoc.

Continued on Page 2

Best Teacher: ‘Coach’ RudyContinued from Page 1

For many years Rudy and Pat have been donating their time to children because they enjoy working with children and seeing the progress they make over the years. It certainly is understandable why their grandson, David, uses every minute of the day to succeed…he learned from the best, Grandpa and Grandma. Rudy has worked with Live Oak and Branford children to help them obtain scholarships, and recalls what a joy it has been for him to see the students win their scholarships and head off to college. For example, he recalls, Phillip Smith of Branford High School who won a $2,500 scholarship from the National Wild Turkey Federation.

If you are interested in volunteering your time to help the youth, Rudy would be very interested in hearing from you. There is always a need for volunteers to make a difference in a young person’s life.

Rudy is very conservative with the deer meat and limits his kill to three a year, which provides plenty of meat for the entire year. After the deer meat is processed at L & W in Madison, it goes into the freezer in one pound packages for Rudy and Pat to eat and share with friends. After all, venison can be used in any recipe that you use beef or pork with. One of their favorite recipes is the prime cut of meat on a deer that is called Backstrap.

Backstrap Venison Over Yellow Rice

One pound Backstrap 1 Onion2 green peppers Gravy of your choice2 Tbsp Olive oil

First slice backstrap into 1/4” slices and fry in oil. Then sauté with sliced onion and green peppers. Add salt and pepper to your taste and cook until meat is done. Steam yellow rice and pour Backstrap mixture over yellow rice. This meat goes well with baked beans and applesauce. We are sure you are going to enjoy this hearty meal.

Patty Brown conducting a demonstration. Photo courtesy of Dr. Donald Walker, Dir. of Missions, Suwannee Baptist Assoc.

By Barry Long

The results are final for the 7th Annual Big Buck Contest at Farmers Cooperative. On February 21st officers from the Florida Wildlife Commission visited the Live Oak store to measure potential winners for the contest. There was a good turnout of hunters and spectators to witness the event.

First place winner, David Sloat from Martin County was presented a $300 gift card. David’s score measurements were 130 5/8.

Second place winner, Brian Clark of Live Oak was presented a $200 gift card, and his buck measured 116 2/8.

Third Place winner: Drew Annett is from Madison, and his buck’s score was 113 1/8. Drew received a $100 gift card from Farmers Cooperative.

First Place winner, David Sloat, lives in Stuart (Palm City) and has several jobs. His primary job is a certified fire fighter for St. Lucie County. David is also an EMT, Paramedic and certified ambulance driver. So when he is able to have time off from his jobs he especially enjoys spending time in Hamilton County deer hunting with his grandfather, Rudy Reimsnyder.

‘Big Buck’

Winners

Rudy and Pat Reimsnyder

Farmers Cooperative presented a check to David Sloat, 7th Annual Big Buck Winner. Pictured on left is David’s grandfather, Rudy Reimsnyder.

Win Pair of Suwannee River Jam Passes

Farmers Cooperative has several varieties of tomatoes, eggplants, squash, cucumbers, bell peppers, hot peppers and sweet peppers in stock, and now is the time to plant.

Bonnie Plants and Farmers Coopera-tive want to give you a chance to win two free general admission weekend passes to the Suwannee River Jam, April 29th thru May 2, 2015 at the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park. These free weekend passes are valued at $180.00.

Each time you come in and purchase Bonnie vegetable plants, you will get a chance to register to win these weekend passes.

Check Out Co-op’s Vegetable Plants

For the Past Quarter

NEW CO-OP MEMBERSLIVE OAK STOREJerome C. Law, White Springs Barbara Wood, Live OakBradford Middle School, StarkeCarl Redish, Live OakDaniel Walford, Lake CityAshley Green, White SpringsKenneth Burkett, JasperDanny Linton, Live OakVernon & Arline Harootunian,

Live OakYvonne H. Vest, Live Oak David Colosimo, JasperKelvin Samson, Lake CityHenry Lira, Live OakTammy Ryan, McAlpinJames R. Touchton, Lake CityAndrew Fullbright, Live OakEric McQuay, Live OakElizabeth Cromeenes, O’BrienDon VanTyne, Live OakThomas L. Hogan, WellbornDanny Rogers, Live OakWayne Waters, JasperJudy Story, Live OakFrancis E. Smith, Live OakAngela Wooten, WellbornAlan Butler, St. PetersburgGale Bell, Live OakChiquita Henry, Live OakNina Folsom, Live OakMiguel Torres, MayoMichael K. Tabb, Lee

Chris Luzar, JacksonvilleEarl Leo Monroe III, Live OakMelanie Key, GreenvilleJennifer Kelley, Russiaville, INBetty Dixon, Live Oak Billy W. Mott, Live Oak John Keteltos, Live OakDonna & Joseph Davis, Live OakDavid Allen, O’BrienLeonard Allen, Old TownSharon A. Sandstrom, McAlpinChristina Hilliard, Live Oak Mary Jane Sliter, McAlpinJohn Richard Hurst, MayoSkip Turnbull, Live OakCheryl Malone, Live OakRose S. Flanery, WellbornMargaret Brier, BranfordEarl Jordan, Lake CityElizabeth Tyler, Lake CityTimothy Parson, Live OakVictor P. Lopez, Live OakRobert E. Lyons, BranfordJefferson N. Euzebio, MinneolaCara Monroe, McAlpinTown & Country Tire Serv., Live OakTodd Dorsett, Ft. WhiteJohn David Peterrson, Jasper Kenny Lamm, Live OakJames E. Williams, Live Oak Anna Lou Harrelll, Live OakFrank Gentry, BranfordVivian P. O’Neal, Live OakRoberta Giordano, O’BrienDylan A. Shiver, Live Oak

Christopher Warren, TallahasseeClaire Wood, Live OakJames M. Todd, Jr., Live Oak Teresa Crider, Live OakTimothy Richardson, Live OakJanice Unwin, Live OakRichard Thayer, Live OakDarrell Christian, Live OakJoseph T. Ruwe, Live OakDonna Smith, O’BrienJack W. Nash, O’BrienTerry Wendell Brannan, McAlpinDavid S. Wood, Live OakCheri Roy, LeeJennifer Ledford, Live OakMichael Fox, Coral SpringsCliff & Margie Addison, BranfordKevin Spargur, Jacksonville

MADISON STOREDorothy Lacey, Madison Daniel Proctor, TallahasseeJean White, LeeDenver Mclaghlin, MadisonThomas Colucci, MadisonDebbie Beaty, MonticelloWalter McCloud, MadisonDavid Plummer, GreenvilleKimberly Braymiller, MadisonSanctuary of Praise COOLJC,

GreenvilleRoss Pridgeon, MonticelloEric B. Pearce, Pinetta

Maria L. Rodgers, MadisonAndrea R. Allen, MadisonDevin Hingson, Live OakDaniel Dale Kinard, Lee Herbert & Linda Demott,

Monticello Hank Stewart, Madison S & C Farm LLC, Jennings Thompson Brothers Farm,

Colquitt GaDebbie Starling, Lee David C. Wheeler, Madison Mike Stallings, Monticello Shirley Allen, Jasper Day Farm, Greenville John Richard Hurst (Rick), Mayo Cherrie M. Neil, LeeScott & Iris Wynn, JenningsWendell L. Stephens, Lake Park GaWanda Sapp, GreenvilleEarl Baggett, MonticelloLonnie Lee Pickles, Madison Raymond Jonas, MadisonKarla McFarland, MadisonJohn C. Moore, MadisonGerald Francis, LeeR. West, MadisonEthan Pickles, GreenvilleJeremy Tuckey, MadisonGlynn Barnes, Green Cove SpringsThomas Mann, Madison

Mabel Robinson checks out tomato plants at the Live Oak store.

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)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

Lamar Jenkins, III pictured here with Madison Manager, Eddie Curl

Co-op Supports 61st Annual Event

Madison Livestock Show and Sale

WHERE ARE THESE FOLKS?Farmers Cooperative is trying to locate the following people whose patronage refund checks have been returned from the U. S. Postal Service as “undeliv-erable.”

Edward A. Rhodes, Lake PanasoffkeeRoger C. Craton, Bradenton

Ira John Seasholtz, Jasper Joe E. Alexander, Greenville

B. S. Waring, MadisonWilliam J. Watson, Madison

Jamie Dehart, Live OakCharles G. Starling, Jr., Perry

JD.Peavy, pictured here with Madison Manager, Eddie Curl

Madison County celebrated their 61st Annual Livestock Show and Sale February 19, 2015, and the event was indeed, a fun filled time for all the partic-ipants. This event requires a lot of hard work for everyone involved to make it a great success.

All the participants worked for many months raising their hogs and steers and hoped for a successful outcome to have these extra funds for their college careers. A great deal of work is required to get their Record Book complete with all the infor-

mation so that each participant will shine when their record books are reviewed and they receive their much deserved awards. Of course, everyone certainly enjoyed the pig and calf scramble.

Eddie Curl, Manager of Madison’s Farmers Cooperative, has been attending and purchasing FFA and 4-H participants hogs and steers for 25 years. This year, Mr. Curl purchased J. D. Peavy’s hog (the third overall hog at the show) and Lamar Jenkins, III’s hog. J. D. Peavy also was the winner of the Home Grown Grand Champion Steer. J. D. is 12 years old and a student at Lowndes Middle School in Valdosta, Georgia. J. D. has been showing swine, heifers, and steers since he was eight years old, and has won several showmanship awards throughout Georgia and Florida.

In fact, J. D. won the Champion Bred and Owned Steer in Kissimmee at the Florida Junior Cattlemen’s Prospect Steer Show in July 2014. He’s a fourth generation showman. His great-grandfa-ther, grandfather, and parents all showed at the NFLSS with his Grandfather, Del-bert Blair, showing the Grand Champion swine in 1957 and the Grand Champion steer in 1960. J. D. really enjoys hunting and fishing as well as taking care of his show swine, heifers and steers. The proud parents of J. D. are Opie and Paige Peavy of Madison. Grandparents Delbert and Martha Jane Blair claim bragging rights to their grandsons, J. D. and his older brother Lane. J. D. is also the grandson

of Joe C. Peavy and the late Shirley Peavy of Madison.

Lamar Jenkins, III is an active mem-ber of Farm Fresh 4-H Club in Suwannee County, Florida. Lamar is nine years old and the son of Lamar “Bubba” Jenkins, Jr. and grandson of Lamar and Hazel Jenkins. This is Lamar’s second year showing a hog. He is in the fourth grade at Suwannee Intermediate School, and a fourth gener-ation of farmers. Lamar enjoys spending time with his dad and works right along beside him doing farming chores when he is not in school.

Lamar and his dad are active members at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Live Oak, and Sunday morning you will find Lamar, his dad and grandparents attending church services at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church.