Pierson Farm Swap — the place to be

By Mary Smithwick
BEACON COLUMNIST

posted Mar 25, 2009 - 1:21:30pm

For any farmers interested in buying, selling or just plain dickering, the Pierson Food Store, right on U.S. Highway 17 at the traffic light, is the place to be from 8 a.m. till noon on the first Saturday of every month. Lloyd Flanagan, his son Taylor Flanagan, and friend Kevin Anderson started the Pierson Farm Swap in September 2008, and it has been growing ever since. It attracted more than 40 sellers in March and plenty of buyers.

The event is free, so if you need — or don’t need — anything to do with farming or agriculture, come. There should be pigeons, doves, quails, roosters, chickens, laying hens, ducks, geese, turkeys, cows, calves, goats, horses, donkeys, tack, guinea fowl, rabbits, pheasants, baby chicks and recreational fowl. For non-farmers, there is produce to buy and a chance to look.

And there is more! Dr. Donald Kanfer will be there every month to give low-cost shots. And there will be drawings for feed. Just pick up a free ticket, and listen for the drawings at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

t’s always a joy to report on successes. Karly Vojnar is only 17, but through her activities in 4-H, she has reaped more honors than there is room for in this column. She was 10 years old when she started showing chickens at the Volusia County Fair, and 12 when she started competing at the Florida State Fair.

Karly has been showing rabbits for only two years, but, at the 2009 Florida State Fair, she won second place in rabbit showmanship and first place as Champion Rabbit Exhibitor. This award is based on a points system, and Karly was one of four winners out of 130 senior-level rabbit exhibitors (ages 14-18). The top four exhibitors in each of eight categories (poultry, rabbit, swine, goat, sheep, beef, dairy and steer) were then given a battery of tests. Some of the things the contestants had to do were: grade chicken carcasses, identify retail cuts of pork, label a goat skeleton, and identify animal byproducts. Last year, Karly won second place overall, and this year, she won first place and was named Champion of Champions. She was awarded $4,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds and the Florida State Fair Manna Pro Scholarship for $2,000 — the top scholarship at the fair.

While Karly is still in high school, she is also taking courses at Daytona State College, where she is on the President’s List. Eventually, she hopes to graduate with a double major in Spanish and communication. Originally, she had thought of majoring in something to do with animals, but she says that due to the public speaking she has had to engage in through 4-H, she decided she really likes communication. She volunteers once a week to help first-graders up at Pierson Elementary School. With all she does, she still finds time for her piano and plays for a youth group at her church.

Congratulations, Karly.

Due to a merciless pruning, the azaleas at DeLeon Springs State Park have been timid about showing blossoms this year. Elsewhere, however, the bushes have favored us with bounteous displays of gorgeous bloom. It’s spring!

The Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts in Barberville knows how to put on an annual membership meeting. On Sunday afternoon, March 1, members were first ushered into the kitchen, where tables were loaded with good food, from sandwiches to St. Patrick’s Day cookies, cherry pie, and a choice of drinks. Once everybody was satisfied, all those attending settled comfortably in the auditorium.

Executive Director Ross Lishen and Events Coordinator Harriet Bolin brought everybody up to date on the affairs of the Pioneer Settlement, and passed out awards. The Lura Bell Award was presented to John Jerico for his many years of support, particularly in working with children at the Pioneer Settlement, and on field trips. Mr. Jerico was in the last graduating class of the Barberville K-12 school in 1940. A life membership was given to Ethel Murphy in recognition of all her help.

Then the fun began, compliments of the DeLand Laughter Society. Buddy Raines kept people laughing nonstop, and then Suel and Pat Shannon took over, singing songs fondly remembered by the more mature members of the audience, and enjoyed by all. Back to jokes, then back to more music. When this was over, more food and friendly conversation took over. Yes, it was a fine meeting indeed.

— Mary writes of goings-on in DeLeon Springs, Glenwood and points north. Send her e-mail at msmithwick@cfl.rr.com, or call (386) 985-4707.

— msmithwick@cfl.rr.com

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