Category: Work & Life

A herd of beef cattle on a Florida ranch. UF/IFAS Photo: Thomas Wright.

Ten Cow-Calf Management Decisions That Pay Dividends

by Bridget Stice and Jasi CairnsAvatar photo
June 16, 2026

The cattle business is full of decisions! Some have a small impact, while others influence herd productivity and profitability for years. During a presentation on applied cow-calf management systems, University of Florida Animal Sciences ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Farm Management, Livestock, Money Matters, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Beef, Bstice, Bull, Calf, Calving, Cattle, Cow, Cow-calf Business, Cow-Calf Management, Farm, Heifer, Herd, Livestock, Pasture, Polk County, Ranch, SFBF, Sfbfp, UF/IFAS Polk County
Magnifying class on a small picture of a digestive system and then a blue ribbon (for colorectal cancer) with a stethoscope

The Screening That Could Save Your Life: Understanding and Preventing Colorectal Cancer

by anikolai
March 23, 2026

Most colorectal cancers begin as small, slow‑growing polyps that can be removed long before they become dangerous. With routine screening, colorectal cancer is highly preventable, yet many people still put off the test that could save their ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Home Management, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Anikolai, Awareness, Colon Cancer, Coloncancer, Colorectal, Health Wellness, Healthy Living, Screening, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County
Stack of Peanut Butter

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: 2025 Wrap Up

by Jasi Cairns and anikolai
February 18, 2026

Thank You, Polk County! The 2025 Annual Peanut Butter Challenge was an incredible success! This year, our community came together in a big way to fight hunger and support families across Polk County. Every jar donated represents hope, nourishment, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Anikolai, Charity, Donate, Education, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, Hot Topic, Nutrition, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, The Peanut Butter
food on dining room table

Rudolph’s Guide to Holiday Grocery Savings

by anikolai
December 1, 2025

  If you find yourself saying, “Oh deer!” (pun intended) while trying to plan a holiday meal that’s crowd-pleasing, delicious, healthy, and budget-friendly, you’re not alone. At UF/IFAS Extension Family and Consumer Sciences, ... READ MORE

Category: Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Anikolai, Healthy Meals, Holiday, Holiday Meal, Holidays, Meal, Polk County, Polk County FL, Saving_money, UF/IFAS Polk County

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: A Birthday Wish to End Hunger

by Jasi Cairns and anikolai
November 5, 2025

From Presents to Peanut Butter, A Gift That Gives Back In a world where small acts of kindness can ripple into big changes, one young girl in Polk County is proving that age is no barrier to making a meaningful impact. Meet London Brandt, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Work & Life
Tags: Charity, Donate, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, Hot Topic, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, Spread The Peanut Butter

Reassessing Meatless Monday: A Scientific Perspective on the Role of Meat in Sustainable Diets

by Bridget Stice and Jasi CairnsAvatar photo
November 3, 2025

By Bridget Stice, UF/IFAS Extension Polk Meatless Monday campaigns urge the public to skip meat one day a week to "improve health and protect the planet". While reducing excessive consumption of any food can be beneficial, blanket campaigns ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Health & Nutrition, Livestock, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, , Water, Wildlife
Tags: Agriculture, Beef, Bstice, Featured, Livestock, Meat, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkco, SFBF, Sustainability
Black snake on a hedge.

Celebrate World Snake Day with Naturally Florida

by Shannon Carnevale and Lara MilliganAvatar photo
July 16, 2025

Celebrate World Snake Day with Naturally Florida July 16 is World Snake Day!  Florida is home to an incredible diversity of native snakes—many of which play important roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Learning about snakes in Florida ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Wildlife
Tags: Living With Wildlife, Polk County, Shannon Carnevale, Snakes

Growing and Cooking with Herbs: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis, Julie Schelb and anikolaiAvatar photo
May 12, 2025

In this episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast, Andrea Nikolai, the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent, joins us to talk all things herbs! From growing to cooking, health benefits to recipe ideas, it's thyme for a fun episode! Many ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes
Tags: Andrea Nikolai, Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Family And Consumer Science, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Growing And Cooking, Health, Herbs, Master Gardener Volunteer, Nutrition, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Spices, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Tractor Supply’s 4-H Paper Clover Campaign

by Jasi Cairns
December 23, 2024

Empowering Polk County Youth The Tractor Supply Company’s 4-H Paper Clover Campaign is a vital initiative that supports youth development across the nation. With 90% of donations remaining in the state where they are raised, the program ensures ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Camp, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Curriculum, Events, Professional Development, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: 4-H, Campaign, Clubs, Florida, Fundraiser, Leadership, Polk County, Tractor Supply Paper Clover, UF/IFAS, Youth Development

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