Sweet time of the year

If you have orange, lemon or grapefruit trees in your yard, you have undoubtedly been enjoying the wonderful, sweet smell of all the blooms.

Jason McKendree enjoys an orange blossom. (Photo by James A. Jones Jr.)

Who can resist the aroma? Not  local cowboy Jason McKendree. He was driving through some of the rugged woods of Lakewood Ranch this week looking for some of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch's heifers that will be taking part in the Ranch Rodeo in Palmetto.

Jason put on the brakes when he came to a blooming orange grove. Here's Jason savoring a bloom.

Cowboys may be rough on the outside, but they often have a tender heart.

That Ranch Rodeo will be held at the Manatee County Fairgrounds. Lunch is served at 11 a.m., and the gates open at noon. Working cowboys will be competing in teams for the right to go to state competition this fall. Admission is $5 and goes to support the FFA.

For more, see Thursday's Herald.

Jim