I really do feel sorry for the kids at the Southeastern Youth Fair. For some, they raise an animal like a steer or a pig for about 5 months or longer and they become almost a part of the family. Here Reserve Grand Champion exhibitor River Fielder breaks down crying while walking her pig through the auction ring Saturday morning during the Southeastern Youth Fair. While it is sad, it does teach our youth where the meat from the dinner table comes from and is a great life long lesson. I wonder if she’ll ever become a vegetarian? (Doug Engle/Star-Banner)2010

Olivia Currie, 2, gets some shut-eye on the shoulder of her father Donald Currie during the pig auction Saturday at the Southeastern Youth Fair. “It’s been a long week. We use to show in 4H and now we’re bringing up our kids like how we grew up,” Currie said. In my opinion the Southeastern Youth Fair is the best event of the year for our youth in Marion County. Raising a steer, pig, rabbit or even a chicken, teaches our youth responsibility and also teaches them where the food we eat comes from. It just doesn’t magically appear on the table. (Doug Engle/Star-Banner)2010

Larry Cornelius poses with Champions Semper Fi’s Perfect Weaver or “Katrina”, 5, a Doberman pinscher, and Champions Maystar’s Coast To Coast or “Coaster”, 2, a Norwich terrier at his farm on Northwest 115th Avenue in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. Cornelius was named best professional dog handler of the year for 2009 by Dogs In Review Magazine. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

To me this is just the proof that Ocala has gone to the dogs. In addition to Carol Harris being named breeder of the year by Dogs In Review Magazine, Larry Cornelius was named best professional dog handler of the year for 2009 by Dogs In Review Magazine. Katrina was tricked by food being held behind me.

Larry Cornelius shows Champions Semper Fi’s Perfect Weaver or “Katrina”, 5, a Doberman pinscher, at his farm on Northwest 115th Avenue in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. Cornelius was named best professional dog handler of the year for 2009 by Dogs In Review Magazine. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

Larry Cornelius show Champions Camlin Seadancer Makitso Secreteriat or “Terry”, 5, a Portugese Water Dog, at his farm on Northwest 115th Avenue in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. Terry recently won the First Award of Merit with Cornelius during the Westminster Dog Show in New York City. Cornelius was named best professional dog handler of the year for 2009 by Dogs In Review Magazine. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

Carol Harris poses with Champions Bo Bett’s Spotlight or “Spotlight”, 6,  at Bo-Bett Farm on County Road 329 in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010. Harris was named outstanding breeder of the year for 2009 by Dogs In Review Magazine. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

Has Ocala gone to the dogs? I guess so, because Carol Harris of Bo-Bett Farm was named outstanding breeder of the year for 2009 by Dogs In Review Magazine. She is shown here posing with one of her whippets, Champions Bo Bett’s Spotlight, 6, or “Spotlight” for short.

Shooting dogs is kinda like shooting little kids - you have to trick them when you’re shooting portraits of them.

Champions Bo Bett’s Spotlight or “Spotlight”, 6,  a whippet, who is owned by Carol Harris, poses for a photo at Bo-Bett Farm on County Road 329 in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010. Harris was named outstanding breeder of the year for 2009 by Dogs In Review Magazine. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

Carol Harris poses with Champions Bo Bett’s Spotlight or “Spotlight”, 6,  left, and Champions Bo Bett’s High Speed Chase or “Speedy”, 5, right, both whippets, at Bo-Bett Farm on County Road 329 in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010. Harris was named outstanding breeder of the year for 2009 by Dogs In Review Magazine. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

I’m always the last one up from a dive. This dive in September was no exception. When I looked up, I saw this scene. We have dived this hole in a small cove on the St. Johns north of Salt Springs for many years but this is the first time I have seen the surface water so clear. Now, “clear” is a relative term here. The water was still very dark but we did get some natural light down at the cavern. It was shot at ISO 1600, lens wide open at 1/10 of a second. When you turned off your light you could actually make out shapes, see divers swimming around and see the driveway leading to the cavern. That’s the thing about Croker Hole, you never know what you’ll find there. One day it’s filled with giant sport fish, other days the biggest catfish you’ll ever see and others, nothing at all but a blue crab or two. Dr. Joe Wallace , left, and Jim Nunn ascend through the black water of the St. Johns River as they head for Croaker Hole in little Lake George on Sunday September 6, 2009 near Welaka, Fla.  The Spring is a mixer of three different spring vents and a variety of both salt and freshwater creatures can be found there. The cavern opens about 40 feet below the black tannic surface waters of the rivers and runs perfectly clear. The St. Johns is known as a black water river because of that tannic acid from the leaves that fall into the swamps and wetlands along the river.

Joi Partain Mraz faces her former boyfriend Jonathan Pearson during his sentencing at the Marion County Courthouse in Ocala, FL on Monday August 24, 2009. The 22-year-old woman needed stitches in her face and requiring seven hours of reconstructive surgery on her arms, which she used to fend off the blows of golf clubs struck her with in June.

Under the negotiated plea deal, Pearson, 26, got 15 years in prison and must also serve 10 years of probation following his sentence. Prosecutors dropped an additional charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

This was a very emotion charged moment to photograph. Mraz dragged herself into court from her hospital, IV’s still in her arms, for the opportunity to face her lover turned attacker. It was her inner strength and support of a couple of close friends that gave her the courage.

Brianna Jackson tries to rope her calf in the Breakaway Roping event during the Florida High School Rodeo at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion on Northeast Jacksonville Road in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

THE FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL RODEO KICKED OFF THE SOUTHEASTERN YOUTH FAIR FRIDAY AT THE LIVESTOCK PAVILION WITH LOTS OF GREAT RODEO ACTION.

Jake Hoffman competes in the Bareback Riding event during the Florida High School Rodeo at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion on Northeast Jacksonville Road in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

Jacob Pearson races down his calf during the Tie Down Roping event during the Florida High School Rodeo at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion on Northeast Jacksonville Road in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

Jacob Pearson flips his calf in the air during the Tie Down Roping event during the Florida High School Rodeo at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion on Northeast Jacksonville Road in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

Eilish Jenkinson, 10 of Ocala, sings the National Anthem during the Florida High School Rodeo at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion on Northeast Jacksonville Road in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

Michelle Mack, 13, hugs her Grand Champion lamb, Marvin, a black face lamb, after the lamb sold for a record $82,550 at auction during the Southeastern Youth Fair at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion on Northeast Jacksonville Road in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. Mack, who is in the Ocali Kids 4-H, raised the lamb since November when he weighed in at 91 pounds. He weighed 127 pounds when he weighed in just before the auction. Christina Schlusemeyer of Quiet Hill Farm in Ocala purchased the lamb for $650 per pound for a grand total of $82,550, an all time fair record. (Star-Banner Photo/NYTRENG, Bruce ACKERMAN).

SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF DOUGH FOR SOME LAMB CHOPS. I’M JUST WONDERING, DOES MARVIN GET TO BE A PET NOW? DOES ANYONE REALLY KNOW? DOES THE IRS HAVE A NEW FORM FOR A “MUTTON” WRITE OFF? WHAT’S THE DEAL? I’M A LITTLE CONFUSED.

Drummer Kelus of the metal band Gettendeep performs Sunday at the Cancer Crushing RockFest. DAVE SCHLENKER/STAR-BANNER

Great White lead singer Jack Russell performs at February’s Cancer Crushing RockFest in Ocala. Russell hobbled onto the stage on crutches and performed while sitting on a stool. He told the audience accidents had left him with severe back injuries. DAVE SCHLENKER/STAR-BANNER