Bud Adams Named Florida Farmer of the Year for 2007

PAt the tender age of 12, Alto (Bud) Adams was introduced to the world of agriculture when he was given a calf and allowed to ride with the cattle crews on the farm of his father.

“I liked it,” said Adams, “and realized that farming was what I wanted to do.”

So, at 21 years of age, his father made him a partner in the operation and it quickly grew from 1,500 cows to over 10,000 cows.

Today, Adams’ farm encompasses over 65,000 acres (up from his first operation of 15,000 acres) and Adams has been selected as the 2007 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year for Florida. He was selected for the honor in judging conducted by the Florida Farm Bureau and was nominated by Tom Hill.

Adams now joins nine other Southeastern state winners as a finalist for the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award for 2007, which will be announced during the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie, GA, on Tuesday, October 16th.

As the Florida state winner, Adams will now receive a $2,500 cash award and an expense paid trip to the Sunbelt Expo from Swisher International of Jacksonville, FL, a jacket and a $200 gift certificate from the Williamson-Dickie Company, a commemorative fireproof home safe from Misty Morn Safe Co., and a $500 gift certificate from Southern States. He is also now eligible for the $14,000 that will go to the overall winner and the use of a Massey Ferguson tractor for a year from Massey Ferguson North America.

Swisher International, through its Swisher Sweets cigar brand and the Sunbelt Expo are sponsoring the Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award for the 18th consecutive year. Swisher has contributed over $740,000 in cash awards and other honors since the award was initiated in 1990.

Today, the backbone of the operation is still cattle and includes over 18,000 head.

There’s 9,000 plus head of registered Braford cattle, 2,000 head of registered ARRAB cattle, 1,000 head registered ARGEL cattle and 6,000 head of registered ABEEF cattle.

Oranges and grapefruit are grown on 1,000 irrigated acres with a 400 box yield per acre while there’s over 2,000 irrigated acres of sod.

“We sell the registered cattle at 28 annual sales and private treaty,” said Adams. “We sell steer calves by satellite auction and we also sell at the Okeechobee Livestock Market. The replacement heifers are sold private treaty.

“The citrus is sold on the tree to packers in the Indian River area,” he added.

Adams and his wife Dorothy have three grown sons who are actively involved in the farming operation. Lee manages the Osceola County ranch (33,000 acres), Mike is president of Adams Ranch and Rob manages ARCCO – the Adams Ranch Citrus operation.

Previous state winners from Florida include: Ernie Nunez of Dade City, 1990; Ernie Nunez of Dade City, 1991; Wayne Wiggins of Plant City, 1992; Leroy Baldwin of Ocala, 1993; Billy Long of Apopka, 1994; Richard Barber of Ocala, 1995; Al Bellatto of Lakeland, 1996; Rex Clonts of Apopka, 1997; John Hoblick of DeLeon Springs, 1998; Doug Holmberg of Valrico, 1999; Damon Deas of Jennings, 2000, Gene Batson of Mount Dora, 2001; William Putnam of Alturas, 2002; Sonny Williamson of Okeechobee, 2003; Dale Sauls of Anthony, 2004; Louis “Red” Larson of Okeechobee, 2005; Damon Deas of Jennings, 2006.

Florida has had five overall winners with Ernie Nunez of Dade City in 1991, Leroy Baldwin of Ocala in 1993, Rex Clonts of Apopka in 1997, Doug Holmberg of Valrico in 1999, and Louis “Red” Larson of Okeechobee in 2005.

Adams’ farm, along with the other nine state finalists, will be visited by a distinguished panel of judges during the week of Aug. 6-10. The judges for this year include Rogers Reynolds, retired executive with Farm Credit; Dr. Jim Butler, retired Agricultural Engineer and Research Leader and Elwyn Deal, retired Clemson University Extension Service.

Contact:
Gina McDonald
229.985.1968
info@sunbeltexpo.com

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