DALE S. SAULS CHOSEN 2004 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
(MOULTRIE, Ga.) - The beginning of Dale Sauls’
agricultural career in Anthony, FL, was far from glamorous or
a smashing hit. In fact, in the early l970s he lost his job
on a beef cattle operation when the beef market fell.
Next focus for Sauls – dairy farming, and
what a wise decision it turned out to be. He entered into partnership
on an older small dairy farm that covered only 80 acres of land
and a 70-cow dairy herd.
“I initially supplied half the capital and
all the labor and management skills,” said Sauls. “We
also began by buying twelve springing heifers, installing pipelines
and devising a feeding operation.”
Three years later, he bought out the partnership,
moved the operation and built a modern dairy barn on leased
land. Today the outstanding growth in the Sauls’ operation
has led to his selection as the 2004 Lancaster/Sunbelt Expo
Southeastern Farmer of the Year for Florida, as chosen in judging
conducted by the Florida Farm Bureau. He was nominated by Robert
Shaw.
Sauls now joins seven other Southeastern state
winners as a finalist for the Lancaster/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern
Farmer of the Year Award for 2004, which will be announced during
the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie, GA, on Tuesday, Oct. 19th.
As the Florida state winner, Sauls will 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 gun safe from Misty Morn Safe Co.; and a $500
gift certificate from Southern States. He is also now eligible
for the $14,000 cash award that will go to the overall winner
and the use of a Massey Ferguson tractor for one year from AGCO,
Inc.
Swisher International, through its Lancaster Premium
chewing tobacco brand, and the Sunbelt Expo are sponsoring the
Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award for the 15th consecutive
year. Swisher has contributed more than $600,000 in cash awards
and other honors since the Award was initiated in 1990.
Dairy farming and milk remain the focus of the Sauls' operation
today and includes massive numbers. The milk production for
his 620 milking cows is now over 16,603,600 pounds with a rolling
herd average of 26,780 pounds--and that computes out to be 1,930,651.1
gallons!!
There are also 450 head of heifers and what Sauls
classifies as a “hobby” of 25 to 30 beef cattle.
Seven thousand tons of corn silage are produced on 300 acres,
and it’s a crop he’s extremely proud of.
“”We have a grower who comes in and
grows the crop for us,” said Sauls. “Then we take
over with the harvest and storage. It’s some of the finest
corn silage grown anywhere.
“All our milk is marketed through Southeast
Milk, a local group that I have been an active board member
since its inception,” said Sauls, “There’s
an agreement with the Marion County Inmate Workfarm for the
purchase of all our dairy bull calves.
“The beef cattle are a rewarding project,”
he added. “We sell the offspring to kids in 4-H and FFA
for their local shows. We also work with them from start to
finish of the project – from breaking the animals, to
grooming, clipping, showmanship, nutrition and herdsmanship.
“
Sauls and his wife Connie have two daughters,
Rolly, 20, and Megan, 19. Rolly is a junior at the University
of Florida while Megan attends Central Florida Community College.
Previous state winners from Florida include: Ernie
Nunez of Dade City, 1990 and 1991; Wayne Wiggins of Plant City,
1992; Leroy Baldwin of Ocala, 1993; Bill Long of Apopka, 1994;
Richard Barber, Jr., of Ocala, 1995; Al Bellotto of Lakeland,
1996; Rex Clonts, Jr., 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; Will Putnam
III of Alturas, 2002; and Sonny Williamson, Jr. of Okeechobee,
2003.
Ernie Nunez (1991), Leroy Baldwin (1993), Rex
Clonts (1997) and Doug Holmberg (1999) were each chosen as the
Lancaster/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year.
A distinguished panel of judges will visit the
Sauls' farm along with the other seven state finalists in August.
The judges for this year include 2000 Lancaster/Sunbelt Expo
Southeastern Farmer of the Year James Lee Adams of Camilla,
GA; Dr. John Wilson, retired state program leader for agriculture
and natural resources for Mississippi State University; and
Eric Raby, Vice President Marketing, Massey Ferguson North America.
For additional news releases and information regarding
the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition, visit the organization's
Web site at http://www.sunbeltexpo.com
or e-mail Bobby Batson at bbatson@swisher.com.
The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the
state's largest general-interest agricultural association with
more than 151,000 member-families statewide. There are Farm
Bureaus representing 64 counties in Florida, where agriculture
comprises a stable, vital foundation of Florida's economy, rivaling
the tourism industry in economic importance. Headquartered in
Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural
organization and is not associated with any arm of the government.
More information is available on the organization’s website,
http://FloridaFarmBureau.org.
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Florida
Farm Bureau Federation