Stephen Monroe Yoder was born in 1948 in Greenwood, Del., but grew up on a 45-cow dairy farm in Calhoun County. A devout Mennonite, Yoder’s life consisted of devotion to his God, his family and agriculture. In 1978, Yoder and his wife started Bluebird Farm, near the Yoder home-place and turned the venture into a...

Julian B. Lane, former mayor of Tampa, member of the house of representatives, senate and a lifelong dairyman, owns Lane Cattle Co. and Lane Citrus Co. He received his degree in business administration from the University of Florida, and before World War II, he and his brother operated a dairy at Largo, Florida. Lane served...

James N. “Jim” Watson is an agricultural pioneer who was involved in forming the milk cooperative that ultimately became the Upper Florida Milk Producers Association. He was co-founder of the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair in 1955, and served as president for six years. Watson has served as secretary-treasurer and director of the National Association of...

Louis E. “Red” Larson of Okeechobee began his dairy farming career on a small rented farm in Dade County after serving as a pilot during World War II. Larson Dairy, Inc. encompasses several thousand cows and more than 10,000 acres in Okeechobee and Highlands Counties. Larson served on the USDA Dairy Advisory Committee during the...

Thomas Gilbert Lee, revered Orlando dairyman, has worked diligently and unselfishly to enhance the overall quality of the state’s dairy industry.