Leroy Baldwin was born and raised in Marion County, where he turned an early interest in livestock production into a life-long passion for raising high-quality Angus beef cattle. Starting with 40 acres in 1955, Baldwin developed his operation into a 540-acre ranch with 500 head of purebred Angus. His ranch is a model for small-farm operations with its intensive forage production and cattle breeding programs. Always looking to improve production practices, he developed a strain of drought-resistant clover and perfected a method of using anhydrous ammonia in silage to increase the protein value. Baldwin has visited 28 countries to promote Florida livestock, therein helping to substantially expand international sales of Florida cattle and related products. Baldwin has also played a major role in expanding the prominence of the Florida International Agriculture Trade Council and its annual trade show.
Dr. Clarence L. Campbell, Jr. retired in 1991 from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, where he served 38 years as state veterinarian. That is the longest that anyone in any state has served in that capacity. He was a field veterinarian with the Florida Livestock Sanitary Board for three years before being appointed as assistant state veterinarian in 1948 and state veterinarian in 1953. Campbell served as president of the United States Animal Health Association and he worked with numerous other state and national committees dealing with animal health issues. Through his leadership as state veterinarian, the cattle fever tick was eradicated from Florida in 1961 and the screwworm was eradicated a year later. Campbell also worked diligently to eliminate brucellosis from cattle herds in Florida.
Latimer “Latt” Maxey had a profound impact on Florida agriculture in all phases of citrus development and beef cattle production. Starting as a water boy in the phosphate mines of central Florida at the turn of the century, Maxey went on to develop extensive citrus grove and processing holdings, along with cattle and fertilizer operations. Maxey was one of the first growers to develop citrus groves in the Frostproof area. He later built the first packinghouse in the area and a single-strength juice cannery to handle fruit that was not suitable for fresh shipment. Maxey began raising cattle in 1930 and he acquired extensive land holdings upon which he experimented to improve beef production, particularly through selective breeding for greater disease resistance and better meat quality. He introduced new breeds and strains of cattle to Florida while also testing range management techniques. He was one of the organizers of Florida Citrus Mutual and served as its first president. Maxey was inducted into the Citrus Hall of Fame in 1971.
William H. Stuart, Sr., was a farmer by profession and an incorrigible optimist by nature. Throughout his life, he dedicated his time and talent in experimenting and encouraging others in citrus production, cattle breeding and the use of soil amendments and fertilizers to enhance native and improved pastures. When he needed dolomite, Stuart prospected and discovered a deposit which began production in 1936. He joined with others to sell high-calcium lime to growers throughout the state, and he got into fertilizer blending to ensure quality and precise analyses. Stuart cooperated with at least six universities in research on native grasses and various other aspects of beef cattle production. Stuart introduced Brahman hybrid vigor in commercial cattle in 1927, when he saw a need for improved cattle quality and disposition. This led to a purebred herd using the first performance testing program in Brahman cattle. The W.H. Stuart Ranch gained an international reputation as a breeder of performance-tested championship Brahman cattle.
