“We have come to an impasse in our budget negotiations with the House, and Senate President King decided that there would be no further efforts to compromise this session. Obviously we had hoped to have the budget balanced by the end of session, but we feel it is more important to not sacrifice what we believe is best for Floridians. President King chose to be true to our beliefs, rather than political expedience.



I believe that when we begin negotiating with the House again in a few weeks we will agree on a budget that meets the needs of the citizens of the state. I want to applaud President King’s tireless efforts throughout the negotiations process. He has demonstrated leadership of which the entire state can be proud,” stated Senator Nancy Argenziano, District 3.



For more information contact Judy Wells, 850-487-5017.

The Jackson Family, descendants of Cleveland and Mary Jackson of Lafayette County were honored in Gainesville April 29 at the annual Dairy Production Conference. The event is sponsored by Farm Bureau.



Several family members and Chris Vann, Lafayette County Agent traveled to Gainesville for the award ceremony.



Submitted

The dairy industry was brought to Lafayette County in 1949 by Cleveland and Mary Jackson. Cleveland, known as Cleve to most, was the first official dairy farmer in Lafayette County starting the business with 30 production cows and 500 acres of land. Not only was Cleveland the first dairy farmer in Lafayette County, he was also one of the first tobacco farmers in Lafayette County. He started growing tobacco in 1928, along with many other crops such as corn, peanuts and seasonal vegetables. Little did he know he was starting a tradition that would be passed down from generation to generation for years to come.



There were times that Cleveland was tempted to sell the farm, especially during the Korean War. He had two sons in service and was in poor health but his children encouraged him to keep the farm. To keep the farm alive his three daughters; Dorothy, Elouise and Edna Fay milked the cows before and after school each day until his sons returned home from the service.



Cleveland and Mary had eight children. However, only six of the children lived until adulthood. They were Elouise, Ellis (known as Buck), Foye, Dorothy, Edna Fay and Morris. Elouise died at a young age of 33.



Cleveland died in 1974 from a heart attack and Mary was taken suddenly in an automobile accident in 1983.



In 1954, Cleveland and Mary’s three sons Buck, Foye, and Morris took over their father’s business. They started their operation with the land Cleveland had acquired and continued to expand until Jackson Brothers Dairy was milking over 1400 head of cows and had over 1200 acres of land.



In 1985, the three brothers built a second barn and then a third barn in 1988. In January 1989, just two weeks before the completion of the third barn the eldest son, Buck, died suddenly of a heart attack. They operated all three barns as a partnership for three months. In June of 1989, just as the three brothers had originally planned they divided the partnership to start three separate dairy operations: Morris Jackson and Sons Dairy; Foye C. Jackson and Son Dairy; Anthony (Tony) Jackson Dairy–Buck’s son.



Morris Jackson and Sons Dairy is owned and operated by Morris and Eliza Lou Jackson and their sons, Scott, Shawn and Seth. Scott is married to the former Jackie Warner and they have one son named Ty. Shawn is married to the former Leah Clark and they have two children Sara and Dawson. Seth graduates from high school this year and plans to attend North Florida Community College.



In 1996, Foye, decided to retire and take a smaller role in Foye C. Jackson and Son Dairy and allow Brack to take responsibility of the dairy and Foye’s wife Barbara to continue the bookkeeping. Foye and Barbara have two children, Brack and Pam. Brack is married to the former Kelly Green and they have three children, Katie, Clay and Case. Pam is married to Shannon Murphy and they have one son Devin.



At a very early age, Jackson Brothers Dairy became an intricate part of Tony’s life. He worked side by side with his father and uncles during the summer and after school until he graduated and began working full time. After the death of his father in January of 1989, he decided to fulfill his dream of owning and operating his own dairy. With the help of his two uncles the dream became a reality in June of that year. Buying his first 200 cows straight from the Jackson Brothers farm, he began what is still today Anthony (Tony) Jackson Dairy. Tony is assisted on the farm by his wife Brenda and two daughters Toni Cheree and Taylor.



Cleveland and Mary’s youngest daughter Edna Fay Jackson Shaw and her husband Gary have been in the dairy business since 1973. Gary and Edna Fay have two children Bill Shaw and Becky Shaw Sharpe. Bill is a partner in the family business. Becky received a degree in Agriculture from the University of Florida in 1992 and taught high school agriculture in Lafayette County for ten years. She is currently the Middle School Coordinator of Lafayette County Schools.

Bill has two daughters Megan and Ashton-Kara. Becky is married to Dennis Sharpe, a law enforcement officer with FWC. They have one daughter Kali.



Gary and Edna Fay’s decision to enter the dairy business was influenced by both of their parents, who had been in the dairy business for over 20 years. In 1973, they acquired Gary’s father’s dairy farm from his father, Dewey Shaw. They operated their business of 250 Holstein and jersey cows in the same flat barn where Dewey Shaw had milked since 1952.

In 1980, their son Bill graduated from high school and joined the family business. Upon Bill’s entry into the business in 1980, they built a new modern parlor. At the present Shaw Dairy, Inc. consists of 450 Holstein cows and heifers and operates on land originally owned by Dewey Shaw and Cleveland Jackson.



Cleveland and Mary’s middle daughter Dorothy Jackson Wimberly and her husband Elton Wimberly went into the dairy business in 1968 on the first property Cleveland and Mary acquired after their marriage in 1925. In 1983, Dorothy and Elton’s daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Russell Lee joined them in the family dairy operation. The family remained in the dairy business until Dorothy and Elton’s retirement in 1986. Karen and Russell have three children, Amanda, Franchesica and Keiston; and one granddaughter Madeline.



Cleveland and Mary Jackson started the dairy industry in Lafayette County and their children and grandchildren have done their part to continue the vital industry that their parents and grandparents started back in 1949 with just 30 cows.