Florida dairyman receives prestigious regional award

Gainesville, Fla. – An elite team of judges has named Dale McClellan the 2012 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. The award recognizes superior farm production and management as well as community leadership.

McClellan and his family operate a dairy in Citrus County and a processing facility in Hillsborough County. A commitment to outstanding quality and safety has enabled the family to become the provider of milk and other foods to multiple school districts in Florida. Along with 140 employees the dairyman has built a business that also follows the highest standards of animal care.

Terri Whitacre, food service director for Charlotte County schools, closely monitors the items served to area young people at breakfast and lunch. The foods supplied by the McClellans “are just top quality,” Whitacre said. “The fact that they have their own dairy cattle and they have higher standards for their dairy than what is required by the USDA gives us that much more confidence in the products.”

McClellan has been an effective leader in the Citrus County Economic Development Council, the Citrus County Agricultural Alliance and the Chamber of Commerce. He also previously served as president of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau.

Earlier this year McClellan was selected as the 2012 Florida Farmer of the Year. At an Oct. 16 awards luncheon held at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga., he received the nod as the regional winner from among 10 state winners. His win marks the seventh time a Florida agricultural producer has earned the regional award since the program was established in 1990.

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Florida Farm Bureau is the Sunshine State's largest general agricultural organization with more than 146,000 member-families representing Farm Bureaus in 60 counties. Membership provides a multitude of benefits and you don't have to be a farmer to be a member of Florida Farm Bureau.