Florida Cowboy- Alto ‘Bud’ Dams, Born April 4, 1926

Because he loves the Florida grasslands and chose a trail different from his father’s, a chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court.
Because he has spent 50 years planting and protecting the pastures and has opened his ranch for tours so the public can experience back-country Florida.
Because he has left his stamp on the United States beef industry with a new breed of cattle, the gentle, strong, heat-tolerant Braford.
Because he’s had one job, (ranching) one wife (Dot) and one house (a 1949 cypress home with no central air conditioning).
Because his three sons also like cattle ranching, wildlife, Sunday family dinners and the big sky.
Because he’s sure beef is the best source of protein for the American diet, though he admits occasionally eating chicken (”But I don’t brag about it”).
Because he’s a lanky, soft-spoken but hard-driving cowboy and at 73 has taken on the challenge of developing leaner cattle called ARbeef.
Because he’d rather work in his garden and experiment with fruit trees than talk about himself.
Because he knows raising cattle can be tough, so he also grows citrus, figuring with two crops, there will always be something to sell.
Because he has 65,000 acres of pasture, ponds, orange groves and oak hammocks in three Florida counties and has preserved habitats, resisted development and kept ranching alive.
- JERI BUTLER