Leroy Baldwin
Leroy Baldwin was born and raised in Marion County, where he turned an early interest in livestock production into a lifelong passion for raising high-quality Angus beef cattle. Starting with 40 acres in 1955, Baldwin has 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.
Baldwin has visited 28 countries to promote Florida livestock, which has helped 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.
Despite the demands of his business and promotional work, Baldwin has always taken the time to escort local, state, national and international visitors around his ranch and to discuss his beef cattle production techniques. Always looking to improve production practices, Baldwin developed a strain of drought-resistant clover and perfected a method of using anhydrous ammonia in silage to increase the protein value.
An active member of 4-H and Future Farmers of America as a youth, Baldwin has continued his support of these and other youth organizations and he regularly offers special livestock clinics at his ranch for high school and college students.
Baldwin has served as an officer of numerous livestock organizations. He has been honored as the "1993 Man of the Year in service to Florida Agriculture" by Progressive Farmer magazine and was named "Agriculturist of the Year" in 1991 by the Florida Association of County Agents, among other awards.
