LIVING HISTORY
About 30 years ago, Bud turned management of the ranch over to his three sons: from left, Lee, Robbie and Mike.
as the United Braford Breeders, to control the quality of the
breed. By the 1990s, the ranch was conducting another composite
20
breeding program that produced yet another breed:
ABEEF cattle. Just like the Braford, ABEEF cattle can tolerate
a hothouse environment and produce quality beef with high
cutability.
Adams Ranch has been family-owned since the beginning.
It is ranked as the 15th largest cow-calf ranch in the United
States. A cow-calf operation is one where a rancher keeps
a permanent herd of cattle to produce calves for sale after
they are weaned and sufficiently matured in feed lots. The
calves are further raised by the ranchers who purchase them.
Besides the ranch in St. Lucie County, Adams Ranch has locations
in central and North Florida, and in Georgia. But the
spread in St. Lucie County will always be what Bud calls “the
home ranch.” Recently, the ranch underwent an amicable
division between Bud’s family and the family of his sister,
Elaine Adams Harrison. In 2012, the Harrison family created
a separate operation of their own known as 4H Ranch.
ADAMS RANCH COLLECTION
SUCCESSION PLANNING
About 30 years ago, Bud turned the management over
to his three sons: Mike, Lee and Robbie. Mike took over as
president when Bud retired. Lee is in charge of the Madison
County operations and Robbie oversees the ranch’s citrus
groves. One of Bud’s granddaughters, LeeAnn Adams
Simmons, is also an important part of the management,
coordinating public policy and all the details having to do
with various governmental regulations and programs. Other
family members take part, and nonfamily personnel are
treated like family, too. Coincidentally, some of the nonfamily
employees even have the same last name, like Buddy Adams,
the ranch’s manager. Most of the work in the field is done on
horseback. Bud still rides over the ranch daily in his SUV, and
he offers his assistance and wise counsel.
The pastures are never overgrazed, so the roots run deep.
That helps the topsoil retain its fertility, so the grasses grow
thick and beautiful. It is soothing to watch expansive green
fields, as wide as a Civil War battlefield, ripple and toss in
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Bud’s grandson Stewart helps
during a roundup. Many members
of the extensive Adams
family work on the ranch. ROBERT ADAMS