- December 25, 2024
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Myakka City's Jerry Dakin is selling his farm, Dakin Dairy Farms.
Dakin, a former Florida Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year, says in a statement that the "farm needs the next generation of farmers to meet the dairy's full potential."
"As the farm continues to grow with technology, supported ecology and advanced nutrition methods, Dakin sees that to best serve the community, the farm needs to meet the changing times and advance to the next level," the release states.
Dakin adds that he is "highly invested in finding the right fit" and is "eager to see the progress" as he remains on land near the farm, which is at 30771 Betts Road in Myakka City.
The farm includes 3,100 head of dairy cattle with a processing plant comprising 350 acres. It has six free-stall barns, a milking parlor, production areas, commodity storage, silage storage and a milk processing plant capable of processing and packaging all milk produced on site. It will be sold as a working dairy farm.
SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler in Lakeland is the listing agent for the property. The firm previously said "the owner is going to let the market determine the value/price."
Jerry Dakin started his farm 22 years ago with a couple hundred cows, the release states.
"He never imagined he could grow the farm to be several thousand head producing and processing products on site that are delivered throughout the southeast with The Dakin 'Fresh from Florida' label," according to the release.
Dakin Dairy Farms has been a staple in Manatee County, promoting community, agriculture and agrotourism.
The farm, a popular place for school field trips for years, has been struggling since the pandemic followed by the devastation of Hurricane Ian in September 2022 when the farm lost more than 200 cows and had severe damage to its cattle barns and tour barn.
Dakin said in December 2022 he was using his savings to keep the farm in operation.
This article originally appeared on sister site YourObserver.com.
