{
  "id": 13283313,
  "title": "1937 Florida ranch now 50,000 acres, among largest US cow-calf ops in 5th gen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/1937-florida-ranch-now-50-000-acres-among-largest-us-cow-calf-ops-in",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-09T18:53:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/in-1937-a-florida-family-started-a-cattle-ranch-nearly-90-years-later-adams-ranch-spans-50000-acres-ranks-among-the-countrys-largest-cow-calf-operations-and-raises-its-fifth-generation/articleshow/134841416.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 1937, a small cattle operation began in Florida and has since grown into one of the largest cow-calf operations in the country, covering approximately 50,000 acres across multiple counties. The ranch, Adams Ranch in Fort Pierce, has been managed by four generations of the same family, with a fifth generation now growing up amid the cattle, pastures, and traditions that have defined the business for nearly 90 years. Founded by the grandfather of current ranch president Mike Adams, the ranch has weathered the expansion of cities and residential developments in Florida, maintaining the same traditional work routines established by previous generations.\n\nCurrent ranch foreman Billy Adams, who started working on the ranch at the age of five, describes ranching as a way of life that shapes his understanding of family and hard work. He and his colleagues continue their daily tasks, such as riding horses and using herding dogs to move cattle between pastures, with a workday that begins well before sunrise. The ranch also houses a museum that displays family photographs and old artifacts, preserving memories of an older Florida landscape when cattle ranches were more prominent in the state's scenery.\n\nAs Florida continues to develop rapidly, the Adams family emphasizes the importance of preserving ranch land for the future of cattle ranching, open spaces, wildlife, and the state's natural landscape. They also express concern about Florida's food security, arguing that the state should maintain its ability to produce food for its residents instead of becoming increasingly dependent on imports. Adams Ranch sells its own beef directly to the community, maintaining a connection between the operation and local consumers. With the fifth generation now part of the ranching family, the Adams family hopes that their children will continue the traditions that have sustained the operation since its founding. Despite the pressures of development, Adams Ranch remains a vital link to Florida's agricultural past.",
  "summary": "Founded in 1937, Adams Ranch in Fort Pierce, Florida, has grown from a small cattle operation into a roughly 50,000-acre ranch spanning several counties. Four generations of the Adams family have worked the land, with a fifth now growing up there. As development expands across Florida, the family remains committed to preserving ranching traditions and supporting local food production.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}