Florida is home to a thriving dairy industry that includes farms all across our state. Every morning, these farmers begin the process of providing fresh milk for consumers. Just who are these farmers? Get to know them and their stories.

Joe Wright, V&W Farms, Inc., Highlands County

From the Firm to the Farm

Becoming a dairy farmer was the furthest career path from Joe Wright’s mind. Joe grew up in Winter Park away from agriculture and especially cows. After high school graduation, he attended the University of Florida where he earned a law degree and an MBA in 1982.

Joe returned home and began practicing law for an Orlando firm, specializing in health care law and commercial litigation.

His life changed drastically, however, once he met his future wife, Suzanne, the daughter of an Avon Park dairy farmer.

“I’m a city kid who married a dairy farmer’s daughter,” he says.

The “city kid” took such a liking to his visits to the farm that he spent a month’s leave from the law firm working at his father-in-law’s side.

“I knew I wasn’t going back to the firm,” Wright said. “Once I got a taste of being outdoors, it’s tough going back to an office.”

 Trading Winter Park for Avon Park has been an easy transition for Wright, who is involved there beyond the farm. Joe successfully won a three-year seat on the city council in 2006.

Assuming leadership roles in the dairy industry also came naturally. In 1995, Joe went to Washington D.C. where he became involved in shaping the Farm Bill. In 1998, he was named president of Southeast Milk, Inc., a Florida-based co-operative that represents nearly 300 dairy farmers in five states. Its primary function is to deliver farm-fresh milk to processing plants where it is pasteurized and bottled for consumers.

“One of the great things about the industry is the people,” Joe said. “That’s why I kept getting involved in leadership because, quite frankly, I like dairy farmers a lot better than I like lawyers.”

 Through it all, he has been a very vocal leader for his peers.

 “I really believe in our people, I believe in our industry,” Joe said. “I’m not only outspoken, I am passionately outspoken because I really believe in what I’m talking about.

“To me, that’s the distinction between this and practicing law. I may have been representing somebody when I was practicing law and I did it to the best of my ability, but there still was a disconnection there. With this, I’m one of them.”

Joe Wright serves as first vice president of Dairy Farmers, Inc., Florida’s milk promotion group.