Dairy Production Systems
23343 NW County Road 236
High Springs, Florida 32643
(386) 454-7977
(386) 454-7966 - fax
David Sumrall
President/CEO
Born and raised in the Deep South, Crystal Springs, MS was home to David P. Sumrall, where his family owned and operated a beef cattle farm. The youngest of five children, David had a deep and abiding love for the farm from his earliest childhood. He worked in the family farm until leaving for college where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Dairy Production from Mississippi State University. During his collegiate experience, he was employed by MSU's Dairy Production and Research Center, graduating in the position of Student Dairy Manager.
Following graduation, David spent five years in private herd management positions as dairy manager at Jackson & Wortman Dairy in Quitman, GA, and Fernwood Farms, in Fernwood, MS. He was hired by the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service in 1983, where he worked as a County Extension Agent charged with dairy responsibility. Over the next three years, David worked as a consultant to approximately sixty dairy farmers in Lincoln County, MS. This work included business development and management, dairy production, agronomics, and personnel consulting. He also served as the administrator of the Lincoln County Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA). During these years, David also attended graduate school in Extension Education. In 1987, David joined the staff of Select Sires, Inc., where he worked until 1990 as a Herd Evaluation Consultant and Sales Representative. In this role, David worked as a consultant to over 100 dairy farmers in South Mississippi and the State of Louisiana regarding the genetic progress and mating programs of their herds.
In 1990, David returned to what he had clearly identified as his professional passion in life, and took the position of General Manager of North Florida Holsteins. During the next three years, David supervised the day-to-day operations of this 3,600-cow facility. Also during this time, David traveled internationally, serving as a dairy consultant in the countries of Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, working directly with dairy farmers to assist in dairy farm and personnel management.
In December 1993, David joined Aurora Dairy as Executive Vice President and General Manager, where he assumed responsibility for large dairy operations in Colorado, Texas, and Idaho that totaled approximately 8,500 cows. In the years that followed, David and his staff managed the acquisition from bankruptcy of three large farms in Georgia and Florida, as well as the development of a large organic dairy facility in Idaho, now known as Horizon Organic Dairy and owned by Dean Foods.
In 1995, David made his initial investment in Aurora Dairy. That same year, he was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer, and subsequently substantially increased his ownership stake in the company. In 2004, he founded Dairy Production Systems, LLC, and is currently the company's President and CEO. David is recognized in the industry as an expert in dairy operations and personnel management, has authored numerous articles on the subject for industry publications, and has traveled extensively, both nationally and internationally to speak on the subject. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the National Mastitis Council.
David lives in High Springs, FL, and he and his wife Jamie have three grown children, two grandsons, and two granddaughters.
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