James A. "Jimmy" Messana, was born September 10, 1955 to Joseph and Ruth Messana in Miami Beach, Florida.
Upon graduating from The Lear School, Miami, Florida, Jimmy moved to Zolfo Springs, Florida where he began a 37 year successful career in the farming, cattle and citrus industry. The words that follow describe Jimmy's creed as a farmer:
I believe in freedom, to work the soil and care for the land, and freedom to worship as I please, but I do not believe freedom is free.
I believe a man's greatest possession is his dignity, and that no calling bestows this more abundantly than farming.
I believe hard work and honest sweat are the building blocks of a person's character.
I believe that farming, despite its hardships and disappointments, is the most honest and honorable way a may can spend his days on this earth.
I believe my children are learning values that will last a lifetime and can be learned in no other way.
I believe farming provides education for life and that no other occupation teaches so about birth, growth, and maturity in such a variety of ways.
I believe many of the best things in life are indeed free: the splendor of a sunrise, the rapture of wide open spaces, the exhilarating sight of your land greening each spring.
I believe true happiness comes from watching your crops ripen in the fields, your children growing tall in the sun, your whole family feeling the pride that springs from their shared experience.
I believe that by my toil I am giving more to the world than I am taking from it, an honor that does come to all men.
I believe my life will be measured ultimately by what I have done for my fellow men, and by this I fear no judgment.
I believe when a man grows old and sums up his days, he should be able to stand tall and feel pride in the life has lived.
I believe in farming, because it makes all possible.
