Jim and Nick Russakis, Russakis Ranch, Okeechobee
Jim G. Russakis and his family own and operate Russakis Ranch LLC. Mr. Russakis has been in the cattle business since 1993 and purchased this ranch in 2003. They proudly produce cattle, seed and hay. Mr. Russakis has been implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) on his farm for a decade now. BMPs are a set of guidelines that advise producers on how to manage the water, nutrient, and pesticides they are using to reduce agriculture’s impact on the state’s natural resources. Russakis Ranch LLC uses modern practices such as soil and tissue samples to determine the amount of fertilizer to apply on the ranch. Mr. Russakis uses a rotational schedule for his cattle and feeders to prevent over grazing, erosion and limit damage to nearby water supplies.
Mr. Russakis is actively involved in his local community. He is a past member of the St Lucie County Agriculture Property Owners Committee, a past President of the St Lucie County Farm Bureau and serves on the Florida Highway Patrol Advisory Council. He is also a member of the National Cattlemen’s Association as well as his local county cattlemen associations. Mr. Russakis’ family was among the founding members of the St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Pierce where they remain members today. When asked why he is a farmer who CARES, Russakis responded, “our farms/ranches are very important to our entire family, neighbors, county and state. In order for the next generations to see ‘real’ Florida we need to be diligent in caring for the environment.”
