By: Shelia Mader
When a fellow farmer finds himself facing a time-sensitive job and needs another set of
hands, Dexter Gilbert does not spend much time weighing the inconvenience. He has
been known to leave his own fields and go help.
That willingness to put others first is simply part of who Gilbert is.
The fourth-generation Jackson County farmer has built a successful life through hard
work, faith, family and a deep understanding of the land. Yet some of his most important
work may be what he does for people who have never planted a seed or climbed
aboard a tractor.
Twice each year, Gilbert opens his farm to give young people a hands-on look at
agriculture and the many opportunities it offers. His goal is not simply to teach them how
peanuts and cotton are grown. He wants them to understand that modern agriculture
also involves business, technology, science and innovation.
Gilbert recently welcomed students from Crossroads Academy in Quincy to Gilbert
Farms. The students, who are members of Future Business Leaders of America, toured
the operation and learned that farming offers possibilities far beyond the traditional
picture of overalls, work boots and long days in the heat.
“I wanted to expose them to agribusiness and let them know there’s a great future for
smart young men and women in agriculture,” Gilbert said.
The farm visit grew from an invitation Gilbert received to speak at Crossroads Academy
about entrepreneurship. The school had brought in representatives from several types
of businesses, but no one from agriculture had previously participated.
Gilbert saw an opportunity to introduce students to an industry that feeds the world
while supporting careers in technology, science, equipment, finance, research and
countless other fields.
“They’d never had anyone from the farming industry come in,” he said. “It’s not just out
in the fields, out in the heat, working.”
Gilbert primarily grows peanuts and cotton through Gilbert Farms and G&G Farms. He
has watched agriculture change significantly since he first climbed onto a tractor more
than 45 years ago.
Today’s farmers use GPS-guided equipment, advanced machinery and technology that
allows them to monitor operations from a smartphone. Those tools require a new
generation of talented people capable of carrying agriculture into the future.
“Farming has changed,” Gilbert said. “It’s all technology now, and we’re going to need
those young brains with science and innovation to take us to the next level.”
During their visit, students toured equipment, learned about planting operations and
participated in educational activities. Gilbert’s wife, an educator in Chipley, helped with
the program, along with representatives from the National Black Growers Council.
For Crossroads Academy FBLA sponsor Qualandria Brookens, the trip gave students
access to possibilities they might never have considered.
“It is literally right in their backyard,” Brookens said. “They can not only change their
world, but they can change their family and their lives. You have to show them that.”
Brookens said exposure to new people, businesses and career fields can change the
direction of a young person’s life.
“I think sometimes people discount how much exposure can take their lives to the next
level,” she said.
That is exactly why Gilbert continues opening his gates.
He hopes some students will discover a future in agriculture, but he also believes
everyone should understand the importance of farming and the people responsible for
putting food on tables.
“To survive, we’ve got to eat, so we’ve got to have food,” Gilbert said. “Without farmers,
no food.”
For Gilbert, educating young people is an investment in the future. He wants other
farmers, business owners and community leaders to recognize that they also have
knowledge worth sharing.
“We need to think about the next generation,” he said. “We have a lot of businessmen
and women in the area. Any chance you get, go out to the schools and talk to them. Let
them see what you’re doing because it helps.”
Gilbert’s concern for others extends well beyond scheduled farm tours. Whether he is
helping another farmer through a difficult job, supporting someone in need or making
time for students, he gives freely without first asking what he will receive in return.
His success has not caused him to forget his neighbors or the struggles that come with
earning a living from the land. Instead, it has given him another way to serve.
Gilbert works hard to provide for his family, but his priorities do not end at his own
doorstep. He remains committed to his community and to showing young people that
farming can be demanding, rewarding and filled with opportunity.
Every crop begins with a seed, but Gilbert understands that seeds are not planted only
in the ground. Some are planted in young minds through a day on the farm, a new
experience or a conversation with someone willing to share what he has learned.
The harvest from those seeds may not be visible this season. It could take years.
Gilbert is willing to wait.