Citrograph May-June 2010 - Citrus Research Board

ootstock trial. He started cutting fruit
and said “try this.” Followed by “what do
you think of that” After we compared
one scion on numerous rootstocks and
consumed several fruit, he said, ‘so you
liked this one best--that’s because of the
rootstock; flavor always sells’. His lessons
on life extended beyond his knowledge
of citrus and agriculture; he even
gave wonderful parenting tips. Dowlin
was a brilliant, loving and compassionate
man. The industry has lost a giant
and a friend. I will miss you Dowlin.”
n Jackie Maxwell writes that, “Shortly
after I purchased Willits & Newcomb
Citrus Nursery, I had the pleasure of
meeting with Dowlin Young at his
nursery in Thermal, CA. My
first memory was stepping
into the office and seeing the
picture of George Washington
with a crew cut (eerie resemblance
to Dowlin). Under
that picture was a sign that
read “The Golden Rule – He
who makes the gold, makes
the rules.” I was in awe of the
king of citrus nurseries and
continue to be star-struck to
this day. Over the last 32 years,
Dowlin was my mentor, my competitor,
the best loan officer I ever had and a
true friend. I never asked a question that
was not answered with complete candor.
His warmth, kindness, knowledge and
wit will remain a fond memory always.”
He was a
master of
innovation
and a
humble
host.
n Finally, Citrograph received this
tribute to Young from Roger Smith of
TreeSource Citrus Nursery: “I consider
Dowlin Young to be one of my mentors
in the citrus nursery business. There will
never again be anyone like him in our
industry! He grew up in and around the
nursery business his whole life. He was
tying buds behind his dad at 8 years
old and celebrated his honeymoon by
making his wife work on a topworking
job (I suspect he never heard the
last of that decision.) He named the
‘Daisy’ mandarin after his wife, Daisy,
which showed his unique affection for
his life mate.
“Dowlin always ended a conversation
with a joke, and all who knew him
respected him for his down-to-earth
approach to the citrus nursery business.
He was a very practical man and allowed
other nurseries to sell his trees for him,
thereby fostering a standard of cooperation
between citrus nurseries in California
that lasts to this day. He was a man
of opinions, but he would rarely express
them publicly as he did not see himself
as a man of industry influence. In his
mind, he didn’t have time for meetings,
so he let us youngsters do the meetings
and would call us privately to teach us
his perspective and offer his wise counsel,
which was normally succinct, to the
point, and with a touch of humor.
“For decades, Dowlin was the primary
supplier of budwood to nurseries
throughout the state. He cut well over
2 million buds a year and cut every bud
himself to be sure there were no mistakes.
He even had his truck stolen at
least twice because he used to keep the
keys in the ignition and listen
to the radio while cutting
buds deep in a nursery row.
California citrus nurseries
have to work harder making
buds because Dowlin won’t
be there to bail us out if we
run short.
“He was the consummate
desert nurseryman and
developed a system for his
workers to dig trees at night
in order to avoid the intense
desert heat that started up in late
spring. He was a master of innovation
and a humble host. If you visited him,
he would always have you jump in his
truck for a tour of his three nursery sites,
but you would have to observe his innovations
for yourself because he would
rarely point anything out. Lucky for me,
I asked him many questions and learned
a lot from his humble and often ribald
answers. He would drive you through
his vast nursery growing grounds that
was home to well over a million trees at
any one time, ticking off what varieties
were and never pausing to look at a
sign. I asked him how he did that and
he looked me in the eye and said, ‘I’ve
been doing this for a lot of years, and
when you cut all the buds yourself you
know where everything is.’
“Dowlin can never be replaced, but
his legacy in our industry is as permanently
rooted as the trees he supplied.
Around the citrus industry you won’t
find his signature, just his fingerprints.
I am proud to have known a man of
selfless character and humility, and all
that I learned from him will always be
a part of every nursery tree I produce. I
will miss him…” l
Reach
Commercial
California &
Arizona Citrus
Growers
Whether you're selling tractors or
other farm equipment,pickup
trucks, irrigation equipment, fertilizer
or pesticides...consider the value of
your ad dollar in the pages of Citrograph.
Each issue reaches every commercial
citrus grower in the states of California
and Arizona, plus associated business
members affiliated with the citrus
industry...the people in charge of
purchasing. Your advertising message
is directed to farm leaders who use vast
amounts of goods and services.
Circulation reaches over 5,000 key
decision makers among California and
Arizona fresh citrus growers, landowners
and industry-involved companies.
In the near future, Citrograph will reach
the entire United States. Don’t miss
the next issue!
Contact us today to be
included in future issues
of Citrograph
Sandy Creighton, Sales Manager
Phone: 559-433-9343
E-mail: screighton@farmprogress.com
May/June 2010 Citrograph 17