Raymond Haygood, 2010 Hopkins County Dairy Festival
Parade Marshal.

 

Parade Marshal Not a Native of Hopkins County
"But Got Here As Quickly As He Could"

 

by: Bobby McDonald

In announcing the 2010 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade Marshal, members of the board stated that he wasn't a native of Hopkins County, but says he "got here as quickly as he could!" Raymond Haygood was drawn to Hopkins County, like so many others, by the dairy industry. He was born in Winter, Texas, in Central Texas and graduated from Ballinger High School in 1963, where he had been active in football, track, and the Future Farmers of America chapter.

He became active in the dairy industry in the summers while in high school, as he worked at the Central West Texas cheese plant, making cheddar cheese. He first attended Tarleton State University and then transfered to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Business, in 1968.

Haygood accepted employment with Associated Milk Producers Inc. in 1968, as fieldman, and moved to Hopkins County. It was in 1971, that the marreid Charlotte Vititow, a Hopkins County native, at Davis Street Baptist Church. The have raised three children and presently have 5 grandchildren.

He served as fieldman for AMPI for ten years and was promoted to East Texas Area Manager, where he worked for 12 years, before becoming Assistant Division Manager for AMPI. Later, he was named to the Membership and Quality Department for AMPI, at the Southern Region Office. AMPI merged with Dairy Farmers of America and he continued working for them, until his retirement in July of 1999, with 30.5 years of service to the dairy organizations.

 

 

 

This is just one of the Southwest Dairy Museum's exhibits that Raymond oversees, as it appeared
recently at a Como-Pickton School Career Fair.

 

 

In July 1999, he decided that he wanted to continue to be involved in the dairy industry and accepted a postion with the Southwest Dairy Museum, in Sulphur Springs, where he continues to serve as the Director of Fairs, Livestock Shows, Special Events, and Exhibits. He travels with these activities over a large region, including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri, and Florida. The Southwest Dairy Museum currently has exhibits in 18 museums or educational centers throughout the South and Southwest.

Meanwhile, Haygood has served his community as a Saltillo School Board member for 13 years, on the Agricultural Committee and the Transportation Committe of the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, and has been a deacon of Hopewell Primitive Baptist Church for over 30 years.

He purchased a farm in 1972 in the Saltillo Community, where he continues to raise beef cattle and develop Holstein heifers.

Watch for Raymond Haygood, as he leads Saturday's, Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade through downtown Sulphur Springs!

Congratulations to Raymond on his career achievements in the dairy industry!

 

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