About the Fund
James Davis came from a proud tradition of farming and public service that stretched back generations. His great-great-grandfather began raising sugar cane and tobacco in Florida in the early 1800s, laying the foundation for a family deeply rooted in agriculture. His grandfather, Amos Davis, served seven terms in the Florida House of Representatives and later as its sergeant-at-arms for three terms.
After World War II, Jim’s father, Jefferson Davis, moved the family to Homestead, where he purchased a potato farm. Growing up on the farm with his two brothers, Jim developed a strong work ethic and a deep respect for the land. He left Homestead after high school to study agricultural economics at the University of Mississippi but returned home to run the family farm after his father’s unexpected death in 1971.
In 1978, Jim transformed the family’s business by founding Davis Tree Farm, shifting the focus from crops to subtropical trees and palms. By 1990, Davis Tree Farm spanned more than 125 acres, supplying landscapers across Palm Beach County and the Orlando and Tampa areas.
Jim’s excellence in his field earned him multiple Grower of the Year awards from the Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association. He also served as a board member for the Florida Farm Bureau, contributed to the Allied Trade Show steering committee, and was active in several other trade and civic organizations.
“It is a good industry. I have really enjoyed it,” Jim said in a Nursery Digest article, reflecting his passion for horticulture and agriculture.
Following his death in 1995, Jim’s legacy lives on through a scholarship fund that supports students pursuing degrees in horticulture or agriculture — helping a new generation grow strong roots of their own.
