Potts Award Recipient 2022
Dale Murden, President of Texas Citrus Mutual
Biographical Sketch
Dale Murden is a 5th generation Texan born in Elsa Texas and raised on his grandparent’s small farm in Santa Rosa Texas, where he learned to appreciate the land and love of farming. Murden actually began his career in citrus right out of high school when he joined the Extension Service first ever citrus IPM program as a scout under Dr. Leon Smith. In 1983, just before the devastating freeze, he went to work for Donald Thompson grove care, then the largest private grove care company in the valley. Immediately following the freeze, most of the industry went to work for the then Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to serve as loss adjustors on citrus. In 1986 Murden went to work for Rio Farms Inc. in the citrus department helping to rebuild the citrus research and demonstration acreage. In 1989 with yet another devastating industry freeze. Murden thought for sure his citrus career was over and became the farm manager at Rio Farms. But in 1995 he went to work for Precision Orchard Services and Bob Smith Grove Care Companies as General Manager where he did everything he could to treat each individual grove like it was his own. In 1999 Murden was asked to come back to Rio Farms as General Manager. For 15 years he enjoyed working with all commodity groups, universities, USDA and growers, serving agriculture through research and demonstration projects, along with Andy Scott the longtime Director of Research. In late 2014, Murden was asked to come ‘home’ to the citrus industry he loves, to help create the Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation. The idea was to create an industry wide program similar to cottons boll weevil eradication program which Murden had first-hand experience with. The industry passed a referendum overwhelmingly in 2017 and the program is now a state recognized program that manages all citrus pest and disease issues harmful to the states commercial citrus industry. Also in late 2014, Ray Prewett, the longtime President of Texas Citrus Mutual retired. Murden was asked to help the industry in a dual capacity and today is President of Texas Citrus Mutual and its subsidiaries, Valley Ag Insurance, Texas Citrus Producers Board, Citrus Foundation and Texas Valley Citrus Committee. TCM is the grower association representing the Texas Citrus industry, with lobbying efforts in both Austin and DC. Murden always had a passion to serve agricultures farmers and ranchers and has served on many commodity boards, water boards etc. in a volunteer capacity. Murden thinks everyone should “stand for something”, and he chose to stand for agriculture.
Murdens’ current service to agriculture includes:
- Texas Citrus Mutual – President
- Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Corporation – President
- Region M State Water Planning Group
- T.D.A. Budwood Advisory Committee – Chairman
- U.S.D.A. Agriculture Trade Advisory Committee for Fruits and Vegetables
- Texas A&M Citrus Center Advisory Board – Chairman
Murdens’ past service has included:
- Texas Citrus Mutual- Chairman
- Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers – Chairman
- U.S.D.A. Agriculture Trade Advisory Committee for Sweeteners
- Texas Farm Bureau – State Director
- Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Corporation – State Director
- Lower Rio Grande Valley Cotton and Grain Producers – Director
- Texas Citrus Producers Board – Chairman
- American Farm Bureau Federation – Sugar Comm. Chair
- Hidalgo County Agrilife Extension Program Council – Chairman
- Edinburg Citrus Association – Chairman
- Texas Citrus Exchange – Chairman
- Hidalgo County Farm Bureau – Director
- National Sorghum Producers –President
- Monte Alto I.S.D. School Board –Vice Chairman
- Texas Sorghum Association – Chairman
- Delta Lake Irrigation District – Chairman
- United Sorghum Checkoff Program – Chairman
- Texas Valley Citrus Committee – Chairman