What happens when the FFA President marries the basketball star?

You get the 2006 Dairy
Festival Parade Marshalls!

The 2006 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade Marshalls are no strangers to milking a cow or to the events that will unfold, when Hopkins County pays tribute to the multi-million dollar dairy industry, June 9-17.

Jerry Don Gibby served as president of the North Hopkins FFA Chapter back in 1958, when he was a senior in high school. And, a pretty sophomore girl, who was one of the stars on the Lady Panther Basketball Team "caught his eye!" She was Peggy Goldsmith.

Two years later, and giving Peggy time to finish school, Jerry Don and Peggy married on June 8, 1960.

And, as they begin their 47th year of marriage, they will be leading the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade, on June 10, 2006.

Jerry Don worked at North Texas Producers Association, one of the early milk processors in Hopkins County, and worked for Rockwell International. But, the "call" of the dairy industry lead the young couple to enter the dairy business in June of 1967.

"We sold milk first to North Texas Producers, then MPI and AMPI, and by the time we retired in December 2005, we were selling to Dairy Farmers of America," related Jerry Don.

Meanwhile, the Gibbys reared three children, Donna Cook, Janet Burnside, and Mike Gibby.

"And, don't forget the grandchildren," inserted Peggy. "They are Elizabeth Cook, Christina Cook, Kenzi Burnside, Thor Burnside, Savanah Gibby, Tara Gibby, and Canyon Gibby!"

Jerry Don and Peggy are still involved in producing hay and raising Holstein dairy heifers on their farm in Birthright. They are active in community activities, where they serve on the board of directors for Hopkins County Farm Bureau, Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op, and Jerry Don is a Trustee of Birthright United Methodist Church, where they actively attend.

The Gibbys were members of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board for over 25 years and served on almost every committee. They chaired the "world famous" Milking Contest for the past eight years!

Congratulations
2006 Parade Marshalls
Jerry Don & Peggy Gibby!

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