CAMPBELL’S DAIRYLAND

20 YEARS AFTER THE FIRE, CAMPBELL’S DAIRYLAND IS GOING STRONG

By Taylor Wells

On November 8, 2002, Campbell’s Dairyland, co-owned by Jay Paules, Jill Paules, Leesa Lee and James Lee, suffered fire damages totaling around $250,000, which the Osprey Observer covered in our December 2002 FishHawk edition. Jay was alerted of the fire at around 1 a.m. and rushed to his restaurant, but the damage was done.

It took eight months and eight days, but it came back as a missed part of the community. After learning of its return date, Campbell’s Dairyland entered a float in the Brandon Fourth of July parade to announce it and celebrate, receiving much support and cheers.

“I remember the very first customers that I got to take their order was a mother and two young children, a boy and a girl, … and the little boy was the younger of the two, and after I took their order, he looks at me very sincerely and says, ‘Thank you for opening back up!’ I ain’t going to lie, I shed a tear,” Jay said.

The family-owned restaurant specializes in sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers and of course ice cream and ice cream-related items, along with options like salads, battered veggies, seafood and over 30 milkshake flavors. Plus, it has indoor and outdoor sit-down dining, a drive-through and

a small play area for kids outside. It began as founder Boyd Campbell selling chili dogs at local events, using a five-generation-old famTe co-owners of Campbell’s Dairyland, from left to ily recipe for the right: Jay Paules, Jill Paules, Leesa Lee and James Lee. chili. In 1985, he and his wife, Pam Campbell, bought an ice cream location, then named Dairy Isle, and began selling chili dogs alongside the ice cream. It became Campbell’s Dairyland in 1993, yet it’s such a popular community fixture that some customers still call it Dairy Isle. In 1998, the Campbells sold the restaurant to their daughters, Jill and Leesa, and it continued on to now. “What’s really neat is, I’ve been here for 30 years,” Jay said. “I’ve seen people that I took their order from when they were little kids coming in with their parents, and now they’re coming in here with their own kids — they’re parents themselves, so I’m seeing these second generations with my own eyes, and it’s really gratifying and humbling to see.” Campbell’s Dairyland is located at 200 S Parsons Ave. in Brandon. It’s currently seeking employees, so if you’d like to become one, please contact the restaurant. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/people/campbells-dairyland/100063697802657/ or call 813-6851189.

BARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL’S FFA WINS NATIONALS IN INDIANA

By Makenzie Atkins

Barrington Middle School is celebrating as its team of Future Farmers bring back an impressive accomplishment.

The Future Farmers Association (FFA) at Barrington Middle School competed in and placed first at the Conduct of Chapter Meetings at the 95th FFA National Convention. Eight girls from Barrington Middle School traveled all the way to Indianapolis, Indiana to compete against 42 other states.

“I am so incredibly proud of these students. Their work ethic and determination are unsurpassed,” said Greg Lehman, Barrington Middle Schools FFA advisor. “To reach the level that they have achieved requires multiple practices every week plus many hours of study time at home.”

The team came in second place back in 2021 as seventh graders, which gave them the drive to go back and win this year. With multiple practices each week, the team, Ashlyn Demanovich, Alexandra Jirinec, Karoline Kmetz, Jessie Parker, Hallie Peacock, Danielle Ricks, Morgan Walters and Camryn Varnadoe, worked hard to be prepared for the 2022 convention. Competing teams included seventh through ninth grade students, and Barrington’s team had to go up against many of the older students. “It was exhilarating as a parent to watch such talented students from across the coun-

Barrington Middle School’s FFA team, Ashlyn De- try compete in manovich, Alexandra Jirinec, Karoline Kmetz, Jessie this debate areParker, Hallie Peacock, Danielle Ricks, Morgan Walters and Camryn Varnadoe, and their advisor, Greg Lehman, brought home a big win for Barrington Middle na,” said Sherie Jirinec, mother School at the 95th FFA National Convention in Indiaof team memnapolis, Indiana. ber Alexandra. “When we all realized that they had won the National Conduct of Chapter Meetings title, all of our mouths dropped, and the cheers of joy commenced.” Each student was given an item of business that was debated and voted on according to the rules of parliamentary procedure. They were also given privileged, subsidiary and incidental motions that had to be stated and handled correctly. Each student was given 13 minutes and then had to answer the judges’ questions. To learn more about Future Farmers of America, visit www.fa.org. Barrington Middle School, located at 5925 Village Center Dr. in Lithia, can be reached at 813657-7266.