Cattle ranching has been of major significance to Florida since the 16th century; however, few are aware of the historic, ecologic, economic and cultural influence of this industry. This study investigates the origins and impacts of the traditional customs and practices of Florida's cattle ranchers, who preserve and reinvent this rich heritage today. Ranchers live closely with the land and their animals and, due to the often-uncertain and cyclical nature of the business, must possess resourcefulness and initiative to prosper. The image of the stoic cowboy has long been associated with the American West, yet before longhorn cattle ever crossed the western plains, Florida frontiers were populated with herds of unique "cracker" cows, descendants of cattle left behind by early Spanish settlers. Like the West, Florida experienced conflicts between ranchers and other land claimants, issues that continue in the 21st century. Modern ranchers contend with developers, environmental concerns, and increasing regulation, yet they persevere in passing on their cultural heritage. Agricultural lifestyles can be emotionally fulfilling, but stewardship of land and animals can be stressful and labor-intensive. Motivation to continue these customs may be enhanced by identification with cowboys of popular American media, enhanced by physical immersion in a similar setting. Optimal agricultural practices have been well researched; however, anthropology provides a useful lens to examine customs and practices of Florida's cattle ranchers. Anthropologists have long been concerned with the dynamic relationship between human culture and the environment, examining how the physical landscape and ecological niches shape and are shaped by those who inhabit them. As globalized trade markets, technology, and economies expand, influencing agricultural practices and destroying natural habitats, diachronic studies of changing environments, economic and sociocultural influences in geographically bounded locales can be helpful in understanding this process. However, a key consideration is the fact that culture is not static, but ever changing, thus the most important aspects of tradition and heritage that we choose to retain and reinvent may provide the most telling insight into any society.

"Florida: An Ideal Cattle State" by the Florida State Live Stock Association presents a comprehensive study of Florida's cattle industry. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, this book showcases Florida's potential as a thriving cattle state, highlighting its unique geographical and climatic advantages. A valuable resource for ranchers, agricultural enthusiasts, and historians, this publication sheds light on the vital role of Florida's cattle industry in shaping its economy and heritage.

The Florida pioneer cow hunters gave birth to the cattle industry. Florida, discovered by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in the 1500s, left behind cattle that roamed the peninsula hundreds of years. In the 1800s, new settlers gathered-up the scrub cattle and bred them with their herds. As cracker whips snapped, cow hunters rounded-up their herds and drove them by the thousands to coastal markets on the old cracker trails. It was a dangerous passage. The legendary cow hunters are todays ranchers. This book is about the past and the future of ranching in Florida as a new generation takes over the reins with some heirs choosing another profession and selling the family ranch. I hope the reader will reflect upon the valuable lessons these ranchers reveal about history and survival.

This publication presents the entire content of the acclaimed multi-media museum exhibit, Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition, in book form. More than 200 photos present historical documentary images, scenes of contemporary ranch life, and artifacts that range from the Spanish colonial spurs to modern electronic ID tags. The engaging text describes Florida's cattle ranching heritage from the 16th century to the present. An enclosed DVD includes two broadcast-quality videos that present the fascinating story of Cracker Cattle and Cracker Horses descended from stock introduced by Spaniards in the 1500s, and twelve audio segments that feature dozens of Florida cowboys, cowgirls and ranchers who inform and entertain you on topics ranging from cow dogs and Cracker cow whips to cowboy funerals and hilarious poetry based on ranch work experiences.--

WILD FLORIDA AS TOLD BY THE PIONEER "COW HUNTERS AND HUNTRESSES" WHO LIVED IT Two hundred years ago, pioneer "cow hunters and huntresses" in search of a better place to grow their families and raise cattle forged their way into the heart of wild Florida. They survived by wit and fortitude and drove down stakes in the unforgiving land. Traveling in covered wagons, alongside their cattle, they carved rutted trails through pine forests, trudged through swamps, black clouds of mosquitoes, survived pestilence, and disease to settle on Florida's rich prairie grassland. These rugged men and women cultivated the land, grew crops, put up clapboard houses, and rounded-up "scrub cattle" left by early Spanish explorers to breed and improve their herd. These pioneer families passed down their heritage of hard work and persistence. As Norman Proveaux, pioneer Myakka rancher puts it, "true 'cow hunters' are bred not made." Indiantown "cow huntress" Iris Wall, quips, she is a "Florida cracker with a little extra salt!" These are the true adventures of wild Florida told by the pioneer "cow hunters and huntresses" who lived it and gave birth to the Florida cattle industry. CONTACT: Nancy Dale, Ph.D. (863) 214-8351 or www.nancydalephd.com or [email protected]

Rancher... Artist... Poet... Writer... Attorney... Any and all of these words combine to describe Brad Phares and are the reasons he's something beyond your typical cattleman. Brad Phares is an 8th generation American rancher (7th generation in Florida) living in Okeechobee, Florida with his wife, Sam, and children Jacqueline and Jared where he channels his multi-faceted background into his oil paintings and writings to provide a perspective on ranch life unlike any other. Brad grew up working on his family's ranch with all that time and experience becoming the source of inspiration for his early drawings, paintings and poetry. Upon graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor's of Science in Agriculture (animal sciences) and then from St. Thomas University School of Law with a Juris Doctor, rather than pursuing a career as an attorney, he chose instead to focus on his art and hopes that his representations of contemporary Florida ranch life, along with his writings, will serve to enlighten others as to the invaluable benefits that Florida ranches provide to the state's ecosystem and economy.

Visit a Florida where sunburn is the result of honest, hard work--not an afternoon at the beach "Without its lush ranchlands, there would be precious little left to see of old Florida, and nowhere for some of our most endangered wildlife to survive. Carlton Ward's colorful tribute to this dwindling frontier is also a call to save what remains of it. The alternative is unthinkable."--Carl Hiaasen "Ward's masterful photographs go beyond pictures of cowboys and the Florida landscape to taste the life, feel the land, and appreciate the importance of the past, present, and future of ranching in the unique environment of Florida."--Todd Bertolaet "Exploring the rich history and culture of the Florida ranch, this book opens a window to a world that many Floridians are unaware of, and teaches us why we should all care about this disappearing way of life."--Jason Hahn Drive a few miles beyond Disney World, past the gaudy souvenir shops, all-you-can-eat buffets, and chain hotels, and you'll find the largest producing cattle ranch in the world. Indeed, nearly one-fifth of the state is devoted to the cattle industry, and these working ranches play a vital role in Florida's economic health. Yet even as encroaching urban sprawl threatens their way of life, photographer Carlton Ward has been documenting the often unseen world of Florida cowboys. Every day before dawn, they saddle their horses, coil their lariats and whips, and ride out to work the herds. Over 15,000 ranches raise nearly two million head of cattle--the living legacies of the longest history of ranching in North America. Florida cowboys share their land with bears, panthers, and other endangered species, along with irreplaceable wetlands that help sustain the state's strained water resources. Complemented by twenty historical, cultural, and environmental essays from Dana Ste Claire, Joe Akerman, Auduon of Florida, and the Seminole Tribe, among others, Ward's stunning photographs capture the grit and raw beauty of inland Florida, its enduring cowboys, and the land they protect.