Kissimmee: Florida Ranch Rodeo and Heritage Festival

Everyone has a picture of a rodeo... the riders leaving the chute on a bull or wild horse, the clowns who bravely distract the bull or horse while the rider scrambles to safety.  Right?  But like professional wrestling or Reality TV... it is mostly drama, excitement, and show not the real day-to-day activities of ranchers or real people.  

Program, Entry Ticket,
Brisket Tasting Ticket

So when our friend Larry Ellis invited us to the Florida Ranch Rodeo and Heritage Festival we said, "Yes!"  The event is hosted by the Florida Cattlemen's Association along with the Florida Cattlewomen's Association

Florida Cracker Cows
awaiting the roping contest

The this was the Florida Ranch Rodeo Finals held September 25 & 26, 2015 in Kissimmee, FL at the Silver Spurs Arena.  The arena is huge, seating 8,000 people so it almost always looks empty.  You can manage quite a walk as you wander the two levels with full mezzanines on both levels, well it is 33,946 square feet.  Did I say huge?  

The cutting event
The gal cuts three calves from the herd
her team (guys) must keep them "penned"

This beautiful facility was built in 2003 and is immaculate.  It replaced the original Silver Spurs grand stand which was rustic but not accommodating in all types of weather.  You don't cancel an event due to weather unless it is severe... hurricane, tornado, and similar.  If you think this is a passing fad, think again, the Silver Spurs has been in operation since 1941, over 44 years.

Well, the rodeo was held in the evening, Friday and Saturday nights, 6 PM until the last event ended which was around 11 PM. 

This beautiful building is 12 years young
and looks as if it was built yesterday.

 Saturday was the Cowboy Heritage Festival.  Now, many in Florida have a squabble with the word "cowboy" as in Florida we had cowhunters or cowmen. 

Replica chuck wagon with saddle
and other historical goodies

 Florida was open range until 1949 and so you had to hunt the cattle.  Then, legend has it that when the Confederates recruited soldiers, in most states they took men and boys but Florida was (and still is) a cattle production state.  So, to feed the troops, any man working cattle in Florida was not accepted to the Confederate Army, they stayed to run the cattle and feed the army.  Thus the term Florida Cowman.

Re-enacting  the Florida Cow Calvary

And what cattle drive would not have music?  There was always someone with a banjo or guitar and a teller of tall tales.  

Music/Story/Poetry Pavilion (Tent)

Yes, the Heritage Festival included a music/cowboy poetry/storytelling tent.  Every selection was relevant to Florida, cattle, and/or horses.

Larry Magnum of Jacksonville brought
his fine voice and fantastic original songs

But not all tall tales were shared at the Entertainment Tent.  I heard many wonderful stories at the historical displays, in the camp ground, the arena, and even behind the scenes.

Not all tall tales were told at the Entertainment Tent
Here the Swamp Cabbage chefs trade stories

At every Florida ranch event you must have a whip cracking contest.  You know the old story about Crackers and Florida Crackers...  the name came from the sound of the cow whips.

Awesome whip cracking by the gals

Whips are still made by hand and used daily on Florida ranches.  Just in case you didn't know, Florida is beef country. Currently, there are more than 1 million head of cattle and 15,000 beef producers throughout Florida. Guess the mass migration and housing projects have displaced the grazing land... digression as Bill Messer would say.

Judging the whip contest

Another highlight of the day was the brisket tasting contest.  Now, I am NOT a beef eater but When in Rome do as the Romans... or so the saying goes.  Anyway, I purchased a ticket for the tasting mainly because I wanted Swamp Cabbage and it was included in the tasting.  Also, I wanted to support the event.

Swamp Cabbage... almost ready

So with bowl in hand I headed to one of the seven booths in the Brisket Contest and asked for a small serving.  Small is relative and was huge by my standards, so I shared.  At the remaining stands I explained that I was NOT a beef eater and so wanted only a taste... still I had plenty to share.  

Well, after two stops it was time for Swamp Cabbage and the folks had prepared it pan fried, boiled, and as fritters.  In my opinion the pan fried was best but each person had a different opinion.  

Brisket Tasting was a popular event

on Saturday

Somehow I managed to taste all seven offerings and survive to tell of it... recall I do NOT eat beef as it does not always agree with me.  

To end I'd like to share a quote from the author Patrick Smith

What really makes a person a true Florida Cracker (besides being born in the state)? 

Several things: 

Heritage

A love of the land and nature, growing things in soil, close family ties, and a deep sense of religion. It also means cracklin' bread and grits and periwinkle soup and swamp cabbage and okra gumbo and ham hocks with collard greens and chicken fried in a cast iron skillet and guava jelly and homemade blackberry cobbler.

A Cracker's word is his bond. If he looks you in the eye and says, "Yes, I will do this for you," then he will - and that's that. They have no pretense, never put on airs, never try to appear to be something other than what they are, and they never "blow smoke" over you. They either like you or they don't, and it's as simple as that ...

Full sized Cracker Pony
Auctioned by the Florida Cattlemen's Association