Like cowboys? Want to learn more about them. Then check out “Florida Crackers: The Cattlemen and Cowboys of Florida.” This is a movie produced by the Self Discovery Production Team and a man raised in the culture, who grew up as a working cowboy on a ranch near Fort Pierce, Florida. You can order a copy online now. The movie features some folks you may know if you’ve ever done some Florida agriculture tours.
Florida Crackers tells the story of this state’s little-known cattle culture, which dates back to 1521, when Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon landed in Florida and introduced the first cattle and horses to North America, thus setting the stage for the first American cowboys and cattle industry to be born.
Florida Crackers was filmed on some of the biggest and oldest ranches in Florida. One, the Adams Ranch of Fort Pierce, famous for creating the Braford cattle breed, received the 1999 Ranch of the Century award from the National Cattleman’s Beef Association.
A few of the prominent figures featured in the movie are: Mr. Bud Adams, the Carlton Family, “Alligator” Ron Bergeron, Ms. Iris Wall, Mr. Pete Clemons and former State Agriculture Commissioner, Charles Bronson.
For the first time ever, there are more people living in cities than in the country, and this movie has an important message that many people around the World are waiting to hear, about the core values of the Cracker Culture, who are true stewards of not just the land, but of a way of life, where integrity, courage, honesty and respect are normal.