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From the view atop a saddle to the underside of a hoof, there's not much about a horse that Jerald Lowe hasn't seen or learned through decades of experience as a farrier and cowman. The wisdom he's accumulated is hard to rival and in so many ways is reminiscent of the Dorrance brothers and Ray Hunt. It's simple and subtle yet profound knowledge gained by a whole lot of observation and personal experience. And for as many years as he's spent helping keep horses sound, he's spent an equal amount of time helping family, friends, and clients by sharing what he's learned. Jerald doesn't force anything on you, but rather presents ideas for those open to receive them. In this episode, we look back on Jerald's upbringing and family story, his time as a farrier, cow hunting around the St. John's River, Christmas, and other parts of east central Florida, good cow dogs, and much more. Listen in for some good old fashioned cracker humor, wisdom, and storytelling!

Equal parts general Florida history and family drama, Cow Creek Chronicles conveys the story of our state, our ranching heritage, and one family's rise to prominence and ensuing downfall. Gregory Enns does a masterful job of weaving together the two subjects into one story that is candid and engages all of the reader's emotions. Listen for the links to purchase at the end of the episode and grab a copy today. You'll finish it with a much deeper appreciation for Florida's story.

We dug deep into the archives this week for some deep insight into the life of a day working cowboy from Mr. BJ Johnson. There's plenty of good lessons and laughs in this conversation that made it worth sharing once again. Hope y'all enjoy!

Having access to personal, first person historical accounts is one of the most invaluable tools a society can have when it comes to understanding current times as well as planning for future generations. Thanks to Mr. Charles William Flint of Lee County, Florida, we have an exceptional collection of history to reflect upon through his memories that are collected in his book, "Barefoot To Boots." In this episode, we highlight some of his earliest memories and also enjoy some of tales of the hunt throughout southwest Florida. It's a glimpse into simpler times here in the Sunshine State that you don't want to miss.

Florida was the last man standing so to speak when it came to mandatory fencing of cattle and when the law took effect in 1949 it marked the end of the open range grazing while ushering in a myriad of changes for Florida cowmen. In this episode of the podcast, we begin with a look back at what it was like to spend a week driving cattle across the state in the mid 1930's based on a firsthand account documented by Mr. Jesse Durrance. After that, we roll into the second half of the show and share some excerpts from the book Florida Cowman that touch on the range wars and other factors leading up to the enactment of Florida's Fence Law. We hope you enjoy this interesting firsthand cattle drive account and share it with folks who are unaware of our rich ranching legacy.

There's no shortage of waterways in Florida's interior, and each of them reflect the particular region of the state in which they flow. There are however certain rivers that hold a larger significance for our state both environmentally and culturally. Originating in South Georgia and snaking its way through north Florida en route to the Gulf, the Suwannee River may be the most prominent of them all. She's the source of our state song and she's been documented and celebrated in written word and art of all types as well. Join us this week as we wander back to a much earlier time along her waters and get a glimpse into old Florida and the crackers living along her 245 mile course.

As our name suggests, the primary focus on this podcast is the overlooked interior of Florida and all its intricacies, but we also have a commitment to sharing Florida history in general so that folks can better understand our state's story. Sometimes, sharing Florida's story takes us to the beaches and the endless blue that lies beyond. Such is the case this week as we revisit some of the Spanish influence that shaped our cultural identity here in the Sunshine State. With the arrival of summer and hurricane season, this seemed to be the perfect time to revisit this fascinating tale of destruction, piracy, and ongoing salvage efforts.

This episode is a throwback to our very first season as a tribute to Mr. Matt Arrieta who recently passed. Matt was a cowboy's cowboy and always rode for the brand. We hope you'll enjoy this blast from the past and a glimpse into the life of a working cowboy. Rest easy Matt, and we hope you're finding plenty of good horses to ride.

Florida was built on the legacies of men like Captain F. A. Hendry and the other cow men like him; men who created a solid economic foundation, gave generously to build their communities, and had a keen vision for the future. In this episode we examine Captain Hendry's life from his earliest days in South Georgia to his cattle empire and ultimately his navigation through the state's political channels to forge Lee and Hendry counties. Capturing the breadth of his vision and influence for Florida in this brief intro is practically impossible so be sure to tune in for the full story.

As we approach the hot summer and accompanying rainy season, the specter of Florida's water quality issues will no doubt rear its ugly head so it seemed like the perfect time to spread some educational science ahead of all the seasonally induced emotional rhetoric and grifting. Unfortunately, and against all scientific data, agriculture in Florida has become the easy target, the primary scapegoat if you will, for Florida's water quality woes. It's past time to admit that everyone in our state owns these problems and that we've all got to come together to effectuate real and lasting solutions.

The Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources strives to develop new skills and refine the capabilities of leaders throughout our state's agriculture and natural resources sectors. As Florida continues to face rapid environmental and demographic changes, it's more important than ever to equip our ag leaders with the means to effectively share our story and WLI is one way that goal is being met. Tune in to this week's episode to learn more about the program and find out how you can nominate worthy candidates for the next class!

On this week's show, we're offering a live recording of Brad's April 2nd presentation "Cow Hunting On Florida's Peace River Frontier" to an audience at The Clewiston Museum. Starting off we revisit the most basic cow culture history and origins before examining why the 19th century along the Peace River Frontier was such a pivotal period in our cattle heritage but in Florida's overall success. Brad offers an in depth look at the importance of the Cow Cavalry and the Cuban cattle trade in propelling our state forward into the 20th century and beyond.

Mr. Paul Bowers Sr. is readily recognizable in any crowd not only for his trademark red scarf but also for his quiet, self-assured demeanor and warm smile.  You'll usually spot him nearby a couple of endeavors he's remained committed to throughout his life - working at creating and selling his wood carvings that are beautifully hand crafted in the traditional Seminole way or you'll find him near a rodeo arena.  When we caught up with him it was at the bunkhouse by his horse barn which made for the perfect place for him to share stories and insights about his childhood, his tour of duty in Vietnam, early days in rodeo, and the creation of his hand crafted birds, gators, ladle spoons and toys such as tomahawks made from cypress knees, spears, knives, and more.  In a fast paced, ever changing world, Mr. Bowers remains dedicated to carrying forward the old ways for future generations and appreciating the simple things that keep us all grounded.

Florida was the third state to secede from the Union and played a key role in supplying not only beef, but also other subsistence supplies, to the Confederate States Army. What turned out to be one of the bloodiest battles during the War Between The States occurred on February 20, 1864 in the pine flat woods near Ocean Pond east of Lake City. The Battle of Olustee was the largest battle fought in Florida and resulted in a Confederate victory when Union Forces under General Truman Seymour faced off against Confederate troops led by General Joseph Finegan. In this episode, we review a Florida Historical Society Quarterly article that considers what led General Seymour to proceed against orders with this ill-fated engagement.

Thanks to our daughter we've just discovered epic new theme music for the show. It's called "Watch Florida Grow (The Cracker Theme Song) and was recorded by the South Ocean String Band. This song speaks to the heart and soul of anyone who truly cares about Florida so we debut it in this episode and discuss the backstory behind it. We then go on a rambling discussion about conservation in general, the Great Florida Cattle Drive 2026, and some general cow culture history before diving into the 2026 Florida legislative session and some of the pending bills that are being misconstrued and highly misunderstood in an effort to help clear away some of that confusion. We bounce back and forth from lighthearted banter to serious discussions to keep things interesting. Be sure to listen for The Cracker Theme Song in its entirety at the end of the episode. You're gonna love it!