5-minute read
A whip cracks in the summer heat. Mustang Sally and the Hamjos play old-time music, and a small fire burns in front of a wooden replica cow camp.
Then the riders — men, women and a young boy — come into view, leading a small herd of cattle down the road. Two dogs, Margaret and Jolie, watchfully trot alongside. The riders lead the herd into a field, and on command, the dogs skillfully encircle the cattle, before ranchers coax them into a pen and close the gate.
“More than 500 years ago, cattle were first introduced to what is now the Continental United States, right here in Florida. That was in 1521,” Ken Sherrouse, president of the Polk County Cattleman’s Association, told visitors, some sporting cowboy boots and red, white, and blue.
It’s the morning of July 1 at Circle B Bar Reserve. Local ranching families, county staff and officials, and members of the public have gathered for a celebration of the county’s significant ranching history, Polk’s 165th anniversary, and America 250.
“Florida holds a unique place in the story of American agriculture and ranching. Many people think of American cattle history, they think of Texas and American West. The cattle were here in Florida centuries earlier, and Florida ranching heritage helped lay the foundation for the American cattle industry,” Sherrouse said.
Polk’s cattle industry
About 110,000 head or 7% of the Florida’s population of cattle and calves can be found in Polk County, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The county ranks second in the state to Okeechobee with 155,000 head.
“Agriculture has been the backbone of Polk County since its earliest days,” said Polk County Parks and Natural Resource Director Tabitha Biehl. “Today, agriculture remains one of Polk County’s largest economic drivers, generating billions of dollars in economic activity, supporting tens of thousands of jobs, and preserving hundreds of thousands of acres of working landscape.”
“When considering multiplier effects, Florida’s cattle ranching and dairy operations support $2.01 billion in sales revenue and 8,517 jobs throughout the state’s economy,” according to 2022 data from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
Beyond livestock and economic impact
The cattle industry preserves Florida’s natural resources, celebrates the region’s rich history, and looks to the future as ranching families who have sustained the industry for generations continue the tradition.
“Nearly one half of all the Florida agricultural land is involved in cattle production,” Sherrouse said. “Much of natural Florida remains in the working landscape of Florida’s cattle industry. Florida wildlife, native plant systems, and populations thrive on Florida’s ranch lands.”
The July 1 cattle drive was part of a ceremony to rededicate the cow camp at Circle B, constructed in 2011 and modeled after an actual camp in Northeast Polk County.
“We were celebrating the 150th,” said Myrtice Young, Polk County historic preservation manager. “We decided that it would be a really great idea to tell the story of Polk County’s history through the cattle culture, the cattle industry. Cattle is our story. Cattle is our beginning.”
The county worked with the Polk County Cattleman’s Association and its president at the time, Ned Waters. They visited the original camp, designed the replica, and facilitated its construction.
“This is a reconstruction of a cow camp that was up on the Dead River in Osceola County, off of the big Kissimmee River. Jen Overstreet, it was his great granddad built that cow camp, and then we reconstructed this one to match that one,” said Fred Waters, a multigenerational Polk County cattleman, who spoke on behalf of his brother Ned who was unable to attend the event.
Cattle brands
Polk County recently honored its ranching legacy with “From Criollo to Cracker: Florida Cow Culture — An American Story,” which opened on June 9 at the Polk County History Center.
The exhibit features restored and preserved historic cattle brand books and a digital database.
Included in the books are entries from 12-year-old Alfred Bellotto, who would go on to become a member of the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame and own the pastureland that became Circle B — named for the brand Bellotto and his wife, Betty, designed in 1949.
They also contain records connected to George and Jasper Summerlin, sons of Jacob Summerlin, known as “King of the Crackers” and one of Florida’s most recognized cattle ranchers, who was instrumental in establishing Bartow as the county seat of Polk County.
At the July 1 event, multiple generations of Polk County ranching families joined together to burn their brands a commemorative picnic table at the cow camp.
“Future visitors to the cow camp will be able to see that ranching is not simply part of our history, it remains an active and important part of our community,” said Bridget Stice, agent with UF/IFAS Extension Polk County.
“A brand is much more than a mark placed on cattle, a brand represents a ranch, a family, a history, and a commitment to the land. For generations, brands have served as symbols of identity, responsibility, and pride within Florida’s ranching community.” Stice said.
“One of the most important parts of preserving our history is recognizing that our history doesn’t end, it continues every day with all of us as we live our lives.”
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