Here’s a release from the Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation:
Kissimmee, FL – The Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation announces a new home for its acclaimed exhibit, Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition, at a fully renovated museum space at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. The Foundation has entered into a long term agreement with Fair management for display of the exhibit beginning on February 7, 2013, opening day of the State Fair.
Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition tells the story of one of Florida’s oldest and most important cultural activities. Cattle ranching in North America began when Spanish explorers introduced horses and cattle in the 16th century, and flourished in the hands of the Seminoles, Crackers, and other Floridians. Today, ranching is an essential economic activity that preserves many aspects of our treasured natural landscape, protects water resources, and maintains areas used by wildlife or for recreation. Florida ranks as one of the top states in beef production. Yet, few know about Florida’s unique ranching traditions, which have been adapted to the subtropical climate, and influenced our distinctive history.
The exhibit traces cattle ranching from its early beginnings in Colonial Florida through present-day cattle ranching. Some of the topics included in the exhibit are Colonial Florida, Seminole cattle ranching, Cracker cowboys, cow dogs, auctions, oral traditions, rodeos, and material culture. The 2,200 square-foot multi-media exhibit includes artifacts, recent and archival photos, work by cowboy artists, audio and video components, and more than 120 graphic images. Among the exhibit highlights are a mounted Cracker cow descended from 16th century Spanish cattle and a facsimile of a letter written in 1774 by Florida territorial lieutenant governor Moultrie to Seminole leader Cowkeeper, who raised large herds of cattle near Gainesville.
The exhibit is on display in the newly renovated Florida Cattle Ranching/Florida Forest Discovery Center located across the stem engine near Cracker Country. It will be open to the public for the duration of the Fair, February 7-18, 2013. The remainder of the year it will be available for school programs and group tours by appointment.
The Florida State Fair is located at 800 U.S. Highway 301 North, Tampa, FL 33610. For more information about the Fair call 813-621-7821 or Toll Free 1-800-345-FAIR (3247), or visit http://www.floridastatefair.com/