Just as the nation geared up to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Polk County celebrated its own 165th anniversary by honoring the cattle heritage that helped shape its legacy. On July 1, Polk County and the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association hosted a special cattle drive and cow camp rededication ceremony at Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland.
That morning, Circle B, a former cattle ranch turned environmental preserve, came alive with familiar sounds as hooves hustled and whips cracked. Guests watched as Polk County cattlemen ushered a small herd of cattle through the reserve and into the pen before the rededication of the 19th-century cow camp.
Speakers at the ceremony, including Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President Ken Sherrouse, Historic Preservation Manager Myrtice Young, cattleman Fred Waters, and Livestock Extension agent Bridget Stice, emphasized the importance of preserving Polk’s past and sharing it with future generations. Those future generations were well-represented by the children who attended and seized the opportunity to learn more about the cattle, cattle dogs, ranchers, and conservation. In that moment, history wasn’t simply being remembered; it was history being lived.
After the cattle drive, ranchers and members of longtime cattle families who work so hard to continue the commitment to Polk’s heritage and the land burned their registered brands into a commemorative table, creating a lasting symbol to connect past and present.
It was a stark and poignant reminder that even as Polk County grows, its cattle heritage remains very much alive, not only in museums and historic sites but also in the ranching families who continue the traditions, steward the land, and pass their way of life to the next generation.