On Saturday, March 10th, the public was able to see a band of authentic cowboys and cowgirls on an as-real-as-it-can-get cattle drive down Main Street in Immokalee, Florida. It’s a short drive from our Griffin Fertilizer office in La Belle. The event included 200 head of cattle heading to the current Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch, whip-cracking contests, traditional food demonstrations, and more. It was a day set aside to honor the beginnings of the Florida cattle industry, and there are so many additional advantages to cattle drives like the Immokalee Cattle Drive & Jamboree.
Attractions of Authentic Cattle Drives
Cattle drives that aim to capture the genuine experience of driving cattle are meant to pay homage to a way of life that is at the root of the Florida cattle industry. These cattle drives utilize many of the cowhand skills that are still needed and used on many Florida ranches today, like roping and whip-cracking.
The Roberts Ranch, where the Immokalee Pioneer Museum now resides, has been in operation since the early 1900s. The cattle drive boss, Clint Raulerson, is a fifth-generation cattleman whose grandfather used to work the Roberts Ranch, highlighting how close the past is to the present.
Cattle drives also give hard-working men and women in the cattle industry the chance to come together. Many a rancher will tell you their favorite times are spent in the saddle. Cattle drives that wind their way through public spaces, such as Immokalee’s cattle drive also serve to highlight the importance of the cattle industry to the public. The entire jamboree was a family-friendly event with a lot of opportunity for learning and exploration, giving attendees the opportunity to learn more about the past of cattle ranching, as well as its present and future.
This Column is sponsored by Griffin Fertilizer Co.
BIO: Mike Roberts is the Vice President of the Frostproof, Fla.-based Griffin Fertilizer Co. Roberts joined the company in November 2011. He has spent the majority of his career in the fertilizer/agchem industry. Roberts earned a Bachelor of Science degree in citrus production from Florida Southern College in Lakeland. He is currently the chairman of the Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association. For more information, visit griffinfertilizer.com.