The Great Florida Cattle Drive is back, rolling out on January 26 and wrapping up in Okeechobee after a week of pure Old Florida tradition.
This isn’t just any horseback ride. For a week, riders and drovers saddle up, move cattle, and relive the days when ranching shaped Florida’s heartland. It’s a living history lesson, really. Organizers see the drive as both a celebration and a hands-on demo of “Old Florida” cattle culture, shining a spotlight on the Cracker ranchers who started it all. Everyone gets into the spirit, too, think period gear, support crews, and the whole nine yards. They’re not just playing dress-up. They’re bringing Florida’s ranching roots to life, cutting across some truly wild stretches of rural landscape.
Didn’t snag a ticket before they sold out on January 4? Don’t worry. The best chance to soak it all in comes at the end of the week. That’s when the drive leaves the IAS Deluca Preserve and makes its final push into Okeechobee’s Cattlemen’s Arena. The community turns out; the barbecue fires up, and the whole thing feels like a festival celebrating the end of the trail.
The cattle drive isn’t just a one-off spectacle; it’s part of a bigger push to remind folks who Florida really is. Sure, the state has beaches and theme parks, but its ranching history runs deep; Florida’s cattle industry is one of the oldest in the country. Events like this make sure people don’t forget that, especially in places like Okeechobee County, where ranching still shapes the land and keeps the local economy moving.
Check out greatfloridacattledrive.com for more information.
