PHOTO VIA GREAT FLORIDA CATTLE DRIVE AND REUNION RIDES FACEBOOK PAGE
The Great Florida Cattle Drive (Website) is scheduled to caravan to Okeechobee beginning Monday, January 26. The epic weeklong ride is actually a living-history reenactment of Florida’s ranching past that runsthrough January 31, with riders and drovers traveling on horseback and moving cattle along a planned route.
Organizers frame the cattle drive as both a heritage event and a working demonstration of “Old Florida” cattle culture, highlighting the traditions of Florida’s early Cracker ranching history. Participants typically ride in period-inspired gear, supported by crews and logistics teams, recreating the experience of moving cattle across rural Florida landscapes.
For residents who can’t ride with the posse (tickets closed on January 4), the most public-facing portion is expected at the end of the week, when the drive kicks off from the IAS Deluca Preserve property and finishes in Okeechobee at the Cattlemen’s Arena, and the community hosts events tied to the conclusion of the trail. Expect barbecue.
The Great Florida Cattle Drive is part of a broader effort to spotlight Florida’s ranching identity, which predates the state’s modern tourism economy by centuries. While Florida is often associated with beaches and theme parks, the state has one of the oldest cattle industries in the United States, and the cattle drive is intended to keep that inland history visible and active, especially in areas like Okeechobee County, where ranching remains an important land use and economic base.
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