2010 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Elko, Nevada
Ranching
Roots in the Deep South
For the 26th National Cowboy
Poetry Gathering, the Western Folklife Center, Elko, Nevada
invited the Seminole and “Cracker” cowboys from Florida and swamp cowboys
from Louisiana to be their featured guests. Invited guests included
poets, storytellers, cooks, Creole zydeco musicians, craftspeople and
Seminole Indian cowboys.
Creole
cowboy Geno Delafose and his band, French Rockin’ Boogie, performed
during the Gathering and at the Friday Night Dance. Their regional
specialty, Zydeco, is a lively music played for dancing. When he’s not
playing music, Delafose is operating his Double D Ranch outside of Eunice,
deep in Southwest Louisiana’s bayou country, where he breeds cattle
and raises American Quarter Horses.
Jim Harrison designed
the poster for the 26th Gathering Elko Gathering. Jim is an award-winning
graphic designer and artist from Gainesville, Florida.
Florida Cowboy
History
Most
people today believe that the cattle industry and “cowboy culture” were
first established in the American West, and over the years popular movies
and media have supported this idea, but Florida is one of the major
producers of beef cattle in America and ranks third in cow numbers in
the United States. Florida's unique ranching traditions have been adapted
to the subtropical climate and influenced by the state's distinctive
history. Florida has more than one million cattle and produces more
beef than some western states, including Nevada.
Cattle ranching
is one of Florida's oldest and most important cultural and occupational
activities. In 1513, Spanish Explorer Juan Ponce De Leon, the
first recorded European to land in North America, came ashore in Florida.
Upon his second voyage to Florida in 1521, he brought cattle, horses,
citrus, and fellow pioneers to settle the new land. This expedition
landed on the southwest coast of Florida and off-loaded the first cattle
and horses in what later became the United States of America. Soon after,
they were forced to make a rapid retreat from Florida when Ponce De
Leon was mortally wounded in a battle with the fierce Calusa Indians.
The Andalusian-bred livestock that arrived on that voyage and the voyages
to follow ran wild, reproducing and roaming throughout Florida for hundreds
of years. More Spanish explorers followed, and, as the area became
settled, the Florida cattle industry began to develop.
Later, the Seminole
Indians rounded up herds of the wild cattle and horses that were descended
from the original Spanish stock and became the first American cattlemen.
Some of those Seminole descendants still maintain cattle in Florida
to this day.
In the 19th century,
settlers who were mainly of Celtic and British descent came down to
Florida from Georgia and the Carolinas. Some brought their own cattle
with them and some rounded up the wild Spanish-descended cattle. Some
of these settlers even purchased cattle from the Seminole Indians in
order to begin their ranches.
Those pioneering
Celtic and British families were a major influence in settling the state
of Florida. Many of these families’ descendants still own and run the
ranches in the cattle heartland of South/Central Florida today.
The term “Cracker”
has been historically used to refer to these early settlers and it is
a somewhat controversial term. Some claim that it comes from the rifle-like
“crack” of the Florida cowman’s whip; Most modern Florida cattlemen
are proud to be called “Florida Crackers,” as it symbolizes being part
of a unique and little-known culture.
Louisiana’s cattle
business has flourished since the mid-18th century. In their part of
the country, they say, “anyone can herd cows on dry land!”
Cultural Differences
Along
with sharing their music and poetry, discussion sessions were held at
the Gathering to point out the similarities and differences in the cowboy
culture of Florida and that of the Great Basin.
One such was a
Roundtable Discussion on Working Cattle Dogs with participants Billy
Davis, Darryl Guillory, Jon Griggs, and Mitch Heguy. The moderator
was Bob Stone of the Florida Folklore Program.
Billy Davis, a
Florida “Cracker,” said, “My dogs are more important than three extra
cowboys when it comes to working cattle in the swamps of Florida.”
Darryl Guillory, a wild cow hunter from Louisiana, said, “Without my
dogs, I just as well stay home.” John Griggs and Mitch Heguy Elko
County ranchers described the use of their dogs. Mitch said, “In the
Great Basin, I use my dogs to drive cattle and hold them up in a rodear
where we can work cattle in a fence corner. Our dogs are not used so
much to find cattle since the country is open and most cattle can be
found.”
Talking
about problems the dogs encounter, Billy Davis said, “I will not let
my dogs drink until I ride over and take a look. I train my dogs to
stay back until I tell them to come. The reason for this is that we
have alligators and big snakes everywhere in Florida and they are hard
on dogs. We lose dogs every year to gators, snakes and to heat.”
John Griggs, Elko rancher, replied dryly, “We have very few gator problems
in the Humboldt River Drainage where I live.” He continued, “However,
we use our dogs to drive cattle more than finding and holding them up.”
The Florida and
Louisiana cowboys raised mostly Black Mouth Cur hounds and the Nevada
ranchers liked the Border collie.
Florida cow dogs
are bred with one purpose in mind: to produce dogs that work well
with cattle. Specific breeds might be included in the mix.
Probably the most popular is the Southern Blackmouth Yellow Cur, also
known as the Blackmouth Cur.
Although
the origins of the Blackmouth Cur are debated, it is now a recognized
and registered breed. Another dog breed popular in Florida and
Louisiana is the Catahoula Leopard, which has its origins among the
French or Native Americans of Louisiana. However, the Florida
cowman has no interest in purebred dogs; they are often too nervous,
or have other weaknesses. Good cow dogs might contain strains
of cur, for all around endurance and good working traits; hound, for
long wind; and bulldog, for strength and aggressiveness. Mature
male cow dogs usually weigh sixty to seventy pounds, females five to
ten pounds less.
Exhibits
The Western Folklife
Center installed a new exhibition in its Wiegand Gallery for the 26th
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering,
in Elko. Florida Cattle Ranching:
Five Centuries of Tradition explores the history and contemporary
culture of the Florida rancher and cowboy, known as "Crackers," a moniker
that refers to the pioneer descendents of the state as well as to the
sound of the cow whip he (or she) traditionally uses to help move cattle
through the tough;; Florida terrain.
Florida Cattle
Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition
includes historical and contemporary
occupational gear, clothing and tools of the trade used by Florida cowmen,
as well as photographs and original artwork depicting them at work and
play. This exhibition will be on display in the Wiegand Gallery until
July 24, 2010. The Wiegand Gallery is open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Monday through Friday and from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday.
Other Highlights
As usual at the Poetry
Gathering, numerous concurrent events took place including a ranch tour
and several art and gear shows. Workshops ran the gamut from traditional
rawhide braiding with Doug Grove to digital photography with Jay Dusard
and Kurt Markus.
One of several
good gear shows, the Great
Basin Gear Show & Sale at the Northeastern Nevada Museum was a collection
of cowboy gear from contemporary western artists and craftsmen which
included saddles, bits, spurs silver engraving and rawhide. JM Capriola
and The Elko Convention and Visitors Authority sponsor the show. Also
on exhibit in the Halleck Bar Gallery complimenting the Gear Show were
original paintings by Genny Albitre.
At another highlight
of the music presentations, perennial favorite Ian Tyson, songwriter
and musician, from Alberta, Canada, was named and presented with the
Western Horseman of Year award by editors A.J. Mangum and Jennifer Denison
of the Western Horseman Magazine. Ian says,
"I'm trying to ride home, to complete
the circle in a way that validates my art. I'd like to continue
to be creative, because I still have something to say."
2011
The Western Folklife
Center is committed to sharing cowboy cultures from around the country
and the world at their annual festival. In the past, it has presented
cattlemen and women and their artistic traditions from places as far
away as Mongolia and South America. In 2011, the event will welcome
Csikos, horsemen from
the plains of Hungary. Information on
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
is available online at
www.westernfolklife.org, or by calling 775-778-9695.
Article
by Mike Laughlin
mikelaughlin@hotmail.com
Photos courtesy
of, Bob Stone Florida Folklife Program and by Lee Raine
