The Patio Seafood Tavern was packed to its historic wood-beamed rafters last Wednesday evening for a two-fold Cattlemen’s Association celebration and benefit. Attendees toasted Sean Sexton for his design of a label for a new Cow Boss Beer by Cigar City Brewery, which in return donated $10,000 to the Cattlemen’s charitable fund.
The evening was also a benefit, with restaurant owner Bill Brown donating 15 percent of proceeds from roughly 350 dinner guests to help support the family of Samuel Tripson, who was recently re-diagnosed with cancer.
When brewery owner Joey Redner was looking for artists to illustrate a series of beers celebrating Florida cattle ranchers, they contacted people at the Indian River Cattlemen’s Association, who knew that Sexton would be the perfect choice. An admired artist, he has worked on his family ranch since he was old enough to ride a horse, and has been the association’s State Director for 25 years.
Only 15 barrels of Cow Boss Beer, a limited, one-time production, imperial milk stout, were produced, so bottles had been quickly snapped up by collectors who purchased their three-bottle maximum. The beer was on tap last week, giving guests a chance to sample what many described as having a full-bodied molasses flavor.
“I like to see American beers that finally have the flavor of European beers,” said Brian Mayo after a few sips. “It is the craft beers like this one that have real flavor.”
And where else but at a Cattlemen’s event would you expect to be treated to special readings from four cowboy poets? Sexton, Will Barker and Charles Sembler all read pieces to the appreciative audience before special guest poet Doyle Rigdon captured the crowd with his work.
“I was asked by Sean to come to support the association’s efforts and am happy for any chance to perform for everyone,” said Rigdon. His poem, “The Time I Broke a Colt” had everyone smiling as he related the tale about how breaking a colt once got him thrown in jail.
Guest auctioneer and County Commissioner Wesley Davis whipped up plenty of competitive bidding for donated items that all went well beyond anyone’s expectations. A bidding war between Robin Lloyd and top buyer Vinnie Parentella for a Chris Sexton necklace sold for a whopping $1,000 alone.
Sexton, Davis and Barker all said at different points during the night, “We all know what we are here for tonight.”
Overwhelmed by the turnout, Sam’s brother Rob Tripson, the current Cattlemen’s Association president, said, “We raise money for scholarships every year and whenever anyone’s in need we try and put something like this together. I do not have the words to express our gratitude that all these people who came out to support Sam.”
