Behind the twinkling lights and good-natured joshing over live-auction bidding, Indian River County Cattlemen’s Association members also performed some serious business at their Annual Dinner and Meeting last Wednesday evening at Waldo’s Secret Garden.
Approximately 150 members and guests, most sporting jeans, cowboy boots and even a few tall Stetsons, milled around the decked-out garden and patio, relaxing with cocktails and catching up with their friends and neighbors.
In addition to the highly-anticipated dinner – provided by Scot Wilke’s 14 Bones – of perfectly grilled steaks, swamp cabbage and corn casserole, guests also got fired up by auctioneer Wesley Davis as they vied to be top bidder on sought-after items. Bidders traded humorous barbs as Davis prodded the crowd to up their bids for the benefit of the IRCCA Scholarship Endowment Fund, held through Indian River State College.
The current endowment fund was $10,000, which allowed for the interest to be used each year for a scholarship awarded to an IRSC student in agricultural related studies. The final amount raised this year was more than $9,000, bringing the fund up to the next endowment level of $25,000 and enabling additional scholarships.
Although half the guests were ranchers, many others were in some way affiliated with the industry, whether as family members or as agriculturally related business owners.
“I know a lot of the people here,” said Joe Earman. “Lots of pioneers and hometown people and it is always a good time.”
It seemed apropos to utilize the late Waldo Sexton’s original farmstead as the venue, the property having been the site of more than one of Waldo’s infamous parties. Sexton’s heirs are still ranchers, with grandson Sean Sexton and great-grandson Mike Sexton working at Treasure Hammock Ranch. Great-grandson Rob Tripson is the current president of the IRCCA.
Theirs is a business that is slowly being squeezed by government regulations, an influx of natural disasters and a diminishing workforce.
“Approximately 2 percent of the population is now raising the cattle which feeds the entire world,” said Mike Sexton, who serves as association secretary. “That is down more than 45 percent from when I was growing up.”
Ned Waters, president of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, said that while it was once common for people to raise their own crops and livestock for food, it has become difficult to interest the current generation in agriculture.
“Ranching is important because it is not just about economics,” said Waters. “It influences water quality, ecology and much more. We make a special effort to involve youth, which is why we have leadership academies and agricultural scholarships to encourage youth to go into this industry.”
“We have to stand up and advocate for agriculture and everyone who is here tonight has done that,” said Rob Tripson. “We’re just good farmers who feel a responsibility to do it. Everybody here tonight takes pride in taking care of the land and the animals to provide food for a nation, the world; and most of us love it a lot more than we earn from it.”
