Rob and Tiffany Tripson. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

The Indian River Cattlemen’s Association hosted its annual Dinner and Charity Auction at Waldo’s Secret Garden, with proceeds benefiting its scholarship endowment at Indian River State College.

Ranchers and supporters gathered for the evening to celebrate the region’s rich agricultural heritage and, over cocktails and dinner, cattlemen and cattlewomen from around the state discussed the past and future of the cattle industry.

Waldo’s Secret Garden was the perfect backdrop for this special evening. The historic location is the homestead of the late pioneer Waldo Sexton, a rancher himself, who played a prominent role in the history of Indian River County.

The quaint venue has been home to Sexton’s descendants and was previously the site of the Tripson Dairy. The rustic house and treehouse are nestled among a veritable garden of lush, native flora and the items Sexton collected still hold the charm of yesteryear.

The evening began with a moment of silence to honor the late Alfred Scott, a local citrus grower and cattleman. Indian River County Property Appraiser Wesley Davis then led a rousing auction to raise funds for the scholarship endowment, before everyone settled in for dinner.

The annual party also serves as a business meeting where new officers are elected and offers an opportunity for the board of directors to conduct business, explained Rob Tripson, IRCCA president.

“The scholarship is geared toward agriculture. We also support the local 4-H kids at the county fair in March,” said Tripson, noting that the local nonprofit has raised nearly $40,000 for the fund since its inception.

“The Florida Cattlemen’s Association is a grassroots foundation. There is an association in almost every county. We are a voice for agriculture, land rights, wildlife conservation and water quality improvement. We’re like-minded in trying to keep Florida green,” he explained.

Echoing the motto of Pat Durden, the Florida Cattlemen’s Association president, Tripson summed up the importance of groups such as theirs to communities, saying, “Cows keep Florida green.”

The FCA is devoted to promoting and protecting the ability of cattlemen and women to produce and market their products. The cattle industry has been part of Florida’s history since the 1500s when Spanish explorers brought livestock here. From that group of cattle, the “cracker cow” evolved into a heat-hardy breed. Florida is ranked 13th in overall cattle numbers nationwide with more than 886,000 head of cattle grazing on Florida ranches, according to the Florida Beef Council.

Photos by Joshua Kodis