Cowboys and cowgirls gathered at Waldo’s Secret Garden for the annual Dinner and Charity Auction of the Indian River Cattlemen’s Association, turning the historic property into a lively Western showcase.
Outdoorsmen in Stetsons, brass buckles and well-worn leather boots proudly escorted women dressed in sequined mini-skirts and bedazzled boots, and even the youngsters arrived in their finest ranch wear, with little cowboys already perfecting their signature swagger.
Waldo’s Secret Garden, ablaze with colored lights, was the perfect backdrop. Once the home of the legendary Waldo Sexton, who was himself a rancher, among many other things, the property is still home to some of his descendants, which added an air of authenticity to the evening’s setting.
As young cowpokes darted through the lush flora and fauna playing hide-and-seek, their parents mingled and swapped stories with fellow cattlemen.
“This event raises money for our agricultural-based scholarship fund, which is held in an endowment at Indian River State College,” said Rob Tripson, president of the Indian River Cattlemen’s Association and Waldo’s great-grandson.
“Each year we raise between $15,000 and $20,000 for students wishing to pursue a career in agriculture. We also support local future farmers at the 4-H auction by purchasing some of their cattle.”
The evening was truly a community effort, with local businesses that support the cattle industry donating money, food and auction items.
“We especially want to thank Everglades Equipment Group for donating and grilling 175 steaks and 40 pounds of sausage for tonight’s dinner,” Tripson added.
Meanwhile, the Indian River County Sheriff’s agricultural department sliced fresh hearts of palm to prepare Florida’s famous swamp cabbage, filling the air with the scent of traditional Florida ranch fare.
As the food sizzled, Indian River County Property Appraiser Wesley Davis put on his auctioneer hat to auction off a wide array of donated items tailored to the agricultural crowd. Bidders competed for livestock feed, dewormers, Billy Davis spurs, fishing charters, quail hunts, rifles, an original fly sculpture by local artist Charlie Sembler, and handcrafted pieces including a hat rack, and jewelry by Chris Sexton, wife of the late Ralph Sexton.
“The Florida Cattlemen’s Association is a statewide, grassroots organization with chapters in nearly every county,” Tripson explained. “We are agricultural advocates addressing issues like land rights, wildlife conservation and water quality.”
According to its website, the association has long been an industry leader in property rights, environmental stewardship, and animal health, as well as ensuring the long-term economic viability of Florida’s ranchers, who own or manage some 70 percent of Florida’s total farm acreage.
For more information, visit FloridaCattlemen.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
