Between The Beaches Podcast

Florida was built on the legacies of men like Captain F. A. Hendry and the other cow men like him; men who created a solid economic foundation, gave generously to build their communities, and had a keen vision for the future. In this episode we examine Captain Hendry's life from his earliest days in South Georgia to his cattle empire and ultimately his navigation through the state's political channels to forge Lee and Hendry counties. Capturing the breadth of his vision and influence for Florida in this brief intro is practically impossible so be sure to tune in for the full story.

The Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources strives to develop new skills and refine the capabilities of leaders throughout our state's agriculture and natural resources sectors. As Florida continues to face rapid environmental and demographic changes, it's more important than ever to equip our ag leaders with the means to effectively share our story and WLI is one way that goal is being met. Tune in to this week's episode to learn more about the program and find out how you can nominate worthy candidates for the next class!

Mr. Paul Bowers Sr. is readily recognizable in any crowd not only for his trademark red scarf but also for his quiet, self-assured demeanor and warm smile. You'll usually spot him nearby a couple of endeavors he's remained committed to throughout his life - working at creating and selling his wood carvings that are beautifully hand crafted in the traditional Seminole way or you'll find him near a rodeo arena. When we caught up with him it was at the bunkhouse by his horse barn which made for the perfect place for him to share stories and insights about his childhood, his tour of duty in Vietnam, early days in rodeo, and the creation of his hand crafted birds, gators, ladle spoons and toys such as tomahawks made from cypress knees, spears, knives, and more. In a fast paced, ever changing world, Mr. Bowers remains dedicated to carrying forward the old ways for future generations and appreciating the simple things that keep us all grounded.

Thanks to our daughter we've just discovered epic new theme music for the show. It's called "Watch Florida Grow (The Cracker Theme Song) and was recorded by the South Ocean String Band. This song speaks to the heart and soul of anyone who truly cares about Florida so we debut it in this episode and discuss the backstory behind it. We then go on a rambling discussion about conservation in general, the Great Florida Cattle Drive 2026, and some general cow culture history before diving into the 2026 Florida legislative session and some of the pending bills that are being misconstrued and highly misunderstood in an effort to help clear away some of that confusion. We bounce back and forth from lighthearted banter to serious discussions to keep things interesting. Be sure to listen for The Cracker Theme Song in its entirety at the end of the episode. You're gonna love it!

Welcome to Season 7 of Between The Beaches Podcast! To kick off the New Year, we're sharing some cowboy poetry focused on transitions of various types that we all face in our journey through this life. Our hope is that these sentiments bring you some reflections and clarity to propel you forward in a positive direction in 2026. Thanks to our sponsors and you, our dedicated listeners, for your continued support!

NOTE: This week in honor of Giving Tuesday we're re-airing our episode describing all the wonderful work done by our partners at the Florida Cattlemen's Foundation. If you're considerig year-end giving and want to know that your contribution will used wisely, please visit www.floridacattlemen.org and select the tab for the Foundation where you'll be able to donate. Alternatively, you can contact the FCA office to discuss alternative ways to give. Jim Handley has since retired and passed the torch to Dusty Holley as the FCA executive VP, and the same great work for Florida's cattle business continues. Please consider donating today and sharing with your friends and family. FCA executive vice president Jim Handley joins us to share a wealth of information about the Florida Cattlemen's Foundation, including it's history, an in-depth look at the many projects they've helped fund and bring to fruition, as well as some general history regarding FCA and his role there. We dig deep in our conversation for what amounts to a very informative discussion that you're sure to enjoy so don't miss it!

NOTE: On the heels of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting and a lot of time on the road for numerous other obligations, we're taking a break to regroup this week. While we get reorganized, please enjoy this batch of cowboy poetry that originally published on the podcast a couple years ago. Episode 117 serves up some cowboy poetry focused on finding the underlying, essential value in the world around us from both the male and female perspective. You'll hear some of Brad's own poetry as well as some poems from Wallace McRae and Barney Nelson that all serve to shift focus to things of intrinsic worth.

For Bud Barnes, these two places share a lot more in common than the first two letters of their names. On this week's episode, Bud shares stories of growing up in south Florida, working cows, hunting, fishing, and generally enjoying the backwoods of our state whether from horseback or the seat of an airboat. We discuss how rodeo carried him west where he met his wife and built a ranch and thriving business in Oklahoma. That he genuinely cares about people and the land is abundantly clear which is why forming Cimarron Land Group was a natural fit for him. Bud is able to channel his passion for cattle, spending time in the outdoors, and his years of experience with both into assisting people with finding the right land on which to build their legacies. Hope you enjoy this week's conversation and learn a little something useful along the way!

Florida Cowman is one of those books that should be in every person's collection of books about Florida. Authored by Joe A. Akerman, Jr in collaboration with the Florida Cattlemen's Association to commemorate our nation's bicentennial, it's a painstakingly researched and very enlightening account of Florida's cattle history. Knowing that many of our listeners aren't in the cattle business and are likely unfamiliar with the book or its contents, we wanted to cover Chapter 7 with its vivid accounts of cow hunting turn of the century Florida. The chapter is lengthy so we've broken it in half. We hope you enjoy Part 1 in this episode and join us again next week for the conclusion in Part 2.

Payne's Prairie basin is a natural resource of not only state, but national importance and the lush grasses, flowering plants, and other vegetation that cover this basin act as a filter purifying water throughout the vast wetland which is a big reason why it has drawn humans and wildlife to it over the last 12,000 years. In this episode, we'll take a look at how various countries and cultures across the centuries impacted the area, but we'll especially focus on the Alachua Seminole, their Chief Cowkeeper, and their importance to not just the region but to Florida's cattle culture overall.

As we roll further into June and the mercury climbs higher, Sam and I banter about the current state of the cattle business, recap some recent events in our life and around the state, and discuss many of the things that make summer in Florida a special time. We also touch on the Florida Cattlemen's Association Annual Convention and Allied Trade Show that kicks off next week. Tune in as we venture from the fence line to the coast line out here between the beaches.

After dealing with some family business prompted a lot of deep thinking, we decided to switch up from our originally planned episode this week to share some of those thoughts in a brief monologue while also paying tribute to a family member. Sorry to be a little late getting it pushed out the door, but we hope y'all enjoy it and pass it along to others.