April 19, 2007
Florida Agricultural Museum Receives Grant Funding For New Permanent Exhibit
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that the Florida Agricultural Museum has received $31,000 in funding from the Division of Historical Resources to mount a new exhibit, “Florida’s Black Cowboys: Past and Present.”
The permanent exhibit will introduce visitors to the involvement of black men and women in Florida’s cattle industry, past and present, through text panels, archival images, and appropriate artifacts. Some images and text will be collected during interviews with present-day African American cattlemen.
The involvement of African Americans in the state’s cattle industry is a little known and under reported aspect of Florida’s history. The term “cowboy” was introduced to America during the 18th century in coastal South Carolina and specifically referred to a black male slave who tended cows. Long before that, however, African Americans both enslaved and free served as ranch hands and overseers on the large ranches established by important Spanish families connected to the royal government of Florida. Many Africans had experience in tending cattle in their homelands and interestingly shared an “open grazing” approach to cattle raising with the Spaniards, who introduced both cattle and African Americans to the state. Some free blacks ranched for themselves but more frequently they acted as drovers for herds being moved into and out of the state. Black participation in Florida’s cattle industry continued throughout the centuries Florida’s development. Today, black men and women remain important players in ranching operations throughout Florida.
Cattle were first introduced to Florida by Ponce de Leon on his second voyage in 1521. The expedition failed, and it seems unlikely that the cattle survived. When Pedro Menendez de Aviles successfully established his colony in 1565, he brought with him 200 terneras, or bred heifers. By the 17th century, the largest of Florida’s Spanish ranches were coming into existence. Throughout the colonial and territorial periods, and the days of early statehood, cattle remained a crucial component of Florida’s economy and history. Even today, in the face of development and the loss of rural working lands, the cattle industry remains a cornerstone of Florida’s agricultural operations.
Phase One of the exhibit will be completed over the course of the next year. Funding is currently being sought for Phase Two of the project. Phase Two will involve the production of a DVD for possible distribution to television stations and all public Florida K-12 schools and 4-H coordinators for inclusion in their youth development and educational programs. The DVD will also be added to Phase One of the exhibit.
The Florida Agricultural Museum is a direct support organization of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services created under Florida Statute and designated as the museum for agriculture and rural history of the State of Florida.
For more information:
Bruce J. Piatek
(386) 446-7630
famuseum@pcfl.net
