July 25, 2007
Governor And Cabinet Honor America’s Cowboys;
Resolution Introduced By Bronson Designates Special Day
Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet are honoring the state’s historic cattle industry by adopting a resolution declaring July 28 as “National Day of the American Cowboy.”
The resolution, which was unanimously approved, was introduced by Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles H. Bronson, a fifth-generation Floridian whose family has been in the cattle and farming business since the 1630s.
Florida is the oldest cattle-raising state in the nation, tracing its long heritage to 1521, when Ponce de Leon introduced cattle and horses to Florida. Today, cattle remains a huge industry in Florida, as roughly 1 million calves are born each year in the state.
The resolution honors the “pioneering men and women, known as cowboys, who have contributed to Florida’s growth and stewardship of natural resources.” It states that “the cowboy spirit continues to infuse the state with its solid character, sound family values and good common sense.”
“The cowboy is an American icon whose recognition acknowledges America’s ongoing commitment to an esteemed and enduring code of conduct,” the resolution says.
Bronson will deliver a copy of the resolution to the Okeechobee Cattlemen’s Association, an organization that will be holding a celebration in honor of the designation in downtown Okeechobee on July 28.
For more information:
Terence McElroy
(850) 488-3022
mcelrot@doacs.state.fl.us
