Cracker Day Rodeo rides back to its roots
In its 65th year, event returns to the Posse Arena Jan. 23 and 24
There were cattle in Florida before there were cattle in Texas. Ranchers would move their herds up and down the state, throughout the inland areas.
In fact, many of the events you see at a rodeo, such as steer wrestling and calf roping, were used to doctor the animals, not for competition.
That heritage is celebrated every year at the Lee County Posse Arena, where on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 23 and 24, the 65th annual Cracker Day Rodeo will take place.
Friday’s rodeo has gates opening at 5 p.m. and the rodeo at 7. Saturday, the gates open at 4 with the rodeo starting at 6. Both performances will start with mutton busting. Slack will happen Saturday morning.
This time, the rodeo, one of the oldest events in the area, will return to its roots, with a different format than in recent memory.
“We’re really excited about going back to our roots. It’s going to be a little different than in the past,” said Bobbi Harrison of the Lee County Posse Arena. “We’re a hometown rodeo and we want people to have that up-close-and-personal experience.”
The rodeo has always been a little different, but this time, it will resemble what a working ranch is like, with events that give the feel of life on the ranch.
This year’s rodeo will have bronc riding, bull riding and barrel racing, but it also will have events in a team format.
A total of 10 five-member teams will compete in colt saddling, cow decorating, team branding, double mugging and a relay race. It costs $1,000 per team, but there will be an $8,000 payout and buckles for the top team.
“These are actual ranch rodeo teams and everything they’re doing are actual things they would do on a ranch,” Harrison said. “There will be open events as well for all the other events.”
There will also be the always popular Buddy Pick-Up. Only this year, instead of someone getting picked up off the top of a barrel, the buddy will be picked up off the ground, making it a little more challenging.
“If you’re out branding cattle and a rider is on the ground and you have aggressive cattle going after the rider, you have to get him and there isn’t a barrel to jump on,” Harrison said.
As for the more traditional rodeo events, there will be $3,500 added to the barrel racing and $2,500 to the increasingly popular breakaway roping.
Also, there will be a drill team called the American Freedom Flyers, a group trying to make a name for themselves on the rodeo circuit.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children 6 to 12, and children five and under for free. Seniors and first responders are $20 and parking is $10. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.
The Junior Cracker Day Rodeo will be held Saturday, March 14. Information on that will be announced soon.
The rodeo will be dedicated to the memory of Hardee Silcox Sr., the last founding board member of the arena who passed away recently.
The Lee County Posse Arena is at 17401 Palm Creek Drive, North Fort Myers.
For more information, visit the arena’s Facebook page or leecountyposse.com.