Join Us for the Q3 Quarterly Meeting
Join us at 6pm on Saturday, August 17th in the South Sumter High School cafeterias for our Quarter 3 quarterly meeting. With election time fast approaching, we have invited several of our local political candidates. Each candidate will be given a brief amount of time to introduce themselves to our members. It is our goal to help each of you be better informed when it’s time to go to the polls this year.
As always, supper will be provided. There will also be door prizes and raffle tickets your your chance to win a $500 gift certificate towards the purchase of a custom Greeley Hat Works cowboy hat.
Hope to see everyone there.
Helping Our Fellow Ranchers in Their Time of Need
In preparation for the 2024 hurricane season, the Sumter County Cattlemen’s Association will be gathering disaster relief supplies. These supplies will be palletized and stored so that when needed they can be loaded on a trailer to be hauled wherever they are needed. We will be collecting items such as rolls of barbed wire, fence posts, t-posts, fence staples, t-post wire clips, etc.
Collection points will be held at Sparr Building Supply in Wildwood and Tractor Supply Company in Bushnell Saturday June 8th from 8am-1pm and Sunday June 9th from 10am-2pm.
As with any event, we welcome the support and participation of our members. If you are able to volunteer any time at either location on either day, please contact Jim at 352-428-3317 or email [email protected]
It's OK to Ask For Help
The Florida Farm Bureau along with Everglades Equipment Group have joined together to promote mental health and suicide prevention among farmers and ranchers. Nationwide, farmers and ranchers are 3.5 percent more likely to die by suicide than the general public. In this new initiative, every cabbed John Deere tractor sold in the state of Florida by Everglades will have a "Its ok to ask for help" sticker placed in clear view on the windshield of the cab. This sticker will include a 988 number that can be called 24 hrs. a day. This number will connect farmers and ranchers with trained professionals who can assist those who feel they are in need. The Sumter County Cattlemen's Association is proud to support Florida Farm Bureau and Everglades in this project and encourage those in need to reach out. It's not a sign of weakness. It's ok to ask for help.
Promoting Local Youth Agriculture Education
The Sumter County Cattlemen's Association is committed to supporting the next generation of agriculturalists This year our organization was honored to donate $500 to the FFA programs at each of the three Sumter county high schools. South Sumter High School FFA, Wildwood FFA, and The Villages Charter School FFA were each presented with checks to help fund club programs. SCCA is proud of the hard work put in by the students, teachers, and advisors in these programs.
T.E.A.M. Cards Applications Now Online
The long awaited applications for Florida T.E.A.M.S. (Tax Exempt Agricultural Materials) cards is now available online. This card will streamline the tax exemption process for our producers. Tax exemptions apply to a wide variety of agricultural materials including fencing, equipment, trailers, panels, irrigation supplies, and many other items. Below is a link where you can learn more and apply for your card.
https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/Documents/flFarmTeamCardFAQs.pdf
Your 2023 SCCA Officer Team
President-
James McAlister
A proud presenter of Florida History James (Jim) McAlister believes the voice of the small and up coming ranchers deserve to be heard just as much as the large. As the president he aims to work with his members to build back up the SCCA after the hit the association took after COVID.
Vice President-
Mike Revels
Mike is much more then the VP for the SCCA. Having been involved in the association for years he is an important senior advisor. His knowledge in the cattle industry and cooking for events ensures the future not only has a full stomach but a full mind.
Treasurer-
John Dragneff
Being a multi-generational local rancher John’s roots have been long laid in Sumter County. Through his work in numerous organizations including at the state level for the Masonic Lodge John has a passion for helping those who need it.
Secretary/State Director- Tyler McAlister
An American Degree recipient for the FFA Tyler has always had a passion for agriculture. Through his involvement in multiple youth groups and animal projects while in school Tyler has a passion for educating the public on the workings and needs of local farms.
The Great Florida Cattle History
In 1521 Ponce De Leon arived off the shores of what is now Charlotte harbor Florida with the intention of settling this new world in the name of Spain. With him, he brought seven head of Spanish Andalusian cattle. These cattle would be the first to ever step foot in what would one day become the United States. While Ponce’s venture would turn out to be an abismal failure, it would open the door to further Spanish exsploration and setlement. With each wave of Spaniards came more cattle. By the 1600s there were Spanish missions stretching from St. Augustine to Pensecola. Each of these ranches was supported by a Spanish rancho. For the last 500 years Florida has played a major role in our country’s cattle industry.
Through it’s earliest days of trading cattle with Spanish colonies to the south, Florida established some of the first exportation of beef.
Instances of cattle rustling, range wars, indian wars, and cattle drives so commonly associated with western ranching operations were happeining in Florida as well and often times predating the same events in the west.
Not only was Florida the first in many accomplishments, they were also the last. Some of the last documented great cattle drives occured in Florida. This is due in part that Florida was the last state to officailly close the open range (1949).
Today Florida continues to play a large role in the American cattle industry. We rank 12th in the nation in beef cattle production. Five of the largest cow/calf operations in the country are located in Florida. Deseret Ranch, located just a short drive from Disney, is home to the largest herd of brood cows in the nation.
Florida has a proud tradition when it comes to the beef industry. For over 500 years Florida cattlemen and women have worked diligently to provide a safe, healthy product to consumers while at the same time, striving to protect out state’s natural environment and green spaces for future generations. As long as there are cattle in our state, you will find dedicated individuals carrying on Florida’s proud cow culture and heritage.
Questions? Ideas?
Have questions about The Sumter County Cattlemen’s Association? Have Ideas for community Events? We love to hear your questions and ideas!