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| Volume XXIII Number 6 | April 26, 2002 |
6th Annual Junior Cypress Cattle Drive
By Janice BillieBIG CYPRESS - The blazing sun and Florida’s well known humidity did not keep the cowboys, cowgirls and visitors down on the farm. They came to Big Cypress to ride the trail from the reservation’s West Boundary Road to the Junior Cypress Rodeo and Entertainment Complex at the eastern end of the community.
Over 150 participants took to the saddle to remember Junior Cypress and the other Seminole cowboys who pioneered the Seminole Tribe Cattle Program in the 1930’s.
It is the hope of the Tribe’s present day cattlemen that the hard work and dedication of men like Junior Cypress, Morgan Smith, Barfield Johns, Jimmy Cypress, Johnson Billie, Albert Billie, Willie Frank and Lilly Fewell will never be forgotten.
It was these cowboys, along with Little Tigertail, Junior Buster, Billy Johns, Frank Billie and others that worked towards developing what has become one of the largest cattle operations in the state of Florida.
Board of Directors President Mitchell Cypress, Big Cypress Board of Directors Representative Paul Bowers, Sr., Assistant Natural Resource Director Richard Bowers, and Moses Jumper, Jr., put their time and hearts into establishing and furthering this event.
It is a memorial drive for the cattlemen who are no longer with us and a tribute to those still living.
Junior Cypress was the foreman for the Big Cypress Cattle Program for over 30 years who also worked as a cowhand for the neighboring McDaniel Ranch in his teenage days. His contribution and lifelong dedication to the cattle program are remembered through this event and the dedication of the Rodeo Complex in his name.
The day’s drive began with registration and a down home breakfast at the Swamp Water Café.
After bellying up, the horse trailers and riders headed west to the starting point to await the cows. The Honorary Trail Boss for this year’s drive was Billie Johns, one of the original Big Cypress cowboys.
Before the arrival of the herd, Mitchell Cypress and Paul Bowers, Sr., took time to introduce themselves and welcome all the participants.
Paul commented that, "without advertisement, the event has become a popular regional event and is growing every year. We are happy to see our neighbors, as well as visitors from the city come out and share the day and a BBQ dinner with us."
Beginning shortly after 10:00 a.m., the drive came winding down to an end around 3:30 p.m. After putting up their horses and washing off some trail dust, everyone gathered in the show barn to put away some delicious BBQ chicken and ribs.
With the help of John Billie, Linda Bowers, Bobbie Billie, Diane Buster, and Barbara Billie, the preparations and the meal were excellent. The day’s events ended later in the evening with the EIRA rodeo.
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