It's been a wild October and with Halloween closing in on us this seemed like the perfect time to collaborate with our friend in Glasgow, Mr. Àdhamh Ó Broin, to cover some of our heritage and a poem featuring a ghost story. Join us this week for a special presentation of Robert Burns' classic Tam O' Shanter.

To purchase a chance (or numerous chances) to win an original Brad Phares oil painting benefiting the charitable organization, Dòrlach, as mentioned in this episode please follow the link here

Jeb Smith is a fifth generation farmer and current Florida Farm Bureau President. His family has deep roots in Hastings, Florida located in St. Johns County and a legacy of leadership locally and throughout Florida. In this episode, we discuss his family's legacy, early memories of St. Johns County, the challenges facing agriculture as our state's population swells, and his long history with Farm Bureau.

On a side note, I reversed roles and stepped in as a guest with Jeb on Farm Bureau's podcast, Rural Recharge, and we'll be sharing that segment in the future. Y'all be sure to look for it on November 3rd, and be sure to subscribe to their podcast!

This Labor Day weekend will find Okeechobee abuzz with both locals and our urban coastal neighbors eager to take in yet another rodeo experience in one of Florida's iconic arenas - one of the few remaining outdoor, uncovered, and privately owned venues. It's a piece of Florida history and a solid slice of Americana. The rodeo is the largest fundraiser for the non-profit Okeechobee County Cattlemen's Association and it affords the association the ability to give back primarily to the youth of the community, but to others as well. The rodeo is held biannually - once in spring with The Speckled Perch Festival and again in September as the Pete Clemons Memorial Labor Day Rodeo. This week as Hurricane Idalia bears down on the Big Bend and North Florida, I sit down at the Okeechobee Cattlemen's Arena with fellow OCCA officers/board members to discuss our memories of growing up around the rodeo, how it's shaped us as leaders, and how it helps our community on so many levels.