Sunday Favorites: From Pasture to Present

Nestled on the corner of Bee Ridge Road and Honore Avenue in Sarasota, Ufer Family Park, a sprawling 55-acre natural haven lives up to its name. Here, families of all kinds from sandhill cranes to spirited rabbits, ducks, cows, and humans come together to revel in the parks' pristine beauty.

There's lots to do here. Playful children of all ages abound upon the playground equipment, their squeals of glee echoing across the site. Fitness enthusiasts and nature lovers can enjoy the park's trail system, equipped with exercise stations throughout. Open fields serve multiple purposes, from hosting soccer games to providing ample space for kite flying or frisbee activities. Even the fish are plentiful in the small lakes, jumping from the murky depths as if to briefly peer upon the fun above the surface.

The park holds a lot of history as well. The first thing visitors see upon their arrival is an impressive house that once served as the home of Dr. Cullen Bryant "C.B." Wilson and his wife Fannie Reeves. Originally located downtown, near the present-day intersection of Ringling Boulevard and South Orange Avenue, the home was constructed in 1906 by architect Edgar Ferdonk. A second-story addition built in 1913, was used to house the doctor's critically ill patients, according to an article "Sarasota's Historic Wilson House," by Lorrie Muldowny.

Back then, most prominent citizens served in many different capacities and held a variety of positions. In addition to running one of Sarasota's first medical practices, Wilson also held a postmaster position, was an Indian Agent of the state, and even a Senator. He owned property throughout what is now Sarasota County, including the parcel that serves as Urfer Family Park. The sprawling grassland made this parcel the perfect location to graze cattle.

When the historic ranch was slated for development in 2002, Sarasota County purchased the property as public park space. It seemed fitting to allow the cows to remain, as a nod to the park's ranching history. What many may not have realized, was these particular cattle had a rich history of their own.

The cows are some of the original "scrub" cattle that roamed freely in Florida when the first white settlers arrived, according to the Sarasota County parks department. But cattle themselves aren't native to the state indicating that the cattle are descendants of the Spanish breed brought from Europe during the expeditions of the conquistadors during the 1500s. The Spanish explorers deliberately chose tough, robust animals to ensure their survival during the perilous ocean journey, according to "The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds" by Janet Vorwald Dohner.

As Florida became a Spanish colony, cattle ranching became an important economic activity. Spanish settlers established cattle ranches and herds of cattle were allowed to roam freely across the open range, adapting to the subtropical environment of Florida, according to Dohner.

While no more than 300 heads arrived in Florida, they thrived for more than two centuries, outlasting the epidemic mortality of most indigenous tribes and the reign of the Spanish. Living off the land, the bovine multiplied significantly with few natural predators hindering their progress. By the end of the 1700s, there were thousands.

When the United States Government targeted the Seminole and Creek Indians in the late 1700s and began imposing laws for forced removal from their native lands, thousands migrated from Georgia and Alabama to northern Florida. They had their own traditions of cattle raising and played a role in the introduction and spread of cattle in Florida. Because they herded the first wild scrub cattle, they are considered the first cattle hunters, or Florida crackers, according to the exhibit Florida Cattle Ranching through the Florida Memory Project.

Florida was ceded to the United States by Spain in 1821, after which American settlers began to further develop the cattle industry. Settlers, upon realizing the economic benefits of herding and breeding the cattle, continued the practice of open-range cattle ranching, and cattle were allowed to graze over large areas of land.

The late 19th century brought changes to Florida's cattle industry. The expansion of railroads and increased development led to the fencing of land and the end of open-range ranching. This shift also helped improve cattle breeding practices and the quality of livestock.

Today, Florida has a well-established cattle industry with both beef and dairy cattle. The cattle in Florida have been bred over generations to adapt to the local climate and conditions. The state's agricultural practices have evolved to support this industry, including the cultivation of various forage crops for cattle feed.

It's amazing to see that ancestors of those hardy Spanish cattle brought to our area more than three centuries ago, still roam without care in a neighborhood park.