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Letter FROM the Editor: Letter from the Managing Editor
January 16th, 2013

Arts and Entertainment: Fiber Artist Classes at Cedar Key Arts Center
January 5th, 2013

Fishing News: A Warm Winter Day
December 31st, 2012

Arts and Entertainment: ACOUSTICAL AFTERNOON FOR THE ARTS FUNDRAISER FOR THE CEDAR KEY ARTS FESTIVAL
December 31st, 2012

Garden Club News: Cedar Key Garden Club is sponsoring a guest speaker at the CK Library
December 30th, 2012

Arts and Entertainment: Cedar Key Arts Center - January Events
December 25th, 2012

Announcements: Eagle Santa
December 25th, 2012

Announcements: Cedar Key "Pirates" will Host Returning Troops
December 23rd, 2012

Obituaries: Marie Yearty Johnson
December 22nd, 2012

Obituaries: Ayleen Marie Rains
December 22nd, 2012

Arts and Entertainment: CEDAR KEY ART FESTIVAL DEADLINE EXTENDED
December 21st, 2012

Garden Club News: CK Garden Club Jack Tyson Memorial Planter
December 21st, 2012

Columns: Trouble in Cedar Key - Personal Mission Statements, New Years Resolutions
December 21st, 2012

Announcements: Volunteers Deck the Halls of the Lighthouse
December 20th, 2012

City News: December 18, 2012, COMMISSION MEETING
December 20th, 2012

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If You Are Going to Catch Cattle, You Need a Horse - A Florida Cracker Tale

If You Are Going to Catch Cattle, You Need a Horse - A Florida Cracker Tale

Bill Roberts

Now that my screw worm days were over, after my Mother used the old "I need him at the house" trick, I was back on the ridge, as it was called, which was the old shore line of Lake Okeechobee.

I was 15 years old, and much to my Father`s disappointment, I was more determined than ever to be a cow hand. Where we lived on the ridge, there was a big cow pasture behind our house, with a lane that joined to another pasture.

I knew that to be a good hand, I had to know how to rope and I decided I needed practice. I had managed to get a pretty decent rope, and I had honed my throw on our two milk cows, but it wasn`t the same as a wild cow.

Every evening the cattle came behind our house to get to the other pasture. One evening when nobody was around I got my rope and hid behind a tree, and watched for a little bunch to come along. One old cow was curious and came over to check me out, I made a lucky throw and caught her horns, then all hell broke loose.

When she seen she was caught, the first thing she did was try and catch me! This gave me enough slack in the rope to tie her to a little tree. I backed up a little, she was throwing a fit; and she finally fell over on her side. This was all I needed to get the rope off her horns, and run like the devil.

Well, she seemed happy enough to get rid of me and got up and joined the other cattle that were just standing watching the show. I learned a valuable lesson that day. Don`t bite off more than you can chew, and if you`re going to catch cattle, you need a horse!

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