Museum at Jumper Creek Ranch

Florida is home to some of the largest ranches in the nation. These large ranches date back to the settlement of this country in the 1800s. The subtropical environment, with year-round forage availability, is conducive to large cattle enterprises. Some of the most progressive cattle operations in the nation are found on these large ranches that incorporate advanced genetics and healthcare.  The Florida ranching industry is among the most progressive in the nation. Florida has the nation's largest ranches by cattle numbers, including the largest, the Deseret Ranch with 50,000 mother cows, and the third-largest, the Lykes Brothers Ranch with 17,000 cows. Central Florida was the early center of cattle production, but Disney World, The Villages, and broader development have pushed the industry south.

Florida calves are healthy and thrive in the western feedlots. Central Florida is considered ‘cow country” of Florida ranching, with a culture that reflects its early roots as the center of “Cowboy” activity.

As recently as the 1950s, guns were worn into town, and horses were ridden into the bars for the cowboy to acquire a drink! The state has a very colorful cowboy history that Remington traveled to paint in the 1800s.

The recent population explosion has left many of these ranches facing developmental pressure. We intend to remind them of their roots as the finest ranches in the middle of Florida cattle country.

The future of the cattle industry is very bullish, with the world population approaching 9 billion by 2045. Furthermore, 350 million will enter the middle class, demanding meat in their diet in just five years. This is occurring at a time when beef consumption in the United States is on the rise.