Florida Cracker Cowboy Festival

06/18/2026

When town quiets down some, I suppose folks might notice.

From the News Press in Ft. Myers, May 9, 1885

—The cow-hunters are now coming to their busy season. The cattle are all carefully searched out and the branding iron is applied to all that have not previously received their mark. For this purpose pens have been erected at various points on the range into which the cattle are driven and there supplied with the brands and ear-marks which designate their ownership.

06/17/2026

America’s heartland is coming to the National Mall 🌾!

At the American Heartland Arena, we’re celebrating America’s farmers, ranchers, livestock, rodeo tradition, and rural heritage as part of the Great American State Fair.

Join us June 25-July 10, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

06/16/2026

🎉 You’re Invited to Celebrate 50 Years of The Alva Museum 🌴
Please join us on Saturday, July 4, 2026, as The Alva Museum celebrates its 50th Anniversary and honors 50 years of preserving Alva’s history, Florida heritage, and the stories of the people who helped shape our community.

The Alva Museum opened on July 4, 1976, and this special anniversary celebration will bring friends, families, neighbors, students, and supporters together to recognize the museum’s role in keeping local history alive for future generations.

📍 The Alva Museum 21420 Pearl Street Alva, FL 33920
🎉 50th Anniversary Celebration
📅 Saturday, July 4, 2026
🕘 9:00 AM – Noon

As part of the celebration, the museum will also recognize the winners of the Florida 250 Student Contest, where Florida K–12 students are invited to share essays, artwork, or both inspired by Florida history, local heritage, pioneer life, ranching traditions, agriculture, nature, wildlife, family, community, the Caloosahatchee River, small-town life, and what it means to call Florida home.

🏆 Student Contest Awards Presentation:
Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM during the Alva Museum’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Students and families are encouraged to visit the Florida 250 Cracker Cowboy Exhibit for inspiration.

🕒 Extended museum hours through July 4:
Wednesdays: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sundays: 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM

For full student contest details, entry guidelines, and submission information, visit:
https://crackercowboy.alvamuseum.com/contest

Friends, families, neighbors, students, and supporters are warmly welcome as we celebrate 50 years of preserving local history.

06/16/2026

🎨✍️ Florida 250 Student Contest: “What Being a Floridian Means to Me”

Florida students are invited to share their creativity, stories and love for the Sunshine State through an original essay, artwork, or both!
This special student contest is open to Florida public school, private school and homeschool students in grades K–12. Entries may be inspired by Florida history, local heritage, pioneer life, ranching traditions, agriculture, nature, wildlife, family, community, the Caloosahatchee River, small-town life, or what it means to call Florida home.

The contest is connected to the Florida 250 Cracker Cowboy Exhibit and the Alva Museum’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on July 4.
📅 Deadline to enter: Monday, June 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM
🏆 Winners announced: Thursday, July 2, 2026 at 6:00 PM
🎉 Awards Presentation: Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM during the Alva Museum’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
Students and families are encouraged to visit the Florida 250 Cracker Cowboy Exhibit for inspiration.

📍 Alva Museum
21420 Pearl Street, Alva, FL 33920

🕒 Extended museum hours through July 4:
Wednesdays: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sundays: 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Full contest details, entry guidelines, submission instructions and contact information are available here:
https://crackercowboy.alvamuseum.com/

Let’s encourage our students to tell their Florida story and celebrate what being a Floridian means to them!

06/14/2026

🎆 Visit the Alva Museum Today: Sunday Hours! 🎇

The Alva Museum is open today, Sunday, from 12:09 PM to 3:00 PM, with extended hours for families, students and visitors to experience the Florida 250 Cracker Cowboy Exhibit.

This is a great opportunity for students to gather inspiration for the “What Being a Floridian Means to Me” Student Contest, open to Florida students submitting original essays or artwork inspired by Florida history, heritage, ranching traditions, agriculture, nature, family, community and what it means to call the Sunshine State home.

The contest is part of the museum’s Florida 250 celebration and leads into the Alva Museum’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on July 4.

📍 Extended museum hours now through July 4:

Sundays: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Wednesdays: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Contest details, deadlines and submission information are here:
eastleenews.com/florida-250-student-contest/

Come visit today, explore Florida’s heritage, and help students celebrate what it means to be a Floridian.

Students Invited to Share “What Being a Floridian Means to Me” Through Essays and Artwork Student Essay & Artwork Contest Students across Florida are invited to participate in the “What Being a Floridian Means to Me” Student Contest, a creative competition encouraging young Floridians to ref...

06/14/2026

A Legacy: The Armeda Family of Lee County

For over a century, the Armeda family has stood as a cornerstone of Lee County’s history. From the pioneering days of Captain Nicholas Armeda, the legendary shipmaster to his son Buck Armeda’s ranch and the sprawling cattle pastures of Alva and Olga their name is synonymous with the spirit of Southwest Florida.
For generations, they have been stewards of the land, embodying the "Cracker Cowman" tradition.

These photographs show Buck Armeda as teenager, cow hunting abt. 1915 , and later Buck at the head of a calf and his young son, Nick helping during branding season.

Martin Gembecki’s poignant portrait of the late Nick Armeda serves as a powerful tribute to this heritage. Captured in his working gear amidst horse tack, Nick represents the grit and endurance of a lifestyle that helped build our community.

As the Alva landscape transforms, we look back with deep respect at the Armeda legacy, a testament to a time when the pulse of Lee County was found in its woods and pastures with the families who worked them.

06/13/2026

Another priceless photo shared with us for the exhibit. James Carter left his home in Georgia around 1916 and made his way to Cuba, (where this picture was taken) via Punta Rassa. According to his Grand-daughter, Karen Roberts, he left home to avoid having to become a lawyer as his parents wished. After all, he wanted to be a cowman. By 1920 he had made it back to Florida, where he got married and built his ranch near Hickey’s Creek in Lee County. He rode until he was in his mid-eighties and when he passed at 91, he had 600 acres and 100 cows.

The second picture is Mr Carter and wife, Lois at a Cattleman’s luncheon in the 1970’s.

06/13/2026

Our friend, Cameron Cato made the long drive down to spend the festival weekend with us back in May, glad to see he is keeping busy. Another great ambassador for this part of our state’s culture and history.