When many think of Florida, they think of palm trees and beaches. They don’t think about the Florida with horses and cattle being moved up and down the state.

There were cattle in Florida before there wereccattle in Texas and many of the events you see at a rodeo, such as steer wrestling and calf roping, were used to doctor the animals.

That heritage is celebrated every year at the Lee County Posse Arena, where from Friday to Sunday, Jan. 26 to 28, it will host the 63rd Cracker Day Rodeo.

When people come to the Lee Posse Arena this year, they will see some changes for the better, which Bobbi Harrison, who puts together the rodeo, hopes people will enjoy.

“We’ve added more sidewalks, new bleachers and bull chutes. We’ve also added a sign display and a second bird house where we announce from,” Harrison said. “We’ve also added a VIP section for the first time. We’re really excited.”

The event has had some obstacles in the past. The 2018 rodeo was cancelled from damage caused by Hurricane Irma, and they dodged some bullets in 2021 by COVID and last year after Hurricane Ian.

The events at this rodeo tend to be a little different. There is still bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing, but there are also unusual but popular events such as the Buddy-Pick-up and the cowgirl trifecta, where they have to breakaway rope a calf, race barrels and tie a goat, all in the same event.

There also will be more than 20 vendors selling everything from cowboy hats to Mexican food to perhaps even a ride on a mechanical bull.

Harrison said Saturday will be a busy day, since there will technically be two rodeos, the kids rodeo and the adult one, all for one admission.

“If you come in Saturday morning and buy a ticket, your ticket will get you in for later that day. I don’t know how much rodeo you can take in for one day, but if you’re a mega-fan, that would be the day to come,” Harrison said.

The rodeo in recent years has brought in some of the top cowboys and cowgirls in the world, as they compete in the winter circuit. Last year, barrel racer Fallon Taylor competed.

Gates open Friday at 4:30 p.m. with the rodeo starting at 6:30. Saturday’s youth rodeo begins at 10 a.m., following slack. The open rodeo begins at 7, and the Sunday matinee kicks off at 2, preceded by Cowboy Church.

Admission is $30 for adults, 13 and under is $15 and 5 and under are free. Military and first responders are $25.

The new VIP special is $100, which includes parking, VIP seating, and food and drink. There is a limit of 125 tickets.

The rodeo serves as the biggest fundraiser for the arena, a non-profit organization which was founded in 1960 and has survived as an all-volunteer group that gets no financial support from any government entity.

“We’ve always been a place for youth to come. We’re the only non-profit horse arena in Southwest Florida. Everything we’ve evolved from in revenue goes right back into the facility,” Harrison said. “We strive to make it better and better.”

The Lee Posse Arena is off Bayshore Road at 17401 Pal Creek Drive, North Fort Myers

For more information, go to leecountyposse.com.