I’m sure a lot of my old friends were taken by surprise when they first heard about my plan to buy a cattle ranch in Florida. I’ve often joked that the only thing I know about cowboys is that I played for them for a few years in the 1980’s. But the truth is the opportunity to preserve Florida’s disappearing ranching heritage is an historic opportunity, and one I couldn’t pass up.

As the 2005 hurricane season finally draws to a close, I’m sure you all join me in a collective sigh of relief that Southwest Florida has been spared a repeat of last year’s devastation. For years Florida was spared from hurricanes and we became complacent, but 2004 provided a brutal reminder for Floridians to approach each year with a not-if-but-when attitude.