Rick Modine Oral History Interview 01 of 05

Richard R. Modine Jr., speaking in the voice of his great-grandfather William Wright Carlton (1874–1964), recounts the traditions of Florida’s early cattle industry and the life of the state’s “cow hunters.” He describes multigenerational ranching practices, from branding and cattle drives to the tools, horses, and dogs essential to the work. Through vivid storytelling, Modine captures the routines, language, and landscapes of frontier Florida, illustrating the endurance, humor, and deep connection to the land that defined his family’s eight generations of ranching heritage.