FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CRACKER COUNTRY FEATURES 9 NEW RURAL ACTIVITIES FOR AUDIENCES TO ENJOY AT 2008 FLORIDA STATE FAIR

4800 U.S. Highway 301 North
Tampa, FL 33610
Phone (813) 621-7821             Fax (813) 740-3505             http://www.floridastatefair.com/

[NEWS RELEASE] TAMPA, FL. — January 27, 2008.  Go back in time and relive rural Florida’s past at Mildred W. & Doyle E. Carlton, Jr. Cracker Country at the Florida State Fair.  The wide variety of early craft and trade demonstrators at Cracker Country provide authentic glimpses of Florida in the 1890s.  At this year’s Fair, visitors will find several new craft and trade demonstrations plus the museums’ newest attraction, the Hands-On Farm, where they can try their hand at how things were done more than 100 years ago.

NEW ACTIVITIES, ENTERTAINERS, CRAFT AND TRADE DEMONSTRATIONS FOR 2008 FAIR

BLUEGRASS MUSIC by The Sweeney Family Band—You’re sure to enjoy this group’s high-energy style of Bluegrass Music and comic entertainment.  They’ll be performing both weekends on the Cracker Country entertainment stage from opening until just before closing.

SPLIT RAIL FENCING & LOG CABIN DEMOS by Willie Thelosen and Steve McMenamin—These talented men will be demonstrating how trees were converted into split rail fencing and log cabins.  They will be building a small log cabin from hand-hewn logs daily during the fair at the Hands-On Farm, so come by often to check the progress.

BEEKEEPING by Adkins Family Farms—Stop by to learn about both early and modern beekeeping and sample different types of pure, sweet Florida honey.  They will be on the back porch of the Rainey building.

SWAMP CABBAGE cooked by Buddy Mills—Hailing from the Okeechobee area, Buddy will be showing how Swamp Cabbage, also known as Hearts of Palm, is prepared and cooked the old-fashioned way.  Buddy will be cooking this tasty Florida dish on the first weekend and the last Sunday and Monday between the cane mill and print shop.

SADDLEMAKING DEMOS by George Altman—Early Florida cow hunters weren’t any good without a good horse and saddle.  George will be in the Rainey Building both weekends demonstrating early saddle making techniques. 

SPANISH MOSS SADDLE BLANKET SPINNING made by Dawn Klug—This talented woman has resurrected a lost art.  It took lots of research and practice to teach herself how to make saddle blankets out of Spanish moss.  Dawn does it just as it was during the Civil War.  Stop by the Rainey Building and let Dawn teach you how to spin Spanish moss, it’s amazing.

WOODWORKING by John Sheldon—A talented woodworker, John will be showing guests how he makes rustic furniture and birdhouses, across from the Hands-On Farm.

THE COWHUNTER by Tony “Rooster” Morrell—Returning after a few years absence, Tony will be doing his popular first person portrayal of a late 1800s cowhunter.  Tony takes on the persona of “Rooster” to educate guests on the early Florida cattle industry at the corncrib.

HANDS-ON FARM—Guests of all ages will enjoy a stop at our newest site to do some of the “chores” performed daily by early rural Floridians.  Stop by to relive rural Florida’s past by grinding corn, washing laundry on a scrub board, playing with folk toys, and building a spit rail fence.

RETURNING FAVORITES TO CRACKER COUNTRY

Hubert Allen—Hubert will show you how he uses an early “fly wheel” engine and antique gristmill to make some of the best corn meal and grits you’ll ever taste.  The gristmill is located between the Schoolhouse and Rainey building.

Melvin Brinson—Watch as Melvin grinds sugar cane to extract the juice and then boils the juice to make thick, sweet cane syrup; all with antique equipment and traditional techniques.  This demonstration is located at the cane mill area.

The Coyle’s—This talented couple uses antique, treadle sewing machines and period techniques to make beautiful keepsake dolls.  The Coyle’s have been in the Rainey Building in past years but have moved this year to a new location, across from the Hands-On Farm.

Don Dar and Marlys Collier—Don and Marlys have been spinning and weaving in the Rainey Building for many years and are always popular with guests.  Be sure to look them up for an interactive lesson in textile arts.

Ralph Davis—This ever-popular woodcarver will be carving everything from walking sticks to fishing lures.  Ralph is always happy to visit with guests and show them how he makes his original creations or just spin a yarn or two.  Ralph can be found whittlin’ away in the center of Cracker Country.

Dave DeAngelis—Dave demonstrates the old time craft of converting pine needles into beautiful baskets and wall hangings.  Dave can be found both weekends in the Okahumpka Depot waiting room.

Betty Denton—Located on the front porch of the Smith House; Betty can teach you all about the complex craft of chair caning.  This very traditional method of putting a “seat” in a chair is simply amazing.

Laurel Dabbs—Laurel is a nationally acclaimed, award winning decoy carver.  Laurel takes blocks of wood then carves and paints them into a wide variety of waterfowl and shorebirds.  Her creations are sure to become valuable family heirlooms.

Annette Faircloth—A very traditional folk toy and decorative craft is making dolls out of corn shucks.  You won’t find anyone that does a better job than Annette does.  Stop by the front porch of the Rainey Building and let her show you how it’s done.

James Faircloth—James makes one of the finest cow whips you can find.  Sitting across from his wife Annette, James takes long strips of nylon or leather and plaits them into whips that make the right kind of “cracking sound that gave Florida Crackers their name.

Audrey Gantous—This skilled and talented lady is one of our own Cracker Country docents.  Watch as she makes a historically accurate quilt, by hand, in the Carlton House parlor.  Audrey’s hand made quilt is awarded to Cracker Country’s Docent of the Year as a highly treasured reminder of their accomplishment.

Becky Grier—Weaving baskets is always a popular demonstration to watch.  Becky Grier makes some best you’ll find using the very traditional wooden strips.  Stop by the Okahumpka Depot to watch her weave her beautiful creations.

Nick Nichols—If you’re fascinated by old wood working tools Nick’s the man to show them too you.  Believe it or not, he can even drill a square hole in a wooden board.  His engaging interpretive program can be found across from the Hands-On Farm. 

Pleasant Family Old Time String Band—If you enjoy listening to old time country music then you need to hear this group.  They play those old traditional tunes the way they were intended to be played.  The Pleasant family performs every weekday from opening until just before closing on the Cracker Country entertainment stage.

Southern Star Bluegrass—This group is always a crowd pleaser anywhere they perform.  Southern Star will be playing both old and modern bluegrass favorites, both weekends from opening until just before closing on the Cracker Country entertainment stage.

Kenley Redditt—Let’s face it, old country cured hams are delicious and Kenley makes some of the best.  Stop by the Smoke House and have Kenley show you how they’re made and then slow smoked to bring out that great old country ham flavor.  He also has some of the best Beef Jerky you’ll ever taste.

Victoria Rumble—No one knows traditional food ways like Victoria.  She’s dedicated many years of her life in researching, and honing her skills cooking food the way it was done over 100 years ago.  For the past two years Victoria has demonstrated open hearth cooking here, this year she’ll be interpreting open fire cooking behind the Smith House.

Traci Anderson—If you enjoy gardening, be sure to stop by the Cracker Country garden behind the Carlton House and visit with Traci.  She owns Seminole Springs Herb and Rose Garden and has an extensive knowledge about growing heirloom garden roses, herbs and their uses.  She’ll even have plants that you can take home to start your own old fashioned garden.

T.J. and Jenny Stevens—Watch as this skilled couple combine water, lard and lye to make old time lye soap over an open fire.  Jenny has her own special line of herbal soaps; all made by hand using traditional methods.  When the family’s clothes get dirty, Jenny demonstrates clothes washing using a pot of boiling water and lye soap.  T.J. is also has a talent for making traditional Appalachian style pottery and his “Face Jugs” are especially nice.

Robin Willis and Russ Williams—These two long-time printers are responsible for the printing of the Cracker Country Chronicle.  Printed daily in the Print Shop, The Chronicle is done using old style Linotype and printing presses.  They’ll be happy to show you how the process works.