LIVING HISTORY
75
Ranch, giving students hands-on teaching about cow hunting
and ranching, washing clothes without electricity and riding
in wagons.
Her story inspired Carol Rey, a former teacher at Warfield,
to write a children’s book, Iris Wall — Cracker Cowgirl. The
book captures Wall’s life, love for cow hunting and teaches
about Cracker living.
“People are still so fascinated with the cowboy and the
cattle life because at heart they embody the American pioneer
spirit of adventure,” Rey says.
Wall has also spoken to many groups throughout the
state that include the Florida Museum of Natural History in
Gainesville, The Villages near Ocala, the Stephen Foster Folk
Culture Center and the Stuart Heritage and the Elliott museums.
Her message is simple and clear — protect agriculture
and preserve the land.
“I want people to realize that grass doesn’t grow in concrete,
and we better save some of our state or it will be gone,”
she says. “Ranching, farming and dairy industries support
families and do a lot of good. When we get to the place in the
United States that we can’t feed ourselves, we’re going to be
in a very serious condition.”
HOME ON THE RANGE
Today at 87, Wall remains active and engaged with her
community in Indiantown. She’s an avid reader, teaches a
Bible study to local women, hosts and cooks Sunday family
dinners and still makes time to take care of her big love — the
High Horse Ranch. There she raises cattle and even keeps
some Cracker cattle as living links to Florida’s history. She
still enjoys riding through the pastures among the palmetto
and oak hammocks, where deer freely roam. Wall is passionate
about respecting the land, and true to the Cracker spirit,
stays connected to and draws an inner peace from it.
“I love the land — I love cattle — and I love pasture,” Wall
says. “They’re not making any more land and I want to take
care of and do what’s best for it. It is a very simple life, but it’s
rewarding, too. I don’t worry about nothing when I’m out here.
I look at them little old cows and watch them plunk along. If
that won’t calm your nerves, nothing in the world will.”
Selling Real Estate on the
Treasure Coast since1973
Joyce L. Calvert
OWNER/BROKER
GRI • CRS • LTG • CIPS • ABR • PMN
Realtor of the Year
Realtor Emeritus
R E S I D E N T I A L | C O M M E R C I A L | C I T R U S | A C R E A G E
1007 Grandview Blvd. | Fort Pierce 34982 | (772) 464-3393 | CGator1@BellSouth.net
RICK CRARY
Both Wall and Carol Rey, a former teacher at Warfield, have written books
about Wall’s life, love for cow hunting and the Cracker lifestyle.
link
link