He wrote about it for Sarasota Magazine—now, the story of the great Florida cattle drive is a hardcover book.

Journalist, author and former Sarasota Magazine associate editor Isaac Eger’s new book, The Great Florida Cattle Drive, takes readers on an unexpected journey into Florida’s deep-rooted cattle ranching culture. Far from beaches and theme parks that most people associate with Florida, Eger’s firsthand experience on the Great Florida Cattle Drive—an 80-mile, seven-day journey on horseback—offered him a new perspective on the land he thought he knew.

The book, which was inspired by Eger's Sarasota Magazine story about the cattle drive, started as a simple photo compilation but evolved into an exploration of Florida’s cowboy history, the environmental role of ranchers and the endurance required to live and work on the state’s wild interior prairies.

Eger, a Sarasota native, originally dismissed cattle ranching as an environmental threat, growing up with the belief that raising cows was inherently destructive. But as he reported on conservation and land use, he came to a different realization: Florida’s ranchers, far from being adversaries to the environment, are often its stewards.

Here, Eger discusses his journey from urban journalist to novice cowboy, the physical toll of the cattle drive, and why he believes anyone who calls Florida home should take a closer look at the land beyond its coastline. This edited has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

You grew up in Florida but didn’t always see it the way you do now. What changed?

"I grew up in a coastal city, and like a lot of Floridians, I didn’t spend much time thinking about the state’s interior. I grew up vegetarian, so I saw cattle ranching as a negative thing—something that used too many resources and contributed to environmental problems. But when I started reporting more on conservation, I realized that Florida’s ranchers are some of the most important land stewards we have. Their land isn’t just grazing space for cattle; it’s also a refuge for wildlife and a huge part of what keeps 'Old Florida' intact. The more I learned, the more I realized how wrong I had been about them."

How did you end up on the Great Florida Cattle Drive, especially as someone with no riding experience?

"I kept having these dreams about horses, and I wasn’t sure why. Around that time, I wrote a profile of Elizabeth Moore for Sarasota Magazine, and she became a friend, and she told me about the drive. I was fascinated and wanted to learn more, even though I had never been on a horse before. She had bought herself a ticket but couldn’t make it, so she gave it to me. It was kind of a “baptism by fire” moment—I just decided to go for it. Most people on the drive were serious riders and brought their own horses. I had to rent one, which wasn’t cheap. The experience was so incredible that I would do it again in a heartbeat."

What was a typical day like on the cattle drive?

"It was exhausting, but in the best way. We rode for hours—sometimes more than 10 hours a day—and covered about 80 miles in total. You spend most of your time looking at the backside of a horse in front of you. There’s no checking your phone, no distractions—just you, the land, and the people riding alongside you. There was a real emphasis on authenticity. No Gore-Tex jackets, no baseball caps—just proper cowboy attire. I’ve always loved cowboy fashion, but after actually riding for a week, I felt like less of an imposter wearing it."

"The physical toll was intense. There were moments when my body hurt so badly I didn’t think I could keep going. But honestly, it hurts more to sit at a computer all day. And the tradeoff was worth it—the landscapes were breathtaking. We rode through green prairies, across rivers and past oak hammocks. If you want to see what Florida looked like before highways and high-rises, this is where you find it."

How did this experience turn into a book?

"After I wrote about the cattle drive for Sarasota Magazine, a man named Richard Blaudow, a retired businessman, reached out. He had also participated in the drive and bought photos from it. He wanted to put them into a book and asked the organizers who might be able to help. Someone put him in touch with me, and we started working together. Originally, he envisioned a straightforward photo book, but I pushed for something bigger—a book that would tell the full story of Florida’s cattle heritage, the people who keep it alive and what it was like to actually live it for a week. He trusted me completely, which was great, and he financed the whole project."

Who do you think should read this book?

"Anyone who wants to understand the real Florida, the Florida beyond theme parks and beachfront condos. The state is enormous, and the interior—where the cattle industry has thrived for centuries—is just as much a part of its identity as the coasts. The problem is, a lot of Florida’s history gets erased by waves of new development and transplants who don’t realize what they’re moving into.

"This book is for anyone who wants to know where they actually live. If you have a Florida driver’s license or license plate, I think it’s important to understand what this state really is. If you came here just for tax benefits, the least you can do is learn about the place you’re benefiting from."

What surprised you most about Florida’s cowboy history?

"The fact that Florida had cowboys before Texas did. The first cattle in North America arrived here in the 1500s with the Spanish, and Florida cowboys—known as 'crackers' because of the sound of their whips—were driving cattle long before the American West was even settled. I had no idea. The way cattle ranching worked here was different, too. Until the mid-20th century, there were no fence laws. Cattle hunters would round up free-roaming cows and drive them across the state using whips to keep them moving."

Why do you think it’s important for people to care about preserving Florida’s ranch lands?

"Because once they’re gone, they’re gone. Every day, about 1,000 people move to Florida, and developers are buying up land faster than it can be protected. Ranchers are some of the only people standing between Florida’s natural landscapes and more strip malls. These people work hard to maintain this land, and if we lose them, we don’t just lose a way of life—we lose an essential part of Florida’s ecosystem. Developers don’t grow food. Ranchers do. If we let their land disappear, how are we going to feed people?"

What’s next for you?

"This is my first book, but I’m working on a new project—a series about how Florida is a glimpse into America’s future. The past five years here have been intense, and I think what happens in Florida is a preview of what’s coming for the rest of the country. We’ve been through a lot, so I think we’re a little wiser about what’s ahead. I’ll be talking about that."

Any final lessons you took from this experience?

"That you don’t need much to be happy. You really don’t. Life on the cattle drive was simple—just a horse, the land, and a sense of purpose. I think we overcomplicate things, but when you strip it all down, the essentials are pretty clear."