Racing and chasing: Flagler County Cracker Day celebrates cowboy culture and tradition

Admission to Cracker Day included a barbecue lunch prepared and served by the Durrance family, a tradition spanning at least four generations.

  • By Christine Rodenbaugh
  • | 3:02 p.m. April 1, 2025
  • Palm Coast Observer
  • Neighbors
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Cowboys and cowgirls of all ages showed up for the 68th annual Flagler County Cracker Day celebration in Bunnell on Saturday, March 29. Barrel racing and chicken chasing competitions, just to name two, yielded bragging rights and a little bit of cash for competitors and entertainment for a full house of spectators.

Rough Riders games began at 8 a.m. in four age groups. Six-year-old Hazel Kayat of New Smyrna Beach took first place in barrels, 10 and under, and aspires to win at least as many buckles as her barrel-racing mom. A short time later, Hazel was back in the saddle and came out on top in the Poles in her age group as well. 

Madison Barrow, a freshman at Flagler Palm Coast High Schoo, placed second in the 11-17 age group in Poles. Barrow said her horse, Ellie, “was amazing; she did everything perfect.” Barrow took third in Barrels and said, “I placed in everything,” as she walked to the tower to collect her winnings.

Charlee Crawford, a sophomore and 4-H president at FPC, topped the 11-17 Barrels category with an 18.632. Barrow said her horse, Blue, loves to eat.

Admission to Cracker Day included a barbecue lunch prepared and served by the Durrance family, a tradition spanning at least four generations. Families and friends chowed down on smoked beef with sauce, baked beans, cole slaw, and a beverage inside the climate-controlled building or on picnic tables outside where the weather was cool and breezy. 

After lunch, the rodeo began. The announcer said Cracker Day is all about turning real ranch work into having fun as a community on Saturday. Opening ceremonies kicked off with a cowboy riding into the arena “cracking a whip” just like “Florida crackers” of yesteryear.

Riders paraded in with a variety of flags, stopping to watch reigning Cracker Day Queen Lacey Westbrook ride to the center with the American Flag. Soon after, Casey Jaeger guided her horse beside Westbrook to accept the crown as the 68th Cracker Day Queen. 

The action was non-stop after lunch with bull riding, breakaway roping, chicken chasing, pig chasing, mutton busting and more. Dalton Brinker of Ormond Beach said he caught a chicken, but released it too soon to cash in. Pence Zimmerle, a youngster from Bunnell, said he entered the pig chase because, “I wanted to keep the piggy!”

Riley Pederson left the sack race event covered in dirt. When asked why she would venture being dragged atop a feed sack tied to a rope and pulled by a horse from one end of the arena to the other, Pederson replied, “Because I like to win and it’s fun!” Four-year-old horse, Billy, ridden by Jessie Mayhew, pulled Pederson over the line to claim back-to-back wins in the 67th and 68th Flagler County Cracker Day sack race.

Cracker Day is presented by the Flagler County Cattlemen's Association to celebrate the county’s cattle history at the Flagler County Fairgrounds in Bunnell. This year's Cracker Day was in honor of Maetta (Tat) Durrance who has volunteered at every Cracker Day event. 

 

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