Saddles are tightening, and plans are coming together—here’s the GFCD 2026 Schedule you’ve all been waiting for. Times may shift as we finalize details, and a final schedule with any updates will be sent out before registration.

Address for check-in: 2652-2818 SR-60  Okeechobee, FL 34972

Coggins will be checked at the gate checkpoint prior to registration check-in.

Saturday – January 24, 2026    Check in: 8:00 a.m. –7:00 p.m.

Prior to Check-In, your coggins will be checked at a stop point.
Go to the registration table to receive your circle and ride packet.
Circles will be marked on the map with a colored flag. Find your circle and set up camp.
Saturday’s meals are on your own; you can bring your own food, or there will be a food truck on site with food for purchase.
For folks who want to take their rigs to the Okeechobee Cattlemen’s Arena, we will have one bus running to bring you back to the campsite. We encourage anyone to do this as it will be less to get moved on Sunday.

Sunday – January 25, 2026 Check In: 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Prior to Check-In, your coggins will be checked at a stop point. Go to the registration table to receive your circle and ride packet.
Circles will be marked on the map with a colored flag. Find your circle and set up camp.
Sunday’s breakfast and lunch are on your own; you can bring your own food, or there will be a food truck on site with food for purchase.
9:00 a.m. – We will begin moving rigs that are already set up to the end point of the ride in Okeechobee. You will take your truck and trailer, and a bus will bring you back to the starting camp site. The trucks and trailers will be staged in a fenced lot with 24-hour security.
5:00 p.m. Supper
6:00 p.m. Mandatory General Assembly (Guest Speakers)
Live Auction – Bid for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride alongside the cow boss
leading the herd. Each day of the ride will be auctioned.
Circle Breakouts – meet your circle boss and review the week ahead.

10:00 a.m. EACH DAY OF THE RIDE – We will be live-streaming into the 4th-grade classrooms doing The Land Remembered curriculum program, as well as the Florida Historic Society and the state capital. 

Monday – January 26, 2026

5:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. Breakfast
6:45 a.m. Saddled and ready to ride! Circle the cattle and head out.
This will be the longest day of the ride, 14-15 miles, and it will also take the route through part of the land depicted in the book The Land Remembered.
Midday – Lunch from the food truck, which will be set up and waiting for us along the route.
Arrive at camp, get the gear from your circle’s trailer, and set up camp.
6:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. (depending on what time we arrive at camp) Supper from the chuckwagon.

Tuesday – January 27, 2026 &

6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. Breakfast
7:45 a.m. Saddled and ready to ride! Circle the cattle and head out.
These will be shorter days, approximately 4-6 miles. Along the route each day, there will be a cow dog demonstration.
The lunch food truck will be waiting for us to arrive at camp.
Get your gear and set up camp in the afternoon.
5:30 p.m. Supper
7:00 p.m. Gathering – Cowboy Storytelling and Poetry

Wednesday – January 28, 2026

6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. Breakfast
7:45 a.m. Saddled and ready to ride! Circle the cattle and head out. Today will be approximately 10 miles.
Midday – Lunch from the food truck, which will be set up and waiting for us along the route.
Get your gear and set up camp in the afternoon.
5:30 p.m. Supper
7:00 p.m. Gathering – Florida Bluegrass Express Band

Thursday – January 29, 2026

6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. Breakfast
7:45 a.m. Saddled and ready to ride! Circle the cattle and head out. Approximately 10 miles.

Midday – Lunch from the food truck, which will be set up and waiting for us along the route.
Arrive at camp, get the gear from your circle’s trailer, and set up camp.
5:30 p.m. Supper
7:00 p.m. Seminole Indians entertainment – Stomp Dance, Pumpkin Indian Fry Bread

Friday – January 30, 2026

6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. Breakfast
We will remain in the same camp today. It will be free riding on your own on the ranch.
10:00 a.m. Talk by Horse Trainer, Craig Cameron.
1:00 p.m. Talk by Horse Trainer, Gene Cox
3:00 p.m. Talk by Todd Wiseman – Producer of the TV series “The Land Remembered.”
5:00 p.m. Supper
6:30 p.m. Live and Silent Auction (Cash, Check, Credit Cards)

Saturday – January 31, 2025

6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Breakfast
8:45 a.m. Saddled and ready to ride! Circle the cattle and head out. (This time may change, but we will ride out; you will be informed if it does on Friday.)

We will go in the following order into the Okeechobee Cattlemen’s Arena for the Heritage Festival. Wagons, Veterans, Cow Boss, Cows, Circles
11:00a.m – 11:30 a.m., arrive at the arena.