" If it wasn't for the people here in Florida raising cattle, this whole state would be paved over right now."

Hank Mattson is known as the "Cracker Cowboy Poet" who "tells it like it was."

A native of Lake Placid in Highlands County, Mattson recites his poetry and discusses Florida's pioneer culture at libraries, schools and festivals throughout the state.

Mattson's poetry tells the stories of colorful characters from Florida's pioneer past such as Summerlin, Bone Mizell and Hamilton Disston, but much of it is also based on his own experience as a "Cracker cowman."

Read more at Florida Today.