In a region better known today for subdivisions and shopping corridors, the Fickett family is keeping a long tradition of ranching and rodeo alive.

Based in Eustis, they’ve been working cattle, raising horses and competing in the arena for generations.

“My mom, Lisa Burns, taught me and my sister Linsey how to rope and ride,” J’Anna Fickett says. “She was the toughest cowgirl I ever knew.”

The sisters, raised in the rodeo arena by Lisa and their dad, Jay Griner, are now bringing up their own kids in the rodeo lifestyle. 

And Jay is still riding and training, these days alongside his grandkids, Colton and Jaylee. Their cousins — Linsey’s daughters, Lacy and Laney — also compete.

“Back in the day, we went to smaller amateur rodeos,” Jay says. “The fun was going as a family outing. It made for great memories.”

Jay’s roots in Lake County go back more than a century. He worked cattle in towns like Oxford, was a tie-down calf roper and has been involved with the Lake County Cattlemen’s Association for decades. He also trained horses for competition.

“I had a horse named Blue and ended up selling him to pay for J’Anna to be born because we didn’t have insurance,” he says. “I sold him to a nice family and followed him throughout his life.”

Robbie Fickett met J’Anna at Eustis High and has been part of the rodeo life ever since, following her to competitions. Now he does the same for their kids.

J’Anna was practically born in the saddle. Her mom competed while pregnant with her, and J’Anna did the same while carrying Jaylee. J’Anna still competes in barrel racing and rides in the same circuits as her children. 

“When they were little, we just put Colton and Jaylee up on horses,” she says. “Now they are serious competitors and are good enough to do well at nationals.”

Colton competes in team roping, primarily as a header and also runs tie-down calf roping, with team roping as his main focus. He has competed at the national level, most notably at the youth national finals rodeo in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where he placed among the top competitors.

“I love football and wrestling because they are sports I can enjoy while I’m young and still in high school,” Colton says. “Rodeo is a lifestyle and it’s something that I can do into my later years.”

Jaylee ropes as a heeler and also competes in breakaway roping and barrel racing, with team roping as her main focus. She and her partners have competed at the state level and advanced to the youth national finals rodeo in Guthrie, including a state championship run in 2022.

“The support from our older family members is great,” Jaylee says. “They know what it’s like and then you are inspired to be like them when you grow up.”

The kids have also roped together as a team, competing from local practice pens and jackpots to qualifying for national-level events.

These days, Robbie is hauling horses, working gates and keeping things moving while also working as a Battalion Chief with Lake County Fire Rescue and running Fickett Builders, a residential construction company based in Eustis.

“You can’t rodeo alone,” J’Anna says. “Robbie is great that way. You always need someone in rodeo life as your support system, and he is that. I’m sure if he needed to, he could get up on a horse, but he’ll tell you he’d probably be happier out hunting or on his boat fishing.”

That may be true, but Robbie is right there, the world-champion honey-doer, in the arena next to the chute, closing gates and driving his family to competitions.

Everyone leans on each other and returns the favor, even with the kids’ busy schedules.

“Our philosophy is that they have four years to do high school,” Robbie says. “They can concentrate on their grades and do team sports, and that’s it. It goes so fast.”

Ranching and being in the rodeo adds something extra.

“I think the best part is they learn commitment and responsibility,” he says. “These are live animals that need care and attention.”

They have four horses: Daisy, 16; Posey, 10; JJ, 4; and Richie, 2.

The arena takes up part of the property out back on their 20 acres behind a hanging sign that reads “Fickett.” The barn houses their horses, and the dogs, Chunk and Dip, help out. The house is still being finished with a pool possibly in their future.

“When we moved to this property four years ago, we agreed that the arena would go in first,” Robbie says. “We just need to install the lights so they can practice at night.”

The work doesn’t stop when the Ficketts leave the property.

“We have a trailer with bunks and we used to bring the bikes and horses when we were little,” Jaylee says. “It was like a vacation.”

A vacation that meant packing up on Friday, hauling out, unloading for competition, then turning around Sunday to pack it all up again and get home late.

They’ve been all over the Southeast and as far as Oklahoma, following the same circuit as a lot of other families doing the same thing.

“There are so many families around there that deserve recognition,” she says. “We have great memories with many of them.”

At their place, the arena isn’t separate from the work. The horses used for competition are the same ones worked at home. The skills don’t change depending on where they are. It all runs together.

It’s been that way for a long time in Lake County, and the Ficketts are still doing it the old Florida way.   

Photos: Nicole Hamel and Provided