A Life Spent Loving, Honoring & Protecting Nature

For 20 years Butch -- known as a "Real Florida Cracker" -- worked as a guide and a
photographer in the Everglades where he planned fishing, hunting, photography, bird
watching and site-seeing tours by airboat. His intimate knowledge of the fragile ecosystem
landed him feature spots on PM Magazine and Ford Truck Times, and he was one-time
president of the Concerned Citizens for the Everglades.

Butch Harrison was born on Feb. 17, 1934 in South Florida and spent much of his life near the ocean, in the Florida Keys and in the Everglades. His life spent handling cattle and horses, catching alligators, fishing, gigging frogs and serving as an airboat operator and guide in the Everglades was fodder for many colorful stories, which he tells in his new DVD available on this website entitled, "Butch Harrison, Florida Cracker Storyteller."


During his time in South Florida, Butch advocated against the development of privately owned
land within the Everglades and took Senator Edmund Musky on a tour of the ‘Glades while an environmental study of the Miami Airport was underway. His service as a guide was also put to good use in helping search and rescue teams find downed aircraft in the ‘Glades.


 

Vanishing World of a Florida Cracker Captured On DVD

Nobody can tell a tale like Butch Harrison!

Butch Harrison probably knows the true history of Florida better than anyone alive today. In his latest DVD, Butch Harrison Florida Cracker Storyteller, Butch educates and entertains with colorful stories authentically depicting Florida’s earliest pioneers, and how they lived, survived and settled in Florida’s sometimes harsh environment. Viewers of the DVD are also treated to a glimpse of Butch’s own Florida adventures and his exciting life as a guide in the Florida Everglades.

Butch Harrison is an original. He is a true Florida Cracker, and is very proud of his heritage, and of Florida’s remarkable and unique history. This is obvious to anyone who has had the pleasure of listening to Butch speak in person. However, if you can’t get the “live” Butch, then the Butch Harrison Florida Cracker Storyteller DVD is the next best thing.

Butch is a master story-teller, and the Butch Harrison Florida Cracker Storyteller DVD is well produced, educational, entertaining, and just plain good-old fun. Sit back and enjoy, and experience the stories of the real Florida, the only way they should be told – by a real Florida Cracker.

Bobby Cornwell
President, Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds


You are welcome to download a Quicktime version of this sample to keep. Click here.

The DVD contains 58-minutes in three chapters. The first section, titled "Cracker Life," was filmed at a Florida pioneer homestead at Florida Capital State Park in Perry, Florida. It provides a rich introduction to early settler life. An authentic settler house and outbuildings provide the perfect background as Butch demonstrates how and why settlers built the typical "Cracker House," what they ate and how they lived. This will be enjoyed by all ages and is particularly popular in schools teaching about this era of Florida history.







In the second section, titled "Tales From A Gladesman," Butch tells tales of his life as a guide and gladesman in the Everglades. These are colorful stories of frogs, fish and alligators in the world that was Butch's playground, a world that is increasingly threatened today.

Finally, there is a bonus story of Butch's shenanigans as a young boy; you'll have to watch the DVD to find out about that one.

DVD $19.95 -

Now Available As An Audio Book!
In response to requests from Butch's fans, we've created an audio book of his popular DVD. Now you can listen to Butch Harrison's Florida Cracker tales when driving on long trips or just relaxing in your favorite chair or shady spot. You get every word, sound effect and piece of music from the DVD, but instead of seeing the video on your television you get to make it up in your head!
58 minutes
Audio CD $16.00 -




frog gig

Butch Harrison, above, wearing the headlight contraption he uses to see frogs in the 'glades at night. Here he demonstrates frog gigging (toy frog). He says that at night in the Everglades that headlight revealed a world "as rich as King Solomon's mines." He explains that, "frog eyes shown as white as diamonds; alligator eyes were like burning red embers, and deer's eyes were as green as emeralds." This is one of many stories and demonstrations from the DVD.


settler family photo

Florida's pioneers, "Crackers," are the subject of the first segment of the DVD.
These guys don't look like they're planning a day at South Beach, do they?

Music, sound effects, and scores of historical photographs and illustrations bring to life the stories of Florida's pioneers. Much of the music is by Butch's friend, fellow Floridian Benjamin DeHart. Click here to learn more about Ben DeHart and to hear samples of his music.

Click here to go to the order page now.

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