Herd Mentality

Carson Purcell, Duda Ranches cattle supervisor, considers it his duty to be a good steward of the cattle industry and the land to ensure that ranching continues for generations to come. JASON HOOK

In Viera, the Duda family has created space for both homes and the range

The Duda cowboys show off some of the top specimens at their Cocoa Ranch in this vintage photo. The herd is a mix of breeds including Brahman influence as well as Beefmaster and Angus. THE VIERA COMPANY

Maria Sonnenberg
professor at Florida Institute of Technology | msonnenb32904@yahoo.com

Maria is a prolific writer and proofer for Space Coast Living and an adjunct professor at Florida Institute of Technology’s Nathan M. Bisk College of Business. When not writing, teaching or traveling, she can be found waging a one-woman war against her lawn and futilely attempting to maintain order among the chaos of a pack of extremely clueless wirehair dachshunds and an angst-driven basset hound.