More and more, ranch sorters are finding their way to Welcome Road in Lithia, Florida—a friendly city with a small-town feel about 40 minutes south of Tampa . Fittingly, that’s the address of Florida Ranch Sorting, owned and operated by the McClendons.

Liz McClendon’s journey in the horse world began with barrel racing as a child, but it wasn’t long before team penning caught her interest in 1976 at a local Florida venue. She competed in the event for years before discovering her true passion—ranch sorting.

“Sorting is unique because it’s a family event,” McClendon said. “Other equine sports often have just one competitor while the rest of the family watches from the stands. But with sorting, it’s affordable enough that the whole family can compete together. I think that’s a big part of why it’s been so successful.”

For many years, Liz’s husband, Ronald was her longtime sorting partner until a back injury sidelined him. Ronald has recently passed and now, her son, Joseph, co-produces the Florida Ranch Sorting events alongside her.

Liz McClendon with her son, Joseph. Photo courtesy of Florida Ranch Sorting.

From Small Event to Statewide Success

In 2009, McClendon transitioned from competitor to producer, hosting her first-ever show. That first event—held in the dead of summer—drew only 60 teams, and competitors had to ride at night to avoid the Florida heat. But McClendon loved it. Fast forward to the 2024 Florida State Finals held in January, and Florida Ranch Sorting put on an event for 951 teams that paid out more than $56,000.

“What makes a show successful is people have to want to come,” McClendon said. “We’ve built a supportive community and, after the shows, we hang out, cookout, and dance—it’s a family affair.”

Once produced in an open pasture, Florida Ranch Sorting events now feature a covered arena, stalls, RV hookups and additional barns, all hosted at the McClendons’ Welcome Road property. Riders come from all over—West Virginia, Virginia, New York, Georgia, and beyond—to compete. Some even fly in and have their horses hauled to the event.

Putting Florida Sorting on the Map

McClendon started producing shows when her friend, Bob Prine, wanted to host events but not handle the production. Prine had a dream to put Florida sorting on the map. And sure enough, McClendon came through. She proudly watched as her grandson, Caden, and daughter-in-law, Sarah, played a big role in getting Florida its first win at the Cinch RSNC State Extravaganza in 2021, and notes that the following year, Caden was the Rated Youth champion and reserve champion.

“People said we couldn’t compete with other states,” McClendon recalls. “But I told them—you can. You just have to work hard for it…you can either whine and feel sorry for yourself or get out there and say, ‘If I want it, I have to work for it.’”

Now, Florida isn’t just on the U.S. ranch sorting map. After setting up a live feed for viewers to watch her event online, McClendon found that folks from Spain, Germany, England and beyond tuned in to watch the 2024 Florida Ranch Sorting State Finals.

Tough Cattle Build Better Sorters

Sorting in Florida isn’t for the faint of heart. Florida’s weaker grass and fewer natural minerals means ranchers need hardy cattle that can sustain themselves, and Brahmans fit that role. When a team crosses the line at a Florida Ranch Sorting event, they’re looking to best a resilient herd of F1 Brahman or Brahman crosses.

“Florida has some of the toughest cattle around,” said McLendon, who can be found competing with her family and even judging, when needed. “If you want to get 10-headers, you’ve got to be a Tanner Keith-type. It’s challenging, but it pushes our riders to improve. When they compete elsewhere, they find it easier to make the right cuts because they’ve learned to handle difficult cattle.”

At Home with the RSNC

Especially in the winter months, Florida is a major destination for all manner of horse sports, so to ensure maximum participation levels, McClendon works closely with other East Coast and Florida producers to prevent overlapping. And she loves working with the Cinch RSNC.

“RSNC has the fairest rating system. They’re a great group, and I love working with an association that listens to producers. You have to have respect for one another. “My team has been my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, and that’s what makes it so fun for me,” McClendon added.

“But the RSNC is also a family. I hope that they continue to grow, expand, and succeed, and I know that my son plans to continue on with the Florida Ranch Sorting legacy.”