J. Carroll Barnhill

The Cracker Poemer Collections an Anthology by J. Carroll Barnhill

Author Biography Everyone's heard of the 'Good Old Boys' in the Deep South. This is about one J. Carroll Barnhill who likes to say, "seven twenty seven and thirty three and I've been here a while as you can see." Born, bred and raised in Bradenton-Manatee County, Florida, he attended all Manatee schools, receiving a Distinguished Achievement award in Junior High. In Manatee High School, he received the Outstanding Senior Award, football, track, President of the Florida Future Farmers of America, National Honor Society, Best Physique, football scholarship, a Boy Scout and an Assistant Scoutmaster. Carroll has five children: three boys, two girls, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He worked at a dairy farm from age 12 to 20, and had a 29-year career at Florida Power and Light Company. He won many horseshow trophies and championships, also judged and helped organize two horseshow circuits. He traded his first cow for a Pinto mare and raised its foal, "Rocket," featured in a book about famous horses of all breeds, entitled "Hoof Prints in Time." He went to Chicago and brought back the thoroughbred stallion, 'Springside,' grandson of 'Man O'War,' thus beginning his lifelong ambition to breed, train and race thoroughbred racehorses, winning over 400 races, several stake races and set track records. He was also voted "Outstanding Performer" by the Turf Writers. He will tell you a horse bucked him off in 2004 which finally lined up his brain cells and then wrote his first poem. He is always surprised when people like his "silly little poems" and tell him he is "blessed, talented and gifted." His reply is, "I just do it for fun and to make people happy." Carroll's football coach, Wheeler Leeth always said, "Stay in your own pond." So here Carroll remains in Manatee County.