Vintage postcard with text reading "Florida Orange Grove as seen from the Air, Near Vero Beach, Florida"
This is the one night you don’t want to miss if you care about Vero’s history, what came before us, what survives, and what we’re passing on.
On Thursday, April 11, from 6–9 p.m., come to the Vero Heritage Center for Deeply Rooted, an evening honoring all of Vero's history—citrus, river, ranch, neighborhoods, downtown, the families and people who shaped it and the descendants who continue to carry the torch.
Everyone is welcome!
Whether your family arrived in 1906 or 2026.
If Vero’s story interests you, get in the room for Deeply Rooted.
You’ll be shoulder-to-shoulder with “next‑generation pioneer” families—Beal, DuBose, Greenlaw, Kennedy, Schlitt, Tripson, MacWilliam, Idlette, Gunter, Hogan and others—sharing stories about working the land and water, building businesses, raising families here for three, four, five and even six generations.
It’s a rare chance to put real faces to the names on grove signs, street plaques, businesses, and old photographs, and to ask your own questions.
Tickets are $150 per person which includes open bar, alfresco dinner by Wild Thyme Catering, live and silent auctions.
Your support helps the Vero Heritage Center and Indian River Citrus Museum continue preserving the stories, artifacts, photos, maps, and archives that hold our community’s memory in one place.
Reserve your spot here or call the Heritage Center (772) 770-2263
And once you’ve saved your seat, read our companion piece on the Beal family and Jungle Trail, one of the stories you’ll hear more about in the room.
Left to right:Kevin Streetman (4th generation), Natalie Haffield Greenlaw (6th generation),Jason Keen (6th generation), Leslie McKenzie (5th generation), TP Kennedy (6th generation),Mike Sexton (4th generation), Elsebeth Sexton-Smith (4th generation), Rob Tripson (4thgeneration), Charlotte Tripson (4th generation), Will Tripson (5th generation), Will Schlitt(4th generation), Paul Schlitt (4th generation), Delaney DuBose (6th generation), ToddDuBose (5th generation), Emily DuBose (6th generation), Ben Earman (4th generation), AlexMacWilliam (4th generation), Lily Gunter (5th generation), and Jody Idlette (3rd generation).Honorees ofDeeply Rooted–The Next Generation, Vero Heritage’s 2026 gala honoringyoung leaders descended from Indian River County’s pioneer families, photographed at TheHeritage Center in Vero Beach. Not pictured: Jake Fojtik (3rd generation), Craig Hayes (5th generation), Britain Hogan (4thgeneration), and Robb Lindsey (5th generation). Photo by Christina Young.
Left to right:Natalie Haffield Greenlaw (6th generation), Will Schlitt (4th generation), WillTripson (5th generation), TP Kennedy (6th generation), and Emily DuBose (6th generation).Five of the honorees who will participate in theDeeply Rooted–The Next Generationgalapanel discussion,led byDan Richey,photographed at The Heritage Center in Vero Beach.Photo by Christina Young.
Left to right:Craig Hayes (5th generation), Robb Lindsey (5th generation), Britain Hogan (4thgeneration), and Jake Fojtik (3rd generation).Additional honorees ofDeeply Rooted–The Next Generation, Vero Heritage’s 2026 galahonoring young leaders descended from Indian River County’s pioneer families,photographed at The Heritage Center in Vero Beach.Photo by Christina Young.
