One week ago today, I was blessed to be at Eagle Haven Ranch, grinning ear to ear, part of a JayWatch survey!
Huge thanks to @mike_2lf for inviting me. Two of the best days of my life have been on that land, forever grateful, Mike!
We didn’t count all 11 Scrub-Jays ourselves, that was the week’s total. But seeing some, hearing their calls, and working alongside folks with so much heart and knowledge was unforgettable.
Plus, we even had a special guest on the call, our very own DJ Scrub Daddy spinning some serious bird vibes! 🤣😆
All of this took place inside the @floridawildlifecorridor , millions of connected acres where conservation, culture, and wildlife still have a chance.
This kind of work leaves a mark. It’s about more than birds, y’all. It’s about legacy, about Wild Florida, about showing up for something bigger than yourself. (Birds are awesome too 😉)
So grateful for the people I know and met, the purpose we shared, and the hope that comes when we work together.
Unforgettable lunch with the crew and Cary Lightsey, listening to Old Florida stories! Pinch me, y’all, this experience was incredible! I have the most amazing friends!
Every step I take on this path reminds me I’m exactly where I’m meant to be, doing what I’m meant to do. So grateful for these chances to be part of something bigger.
Let’s keep fighting for this Wild place we all call home!🐸💚🐴
#keepfloridawild #WeWorkBetterTogether
@usfws@_nerd.by.nature_@macabreballet@okeekowens@cypressiwla@mike_2lf@floridawildlifecorridor@archboldstation@zpfranco123@kindofcrepuscular@conservationflorida@waysouthstudio
To those who cannot hear the song of the Chuck-will’s-widow, we say: slow down, step softer, and listen harder.
Two Florida panthers.
One wears a collar — likely part of FWC’s conservation work.
The other? Wild and untagged.
Same trail. Same night. Same Wild Florida we’re fighting to protect.
Huge thanks to our friends Bobby & Linda for capturing these once-in-a-lifetime moments — and that haunting night chorus? That’s a Chuck-will’s-widow calling out across the dark. Rare. Mysterious. Unmistakably Wild Florida.
At Rain Frog Ranch, we believe conservation doesn’t always wear a lab coat. Sometimes it carries:
•an axe (to manage habitat)
•a cow (to graze and shape the land)
•a plow (to renew soil and growth)
•a match (to mimic natural fire)
•and a gun (as a tool for stewardship through hunting)
Aldo Leopold called this the land ethic — the idea that we’re part of the land, not apart from it.
This is the work of the @floridawildlifecorridor — connecting landscapes, species, and people. And it’s the path we walk every day at Rain Frog Ranch.
Step by step, we keep Florida connected — and truly Wild!! #weworkbettertogether
#FloridaPanther #WildFlorida #TrailCam #ChuckWillsWidow #AldoLeopold #FiveToolsOfConservation #KeepFloridaWild #ConservationInAction #AgLandsAreWildlands
Want to know why we are all so passionate about saving wild Florida?
Enjoy this stunning video that wildlife photographer Bobby Rex, along with his wife Linda Rex, an animal advocate, shot on 10/17/23 in Wild Florida!
Do you think you have it rough?
Well, if the panthers can avoid Tampa and St. Petersburg, swim across the Caloosahatchee River, cross state roads 27, 80, 70, 60, and Interstate 4, and stay away from Orlando, they will have a fighting chance!
Please help all of us advocate for these incredible species that require the last remaining green spaces in Florida!
You can’t do it from your couch!
Get up! Stand Up!
@thomasrex9338@arlngt8 #PathofthePanther #FloridaPanthers #KeepFLWild #ConnectTheCorridor #FloridaWildlifeCorridor #WildlifeCorridors #ProtectWildPlaces #LandConservation #WildFlorida #HiddenWild #florida #nature #roamflorida #wildlife #floridaexplored #floridawildlife #naturalflorida #loveflorida #lovefl #floridalife #getoutside #wildlifephotography #saveourparadise #fstopfoundation #bearwarriorsunited #discoverflorida #realflorida #youcanmakeadifference #itstartswithyou #conservationeducation
Today I had the opportunity to attend the @floridabeef luncheon hosted by the @plantcitychamber , representing the Hillsborough Soil & Water Conservation District alongside my fellow supervisors @strawberryterri7 , @mattshivers , and @runklea .
We were grateful to sit at a table sponsored by the @hillsboroughfarmbureau , where Casey also serves as Executive Director.
Huge thank you to Jason Conrad and @stephconrad for all they do for agriculture and our community. The leadership, heart, and service they pour into others does not go unnoticed. We see y’all, and we love y’all.🫶
Florida’s cattle history runs deep, y’all. Cattle first came here in 1521, and ranching is woven into the story of this state.
Today I learned even more about the Florida Beef Council and the important work being done to support ranching families, consumer education, research, and the future of agriculture through programs like the beef checkoff.
And y’all... food security IS national security.🗣️
The average age of the American farmer is now over 61 years old. We have got to encourage the next generation to step into agriculture, ranching, and stewardship. These men and women are feeding our families, preserving open space, supporting wildlife habitat, and carrying traditions that helped build this country.
Rain Frog Ranch is proud to continue building relationships across conservation, agriculture, and stewardship, and as a proud Allied Member of the @flcattlemen , we’re committed to standing alongside the men and women who keep Florida’s agricultural heritage alive.
The future of Wild Florida depends on all of us working together.🐸💚🐴🐮
Let’s go!🫶
@wesleyj1971@ryan_gill_22
#conservationcowgirl #loyaltotheland #FloridaCattlemen #WildFlorida #floridaagriculture
This morning I found myself sitting at the table for the Split Oak advisory meeting as an equestrian stakeholder, and honestly, it felt a little full circle.
One of the very first FWC Commission meetings I ever attended was when Split Oak was on the agenda for the conservation easement.
Today, while the Commission meeting was happening in another county, I was in a different but equally important room, one focused on shaping the future management of this landscape.
What stood out most was the willingness of people from many different backgrounds and perspectives to come together for the future of Florida.
There were passionate opinions, yes, but also collaboration, education, and a shared commitment to protecting our land, water, wildlife, and public access.
I’m especially grateful for the FWC staff and everyone willing to engage in these conversations and do the hard work of listening to one another.
These discussions matter.
I left encouraged, more informed, and grateful for the opportunity to keep learning, building partnerships, and advocating for the things that strengthen Florida’s conservation future, from wildlife corridors and educating the public about the importance of prescribed fire to responsible public land access and the role horses can play in stewardship, presence, fuel load reduction, and land management across the state. 🐎
Advocacy happens in many different rooms, and every seat at the table matters. 🐸💚🐴🫶
#WeWorkBetterTogether #ProtectWildFlorida
#ConservationCowgirl #EquineStewardship #BootsOnTheGround
Today I took a few minutes to reach out to our state leaders in support of funding for Florida Forever and the Rural & Family Lands Program.
Looking at maps of Florida’s protected and unprotected agricultural lands is a powerful reminder that the future of Wild Florida is being shaped right now, and every voice truly matters.
The best part? Speaking up is surprisingly simple.
• A few emails
• A few minutes
• A real, lasting impact
As a seventh‑generation Floridian raising the eighth generation on working land, I believe deeply that “keeping working lands in working hands” is essential, for wildlife, for water, for agriculture, and for the future of Florida itself.
If conservation, ranching, farming, wildlife corridors, or Florida’s rural heritage matter to you too, I encourage you to take a moment today to contact your legislators. Your voice can help ensure that the landscapes we love remain protected for generations to come.
Future Floridians are counting on the choices we make today.💚
Find your legislators and make your voice heard for Florida conservation:
myfloridahouse.gov
A few respectful emails really can make a difference for Florida Forever, Rural & Family Lands, and the future of Wild Florida. 🐸💚🐴
📍 Map credit: The Florida Conservation Group
#FloridaForever #RuralAndFamilyLands #conservationcowgirl #KeepWorkingLandsInWorkingHands #WildFlorida
She rides through what generations before her helped protect. 🐸💚🐴
An 8th-generation Floridian on her quarter horse, moving through the conservation lands and working agricultural landscapes that still make Wild Florida feel… Wild. 💚🐎🫶
These ranchlands and wetlands do more than hold beauty, they protect wildlife habitat, help keep our water clean, preserve Florida’s agricultural heritage, and keep open spaces connected in a rapidly growing state.
Places like this don’t remain by chance. They remain because people choose to speak up for them.
Programs like Florida Forever & the Rural & Family Lands Protection Program help protect the landscapes that protect all of us.
Want to help keep Wild Florida connected?
Call or email your state legislators and ask them to support conservation funding for Florida Forever + Rural & Family Lands.
Find your representatives: myfloridahouse.gov
Join us in speaking up for the lands, waters, wildlife, and way of life that make Florida worth calling home. 💚🌎🐊
Grateful for the ranchers, conservationists, advocates, storytellers, and organizations fighting every day to keep Wild Florida connected for future generations….. just to name a few.💚
@floridawildlifecorridor@floridaconservationfcg@livewildlyfl@fdacs@flafarmbureau
#KeepFloridaWild #FloridaForever #ConservationMatters #RuralAndFamilyLands #ConservationCowgirl
And because I somehow forgot to include the actual photo from my very first panel discussion yesterday…
Truly grateful to have shared the panel with @julieanne_barber from @oakcreekpreserve , who is doing incredible things on her property for conservation and stewardship.
Honestly, one of my favorite parts was learning from her while sitting on the panel together. That’s what this is all about, sharing ideas, learning from one another, and realizing we’re always stronger when we work together.
Knowledge is power, and every conversation like this helps all of us grow a little more for the future of Wild Florida. 🐸💚🐴
#KeepWorkingLandsInWorkingHands #WildFlorida #conservationcowgirl #LandStewardship #weworkbettertogether
Yesterday at the Highlands Landowner Assistance Expo left me smiling all the way home. Representing the @floridawomenlandowners as the Central Florida Land Representative, and being part of my first panel discussion, was such an honor.🫶
And yes… the second I stepped off stage, I thought of at least five things I could’ve said better. But that’s part of caring deeply about the message and wanting to do right by the land and the people who steward it.
What really filled my cup was looking around the room and seeing so many landowners gathered together, talking conservation, stewardship, agriculture, water, wildlife, and the future of rural Florida. That kind of shared purpose feels rare, and hopeful.
I loved connecting and reconnecting with my conservation family: @floridawildlifecorridor , @macabreballet , @greenhorizonlandtrust , @polkforever , @archboldstation , @1000friendsofflorida , @myfwc , @fdacsdpi , @swfwmd , @usdagov , @oakcreekpreserve , and so many others who show up for Wild Florida every single day.
Some days remind you that conservation isn’t about being perfect or polished. It’s about showing up, sharing your story, and keeping the conversation going.
Step by step, let’s keep Florida Wild, y’all!🐸💚🐴
#KeepWorkingLandsInWorkingHands #ConservationCowgirl #WildFlorida #LandStewardship #WorkingLandsWorkingSolutions
A few years ago, I never would’ve guessed I’d be sitting in a Golden Corral in Okeechobee talking about wildlife corridors, water, public lands, and the future of Wild Florida. But honestly… that’s exactly the kind of place where real conservation happens.
Representing Rain Frog Ranch at the Florida Sportsmen’s Trust Group meeting was an honor. Ranchers, sportsmen, conservationists, biologists, agencies, nonprofits, landowners, all in one room because we care about the same thing: keeping Florida Wild.
And what struck me most was the hope. Not the polished, PR kind, the real kind that shows up when people with different backgrounds choose to sit down together and work toward the same future.
Florida’s lands, waters, wildlife, and outdoor heritage deserve that kind of commitment. And it takes all of us. 💚
#ConservationCowgirl #WildFlorida #keepfloridawild #weworkbettertogether #SportsmenForConservation
Spirit of the Wild WMA | 10-Year Management Prospectus (2026–2036)
Earlier this year, I was honored to be asked to represent the equestrian community at the January advisory meeting.
Last Wednesday, I continued in that role as part of the Spirit of the Wild Wildlife Management Area Advisory Group, contributing to discussions on the 10-year management prospectus.
The meeting was open to the public at the Hendry County Courthouse, and that openness matters, y’all.
FWC staff, stakeholders, and community members came together with a shared purpose: to listen, to learn, and to help guide the future of this landscape.
There were multiple opportunities for public comment, and people showed up with genuine care for the land.
One idea I brought forward was the reintroduction of horses into FWC management practices. Horses were part of FWC’s early history, and they still offer meaningful value today, reaching areas vehicles cannot, supporting wildlife monitoring, and assisting in tracking poaching activity. It’s a tradition with practical relevance, and one worth thoughtful consideration.
I also want to recognize the people in the room. FWC staff bring a deep commitment to the land, water, and wildlife they steward. These conversations aren’t about sides, they’re about responsibility and long-term care.
On a personal note, I was grateful my best friend made the trip from Naples with her children to support me, and even gave public comment herself, baby in hand. When something matters, you show up. That’s how community grows.
This is how partnerships are built.
This is how voices are heard.
This is how we shape the future together.
Step by step, we keep it Wild. 🐸💚🐴
#ConservationCowgirl #FWC #PublicLands #Stewardship #KeepItWild
Join us in the heart of Marion County on Wednesday, May 20th for a special evening bringing together landowners, conservation leaders, horse farm advocates, and community members committed to keeping the Florida Wildlife Corridor connected and protected.
Set against Ocala’s world-renowned horse country, this convening will explore how working lands, wildlife habitat, and vibrant rural communities can thrive together.
Following a networking hour and partner expo, we are honored to feature keynote speaker Ben Masters, National Geographic Explorer and acclaimed filmmaker. His storytelling on wildlife connectivity, ranching heritage, and conservation stewardship reflects the collaborative spirit shaping Marion County and the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The keynote will be followed by a reception featuring a hosted bar and Florida- inspired bites.
Throughout the evening, guests will:
• Connect with fellow landowners and conservation partners
• Learn about practical stewardship tools and opportunities
• Explore how smart planning and rural land protection support both working lands and habitat
• Engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of Marion County
Whether you are a horse farm owner, conservation advocate, community leader, or simply passionate about Florida’s landscapes, this event offers a chance to be part of a solutions-focused conversation shaping the region’s future.
🎟️Get your tickets at the link in our bio!
This event is hosted in partnership with Horse Farms Forever and sponsored by The Saint Bernard Foundation and Duke Energy Corporation.
