Rain Frog Ranch

Somewhere between the cattle, the meadowlarks, and the conservation conversations, we all started laughing.

That’s when it hit me.

Most people spend their days off trying to get away from work.

We spend ours talking about conservation.

When I heard about the first-ever Ranch Day at Lost Girl Prairie Ranch, I immediately started texting some of my conservation family. Alex. Mason. Jerry. Kaylyn. Emily. A few others.

The night before, I ran into Zach Franco at a Florida Wildlife Corridor event and told him he should come too.

He laughed and said, “I’m leading the tour.”

Of course he was.

That’s conservation in Florida. The people working to protect it somehow always seem to find each other.

We work in conservation. We volunteer in conservation. We raise our kids around conservation. Then on a Saturday, we choose to spend our free time with conservation friends talking about wildlife, ranching, and the future of Wild Florida.

I guess when it’s part of who you are, it never really feels like work.

A moment that stood out came when Zach asked us to stop talking and simply listen.

The wind moved through the grass. A meadowlark called. A dragonfly landed on Brooke’s finger. The cattle stood quietly in the distance.

For a moment, we were just present.

Another moment that stayed with me was watching Mahayla experience it all.

I’ve had the privilege of meeting Julie Morris and Jim Strickland through conservation work before, but this time I got to see it through her eyes.

Then I found myself talking with Ayla, Jim and Julie’s daughter, and somehow discovered we both have horses named Phoenix.

What are the odds?

Those are the moments that remind me why this work matters.

Not just for the land.

For the people.

For connections.

For the friendships.

For the next generation.

Some days I have to pinch myself, y’all.

These are my friends.

This is my community.

This is the village helping keep Wild Florida... Wild.

🐸💚🐴🤠🫶

Last night at the Historic Ritz Theatre in Winter Haven was a powerful reminder of the importance of connection and community.

The theater was packed with people of all ages and backgrounds, united by a shared belief that Wild Florida is worth protecting. The films were inspiring, the questions were thoughtful, and the conversations continued long after the credits rolled.

One of my favorite parts of the evening was seeing so many members of our conservation family. Catching up with Cary and Marcia Lightsey is always a gift. Meeting Suzanne’s family and getting to hug Nicole after watching her on screen in Building Wild Spaces: Connectivity on I-4 made the night even more meaningful.

Seeing was a reminder of what passionate leadership can accomplish. Because of leaders like her, more Floridians have found their place in the effort to keep Wild Florida wild. It was also wonderful to celebrate Marly Fuller on her final (for now 😊) evening with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. While she’s off to new adventures, she’ll always be part of the Corridor family. 🫶

Watching my conservation brother Mason moderate the panel was a proud moment, and yes, I still found myself talking wildlife crossings in Hillsborough County with Brent Setchell. Apparently conservation really is a 24/7 lifestyle.

And then there was Mahayla.

As an eighth-generation Floridian, she spent the evening studying the Corridor map, watching the films, and making connections of her own. Some people might call it brainwashing. I call it investing in the future of Wild Florida.😉

The Florida Wildlife Corridor is bigger than politics, bigger than any one organization, and bigger than any one generation. Last night was a reminder that none of us are doing this alone.

Thank you to everyone involved and everyone who showed up. We truly work better together.

.angelino

Could Corridor Connect+ LIVE in Marion County have happened without the Engagement Committee?
Sure…..

Would it have been this impactful, thoughtful, connected, and honestly spectacular?
Absolutely not!

This event was such a powerful reminder of why it matters to have people from different backgrounds and experiences shaping the work. Every single person brought something unique that elevated the day in ways big and small.

Like Fran () suggesting Keith Fountain (), an environmental attorney who helped secure Hillsborough County’s very first conservation easement and has supported in the past. He wasn’t originally on our radar, but he ended up being a total highlight. That’s the power of a committee deeply rooted in Florida conservation, agriculture, and community relationships, someone always knows the voice that needs to be in the room.

I’m so grateful for the incredible people I served alongside:

Kaylyn Glenn (), Melissa Hill (), Ashley Turner (), Zach Franco ( ), Casey Wang ( .cdw), Marley Fuller (), Alex Freeze (), and Mason Gravely ( ).
If I missed anyone, I’m truly sorry, this committee is absolutely rocking it and continues to grow!
Woo hoo!

Huge appreciation to the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation () and Horse Farms Forever () for putting this event on and creating space for real collaboration.

Y’all, every event gets stronger because people genuinely care. Protecting Wild Florida and keeping working lands in working hands takes all of us, and this team shows what that collaboration can look like. 🫶

Marion County set the bar high, and the momentum is real. 🌿🤠🐸💚🐴

Now let’s keep showing up for Wild Florida together.

Still soaking in everything from Corridor Connect + Live. 💚

There’s something really powerful about being in a room full of people who care deeply about the future of Florida. Ranchers, landowners, conservationists, researchers, storytellers, agencies, students, and advocates all coming together for the same purpose.

As a Spring Intern with the , I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to not only learn, but also to connect with landowners and share our family’s story about protecting our land from eminent domain through Professor Daniel Smith’s Florida panther least cost pathway work. Those conversations were meaningful beyond words.🫶

One thing I kept thinking throughout this Marion County tour is how important trust and relationships are in conservation. Real conversations matter. Shared stories matter. Collaboration matters.

Ben Masters()brought such a unique and engaging perspective to the event. Between the humor, storytelling, horses, wildlife, ocelots, and the conversation about the Texas panthers helping “fix our kinky tails,” there were so many moments that made people laugh while also reminding us why this work matters.

I left this experience feeling hopeful for Florida and grateful for every person working to help keep Wild Florida connected.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this experience possible, the partners, sponsors, speakers, landowners, staff, volunteers, and every person who showed up to be part of the conversation. 💚

Keep working lands in working hands. 🤠🐸💚🐴

Back in 2015, I watched Unbranded and was completely inspired by the journey, the horses, the grit, and the deeper message about the connection between people, land, and wildlife. Never in a million years did I think I’d one day help work an event in Marion County with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation and Horse Farms Forever where Ben Masters would be the keynote speaker. 💚

Life is funny like that sometimes, y’all!

One of the things that really stuck with me was hearing Ben talk about conservation in Texas compared to Florida and how jealous he was of how far ahead we are with the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Sometimes living here, we forget just how special this work truly is. It gave me so much hope for Florida’s future.🫶

This trip reinforced something I’ve been feeling deeply for a long time now: if we want to keep Florida wild, we have to keep working lands in working hands. 🤠

I also loved getting to talk horses with Ben and hearing about the incredible mustangs from Unbranded. As a lifelong horse girl and proud Floridian, it was especially meaningful getting to share the story of our Florida Cracker Horses and Florida’s cattle history with him. I got to tell him cattle first came to what is now the United States right here in Florida in 1521, which turned into such a fun conversation.

Still feeling incredibly grateful for this experience and everyone who made it possible. 🐴🐸💚

Today I had the opportunity to attend the luncheon hosted by the , representing the Hillsborough Soil & Water Conservation District alongside my fellow supervisors , , and .

We were grateful to sit at a table sponsored by the , where Casey also serves as Executive Director.

Huge thank you to Jason Conrad and 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 , 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!🫶

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. 🐸💚🐴🫶