Ronnie Stephenson Recognized as the 2024 Florida Land Steward Landowner of the Year – Farm Tour Offered on May 2

by | Mar 8, 2024 | Ag in the News, Awards & Recognition, Best Management Practices (BMPs), Conservation, Educational Training, Farm Tour, General Agriculture, Natural Resources, Quail, Wildlife

Ronnie Stephenson - 2024 FL Land Steward of the Year

On February 21, 2024, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recognized Ronnie Stephenson, Jackson County, as the 2024 Florida Land Steward Landowner of the Year, in Tallahassee at the quarterly FWC Commission meeting. Jason Hight, Director Office of Conservation Planning Services, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (left), Ronnie Stephenson, 2024 Florida Land Steward of the Year (center), and Nate Bunting, Northwest Region Coordinator of the Landowner Assistance Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (right).

 

On February 21, 2024, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recognized Ronnie Stephenson, of Jackson County, as the 2024 Florida Land Steward Landowner of the Year, in Tallahassee, at their quarterly commission meeting.  The following information was presented by Jason Hight, Director Office of Conservation Planning Services, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, at the award presentation ceremony.

Conservation of our natural resources in Florida cannot succeed without the contributions from working lands and the private landowners that manage them.  These lands provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and connectivity for corridors.

Because we recognize and appreciate the value of private and working lands, FWC partnered with the Florida Forest Service, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to form the Florida Land Steward Partnership.

This Florida Land Steward Partnership supports individual landowners with technical assistance, financial assistance, and management plans.  The partnership also seeks to educate a broader audience through newsletters, websites, workshops, and field days.  Each year, the partnership also recognizes a landowner for going above and beyond with outstanding stewardship.  The 2024 award winner was Mr. Ronnie Stephenson, from Jackson County!

Mr. Stephenson’s 159-acre property near Cottondale is close to the Alabama border in Jackson County.  Ronnie purchased the Cottondale property in 1996 and since then, has worked tirelessly to restore and improve wildlife habitat and share his achievements with others.

Ronnie’s work on the property has included creating 14 acres of longleaf pine, clearing heavy brush and hardwoods to create high-quality bobwhite quail habitat, conducting prescribed burns annually, constantly battling cogongrass and Chinese tallow, and maintain wildlife corridors.

To date, Ronnie has planted over 1,000 different trees and shrubs, solely to benefit wildlife.  These include chestnut, pecan, oak, apple, blueberry, pear, and persimmon.  He propagated most of the trees himself, using his own cuttings and grafting techniques.

Ronnie’s friends and family also enjoy the hunting opportunities that this well-managed property provides.  While he enjoys running his dogs and hunting bobwhite quail, he says one of the biggest rewards for him is to see his grandchildren’s excitement when they are sitting in a tree stand together and see deer or turkey walk by.

Other landowners in the area also benefit when Ronnie shares his land management techniques, wildlife friendly practices for forestry, or the specifics of tree grafting.  He is always happy to host tours of his property for fellow landowners, and you can also catch him on the Panhandle Outdoors podcasts!  Ronnie likes to say that “Nature has given him so much over his lifetime, so he always wants to give something back.”

Following this recognition, Ronnie has agreed to host a land steward property tour, on Thursday, May 2, 2024, to share his knowledge and expertise. Landowners are invited to meet Ronnie and network with other landowners, foresters, and natural resource professionals.  Topics will include wildlife habitat management, controlling invasive species, upland pine management, and more.  The free tour will begin at 9:00 AM Central Time at the Stephenson’s property, – 1611 Justic Road, near Cottondale, Florida.  A sponsored lunch will be served after the tour at the Campbellton Community Center.  Register online https://tinyurl.com/3jvv656m. Space is limited so advanced registration is required. Contact Chris Demers for more information, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375.

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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human, and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With offices in each of Florida’s 67 county, UF/IFAS Extension works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS Extension web site at SolutionsForYourLife.com and follow us on social media.

Doug Mayo
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