Florida Uncut

• Mary Margaret Hardee: Herding Her Story

  In part three of our deep dive into Archbold Biological Station and its 10,500-acre working cattle operation, Buck Island Ranch, we sit down with assistant ranch manager, Mary Margaret Hardee, a lifelong Floridian whose path winds through ranching, conservation, and the cultural fabric of wild Florida.Growing up on a family ranch in Chiefland, Mary is no stranger to early morning saddling horses. Her favorite way to start the day is greeting the sunrise as she helps gather cattle. In Lake Placid at Buck Island Ranch, she bridges the worlds of production and preservation, working alongside scientists, ranchers, and land managers to show that cattle country and conservation thrive together. Off the saddle, she’s the co-host of Herding Her Story with Gina Tran, a podcast spotlighting women shaping the future of ranching and land stewardship.In our conversation Mary Margaret shares her family’s story, how her upbringing informs her role today, and the balancing act of protecting both natural resources and a way of life that has endured for generations. We also talk about the future of ranching in Florida, the pressures landowners face, and how storytelling can shape the next chapter and generation for conservation-minded agriculture.If you’ve ever wondered how science and tradition meet on the open range, or what it means to love and fight for a place you call home, this episode will resonate.Follow Mary Margaret’s work at the links below:https://www.instagram.com/mary_hardee/https://herding-her-story.blubrry.net/https://www.archbold-station.org/buck-island-ranch/Thank you to Tahlia Warrick and Zach Franco for setting this series up.

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• Gene Lollis: Buck Island Ranch

  On this episode of Florida Uncut, we sit down with Gene Lollis, Ranch Manager for the past 30 years at Buck Island Ranch, one of Florida’s most unique places where cattle ranching meets conservation science. Raised in St. Cloud, Florida, Gene’s journey began hoeing orange trees as a kid and working cattle, carrying forward a philosophy summed up in the phrase: “Open gates, open minds.” His deep roots in land and cattle shaped not only his career but also the way he approaches leadership and stewardship today.At Buck Island Ranch, Gene oversees nearly 10,500 acres that operate as both a working cattle ranch and a living laboratory run by Archbold Biological Station. In our conversation, he shares how he balances production with conservation, the lessons he’s learned managing both ranch hands and scientists, and the role ranchlands play in protecting the Florida Wildlife Corridor.We dive into:Gene’s personal story and the mentors who shaped his philosophy of land managementHow Buck Island Ranch integrates day-to-day cattle operations with groundbreaking conservation researchThe vital but often overlooked role of ranchlands in Florida’s conservation futureLeadership lessons learned from bridging the ranching and scientific communitiesWhat Florida would lose if working lands like Buck Island disappearedGene also reflects on moments that capture the magic of the land, the legacy he hopes to leave, and his advice for future generations of landowners and conservationists.This episode offers a rare, inside look at one of Florida’s most important working landscapes and the people dedicated to keeping it thriving for cattle, for wildlife, and for all of us.Gene is a graduate of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Department of Animal Sciences and has served as the Florida Cattlemen’s Association President.Learn more about Archbold’s Buck Island Ranch here: archbold-station.org/buck-island-ranch

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• Hilary Swain: A Legacy at Archbold Biological Station

  Since 1995, Dr. Hilary Swain has served as the Executive Director of Archbold Biological Station in Venus, Florida, leading one of the nation’s premier field stations dedicated to science, conservation, and education. In her role she oversees two flagship properties: the 8,800-acre Archbold Biological Station on the ancient Lake Wales Ridge, and the 10,500-acre Buck Island Ranch, a fully working cattle ranch and living laboratory within the headwaters of the Everglades.Over the past 30 years she has played a pivotal role in advancing land conservation and the understanding of prescribed fire, as well as the role of agricultural lands on the environment across Florida. Through those decades of leadership at Archbold, she has championed science as a foundation for conservation action, ensuring that Florida’s life, lands, and waters remain connected for generations to come. Evidence of her impact can be seen through the fact that under her leadership and regional impact, Archbold’s network of contiguous acres of conservation grow from 8,000 acres to 157,000 acres.As Hilary prepares for her upcoming retirement, this conversation was a special opportunity to reflect on a remarkable career and lasting legacy in Florida conservation.In this episode we discuss:How long-term science at Archbold informs the survival of threatened species, ecosystem resilience, and the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.Why balancing working lands, water, and fire management is vital to large landscape conservation.Hilary’s role in building collaborations across agencies, nonprofits, and landowners—and why these partnerships matter for Florida’s future.What it takes to lead a team of more than 60 staff, students, and visiting scientists in one of the most ecologically important—and rapidly changing—states in the country.How early career roadblocks led to open doors elsewhere. How she’s reflecting on her 30 years of leadership and what she hopes for the future of Archbold.You can learn more about Archbold and all their fantastic work at archbold-station.org. This episode is part one of a four part series on the work of Archbold Biological Station and Buck Island Ranch. More to come! Thank you to Zach Franco and Tahlia Warrick for making these happen. Don’t forget to join us at Tampa Theater on September 18th! Buy tickets here: https://tampatheatre.org/movie/voices-of-the-corridor/The best shirts for folks who love Florida: Okihasi - Florida's Coastal Shirt

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• Charles Hines: Florida Gulf Coast Trail

  Trails are one of the most powerful tools we have for connecting people to nature and fostering a lasting sense of place. By providing direct, immersive access to the outdoors, trails invite us to build personal relationships with the landscapes around us. Whether it’s a shaded stretch of pine flatwood on a rail trail, a sandy path along a coastal estuary or a boardwalk hovering above a cypress swamp, these experiences deepen appreciation and often plant the seed for stewardship. When people fall in love with the places they explore, they’re far more likely to protect them. Trails don’t just lead us through nature, they anchor us to it, transforming passive admiration into active care.This week we’re joined by Charles Hines, who knows a thing or two about trails. He’s the Florida Gulf Coast Trail Program Director for Trust for Public Land and former Sarasota County Commissioner. Charles shares the bold vision behind the 420-mile trail spanning seven counties across Southwest Florida, and how projects like this are reshaping how Floridians connect with nature, recreation, and each other. We’ll dive into the progress of the Gulf Coast Trail vision, how it will connect with other trail networks, and the vast community benefits of such infrastructure investments. A native of Florida, Hines has a background in law and has played an active role with many community nonprofits and civic organizations, including the Bay Park Conservancy, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Charlotte Harbor Estuary Program, Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, West Coast Inland Navigation District, and Florida Association of Counties. Resources:https://www.tpl.org/our-work/florida-gulf-coast-trailhttps://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/jul/03/bikers-new-legacy-trail-bridge/Subscribe to Florida Uncut to hear from more voices shaping wild Florida.

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• Florida Uncut: Live at the Wild Space Gallery

  In this special episode of Florida Uncut, we’re bringing you our first-ever live recording, captured this past weekend at the Wild Space Gallery in St. Pete.The conversation centers around the behind-the-scenes efforts that brought the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation’s 2024 expedition film to life. Every two years, the Foundation leads a week-long journey, on foot, bike, and water, through a region of the Corridor that needs greater public awareness and protection.This year’s expedition took place in Southwest Florida, tracing a route from the Western Everglades to the Caloosahatchee River, an infamously challenging crossing point for the endangered Florida Panther.Our panel features several team members (Ethan Coyle, Alex Freeze, and Joe Whalen) who helped make the expedition possible. You'll hear untold stories from the trail, hilarious moments of gear failure, and candid reflections on the logistics, challenges, and triumphs that didn’t make it into the final film.If you're near St. Pete, be sure to check out the companion gallery exhibit, “Blazing the Trail: From Strand to Slough,” on display at the Wild Space Gallery through August 30. The exhibit dives deeper into the people, process, and wild beauty behind the making of this year’s expedition film. I want to give an enormous thank you to Ethan, Alex, and Joe for the amazing conversation. I love working with them. I want to also especially thank Leslie Elsasser, Noel Smith, Kat Duval, and Tony Palms for opening up the Wild Space Gallery to tell these stories and for the opportunity to host our first live podcast. I am so thankful and still buzzing from the experience! Wild Space Gallery on Google Maps. Don't miss it! Be sure to come check out the exhibit by August 30th. The gallery is open Wed-Sat 2-6pm. Also, mark you calendars for the film premiere of our expedition on September 18th at the Tampa Theater.

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