Local Ronnie Stephenson was recently recognized as the 2024 Florida Land Steward Landowner of the Year by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in Tallahassee Florida. This is not Stephenson’s first Land Steward recognition he had also been recognized as the Land Steward Landowner of the Year for Jackson County in 2021. On February 21, 2024, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Jason Hight, Director Office of Conservation Planning Services, presented Stephenson with the award during a special ceremony.
Partnering with 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, FWC formed the Florida Land Steward Partnership. According to a press release from FWC, “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.”
Stephenson comes to Jackson County by way of Panama City Beach where he and his family owned and managed several historic hotels prior to purchasing his first farm in Jackson County in 1996. Mr. Stephenson has worked diligently to improve wildlife habitat specifically for deer, bobwhite quail, and turkeys in hopes to maintain each species population. He has also planted several different trees including Chestnut, Oak, Persimmon, Pecan, and Pear trees throughout his 160-acre farm located on Justic Road between Cottondale and Graceville. According to the FWC, “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 cogon grass and Chinese tallow, and maintain wildlife corridors.”
A true lover of the land, Stephenson also owns roughly 320 acres on Old US Road near Malone, that he purchased in 2003. Stephenson is also known for having a knack for grafting many of the trees on his property. Not a common term in today’s world, grafting is a horticulture technique where tissues of plants are joined to continue their growth together. Stephenson is also credited with planting over 1,000 different trees and shrubs for the sole benefit of wildlife.
Mr. Stephenson loves to share his ideas and the progress he has made and is making with fellow farmers and conservatives. According to FWC, “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 will be hosting a Land Steward Property Tour on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 9 AM. The tour will start on Stephenson’s property located at 1611 Justic Road and a sponsored lunch will be served after 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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