NRCS Chief Bruce Knight Attends Meetings in Florida

 September 8-10, 2005 – Chief Bruce Knight made a short visit to Florida in September to attend two conferences.

Southeastern RC&D Council Meeting

On September 8th, he flew to Orlando to speak at the Southeastern RC&D Council  Conference and attend the afternoon workshops.  During his speech, Chief Knight expressed his support for the RC&D Councils.  “We all know that conservation and economic development can work together to produce a viable business and a strong community.”

He challenged the assembled group to make changes needed to continue the good work of the RC&Ds.  “…at the same time, I know that this is a program that needs to evolve to be successful during a time of change and I’m here today because I want to work with you to find solutions to the challenges we face.”  He answered questions from the audience and spoke with many members throughout the day.

GLCI Steering Committee Meeting and Tours

That evening he traveled to the west coast of Florida.  In Sarasota he met with representatives of the National Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) Steering Committee.  The next day Chief Knight participated in a tour of two local ranches, hosted by the Florida GLCI.

The morning began with a bus trip to the Carlton 2x4 Ranch in Arcadia.  Along the way the members received a short history of Florida and the area by Greg Hendricks, Florida NRCS State Resource Conservationist and Pat Pfeil, one of the managers of the 2x4 Ranch and the President of Florida GLCI.

Brady and Pat Pfeil conducted the tour of the ranch they have managed for 27 years.  “(Our) stewardship goals are sustainability, economically and environmentally. Renewable resources are managed for the highest return in balance with sustaining ecosystems. Biodiversity is encouraged whenever possible, allowing for more wildlife. Non-renewable resources are used sparingly.” – Pat Pfeil.

On this ranch you find fresh water marsh, sloughs, creek swamps, hardwood hammocks, planted woodlands of pines and bald cypress along with introduced tame grasses. Since the late 1800s this area has also been home to the Carlton family’s citrus and cattle operation.

During the tour Pat Pfeil spoke about the need for one-on-one technical assistance provided by the NRCS and the Extension Service.  She provided numerous examples of how the assistance she has received from NRCS employees such as Leroy Crockett, Cliff Carter and Greg Hendricks has helped her address resource concerns.

 After a delicious lunch of steak, with all the fixings, the group traveled to Buster Longino’s ranch in Sarasota County where Mr. Longino gave a brief overview of his property, which spreads across 8,000 acres.  The ranch is an even blend of wetland and upland forest and has been in the Longino family since 1934.  It began as a turpentine business and has evolved into a cattle, timber and citrus operation.

Later in the day, the group boarded two hay wagons for a tour of the property.  This tour was narrated by Buster Longino and Cliff Coddington, ranch manager, with the help of several NRCS employees who have provided technical assistance to the Longino's.

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