Partnership Permanently Protects 1,500-Acre Working Cattle Ranch in Highlands County
Conservation Florida partners with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the U.S. Air Force to secure the protection of 1,500 acres of Florida panther habitat, agricultural heritage
ORLANDO, Fla. (August 4, 2026) — Conservation Florida is proud to announce the permanent protection of 1,564 acres at Square One Ranch, a family-owned working cattle ranch in Highlands County. The project protects one of the most important remaining pathways for endangered Florida panthers in the state while also ensuring the land remains a productive agricultural operation for generations to come.
The project was made possible through a partnership between the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the U.S. Air Force, Conservation Florida, the Hinton Family and Conservation Florida’s philanthropic supporters. The partnership secured a conservation easement, which permanently conserves the land in perpetuity.
The easement was funded through two state and federal conservation programs, with $4.1 million provided through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) and $2 million through the U.S. Air Force's Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program.
Square One Ranch provides habitat for endangered Florida panthers, black bears, bobcats, crested caracaras, wood storks and other native wildlife. The property also connects thousands of acres of protected lands in Highlands County, including the adjacent AP Ranch, another working cattle operation conserved by Conservation Florida in 2024.
"Square One Ranch represents a recent success at the heart of Florida conservation," said Conservation Florida CEO Traci Deen. "It's a place where native grasslands still define the landscape, where wildlife can move freely across connected habitat, and a Florida ranching family can continue to work and steward the land. We are grateful to the dedicated landowners and our incredible partners who made this conservation success possible."
In addition to being a working cattle ranch, Square One Ranch provides vital habitat for endangered Florida panthers, Florida black bears, wood storks, Eastern meadowlarks, and more.
Building a Wildlife Corridor
Conservation Florida began working to protect Square One Ranch in 2023 after identifying it as a missing link in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, an 18-million-acre network of connected conservation lands spanning the state. This property was ranked as the highest priority in the Florida Wildlife Corridor for protection, according to the Florida Ecological Greenways Network.
Further, Square One Ranch is linked to the neighboring AP Ranch, a 1,000-acre property conserved by Conservation Florida just last year. Connecting and protecting these two properties – and the Florida Wildlife Corridor as a whole – ensures wildlife now have room to safely travel, hunt, and raise their young.
Archbold Biological Station, a world-class natural laboratory whose research informs our conservation strategies, also sits in the region near Square One Ranch. The findings from the Archbold scientists are a driving force behind Conservation Florida’s conservation strategies.
A Path for Florida Panthers
The ranch's location makes it especially important for the endangered Florida panther. With fewer than 200 panthers remaining in the wild, protecting large, connected landscapes is essential to the species' recovery. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission telemetry data has documented panthers moving through this area, and on nearby lands, underscoring Square One Ranch's role as a critical link in a landscape where panthers can safely roam.
Protecting Florida’s Working Ranches
Conserving Square One Ranch protects panthers, but it also protects Floridians and their way of life, too. Conservation easements like this allow Florida’s working lands to remain productive while permanently protecting the natural systems they support.
For landowner Daphne Hinton, the conservation easement ensures the ranch's legacy will continue long into the future.
"Our family has always believed that caring for the land is one of the most important things we do," said Daphne Hinton. "Protecting Square One Ranch means preserving a way of life that has been passed down through generations while ensuring the wildlife, open spaces and natural beauty of this land remain here for future generations to enjoy. We are grateful to Conservation Florida and all of the partners who helped make this possible."
The conservation of Square One Ranch was made possible thanks in part to RFLPP, Florida’s premier agricultural land preservation program. Since the program’s creation in 25 years ago, RFLPP has placed easements over 232,000 acres of working lands, including Square One Ranch.
“Florida’s farmers and ranchers are our state’s first conservationists, and protecting working lands through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is one of the most important investments we can make in Florida’s future,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “Earlier this year, I was proud to vote alongside Governor DeSantis and my fellow Cabinet members to approve the permanent preservation of Square One Ranch. This investment protects Florida’s agricultural heritage, safeguards our natural resources, and ensures this working ranch remains productive for generations to come.”
The property is located within the Avon Park Sentinel Landscape, where conservation supports both wildlife habitat and military readiness at Avon Park Air Force Range.
Advancing Sentinel Landscapes
Additionally, the protection of Square One Ranch safeguards our nation’s defenses. This property sits within the Avon Park Sentinel Landscape, the U.S. Air Force’s largest air-to-ground primary training range east of the Mississippi River. By conserving this property, the U.S. Air Force is preserving their air space for critical training missions.
This 1.7-million-acre area between Orlando and Lake Okeechobee is also home to one of the most endangered birds in the United States – the Florida grasshopper sparrow – along with 40 other state and federally listed species.
“Partnering with Conservation Florida to protect Square One Ranch in the Avon Park Sentinel Landscape is a major win for both national defense and Florida’s wild places,” said Director of Range Support Brent Bonner. “It means our military can continue critical training missions, and our endangered Florida panthers have room to roam.”
By permanently protecting Square One Ranch, this Conservation Florida project has connected and protected a vital piece of Florida panther habitat, all while preserving a Florida ranching legacy. To learn more about our conservation work, click here.
Media Contact:
Sarah Shepard, Communications Director
About Conservation Florida:
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places — the places that make Florida home. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved roughly 45,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy.