Lykes Heirs | No. 14 615,000 ACRES In 1900, patriarch Howell Tyson Lykes shuttered his medical practice in favor of growing citrus and raising cattle with his seven sons on 500 acres near Brooksville, Florida. Today, family-owned Lykes Bros. maintains…
Sunshine State lawmakers approved a significant conservation deal by allocating $19.5 million for the 5,777-acre Orange Hammock Ranch in Sarasota County. Led by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state cabinet voted unanimously to approve the purchase through the state’s Department of…
After a three-generation run, the cattle kingdom that LATT MAXCY built comes to an end. South Carolinian by birth, Latimer “Latt” Maxcy (1887-1971) was an empire builder, the sort of individual who changed not only his own destiny but that…
Chris Soules, aka America’s most famous farmer, tells his story in The Investment Issue, which focuses on above-market returns in key sectors such as ranchland, timberland, as well as hunting and farming properties. Learn how this Iowa farm kid grew up to…
Ever heard of a wind tax? Probably not. That’s because only one state has one: Wyoming. Although the Cowboy State claims to be a low tax haven, it imposed the nation’s lone tax on power generated by wind turbines in 2012. Not…
With its Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, Florida’s Disney World long reigned as the largest landowner in Marion County. Not anymore. At 29,000 acres, Frank Stronach is the largest private property owner in Marion County, Florida. The…
A University of Florida study has put a staggering number on just how badly the economic crisis has impacted rural land values in the Sunshine State. The study concludes that land values plummeted upwards of 55 percent in 2008 from…
Voters in Florida overwhelmingly approved Amendment 4, The Florida Conservation Land Amendment, a measure that will lower property taxes on lands set aside for conservation. Amendment 4, which was supported by Florida Governor Charlie Crist, was approved by 68.4 percent of Florida voters.…
If you’re a registered voter in Florida and a landowner as well, there is an important amendment on this November’s ballot you need to be aware of. Amendment 4 could significantly reduce your tax liability, provided you set aside your land for conservation…
