MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Jan. 27, 2026) – Manatee County Government and the State of Florida are entering into Memorandums of Agreement, marking the first step in an ongoing partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program to jointly purchase perpetual rural lands protection easements.

Through these agreements, 1,483 acres of agricultural land will be permanently protected from future development, including 438 acres at Mossy Island Ranch and 1,045 acres at Thundercloud Ranch. The Manatee Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted unanimously to approve the investment.

“It’s absolutely a piece of Florida that few people get to see any more,” said District 1 Commissioner Carol Ann Felts. “I know when our voters voted to increase their own taxes, this is what they envisioned.”

The easements preserve Manatee County’s agricultural heritage by maintaining the economic viability of working lands while safeguarding their ecological and habitat value. Protected areas include native uplands, wetlands and wildlife corridors that connect to nearby preserved lands, strengthening regional conservation efforts.

Manatee County Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker explained to commissioners that this partnership with the State aligns with the County’s strategic plan of maintaining agricultural diversity.

“It is a State program looking for partners in local governments like ourselves to ensure that these easements are for perpetual agricultural use,” Hunksicker said.

This partnership ensures the long-term protection of Manatee County’s agricultural and natural resources, benefiting farmers, wildlife and residents while preserving these lands for future generations. The County’s contribution is capped at $500,000 in funding for the Mossy Island Ranch property and $1.5 million for the Thundercloud property. FDACS will be the final party to execute the Easement and will be responsible for the recording of the Easement. Upon recording of the easement, they will begin to implement the easement restrictions.