Polk Landowner Expo Comes To Fort Meade Nov. 10 With Sessions On Conservation Easements And Cost-Share Programs
Polk County will hold its annual landowner expo Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 8757 McCoy Road in Fort Meade, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The county says space is limited to register.
The expo is for agricultural landowners, large and small, whether they are actively working their acreage or still figuring out what to do with it. Sessions cover cost-share programs, conservation easements, mitigation banking, and other tools for protecting working lands in Polk County. The day includes presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions. Attendees can also meet with agency staff and experienced landowners.
On Oct. 2, the county announced that it had worked with the state to permanently protect 375 acres of working agricultural land through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. This kind of easement blocks development on a property but lets farming and ranching continue.
The property is the Walter Farms cattle ranch in Alturas, mostly improved pastureland on the north side of Gator Lake. The easement cost $3,005,000, and Polk County covered $750,000. The ranch is also enrolled in the state’s agricultural best management practices program.
Tabitha Biehl, director of Polk County Parks and Natural Resources, said the state program is “key in protecting the water, wilderness and working landscapes in Polk County.” She said the land will remain in agricultural use and continue providing green space and wildlife habitat.
Last year’s expo was held Nov. 4 at the Warner University Agriculture Complex in Lake Wales. This year’s event moves south to Fort Meade. Registration info can be found here.
Check out the Citrus Tea Calendar for a full list of Polk County events. Here
Register here for the Polk Landowner Expo.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Polk Landowner Expo 2026?
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 8757 McCoy Road in Fort Meade.
How much does the Polk Landowner Expo cost?
Registration is $10 after the free sign-up period ended Nov. 3. The county says space is limited.
Who should attend the Polk Landowner Expo?
Agricultural landowners in Polk County, large and small, including those already managing their land and those exploring their options.
What is a conservation easement?
Under the state’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, a conservation easement permanently blocks development on a property but allows farming and ranching to continue on it.
How much farmland has Polk County helped preserve recently?
The county and the state protected 375 acres at the Walter Farms cattle ranch in Alturas. The easement cost $3,005,000. Polk County paid $750,000 of it.
Sources: “Polk Landowner Expo 2026,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, undated; “2025 Polk Landowner Expo,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, undated; “Polk County and State of Florida Collaborate to Preserve Nearly 375 Acres of Agricultural Land,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, Oct. 2, 2026; “Tabitha Biehl Appointed New Polk County Parks and Natural Resources Director,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, Oct. 7, 2025.
