A first-generation Florida rancher spent years saving to buy 660 acres; he is now protecting it for panthers and snakes

A 660-acre working ranch in Florida’s Peace River Valley will now remain protected for generations, preserving a landscape where agriculture, water and wildlife exist side by side. The Ludwig property in Hardee County sits along Brushy Creek, west of the Peace River, and contains grasslands, hardwood forests, wetlands and other important natural areas.