LAKELAND, FL, April 17, 2025 — As Florida's natural lands have become increasingly vulnerable to development, Dean Saunders, founder and managing director of Saunders Real Estate, has successfully brokered a $56,355,000 conservation easement deal for Bull Hammock Ranch, a 7,310-acre cattle ranch located in Martin County, Florida. This deal highlights the importance of protecting these spaces for future generations.
Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM, Founder of Saunders Real Estate
The property, which includes 4,300 acres of improved pasture, 1,300 acres of unimproved or woodland pasture, and 290 acres of row crops, has been a working agricultural operation, supporting a cow-calf operation with 2,500 replacement heifers. Situated entirely within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, Bull Hammock Ranch plays a vital role in preserving natural habitats and maintaining the region's agricultural legacy. The conservation easement ensures the property’s future will remain free from development while continuing to support its farm and ranch operations.
Through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP), this conservation easement is a crucial step in conserving the region’s wildlife corridors, wetlands, and upland forests, ensuring that the ranch remains an intact natural landscape. As part of a broader statewide effort to connect and preserve Florida’s most ecologically significant lands, this project reinforces the importance of long-term land stewardship and strategic conservation to meet the state’s environmental goals.
At 7,310 acres, Bull Hammock Ranch serves as a working cattle and agricultural operation, supporting over 2,500 heads of cattle.
“Florida’s wide-open spaces are disappearing fast, and we have to be intentional about protecting them,” said Dean Saunders. “This easement means Bull Hammock Ranch can keep doing what it’s always done - supporting agriculture and giving wildlife room to thrive, without the threat of future development hanging over it.”
This deal further strengthens the efforts of the Florida Wildlife Corridor to protect the state’s ecologically sensitive lands. By securing conservation easements on properties like Bull Hammock Ranch, this initiative plays a key role in safeguarding Florida’s unique landscapes, habitats, and biodiversity.
About Saunders Real Estate
Saunders Real Estate is a leading land and commercial real estate brokerage serving buyers, sellers, investors, and landowners across the Southeastern United States for 30 years. With over 100 advisors and offices in major U.S. markets including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, we specialize in large-acreage land transactions, commercial property sales and leasing, and property management.
To reflect our legacy and continued growth, Saunders Real Estate operates through two divisions – Saunders Land and Saunders Commercial. Our expertise spans agriculture, conservation, recreation, residential development, and commercial real estate, supported by specialized services such as forestry, land management, and investment acquisitions.
Today, Saunders Real Estate is recognized as a trusted authority in the region, delivering exceptional results through experienced leadership, innovative strategies, and a client-focused approach.