2025 Lay of the Land Florida Conference – Lakeland, FL

The 2025 Lay of the Land Florida Conference brings together landowners, investors, and industry experts for the most comprehensive review of Florida’s land market. This annual event provides in-depth insights, backed by exclusive market data, into the factors shaping Florida’s land values, trends, and development opportunities. Attendees will benefit from expert panel discussions, networking with key stakeholders, and presentations on topics like land conservation, agricultural innovations, and regional development shifts.

Whether you’re seeking investment opportunities or insight into Florida’s evolving land landscape, this conference is a must-attend for anyone invested in the future of Florida’s land.

Event Details:

Date: February 27 & 28, 2025
Location: RP Funding Center
701 W Lime Street, Lakeland, FL 33815

The Lay of the Land conference is organized and sponsored exclusively by Saunders Real Estate and is offered to our clients, landowners, and related interests. This is our primary audience and space is limited, so we respectfully ask that real estate brokers and licensed associates outside of our brokerage do not attend the event.

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The Lay of the Land Market Report provides the most comprehensive data on actual Florida land values, not based on surveys or opinions, for ranchland, farmland, citrus groves, recreational land, timberland, residential development, transitional land, and conservation easements.

Guests will receive the latest edition of the Lay of the Land Market Report revealing verified Florida land sales data for 2024.

Event Schedule

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27

12:30 PM | Attendee Check In
1:00 PM | Welcome – Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM
1:30 PM | Legislative Update – Wilton Simpson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture
1:45 PM | Florida and Washington Political Update
• Justin Sayfie, CEO and Founder – Sayfie Review
2:30 PM | Networking Break
2:45 PM | Breakout Sessions
Ballroom A: Perspectives on Florida’s Agricultural Sectors
• Trent Saunders, Senior Advisor – Saunders Land
• Mike Joyner, President – Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
• Dale Carlton, President – Florida Cattlemen’s Association
• Jimmy Bielling, Owner & Operator – Bielling Site Prep & Reforestation
Ballroom B: Monetizing Encumbered Land
• John ‘Jay’ Vogel, Environmental Services Manager – Natural Resources Planning Services
• Kae Hovater, President – EcoCredit Marketing
• Dr. Tamara Cushing, Extension Forest Business & Economics Specialist – University of Florida
• Elaine Imbrulia, President – Modica & Associates, Inc.
• Eric Sutton, Vice President of Land Management and Environmental Services – The Garcia Companies

3:45 PM | Networking Break
4:00 PM | Breakout Sessions
Ballroom A: Strategies to Increase Land Values
• John B. (Bart) Allen – Peterson & Myers, P.A.
• Robert Angus Williams – Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A.
Ballroom B: Funding & Progress on Florida Conservation

• Mallory L. Dimmitt, Chief Executive Officer – Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
• Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM – Saunders Real Estate

5:00 PM | Networking Reception

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28

8:00 AM | Attendee Check In & Breakfast Buffet
8:30 AM | Welcome – Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM
8:45 AM | Florida’s Economic Outlook – Ben Friedman, CERP, Research, Innovation & Competitiveness – Duke Energy Florida, Economic Development
9:30 AM | Florida Waters: Balancing Growth and Resource Management
• Hugh Thomas, Executive Director – Suwannee River Water Management District
• Michael A. Register, P.E., Executive Director – St. Johns River Water Management District
• Drew Bartlett, Executive Director – South Florida Water Management District
• Brian Armstrong, Executive Director – Southwest Florida Water Management District

10:30 AM | Networking Break
10:45 AM | Florida’s Solar Energy Outlook
• Mark Futrell, Deputy Executive Director, Technical – Florida Public Service Commission
11:15 AM | Navigating the Tax Policy Landscape
• Tyler Davis, President – Saunders Real Estate
• Michael Minton, Partner – Dean Mead
• Austin Alderman, Associate – Dean Mead
• Steve Hamic, CPA, Managing Partner – Hamic Previte & Sturwold, P.A.
12:00 PM | Lunch
12:30 PM | Lay of the Land Market Report – Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM
The exclusive Lay of the Land Market Report continues to be the single source of verified Florida sales data used to evaluate market trends and land values throughout the year. | Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM