Last month I had the incredible pleasure of not only attending the inaugural Lake Wales Ridge Fire Festival, but sitting down on stage with three leaders in local, state, and regional fire management efforts to learn more about what they do and why the role of fire is important to the story of protecting and connecting wild Florida.

It was a great day of learning, engaging, great food, and being with the conservation community in central Florida. I ended up bringing my whole family, who all had a wonderful time. 

The panel included:

• Adam Peterson - Florida's Fire Manager for The Nature Conservancy
• Elysia Dytrych - Headwaters Ecosystem Management Team for Archbold Biological Station
• Joe Bruner - Wildland Fire Program Manager, Avon Park Air Force Range

I hope you enjoy this conversation! The audio quality will sound different as we recorded outside and in front of a live audience. 

Thanks again, Zach Franco, and the Archbold Biological Station crew for the opportunity!

Check out the new film from Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, Patchwork Wild.