On this episode of Florida Uncut, we sit down with Gene Lollis, Ranch Manager for the past 30 years at Buck Island Ranch, one of Florida’s most unique places where cattle ranching meets conservation science. 

Raised in St. Cloud, Florida, Gene’s journey began hoeing orange trees as a kid and working cattle, carrying forward a philosophy summed up in the phrase: “Open gates, open minds.” His deep roots in land and cattle shaped not only his career but also the way he approaches leadership and stewardship today.

At Buck Island Ranch, Gene oversees nearly 10,500 acres that operate as both a working cattle ranch and a living laboratory run by Archbold Biological Station. In our conversation, he shares how he balances production with conservation, the lessons he’s learned managing both ranch hands and scientists, and the role ranchlands play in protecting the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

We dive into:

• Gene’s personal story and the mentors who shaped his philosophy of land management
• How Buck Island Ranch integrates day-to-day cattle operations with groundbreaking conservation research
• The vital but often overlooked role of ranchlands in Florida’s conservation future
• Leadership lessons learned from bridging the ranching and scientific communities
• What Florida would lose if working lands like Buck Island disappeared

Gene also reflects on moments that capture the magic of the land, the legacy he hopes to leave, and his advice for future generations of landowners and conservationists.

This episode offers a rare, inside look at one of Florida’s most important working landscapes and the people dedicated to keeping it thriving for cattle, for wildlife, and for all of us.

Gene is a graduate of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Department of Animal Sciences and has served as the Florida Cattlemen’s Association President.

Learn more about Archbold’s Buck Island Ranch here: archbold-station.org/buck-island-ranch