Tyler Davis sits down with land advisor and career forester Mike Matre to discuss a complex Georgia land transaction he brokered earlier this year. The conversation centers on the California Woods property in Stewart County, 1,443 acres of rugged, remote terrain featuring dramatic vistas, strong hunting opportunity, and landscapes influenced by past timber activity and long-term ownership. Mike walks listeners through the full arc of the sale, from the property’s unique topography and off-grid nature to how those characteristics required a very targeted approach to the market. 

The episode explores how an early offer from a neighboring TIMO (Timberland Investment Management Organization) led to a strategic pivot, ultimately dividing the remaining acreage into four smaller parcels and significantly increasing demand. Mike shares lessons on on-the-ground due diligence, effective marketing for rural properties, pricing strategy, and navigating today’s Georgia timber market, including the impact of recent mill closures and continued demand for recreational land.  

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com.

This episode features recorded sessions from the 2025 Lay of the Land® Conference, held in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The discussions bring together experts in agriculture, forestry, and land investment to examine the trends shaping Arkansas’s land economy today.

Topics included challenges facing farm and cropland producers amid rising input costs and tighter lending conditions, the outlook for timber markets and forest management, and implications from the Farm Bill. Each panel offers practical insight into how landowners and investors can adapt in a changing environment. Speakers also share perspectives on long-term land value, sustainable practices, and verified real estate sales data from across the state.

Chapters
(00:00:20) Current Trends and Challenges in Arkansas Agriculture
(01:01:27) Arkansas’s Forestry Outlook
(01:53:39) Kyle Cunningham, State Forester
(02:36:47) Lay of the Land Market Update

Recorded live in Thomasville, this special episode features a collection of panel discussions from the 2025 Lay of the Land® Georgia Conference. This annual event focuses on empowering landowners, investors, and industry professionals with clear, data-backed insight into the state's evolving land market.

This year's Georgia land conference hosted a lineup of experts discussing timber pricing trends, recreational and transitional land activity, agricultural challenges, conservation strategies, and tax policy updates. In this episode, you’ll hear key takeaways from each panel, including verified land sales data drawn from the Lay of the Land® Market Report and firsthand insights from the very advisors tracking deals and trends across the state. From estate planning strategies to seedling selection in forestry, this episode offers a comprehensive, boots-on-the-ground view of the forces shaping land values and investment potential across Georgia.

Request an invite for next year's conference at LayOfTheLandConference.com.

Chapters
(00:02:26) Managing Timber for Recreational Value & A Changing Pulpwood Market
(00:53:53) Tax Reform & Estate Planning • Opportunities & Strategies
(01:28:09) Georgia Agriculture • Trends, Challenges, and the Road Ahead
(02:17:18) Lay of the Land Market Update

In this podcast episode, David Hill is joined by fellow land advisor Chance Creighton for a timely discussion on the approaching deer hunting season and agricultural harvest cycle in Arkansas. Together, they explore how hunters and farmers are preparing for a season shaped by heat, early activity, and shifting conditions in the field.

The conversation expands into implications for dove hunting as well as the resurgence of the state's black bear population. They later shift gears to discuss farming in Central Arkansas, offering timely insights on early harvest trends, corn and soybean yields, and how this year’s weather is affecting rice and cotton crops. In closing, David also spotlights the upcoming Lay of the Land® Arkansas Conference and what attendees can expect from the event. 

The Arkansas land conference will be held on October 17 in Fayetteville. Register today at: SaundersLand.com/Arkansas-Conference. 

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com. 

Dr. Ryan Askren is the Director of the Five Oaks Agriculture Research and Education Center—one of Arkansas’s most renowned duck hunting lodges. As a waterfowl and wetland conservationist and an expert in habitat management, he joins David Hill for a conversation that dives deep into the world of waterfowl preservation. 

They explore the vital role of wintering grounds, greentree reservoir management, and the Farm Bill, along with practical steps private landowners and hunters can take to support healthier duck habitats. Dr. Askren also shares insights from his extensive research on waterfowl behavior, shifting migration patterns, and the future of duck populations. 

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com and FiveOaksRec.org. 

In this podcast episode, host Tyler Davis sits down with the team leading Saunders Real Estate’s growing presence in the Carolinas. Bill Frisbie, Regional Managing Director for North Carolina, and Kenneth Chesson, Senior Advisor, discuss their backgrounds in farmland investment and rural land sales, as well as their growth strategy for the firm. They’re joined by Brandon DuRant, the firm’s Agriculture Managing Director, who shares his expertise in land management and ag services from his base in South Carolina. 

Together, they explore the opportunities and challenges facing landowners in both states—from fragmented farm ownership and shifting commodity markets to rising interest in conservation, solar, and transitional land. The conversation also dives into how Saunders Real Estate is expanding its management and consulting platform to support landowners, REITs, and investors through boots-on-the-ground services that go far beyond brokerage. 

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com. 

In this episode, Tyler Davis is joined by Kasey Mock, Owner and CEO of Mock Ranches in Texas. Their conversation shares valuable insights into the Texas land market, breaking down the state’s diverse regions and economy, evolving buyer profiles, and the fragmentation and development trends along the I-35 corridor. 

Together, Tyler and Kasey compare trends between Texas and Florida, touching on conservation easements, 1031 exchanges, water access challenges, and the realities of rural land ownership in a fast-growing market. They also dive into what defines a trusted and professional land advisor today and the importance of setting client expectations. 

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com. 

This episode was recorded prior to the devastating floods that began on July 4 in Kerr County, Texas, and surrounding areas. Our deepest condolences and continued prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy.

Austin Fisher, Regional Managing Director in Georgia joins Tyler Davis, President of Saunders Real Estate in a conversation that explores the fast-moving Georgia land market and its implications for landowners. With deep experience in both development and land stewardship, Austin shares how our team is helping landowners navigate everything from timber and recreational tracts to transitional development opportunities. 

Together, they explore the factors shaping Georgia’s future—from forestry and infrastructure growth to the rising demand for private landownership—and how Saunders is building a trusted presence across the state with a team of specialists in every land asset class. The episode also spotlights the newly released Lay of the Land Georgia Market Report and offers a preview of the upcoming Georgia conference. 

The Lay of the Land Georgia Conference will be held on August 21 in Thomasville. Register today at: SaundersLand.com/Georgia-Conference. 

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com. 

Alexander Alford is the Director of Construction & Development at ROMAIR, a real estate development, design, and construction company based in Northwest Florida. ROMAIR is primarily known for crafting high-end communities and luxury homes along the state's 30A corridor. 

Hosted by David Hill, Regional Managing Director of Saunders Real Estate in Arkansas, the episode explores ROMAIR’s journey from custom homebuilding to large-scale master-planned real estate developments. David and Alexander discuss the complexities of resort-style construction, the importance of craftsmanship, and the unique challenges of development in the Florida Panhandle. Alexander also shares ROMAIR’s vision for future growth, offering insight into how they’re looking to expand their footprint across the Southeast.  

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com and ROMAIR.com.

Ben Mills is the Vice President of Sales at Carden & Associates, one of the largest crop insurance agencies in the nation. With decades of experience working directly with farmers and ranchers across the Southeast, Ben brings a grounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities within agricultural risk management. 

Hosted by Trent Saunders, Senior Advisor at Saunders Land, this episode covers how crop insurance can apply to various operations, including citrus, tomatoes, peppers, row crops like corn, cotton, soybeans, and peanuts, and even livestock. Ben shares practical strategies for managing weather-related risks, explains how recent Farm Bill changes affect coverage, and clears up common misconceptions around eligibility, actual production history (APH), and the complexity of crop insurance policies. 

Carden & Associates is an event sponsor of the Lay of the Land Georgia Conference on August 21, 2025 in Thomasville. Register today at: SaundersLand.com/Georgia-Conference. 

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com and CardenInsurance.com.