In part three of our deep dive into Archbold Biological Station and its 10,500-acre working cattle operation, Buck Island Ranch, we sit down with assistant ranch manager, Mary Margaret Hardee, a lifelong Floridian whose path winds through ranching, conservation, and the cultural fabric of wild Florida.

Growing up on a family ranch in Chiefland, Mary is no stranger to early morning saddling horses. Her favorite way to start the day is greeting the sunrise as she helps gather cattle. In Lake Placid at Buck Island Ranch, she bridges the worlds of production and preservation, working alongside scientists, ranchers, and land managers to show that cattle country and conservation thrive together. Off the saddle, she’s the co-host of Herding Her Story with Gina Tran, a podcast spotlighting women shaping the future of ranching and land stewardship.

In our conversation Mary Margaret shares her family’s story, how her upbringing informs her role today, and the balancing act of protecting both natural resources and a way of life that has endured for generations. We also talk about the future of ranching in Florida, the pressures landowners face, and how storytelling can shape the next chapter and generation for conservation-minded agriculture.

If you’ve ever wondered how science and tradition meet on the open range, or what it means to love and fight for a place you call home, this episode will resonate.

Follow Mary Margaret’s work at the links below:

• https://www.instagram.com/mary_hardee/
• https://herding-her-story.blubrry.net/
• https://www.archbold-station.org/buck-island-ranch/

Thank you to Tahlia Warrick and Zach Franco for setting this series up.