The Steinhatchee River will be protected, equestrians will have a new place to ride, and local ecotourism opportunities will increase, thanks to the vision and generosity of a Lafayette County couple who transferred ownership of their 2,481-acre ranch to the Suwannee River Water Management District.

On July 26, the District closed on the purchase of the property from Frank “Red” and Olive Schulte, owners of the R.O. Ranch, and from R.O. Ranch, Inc., a nonprofit Florida corporation that will oversee and manage operations on the property, including a planned equestrian center.

With the total land valued at $6.5 million, the Schultes earlier this year donated a substantial $3.5-million interest in the land to R.O. Ranch, Inc. Proceeds of the sale of the corporation’s interest to the District will be placed in an endowment and used to fund future management activities on the ranch.

The property is located at the northern end of approximately 20,000 acres of District lands that run along the Steinhatchee River for a distance of about 15 miles. Two major creeks running through the property – Owl Creek and Crossway Branch – feed into the Steinhatchee River.

The Schultes have owned and lived on the property since the early 1970s, managing the land as a working cattle ranch. Their desire to prevent future subdivision of the property, and their dream of promoting trail riding and other equestrian activities in the area, led to their partnership with the District.

The District created R. O. Ranch, Inc. in order to facilitate the Schulte’s donation and to assist with the management of an equestrian facility. A board of directors will govern the affairs of the nonprofit corporation. In addition to Mr. Schulte, the following individuals are members of the board of directors:

Coleen Agner is a Taylor County middle-school teacher and an accomplished equestrian. As a volunteer leader for the Taylor County 4-H horse program, Agner runs an equine program that includes a horse club, horse camps, horse shows and judging. She volunteers with the Live Oak Hounds Pony Club in Thomasville, Georgia, and serves on the Florida Farm Bureau Equine Advisory Board.

Annette Land resides in Branford and is owner of Land Brokerage Realtor. In 2002 she was named “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida State Fair Authority. She is a member of the Florida Cattlemen Association, National Angus Association, Florida Cutting Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, and Suwannee River Riding Club.

Danny Liles is manager of Liles Hardware in Cross City. Liles is chief of the Dixie County volunteer fire department, as well as an EMT. In 2005 he was presented the Ray Warren Community Service Award by the Dixie County Chamber of Commerce.

Louis Shiver is the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board representative on the Board of Directors and serves as its chairman. He is president of Shiver Dairy Farm, Inc., of Mayo, and a member of the Suwannee River Partnership, Florida Cattlemen Association, and Southeast Milk, Inc.

The District and R.O. Ranch, Inc. are now in the process of selecting a planning and design firm to create a master plan for the ranch. A preliminary site evaluation indicated that the property is suitable for a number of equestrian activities including trail and endurance riding, western pleasure riding, rodeo events, carriage driving, cross country riding, and showing/schooling.

The target date for groundbreaking on the project is mid 2007.