Cherokee Ranch, Jackson County
Mack Glass and his family own and operate Cherokee Ranch in Marianna, Florida. The farm was established by Mr. Glass’s grandmother when she moved from Wyoming to Florida in the early 1900s. They proudly produce beef cattle, satsumas and timber. Cherokee Ranch has been implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) on the Ranch for decades. BMPs are a set of guidelines that advise producers on how to manage the water, nutrient, and pesticides they are using to reduce agriculture’s impact on the state’s natural resources. Mr. Glass’s son, Grant, helps run the daily operations on the farm and has implemented the use of micro irrigation in the satsuma groves to provide the trees with the precise amount of water needed for fruit growth. A rotational grazing system is used for the cattle to improve pasture longevity, allow for more timely utilization of forage and to increase the stocking rates. Soil samples are taken twice a year to ensure the proper amount of fertilizer and lime is applied to each pasture. Cherokee Ranch has installed wells to give the cattle a reliable source of drinking water and keep them from disturbing natural wetlands. Mr. Glass is actively involved in his local community. He is a member of the Florida Farm Bureau, Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association, Florida Cattlemen’s Association and the Jackson County Planning Commission. Mr. Glass is also involved and supportive of the University of Florida’s IFAS program. He and his family attend church regularly. When asked why he is a farmer who CARES, Mr. Glass responded, “we would like to continue to be good stewards of the land and keep it in better condition for future generations.”
