Conservation Partners Work Together to Preserve More than 816 Acres in Putnam County
Putnam Land Conservancy and North Florida Land Trust collaborated with
State and Federal Partners to purchase a conservation easement
Jacksonville, Fla., August 31, 2026 – North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) congratulates its preservation partners on the permanent conservation of 816.46 acres of land in Putnam County. NFLT worked with the Putnam Land Conservancy (PLC), the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP), and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service-Regional Conservation Partnership Program (NRCS/RCPP) to purchase a conservation easement for $2,665,000 on a family-owned property named Meetinghouse Groves.
The conservation easement was acquired with funds from the state and federal programs, with $1,359,000 from the RFLPP and $1,306,000 from the NRCS/RCPP. PLC represented the state-level funding source and helped the landowner apply to the RFLPP, while NFLT helped bring the federal funding source to the table. Both nonprofit organizations helped guide the landowners through the process to reach the final conservation easement, which is held by the RFLPP.
“This is an example of a true partnership as we all came together to ensure this beautiful piece of property remains conserved land forever,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “The family has been great stewards of the land for generations, and with this conservation easement in place, it ensures it will remain protected for generations to come.”
"This important conservation easement is a great example of the power of partnerships in conserving land,” said Willy the Losen, conservation director of PLC. “There were five partners: two funding sources, two land trusts, and the landowner; each playing an essential role in helping to protect his piece of “old Florida” for agriculture and the Florida Wildlife Corridor in this part of the state."
Meetinghouse Groves is family-owned land in Southern Putnam County near Crescent City and within the Ocala National Forest to Osceola National Forest (O2O) wildlife corridor. It is east of and adjacent to NFLT’s Welaka Woods Conservation Easement and is between Lake Margaret and Silver Lake. It contains a diverse landscape of citrus groves, forested and non-forested wetlands, upland habitats, and portions of three sandhill lakes. The conservation easement permanently protects the property from future development while allowing the land to remain in agricultural production, helping preserve both rural Florida's natural resources and the family’s agricultural legacy.
The Padgett family’s connection to the land spans four generations. In the 1930s, the family purchased an 1876 home and 40 surrounding acres, and descendants still live in the original house, which has been updated with modern conveniences. Over the years, the Padgetts expanded their holdings to more than 850 acres. Today, the property includes approximately 100 acres of citrus groves, about 15 acres of magnolia trees used for floral arrangements, and roughly 100 acres of longleaf pine timberland.
The property has historic significance for the region and was once a meeting place for people from the east and west. There was a building on the property that served as a meeting house and schoolhouse for the community. The building is no longer there, but the property's name reflects the land's history.
Family spokesman Jim Padgett said they think of their role as more than just owners; they are stewards of the natural value of the land and its woodlands, wetlands, lakes, ponds, open spaces, farmlands, endangered species, and all other wildlife. Padgett said it was important for them to keep the land as is.
“We are proud Floridians and want to see this part of Old Florida preserved, without development, in perpetuity,” stated Jim Padgett. “I would like to give special thanks to Willy the Losen with the Putnam Land Conservancy and Kim Hall with the North Florida Land Trust for guiding and supporting the preservation of this and other valued Florida lands.”
The Meetinghouse Property provides another piece of protected property within the O2O, which spans 1.6 million acres of public and private land stretching 100 miles between the Ocala and Osceola National Forests. Preserving land within the O2O is a core focus of NFLT’s conservation work. The nonprofit leads the O2O Wildlife Corridor Partnership, a coalition of organizations committed to protecting and connecting lands throughout the critical landscape.
About North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life by protecting North Florida's irreplaceable natural environment. Founded in 1999, NFLT has preserved tens of thousands of acres of land through the donation or purchase of land as well as conservation easements. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations. For more information, visit nflt.org.