ACT Celebrates North Central Florida Community Members on March 7th as Conservation Stewards
February 10, 2026
Gainesville, FL - On Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) will host the Annual Conservation Stewards Awards at Prairie Creek Lodge, near Gainesville, Florida. The event honors community members within North Central Florida who are influential in a wide variety of ways – the arts, historic preservation, and particularly, in protecting our wildlife and natural resources. Past Conservation Stewards Awards have been some of the largest gatherings of community leaders and supporters of wild Florida in the region. Members of the press are invited to attend.
This year’s theme will be “Farms, Forests, & Flowing Rivers,” celebrating our honorees’ longstanding conservation efforts across the state's diverse landscapes. This year, we will recognize Paul Lyrene and Bob & Lori Carroll for their commitment to lifelong learning and involvement in local conservation initiatives. Both Lyrene and the Carrolls have helped revitalize Florida’s farms, steward its forests, and protect its ever-threatened rivers through years of hard work and dedication.
Paul Lyrene spent 20 years exploring the rivers and swamps of northern Florida and southern Georgia, searching for native, well-adapted blueberry plants to use in breeding at UF-IFAS, forever changing the Florida blueberry industry and earning him the title “Father of Florida Blueberries.” Having fallen in love with the wild lands of Florida, Lyrene became an enthusiastic supporter of the Alachua Conservation Trust and Alachua County’s wildland and waterway conservation efforts.
Bob and Lori Carroll‘s 15-year commitment to native longleaf pine restoration in Gilchrist County reflects both vision and perseverance. They have expanded their 40-acre tract dominated by sand pines into a 482-acre landscape shaped by their deep respect for Florida’s natural systems through prescribed fire, invasive species removal, longleaf pine planting, and adaptive land management. In November 2024, their efforts culminated in the protection of their property through a Florida Forever Conservation Easement, secured with support from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Alachua Conservation Trust.
““This year’s Conservation Stewards have acted as excellent caregivers for our state’s natural spaces. Their stewardship of these critical ecosystems ensures a healthy, vibrant future for wildlife, recreational green spaces, and spurred the growth of entire agricultural crop, blueberries, in Florida. We look forward to welcoming the community on March 7th to celebrate their achievements and to share the successes of conservation in North Central Florida.”
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In addition to an awards ceremony, the CSAs event will include a cocktail hour, catered dinner, silent auction, and a live musical performance from Weeds of Eden. The silent auction will feature donated artwork, collectibles, and gift vouchers to local businesses. Proceeds from the silent auction and CSAs will support ACT’s mission to protect the natural, historic, scenic, and recreational resources in and around North Central Florida.
Tickets for the event are currently on sale. Prairie Creek Lodge is located at 7204 SE County Road 234, Gainesville, FL 32641. Press are invited to attend this event. Members of the press, please contact Sophie Szymula at sophie@alachuaconservationtrust.org or (352) 373-1078 if you plan to attend.
