2026 Lay of the Land® Conference

The most anticipated annual gathering of those who want the most accurate, current data about the Florida land market.

The Lay of the Land® Conference brings landowners, investors, and industry professionals together for market-specific insight. Florida’s sessions examine the forces shaping land values, from development to policy, conservation, and long-term demand, providing a grounded perspective and practical intelligence.

That same depth carries through the Lay of the Land® Market Report, delivering proprietary data and analysis to guide informed land decisions.

Conference Details:

Date: February 25-26, 2026
Location: RP Funding Center
701 W Lime Street, Lakeland, FL 33815

Conference Schedule:

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

12:30 PM • Attendee Check-In

1:00 PM • Welcome

• Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM

1:15 PM • Florida’s Economic Outlook

Dr. Parrish will discuss the current economic outlook for the state, including signals about the path of both fiscal and monetary policy. He will also discuss the current threats to the economy and how those threats may affect property markets.

• Jerry D. Parrish, Ph.D., Chief Economist - Metro Atlanta Chamber

2:00 PM • Strategic Partner Spotlight: Dean Mead

• Michael Minton, Partner - Dean Mead

2:15 PM • Networking Break

2:30 PM • Breakout Sessions

Breakout Room A

Commercial Property Investing 101
This panel offers a practical overview of how commercial real estate can complement existing land ownership and long-term planning goals. Panelists will discuss how proceeds from land sales or conservation easements can be reinvested into income-producing commercial properties, creating steady cash flow with professional leasing and management in place. The conversation will highlight core investment concepts, common property types, and how commercial assets can provide reliable, passive income.

• David Hungerford, CCIM, SIOR, Senior Advisor - Saunders Real Estate
• Lauren Ralston Smith, CCIM, CPM, Senior Advisor - Saunders Real Estate
• Catherine Sanders, Property Management Director - Saunders Real Estate

Breakout Room B

Solar Energy Development in Florida
Solar energy development in Florida remains a well-established trend, yet evolving federal and state policies are poised to influence its future. This session will examine the implications of recent regulatory changes for utility-scale solar development and growth over the coming years. Participants will gain insights into the strategies major Florida utilities are employing to maintain cost effectiveness while ensuring compliance with updated renewable energy requirements. The discussion will also address key considerations for solar developers in site selection, including preferred land characteristics, and the primary challenges encountered in siting new utility-scale projects, particularly on large landholdings.

• Vanessa Goff, Director Renewables Development - Duke Energy Corporation

3:30 PM • Networking Break

3:45 PM • Breakout Sessions

Breakout Room A
Unlocking Land Value Through Mining
This session gives landowners and investors the tools to assess mining potential and make decisions that maximize long-term value. Learn which materials matter in Florida, what drives profitability, and how to navigate permitting and market challenges.

• Bo Jahna, Senior Advisor - Saunders Real Estate
• Andrew Graham, Geologist - E.R. Jahna Industries
• Dalton Jahna, Director of Land Development - E.R. Jahna Industries

Breakout Room B

Tax Reform & Estate Planning - Opportunities & Strategies
As conversations around federal tax reform continue to unfold, this panel explores the latest changes shaping estate planning, property sales, and business investments. Topics include updates to estate tax exemptions, new tools like farm sale tax deferrals, expanded rural opportunity zones, and the return of full bonus depreciation. With so many moving parts in today’s tax landscape, this session offers practical insight every landowner should hear.

• Tyler Davis, ALC, President - Saunders Real Estate
• Michael Minton, Partner - Dean Mead
• Stephen Hamic, CPA, Shareholder, Tax Services - Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs
• Dennis Gallant, CPA, Shareholder, Tax Services - Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs

5:00 PM • Networking Reception
Hosted by Farm Credit

Thursday, February 26, 2026

8:00 AM • Attendee Check-In & Breakfast Buffet

8:30 AM • Welcome

• Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM

8:45 AM • Data Centers and the Land They Demand
While data centers provide major benefits through cloud computing and AI, they also face significant challenges related to energy use, costs, infrastructure, and regulation. This session examines current constraints, development implications, and emerging solutions shaping future data center development.

• John B. (Bart) Allen - Shareholder, Peterson & Myers, P.A.
• Tobi Petrocelli, PhD, Senior Consultant, Sustainable Investment Advisory - Arup
• George Kauper, Co-Founder - United Power and Data

9:45 AM • Legislative Update

• Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, District 27

10:15 AM • Networking Break

10:30 AM • SunTrax and Florida’s Air Taxi Network

Florida is preparing to become a national leader in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), with the SunTrax facility in Polk County serving as the testing and development hub. Attendees will hear an update on electric air taxis, the state’s aerial test site and vertiport development, and how FDOT plans to integrate this new mode of transportation into Florida’s infrastructure. The discussion will focus on early routes along the I-4 corridor and what a future statewide air taxi network could mean for mobility and growth.

• (Jamie) James M. Driggers, Jr., P.E., District One Secretary - Florida Department of Transportation

11:15 AM • Strategic Partner Spotlight: Gaylord Merlin Ludovici & Diaz

• Andrew Diaz - Partner, Gaylord Merlin Ludovici & Diaz

11:30 AM • Lunch

12:00 PM • Lay of the Land Market Report
The exclusive Lay of the Land Market Report continues to be the single source of verified Florida sales data used to evaluate market trends and land values throughout the year.

• Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM
• Trent Saunders, ALC, Senior Advisor - Saunders Real Estate
• David Hungerford, CCIM, SIOR, Senior Advisor - Saunders Real Estate
• Clay Taylor, ALC, Senior Advisor - Saunders Real Estate
• Tony Wallace, CF, Senior Advisor - Saunders Real Estate

The Lay of the Land conference is organized and sponsored exclusively by Saunders Real Estate and is offered to our clients, landowners, and related interests. This is our primary audience and space is limited, so we respectfully ask that real estate brokers and licensed associates outside of our brokerage do not attend the event.

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The Lay of the Land Market Report provides the most comprehensive data on actual Florida land values, not based on surveys or opinions, for ranchland, farmland, citrus groves, recreational land, timberland, residential development, transitional land, and conservation easements.

Attendees will receive the latest edition of the Lay of the Land Market Report, revealing Florida land sales data for 2025.