Myakka Rancher Gets Ready for Hurricane Season

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County rancher Jim Strickland reports that Hurricane Milton unleashed 6 to 8-foot waves on his property, located more than 20 miles from the Gulf.

Strickland notes that the process of rebuilding has been slow. He has faced this challenge numerous times over the years.

“I’ve raised about 12 generations of these cows,” he shared. Strickland and his family own two ranches in Myakka City, one of which is a 1,300-acre tract named “Lost Girl Prairie.”

Although the ranch may appear picturesque now, Strickland recalls the significant damage from last year’s hurricanes, which included roughly 600 fallen trees on the land.

“My engineers tell me that we had 6 to 8-foot waves crashing across the water, as we have about 600 acres of lakes here,” he explained. The powerful waves from Hurricane Milton caused severe erosion of the dikes on his property—critical barriers that separate various bodies of water essential for ranch operations.

“So now we’re working to fix the dikes as quickly as possible. It’s hurricane season, but it has taken a year to obtain the necessary permits and bids to commence repairs,” Strickland said.

Repairs started a couple of weeks ago after Strickland secured a federal grant to assist with the rebuilding efforts. A portion of the funds was allocated to hire a crew for the repairs, who have already restored three miles of dikes.

“We are reinforcing it with extra dirt to make it sturdier,” stated Seven Smith, a heavy machinery operator working on the repairs for Strickland.

Only one mile of the dike remains to be repaired. The completed patches are visible due to the distinct white color of the clay and dirt mixture used.

Strickland emphasizes the importance of these repairs. “When you have an emergency, like a hurricane that damages dikes, it can impact others around here and potentially lead to flooding, which is undesirable for everyone involved.”

Strickland’s ranches not only represent his livelihood but also play a critical role in protecting the surrounding community.