Florida Wild

OUR FOUNDERS

Brian Stephens

Brian Stephens grew up on working cattle ranches in South and Central Florida, where riding horses, working cows, building fence, hunting, fishing, and living in the woods weren’t hobbiesthey were daily life. Raised in the Florida Cracker ranching tradition, he learned hard work, self-reliance, and respect for the land early.
Brian comes from a deep agricultural legacy. His father—a self-made Florida cowman with University of Florida degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics worked for Lykes Brothers and Duda & Sons and later served as Vice President of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, helping advocate for Florida’s cattle industry.
Brian earned his own University of Florida degree in Nutritional Sciences and Biochemistry, began his career with Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, and completed his MBA in 2006. That same year he launched Stick’em Archery, LLC, blending entrepreneurship with his passion for bowhunting.

He and longtime friend/business partner Bill Lawson moved into outdoor television, producing and hosting Ultimate Bowhunting Adventures. Brian later hosted and contributed to shows including The ScoutLook Chronicles and Spypoint Game Changers, always focused on real hunts, real lessons, and respect for the animals and places involved.
A lifelong hunter, Brian’s experience ranges from Florida hogs, gators, Osceola turkeys, and mature whitetails to big-game hunts across North America. He’s completed three Turkey Grand Slams with a bow and values every hunt as part of a life lived outdoors not just a trophy.

Today, Brian is the founder of FLA WILD a storytelling platform dedicated to preserving Florida’s ranching, hunting, fishing, and outdoor heritage. FLA WILD exists to document the people who live it: ranchers, hunters, fishermen, guides, and families shaped by Florida’s wild places. For Brian, it’s personal honoring where he came from, the lessons passed down, and the responsibility to keep authentic Florida stories from disappearing.

Billy Lawson

Billy Lawson is a fourth-generation Florida rancher whose family history is deeply woven into the state’s agricultural and infrastructure legacy. His great-grandfather owned a concrete company that played a critical role in paving the original Florida Turnpike from Yeehaw Junction to Clermont. During construction, he operated a portable concrete plant along the Osceola–Orange County line and was drawn to the natural beauty of the land bordering the roadway—eventually purchasing what would become the family ranch.
Billy’s grandfather expanded the ranching operation, focusing heavily on citrus production with a smaller cattle program. A man of many talents, he was also deeply involved in racehorses, training and competing thoroughbreds throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. He made history as the first man in Osceola County to earn a pilot’s license and is documented in county history records. Balancing aviation and agriculture, he flew commercially for Eastern Airlines while continuing to operate the ranch—a rare blend of frontier grit and professional ambition.
When Billy’s father took over the operation, a series of devastating freezes brought Florida’s citrus industry to its knees. In response, the family transitioned the groves into pastureland and significantly expanded their cattle operation. At its peak, the ranch supported approximately 2,000 head of cattle. The operation also included sod production, which inspired Billy’s father to invent the pasture aerator—an implement designed to improve soil health and forage production. Initially manufactured and sold exclusively within Florida, the aerator later expanded into national and international markets.
Raised entirely on the ranch, Billy has hunted deer since early childhood and began intensive whitetail deer management in the late 1980s. By 1988, he was implementing deliberate herd and habitat management strategies—long before such practices were mainstream in Florida. Over decades of hands-on work, Billy shaped and sustained a highly managed deer herd, producing some of the largest and most talked-about bucks the state has ever seen. His approach blends instinct, observation, and generational knowledge passed down through working the same land year after year.
For Billy, ranching and cowboy life were never optional—they were the only life he ever wanted. After the sale of the main ranch, Billy retained and continues to manage the final remaining piece of the original property. To him, it represents the last untouched piece of heaven, and his final opportunity to fully live the life he was raised for—working the land, managing wildlife, and honoring the legacy of the generations before him.
Through FLA WILD, Billy Lawson helps tell the story of Florida ranching as it truly exists—rooted in history, shaped by resilience, and sustained by those who refuse to let the land and its stories disappear.

Mark Stephens

Mark Stephens was raised on the legendary Lykes Brothers cattle ranches, where he grew up working cows, riding horses, and living the true Florida Cracker ranch-cowboy life from an early age. Ranching was not a hobby—it was a way of life grounded in discipline, responsibility, and respect for the land. As a youth, Mark showed steers in 4-H and was active in FFA, further shaping his foundation in agriculture and animal husbandry.

Mark comes from a deep agricultural lineage. His father was a self-made cowman who earned degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics from the University of Florida, and went on to work for Lykes Brothers and Duda & Sons. He later served as Vice President of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, helping lead and advocate for Florida’s cattle industry. This legacy of leadership, grit, and service strongly influenced Mark’s path.

After answering the call to serve, Mark completed more than 21 years in U.S. Army Special Operations, retiring after a career defined by some of the most demanding missions of the modern era. His early assignments were with U.S. Army Special Forces in Okinawa, Japan, and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was later selected for assignment to the Nation’s Special Mission Unit, where he spent approximately three-quarters of his military career serving in numerous operational leadership roles.
Mark completed more than 17 combat and real-world deployments worldwide. These included three deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; three deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, including service as part of the presidentially directed first-response spearhead following the attacks of September 11, 2001 (Task Force Sword); Somalia during Operation Gothic Serpent (Battle of Mogadishu); Colombia supporting cartel and counter-narcotics operations; and the Balkans/Bosnia conducting persons-indicted-for-war-crimes missions and high-threat diplomatic protection. Additional classified and sensitive operations included deployments to Honduras (Operation Golden Pheasant), Panama, the Middle East, Europe, and maritime counter-narcotics missions in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard. He also led high-threat protective details for the President of the United States and senior diplomatic officials worldwide.

His awards and decorations reflect extraordinary valor and sacrifice, including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, four Bronze Stars for heroism in combat, four Purple Hearts (Somalia, Afghanistan ×2, Iraq), and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He is also a recipient of the United States President’s Volunteer Service Award. In 2022, Mark was inducted into the USSOCOM Commando Hall of Honor, recognizing a lifetime of exceptional service.

Today, Mark Stephens serves as Vice President of Special Projects at Cubic Corporation. He has volunteered with the Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation since 2011, joined its Executive Board of Directors in 2016, and currently serves as Chairman. He is also a member of The Explorers Club and sits on the Advisory Board of the Global SOF Foundation.
Mark’s life reflects a rare continuity—from Florida ranch roots to the highest levels of special operations and leadership—anchored by service, accountability, and commitment to something greater than himself.

Ronnie Stephens

Ronnie Stephens grew up on a working cattle ranch in South and Central Florida, where riding horses, working cows, building fence, hunting, fishing, and exploring the woods were not pastimes—but daily life. Raised in the Florida Cracker ranching tradition, Ronnie as the older brother learned early the values of hard work, self-reliance, and respect for the land. These formative years instilled a lifelong passion for the outdoors and a deep appreciation for the people who live close to it.