Travis Thompson: All Florida, Conservation, and the Fight for Hunters and Anglers

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Episode Show Notes

Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 927 is my conversation with Travis Thompson, conservationist and executive director of All Florida. Travis is a fifth-generation Floridian who founded All Florida about three years ago to work on conservation at the state level. We get into the conservation work he does, why hunters and anglers had been left out of those conversations, and Florida's Amendment 2. We are not here to tell you how to vote, but to lay out what is at stake so you can decide for yourself.

Listen now: Spotify · the Tom Rowland Podcast feed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Travis Thompson?

Travis Thompson is a conservationist and the executive director of All Florida, a conservation organization he founded about three years ago. A fifth-generation Floridian whose father worked for the state, he grew up snook fishing, deer hunting, and at turkey camp, and works on conservation issues at the state level on behalf of hunters, anglers, and all Floridians.

What is All Florida?

All Florida is a conservation organization founded by Travis Thompson to work on conservation issues at the state level. Travis describes it deliberately as a conservation organization rather than only a sportsman's organization, looking at all aspects of conservation, from springs to cattle ranches and citrus groves, while making sure hunters and anglers have a seat at the table.

What is Florida's Amendment 2?

Amendment 2 is a Florida ballot measure addressed in this episode. Travis explains the considerations behind a yes or no vote so listeners can make their own decision. The podcast does not advocate for either side, but lays out why anyone who holds a fishing or hunting license would benefit from understanding it.

Why do hunters and anglers need a voice in conservation?

Travis says he noticed a major uptick in conservation conversations happening at the state level that hunters and anglers were being left out of, not intentionally, but because they had stopped asking to be at the table. He founded All Florida to make sure that perspective, which once led those conversations, is represented again.

Where can I listen to Travis Thompson on the Tom Rowland Podcast?

Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 927 with Travis Thompson is available on Spotify and the Tom Rowland Podcast feed.

Why I Wanted Travis Thompson On the Show

I wanted Travis on because he is doing the unglamorous work that actually protects the places we love to fish and hunt. He is a fifth-generation Floridian who grew up snook fishing and at turkey camp, and he turned that love into an organization that fights for conservation at the state level. This Anglers Unite conversation matters because hunters and anglers have been left out of decisions that affect us, and Travis is working to change that. I wanted listeners informed, not told how to vote.

Press play in the player to hear it.

Why Start a Conservation Organization From Scratch?

Travis explains why he founded All Florida about three years ago and chose to frame it as a conservation organization, not just a sportsman's group. He gets into what that distinction means. Hear it in the episode.

How Did Hunters and Anglers Lose Their Seat at the Table?

Travis describes the uptick in state-level conservation conversations happening without hunters and anglers, and why that happened. He explains how to get that voice back. Listen to that section of the conversation.

What Should You Know Before Voting on Amendment 2?

Travis walks through the case for voting yes or no on Florida's Amendment 2 without telling you which way to go. He lays out what is at stake for license holders. Press play in the player above.

What Does It Mean to Love a Whole State?

Travis talks about being a fifth-generation Floridian who never left the state on vacation, falling in love with the springs, ranches, citrus groves, and fishing. He explains how that shapes his conservation work. Worth hearing in full.

Listen to the full conversation: Spotify · the Tom Rowland Podcast feed.

Final Thoughts From Me

What I respect about Travis is that he is not waiting for someone else to protect the things he loves. He built an organization and got to work at the level where decisions actually get made.

Whatever you decide on Amendment 2, you should understand it, and this conversation will help. Press play in the player above, or find Episode 927 on Spotify and the Tom Rowland Podcast feed.

People & Brands Mentioned

Travis Thompson · All Florida · Amendment 2 · Anglers Unite · Florida · Tom Rowland (host)

More From the Tom Rowland Podcast

The Tom Rowland Podcast brings you long-form conversations with the most accomplished anglers, hunters, conservationists, and outdoor professionals in the game. Listen to every full-length Tom Rowland Podcast interview.

About Travis Thompson

Travis Thompson is a conservationist and the executive director of All Florida, a conservation organization he founded to work on state-level conservation issues. A fifth-generation Floridian who grew up snook fishing, deer hunting, and at turkey camp, he created All Florida to ensure hunters and anglers have a voice in the conservation conversations shaping the state, addressing everything from springs and water quality to cattle ranches and citrus groves.

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Episode Transcript

Tom: What's going on, everybody. I want to welcome you to the Tom Rowland podcast brought to you by Starbrite and How to Tuesday brought to you by Danco. Today, we welcome a third partner into the show. Bernawin is going to help us bring you this series called Anglers Unite. What Anglers Unite is all about is how we can unite together to move the needle on things that are really, really important to us. Take water quality, take regulations. In this situation, what we're going to talk about today is Florida's Amendment 2, which could possibly grant fishing and hunting rights as a constitutional right for you. But we're not going to be able to do any of these things if we're off in our own little groups, paying attention to the things that are only interesting to us. It's very important that as anglers, as fishermen, hunters, we unite with our voice. Today we have Travis Thompson, who is from All Florida, a conservation organization. He is very knowledgeable about Amendment 2. This is going to happen on November 5th, the same day you go in to decide who the next president is going to be. We're going to talk with Travis to find out exactly why you would consider voting yes or no. We're not here to tell you which one to vote on. You make the decision for yourself. Travis: I'm Travis Thompson, conservationist, executive director of All Florida. And this is the Tom Rowland podcast. Tom: Travis, what's going on, man? I'm glad you're here today. How are you doing, buddy? Travis: I'm doing well. It's nice to meet you in person. Happy to be on here and talk about all the conservation work we do, and obviously this year, Amendment 2 in Florida. Tom: So tell me about your organization and what you typically do, and I know Amendment 2 is what we're ultimately here to talk about, but tell me about your organization and what you do. Travis: Yeah, so All Florida was created — I started it about three years ago, and the idea there was, I work on conservation issues at the state level. I'm a fifth generation Floridian. I care deeply about Florida. I'm in love with it. My dad was a DEP employee, so don't hold that against him or me. But for 45 years, my dad was a DEP employee. And so I watched the guy get up and go to work every day, and he got yelled at a lot, but he cared deeply. And our family vacations were snook fishing or deer hunting or turkey camp. But we didn't leave Florida — it was always in this state. So I learned early on to be in love with the springs, the cattle ranches and citrus groves and snook fishing and redfish and all that stuff, like it just was in me. So what I noticed was there was a huge uptick in conservation conversations happening at the state level that hunters and anglers were being left out of. And it wasn't because they were intentionally leaving us out — it was because we weren't asking to be at the table. And for a long time we led those conversations. So I wanted to make sure All Florida was not a sportsman's organization, but a conservation organization. We look at all aspects of conservation. If you're familiar with the North American conservation model, the most famous conservation model probably in the history of the world, there are five tools of conservation they talk about — the plow, the cow, the axe, the match, and the gun.

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