15th Biennial Longleaf Conference
November 4, 2024
Despite the challenges presented by Hurricane Helene before and Hurricane Milton during the 15th Biennial Longleaf Conference, longleaf enthusiasts from 22 states “joined together for tomorrow’s forests” in Miramar Beach, Florida from October 8-11, 2024.
Conference at-a-glance:
– Average rating from online survey – 4.6 out of 5!
– 383 registrants with 339 folks in attendance
– 104 speakers, panelists, moderators, and poster presenters
– 88 generously donated items raised over $11,200 in the silent auction
– 60+ private landowners attending
– 24 registration waivers awarded, including 10 landowners and 5 students
– 22 states represented
– 20 exhibitors
– 13 undergraduate and graduate students in attendance
– 12 Regional Longleaf Award Recipients recognized
This event was made possible by a great team of The Longleaf Alliance and event staff, as well as the numerous Conference supporters, speakers, and attendees.
![Burner Bob® hanging out with his friends from Texas [Jasmine Little]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Burner-Bob-with-Texas-partners-1024x681.jpg "Burner Bob with Texas partners")
Burner Bob® hanging out with his friends from Texas [Jasmine Little]
![Emma McKee and Casey White were sunshine in human form at The Alliance store all week [Emma McKee]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Casey-and-Emma_Conference-2024-768x1024.jpg "Casey and Emma_Conference 2024")
Emma McKee and Casey White were sunshine in human form at The Alliance store all week [Emma McKee]
![The conference is always a great time to network and catch up with both old and new friends. Many thanks to our sponsors, who helped make the event possible. [Jasmine Little]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sponsors-Jasmine-1024x681.jpg "Sponsors-Jasmine")
The conference is always a great time to network and catch up with both old and new friends. Many thanks to our sponsors, who helped make the event possible. [Jasmine Little]
![Tumbling Longleaf Ecosystem, a block game that illustrates the importance of fire, was one of many activities available at the Mini Fire Festival during the Conference Welcome Reception. The “festival” was organized by the Fire Festival Learning Group which originated at the 2022 Longleaf Conference. [Jennifer Fawcett]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Mini-Fire-Festival_Jenn-Fawcett-1.jpg "Mini Fire Festival_Jenn Fawcett (1)")
Tumbling Longleaf Ecosystem, a block game that illustrates the importance of fire, was one of many activities available at the Mini Fire Festival during the Conference Welcome Reception. The “festival” was organized by the Fire Festival Learning Group which originated at the 2022 Longleaf Conference. [Jennifer Fawcett]
![Opening remarks from Dan Helms, Chief of the Santa Rosa Band of the Lower Muscogee [Michael Hubbard]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Dan-Helms_Santa-Rose-Band-of-the-Lower-Muscogee_Opening-Remarks-1-e1762291327250-894x1024.jpg "Dan Helms_Santa Rose Band of the Lower Muscogee_Opening Remarks")
Opening remarks from Dan Helms, Chief of the Santa Rosa Band of the Lower Muscogee [Michael Hubbard]
![The Conference Field Tour visited three locations, including this beautiful longleaf restoration site at Nokuse Plantation. [Jasmine Little]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Nokuse_Jasmine-1024x681.jpg "Nokuse_Jasmine")
The Conference Field Tour visited three locations, including this beautiful longleaf restoration site at Nokuse Plantation. [Jasmine Little]
![What an absolute delight to see old-growth longleaf at Eglin Air Force Base. The Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership (GCPEP) landscape is home to more than 50% of the surviving old-growth longleaf. [Vernon Compton]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Old-growth-longleaf-at-Eglin-484x1024.jpg "Old growth longleaf at Eglin")
What an absolute delight to see old-growth longleaf at Eglin Air Force Base. The Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership (GCPEP) landscape is home to more than 50% of the surviving old-growth longleaf. [Vernon Compton]
![The silent auction offered many unique longleaf-related items and raised over $11,200 to support longleaf restoration and conservation. [Jasmine Little]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Silent-Auction-1024x681.jpg "Silent Auction")
The silent auction offered many unique longleaf-related items and raised over $11,200 to support longleaf restoration and conservation. [Jasmine Little]
![“After the Storm” panelists discuss lessons learned from recent hurricanes across the Southeast. With Hurricane Helene before and Hurricane Milton making landfall the same week of the Conference, it was a timely and informative conversation. [Jamelle Ellis]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Storm-Recovery-Panel-discussion-e1762291446293.jpg "Storm Recovery Panel discussion")
“After the Storm” panelists discuss lessons learned from recent hurricanes across the Southeast. With Hurricane Helene before and Hurricane Milton making landfall the same week of the Conference, it was a timely and informative conversation. [Jamelle Ellis]
![View from the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort [Zickie Allgrove]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/view-from-the-Sandestin-Resort_Zickie-Allgrove.jpg "view from the Sandestin Resort_Zickie Allgrove")
View from the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort [Zickie Allgrove]
![Many thanks for the hard work and long hours of The Longleaf Alliance team! [Michael Hubbard]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2024-Conference-TLA-staff-photo-e1762291388181-1024x785.jpg "2024 Conference TLA staff photo")
Many thanks for the hard work and long hours of The Longleaf Alliance team! [Michael Hubbard]
![Picnic under a canopy of live oak with a view of Choctawhatchee Bay [Casey White]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Whitepoint-Lunch_Casey-1024x473.jpg "Whitepoint Lunch_Casey")
Picnic under a canopy of live oak with a view of Choctawhatchee Bay [Casey White]
![Gopher tortoises were a crowd favorite at Eglin Air Force Base. [Juliane Jones]](https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Gopher-tortoise-at-Eglin-field-tour-768x1024.jpeg "Gopher tortoise at Eglin field tour")
Gopher tortoises were a crowd favorite at Eglin Air Force Base. [Juliane Jones]