The Lykes Brothers story began more than 100 years ago with Dr. Howell Tyson Lykes. Leaving a career in medicine, Dr. Lykes began raising cattle and citrus at the family homestead in rural Hernando County. By the turn of the century, Dr. Lykes had moved his family and business activities to Tampa and was shipping cattle to Cuba aboard a three-masted wooden schooner. One by one, each of Dr. Lykes’ seven sons joined the family business. Working together they expanded and diversified, incorporating their business as Lykes Bros. Inc. in 1910. Descendants of Dr. Lykes have retained ownership of Lykes Bros. and continue to build on the solid foundation laid by the doctor and his seven sons.

The Lykes Ranch, located in Glades and Highlands counties, spreads out on 337,000 acres on one of the largest contiguous pieces of land in the state. The property is home to an integrated cow-calf, forestry, turf and sugar cane operation and is a tapestry of farmland, forests and pastures, woven together with wetlands, retention ponds and wildlife corridors. Since the property covers many different land types, Lykes employs multiple land-use practices to make the most efficient, economical and appropriate use of the land. Higher-income crops such as sugar cane are planted on the richest soils, while the plantation forests, grazing pastures, and wildlife management operations comprise other acreage.  Stewardship is an important component of Lykes’ management philosophy.

With more than 20,000 head of cattle, the Lykes Ranch is the one of the largest cow-calf operations in the United States. The presence of cattle on native ranges continues to play an important role in the ecosystem. Through grazing, the herd helps keep brush and fuel loads down, reducing the risk of devastating wildfires.  The ranch also encourages the multiple land-use concept of letting cattle graze its forested areas. High-intensity management on these lands allows for conservation on the others. The success of this practice can be seen in the Lykes Ranch’s diverse wildlife. Game animals such as deer, quail, and turkey populate much of the property.

The Lykes Ranch manages the largest pine forest in South Florida. The forestry operation also shares expertise with the University of Florida to grow eucalyptus which is harvested for mulch. It's color and aroma make eucalyptus mulch a favorite in xeriscaping, a popular low-maintenance landscaping technique. In the last decade, Lykes has planted 2.5 million seedlings, making it the largest grower of eucalyptus east of the Mississippi River.

Partnerships with researchers and professional associations are a major part of the Lykes management philosophy. All of the ranch’s managers participate in outside organizations, sharing ideas and knowledge to improve Florida’s agricultural community and the communities in which they live.