by Jon Kohler
Each year, the Southeastern Wild-life Exposition (SEWE) draws thou-sands to Charleston, South Carolina, for an immersive experience in the sporting lifestyle, fine art and, most importantly, conservation. As Jon Kohler & Associ-ates, we are honored to be part of this tradition, setting up in the heart of the Quail Village at Brittlebank Park along-side fellow conservationists, land stew-ards and outdoor enthusiasts.
SEWE is more than an event – it’s a gathering of like-minded individuals who share a deep respect for the land, wildlife and the traditions that define the sporting South. For those passionate about quail, bird dogs, upland hunting and sustainable land management, the Quail Village is the ultimate destination. A Hub for Conservation and Upland Traditions The Quail Village brings togeth-er some of the most dedicated organi-zations and brands in the upland and conservation community. Among our neighbors, you’ll find:
Quail Forever – Advocates for habitat conservation and upland hunting heritage.
Tom Beckbe – Outfitters of time-less sporting apparel.
The South Carolina Bobwhite Initiative – Committed to restoring wild bobwhite populations.
The South Carolina Prescribed Burn Council – Educating landowners on the ecological benefits of fire.
Quail Forever Wildlife Biologists – Experts in habitat management and conservation planning.
The Longleaf Alliance – Dedicat-ed to preserving and expanding longleaf pine ecosystems.
OnX Hunt – Providing cut-ting-edge mapping tools for land and wildlife managers.
This collection of organizations and professionals fosters an environment where conservation and the sporting life-style go hand in hand. At Jon Kohler & Associates, our mission extends beyond land sales – we strive to match properties with future stewards who value habitat preservation, wildlife management and responsible landownership.
Why SEWE Matters to Land Stewards
The Southeast’s sporting heritage is rooted in a deep connection to the land. Whether you’re a quail hunter, landown-er or conservationist, SEWE provides an opportunity to engage with those shap-ing the future of land stewardship. Our job is to find the next great land stewards for our properties, and part of that is aligning with like-minded peo-ple and groups. SEWE’s conservation HUNT ALABAMA 2025-2026ethic and focus represent what our entire team stands for. Beyond the Quail Village, SEWE offers a full weekend of excitement, from the high-flying action of Dock Dogs competitions to thrilling live ani-mal demonstrations. Attendees can also enjoy fine wild-life art, chef-led cooking demos and a vibrant nightlife scene with exclusive gatherings and social events throughout Charleston. There’s something for every outdoor enthusiast to experience and en-joy. At the Quail Village, we looked forward to meeting with landowners, hunters and conservationists who share our passion for preserving the wild plac-es that make upland traditions possible. If you missed this year’s event, we encourage you to put SEWE on your calendar for next year and make it part of your annual tradition. Whether you’re looking to invest in a legacy property or simply want to talk bird dogs and habi-tat, we invite you to stop by, shake hands and join the conversation. Join us at SEWE’s Quail Village next year – it’s where the future of con-servation and ethical land stewardship takes flight.
From murky farm ponds to pristine glacier-cut lakes and everything in between, Knox Daniels’ expertise stems from a lifelong fascination of water and the creatures that live in and around it. He recognizes and helps clients appreciate the value water features bring to a property. “My goal is to help buyers realize and sellers maximize the value different water bodies bring to a property, not only in a recreational sense, but also for social storm reasons.” After extensively traveling the country for collegiate BASS fishing tournaments, Knox graduated and worked for the Southeast’s finest fisheries and wildlife biologist, Greg Grimes. With Grimes’ company, AES, Knox managed many of the southeast’s finest private lake estate/impoundment properties, and learned the intricacies of upscale property management. Learning from Greg and other biologists, Knox honed in on the specific conditions and habitat needed for optimal gamefish growth in private lakes. He has also worked as a property manager on several thousand acres and for a commercial developer, facilitating the dirt work and builds of several apartment complexes, but his true passion has always been in the outdoors. “I’ve always had an insatiable fascination with ponds/lakes and am grateful to be able to help to place clients on the properties of their dreams and make their personal fisheries/wildlife goals reality with JKA.” – Knox Daniels
Jason has been assisting landowners for the last 28 years in Georgia and South Carolina obtain achievements the owners did not realize were possible. His degree in Biology from Georgia Southern stemmed from the desire to know how things in nature work. His plantation roots began at just 16 years old outside of Albany, GA and the last 20 years were spent in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. His entire career has been spent developing a global approach to plantation management. That plan included sales. Sales is in Jason’s blood- his mom had a 45-year career as a real estate broker. After college, he chose to pursue his passion of making properties great. In 2011, Jason sold his first plantation. Since then, he has assisted buyers and sellers with over $20 million in sales while most of that time working as a full-time General Manager of a large Lowcountry plantation. Today, he is committed to using his unique skill set and experience to guide landowners through the many challenges of plantation ownership.
Bruce Ratliff is a retired elected official (Property Appraiser Taylor County). Bruce brings years of experience in ad valorem tax knowledge. His property tax background gives JKA Associates & clients a unique insight into the complicated tax process. Bruce held several positions in the Florida Association of Property Appraisers, including member of the Board of Directors, President, Vice-President and Secretary, and served on the Agricultural & Legislative Committees for the Association. The real estate business has been part of Bruce’s life since childhood. His mother, Shirley Ratliff owned Professional Realty of Perry, Florida and his father, Buster owned Ratliff Land Surveying which Bruce was General Manager of before his political career.
Hailing from a long line of outdoorsmen, Tim learned a great deal from his father and grandfather. He saw first-hand what it means to be a good land steward. He believes land is so much more than a place to hunt, fish, and grow timber or crops. “It’s an identity, a resting place, a safe haven and a way of life, said Tim.” Tim’s family ties to Alabama run deep. During his grandfather’s first term, Governor James was responsible for signing into law Alabama’s first state duck stamp which helped to ensure funding for the procurement, development, and preservation of wetlands for migratory waterfowl habitat. He also established Alabama’s lifetime hunting license, so it is no surprise that Tim is an avid outdoorsman with a keen eye as to how best to improve habitat for the greater good of its wildlife.
With Madison County roots, Lori grew up on her family farm at Pettis Springs along the historic Aucilla River. A love of the land was instilled in Lori very early on by her father who was a local farmer. Lori understands the importance of good land stewardship and has witnessed first-hand how her own father, a former 2-term member of the Florida House of Representatives whose district encompassed many rural counties of the Red Hills Plantation Region, with a little bit of sweat equity, so lovingly worked their own family land. These are core values she carries with her today, and nothing gives her more personal satisfaction than to represent some of the south’s best land stewards.
Cole’s dedication to land management lies in his family roots. As a fourth-generation timber expert, Cole’s earliest memories were spent with his father managing timber investments. With a degree in Food Resource Economics from the University of Florida, Cole is the epitome of an up-and-coming leader. He grew up with a hands-on approach to learning land management and conservation and has spent the last 15 years learning every angle of the real estate and forest industry. Cole is a member of the Florida Forestry Association, Red Hills Quail Forever, Southeastern Wood Producers Association and he uses this platform as an advocate for landowners and their land investments. His family has dedicated the past 60 years to providing landowners in North Florida and South Georgia with professional land management services focused on improving and protecting one’s forestland and wildlife investment. In fact, their family business, M.A. Rigoni, Inc., was one of the first to introduce whole tree chipping to the Red Hills Region.
As a landowner of his own family farm, Lick Skillet, along with family land that has been passed down and enjoyed together at Keaton Beach for 40 years, Jon knows what it means to be a steward of the last best places. As a third-generation land broker with more than 30 years of experience in advising landowners in this niche, Jon is known for his innate ability to harvest a land’s unique intrinsic value. Touting several notable sales under his belt, Jon personally closed Rock Creek/Molpus – 124,000 acres of premium timberland at $142,000,000 – which was known as the largest timberland land sale in the Southeast for eight years running. He is a co-founding member of LandLeader and achieved the real estate industry’s highest honor, “2022 National Broker of the Year – Recreational Land Sales,” by the Realtors® Land Institute.