Rollhart Cattle tells Hillsborough County committee it holds required swine license, disputes evaluation docking

Rollhart Cattle representatives told a Hillsborough County procurement committee during an oral interview that the firm holds a swine‑dealer license required for trapping and transporting feral hogs and that subcontractors they use hold licenses for pesticide and aerial herbicide work.

The presentation, given during an oral interview for a county solicitation to lease and manage public lands, centered on regulatory compliance, the firm’s experience with long‑term state leases and its on‑the‑ground management practices. Rollhart argued that evaluators improperly docked points for listing leased land as experience rather than land the firm owns.

"The first thing I want to mention is that we have the swine dealer license that we had noted in our RFP originally," said Carly Turner, Rollhart’s registered agent. She told the committee the firm provided agency letters and that licensed holding facilities and transport rules were addressed in their submission. Turner contrasted Rollhart’s documentation with a competing respondent, saying that "Audubon did mention they use traps, but they do not actually hold this license."

Turner also said the firm’s proposal included a subcontractor agreement (identified as exhibit B in the presentation materials) listing the scope of invasive‑species treatment and coverage expectations. She told the panel, "Since we do not take possession for over a year, the licenses are only good for a year. By the time that we were able to take possession, [a subcontractor] could obtain whatever subcategory that would be needed." She explained that prescribed burns and certain aerial applications are performed by licensed contractors through the state forestry process.

Travis Hardy, a Rollhart co‑owner, described recent property restoration and infrastructure work as evidence of the firm’s capacity to manage county leases. "We drilled wells. Installed miles of waterline ... We replaced culverts. We cleaned the broom. We have tremendous results coming out of that hay field," Hardy said, summarizing improvements his crew carried out on a previously degraded site.

When the committee asked about measures of herd productivity, Rollhart provided ranges for calf‑crop percentage as a performance indicator, saying typical outcomes for their operations run "from 75 to 95%" and that well‑managed herds often exceed higher thresholds. Rollhart linked that metric to how they judge overall operation success and to the material included in their proposal.

Committee members pressed for operational details during a 30‑minute Q&A. On grazing and stewardship, Rollison said the firm avoids overgrazing, uses rotational grazing and fertilization, and relies on site testing to guide lime or dolomite applications. The presenters said they rely on the Department of Forestry for prescribed burns where required, and that their mowing and fence‑line maintenance practices are tailored to each lease’s stipulations. "Having [the land manager] tell us their concerns ... is another key factor," Turner said, highlighting close coordination with leasing agencies.

Ethan Kersey, the procurement buyer for the project, told the presenters during the session that no additional documentation was required at that time: "I did not think we needed any documentation at this time." The committee closed the interview portion and planned to reconvene later in the day to continue evaluations and interviews.

The procurement process will continue on the county’s solicitation portal; presenters offered to supply any additional licensing or subcontractor documentation if the committee requests it afterward.