Deseret Ranches, Agricultural ranch in Central Florida, United States

Deseret Ranches is a cattle and citrus operation owned by the LDS Church, spread across Osceola, Orange and Brevard counties in Central Florida. Its land holds 44,000 head of beef cattle and orange groves, and a brick-pillared sign at the entrance reads "DESERET CATTLE & CITRUS" with an arrow pointing to the office one mile on.

The operation started in 1950 with a land purchase and expanded over decades into one of the nation's largest beef cattle businesses. Continuous growth and diversification shaped its evolution into a multi-purpose agricultural enterprise.

The name Deseret comes from a Book of Mormon word for honeybee, and the operation's divisions carry it: Deseret Cattle and Citrus, Taylor Creek Management, East Central Florida Services, AgReserves and Farmland Reserve. Church president Gordon B. Hinckley described the farms as a safe investment and an agricultural resource to feed people in time of need. The ranch is for-profit and separate from the church's humanitarian work.

The ranch sits southeast of Orlando and is easily accessible from the city by car. Access is limited since it operates as a private enterprise, but you can observe the sprawling pastures and farmland from nearby roads.

Around 90 ranchers and their families live on-site, managing specialized areas including water systems and hunting zones. This community preserves traditional ranching practices within modern agriculture.