On April 7, the Marion County Commission officially designated April as Farmland Preservation Month.
This April only: every gift is matched. Double your impact. Double the preservation.
Commissioner Craig Curry presented the proclamation to Sara Fennessy, Executive Director of Horse Farms Forever, and Jerome Feaster of Save Our Rural Area—recognizing the vital role that farmland and our equine industry play in our community and economy.
According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, Marion County has about 300,000 acres of agricultural land, which includes over 3,300 farms, including about 1,200 horse farms.
This proclamation highlights the importance of preserving the nearly 200,000-acre Farmland Preservation Area, home to rare mineral-rich soil and ground water. The deep limestone base enriches the grass and water with minerals, such as calcium. This rare soil is found in only three other areas in the world, which all have a thriving equine industry, because the mineral-rich soil helps build strong bones.
Proclamation Key Highlights:
WHEREAS, in 2005, the Marion County Commission designated approximately 200,000 acres in the northwest portion of the County as the Farmland Preservation Area, to provide a buffer for farmland against increasing growth, and to protect the valuable soils, water quality and spring sheds.
WHEREAS, the American Horse Council Foundation’s 2023 Equine Economic Impact Study for Marion County indicates that
- one-fifth of the County’s employment is tied to the equine industry with approximately 28,500 jobs;
- one-fifth of the County’s landmass at over 200,000 acres;
- and one-fifth of the County’s economy with an annual $4.3 Billion impact.
This April, Your Support Goes Twice as Far
Every April, Marion County honors Farmland Preservation Month — a recognition of what makes this region unlike anywhere else in the world. But this year, that designation carries new weight. The forces pushing to develop and pave over our horse farms and agricultural land are larger and better-funded than ever before.
Horse Farms Forever was founded in 2018 to show up, stay engaged, and refuse to back down. We have spent thousands of hours at County Commission meetings, challenged development applications, and fought back projects that would have permanently altered the Farmland Preservation Area. We have made a difference — but we cannot hold the line alone.
A generous anonymous donor is matching every dollar donated to Horse Farms Forever through April 30, with no cap. Every dollar you give becomes two.
The window to double your impact closes April 30. Don’t wait.
