As autumn settles over Marion County, the golden light filtering through the trees reminds us of the beauty we are all working to protect. Fall is a season of reflection and gratitude, and here at Horse Farms Forever, we are especially thankful for the dedicated leaders who guide our mission: our Board of Directors.

This year has already been extraordinary—our upcoming Conservation Summit featuring Dr. Temple Grandin sold out in record time. The overwhelming response underscores how deeply this community values the preservation of horse farms and farmland. None of this momentum would be possible without the steady leadership, passion, and commitment of our Board.

Honoring Our Board of Directors

Each member brings unique expertise, perspective, and a shared love of the land:

Looking Ahead

With the Conservation Summit quickly approaching, we are reminded that preserving horse farms is not just about land—it’s about safeguarding a way of life, a heritage, and a future. Thanks to the leadership of our Board and the support of our community, Horse Farms Forever continues to grow stronger each season.

This fall, as the leaves change and the air turns crisp, we celebrate the progress made and the path ahead. To our Board of Directors: thank you for your vision, your stewardship, and your unwavering dedication to keeping Marion County the Horse Capital of the World™.

WEC Already Offers Youth Sports

It’s worth noting that youth sports are already happening at WEC. This summer, Sports at WEC launched programs for both competitive and recreational play, including private training and field rentals.

These activities are located at Expo Center #2 and on existing outdoor fields—facilities that are already permitted and zoned for this kind of use. WEC’s 378-acre property allows for recreational activities, graduation ceremonies, community events, and up to four concerts a year.

So, why the need for such a massive new development?

Existing Sports Facilities—In the Right Place

Marion County and the City of Ocala already provide access to youth sports through:

• The 80-acre Ocala Regional Sportsplex
• The 80-acre Rotary Sportsplex

While our growing community may need additional venues, location matters.

That’s why the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau partnered with Hunden Partners to develop a Tourism Placemaking Plan and Feasibility Analysis. Presented in March, the plan’s top recommendation was for an indoor, multi-use sports facility—not a sprawling mega-complex. Among 11 proposed sites, the best locations are near the City of Ocala or along I-75, where infrastructure already exists.

The proposed complex would sit directly adjacent to the Farmland Preservation Area, posing real risks to the surrounding horse farms and rural neighborhoods that define our landscape and economy.

The Farmland Preservation Area is located directly South of the site plan.

It’s the World Equestrian Center—Not the World Sports Center

Let’s not forget: WEC was built to showcase Marion County’s global identity as the Horse Capital of the World. That identity is rooted in our equine heritage—not hockey rinks or rock concerts.

Horses don’t play hockey. They don’t ride roller coasters.

This complex would undermine the very brand we’ve worked so hard to build—and the $4.3 billion equine industry that sustains our local economy.

Let’s Hold Our Horses—And Find a Better Location

We support more recreational opportunities for local children. But it must be done the right way, in the right place, and without jeopardizing what makes Marion County so special.

Let’s work together to protect our rural lands, preserve our equine identity, and plan responsibly for the future.