HFF Opposes Camp Margaritaville on Orange Lake

HFF Opposes Camp Margaritaville on Orange Lake

by | Feb 5, 2026 | News, Ongoing, Watching

Proposed Margaritaville Themed RV Park Conflicts with FPA 

Proposed Margaritaville Themed RV Park Conflicts with FPA 

Horse Farms Forever® OPPOSES the application by 8M Holdings, LLC to re-zone their 141-acre parcel located at 18365 NW 45th Avenue Road in Citra from an RV park with amenities reserved for the RV guests to an RV/themed park with amenities open to the public daily for a fee.

View Our Position Statement

Imagine stepping outside to feed your horses—and finding a full-blown Margaritaville themed RV park with extensive water rides, restaurant, bar, and live entertainment.

In January, 8M Holdings applied to re-zone their 141-acre parcel from an RV park with amenities reserved for the RV park users to an RV Park with themed SUPER-SIZED recreation amenities open to the public.

This change of use from a quiet RV park to a Margaritaville themed RV park and water park is incompatible with the rural community of Orange Lake, surrounding horse farms, and the Farmland Preservation Area.

Horse Farms Forever OPPOSES the re-zoning application for three main reasons: 

1) The proposed increase in the intensity of the approved uses,

2) The change in the intent and character of the approved development, and

3) Inconsistent with the Farmland Preservation Area Comprehensive Plan Policy 3.3.1: Elements of Rural Character

View the Zoning Change Application
Marion County Growth Services Staff Report for the PUD Rezoning Application

NEXT STEPS:

On January 26, 2026, the Marion County Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the application by 8M Holdings, LLC to re-zone their 141-acre parcel located at 18365 NW 45th Avenue Road in Citra from an RV park with amenities reserved for the RV guests to an RV/themed park with amenities open to the public daily for a fee.

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

Tuesday, February 17th at 2:00 PM at the McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium – 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala, FL
 

Your voice matters in protecting Marion County’s horse farms and agricultural land.

Email The County Commissioners!

Credit: Ocala-News.com

How Horses Think with Dr. Temple Grandin

How Horses Think with Dr. Temple Grandin

by | Jan 23, 2026 | Events, News

We are incredibly grateful to Ocala Magazine for spotlighting our 2025 Conservation Summit and highlighting the powerful message behind this year’s sold-out event, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Temple Grandin. Seeing our mission reflected on these pages means more than we can put into words.

This year’s Conversation Summit belonged to our community. To every person who attended, partnered, shared a post, sent an encouraging message, or simply believes in protecting our Farmland Preservation Area, thank you. Your support is what keeps this movement moving!

Community advocacy, education, and a shared love for this land are what made this event such an impact-driven success. Ocala continues to prove that when people come together around conservation, it can truly fill an arena!

We’re endlessly thankful for the coverage, the collaboration, and the collective commitment to preserving the landscapes that define our home.

Thank you to Title Sponsor Brook Ledge Horse Transportation and Presenting Sponsor AdventHealth Ocala for the generous support of the Conservation Summit!

We are incredibly grateful to Ocala Magazine for spotlighting our 2025 Conservation Summit and highlighting the powerful message behind this year’s sold-out event, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Temple Grandin. Seeing our mission reflected on these pages means more than we can put into words.

This year’s Conversation Summit belonged to our community. To every person who attended, partnered, shared a post, sent an encouraging message, or simply believes in protecting our Farmland Preservation Area, thank you. Your support is what keeps this movement moving!

Community advocacy, education, and a shared love for this land are what made this event such an impact-driven success. Ocala continues to prove that when people come together around conservation, it can truly fill an arena!

We’re endlessly thankful for the coverage, the collaboration, and the collective commitment to preserving the landscapes that define our home.

Thank you to Title Sponsor Brook Ledge Horse Transportation and Presenting Sponsor AdventHealth Ocala for the generous support of the Conservation Summit!

Read the Article on Ocala Magazine Here
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No. 1 in Growth: At What Cost?

No. 1 in Growth: At What Cost?

by | Jan 16, 2026 | News

Recent reports confirm what locals already know: Marion County is growing fast. Ocala was ranked No. 1 in growth cities for the third time in four years by U-Haul’s Growth Index, while Florida ranked No. 2 nationally for net one-way U-Haul customers.

Marion County is now home to more than 400,000 residents and continues to add approximately 220 new residents each week. At this pace, the County’s population is projected to grow by more than 125,000 residents, reaching an estimated 550,000 by 2050, according to the Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR).

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A Staggering Number of Approved Residential Units

A report presented at the County’s Strategic Planning Workshop in May 2022 revealed that more than 135,000 residential units have already been approved. Over 50,000 units were approved between 2017 and 2022 alone. A majority of these approvals include more than 86,000 undeveloped lots, many of which were approved decades ago in areas such as Marion Oaks and Silver Springs Shores.

As development pressure mounts along the edge of the Farmland Preservation Area and the Urban Growth Boundary, Horse Farms Forever is closely monitoring development proposals that threaten horse farms, rural lands, and protected agricultural areas.

The Cost of Rapid Growth

This rapid population growth has placed significant strain on local infrastructure. Residents experience heavier traffic, schools operating at or beyond capacity, and a list of transportation projects estimated to cost more than $1.5 billion over the next 20 years, according to the Benesch study on the transportation impact fees.

Communities across the country have studied the fiscal impacts of growth through Cost of Community Services (COCS) studies. These studies consistently show that residential development often costs more in public services than it generates in revenue, while commercial and industrial development, as well as farmland, helps to offset those losses.

Act Now to Protect Horse Farms

Marion County stands at a critical crossroads. Development pressures are rising, making the protection of its farmland more important now than ever. Acting now is essential to ensure future generations inherit a county that is economically viable and rich in agricultural heritage. Join our efforts to preserve our open spaces and beautiful places today.

Join the Herd
Protect – we are always watching. When a threat is identified, we quickly assemble a threat response.
Promote – we are out in the community and on social media, raising awareness and inspiring appreciation for all that we have here in Marion County.
Preserve – we guide and encourage landowners who wish to conserve their land.
Plan – we are working with the County on changes to the Comprehensive Plan that will make conservation easy and financially advantageous for farm owners.
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Join Today!
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More Horsepower, More Impact: Winter Membership Roundup

More Horsepower, More Impact: Winter Membership Roundup

by | Jan 9, 2026 | News

As fall folded into winter, Horse Farms Forever felt the unmistakable energy of a community that protects what it loves. These cooler months brought renewed purpose and growing momentum around our mission to defend the Farmland Preservation Area and preserve the rural character and equestrian heritage that make Marion County one of the most iconic horse regions in the country.

And as we look ahead, something beautifully symbolic awaits us: 2026 is the Year of the Horse. A year that honors strength, spirit, loyalty, and forward motion. The very qualities embodied by the horses, farms, and people who make up this community.

But this year also comes with a reminder. Now more than ever, our horse farms need your support. Growth pressures, land vulnerability, traffic strain, and incompatible development continue to test the boundaries of what we can protect. The land that carries our industry, our history, and our horses is asking for reinforcements.

Let’s make 2026 more than symbolic.
Let’s make it impactful.

We are proud to welcome Elisabeth L. Johnson to our Founder community. Founders don’t just back the mission, they help shape the future of it. We are honored to have her support.

Join The Herd
Linda Bamman

Chester Weber

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Kim VanKampen

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Linda Bamman

The Felburn Foundation

Linda Bamman

The Saint Bernard Foundation

Linda Bamman

Southern Heritage Developers

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Nicole Hornblower & James Denman

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Sally Crane Cox

Sally Crane Cox

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Elisabeth Brinton & Bob Utley

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Vivian Day & John Stroh

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Kurt & Janet Giesselman

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Your support safeguards open land, legacy, and the everyday landscape our horses rely on.

New Members

A sincere welcome to our newest members who joined the preservation effort this season:

$25-$499: Friend

  • John Bach
  • Cynthia Theo Colebrook
  • Daniel Menendez Estarella
  • Donita Farmer
  • Melissa Havens
  • Carol Hill
  • Richard Mitchell
  • Haley Moody
  • Nancy Moffatt
  • Richard Mitchell
  • Karen OGrady
  • Gary Smith

$500+: Partner

  • Daniel Balys
  • Chris Howson
  • Scott & Sherry Crossman

$1,000+: Leader

  • Lisa Alexander
  • Gary Bybee
  • John Gaither
  • Stacy Larsson- Ocala Horse Properties

We are grateful you chose to stand with us. Your membership adds measurable strength to the preservation network.

Renewing Individual Members

Our deepest appreciation to the individual members who renewed their support this season:

$25-$499: Friend

  • Jenaay Brown
  • Michael A. Cinque
  • John Crowe
  • Julia Davies
  • Donna Delahunty
  • Shannon Dennison
  • Alexis Evanich
  • Tammy A. Gantt
  • Joan Gove
  • Barbara Hudgens
  • Mark Lawhon
  • Elizabeth Leete
  • Cheryl Osorio
  • Cristin Roby
  • Alice Sasnett
  • Busy Louise Shires
  • Hellena Smejda
  • Wendy Smith
  • Celaine So
  • Sue Starling
  • Debra Stevenson
  • Carol Tremblay
  • Joyce Tyson
  • Shelia Wickstrom

$500+: Partner

  • David Velez

$1,000+: Leader

  • Elizabeth Goodwin
  • Geroge Issacs

Renewing Corporate Members & Foundations

$2,500+: Patron

  • Don Stewart Stables

1,000+: Leader

  • The Dowman Family Foundation

$25-$499: Friend

  • Conway Arabians

Your support ensures our preservation work stays strong at every level.

Members listed above joined or renewed between October 16th, 2025 & January 7th, 2026.

2026 is the Year of the Horse.

Let it also be the year we protect them, by protecting the land they depend on.

Now more than ever, our horse farms need your support.
More voices. More advocacy. More membership. More impact.

Let’s make this our most powerful year yet.
Let’s make 2026 the year we can look back on and say:

We held the line.
We protected the land.
We strengthened the future.

Protect – we are always watching. When a threat is identified, we quickly assemble a threat response.
Promote – we are out in the community and on social media, raising awareness and inspiring appreciation for all that we have here in Marion County.
Preserve – we guide and encourage landowners who wish to conserve their land.
Plan – we are working with the County on changes to the Comprehensive Plan that will make conservation easy and financially advantageous for farm owners.
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Join Today!
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Questions About Membership and Sponsorship?

Contact Sara Fennessy – Executive Director

859-553-5510

Email Sara

2025: A Year of Action, Advocacy & Community Support

2025: A Year of Action, Advocacy & Community Support

by | Dec 18, 2025 | News

2025 was a defining year for Horse Farms Forever. Not because the work got easier, but because the community showed up again and again to protect what makes Marion County extraordinary.

From policy advocacy to packed events and critical fundraising efforts, this year proved that preservation is powered by people.

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Advocacy at the Heart of Our Mission

Throughout 2025, Horse Farms Forever remained deeply engaged in monitoring development proposals, zoning changes, and infrastructure impacts that threaten the Farmland Preservation Area. We continued to serve as a voice for responsible growth by:

  • Tracking and responding to land-use proposals impacting farmland
  • Attending hundreds of hours of county meetings
  • Providing clear, factual education to the public
  • Encouraging civic engagement and community action
Preservation is not passive, and this year reinforced just how essential it is to monitor development proposals and remain vigilant.

Education & Signature Events

Conservation Summit 2025

Our sixth annual Conservation Summit was a standout moment of the year, welcoming a sold-out audience and keynote speaker Dr. Temple Grandin, who delivered a powerful and enlightening presentation on How Horses Think. The evening reinforced the deep connection between animal welfare, land stewardship, and thoughtful conservation.

Learn More

Spring Speaker Series & Community Conversations

From agricultural leadership discussions to Behind the Gate events, 2025 offered multiple opportunities for learning, dialogue, and connection around preservation, rural heritage, and the future of Marion County with keynote speaker, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson.

Learn More

Behind the Gate at Chi University

Horse Farms Forever’s Behind the Gate event at the Chi University on April 2nd was a memorable and educational evening to showcase the world-renowned veterinary school. Over 90 VIP members and community leaders joined us for an exclusive, invitation-only behind-the-scenes look at one of our Founder Members. This year, we were honored to showcase the incredible Chi University.

 

Learn More

Honoring Conservation Leadership

At the Conservation Summit, we proudly presented the Acorn Conservation Award to the Drake Family in recognition of their extraordinary stewardship of thousands of acres of land. Their commitment to preservation embodies the values Horse Farms Forever exists to protect.

The Drake family was honored with the Acorn Conservation Award. L to R: HFF Director of Conservation, Busy Shires; George MacKay Drake, Jr., Trusten Holland Drake, Laura Drake McDonald, Bob Drake, Ann Louise Drake, and HFF President Bernie Little.

Fundraising That Fueled Our Mission

Fundraising in 2025 directly supported Horse Farms Forever’s advocacy, education, and community outreach efforts.

Farmland Preservation Month (April)

April marked Farmland Preservation Month, a cornerstone fundraising and awareness campaign highlighting why protecting open space matters now more than ever. Through storytelling, community outreach, and donor support, this campaign reinforced the urgency of safeguarding the Farmland Preservation Area.

Founder & Member Support

Throughout the year, new and returning Founders and Members stepped forward with meaningful contributions, forming the backbone of Horse Farms Forever’s ongoing work.

Give4Marion

Our participation in Give4Marion demonstrated the power of collective giving, enabling supporters to directly invest in farmland protection and public education.

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday brought together donors who believe in preserving open land, equestrian heritage, and the rural character of Marion County. Every gift strengthened our ability to advocate year-round.

Help Support Our Mission! Join Today!

A Community Effort

Horse Farms Forever’s impact in 2025 was made possible by:

  • Dedicated sponsors and partners
  • Founders, donors, and members
  • Volunteers and advocates
  • A community that values land, horses, and heritage

Every action, every donation, and every voice mattered.

Looking Ahead

The work of farmland preservation doesn’t pause when the year ends. Development pressure continues, and so does the need for strong, informed advocacy.

Your support directly fuels our ability to protect the Farmland Preservation Area, educate the community, and advocate for responsible growth.

Whether through a donation, membership, sponsorship, or simply sharing our message, you play a role in preserving the land that defines Marion County.

Donate. Become a member. Stand with Horse Farms Forever.

Together, we are protecting more than land.
We are preserving a way of life.

Protect – we are always watching. When a threat is identified, we quickly assemble a threat response.
Promote – we are out in the community and on social media, raising awareness and inspiring appreciation for all that we have here in Marion County.
Preserve – we guide and encourage landowners who wish to conserve their land.
Plan – we are working with the County on changes to the Comprehensive Plan that will make conservation easy and financially advantageous for farm owners.
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Join Today!
View Current Threats