How Farms Protect Our Springs

How Farms Protect Our Springs

Horse Farms Forever thanks the Ocala Magazine for capturing inspiring moments from the Springs Forever! Conservation Summit held on November 14, 2024 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Arena in the January 2025 issue of the magazine.

This year’s Summit raised awareness about how protecting our farms and the Farmland Preservation Area helps preserve the springsheds and aquifer recharge areas for two of Marion County’s First Magnitude Springs, Rainbow Springs and Silver Springs.

The importance of conservation to help sustain a healthy community was also emphasized by AdventHealth Ocala President and CEO Erika Skula at the Summit.

“I was honored to represent AdventHealth Ocala as one of the presenting sponsors at the annual Horse Farms Forever event. This event aims to raise awareness about the importance of conservation, not only for our local horse farms but also in the broader region and state. It was incredible to welcome a crowd of nearly 400 attendees and speak about the necessity of creating a sustainable environment for our beautiful county, recognizing that healthy land leads to a healthy community,” wrote Skula in a Facebook post.

Skula also presented Advent Health’s new Harnessing Health: Equine Worker Health Initiative to provide on-site health care to horse farm workers.

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

Membership Roundup Fall-Winter 2024

Membership Roundup Fall-Winter 2024

Wrapping Up 2024 with Gratitude for Our Friends and Supporters

As 2024 draws to a close, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible support of our members, supporters, and community. This year has been nothing short of extraordinary, and it’s all thanks to you. Your generosity and enthusiasm have fueled our mission. Whether you attended an event, shared our vision with friends, or contributed to our initiatives, you’ve played a vital role in our success.

As we celebrate the holidays, we’re reminded of the warmth and kindness that defines our community. Your belief in what we stand for inspires us to keep moving forward in our quest to protect the Farmland Preservation Area.

Horse Farms Forever and our critical mission are carried forward by the longstanding commitments of our Board and members. Take a quick tour through our Member’s Logos and you’ll get a sense of the size and diversity of our herd. This bodes well for the future of horse farms in Marion County!

See who has renewed this month, and allow us to introduce you to our newest herd mates.

New to the Herd
We welcome you!

FOUNDER

 

BRONZE

 

PATRON

LEADER

RENEWING Organizations

Corporate Founders

Silver

Imagine Thoroughbreds – Silver

RENEWING Individuals & Families

Founders

Family Leaders

Barbara Stoia

James Goodwin

Elizabeth Goodwin

John S Gaither

John & Alston Kerr

NEW Friends

Ducks Unlimited

Amy Davis

Sandy McFarlin

National Christan Foundation

Carlos Tobon

Car Mart of Ocala

Stewart Newman

Tripton DeAngelis

Thomas J Flannery

Tracy Dowson

RENEWING Friends

Alexis Evanich

Carol Tremblay

Debra Stevenson

Douglas Shearer

Edith Gandy

Elen Verlen

Gail Thompson

Gloria Oest

Hedi Allespach

Jeff Ulmer

Jenaay Brown

Jennifer Shuck

John Crowe

John Rowe

Joyce Tyson

Julia Davies

Marc Asher

Mary Frasure

Mary Windsor-Nespolo

Melissa Havens

Michelle Stone

Mike Lutetgert

Ron Beschmann

Sarah Almedia Dennis

Shelia Wickstrom

Sheryl Osorio

Wendy Madden

Questions About Membership and Sponsorship?

Sara Fennessy, Executive Director

859-553-5510

Always Watching

We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members' interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County's 193,000 acre Farmland Preservation Area.

Join the herd. Every voice matters.

Founder’s Spotlight December 2024

Founder’s Spotlight December 2024

Auld Lang Syne

“the Good Old Times”

As 2024 comes to a close, we are encouraged by the many faithful Founders who continue to gather around Horse Farms Forever’s mission. Founder is the highest membership level that we offer. Those who join at this level sustain our day to day activities and give us the confidence to make a difference year after year.

For there to be horses, there must be horse farms. We look forward to another year in the Horse Capital of the World as we work together with you to keep our open spaces and equine industry alive and well here in Marion County.

Meet those Founders who stepped up recently to renew and help us to welcome a new Founder to the herd.

We welcome you!

FOUNDER

 

RENEWING Organizations

Corporate Founders

Ocala Metro CEP – Corporate Founder

Chi University – Corporate Founder

Ocala Stud – Corporate Founder

Showcase Properties – Corporate Founder

The Saint Bernard Foundation – Corporate Founder

Tri-Eagle Sales Logo

Tri Eagle Sales – Corporate Founder

RENEWING Individuals & Families

 

Dave Quanbeck & Ann Lindblad Founders

 

Tom & Amy Grabe Founders

Questions About Membership and Sponsorship?

Sara Fennessy, Executive Director

859-553-5510

Always Watching

We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members' interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County's 193,000 acre Farmland Preservation Area.

Join the herd. Every voice matters.

A Golden Opportunity

A Golden Opportunity

Be Seen Making a Difference

There is an amazing groundswell of interest in investing in the future of Marion County by keeping it open and beautiful. Take a peek below at the businesses, non-profits and farms who have aligned with us as Sponsors for this year’s Conservation Summit already. There’s room for more!

The Summit is a golden opportunity to be seen by Horse Farm’s Forever’s members and leaders in the equine and business community. And your sponsorship supports the important conversations about conservation that we must have in Marion County as it continues to grow.

The CEP looks forward to Horse Farms Forever’s Conservation Summit each year. Whether we are hearing about survey results, growth patterns, or from award-winning filmmakers, the Summit is an event not to be missed!

Kevin Sheilley

President and CEO, Ocala Metro CEP

Join the Conversation

We are encouraged by the diversity of our sponsors for this year’s Springs Forever Conservation Summit. Our mission truly has friends in many places. Take a look below at the people and organizations that recognize along with us that our springs and aquifer are a precious resource worth celebrating and preserving. Then, come to the Summit! Our sponsors will be there when the doors open at 4pm, ready to share an inspiring conversation about conservation with you.

A celebration of Marion County’s First Magnitude Springs and the mighty Floridian Aquifer through film, art, music, and science. Featuring filmmaker and composer, Mark Emery; artist Margaret Ross Tolbert; and geologist Jason Gulley.

Thursday, November 14th at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.
Doors open at 4pm for poster and print signing/meet and greet
Program is 5-7pm in the auditorium
Tickets are $45 and include light fare and beverages
Seats are filling fast. Please preregister.

Here's a preview from our Keynote Speaker, Mark Emery:

GOLD

kinsman Farm Horse Farms Forever Ocala Marion County
Live Oak Stud Ocala Marion County Florida
Misty Lane Cattle Co.
Niall Brennan Farm Horse Farms Forever Ocala Marion County

The Saint Bernard Foundation

Paul & Ann Kaplan

Matt & Courtney Varney

Bill Kearns

SILVER

Imagine

BRONZE

MARKETING PARTNERS

Springs Forever Summit Announces Lead Sponsors

Springs Forever Summit Announces Lead Sponsors

Delivered Once Again!

Horse Farms Forever is immensely grateful for the unwavering support and commitment of our 2024 Conservation Summit Sponsors. We continue to be delighted by the enthusiasm shown by the businesses and individuals of Marion County for our open spaces and beautiful places. Brook Ledge Horse Transportation is once again leading the herd as our Title Sponsor for the fifth year in a row.

Those blue and white horse vans are a common sight around Ocala. Each time you see one, we hope you’ll give a smile and a silent salute to a proven partner and ally in farmland preservation. Better yet, come to the Summit and thank them personally!

Here’s Brook Ledge’s Manager, Brian Roberts, leading off last year’s Summit with a few words about why horses and horse farms are so important to Marion County:

Welcome Advent Health!

And now Advent Health Ocala has stepped forward as Presenting Sponsor, joining Brook Ledge at the head of the herd. Advent Health has been a faithful supporter of our mission and our Summit for many years. They understand the vital link between community health and the environment. They also have a special place in their hearts for our horse farms and the people who work in the equine industry. This has led to the establishment of the AdventHealth Ocala’s Harnessing Health: Equine Worker Health Initiative. Also, AdventHealth Ocala Foundation is investing $10,000 to seed the hospital’s Care 360° program fund. Care 360 is a no-cost program that coordinates transportation, meal delivery and more for underserved patients, including the equine worker population. We are excited to be aligned with this innovative program that will help to sustain the vital staff that keep our Marion County equine industry world class.

Dive In

This year we celebrate the beauty and value of the Springs and the Floridian Aquifer that flows beneath our feet. The Farmland Preservation Area was established in part to protect the springsheds of Silver Springs and Rainbow Springs. The health of our water and our farmland are interconnected on a deep level. The Farmland Preservation Area serves as a valuable recharge area for the Springs and the mineral-rich drinking water nourishes our livestock and all of us. The beauty and recreational opportunities provided by the Springs are a big part of the unique and valuable identity of Marion County.

Photo by Mark Emery

Come and celebrate the Springs with us on November 14th, from 5-7pm at Ocala Breeders’ Sales. There will be a poster and print signing by Mark Emery and Margaret Ross Tolbert along with light fare and sponsor tables at 4pm with the main event starting at 5pm. This event will be a visual feast with the video and images shared by Mark Emery and the inspiring multimedia art of Margaret Ross Tolbert. The Florida Springs Institute will balance all of that art with their presentation on science of the Springs and how to keep them protected. We will also honor the Felburn Foundation’s Guy Marwick with the Acorn Award. And come to cheer on the next generation as we display and present awards to the winners of the Springs Forever Art Contest for Marion County’s K-12 students.

There are still Conservation Summit Sponsorship Opportunities Available!