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

Guy Marwick Honored with 2024 Acorn Conservation Award

Guy Marwick Honored with 2024 Acorn Conservation Award

Horse Farms Forever is honored to present the Acorn Conservation Award to Guy Marwick, Founder of the Silver River Museum and Director of The Felburn Foundation. The Award will be presented at the Springs Forever! Conservation Summit to be held on Thursday, November 14 from 5 to 7 PM at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Arena.

The Acorn Conservation Award is given to an individual that has made a significant contribution to the preservation of land and horse farms in Marion County. Guy has been instrumental in protecting thousands of acres of environmentally sensitive land in Marion County and across Florida.

In the early 1970s, Guy was inspired to help protect the environment after reading Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring. Since then, he has devoted much of his career to protecting the environment, either through science-based education or through boots on the ground land conservation.

His passion for science education started when he was a teacher at Osceola Middle School in Marion County. He saw the need for active learning programs in his classroom, which led to him founding and serving as the Director of the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center over thirty years ago. The museum opened in 1991 as a partnership with Marion County Public Schools and over 20,000 people visit the museum every year, with 10,000 being school children on field trips.

Guy’s dedication to land conservation was fueled by watching the wilderness that he explored as a child in Broward County be developed. Through his leadership, he has championed the preservation of Silver Springs and the Silver River. In 2013, he was instrumental in the designation of Silver Springs as a State Park, which now encompasses 4,000 acres. Guy also helped protect over 10,000 acres of the spring shed surrounding Silver Springs through the preservation of the 465-acre Silver Springs Sandhill property, the 4,900-acre Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area, as well as the 4,568-acre Indian Lake State Forest.

In addition, Guy helped spearhead Marion County’s Pennies for Parks program, which through a $20 million bond issue in 1988, created several new parks including Brick City Adventure Park, Independence Park, the Wrigley Fields sportsplex near Citra, and it also helped expand and upgrade Carney Island on Lake Weir. As Director of The Felburn Foundation, Guy finds inspiration as the Foundation has not only helped protect land in Florida, but also waterfalls in the Carolinas, caves in Georgia and springs in Kentucky. In addition, the Foundation has built libraries and educational facilities, funded environmental research, and even helped protect endangered animals as far away as Africa and Australia.

“Every year, through my work at the Felburn Foundation, we get to do about 50 really great projects,” says Guy. “This gives me hope for the future because we are accomplishing something that will help make the world a better place.”

For this year’s Conservation Summit, Horse Farms Forever is creating awareness about how important the Farmland Preservation Area is, not only for the equine community but also for springs and the Floridan Aquifer, which is the main source of our drinking water. The Farmland Preservation Area serves as part of the recharge area for two of Marion County’s First Magnitude Springs – Rainbow Springs and Silver Springs.

Photo by Mark Emery

Please join us as we celebrate the many accomplishments of Guy Marwick, a champion for Marion County’s springs and an ardent protector of our environment and natural resources.

The Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center provides unique hands-on learning opportunities for Marion County Public School students, staff and the general public. Visitors learn about the cultural and natural history of Florida, and the importance of protecting and conserving cultural and natural resources.

Their primary mission is to educate Marion County Public School students about Florida history and science, and assist them in achieving the highest scholastic standards possible. They strive to promote good stewardship of our environment with the hope of providing a better tomorrow.

Each school day, students are bused to the museum for classes. Fourth-grade students visit as part of their Florida history requirement. Students in 4th and 5th grades also visit for science instruction. Over 20,000 people visit the museum each year, 10,000 of whom are children on field trips.

The museum is located within Silver Springs State Park. It is closed during the week to the public as Marion County school children attend classes. On weekends, the museum is staffed by park service personnel and volunteers and is open to the public both Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Admission is $2 per person. Children under age six visit for free. 

2024 Summit Sponsors

Title Sponsor

Presenting Sponsor

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Marketing & Media Partners

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

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!

Springs Forever! HFF Conservation Summit Focuses on Our Water and Springs

Springs Forever! HFF Conservation Summit Focuses on Our Water and Springs

Horse Farms Forever, Inc.® is pleased to announce Mark Emery, an Emmy award-winning cinematographer, composer, and photographer for National Geographic, the Smithsonian Network, BBC, and PBS as our Keynote Speaker at the 2024 Conservation Summit to be held on Thursday, November 14, 5-7pm at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Arena. Renowned artist of the springs Margaret Ross Tolbert and National Geographic Explorer, cave diver and geology professor Jason Gulley will also join us.

Mark’s stunning photography and videos of the springs will help create more awareness about how important Marion County’s springs are to ensuring clean drinking water for residents and visitors.

Delivered to you by:

Title Sponsor

Presenting Sponsor

 

Thank You!!

Poster & Print Signing

Mark Emery will sign prints of his  photographs. Margaret Ross Tolbert will sign posters of her paintings.

Prints and posters will be available for purchase at the event. The pre-event starts at 4:00 PM and will be held at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Arena.

Inspiring Art

The springs have inspired artists for centuries. We welcome special guest speaker Margaret Ross Tolbert, internationally renowned artist of the springs and author of AQUIFERious. Tolbert’s Water’s Margins exhibit was recently featured at the Appleton Museum of Art. From large-scale paintings to more intimate works created underwater on pieces of slate, Tolbert uses an array of kaleidoscopic blues and earth tones to express her passion for and understanding of these unique subaquatic environments.

Enlightening Science

Also joining us will be Jason Gulley, PhD, professor of Geology at the University of South Florida, photographer and National Geographic Explorer. Jason’s research and photography career have taken him on expeditions to all seven continents, from underwater caves in Florida, the Caribbean and Africa as well as to glaciers in Alaska, the Arctic and the Mt Everest region of Nepal.

 

He has a PhD in geology from the University of Florida (2010) and is a technical diving and rebreather instructor. Jason’s research emphasizes the human impacts on the environment, cave systems, the Aquifer, and especially Florida’s springs.

Springs Forever Art Contest

To help nurture and encourage the next generation, Horse Farms Forever is sponsoring a poster and essay contest for all K-12 students in partnership with the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District. The winners will be presented with ribbons and gift certificates at the Summit. We will display the art and essays online and at the event.

Acorn Award Recipient

Horse Farms Forever is honored to present the Acorn Award to Guy Marwick because through his decades-long leadership, he has helped protect thousands of acres of environmentally sensitive land in Marion County and across Florida. Guy, who now serves as the Executive Director of The Felburn Foundation, was the original Founder and Director of the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center. The museum opened over 30 years ago in 1991 as a partnership with Marion County Public Schools and over 15,000 children visit the museum every year.

farmland preservation map

Our Farmland Protects the Springs

  • Florida is home to more than 1,000 artesian springs that are dependent on groundwater from the Floridan Aquifer System.
  • There are three First Magnitude Springs in Marion County and together, these springs discharge over 1 billion gallons of water per day: Silver Glen Springs, Rainbow Springs, and Silver Springs, which is the largest artesian spring in the world.
  • The Springs Protection Zones for Rainbow Springs and Silver Springs are located within the 193,000-acre Farmland Preservation Area, which was designated in 2005 by Marion County to protect the rare agricultural soils and springsheds in the area. You can see the springsheds on the above map as the yellow shaded areas. The red line is the boundary of the Farmland Preservation Area.
  • HFF is raising awareness about the importance of the Springs Protection Zones in the Farmland Preservation Area to help protect the recharge areas for the Floridan Aquifer. The aquifer is referred to as “the lifeblood of the springs” and is the source of much of Florida’s drinking water.

      Join us!

      November 14th, 5-7pm with book and poster signings at 4pm.

      Tickets are $45 and include auditorium seating, light fare and beverages. Doors open at 4pm.

      At Ocala Breeder’s Sales with ample free parking.

      Questions? Email Busy Shires, Horse Farms Forever Director of Conservation Strategies or call (386) 853-4437.

      .

      Concerned About Growth? The EAR Needs to Hear From You.

      Concerned About Growth? The EAR Needs to Hear From You.

      How fast will Marion County grow over the next 20 years?

      The population is estimated to grow to nearly 500,000 residents by 2040. That’s an increase of about 100,000 new people living and working in Marion County.

      You can help plan for this growth! Marion County is updating its policies in the Comprehensive Plan through the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR). The Comprehensive Plan is like a road map for the community and it will guide where and how Marion County grows over the next 20 years.

      Planning for the next 20 years is important and your feedback on how best to manage growth and guide the community’s vision for the future will help keep Marion County an amazing place to live!

      Ensure Your Voice is Heard

      1. Fill out the Survey:

      Complete the Beyond 2024 Survey and Map Survey 

      2. Attend the EAR Workshop!

      Want to be part of the visioning process? Marion County is hosting workshops throughout the County. Workshops are open to the public and residents.

      The workshops will be held at different locations in the County to make it easy for residents to attend. There are two workshops near the Farmland Preservation Area:

      Wednesday, July 17 at the Sparr United Methodist Church
      11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
      13100 NE Jacksonville Road, Sparr, FL 32192

      Thursday, July 25 at Golden Hills Country Club
      6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
      4782 NW 80th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34482

      We believe that horses create the character and culture that make Marion County unique and special. For there to be horses, there must be horse farms. In Marion County, there is about one horse for every four people. The equine industry contributes about one-fifth of the economy and one-fifth of the jobs. In addition, rural farmland creates open spaces that act as filtration for the Floridian aquifer which is at the source of all life in Florida. Further, the Farmland Preservation Area acts as a protective umbrella for the primary and secondary protection zones for Rainbow Springs and Silver Springs.

      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.

      Cowboys, Cattle and Conservation

      Cowboys, Cattle and Conservation

      Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and rancher Jim Strickland spoke to a packed house at Horse Farms Forever’s Spring Speaker Series Event held at Golden Ocala on April 24. Photos by Sean Dowie Photography

      Wilton Simpson, Commissioner of Agriculture, Inspires at Spring Speaker Series

      Wilton Simpson, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture gave an inspiring speech at Horse Farms Forever’s third annual Spring Speaker Series event held on Wednesday, April 24 at Golden Ocala. Jim Strickland, legendary Florida cowboy and rancher, also spoke passionately about his love of ranching at the event.

      Over 125 guests joined us to celebrate Farmland Preservation Month and to create more awareness about conservation programs to promote agriculture and protect farms. Our Presenting Sponsor was Lugano Diamonds and our Program Sponsor was Tasha Osbourne of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. Many thanks for their generous support!

      Wilton Simpson, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, has been a champion of agriculture since his election to the Florida Senate in 2012. He spoke about securing the future of farming in the state of Florida by protecting farms and ranches through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program with conservation easements.

      Food is National Security

      Commissioner Simpson is a fifth-generation Floridian and he has been a champion of agriculture since his election to the Florida Senate in 2012, where he served for 10 years. He spoke about securing the future of farming in the state of Florida, with programs such as the updated Right to Farm Act, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program to help protect agricultural land from urban sprawl, the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and the Fresh from Florida program to encourage Florida-grown food.


      The most important issue facing agriculture, he said, is to define food and agriculture as a national security issue. 

      “We think about oil as a national security issue and our country has strategic supplies of oil just in case there’s a major disruption somewhere in the world,” he said. “But, imagine one week of no food in the grocery stores, or no food for just seven days. There would be total chaos in this country. Now imagine 30 days of no food in the stores and there would be people starving.”

      Simpson also said that agriculture is the number-two driver of Florida’s economy, but during the pandemic because tourism was limited, agriculture became the number-one driver of the economy. 

      “Agriculture has more than a $130 billion economic impact across our state while providing 2.2 million jobs and local sources of food,” he said.

      Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

      As a lifelong farmer, who grew up working on his family’s large-scale egg farm, he understands the development pressure that landowners face. He has championed the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) that protects important agricultural lands through the acquisition of permanent agricultural land conservation easements. 

      He successfully secured $300 million in funding for the RFLPP the 2022-2023 fiscal year and he has requested an additional $300 million in funding for the 2024 fiscal year. 

      Florida Wildlife Corridor

      In 2021, Commissioner Simpson also championed the successful passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which helps protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Corridor stretches over 18 million acres and generates more than $30 billion in revenue annually and stimulates roughly 100,000 jobs in the state of Florida. Since 2021, more than 160,000 acres have been approved for protection through the RFLPP and the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act. 

      He has also supported several agriculture-focused policies in the Florida Senate, including reducing the tax burden on farmers by strengthening Florida’s greenbelt laws and expanding Agritourism throughout Florida.

      After the Spring Speaker Series, Wilton Simpson posted on his personal Facebook page, stating:

      “Great to be in Ocala last night with my friend Jim Strickland and Horse Farms Forever. They’re working to conserve horse farms to preserve natural pasture land. The horse industry defines so much of the areas character and I’m grateful for the work being done to protect it.” 

       

       

      Bernie Little, HFF Founder and President, Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, CEO, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, Traci Deen, Esq., President and CEO of Conservation Florida, Sara Powell Fennessy, HFF Executive Director, Wilton Simpson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Jonathon Rees, Firm Member, Smith, Bryan & Myers

      Craig Curry, Marion County Commissioner, Mary Jane Hunt, HFF Founder and Sara Powell Fennessy, HFF Executive Director

      Michelle Stone, Marion County Commissioner (center) with Lonny Powell- CEO Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association and Wilton Simpson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture

      Tasha and Michael Osbourne – Many thanks to our Presenting Sponsor Lugano Diamonds and to our Program Sponsor Tasha Osbourne of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty for their generous support!

      Rubbish and Debrie, mascots for Marion County’s No Horsin’ Around Campaign to help prevent litter.  

      Mary Jane Hunt, Director of the Saint Bernard Foundation, presents gifts of $25,000 each to Sam Smidt, Director of Land Use and Protection Research for the American Farmland Trust, Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, CEO, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, (standing with Wilton Simpson and Sara Fennessy), and Traci Deen, Esq., President and CEO of Conservation Florida

      Jim Strickland and John S. Rudnianyn, CCIM, ALC. International Property Services Corp

      Jason Reynolds, Executive Director, Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park and Sara Powell Fennessy, HFF Executive Director

      Jim Strickland, legendary Florida rancher spoke passionately about the importance of protecting working cattle ranches.

      Cattle and Conservation Cowboy – Jim Strickland

      Jim Strickland is the Owner of Strickland Ranch and Managing Partner of Blackbeard’s Ranch a 4,530-acre cattle ranch near Myakka River State Park. He has six decades of ranching experience and comes from a family that has been ranching in Florida since 1860. When his father died in the 1970’s, Jim took over the family cattle operations at the age of 17, primarily leasing land for cattle. 

      “I’ve been ranching for 60 years and this is all I’ve ever wanted to do,” said Strickland. “There’s no illustrious history about Strickland Ranch, nor huge financial gains; what there is a love for the woods, cattle and Florida. I’ve been blessed to do what I love.”

      His passion for cattle and conservation began at a young age, as he witnessed the development pressure first-hand and had to move his cattle out of many leased pastures and native ranges when they converted to housing developments. 

      Jim is a strong advocate for Florida agriculture and land conservation. He is the Vice-Chairman of the Florida Conservation Group, a science-based organization that facilitated the protection of over 35,000 acres of ranches with conservation easements in 2023 and are currently working to protect another 40,000 acres in 2024.

      “A ranch is as close to pristine wilderness as you’ll get. How do we compensate ranchers to maintain their land, stay in business and not sell to developers? We have to be able to tell the story of what dirt is worth – not from the standpoint of development rights – but what is the land worth to society, the 22 million people who live in Florida, who depend on that land to filter water, protect wetlands, store carbon, and provide animal habitat,” said Strickland. 

      Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area

      The Florida Conservation Group worked in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to establish a new 4 million-acre Conservation Area in southwest Florida as the Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area, which will allow USFWS to work with landowners to protect agricultural land with conservation easements.

      He was also instrumental in protecting nearly 1,500 acres of Blackbeard’s Ranch with a conservation easement.

      Jim has served as President of the Florida Cattleman’s Association, Past Chairman of the Florida Cattleman’s Foundation, and Chairman of the National Cattleman’s Beef Association PAC, the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park and is Co-Chair of the Florida Climate Smart Agriculture Work Group.

      Jim was named Audubon Florida’s Sustainable Rancher of the year in 2019 and recognized as one of Florida Trend’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders for 2018 and 2019.

      George Isaacs, General Manager, Bridlewood Farm and HFF Director, Sara Powell Fennessy, HFF Executive Director, Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, CEO, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, Wilton Simpson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Mary Jane Hunt, HFF Founder, Jim Strickland, Florida rancher, Busy Shires, HFF Director of Conservation, Bernie Little, HFF Founder and President

      Busy Shires, Director of Conservation, Horse Farms Forever high fives Jim Strickland

      Nancy DiMaggio, Volunteer, Horse Farms Forever

      Heather Traynham Wright, Ann Louise Drake, Holland and Barbara Drake

      Debbie and Jorge Garcia-Bengochea from Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses and HFF Founder Mary Jane Hunt

      Thank You To Our Sponsors!

      Contact the County about the EAR:

      For any additional questions regarding the EAR process, please email Planning@MarionFL.org with your subject line including 'EAR' or call us at 352-438-2675 & ask for a planner.

      https://www.marionfl.org/agencies-departments/departments-facilities-offices/growth-services/planning-zoning/ear

      The workshops will be livestreamed. Check the County’s agenda webpage for the link: https://marionfl.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx