The Steady Hands Behind the Mission: Honoring Our Board of Directors
Protecting horse country takes vigilance. It takes courage. It takes a willingness to look beyond today and make decisions with future generations in mind.
And behind the work of Horse Farms Forever® is a group of leaders who understand exactly what is at stake.
Our Board of Directors brings together decades of experience in agriculture, equestrian sport, business, finance, real estate and land stewardship. Each comes to the table with a different perspective, but they are united by one shared commitment: protecting the land, lifestyle and equestrian heritage that make Marion County unlike anywhere else.
As Horse Farms Forever marks eight years of advocacy, education and conservation, we are proud to recognize the Board members whose leadership continues to help guide our mission forward.
Leadership Rooted in Horse Country
Horse Farms Forever was created because this community recognized that the qualities that make Marion County special cannot be taken for granted.
Growth is inevitable. Losing the farms, open spaces and rural character that define the Horse Capital of the World® does not have to be.
Our Board helps ensure that Horse Farms Forever remains focused, informed and ready to act—whether we are monitoring development proposals, advocating for responsible land-use decisions, educating the community, supporting conservation opportunities or planning for the future of the Farmland Preservation Area.
We are grateful for the knowledge, perspective and dedication each member brings to that responsibility.
Linda Bammann
From a distinguished career in finance to raising and training event horses at Laughing Horse Farm, Linda blends business acumen with equestrian passion.
Robert Desino
As a principal of Ocala Horse Properties and Wellington Equestrian Realty, Robert brings unmatched knowledge of horse farm real estate and land stewardship.
Nick de Meric
With nearly 40 years in Marion County, Nick and his wife Jaqui have built de Meric Thoroughbred Sales into a national leader while remaining deeply rooted in our local community.
Elma Garcia
An award-winning dressage competitor and Founder Member, Elma’s artistic eye and commitment to the mission have been invaluable since the very beginning.
George Isaacs
For decades, George has guided Bridlewood Farm and understands firsthand the role of farmland in cultivating world-class equine athletes.
Paul Kaplan
Retired from a successful career in investment management, Paul now channels his experience and energy into supporting farmland preservation.
Tom Grabe
As publisher of The Canine Chronicle and The Equine Chronicle, Tom has long celebrated equestrian sport and invests in preserving its future here in Ocala.
Bernard Little
With deep business ties and ownership of both horse and cattle farms, Bernard brings a practical perspective on agriculture and land use.
Chester Weber
An international champion and passionate advocate for equestrian sports, Chester has been a steadfast voice for protecting the Farmland Preservation Area since Horse Farms Forever’s earliest days.
Eight Years of Standing Watch
In eight years, Horse Farms Forever has grown from a response to an immediate threat into a trusted advocate for Marion County’s horse farms and farmland.
The challenges have evolved, and the stakes continue to grow.
Development applications must be carefully monitored. Land-use decisions require research and expertise. Conservation opportunities must be expanded. Community awareness must continue to grow. And as Marion County moves forward, someone must consistently ask an important question:
How do we grow without losing what makes this place worth protecting?
Our Board helps keep that question at the center of everything we do.
Their leadership supports the work that happens every day—often long before the public sees it. It is the thoughtful discussion, careful review, strategic planning and willingness to stand firm when horse country is threatened that allows Horse Farms Forever to continue serving as a watchdog and advocate for this community.
Looking Toward the Future
There is much ahead.
As we prepare for the 2026 Conservation Summit and continue our work to Protect, Promote, Preserve and Plan, we are reminded that lasting conservation is never the work of one person. It requires people willing to lead, people willing to participate and a community willing to protect something greater than itself.
To our Board of Directors: thank you.
Thank you for the hours you give, the expertise you share, the difficult questions you ask and the responsibility you carry.
Most of all, thank you for believing that the future of Marion County’s horse farms is worth fighting for.
Because of your leadership—and the continued support of this community—Horse Farms Forever will keep standing watch, protecting the land beneath our horses’ feet and working to ensure that horse country remains horse country for generations to come.
