Every year, the Horse Farms Forever Conservation Summit brings together a remarkable community of people who care deeply about the future of Marion County—its farmland, its horses, and its heritage. This event is only possible because of the collective support of sponsors who believe that preserving our open spaces and beautiful places is essential to the health and identity of our region.

The Power of Many

While each Bronze Level Sponsor represents a unique business or organization, together they form a powerful network of advocates working toward a shared goal: to protect what makes Marion County so special. From local equine professionals to businesses and dedicated families, these sponsors remind us that everyone has a role to play in shaping a sustainable future for our horse country.

Their support helps bring the Summit experience to life—from venue logistics to speaker programs—and allows us to continue sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and amplifying our mission year after year.

At the heart of every successful Conservation Summit are the individuals and organizations who believe in the mission of protecting Marion County’s open spaces and beautiful places. Each sponsorship, at every level, represents a shared commitment to ensuring that our farmland and equine heritage remain forever preserved.

Our Silver Level Sponsors play a vital role in making the 2025 Horse Farms Forever Conservation Summit possible. Their generosity helps bring this annual event to life—uniting landowners, equestrians, business leaders, and policymakers in one shared purpose: safeguarding the land that makes Marion County the Horse Capital of the World®.

Partners in Purpose

The continued support of our Silver Level Sponsors reflects a community that understands the balance between progress and preservation. These sponsors are more than donors—they are active participants in building a sustainable future for our region. Their contributions help us host meaningful discussions, elevate important conservation issues, and inspire action that protects our rural character for generations to come.

Each Silver Sponsor helps move our mission forward—one thoughtful conversation, one informed decision, and one acre at a time.

Horse Farms Forever is honored to present the Acorn Conservation Award to the Drake family.

The award is given to an individual that has made a significant contribution to the preservation of land or horse farms in Marion County. The Drake family has conserved 5,800-acres of the Drake Ranch with a conservation easement, which makes it one of the largest holdings of privately conserved land in Marion County.

In 2002, two of the Drake brothers with a deep love of Florida’s wilderness and wildlife, Trusten (Trusty) Polk Drake, III & George MacKay (K) Drake, Sr. preserved 5,800 acres of the ranch by placing it in a conservation easement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

The fourth generation of the Drake family now owns and manages the historic Drake Ranch as a partnership. The legacy of two brothers, Trusty and George (K), have now passed the Drake Ranch to their six children. Trusty and his wife Charline had three children, Lisa Drake Lancaster, Robert Polk Drake, and Laura Drake McDonald. George (K) and his first wife Martha Durlene had three children, Ann Louise Drake, Trusten Holland Drake, and George MacKay Drake, Jr.

Ranch Photos Courtesy of: Mark Emery

Protecting the legacy of the Drake Ranch was a decision made by the Drake brothers, and it has been whole heartedly embraced by the large extended Drake family, who take great pride in knowing that their family’s ranch will forever be protected.

“The family has a long tradition of responsible stewardship of the land,” said Ann Louise Drake. “We all grew up at the ranch and it’s just such a big part of our family.

For the Drake family, the protection of the Drake Ranch was about much more than protecting the unique land and wilderness areas, it was also about protecting a lasting family legacy and a piece of Florida’s history.

Trusten Holland Drake and George MacKay Drake, Jr.

Ann Louise Drake

The 2025 Horse Farms Forever Conservation Summit is made possible by an incredible network of partners who share a deep commitment to preserving the character and culture of Marion County. Each year, these individuals and organizations step forward not only to support an event—but to stand behind a mission: protecting our open spaces, beautiful places, and the horse farms that make this region truly one-of-a-kind.

We are deeply grateful to our Gold Level Sponsors for their generous support and unwavering dedication to farmland preservation. Their investment helps ensure that vital conversations about conservation, growth, and community continue to take place right here in the Horse Capital of the World®.

Each November, the Horse Farms Forever Conservation Summit brings the community together for important Conversations about Conservation. This year’s event, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Temple Grandin, is shaping up to be our most meaningful yet—and it would not be possible without two extraordinary partners at the helm.

Together, for Forever

Partnerships like these are the heart of Horse Farms Forever. They remind us that real progress happens when business leaders, health professionals, and horsemen unite around a common cause: preserving the landscape that makes Marion County the Horse Capital of the World®.

To Brook Ledge Horse Transportation, AdventHealth Ocala, and ALL of our sponsors—thank you for believing in this mission, for setting the pace, and for helping ensure that our open spaces and beautiful places remain forever protected.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you at the 2025 Conservation Summit.

As we enter this new season, Horse Farms Forever remains steadfast in our mission—and it’s because of Founders like these that we can continue to grow, advocate, and protect the farmland that sustains both our horses and our way of life.

To our newest Founders: welcome. To our renewing Founders: thank you for your lasting dedication. Your support is the foundation of everything we do.

Together, we are ensuring that Marion County’s horse country will be forever preserved.

Contact Sara Fennessy – Executive Director

859-553-5510