Horse Farms Forever is immensely grateful for the unwavering support and commitment of our  2023 Conservation Summit sponsors. Their partnership enables us to bring together experts and advocates to address the work being done to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the Farmland Preservation Area.

 Leading up to the Summit, we will be featuring all of our Summit sponsors, and today, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to these Gold Level Sponsors for their invaluable contributions to the success of the 2023 Conservation Summit!

*Sponsors as of October 22nd, 2023.

There are still 2023 Conservation Summit Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

Conservation Summit Sponsor Highlight

The community, like a herd of horses, has come together to show their support, and the herd keeps growing! This year over 40 Sponsors have stepped up to support the Conservation Summit. Their generous support makes this event possible and helps build a broad base of support to help protect Marion County’s high quality of life.

We are honored to have Brook Ledge Horse Transportation as the Title Sponsor for the fourth year in a row

Title Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

	Perla Boord Paul and Ann Kaplan Dave and Ann Quanbeck  Bill Kearns

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Media Partners

Special Guests

HFF is grateful for Kearns’ support and for the support from a broad spectrum of the community, including large and small horse farm owners, realtors, developers, and business owners. This collective strength of our members creates a “seat at the table” for HFF to help influence land use decisions and to inspire the conservation of horse farms.

Over the next 20 years, the land use decisions will determine Marion County’s future. To protect the community’s high quality of life, both preservation and growth have to coexist strategically or neither succeeds.

Maintaining this balance between growth and preservation will take a cooperative effort from both sides of the table. Finding this balance, and giving back to the community, is also important for Kearns.

“I have always loved Ocala and have several business interests in Marion County which permits me the opportunity to appreciate the challenges we face, and it also offers the opportunity to contribute to the City and County in a positive manner,” stated Kearns.

“As a career commercial real estate developer, I know all too well the issues facing us with the growth in our area, and I join with Horse Farms Forever to vigilantly monitor encroachment into our wonderful farmland,” stated Kearns. “I’m hopeful that with the leadership of our City and

County officials, the business community and citizens, we will be successful in preserving the wonderful area we all call home.”

Horse Farms Forever is honored to have Bill Kearns as a Founder Member to help bring our collective vision – to protect horse farms, Marion County’s most valuable natural asset, and our global brand as the Horse Capital of the World™ – to fruition.

Brandon Perry and his wife Diannah presented a generous gift from the Cathy D. Perry Trust to Horse Farms Forever® (HFF) Board Member Nick de Meric and Sara Powell Fennessy, HFF Director of Community Affairs, at Nick’s Thoroughbred farm in Ocala.

Horse Farms Forever® is honored to be chosen as a recipient of a generous bequest from the Cathy D. Perry Trust of $125,000. This bequest was one of nearly 30 gifts totaling over $5 million made to non-profit organizations by Cathy’s son Brandon in honor of his beloved mother. Brandon and his wife Diannah selected organizations based on Cathy’s love of animals, as well as for cancer research, hospice care, and to help children.

Cathy D. Perry

When Brandon and Diannah purchased their farm in Lexington, one of the reasons was because of the high-quality soils. When Brandon’s parents retired in 1994 and moved to Ocala, they purchased the former Classic Acres, for the same reasons.

Paragon Farms, in Lexington, Kentucky.

“They settled here because of the land,” said Brandon. “We bought our farm in Lexington and my parents bought their farm in Ocala, due to its soil fertility and natural beauty, making it prime farmland for raising and breeding horses.”

Paragon Farms, in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Perry Family Business – Petzazz

Brandon’s parents developed and grew their Petzazz pet food store into one of the largest retail stores in the Midwest. In 1994, the family decided to retire from the retail business and sold their Petzazz company to the national chain PetSmart.

After selling their business, the Perry’s retired to Ocala and purchased Classic Acres, a 250-acre horse farm and started raising quarter horses, appaloosas and paints. At one time, there were 200 horses on the farm. Brandon also moved to Ocala to help manage the family’s farm. Brandon’s parents divorced in the early 2000s, but his mother stayed in Ocala and formed lifelong bonds with friends and generously gave back to the community.

Cathy D. Perry

Cathy D. Perry’s Legacy 

Cathy led an amazing life focused on her family, friends, and community. She was a very successful entrepreneur, but giving back to the community was a top priority. At the Petzazz retail stores, the Perry’s held adoption days with local humane societies to help find homes for cats and dogs. While living in Ocala, Cathy was an active member of the Ocala Royal Danes for Cancer Research and with her generous gifts, her legacy in the community will live on for many years to come. 

Brandon and Diannah Perry

Photo Caption: Brandon and Diannah Perry, HFF Founder and Board Member Nick de Meric