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2023 Conservation Summit Sponsor Spotlight: Silver Level Sponsors

2023 Conservation Summit Sponsor Spotlight: Silver Level Sponsors

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 Silver Level Sponsors for their invaluable contributions to the success of the 2023 Conservation Summit!

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2023 Conservation Summit Silver Sponsors

 

*Sponsors as of November 6th, 2023.

There are still 2023 Conservation Summit Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

Applications Still Accepted for Land Development Regulation Commission

Applications Still Accepted for Land Development Regulation Commission

Marion County is still accepting applications for the vacancy on the Land Development Regulation Commission (LDRC) until Monday, November 27 at 5:00 PM. The County Commission will make the appointment at the regularly scheduled Commission meeting on Tuesday, December 19.

While the website with the application link has not been updated yet, the County staff confirmed that the vacancy is still open.

In addition, the County accepts applications for all Advisory Boards at any time of the year, even if there is not a vacancy for an Advisory Board. The County holds submitted applications for 365 days and, if there is a vacancy, the County reaches out to applicants when vacancies occur to make sure they are still interested in serving on the board.

Residents who want to learn about Marion County’s citizen advisory boards may contact the commission office at 352-438-2323 for more information.

Land Development Regulation Commission (1 Full Member – Unexpired Term 11/2024)

Members shall be qualified electors in Marion County, and should be representative of the technical fields related to land development regulations, including the ability to evaluate & recommend specific regulatory standards & criteria. Preferably familiar with the areas of planning, environmental science, agriculture and the development industry.

October Membership Roundup

October Membership Roundup

We are so thankful for our founders and members, new and renewing, who enable us to keep inspiring CONVERSATIONS about CONSERVATION of our precious farmland. Together, we can turn our concerns into smart planning for a future that both grows our economy and protects our horse farms.

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AdventHealth Ocala

Corporate Founder – RENEWING

Ocala’s Home for Advanced Health Care

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Brooke Ledge Horse Transportation

Corporate Founder – RENEWING

Providing the most outstanding service possible in horse transportation.

Duke Energy

Corporate Founder – RENEWING

Powering Florida & creating meaningful impact in our communities.

Ocala Breeder’s Sales

Corporate Founder – RENEWING

Started in 1974, OBS now boasts 28 barns, 1200 stalls & 2 race tracks.

Longwood Arenas

Corporate Founder – RENEWING

Focused on building the highest quality all-weather riding arenas across the United States.

Kimberly Van Kampen

Individual Founder – RENEWING

Owner of Hampton Green Farms, located in Ocala, Florida.

Saint Bernard Foundation, Inc.

Trust Founder – RENEWING

Tillman & Associates Engineering, LLC

Silver Member – RENEWING

Gooding and Batsel, PLLC.

Silver Member – RENEWING

BEMER Equine

Bronze Member – NEW

Christina Parker

Individual Member – RENEWING

Learn About The Conservation Summit

Video credit: Olana Films

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 45 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

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Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

     

Media Partners

 

 

 

 

Special Guests

Land Development Regulation Commission Vacancy!

Land Development Regulation Commission Vacancy!

The Marion County Land Development Regulation Commission has a vacancy. This is an exciting opportunity to serve your community and learn first-hand the interworking’s of the Land Development Code and how it relates to the Comprehensive Plan, which serves as the blueprint for the future development of Marion County.

1. To review and consider all proposed land development regulations and amendments thereto.

2. To hold public hearings regarding proposed land development regulations and amendments thereto.

3. To make recommendations to the county commission regarding consistency of proposed land development regulations or amendments with the county’s approve and adopted comprehensive plan.

4. To review and make recommendations to the county commission regarding the adoption and amendments to the Land Development code.

5. To monitor and oversee the effectiveness and status of the Land Development Code and recommend to the county commission such changes in the code as may be required.

6. To make its special knowledge and expertise available, upon reasonable written request and authorization of the count commission to any official, department, board, commission or agency of the count, state or federal govementments.

7. To adopt rules of procedure consistent with law and the Land Development code as are necessary for administration and governance of its proceedings.

8. To perform such other functions, duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to it by the Board or by general or special law/

The members of the LDRC are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. To be eligible, you must be a qualified voter and resident of Marion County.

The LDRC members should be representative of the technical fields related to land development regulations including the ability to evaluate and recommend specific regulatory standards and criteria. Preferably, they should be familiar with the areas of planning, environmental science, agriculture and the development industry. The current LDRC members include a land surveyor, a pastor, several engineers, a land developer and a realtor. This is a volunteer position.

2023 Conservation Summit Sponsor Spotlight: Gold Level Sponsors

2023 Conservation Summit Sponsor Spotlight: Gold Level Sponsors

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!

horse-farms-forever-farmland-preservation-area-ocala-marion-county

2023 Conservation Summit Gold Sponsors

*Sponsors as of October 22nd, 2023.

There are still 2023 Conservation Summit Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

John and Shirley Rudnianyn Honored with the Acorn Conservation Award

John and Shirley Rudnianyn Honored with the Acorn Conservation Award

Horse Farms Forever® is honored to announce John and Shirley Rudnianyn, as the recipients of the 2023 Acorn Conservation Award, which will be presented at the upcoming Conservation Summit on November 16th at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.

The Acorn Conservation Award is given to an individual or family who has made a significant contribution to the preservation of land and horse farms in Marion County.

Horse Farms Forever chose John and Shirley as this year’s honorees because of their lifelong love and stewardship of land in Marion County. Their homestead is located at Blitch Plantation, a 4,500-acre farm utilized for timber, cattle, and wildlife.

John and Shirley are deeply connected to their natural surroundings and are dedicated to preserving the beauty and integrity of the land. Visitors who journey through Blitch Plantation often leave with a renewed connection to the environment and a profound understanding of the need for conservation. Their hands-on approach includes reforestation, wildlife habitat restoration, and hosting educational programs aimed at helping others and the next generation of environmental advocates.

They were recently involved in the acquisition of approximately 18,000 acres in the Fort McCoy area and have assembled a team of land specialists to assist in the restoration of the Ft McCoy properties which include foresters, soil and wetland scientists, the Saint Johns River Water Management District, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Ducks Unlimited, and Quail Forever. Management plans include timber, cattle, and variety land enhancements to benefit wildlife which will include sustainable harvesting opportunities for hunters and their families.

“The Ft McCoy properties are really cool. We’ve admired them for over 50 years,” said John. “There is so much wildlife with nearly every major Florida species represented except Florida panthers!”

The Ft McCoy Forest properties are key parcels of land in the Florida Wildlife Corridor which could help connect the Ocala National Forest to Paynes Prairie State Preserve and the Osceola National Forest. John is currently working to try to conserve a large portion of the Ft McCoy properties through several Florida conservation programs

John was also instrumental in protecting the 465-acre Silver Springs Sandhill near Silver Springs State Park, as his family along with the Albright family were landowners of the property. Jim Couillard on behalf of Marion County and Conservation Florida managed a public/private partnership to protect the property in 2017.

“This was the last, large undeveloped property located in Silver Springs and it was entitled for over 1,800 homes. The landowners felt the benefit to Silver Springs and the recreational opportunities for Marion County residents far outweighed the allure of developing homes less than a mile from the main spring,” said John in a Conservation Florida press release.

While John, Shirley, and their family are large landowners in Marion County, they see themselves as land stewards. “In the scheme of things, we’re only here for a short period of time,” he said. “Both Shirley and I love the land and the opportunity to share it with others.”

John and Shirley’s influence reaches far and wide, as they advocate for responsible land management, sustainable practices, and the protection of natural resources. For the Rudnianyn family, working the land is a family tradition, which includes three sons, who are all deeply involved with the family land business as either real estate investment managers, brokers, contractors, or developers.

Please join us in honoring John and Shirley Rudnianyn with the 2023 Acorn Conservation Award.

About John Rudnianyn

John’s parents were Ukrainian immigrants and he grew up on a chicken farm in Summerfield. John attended Lake Weir High School, College of Central Florida, Florida State University, and graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Real Estate and Urban Planning. One of his first jobs was working on a muck farm. This experience of “working the land” set the seeds for a lifelong love of owning land.

He is a Certified Commercial Investment Member, Accredited Land Consultant, and owns International Property Services. John has structured virtually every type of real estate transaction conceivable in his 55-year career. He specializes in land acquisition, entitlement, marketing and development and has worked with thousands of properties including many within the Farmland Preservation area.

Photos courtesy of Sean M. Dowie