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The Board of Directors of Horse Farms Forever is excited to announce the promotion of Sara Powell Fennessy to Executive Director of the organization, effective January 1, 2021.

“Sara has the vision and passion to lead this organization. She is keenly focused on advancing our mission to preserve the character and culture that horses and horse farms make unique to Ocala and Marion County. Throughout her tenure at HFF as Director of Community Affairs, Sara has proven herself to be a leader who knows how to get things done. She brings a generational understanding of the equine industry and a true love for the community,” says Bernie Little, HFF President.

Sara grew up in an equine centric household.  A lifelong horse show and racing enthusiast, she devoted much of time as a hunter-jumper competitor while she attended school in Lexington, Kentucky. During her almost 10 years in Marion County, Florida, she has devoted herself to a career of outreach, communication, management, and promotion in the local community and equine industry. Today she now owns pleasure horses and is an avid trail rider.

Sara competing her former show horse “Ooh La La” at the Kentucky Horse Park. Photo credit: Shawn McMillen.

 

A Horseman’s Legacy

A fifth-generation horsewoman, Sara has a lifelong family history focused primarily within the Thoroughbred and show horse sectors. Her parents and grandparents owned and trained racehorses and show horses. Sara’s grandfather was a Quarter Horse jockey and manager of the Jockey’s Guild until his passing, and her father is a lifelong member of the Thoroughbred world and industry executive. Her mother was a Saddlebred competitor and now spends much of her current time dedicated to her pleasure horses.

An honor’s graduate from the College of Central Florida, Sara’s educational background is in Paralegal studies. She recently served on the management team of Live Oak International and is the current Chair of the Ocala CEP’s Equine Advocacy Committee. 

The last two years working for Horse Farms Forever has been such an honor. I am truly and deeply passionate to my core about Horse Farms Forever’s mission and purpose. Protecting this way of life and culture here in Marion County means everything to me. I am so thankful to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to ensuring that our global brand as Horse Capital of the World® remains for future generations. I am honored to take on the role as Executive Director for Horse Farms Forever and look forward to what the future holds for this special organization and our valued Members.

Sara Powell-Fennessy

Executive Director, Horse Farms Forever

Horse Farms Forever

Horse Farms Forever, Inc., is a not-for-profit corporation registered with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as well as a 501(c)3 with the IRS.

Our mission is to inspire the conservation of horse farms by preserving the natural pasture land for horses and their habitats, and to protect the soil and water on which they depend, while minimizing land use conflicts in Ocala/Marion County, Florida.

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.

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