Horse Farms Forever® welcomes Bartow McDonald IV and SVN | McDonald & Company as our newest Founder Member. The commercial real estate firm joins over 70 businesses and horse farm owners, as well as thousands of members that have all joined forces to help inspire the conservation of horse farms and agricultural lands in Marion County.
Bartow serves as managing director for SVN | McDonald & Company, where he enjoys working on commercial real estate deals throughout Florida. Prior to joining SVN, Bartow served as the vice president of acquisitions and development for Cope Properties, Inc. While his expertise is in large, commercial properties, he also has a passion for helping landowners find the best solution for the conservation and preservation of their family lands.
“The balance between development and conservation is an important conversation for everyone in Marion County,” said Bartow. “Horse Farms Forever leads the initiative in this conversation, which we encourage and support.”
At SVN | McDonald & Company, we specialize in connecting clients with the perfect commercial real estate opportunities in Ocala, FL. With our extensive network, personalized service, and in-depth expertise, we’re committed to helping you achieve your goals in the vibrant Ocala market.
SVN | McDonald & Company also represents many landowners and their families in large and often complex land transactions involving generational wealth. We are experts in helping clients understand the complexities and navigating their options for the development, conservation and preservation of their lands.
For Bartow, his conservation ethic sits close to his heart as his wife, Laura Drake McDonald, is a co-owner of the majestic Drake Ranch along with her siblings and cousins as the fourth generation of the Drake family.
In 2002, Laura’s father Trusten (Trusty) Drake, III and her uncle, George (K) Drake, Sr. preserved 5,800 acres of the Drake Ranch by placing it in a conservation easement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The Drake Ranch is one of Marion County’s crown jewels, and it preserves over 6.5 miles on the east side of the scenic Withlacoochee River.
“Marion County is blessed with the wonderful natural resources of land, soils and water,” said Bartow. “The abundance of scenic open spaces, horse farms and ranches have come to define our community and this is what makes it so special.”
“For generations of our family, saddling a horse has meant a long day in the swamp rounding up cows and their calves, chasing a bird dog on the scent trail of a bob white quail, or while navigating a steep switchback in the backcountry of the Rocky Mountains,” said Bartow. “A saddled horse is the quintessential symbol of harnessed power, beauty and big horizons. The horse is a companion that lets us run faster, jump higher and go further. And by itself, the horse is majestic and a creature that is a joy and delight just to behold.”
The McDonald family’s love of horses, the outdoors, and conservation are a true inspiration! Horse Farms Forever thanks them for their generous support to help preserve the character and culture that horses, horse farms, and the Farmland Preservation Area make unique to Marion County.
Horseback riding with Laura in the Rocky Mountains.
Photo courtesy of the McDonald family
