Ocala Breeder’s Sales Hosts Conservation Summit In Its Newly-Renovated Facility

Ocala Breeder’s Sales Hosts Conservation Summit In Its Newly-Renovated Facility

by | Nov 11, 2021 | Events, News, Plan

Ocala Breeder’s Sales President, Tom Ventura, describes the extensive renovations to their facility that took place over the past couple of years. Imagine our excitement when they so kindly offered us this amazing facility for this year’s Conservation Summit! We are so grateful for OBS’ support as a Founding Corporate Member and Gold Sponsor. 

The venue for this year’s Conservation Summit on November 23 is a Marion County icon. Ocala Breeder’s Sales Company (OBS) was started in 1974 by a group of local race horse owners and breeders who wanted to have a local outlet for the excellent horses they were raising on the area’s limestone-enriched pastures. Now, OBS has 28 barns with 1200 stalls and 2 race tracks. It had a whopping $1 billion in sales volume in this past decade – over $110 million per year. Their 2-Year-Olds In Training Sales represent over 70% of the sales in that category nationwide and 50% of the sales internationally.

We had a conversation about conservation with OBS President, Tom Ventura, and he was quick to make the connection between farmland conservation and quality of life for future generations.

“When I first came to Ocala, it was very horse-oriented,” says Ventura. “We didn’t even have the Paddock Mall. While I grew up in the suburbs of New York, my sons have had the privilege to grow up on an 800-acre horse farm. Just that in itself is tremendous. Our shareholders are deeply-rooted, multi-generational families in the horse business. Their past, present and futures are centered around the horses and horse farms.”

Although Ventura recognizes the distinct culture present here in Marion County, he also acknowledges that it is not guaranteed to endure. What is valuable is worth protecting.

“Horse Farms Forever’s purpose is to protect the culture that we have here. It’s just logical for OBS to be a part of it,” notes Ventura. “For many who come here to the Sales, this is their first exposure to Florida.”

And like most prominent members of the equine business community in Ocala/Marion County, Ventura is supportive of  growth that acknowledges and preserves our global brand as the Horse Capital of the World®.

“It’s nice to have industry here in Ocala,” he says. “and it’s important that we grow, and have some retirement communities. All those things are good, but really what put Ocala/Marion County on the map is the horses, and I think it needs to stay that way.”

Join us at the Summit on November 23, and the gracious hospitality of our member and supporter, Ocala Breeder’s Sales. Their site features a spacious, modern hall with comfortable seating and a live stream broadcast provided by Dillon Media Group. We will all enjoy an excellent lunch provided by their on-site caterer, the Fresh Green Tomato Catering Company. You can register at the link below.
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Marion County’s Farmland Is It’s “Factory Floor”

Marion County’s Farmland Is It’s “Factory Floor”

by | Nov 9, 2021 | Events, News, Plan

The American Farmland Trust (AFT) has been an inspiration and source of knowledge for us here at Horse Farms Forever (HFF) since our inception 3 years ago. At last year’s Summit, AFT’s Billy Van Pelt was treated to a helicopter ride over the top of Marion County by HFF President, Bernie Little. This is what he had to say about the significance of Ocala/Marion County’s Farmland after seeing it from the air.

Precious and Productive Farmland

Last year, Billy Van Pelt of the American Farmland Trust presented a comprehensive report on the state of agriculture in Florida, highlighting what is precious about Marion County’s soil, water, and rural landscape. This year, the American Farmland Trust has joined us as a Gold Sponsor of Conversations About Conservation. -Summit 2021. Van Pelt will once again be with us at the Summit on November 23. We are grateful for the perspective and knowledge he brings to our conservation efforts.

As a native of Kentucky’s bluegrass region, he has overseen a successful, ongoing effort to conserve horse farms and has a good idea of what it will take to get it done here in Marion County. We had a brief conversation about conservation with Van Pelt in anticipation of the Summit, and this is what he had to say:

Why is it important for Marion County to have conversations about conservation?

“Conservation of these iconic and productive agricultural areas are equal to the conservation of the long-term economic development strategy of Ocala/Marion County, says Van Pelt. “It is a quality-of-life issue. Corporations, the best and brightest talent, residents, retirees, and tourists choose Ocala/Marion County because of the rural landscape.”

Balance is critical, notes Van Pelt, who has a background as a landscape architect. “The rural landscape gives the urban area context and a sense of place. In an age where people can work from anywhere, providing a balance between the urban and the rural is critical for people to thrive in their jobs and in their lives. Beyond economic development, conservation is vitally important for the long-term environmental resiliency of Ocala/Marion County,” he adds. The rare limestone-rich soils and springs in this area make it uniquely suitable for raising horses.

And there is a cost factor as well. “Agriculture uses less in services than it pays in taxes, notes Van Pelt. “Sprawl uses more in services than it pays in taxes. Sprawl is unsustainable both fiscally and environmentally.” In the long run, unplanned growth costs us, while concentrated urban growth and agricultural property both use less in services than they pay in taxes.

What do we stand to gain through farmland preservation?

In a word: “Everything,” says Van Pelt.  “All the economic impacts of the cluster of the equine and the agricultural sectors. Increased business recruitment, talent recruitment, agri-tourism, and agri-businesses.” The horse industry represents twenty-percent of Marion County’s GDP. There is one horse for every four people here. People come here to visit, retire, work, and play – and a lot them come either because of the horses or simply to enjoy the quality of life created by the landscape.

How would you describe Marion County’s unique identity?

Van Pelt is quick to point out that our farmland is not just window dressing – it is a working landscape and our global calling card. He describes our global brand as “A rural landscape that defines the ‘factory floor’ of Ocala/Marion County’s multi-billion dollar equine industries, complimented by a vibrant, thriving urban core,” and adds that “both of these are economic development drivers that define its holistic quality of life.”

In summation, Van Pelt emphasizes balance – an approach to growth that is vigilant to protect farmland and precious natural resources while still encouraging urban growth “from the inside-out,” by concentrating density where municipal services are located.

The American Farmland Trust has so much to offer to citizens and landowners. Come to the Summit and meet Van Pelt during the lunch hour. His display will feature many of the resources that can also be found at their website, farmland.org.

 
 
 
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Charlotte Weber Honored with the Acorn Conservation Award

Charlotte Weber Honored with the Acorn Conservation Award

by | Oct 19, 2021 | Events, News, Plan

Owner Charlotte Weber, left, with trainer Mark Casse, center,
and jockey John Velazquez, right, after champion World Approval won a stakes race at Tampa Bay Downs.
(Eclipse Sportswire)

Horse Farms Forever is honored to announce that the inaugural Acorn Conservation Award will be presented to Charlotte Weber, Owner of Live Oak Stud, at the upcoming Conservation Summit on November 23rd at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company.

The Acorn Conservation Award is given to an individual that has made a significant contribution to the preservation of horse farms in Marion County. Presenting the award to Mrs. Weber will be Mr. Mark Casse, a two-time Hall of Fame trainer, who trained Weber’s horse World Approval. It is fitting that Casse present Weber with the Acorn Award for her efforts to preserve horse farms in Marion County, as they have won many of the top horse racing awards together.

World Approval was named Florida Bred Horse of the Year by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association (FTBOA) in 2017. That same year he was also named the Florida-bred Champion Older Male, Florida-bred Champion Turf Horse and Florida-bred Champion Male Sprinter. Weber’s Live Oak Plantation (racing name) was also named the Florida Owner of the Year and her Live Oak Stud was named the Florida Breeder of the Year.

Casse is one of the most respected and decorated horse racing trainers in North America. Over his 50-year career, he has captured many prestigious awards and won several of the top races.

Please join Horse Farms Forever in honoring Mrs. Weber. The Acorn Award Presentation will be a highlight of the Conservation Summit Program on November 23.

About Charlotte Weber

For over 50 years, Weber has owned and managed the expansive 5,000-acre Live Oak Stud. The picturesque farm with the majestic live oak trees and rolling hills is one of the most scenic along SR 40 just west of Ocala. The farm is home to an award-winning Thoroughbred breeding, training, and racing operation. Her homebred Thoroughbreds have won several Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Eclipse Awards, FTBOA awards, and multiple Grade One wins on the dirt and the turf. Weber also raises a large herd of Brahman and Charolais cattle, and a variety of crossbreds.

In addition, the Weber family hosts the Live Oak International Combined Driving and Show Jumping Tournament, one of the largest international-level events in the U.S.

Weber chose Marion County to raise horses and cattle because of the mineral rich soil and Florida’s mild climate.

“The quality of Live Oak’s environment and the excellent climate of Florida contribute greatly to the production of world-class Thoroughbreds. Beneath the canopy of live oak trees, horses benefit from the lush green, nutrient-rich grass covering the gently rolling hills of Live Oak Stud. Romping in the golden Florida sunshine from the day they are born, Live Oak horses grow the strong bones and muscles needed to be champion Thoroughbred racehorses,” states her Live Oak Stud website.

About Mark Casse

Mr. Casse’s numerous accolades include winning two legs of the Triple Crown with two horses in 2019, winning eight Canadian Triple Crown races, induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2020, induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2016, and becoming the first U.S. winner of the Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne race in England with Tepin.

Casse’s horse racing roots run deep. Mark and his two brothers followed in the footsteps of their father, Norman Casse, who was one of the founders of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company. The third generation has also taken up the reins, as Mark’s son, Norman, is now a successful trainer.

While Casse has found international success, he calls Ocala his home. He and his wife, Tina, own a 135-acre training center in the Ocala Horse Complex. He’s been in Ocala for over 50 years and is proud to pass that legacy on to his family.

Casse strongly supports the mission of Horse Farms Forever to protect the character and culture that horses, horse farms and the horse industry bring to Marion County.

“It was important for me to be involved with Horse Farms Forever because it’s been my entire life. I’ve been in Ocala for over 50 years and that’s why my dad moved to Ocala,” says Casse. “Can you think of a better industry than horses? I don’t want to see them go. You can build around them. This is Ocala and it’s my life!”
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Does Farmland Preservation Matter To Marion County?

Does Farmland Preservation Matter To Marion County?

by | Oct 15, 2021 | Events, News, Plan

We’re About To Find Out.

In just a month, the Marion County Quality of Life Survey results will be revealed at our Conservation Summit. These results will be the culmination of a year’s work, building a collaborative partnership with the business community and working with an independent research firm.

“Growth is booming In Ocala/Marion in both population and commercially,” says Dr. Jennifer Fryns, Associate VP of Career and Professional Programs at the College of Central Florida. “This is a great time to understand the community’s perspective to learn how best to plan and manage this growth for the benefit of all in the near and distant future.”

While Horse Farms Forever was the catalyst for the Survey, we are honored to collaborate with five sponsors who represent the business and non-profit community in Marion County: Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership, College of Central Florida, Ocala Horse Properties, Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association and Hotel Development and Management Group. The Matrix Group, an independent insights and consulting firm based in Lexington, Kentucky, is administering, processing and tabulating responses. Working closely with our partners, we sought to ask the questions that are on the minds of Marion County’s residents.

Marion County Quality of Life Survey

Internet Access

Population Growth

Jobs

Green Space

Roads & Traffic

Farmland Preservation

Springs Protection

Equine Industry

Housing

Outside The Echo Chamber

Horse Farms Forever is about preserving the character and culture that horses, horse farms, and the Farmland Preservation Area bring to Marion County. But in order to make a difference, we need to know if these values are shared within the greater community.

“We can speculate as to what people think. We can talk to our friends and acquaintances, but we likely will only hear what we already know, so it can risk becoming an echo chamber,” says Ocala Metro CEP President Kevin Sheilley. “A survey gives a chance to get input and feedback from a broad spectrum of our community. It doesn’t necessarily mean all those opinions are based in fact, but it is important to understand the broader picture.”

A Pivot Point

This is a time ripe with opportunity, and Ocala is not just another sunbelt boomtown. Lonny Powell, CEO of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeder’s and Owner’s Association puts it succinctly:

“Never have the issues of growth, farmland preservation, economy, agriculture and our County quality of life intersected so. The time is right for the Survey.”

Ocala Horse Properties’ Matt Varney drills down further:

“Ocala is incredibly unique in that it is growing on two different tracks. On one hand, we are adding diverse industry, housing and jobs – classic urban growth. But also, we have one of the largest regional farmland preservation areas in the country and a thriving equine industry dependent on those farms,” says Varney. “The survey will show the importance of both of these growth directions, and inspire our leaders to plan accordingly,” he asserts.

The Survey results have potential to guide planning and policy at both the County and State levels. Together with our partners, we hope to inspire positive and lasting change in terms of farmland preservation but also in terms of jobs, internet access, housing, and education.

Win-Win or Train Wreck?

Are the two tracks of growth described by Varney destined to collide, or can they thrive alongside each other?

“Marion County can responsibly grow in a lot of different directions,” adds Varney. “I’m from a family of developers and have seen the effects of shortsighted development. We are unbelievably fortunate to have the Farmland Preservation Area and Urban Growth Area here, and leadership that values them equally.”

Sheilley reminds us of the interdependency of the two tracks:

“If you are unemployed, struggling, unsure of how to plan for your family, you do not have quality of life. All the open space and farms in the world will not improve that. Growth allows us to support the needs of many while preserving and enhancing those pieces which help to provide a great quality of life in our community.”

Who Drives Conservation?

Can a county-wide conservation movement be driven by the business community? It can when we remember that, here in Ocala/Marion, eighteen-percent of our GDP is generated by the equine industry. Just as a manufacturing town needs factories, and a tourist town needs attractions, the Horse Capital of the World® needs horse farms. Sheilley concurs:

“We are the voice of business and our mission is to be the catalyst of a prosperous community – not the business community, not the Southeast community, not the farm country community but the WHOLE community. You can grow the economy, create economic diversification, support entrepreneurship for all people, and maintain the parts that make Ocala unique. We know what a powerful economic driver the equine industry is and can be in the future.”

Ocala’s Magic

How powerful is Ocala’s global brand as Horse Capital of the World®? The Survey will give us an indication of how deeply it is woven into the fabric of everyday lives. Ocala Horse Properties sees that power first-hand in its client interactions:

“We look into the faces of buyers who come to this area for the first time,” answers Ocala Horse Properties’ Varney. “They are in awe of the natural beauty and open space. This is one of the few places in the country where I can literally sell a farm that is worth more as a horse farm than as anything else. This area is unique. I want to know that when I’m long gone, there will still be beautiful open space, horse farms, and a community of likeminded people,” he concludes.

Generation Next

The College of Central Florida serves to support the skills requirements of the present workforce and the dreams of future generations with life-changing education. They chose to participate in the Survey as part of their continuous practice of tuning their offerings to the community’s changing needs.

“The demands in workforce development are our top priorities while supporting the cultural endeavors of the region,” says Fryns,  “We’re part of the fabric of the community. Participating in this important survey at this moment in time is what we are here to do as we work to serve our mission. We are excited to see the results and look forward to the ensuing discussions.”

Join The Conversation

On November 23 at Ocala Breeder’s Sales (OBS), Kevin Sheilley will present the results of the Quality of Life Survey in detail on behalf of The Matrix Group. We hope you will join us there and participate in shaping a healthy future for Marion County and its horse farms. In-person and live-stream options are available. To learn more, visit: https://www.horsefarmsforever.com/conservation-summit/

Thank you, Survey Sponsors and Partners!
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Visual Inspiration For Conservation

Visual Inspiration For Conservation

by | Oct 13, 2021 | Events, News, Plan

Learn More About Photographer and Filmmaker, Elma Garcia

The stunning photos of Marion County landscapes, horses and dogs, that you see on our website and social media are graciously donated by Elma Garcia – HFF Founder, Board Member and Gold Sponsor of this year’s Conservation Summit. Elma’s love for the landscape is contagious in each photograph and short film she so kindly allows us to use in support of our mission. Elma is an artist and an equestrian and a treasured member of our team.

Elma Garcia began directing commercials, working alongside renowned cinematographers such as Conrad Hall, Haskell Wexler, and Robert Richardson, who all encouraged her to get behind the camera herself. Once she did, there was no turning back:  in her own words, “I love having the camera close to my heart; it allows me to move more intuitively.”  For that reason, she’s worked as both director and cinematographer for 28 years and owns her own production company, EGF.  Her mastery of these complementary talents allows her to create authentic, beautiful, and cohesive narratives reflecting the spirit of the human condition.

Above all, Elma’s keen attention to detail and commitment to excellence in storytelling ensure she consistently delivers not only high-quality, effective spots, but a top shelf experience for her collaborators. Her clientele have taken her all over the world creating award winning tv commercials. Her images and short films taken in the Farmland Preservation area are about giving everyone the feeling of the open spaces, and the quality of life on horse farms. 

In her spare time, she’s an avid golfer and National Dressage Champion. She is now training her new string of dressage horses. She and her husband, Jim Cannavino, live on their horse farms in Mill Spring, North Carolina and Ocala.  
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