by Horse Farms Forever | Nov 20, 2023 | Events, News
Keynote speaker Carlton Ward, Jr. inspired us with his stunning photography and film of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Record Turnout
On Thursday, November 16th, a large and enthusiastic crowd turned out to hear Path of the Panther creator, Carlton Ward, Jr. speak and learn more about the Florida Wildlife Corridor, despite the torrential rains and wind that night. It was clear that our goal to raise awareness for the Corridor and inspire the community to think about conservation was accomplished. Over 500 people filled the auditorium at Ocala Breeder’s Sales, who have so graciously hosted the Conservation Summit free of charge for the third year in a row.
The Conservation Summit has become a major fixture on the calendar, and the passion for conservation and land stewardship in that packed auditorium was absolutely palpable, and not just from farm and land owners. The speakers were riveting, the refreshments excellent and the whole presentation so very professionally and seamlessly choreographed. I know how much work and thought had gone into planning and executing the evening, and I felt proud to be a small part of this fine movement.
HFF Founder and Board Member, de Meric Thoroughbred Sales
HFF Director of Conservation Strategies Busy Shires shared a recap of HFF’s accomplishments in protecting the Farmland Preservation Area since its inception 5 years ago.
Powerhouse Presentations
Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, CEO of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, began the Program by sharing how the Florida Wildlife Corridor came to be. Dimmitt is a close colleague of Carlton Ward, Jr., and together with him and another colleague, Joe Guthrie, they embarked on a 1000 mile journey in 100 days in 2012 to raise awareness about this connected landscape. They started in the Everglades and ended in the Okefenokee Swamp across the Florida/Georgia border. That resulted in their first documentary film, Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition. Another 1000-mile trek began in the Everglades Headwaters and stretched west along the Big Bend coast and the Florida Panhandle to the Gulf Islands National Seashore at the Florida/Alabama border. That journey led to a documentary known as The Forgotten Coast. As awareness of the Corridor grew, they started routing their expeditions to more densely populated edge areas experiencing rapid growth with an urgent need to accelerate the pace of conservation, most recently following the journey of 3 military veterans from Ocala to Osceola National Forests. The Foundation just previewed that short film, called O2O: Path to Connection, which will premiere at Camp Blanding in February. These films have been punctuation marks that are extremely effective in telling the story of the Corridor.
We stand at the crossroads of preservation and progress, witnessing firsthand how this remarkable Corridor breathes life into our communities and fuels the spirit of exploration. It’s not just a space on the map; it’s a living testament to the resilience of nature and the legacy we craft for generations to come.
CEO, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
“Standing here today, I have renewed hope that the story of the Florida panther rising up out of South Florida swamps will continue inspiring a movement to save the Florida Wildlife Corridor and keep the Everglades connected to the rest of America.”
Carlton Ward, Jr.
Path of the Panther
Dimmitt introduced Carlton Ward, Jr., National Geographic Explorer, photographer and film maker. Ward was quick to point out some little known facts about what the Florida Wildlife Corridor protects, such as cattle ranches which still take up 1/6 of Florida’s land mass, black bears, corals in the Florida Keys, freshwater springs, longleaf pine forests and of course, the rare Florida Panther. He then took us on a journey through his career as an explorer and the ups and downs of capturing images of the elusive panther using camera traps.
His family owns a ranch in the Peace River Valley. Several of his cousins are full-time cowboys in the Greater Everglades. His great-grandfather was Doyle E. Carlton, the 25th governor of Florida. He’s an eighth generation Floridian.
I started this journey inspired by bears, cowboys and panthers. I enter this phase of the journey motivated by my children. The bears and panthers show us what we need to do to save Florida, while giving ranchers and other rural Floridians viable alternatives to development that will otherwise overtake their lands.
National Geographic Explorer, photographer, film maker, Wildpath
Wildpath
Ward’s organization, Wildpath, is pursuing new projects now that the Path of the Panther book and movie are enjoying widespread acclaim and success. With storytelling and conservation grants from National Geographic, they are starting a new project called Gulf of Mexico: Paths to Protection. The project began working with global ocean ambassador Dr Sylvia Earle, who was the first person to scuba dive for science in the Gulf of Mexico more than 70 years ago. This initial focus is celebrating the seagrass beds of what Sylvia calls The Wilderness Coast – wrapping from north of Clearwater to Tallahassee. From the seagrasses, the project will follow the movements wildlife such as five species of sea turtles that rely on Wilderness Coast Estuaries, through the Gulf of Mexico, and beyond.
Back on land, Wildpath is starting a new project advocating for the protection of large-scale wildlife corridors surrounding military bases throughout America. They are working with the Department of Defense, USDA, and US Dept of the Interior.
And of course, they continue to deepen the story telling about the Florida Wildlife Corridor by sending photographers to all regions of the Corridor to document the wildlife. This is being compiled into a story map which you can view in real time on wildpath.com.
Traci Deen from Conservation Florida shared the news about conservation easements underway in Marion County.
Conservation Florida
Ward introduced the final speaker, Traci Deen, Esq., President and CEO of Conservation Florida. Deen’s organization saves land by facilitating, accepting or purchasing donations of land conservation easements and serving as a statewide conservation partner to other organizations. As a partner in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, they are actively using some of the $2billion in state funding allocated for the corridor to purchase easements on private working lands that enable the owners to continue working the land while at the same time keeping it available for wildlife habitat.
About 43% of Marion County’s land mass is included in the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Ocala National Forest (ONF), at over 430,000 acres, is one of the largest pieces of the puzzle. The goal is to connect additional conservation lands such as the ONF, the Cross Florida Greenway, Rainbow Springs State Park, and Silver Springs State Park by protecting private land with conservation easements.
A small portion of the Farmland Preservation Area (FPA) in northwest Marion County is part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The FPA section of the corridor will help connect Paynes Prairie State Preserve to the Goethe State Forest.
The Acorn Award, sponsored by Horse Farms Forever, is given annually to a Marion County landowner who has exemplified what it means to protect and honor the open spaces and beautiful places that make Ocala/Marion County unique. This year, we were honored to present the Award to Shirley and John Rudnianyn, owners of Blitch Plantation and one of the largest landowners in the County. Blitch Plantation is a 4,500 acre farm with timber, cattle and wildlife habitat. The Rudnianyns recently purchased approximately 18,000 acres in the Fort McCoy area and have assembled a team of experts including foresters, soil and wetland scientists and several conservation organizations to help restore the tract for sustainable timber, cattle grazing, and hunting. This tract is an important connector between the Ocala National Forest and the Osceola National Forest.
Carlton Ward, Jr. signed books before and after the Program.
Special Moments
The evening’s events began with a Path of the Panther book signing while guests enjoyed a cheerful reception, refreshments, and toured the hospitality booths of Sponsors. Rubbish the Raccoon, Marion County’s rap-singing mascot for it’s No Horsin’ Around Litter Campaign was a favorite photo opportunity. Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses once again came as our special guests to let everyone meet one of their sweet miniature horses and learn about their mission to encourage and uplift people in need. The Saint Bernard Foundation honored Marion County’s No Horsin’ Around Program with a $10,000 donation presented at the Summit. Horse Farms Forever received a $125,000 bequest from the Cathy D. Perry estate, presented by Cathy’s son, Brandon Perry and his wife, Diannah.
I’ve been coming to OBS since I was 10 years old. It is the Marion County horse industry that has moved me to Ocala several times throughout my life, as an assistant farm manager, large animal veterinary technician and as a Thoroughbred farm owner. It was so surreal to say the least to present this check in honor of Brandon’s moms legacy last night to Horse Farms Forever to help preserve and protect the horse country that I love, at the place that brought me to Ocala so many years ago.
Philanthropist, Realtor and Founding Member of Horse Farms Forever
HFF Staff: Michelle Grald, Sara Fennessy and Busy Shires with Mallory Lykes Dimmit of the Florida Wildlife Corridor and Carlton Ward, Jr., National Geographic Explorer and author of Path of the Panther, Bernie Little.
A Promising Partnership
Conservation Florida and the Florida Wildlife Corridor are valuable partners as we continue the conversation about conservation in Marion County, particularly in the area of conservation easements, which are the only way to permanently and irrevocably preserve tracts of land that are privately owned.
GALLERY
Photos by Sean Dowie Photography
The rainy evening didn’t put a damper on the enthusiasm from the audience.
Rubbish the raccoon, the mascot for Marion County’s No Horsin’ Around Litter Clean Up Campaign kicked off the program and showed us some moves.
Mary Jane Hunt (far right) from the Saint Bernard Foundation presented a check for $10,000 to Marion County’s No Horsin’ Around Litter Campaign. She is shown here with County Administrator Mounir Bouyones, Mark Johnson, Rubbish, Commissioner Michelle Stone and Commissioner Craig Curry.
Nate and Dasha Chambers with Matt Marcin of J.P. Morgan Private Bank.
Mallory Lykes Dimmitt with Danna Bramlett and Adrienne Lewis of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
HFF Board Member Paul Kaplan with Commissioner Michelle Stone and her husband, Charlie Stone.
HFF Board Members: George Isaacs, Paul Kaplan, Elma Garcia Cannavino, and Bernie Little along with Attorney Matt Brockway from Icard Merrill.
Bridlewood Farm’s General Manager, George Isaacs, who is an HFF Board Member and is also the current president of the FTBOA, along with HFF Director of Conservation Strategies, Busy Shires.
Ocala Horse Properties’ Principals, Chris and Rob Desino, who are Founders of Horse Farms Forever. Rob currently serves as the Board Vice President.
Amy Mangan, Executive Director of AdventHealth Ocala Foundation, HFF’s Sara Fennessy and Sheriff Billy Woods
Dilan Bower-Desino, Rob Desino, Chris Desino, Nancy DeCavaignac, Matt Varney and the ever-present Rubbish the Raccoon.
So many new faces!
This young man bravely marched up to the microphone to have a conversation about conservation with Carlton.
Rubbish was everyone’s favorite photo buddy. Here he is with Tammy Dowie
Commissioner Michelle Stone with Rubbish.
Jorge Garcia-Bengochea, Executive Director of Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses was on site to introduce everyone to one of their therapy horses and tell the story of their mission to bring big hope to people through their tiny horses.
HFF Board President, Bernie Little.
Mireille Doffegnies, BEMER Distributor & Team Manager
Bernie Little, Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, Sam Smidt, and Billy Van Pelt of the American Farmland Trust
The book signings were a big hit.
Mark Emery with Conservation Florida’s Traci Deen and John and Shirley Rudnianyn.
Thank you, Sponsors!
For the fourth year in a row, Brook Ledge Horse Transportation has delivered us as our Title Sponsor. We are so thankful for Brook Ledge and the support of close to sixty other businesses, individuals and nonprofits that stepped up to sponsor the 2023 Conservation Summit.
Media Partners
For an official press release, images and press passes, go here.
by Busy Shires | Oct 4, 2023 | Events, News
TDR Roundtable, Phase 2
Thursday, October 26th from 10AM to 12PM
Auditorium at the S.E. Livestock Pavilion
Marion County’s Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program is a key component in protecting the Farmland Preservation Area (FPA) and other rural lands. In 2022, Horse Farms Forever hired Rick Pruetz, an FAICP professional planner and nationally known expert on TDR programs to evaluate the TDR program to determine why the program is underutilized. Rick compiled his research into a Draft Findings Report, which will be presented at the October 26th TDR Roundtable.
The Roundtable will be facilitated by Horse Farms Forever Founder Member Elisabeth Brinton, who is a former Corporate Vice President of Sustainability at Microsoft, and also owns a horse farm in the FPA.
The first TDR Roundtable was held on April 14th at Golden Ocala with a diverse group of 25 community stakeholders including land use attorneys, engineers, planners as well as Growth Services staff, and elected officials.
RSVP to busy.shires@horsefarmsforever.com and to receive a copy of the Draft Findings Report on Marion County’s TDR Program.
Ocala CEP Friday Talks
Friday, October 27th from 8:15 AM to 9:30 AM
Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership – Upstairs Douglas P. Cone Boardroom
Hear from nationally recognized expert, Rick Pruetz, FAICP and Ray Mazzie, Managing Partner, Southern Waters Capital on Marion County’s Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program and the recent utilization of 72 TDR credits to increase the density of a residential development by 72 units.
Friday Talks, sponsored by TD Bank, features speakers sharing their knowledge on a variety of business education and financial literacy topics. The sessions are held at the CEP in the Douglas P. Cone Boardroom beginning with networking at 8:15am. A light breakfast is served.
RSVP to Andrea@OcalaCEP.com
by Busy Shires | Sep 4, 2023 | News
The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association is a not-for-profit association with the mission of promoting the Florida Thoroughbred worldwide. Since 1945, FTBOA has represented the Thoroughbred industry legislatively, serves as the breed registrar, and administers lucrative awards programs and incentives for Florida-Bred racehorses.
The FTBOA represents more than 1,000 Thoroughbred breeders and owners internationally who breed, raise, sell, train and race horses born in the state of Florida. FTBOA does this by having a seat at the table for pertinent issues facing the local, state, and national Thoroughbred industries. FTBOA also works closely with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the State of Florida thanks to the State’s pro-business stance and industry tax incentives such as no sales tax on fencing, feed, and grain.
FTBOA trademarked Horse Capital of the World® and Ocala/Marion County Horse Capital of the World®, which are used to promote the region and its equine services.
FTBOA owns Florida Equine Communications (FEC), publisher of the award-winning monthly Thoroughbred-centric magazine The Florida Horse and the Wire to Wire Racing Digest. FEC also produces Horse Capital Digest®, the official publication of Horse Capital of the World®; and partners with Horse Capital Television, the official video platform of Horse Capital of the World®, to promote all equine breeds and disciplines in Central Florida. FEC produces award-winning industry videos, social media, and original website content.
In 2022, FTBOA launched, The Florida Horse podcast and Kaplan Media’s production studios moved to the FTBOA headquarters providing seamless video production capabilities for the Association.
In 2022, the Association’s CEO Lonny Powell was honored with two national awards, the American Horse Council’s Van Ness Award for lifelong service to the equine industry, and he was named Florida Executive of the Year by the Florida Society of Association Executives. In 2015, FTBOA was awarded Florida Association of the Year by the Florida Society of Association Executives and the Non-Profit of the Year by the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership, a prestigious honor considering there were more than 1,000 non-profits in the county.
FTBOA through its charitable arm, Florida Thoroughbred Charities, has raised more than $4 million in the last two decades for Thoroughbred retirement, scholarships, and education in Marion County, and within the State of Florida. The FTBOA headquarters also houses the Florida Thoroughbred museum where visitors and fans alike can learn more about the history of Florida Thoroughbred champions, their connections and achievements in the industry.
The FTBOA is located at 801 SW 60th Avenue in Ocala, Fla., next door to the worldwide perennial leader in two-year-olds in training sales, Ocala Breeder’s Sales, centered in the heart of the Thoroughbred industry in the state.
by Busy Shires | Aug 25, 2023 | Events, News
Ocala, FL – August 25, 2023 – Horse Farms Forever, Inc.® is pleased to announce that Carlton Ward, Jr, a National Geographic Explorer and photographer, will be the Keynote Speaker at the Fourth Annual Conservation Summit to be held on Thursday, November 16 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company.
Join us for a Conversation about Conservation as Carlton shares the story about photographing the first female Florida panther documented north of the Caloosahatchee River since 1973. Carlton’s quest to photograph the elusive and endangered Florida Panther was documented in the “Path of the Panther,” an award-winning documentary film produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.
Carlton’s photograph of Babs, as the panther is affectionately named, shows that the range of the Florida panther has expanded north from the Everglades. This expansion is the key to the panther’s recovery, but their long-term survival depends on protecting land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
“If we can show the world who that panther is, that’s going to be the spark to save this whole corridor,” said Carlton in the Path of the Panther film preview.
The Path of the Panther film has already made an impact by inspiring the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act in 2021, which helped secure over $800 million in state funding for land conservation. Since the Act was passed in 2021, nearly 120,000 acres of land have been approved for conservation.
“I want everyone who sees the film to have tremendous pride in the state of Florida and know about the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the importance of it for the state’s future,” said Carlton “That’s why our team spent so many years focusing on the Florida panther. It’s a symbol of the need for protecting the corridor.”
The Florida Wildlife Corridor is an existing, nearly contiguous network of land that stretches from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys over about 18 million acres. Nearly 10 million acres has been conserved as public lands and as private lands that are protected with a conservation easement, but about half of the corridor is at risk of being developed.
About 40% of Marion County is included as part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Ocala National Forest at over 430,000 acres in Marion County, is one of the largest pieces of the Florida Wildlife Corridor puzzle. The goal is to connect additional conservation lands such as the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway and Silver Springs State Park by protecting private land with conservation easements. A portion of the Farmland Preservation Area in northwest Marion County is also part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Two of the key partner organizations working to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor will also be speaking at the 2023 Conservation Summit. Mallory Lykes Dimmitt is the CEO of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, which champions a collaborative campaign to connect, protect, and restore the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Traci Deen is the President and CEO of Conservation Florida, a statewide land conservancy focused on protecting natural and agricultural landscapes with a primary focus on saving land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
By conserving private ranches and farms as part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, this also allows agriculture operations to continue to contribute to the economy and to the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.
The Florida Wildlife Corridor
The Florida Wildlife Corridor is a statewide network of over 18 million acres that supports wildlife, people, and communities. It runs from the panhandle all the way to the tip of the peninsula. The Florida Wildlife Corridor already exists. The goal is to ensure continued connection between public land and green spaces across the state through private and public land conservation.
Path of the Panther
The Path of the Panther tells the story of how a group of photographers, veterinarians, ranchers, conservationists, and indigenous people joined forces to track and protect the endangered Florida panther. In this moving documentary, stunning images of the big cats spur the movement to restore a majestic keystone species as well as a dwindling wilderness.
The Florida Panther
The Florida panther is more than just an icon for Florida’s last wild places. It is a conservation keystone. The panther is an umbrella species with the largest terrestrial home range in the state, protecting dozens of other species in its domain. Reaching near extinction in the 1950’s, the Florida panther was among the first to be added to the U.S. Endangered Species list in 1973.
Protecting land for the panther is important for people and communities too because connected habitat helps provide clean air and drinking water, as well as other benefits like pollination of food crops and flood mitigation from heavy rains or hurricanes. The panther population has rebounded from about 30 adults to nearly 200 today. But the species faces a multitude of new challenges.
Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
by Busy Shires | Aug 7, 2023 | News
Horse Farms Forever® welcomes Nate Chambers and Commonwealth Standard Holdings as our newest Founder Member. The real estate and private equity firm joins over 70 businesses, horse farms, and individuals that collectively support HFF’s mission to preserve horse farms to ensure that not only are the rolling hills and scenic viewsheds protected, but also to raise awareness about the horse industry’s impact on the economy and its character, which has defined Marion County for over 50 years.
“I joined Horse Farms Forever because of my growing concern about thoughtful growth and development. My firm believes in developing projects that complement the community as well as supporting the protection of property like that in the Farmland Preservation Area,” said Nate Chambers, CEO of Commonwealth Standard Holdings. “It is possible to have both the ambitions of development and the values of conservation.”
The draw of Marion County’s rural charm, the opening of the World Equestrian Center, along with the thriving equine industry, has led many new horse farms and businesses to the area, including Commonwealth Standard Holdings. The equine industry in Marion County represents about one-fifth of the economy and generates over $2.6 Billion dollars every year (2014 study).
“The equine industry is not only personally special to us, it is also the primary economic driver in northwest Marion County,” said Nate. “Thoughtful development is critical or we risk losing what makes this area special.”
Nate and his wife, Dasha are lifelong equestrians and it was their love of horses that brought them together. They also recently welcomed their daughter into their growing family.
“We met at a horse show in Pennsylvania on land protected by a conservation easement,” said Nate. “I grew up riding and Dasha still rides. Hopefully we will see our daughter in the saddle before too long as well!”
HFF welcomes the Chambers family and Commonwealth Standard Holdings to the growing community that supports preserving the character and culture that horses, horse farms, and the horse industry brings to Marion County!
Visit Their Website: https://csholdings.com/
