Welcome New Corporate Member, Tillman Engineering

Welcome New Corporate Member, Tillman Engineering

David Tillman (center) with Doug Cone of Cone Distributing (left) and HFF Board President, Bernie Little (right) at the Conservation Summit on November 19. Photo by Dillon Video.

Engineering Sensible Growth

As we inspire Marion County to uphold and protect its global brand as the Horse Capital of the World®, it is gratifying to see the wide range of members who are joining us. Everyone has a stake in keeping Ocala/Marion County open and beautiful, including our development and real estate companies. We’re going to grow. The question is where, when and how.

One new member who is an expert in sensible growth planning and natural resource protection is Tillman and Associates Engineering. Tillman sponsored and attended our Conservation Summit last week. We are grateful for their support and the expertise that President David Tillman brings to the table. As experts in civil engineering who also recognize the importance of preserving the character and culture that horses and horse farms bring to Ocala/Marion County, Tillman is an important ally and resource.

I am excited to be a part of Horse Farms Forever. I have always felt that a healthy balance of preservation and growth will be the success of Marion County. Our horse farms are a true treasure worthy of protection.

David Tillman

President, Tillman and Associates Engineering

We are especially pleased to welcome David Tillman as the newest corporate member of Horse Farms Forever. Not only are David and his company the ‘gold standard’ in roadway, storm water, and bridge design, traffic operations, maintenance, survey, materials investigation, and construction engineering, David is an avid outdoorsman and a champion of preserving the landscapes that make Ocala/Marion County a great place for outdoor recreation.

Bernie Little

President, Horse Farms Forever

Tillman and Associates’ staff of land development and entitlement professionals has over 100 years of combined Civil Engineering, Land Planning, Surveying, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Engineering experience. Mr. Tillman has served in many different aspects of the civil engineering field. These include: roadway design, storm water design, bridge design, traffic operations, maintenance, survey, materials investigation, and construction engineering. Currently, he is working with the Roberts family on Golden Ocala and the World Equestrian Center. He has managed the permitting for over 16,000 acres within The Villages Project, as well as over 40 FEMA map revisions. Mr. Tillman was the engineer of record on US 441 widening at The Villages as well as the widening of CR 42, just north of The Villages. Mr. Tillman is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology. He serves on the Marion County LDRC as Chairman, holds the treasury position for the Ocala Silver Springs Rotary Club, is a chapter coordinator for Mathcounts sponsored by the Florida Engineering Society, and is also an FDEP Certified Stormwater Management Inspector. He is also a member of the Marion County Building Industry Association and the CEP.

Corporate Membership

Looking for a way to show that you care about open spaces and promote your business throughout the equine community?
Becoming a Horse Farms Forever Corporate Member gives you access to our members in Ocala/Marion County and beyond.  Donating to Horse Farms Forever, a registered 501(c)3 with the IRS, reaches our members, friends, and subscribers though our newsletters, social media, advertising, and events.

To learn more or to join please contact our Director of Community Affairs,
Sara Fennessy 

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.

Join the herd. Every voice matters.

Commissioners Meeting With WEC Centers on Improvements

Commissioners Meeting With WEC Centers on Improvements

November 5, 2020: The Marion County Board of Commissioners met yesterday to discuss the proposed amendment to the Golden Ocala – World Equestrian Center’s (GO-WEC) Development Agreement. The main issues discussed at the meeting were about water and wastewater treatment, roadway and intersection improvements, and fire safety.

The Amendment proposes changes to the original Development Agreement. It outlined several infrastructure improvements and other infrastructure needs. The meeting was the continuation of the first public hearing for the Development Agreement Amendment. The second public hearing will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 2:00 PM. The public hearing for the proposed changes to the Golden Ocala Comprehensive Plan Amendment (20-D01) and PUD Rezoning Amendment (20200201Z) applications will also be held on December 16.

The Comprehensive Plan Amendment and PUD Rezoning Amendment, which has not yet been approved, includes a request to add about 1,000 acres for a total area of about 4,200 acres. In addition, the commercial space would increase to 4 million square feet – up from 525,000 square feet in the 2018 original plan. Hotel rooms would increase to 1,350, up from 385 and seating at the equestrian venues also would increase from 10,000 seats to 13,500 seats. The number of homes remains at just below 2,400, however RV spaces would increase from 200 to 280 spaces.

Key issues discussed:

  • Building a new water treatment facility plant and wells within the project site.
  • GO-WEC will purchase a new fire truck for $1.3M with a ladder tall enough for the five-story hotel. The county will repay GO-WEC over several years.
  • GO-WEC will construct the entrance improvements to:
    • NW 80th Avenue at NW 21st Street.
    • NW 80th Avenue at the entrance to the WEC parking lot.
    • SR 40 Entrance Improvements and Driveway Improvements
  • Four-laning of NW 80th
  • GO-WEC will conduct a new traffic study once WEC is open to determine if there are additional roadway and intersection improvements needed. There is a traffic study from 2017/2018. In addition, additional traffic studies will be conducted by GO-WEC as they reach certain build out points and once GO-WEC begins building on the parcels north of US Hwy 27.

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.

Join the herd. Every voice matters.

Conservation Summit Live and Virtual Attendance Details

This is a challenging time to introduce a live event! Nevertheless, the equestrian and land conservation community has enthusiastically expressed an interest in coming together on the important topic of conserving our land in Marion County. Live attendance for the Conservation Summit at Golden Ocala on November 19 is nearly full. We can still take a few more, so if you’re interested, don’t hesitate. The deadline is November 9Virtual attendance is also open and will remain open until November 16. You are also welcome to switch from live to virtual, but please do so by November 10. More on that below.

We want all who have registered or are considering registration to know that we are planning carefully with your safety and comfort in mind. We hope that this further information is helpful as you decide whether to attend live or virtually.

Safety Measures: We are working carefully with Golden Ocala to maximize fresh air and social distancing. Lunch will be served outdoors on a covered patio and the Summit will be held indoors in a large, well-ventilated space with chairs set 6 feet apart. Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided. Golden Ocala staff will be wearing masks. There will be a temperature check at the entrance. 

Arriving Early: In order to allow for ample time for lunch, we will start serving at 11:30 AM. The program will start promptly at 12:30 PM upstairs in the Ballroom.

Directions and Parking: The entrance is at 8300 NW 31st Lane Road, Ocala, FL 34482. After you come through the gate, drive straight to the Club House and turn right to park in the lower parking lot. Follow the Event Parking signs.

Location of Lunch: Lunch will be served outside on the Knickers’ Bar & Grill Patio. After parking, follow the signs to the Knickers Patio, which is accessed directly from the lower parking lot.

After lunch, join us upstairs in the Gathering Room for coffee, lemonade, and brownies!

Virtual Attendance: Should you decide that you’d prefer to attend the Summit virtually, please email Sara Fennessy by November 10 and she will change your registration. All virtual attendees will be sent a link via email 24 hours before the Summit. You will also receive a digital copy of the Event Program and some guidance about system requirements for the live stream on YouTube. Simply click the link and you will be able to view the Summit from your computer. The Summit will be recorded, and all registrants will receive a link to the recording in the days following the meeting.

The Horse Farms Forever staff and Board of Directors are looking forward to welcoming you on November 19. Don’t miss this chance to get in on the ground floor of the movement to thoughtfully preserve and protect our open spaces and beautiful places.

 

Guest Speaker: Adam Putnam

Former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and current CEO of Ducks Unlimited. Learn More…

Keynote Speaker: Billy Van Pelt, II

Senior Director of External Relations, American Farmland Trust. Learn more…

CONSERVATION SUMMIT

Preserving Open Spaces & Beautiful Places

November 19 at Golden Ocala

Learn More!

Conservation Summit Will Be Streamed Live

Conservation Summit Will Be Streamed Live

Photo courtesy of Founder and Summit Bronze Sponsor, Elma Garcia Cannavino.

Thanks to new member and Silver Sponsor, Dillon Video, the Horse Farms Forever Conservation Summit will be Live Streamed over YouTube on November 19th, 12:00 to 2:30pm. Seats for live attendance at Golden Ocala are nearly sold out, but virtual attendance opportunities are unlimited! The link will be private, so you must register for the conference first. Once you are registered, we will send you a link for the livestream 24 hours before the Summit. Just click the link at noon on the 19th and join us.

We are thankful for the professional services of long-time local business, Dillon Video, to make our live stream run smoothly. Dillon Video and Film Productions, Inc., was established in 1985. Since its inception, Dillon Video has specialized in professional video production services and has added additional services as technology evolved. They specialize in multi-camera live streaming events, videography of all things equine, photography, aerial video and photography (drones), virtual tours and more.

Thank you, Dillon Video, for joining us as a member and partner in making our first Conservation Summit a success. To learn more about Dillon’s services, contact TJ Ready or call (352) 229-2711.

We also want to mention and thank our other Silver Sponsor, Showcase Properties of Central Florida. Owner Valerie Dailey has been aligned with our mission and a member of Horse Farms Forever since day one. As an additional gesture of support, Showcase will be providing pads, pens and hand sanitizer to all live attendees of the Summit.

Showcase Properties is committed to offering extensive real estate listings for every lifestyle, including luxury homes, country club living, equestrian, waterfront, farms and more.

Their staff are energized to use their industry acumen and love of horse country living in service of your buying and selling needs. Marion County is home to many internationally renowned horsemen and horsewomen, and Showcase Property’s real estate agents are long-time active members of the equine community.  Contact them here or call (352) 351-4718.

Thank you, Silver Sponsors!

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.

Join the herd. Every voice matters.

Tri Eagle Sales Sponsors Conservation Summit

Tri Eagle Sales Sponsors Conservation Summit

Anheuser-Busch Distributor Has Long Been a Community Partner

Another Founding Corporate Member has extended support at the Gold level for our upcoming Conservation Summit. We welcome Tri-Eagle Sales as a sponsor.

Tri-Eagle’s corporate mission is “making friends is our business,” and they demonstrate this by sponsoring hundreds of events, donating to causes and serving on boards around Ocala. As a Founder and Gold Sponsor, they are voicing strong support for open spaces and beautiful places.

Tri-Eagle Sales has been the leading beverage wholesaler in the North and North Central Florida area for a quarter of a century. They proudly market, sell, and distribute Anheuser-Busch InBev brands such as Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Goose Island, and Stella Artois. Their portfolio of world-class craft and import brands is led by local Tallahassee brewer Proof Brewing Co., and includes well-known brands such as Cigar City, Oskar Blues, Founders, SweetWater, and Duvel Moortgat. In addition to beer they sell and market a diverse line of ciders, wine, and spirits and offer a specialty beverage portfolio that includes gluten-free beers as well as non-alcohol products.

The sponsorship of Tri-Eagle, along with Brook Ledge Horse Transportation, Ocala Horse Properties, Showcase Properties, Cone Distributing, Bridlewood Farm and Newport Hay enables us to bring you top-notch speakers on the subject of farmland conservation for the November 19 event at a world class facility – Golden Ocala. Be sure to register for the Summit! You can attend online or in person.

Tri Eagle Sales is proud to sponsor this summit to continue the great work of Horse Farms Forever supporting the preservation of our horse farms and the associated equestrian life that makes Ocala so unique and special.

Susie Busch-Transou

Tri-Eagle Sales

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.

Join the herd. Every voice matters.