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A Conservation Summit
with Horse Farms Forever presented by
Thursday, November 19, 2020 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM $30 per person, lunch included
Meeting of the Minds The purpose of the Summit is to inspire preservation of the horse farms and agricultural lands that are fundamental to Marion County’s global brand as the Horse Capital of the World®. Our speakers will discuss practical ways to preserve farmland that benefit landowners and the community. Per the CDC guidelines, the Summit will be limited to 120 people and will be held at Golden Ocala from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM, with lunch served. The event will be live-streamed. Virtual attendance is an option. See the registration form to sign up.
Guest Speaker: Commissioner Adam Putnam, CEO, Ducks Unlimited
Commissioner Putnam will introduce the topic of land conservation and the importance of protecting Florida’s agricultural lands for future generations. He served as Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and his passion for hunting, angling, and conservation will be an inspiration for community leaders and landowners.
Keynote Speaker: Billy Van Pelt II Sr. Director of External Relations American Farmland Trust
Billy Van Pelt will present the American Farmland Trust’s report Farms Under Threat: The State of the States about the loss of prime agricultural lands across the nation with a focus on the southeast and Marion County.
Summit Information: Busy Shires Byerly, HFF Director of Conservation Strategies, busy.byerly@horsefarmsforever.com or 352-234-7175 RSVP by November 8, 2020: Sara Powell Fennessy, HFF Director of Community Affairs, sara.fennessy@horsefarmsforever.com or 859-553-5510 or register online here.
Conservation Summit Sponsorship Support It takes a village to organize, educate and continue the mission. The support of all the donors, members and sponsors is the rock bed of all the continued efforts. The Summit has had tremendous support from the following sponsors and marketing partners.
How can you help? Become a donor. Become a member and learn more about the issues. Become a sponsor for the Conservation Summit.
About Horse Farms Forever
Horse Farms Forever’s mission is to preserve the character and culture that horses, horse farms and the Farmland Preservation Area bring to Marion County. The organization is focused on raising awareness about protecting horse farms and advocating for the protection of the Farmland Preservation Area (FPA) from the threat of unplanned growth and road development. Since 2018, HFF has helped to strengthen the FPA’s boundaries and prevented development and roadway threats from encroaching into the FPA. HFF is also working with community leaders and landowners to establish new policies in Marion County’s comprehensive plan to help protect the nearly 1,200 horse farms in the county.
