Join the Conversation on November 23, 2021, at Ocala Breeder Sales Location.
Horse Farms Forever will hold the Second Annual Conservation Summit: Conversations about Conservation on November 23, 2021, at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Arena from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. Lunch will be served from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The event will also be webcast.
The Conservation Summit is a premier educational workshop about how to balance growth with preserving Marion County s 193,000-acre Farmland Preservation Area. The purpose of the Summit is to inspire the preservation of the horse farms and agricultural lands that are fundamental to Marion County’s global brand as the Horse Capital of the World®.
Ocala CEP features an equine partner focusing on the environment WCJB Staff
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OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - With the amount of land the horse industry uses in Marion County, it has a significant impact on the environment. Our friends at Ocala Chamber and Economic Partnership feature one of their equine partners that are making the environment a priority.
Some of the richest soils and aquifers in the world are found in the designated Farmland Preservation Area taking up a quarter of the county’s land.
Marion County should protect a unique resource: its horse farms
Busy Shires
The month of April has been designated as Farmland Preservation Month by the Marion County Commission. There are over 1,200 horse farms in Marion County and the mineral rich soil is the perfect grazing land for horses.
As a result, the county has one of the largest horse populations in the United States with over 80,000 horses. That’s one horse for every four people! With the opening of the World Equestrian Center, the number of horses in Marion County will only continue to grow.
Along with the growth of the horse industry, Marion County was one only six counties in the nation that had positive job growth during the pandemic. Projects are underway to add 5 million square feet of industrial and warehouse space over the next few years. And where there are jobs, there must be housing to support the growing workforce.