A Lasting Gift | Vintage Farm Will Impact Students for Decades to Come
by Cynthia McFarland
Located in the southern part of Marion County where some of the area’s oldest thoroughbred farms were first established, Vintage Farm is a testament to how land can enrich education. The gifting of Vintage Farm to the College of Central Florida is actually a story of the salvation of the land itself.
Enter a local farm owner/businessman who was drawn to the beauty of the land and saw vast potential in the old farm. He purchased it from the bank and began bringing the farm back to life. Barns were built that would complement the existing 1940’s home on the property, which was also restored, and fences were built so that pastures could once again be used for livestock.
The purchaser of the farm had a dream of using it for education where school children and 4-H groups could benefit from getting their hands in the soil and working the gardens. He hoped it would instill a respect and admiration for land in young people who hadn’t been exposed to farming. In fact, the hopes of inspiring future generations was the reason behind establishing the main garden near the road.
By saving the historic farm from becoming a subdivision, the land owner had already accomplished one mission, but he had even greater hopes. Knowing that the College of Central Florida had agriculture and equine programs, but no farm of its own, he decided to donate the property to the college.
That is how in December 2016, the College of Central Florida received its largest donation to date: a farm valued at nearly $3 million to be used for education purposes. The donor wished to remain anonymous then and still does, but his generosity will make a positive difference in the lives of countless students in the years to come.
Learning Opportunites
“Having Vintage Farm has drastically changed things because now we have horses there we can do things with and that is so helpful,” notes Dr. Judy Downer, CF Equine Studies professor, and program manager. “It’s very exciting because having the farm finally allows us to have experiential learning for the students. Not all of them come from a horse background or have owned horses, so they have to get comfortable working around them and handling them.”
“The really big news is that starting this fall we’re offering a Bachelor of Applied Science program in business and organization management with an equine focus,” says Downer, noting that until now the only equine program available was for an associate’s degree. (That two-year program, which began in 2005, will continue to be offered. College credit certificates are also offered.)
The bachelor’s program includes core business classes, and also advanced equine classes that focus on the horse industry as a business, such as Logistics for the Horse Industry, Integrated Horse Management, Equine Learned Theory, and Equitation Science.
“The best thing about this bachelor’s degree is that by the time students finish four years, they’ll have done four internships,” Downer explains. “We guide them into internships that are strategic for their area of focus. For example, if someone wanted to be in the Thoroughbred business, we’d have them do internships at businesses that offer real-life experience in their career choice. They might intern at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, a breeding farm, and a training operation.
Hands-on Approach
Of course, the Ocala/Marion County is an ideal setting for internships and hands-on learning.
Between the thriving Thoroughbred industry, the new World Equestrian Center, HITS (a huge, international hunter/jumper competition lasting over two months), equine support services (veterinarians, farriers, dental and alternative therapy practitioners), trainers, competitors and local equine-related businesses, this area offers a tremendous opportunity for anyone eager to increase their knowledge of the horse industry.
A native of Italy who grew up in Venice, Sanna was already a certified equine physical therapist for performance horses in her home country but wanted more education.
“I didn’t want general equine science, which you can find at other schools. I wanted more teaching in equine rehabilitation because I want to specialize in race and performance horses,” says Sanna. “After doing research online and finding Central Florida, I came to visit and talked with Judy Downer, who became my horsewoman role model.”
For Sanna, Central Florida became her first choice because of the specific studies offered. For her in particular, the chance to study exercise and physiology of the performance horse in the middle of horse country was a dream come true.
“I just love Vintage Farm. Having our own farm and horses makes it easier,” says Sanna. “I’ve been very lucky in that during my last year of college, we were able to enjoy the horses at Vintage Farm and do labs there. Students can volunteer to help take care of the horses and you feel part of something.”
Prior to having the farm, whenever students had to do anything with live horses, they were taken to an area farm. This worked well in many situations, but in the case of more hands-on lessons, local farm management wasn’t too keen on having students use their high-dollar Thoroughbreds to practice advanced restraint techniques, for example.
Downer notes that students enrolled in the new bachelor’s program will benefit from even more time at the college’s farm, which is only about five miles from campus. Plans call for the construction of a vet clinic lab with offices, covered arena, and classrooms. Some classes will actually be held at the farm, beginning with the fall semester.
In the spring of 2019, students in CF’s equine program will host Vintage Farm’s first public event. This education day on “Things Every Horse Owner Needs to Know” will be wholly organized and taught by the students.
Lasting Impact
Vintage Farm is being used as a teaching laboratory for both the college’s Equine Studies and Agribusiness programs, the latter of which is headed by Matthew Albritton. Vegetables harvested in the garden are even used in the college’s catering business. But the farm represents more than just a place to learn. It also provides the opportunity to understand more clearly why this area is such a vital part of our state’s history and economy.
Walking these quiet pastures and breathing deeply beneath the sheltering canopy of old oaks is a link to an earlier time. Long before Disney unveiled his fantasy vacation world and revelers flocked to the beaches for spring break, this part of Florida welcomed settlers intent on starting a new life. It was a life filled with challenges from weather, wild animals, rustlers, and renegades–even the land itself–but for those determined pioneers, a chance to own a piece of that land was worth the effort.
For the students studying at Vintage Farm today, and for those who will reap its benefits decades from now, the land continues to share its lessons and bless those who pause long enough to listen and learn.
The College of Central Florida offers over 70 degree and certificate programs, including Agribusiness and Equine Studies. We would like to extend a thank you to Dr. Judy Downer and to CF for allowing us the opportunity to learn more about Vintage Farm and visit the farm.
The Community Spotlight Series was created to highlight local residents, businesses, and events that contribute to making Ocala the city that we love. You can take a look at our previous Community Spotlights here.