QandA_GregWheeler.qxp_Florida Horse_template 9/18/20 11:15 AM Page 34
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The Florida Horse editor-in-chief Brock Sheridan sat down with Greg Wheeler, the outgoing president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’Association (FTBOA), to reflect upon his time in office and on the state of the thoroughbred industry as it continues to navigate the coronavirus pandemic. BS - It’s hard to believe that this month you will complete your one-year term as FTBOA’s president and board of directors chairman. What are some of your biggest takeaways from the experience? GW - The dedication and drive that the board members and staff display every day in running this operation are truly exceptional. As the ground suddenly began to shift under our feet early this year, senior management identified all aspects of what was or might be changing within our industry due to the spread of the coronavirus. The board, the staff, and our key Tallahassee-based advisors then got to work studying the potential outcomes, even as the circumstances were changing daily. We were actually able to look forward through the fog of multiple uncertainties, make a plan, implement it, and maintain the flexibility to modify that plan as needed. As I look around at many of the other thoroughbred states and jurisdictions, I would venture to say that we have fared better than most. So, my biggest takeaway would be that I have seen firsthand, from a unique vantage point, that the leadership, staff, and membership of the FTBOA are as strong as I have seen in any group or association I have ever been around.
BS - Unfortunately, over half of your term as president has taken place during the coronavirus pandemic and accompanying recession. From your perspective, how did these new challenges and uncertainties impact you, your farm, your work, your presidency, the FTBOA, and the industry?
34 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2020
with FTBOA president
GW - We have all been impacted by the pandemic, every single one of us. My wife, Donna, and I are the epitome of a small farm owner and breeder. Like many small operations, we don’t necessarily have the financial backing, clout, or fortitude that larger outfits may have to endure such a lengthy shutdown of the economy. Also, like most, we live from sale to sale, and we pray for those monthly breeder award checks. For us, as it was for so many, the sales were tough, and the cut in the breeder awards structure stung. It has hurt and it’s been a struggle. However, I am an optimist at heart. I am absolutely not accepting these times as a “new normal.” I feel strongly that in the coming months ahead, we — as a country, as a society, and as a community — are going to overcome this daunting challenge. Our economy and our industry will once again be vibrant and strong. In the interim, we need to take the proper steps to prepare ourselves, our farms, and our outfits for those brighter days ahead.
BS - Now that you’ve served as a board member and in almost every FTBOA officer position, what are your observations on the work, services, and programs undertaken by the FTBOA, both before and during the pandemic? GW - FTBOA’s services have always run like a well-oiled machine. Working with such a small team, efficiency has always been a top priority and FTBOA has mastered that. During the spring, FTBOA operations were impacted as the team began to work remotely, but the group’s advance planning ensured that there would be no interruption of services at such a critical time for our members. Two registration deadlines occurred while the FTBOA offices were closed to the public, and a third “relief ” deadline was added by the board in the midst of the pandemic, and FTBOA operations ran smoothly through
Greg Wheeler it all. For those who came to the FTBOA offices for the August foal registration deadline, they were greeted with a shady picnic table and a fan, an outdoor paperwork drop box, and a doorbell to call a staffer to assist them, if needed. FTBOA communications continued through a variety of methods, including mailings and publications with more digital placements, texts, and e-mails. While the FTBOA office was closed to the public, the staff continued to deliver the same high level of service our members have come to expect. One of the biggest impacts to our community was the cancellation of the FTBOA’s annual awards gala. This signature event honors those who have achieved so much in our industry, and the absence of that stage on which to celebrate their accomplishments was a real letdown. However, thanks to some creativity, board members and staff found a way to distribute many of the awards at the winners’ farms and businesses and still honor their success. These presentations were an important recognition of their hard work, even in the midst of a pandemic, and the photographs will preserve the memory of this unusual time in all of our lives. Additionally, the loss of our member day at Tampa, our fundraisers for Florida Thoroughbred Charities, and our charity golf outing, all of which give us a chance to enjoy each other’s company, were equally disappointing. However, these events will be back again. With no live events to use as a vehicle for our charity auctions, our charity committee chair Valerie Dailey has been working actively with our staff to put together the FTBOA’s first virtual auction. We know that with adversity comes innovation. Hopefully, we will find an even larger online audience to support our initiatives on thoroughbred retirement, educational scholarships, and other industry and community charities, raising even more dollars than we have in the past.
