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GREATERBALTIMORECHAMBER.ORG | 13AGRICULTUREHere is a look at just a few of the many successful farming operations in Baltimore County. BRAGLIO FARMS BRAGLIOFARMS.COMLike many farms in Baltimore County, Braglio Farms is a family operation, tracing its roots to a horse farm started by current owner Roman Braglio%u2019s grandfather and great-grandfather in 1962. However, the beginnings of the current, far more wide-ranging operation date back about 10 years.%u201cI went to study Agricultural Economics at the University of Baltimore, and when I finished my career there, I came back and started what is now Braglio Farms,%u201d Braglio said. %u201cWe have three working farms within our business. We started with firewood and meat sales, but from there we started making a push toward the agritourism side of things. One of our farms is set up as a venue for private parties, field trips, festivals and seasonal events geared toward agriculture education for the community. On that venue farm, we also have a country market where we sell all of our packaged meats as well as local ice cream.%u201dFood trucks visiting the venue on Food Truck Fridays also sell food raised on Braglio Farms, Braglio noted. %u201cWe%u2019re an open venue and we allow people to come even when we don%u2019t have events. There are wildflower fields and bee hives and all sorts of things for everyone to experience farm life.%u201dBaltimore County is an ideal location for a farm operation such as Braglio%u2019s, he said. %u201cWe%u2019re a rural hub that%u2019s centrally located between Ellicott City, Sykesville, Owings Mills and Pikesville. There are tons of families and not too many other places for them to go out and experience this type of thing within a 10- to 15-mile radius.%u201dOAK SPRING FARM OAKSPRING-FARM.COMOak Spring Farm is a certified organic and family-owned farm specializing in CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, vegetable subscription shares. The farm makes approximately 90% of its revenue through these subscriptions, estimated Lisa Wheeler Duff, the farm%u2019s owner.%u201cI created the first CSA for Oak Spring Farm probably in 2008 or 2009,%u201d she said. %u201cIt started small and was truly organic in the sense of growth. It went from a little homestead to having so much food that I started selling to friends and family and eventually helped set up the first Hereford Farm Market.%u201dIn 2012, Duff went through a beginner farmer training program to help her further expand the operation, which now grows some 40 different crops, ranging from vegetables to fruit to herbs. While Duff is looking to move on and pass Oak Spring Farm to a new farmer, she has not lost her passion for agriculture or the community.%u201cI%u2019m hoping to transition into more of a teaching and coaching role,%u201d she said. %u201cI%u2019ve really appreciated this community.%u201dAbove: Oak Spring FarmFERGUSON FAMILY FARM FERGUSONFAMILYFARM.COMFarming was a part-time passion for owner Lynne Ferguson for years before she officially incorporated Ferguson Family Farm in 2011. She had been working first in medicine, then in construction, but transitioned to full-time farming on the advice of her mother.Today, Ferguson Family Farm is a thriving cattle, pork and poultry operation in Parkton with a focus on sustainable agriculture. %u201cWe sell Berkshire pork as well as grass-fed beef,%u201d Ferguson said. %u201cI also have pasture-raised turkeys, broiler chickens and eggs.%u201dThe farm%u2019s products are sold at the Greenbelt and Hereford Farmers Markets, but Ferguson also sells from multiple drop spots %u2014 such as in Catonsville and Hunt Valley %u2014 to get products to customers in other areas. As for the farm%u2019s location, Ferguson is very appreciative of the benefits of Baltimore County. %u201cIt%u2019s a nice place to live and raise a family, and that%u2019s why I chose to settle here.%u201dAbove: Pikesville Farmers Market