Baltimore County Celebrates National Agriculture Day At Hideaway Farms

Towson, Md. (March 20, 2008)–Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith celebrated National Agriculture Day on this first day of spring with a tour of Hideaway Farms in Reisterstown.

"Agriculture is a vital part of Baltimore County's economic diversity, contributing an estimated $300 million each year to our county economy," said Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith as he declared March 20 Baltimore County Agriculture Day. 

National Agriculture Day is a time to recognize the contributions that are made by agriculture in our everyday lives. In Baltimore County, there are over 780 farms with more than 70,000 acres devoted to diverse agricultural uses including production of corn, soybeans, hay, wheat and barley crops, as well as livestock including sheep, cattle and horses. 

Tom and Joan Reynolds are the second generation to farm at Hideaway Farms, which produces turkeys, beef cattle and hogs, as well as vegetables, hay, and flowers. 

They have placed most of their 400-acre property in an agricultural land preservation program. Each year they operate a roadside produce stand at the intersection of Reisterstown Road and Cockeys Mill Road and sell more than 2,500 fresh turkeys during their traditional turkey harvest, which starts the Saturday before Thanksgiving.