Baltimore officials want to turn a north county farm into an agricultural hub with everything from office space to horse trails to beekeeper demonstrations.
“It?s long been a dream to locate all the agricultural agencies together so people can get all the information they need without driving around,” said Wayne McGinnis, who is chairman of the committee behind the center. “Then it expanded to the educational component.”
County Executive Jim Smith spoke above the hum of a tractor to announce the $3.85 million purchase of Rolling Mill Farm.
After signing the deed Thursday, he said the county has reserved an additional $3 million to design the center and begin construction next January. The 149-acre privately owned farm is across the street from Oregon Ridge park on Shawan Road in Hunt Valley.
Agricultural leaders commended Baltimore County for its restrictive zoning that keeps heavy development contained along the Beltway.
McGinnis said leaders have been trying to consolidate the state?s cooperative extension agencies for years. Other agencies, including the Maryland Horsebreeders Association, also may establish headquarters at the center, he said.
The county intends to keep about 100 acres of the farm in active agricultural use. The county also plans to build horse trails and open the center to school groups.
The center will likely open in 2009, Smith said.
Smith called the center an extension of the county?s rural land preservation program and thanked those that “planted the seeds.”
FUNDING SOURCES
» $900,000 from county?s general fund
» $1.89 million in Program Open Space funding
» $1 million from federal land and water conservation fund
Source: Baltimore County Office of Communications
