The former United States Naval Academy Dairy Farm in Gambrills, MD, is now MD Sunrise Farm, LLC.  A family operated, 854 acre certified organic farm, this is the largest parcel of organic land in the state, and the only certified organic operation in Anne Arundel County.  Building upon a rich agricultural tradition, MD Sunrise offers an agricultural oasis to its suburban neighbors.  The farm is fully engaged in production agriculture using organic protocols to maintain a healthy environment for people, food, and animals near major population centers.  This working landscape provides a significant air and water filter, noise buffer and tranquil atmosphere, acting as respite from the pervasive hardscape of the surrounding area, while producing food and feed.  We grow market vegetables for local consumption, sell eggs from our free range hens, raise organic beef and dairy replacement heifers, sell organic hay, corn and soybeans, and host seasonal farm events.  The public is also invited to rent selected buildings.  A treasured part of local history,  the farm produced milk for the midshipmen at the Naval Academy from 1917 to 1998, assuring a safe, plentiful supply, and establishing a reputation for quality, cleanliness and adoption of modern agricultural practices.  The farm's 1930's village setting remains intact, with some buildings offered for event rentals.  This picturesque farm also hosts the Anne Arundel County 4-H Dairy Leasing Club, providing urban youth with a hands-on agricultural education experience.  The environmental education program Arlington Echo, which works with Anne Arundel County Public School students, uses the farm for its plant propagation Chesapeake Connections program.  City and country meet agreeably here in west Anne Arundel County - only miles from the state and national capitals, but worlds away from the frantic pace of metropolitan life.  We hope you will participate in one of our public events soon, and see for yourself what life is like, "down on the farm!"

MEET THE PEOPLE
Managing partners Edwin and Marian Fry were both raised on Maryland farms, and are both University of Maryland alumni. They live in Chestertown, MD, where Ed is President of Fair Hill Farms, Inc., a dairy and grain farm with 420 acres certified organic, and a milking herd of 250 cows.  Marian is the farm's bookkeeper and public relations manager. Ed and Marian are the 2006 Northeast Region winners of the Patrick Madden Award for Sustainable Agriculture.  This national recognition is presented by SARE biennially to individuals whose "whole farm" approach to agriculture contributes to a sustainable operation, enhancement of the environment and community involvement.
Farm Manager Petr Bocharov is an agricultural engineering graduate of Voronegh University in Russia. His wife and Office Manager, Oksana Bocharova, is an agronomy graduate of Belgorod University in Russia.  They live on-site at the farm, and are the friendly faces who greet your farm visits.
4-H Leader Gail Yeiser is both a University of Maryland alumna and employee. Gail is skilled in leading those with  non-farm backgrounds through the initiations of "life with large animals."

LEARN MORE ABOUT ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
A well defined set of standards governs the use of the term "certified organic."  You can learn more about the concept of organics through the National Organic Program.  MD Sunrise Farm is certified annually by the Maryland Department of Agriculture with our most recent inspection satisfactorily completed in Sept. 2007.  In support of the organic industry, we are members of the Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association (MOFFA).