FARM BUSINESS PROFILE: HopScratch Farm

September 8, 2022

It helps to have agricultural industry experience to start a farm business. Such is the case of Amy Crone, co-owner of HopScratch Farm in Harwood. By Amy’s description, the farm is a small property of about 12 acres on which she and her husband Tom raise, produce and sell a variety of pastured food items.

“The chickens were our first foray into producing things ourselves. We have eggs for sale. We also have sheep so we have lamb for sale. We have a couple of steers so we have beef as well. Recently, we completed a small shop on the property so folks can come in and buy our products or other items from local producers like honey, goats milk soap, and fermented products.” The farm serves as a drop off point for Floating Lotus Farmstead’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and offers self-care horse boarding.

The name of the property is unique. The Crones created a yard to grow hops and when combined with the fact that chickens were on their property, HopScratch Farm came into being.

The couple each brought agricultural experience to HopScratch Farm. Tom grew up on a farm in Ohio. Amy gained her experience in government and from managing a nonprofit. “I originally started with the Maryland Department of Agriculture running their farmers market nutrition program and then I left that to start the Maryland Farmers Market Association (MDFMA). I now run programs that support farmers and markets to accept the federal nutrition benefits, the SNAP program in particular. I run a National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (NAFMNP) project funded by the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) to provide that service to farmers and farmers markets all over the country.”

Amy and Tom operate the farm on their own in addition to working their day jobs during the week and raising their two children. Their family and work schedule figure prominently in how they operate and plan to grow the business. “We have carefully chosen all the animals on our farm to be low maintenance and have chores that we can do after working a full day.”

The Crones, who use a butcher on the Eastern Shore for their processing, give a lot of consideration to their inventory. “We’re still trying to find the right breeds that work for us and what kind of schedule works so that we always have meat available for customers. Just having that consistency of inventory and sales outlets is something we’re working on. Finding the right balance between the farm and everything else is a challenge we continue to navigate on a daily basis.”

From the pandemic to supply chain issues to increased grocery costs all impacting consumers shopping habits, buying local is a trend the continues to grow and HopScratch Farm is hoping to benefit from that interest. “Folks have been more interested in finding their food locally where they are confident where it’s coming from and what to expect. In term of specific products, we’ve found that smaller easier cuts are more approachable for people. For example, with lamb, rather than buying an entire leg, folks may want chops that are easier to throw on a grill and cook quickly. It’s less time cooking and less effort in preparation.”

Despite the challenges of being a business owner, Amy is enthusiastic about the industry and has sage advice for prospective entrepreneurs. She says to map out plans of where the business should go and think about some contingencies if things don’t go as planned. “Talk with as many people as possible who are doing what you think you’d like to be doing. Make as many connections as you can with people who can give you true insights into the kind of agricultural business that you are looking to form. I would like to highlight the LEAD Maryland program, which is an agricultural fellowship program where you spend two years with a cohort of 20 fellows. You learn about all the different industries within Maryland agriculture and the program culminates in an international trip. That experience was fantastic for me.”

For more information on HopScratch Farm and its products, please visit their website or follow Amy and Tom on Instagram and Facebook.

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