Family Of “Hustlers” Makes Living On 44-Acre Farm
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In 1997 Craig Sirna and his family decided it was time to move from the city to a farm. Craig, his wife Anne Marie and their 3 children bought a 44-acre wooded farm site and began raising their own food. They bought a steer, some chickens, planted a large garden and some hay. The children joined 4-H and showed turkeys, chickens and steers. Craig and Anne Marie started a roadside stand to market sweet corn, pumpkins, gourds and vegetables.
Sirna says their farm became an entirely different lifestyle after he’d spent 34 years as a full-time police officer. “At times I wish we’d moved out here long before we did,” he says. The Sirna’s farm market is open seasonally and they’ve recently expanded into hydroponic greenhouses. One of them houses strawberries and the other is used for raising produce and greens. Last year they built 4 high tunnel greenhouses that they hope will expand the growing season for some of their crops.
“Without the help of my wife and children none of these things would’ve been possible,” Sirna says. “We’ve grown not only in size, but in gaining a great respect for farmers and what they do for us.” The Sirna’s children Anthony (30), Kristin (29) and Kaitlyn (22) all have a role in the family business. The farm produces its own maple syrup from 314 taps, which netted 80 gal. last year. They have 5 beehives that produce honey and stock locally produced wine, canned goods, vegetables and fruits.
In 2013, the family jumped at a chance to buy a local pizzaria, which is just a few miles from their farm. Kaitlyn runs the day-to-day operations with assistance from Anne Marie, who makes pizza sauce every day from vegetables they grow on their farm. Several pizzas are topped with Sirna’s homemade Italian sausage and nitrate-free bacon. They always try to use as many of their own and other locally grown products as possible on their pizza.
The Sirnas also have a small herd of purebred Angus cattle, a Texas longhorn steer, a buffalo, and free-range chickens that produce several dozen brown eggs a day. Their farm store now sells more than 40 seasonal fresh vegetables along with certified Angus beef, sausages, Amish cheese products and locally produced jams, jellies, grains, spices and specialty foods.
Sirna says the whole transition and growth of the market has been quite a ride from humble beginnings 17 years ago. They participate in many local events to promote their business, have an active website, and use regular posts on social media to promote their business.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Sirna’s Farm and Market, 19009 Ravenna Rd., Auburn, Ohio 44023 (ph 440 834-0696; www.sirnasfarm.com).
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Family Of “Hustlers” Makes Living On 44-Acre Farm SPECIALTY/SERVICES In 1997 Craig Sirna and his family decided it was time to move from the city to a farm Craig his wife Anne Marie and their 3 children bought a 44-acre wooded farm site and began raising their own food They bought a steer some chickens planted a large garden and some hay The children joined 4-H and showed turkeys chickens and steers Craig and Anne Marie started a roadside stand to market sweet corn pumpkins gourds and vegetables Sirna says their farm became an entirely different lifestyle after he’d spent 34 years as a full-time police officer “At times I wish we’d moved out here long before we did ” he says The Sirna’s farm market is open seasonally and they’ve recently expanded into hydroponic greenhouses One of them houses strawberries and the other is used for raising produce and greens Last year they built 4 high tunnel greenhouses that they hope will expand the growing season for some of their crops “Without the help of my wife and children none of these things would’ve been possible ” Sirna says “We’ve grown not only in size but in gaining a great respect for farmers and what they do for us ” The Sirna’s children Anthony 30 Kristin 29 and Kaitlyn 22 all have a role in the family business The farm produces its own maple syrup from 314 taps which netted 80 gal last year They have 5 beehives that produce honey and stock locally produced wine canned goods vegetables and fruits In 2013 the family jumped at a chance to buy a local pizzaria which is just a few miles from their farm Kaitlyn runs the day-to-day operations with assistance from Anne Marie who makes pizza sauce every day from vegetables they grow on their farm Several pizzas are topped with Sirna’s homemade Italian sausage and nitrate-free bacon They always try to use as many of their own and other locally grown products as possible on their pizza The Sirnas also have a small herd of purebred Angus cattle a Texas longhorn steer a buffalo and free-range chickens that produce several dozen brown eggs a day Their farm store now sells more than 40 seasonal fresh vegetables along with certified Angus beef sausages Amish cheese products and locally produced jams jellies grains spices and specialty foods Sirna says the whole transition and growth of the market has been quite a ride from humble beginnings 17 years ago They participate in many local events to promote their business have an active website and use regular posts on social media to promote their business Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Sirna’s Farm and Market 19009 Ravenna Rd Auburn Ohio 44023 ph 440 834-0696; www sirnasfarm com
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