The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association will honor national award winners at its awards dinner Sept. 7 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington. Five national winners have been announced ahead of time and BloodHorse Daily is offering profiles of these winners throughout the week.
Today we profile Castle Rock Farm, winner of the Robert N. Clay Conservation Award. Equine Land Conservation Resource is a co-presenter of this award.
There comes a point for many farm owners where they have to make the difficult decision on the future of their land. Peter Giangiulio and his sister Barbara Geraghty of Castle Rock Farm in Unionville, Pa., recently made that tough decision and hope their decision sets an example.
As an attorney, Giangiulio considered and researched all avenues regarding the future of their farm. Along with his wife, Stephanie, and brother-in-law Bill, Giangiulio and Geraghty decided to preserve their 113-acre farm in 2022 with Natural Lands, a nonprofit organization that saves open space, cares for nature, and connects people to the outdoors in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.
“You have a responsibility to the land, to the animals,” Giangiulio said. “You’re not losing anything by doing this, you’re gaining so much.”
Using a land protection tool known as a conservation easement, Natural Lands has ensured the property is never developed, preserving the pastoral, scenic views of the Brandywine Creek Valley. Castle Rock Farm can still be sold, but cannot be developed.
“You’ve grown very fond of the land and your neighbors, and everything that goes into it, that ultimately has a greater value than whatever money difference,” Giangiulio said.
The Brandywine runs through a portion of the property and is a popular place for locals to enjoy outdoor activities like kayaking and fishing.
“There’s a value to that and you can’t replace it,” Giangiulio said. “We did it for the right reasons. I am very proud of my family and my wife for seeing the best avenue for green space, for the neighborhood, for the people that enjoy it.”
In addition to his connection to the land that Giangiulio started working on with the horses when he was 8 years old, he also feels a responsibility to his horses.
Giangiulio and Geraghty have both followed their father’s passion for horses through owning and breeding Thoroughbreds. Giangiulio is a former president of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association and currently serves on its board. In addition, he is the vice president of Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines in Pottstown, Pa., a retirement farm for horses of all breeds. Having recently completed his 54th foaling season, Giangiulio has a deep connection to his horses and uses his farm as a sanctuary in their old age.
“What do you do with your friends?” he asked about developing the land. “That was part of the matter of trust that we accepted.”
In addition to his family, Giangiulio also thanked his farm manager June Hillman for her support over her 29 years of service at the farm.
“This is a team,” Giangiulio said. “Everyone is just as important as everyone else.”
