In February 2010 the WNC Agricultural Options Program awarded 42 farmers grants totaling $225,000 to assist them in completing farm diversification projects.
Three of the producers received $9,000 grants, 27 received $6,000 and 12 received $3,000. Projects increase the economic sustainability of farm businesses as well as provide demonstration to other transitioning farmers.
Select a Topic to View the Results
County: Farm Name; Recipient Name; Project
Agritourism
Mitchell: Harrell Hill Farms; Doug Harrell; Increased Agri-Tourism & Produce Production — GO >>
Watauga: Danny Miller; Choose and Cut — GO >>
Mitchell: OakMoon Farm & Creamery; Cynthia Sharpe; Goat Husbandry &
Cheese-making Workshops Expansion — GO >>
Watauga: David Tucker; New River Corn Maze & Dark Mountain Choose & Cut — GO >>
Beekeeping
Macon: Rabbit Creek Bee Company; Tim & Annie Burrell; Queen Rearing & Bee Breeding — GO >>
Madison: Jon Christie; Wild Mountain Apiaries Diversification Project — GO >>
Jackson: Catamount Honey; Al McNeely; Beekeeping Expansion — GO >>
Madison: Rickey Ramsey; Ramsey’s Organic Greenhouse — GO >>
McDowell: Ray Revis; Russian Honeybees for Beekeepers — GO >>
Fruits & Vegetables
Polk: DeerHaven Hills Farm; Gail Blate; Drip Irrigation for Blueberries — GO >>
Buncombe: Anthony Cole; Production of Traditional, Specialty, Heirloom Pumpkins
& Winter Squash — GO >>
Haywood: Dibe Duckett; No-till pumpkins — GO >>
Macon: Peaceful Valley Nursery; Eddie Evans; Irrigation & Blueberries — GO >>
Mitchell: Harrell Hill Farms; Doug Harrell; Increased Agri-Tourism & Produce Production — GO >>
Haywood: Ronald James; Polly Planter Seeder — GO >>
Watauga: Springhouse Farm; Amy Johnston; Springhouse Farm Produce Stand — GO >>
Henderson: McConnell Farms, Inc.; Danny McConnell; Strawberry Disease Mgt.
with 21st Century Greenhouse Technology — GO >>
Buncombe: Gladheart Farms; Michael Porterfield; Produce Processing-Packing Facility — GO >>
Henderson: Mountain View; Michael, David, Adam & Andrew Pressley; Blueberries — GO >>
McDowell: Manoah Farms; Frank & Rhonda Seaman; Vegetable Wagon — GO >>
Haywood: Don Smart; Fresh Market Cucumbers — GO >>
Graham: Jean Taylor; Heirloom Vegetable Plant Production — GO >>
Livestock
Buncombe: Marshall Bailey; On-Farm Store: Grass-fed Meats and Lumber — GO >>
Henderson: Vineyards Edge; Tambra Buford; Dairy Goat Farm — GO >>
Buncombe: Crain Family Farm; Tamara Crain; Poultry Advancement — GO >>
Swain: Balltown Bee Farm; Quintin Ellison; Rabbitry for Commercial Meat — GO >>
Yancey: Firefly Farm; Elizabeth Gibbs; Heritage Rabbits for Meat and Breeding Stock — GO >>
Avery: Bobby Gragg; Artificial Insemination of Cattle — GO >>
Clay: Bass & Seth Hyatt; Grass Fed Angus Beef — GO >>
Transylvania: Livestock; David Mackey; Beef Freezers — GO >>
Madison: East Fork Farm; Steve & Dawn Robertson; Cage Free Rabbits — GO >>
Buncombe: Hominy Valley Farms – Land and Cattle; Frank & Jeanette Wilson;
The Loca-Motive: A New Meat Market Opportunity — GO >>
Nurseries & Ornamentals
Macon: Peaceful Valley Nursery; Eddie Evans; Irrigation & Blueberries — GO >>
Buncombe: Useful Plants Nursery; Chuck Marsh; Propagation Facility — GO >>
Henderson: Magnolia Ridge Farm; Dennis Niemeyer; Galax & Native Wildflower Production — GO >>
Specialty Crops
Avery: William Beuttell; Eastern Hops Production — GO >>
Buncombe: Hop N’ Blueberry Farm; Van Burnette; Milkweed Production & Butterfly Farming — GO >>
Buncombe: Anna & Paul’s Farm; Paul & Anna Littman; Shiitake Mushroom Expansion
& Season Extension — GO >>
Transylvania: Mountain Moss; Annie Martin; Green Alternatives for WNC Farmers:
Eco-friendly Mosses — GO >>
Tree Farms
Watauga: Danny Miller; Choose and Cut — GO >>
Watauga: David Tucker; New River Corn Maze & Dark Mountain Choose & Cut — GO >>
Value-Added
Henderson: Vineyards Edge; Tambra Buford; Dairy Goat Farm — GO >>
Buncombe: Venezia Dream Farm; Starr Cash; Fiber Product, Value Added — GO >>
Haywood: Sunburst Trout; Sally Eason; Expansion of a Diversified Value-Added Farm Product — GO >>
Avery: Kyle Kitchin; Sugar Bear Maple Syrup Marketing — GO >>
Buncombe: Michael Porterfield; Produce Processing-Packing Facility — GO >>
Haywood: Kaleb Rathbone; Value-added Options – Frozen Strawberries & Direct Marketing Beef — GO >>
Vineyard
Cherokee: Calaboose Cellars; Eric Carlson; Vineyard Expansion to Sustain Local Made Wine — GO >>