In January 2014 the WNC Agricultural Options program awarded 29 farmers grants totaling $153,000 to assist them in diversifying their farms.
Seven of the farm businesses received $3,000 and 22 received $6,000. Projects increase the economic sustainability of farm businesses as well as provide demonstration to other transitioning farmers.
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County — Award; Farm; Recipient(s); Project Name
Agritourism
Madison — Grant Award: $6,000; East Fork Farm; Stephen & Dawn Robertson; Gristmill — GO >>
Henderson — Grant Award: $6,000; North River Farms; Ronnie Davis; Sorghum Molasses and Agritourism — GO >>
Beef Cattle
Haywood — Grant Award: $3,000; Cold Mountain Nursery and Farm; Joshua Sorrells;
Expansion of Beef Cattle Using Strip Grazing — GO >>
Watauga — Grant Award: $6,000; M&H Livestock; Gregory Miller; Cattle Handling System — GO >>
Macon — Grant Award: $6,000; Warren Cabe Farm; Warren Cabe; Pasture-based Rotational Grazing; GO >>
Bees
Caldwell — Grant Award: $6,000; Blue Ridge Apiaries; Ryan Higgs; Nuc Production Expansion — GO >>
McDowell — Grant Award: $6,000; Hendley’s Farm; Bill Hendley; Apiary Expansion — GO >>
Berries
Jackson — Grant Award: $6,000; Twisted Ridge Farms; Abby Jones; Blackberries and Raspberries — GO >>
Dairy
Rutherford — Grant Award: $6,000; C-Saw Hill Farm; Lisa Higgins; Solar Hot Water Dairy Cheese Plant — GO >>
Goats
Swain — Grant Award: $6,000; Breedlove Farms; Patrick Breedlove; Myotonic Goats; GO >>
Hogs; Poultry and Sheep
Burke — Grant Award: $6,000; Bluebird Farm; Marie Williamson; Sustainable Hoophouse Farrowing — GO >>
Yancey — Grant Award: $6,000; Goldfinch Gardens; Cedar Johnson & Ben McCann; Lamb Production — GO >>
Madison — Grant Award: $6,000; Oconee Bell Alpacas; Leslee Wooton; The Appalachian Red Gallic — GO >>
Polk — Grant Award: $3,000; Old Mule Farm; Steve Modlin; Sheep Handling Facility — GO >>
Cherokee — Grant Award: $6,000; Stockbridge Farms; Jen & Zack Stockbridge;
Cold Storage for Pastured Poultry — GO >>
Nursery
Avery — Grant Award: $6,000; South Valley Nursery; Tyler Buchanan;
Greenhouse to Grow out Micropropagated Plants — GO >>
Specialty
Graham — Grant Award: $6,000; Pressley Hollow Farm; Megan Pressley; Truffle Orchard — GO >>
Value-Added
Yancey — Grant Award: $6,000; Banks Family Farms; Keith Banks; Sorghum Syrup — GO >>
Watauga — Grant Award: $6,000; Bingham Farm; Jeffrey MacBeth;
Cattle Facility Improvements and Meat Storage; GO >>
Polk — Grant Award: $3,000; Ruff B Farm; Chauncey Barber; Barber Boys’ Beef; GO>>
Buncombe — Grant Award: $6,000; Shady Place Farms; Neal Morgan;
Structure to House Value-added Freezer Beef; GO >>
Madison — Grant Award: $6,000; Trout Lily Farm; Phillip Kendall; Value-added Processing House; GO>>
Clay — Grant Award: $6,000; Walnut Hollow Ranch; Charlie Kissling; All Natural Beef Expansion; GO >>
Vegetables
Yancey — Grant Award: $3,000; D&D Farm; Danny Thomason;
Packing Shed, Delivery Trailer, Row Cover — GO >>
Henderson — Grant Award: $6,000; Edney Farms; Jason Edney; Packing Facility Upgrade — GO >>
Madison — Grant Award: $6,000; Paper Crane Farm; Joseph Evans;
Season Extension/Specialty Crop: Root Crop Production — GO >>
Yancey — Grant Award: $3,000; Riddle-Edwards Farm; Gerald Riddle; Sweet Potato and Corn Expansion — GO >>
Mitchell — Grant Award: $3,000; Tater Hill Farm; Linda Shell; Protection/Expansion/Diversification — GO >>
Transylvania — Grant Award: $3,000; The Farm at Gwynn Valley; Dale Robertson; Season Extension; GO >>