In February 2023 the WNC Agricultural Options program awarded 31 farm businesses a total of $244,000 in grants to assist in farm diversification and expansion.
One of the farm businesses received $4,000 and 30 received $8,000. The N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission is the financial supporter of WNC AgOptions; which aims to build sustainable farming communities in the mountain region by providing resources directly to farmers.
Select a Topic to View the Results
County — Award; Farm; Project Name
Apples
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Maxine Hodges, Blossom Ridge Orchard; New Apple, Berry, and Flower Irrigation System
Agritourism
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Rick Rhinehart, Ruby Brown Farm; Multi-use Shed Facility & Future Farm Store
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Maxine Hodges, Blossom Ridge Orchard; New Apple, Berry, and Flower Irrigation System
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Kate and Fairman Jayne, Sandy Mush Herb Nursery; Farm Visit Improvements
Burke — Grant Award: $8,000; William Russ, Russwood Farms; Store Front
Haywood — Grant Award: $8,000; Danielle Keeter and Mark McDonagh, Mighty Gnome Market Garden; Walk-in Cooler for Farm Expansion and Agritourism Safety
Berries
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Maxine Hodges, Blossom Ridge Orchard; New Apple, Berry, and Flower Irrigation System
Burke — Grant Award: $8,000; William Russ, Russwood Farms; Store Front
McDowell — Grant Award: $8,000; Danielle Hutchison, Beacon Village Farm, LLC; Farm Store
Building
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Rick Rhinehart, Ruby Brown Farm; Multi-use Shed Facility & Future Farm Store
Macon — Grant Award: $8,000; John Cantrell, Mashburn Branch Vineyard; Small Winery Completion
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Emily Patrick, Carolina Flowers; Dried Flower Processing Chamber
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; Lisa and Dennis Braswell, Braswell Mountain Farms; Hay Storage Facility
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; Susan Owen, The Lily Patch Farm; Sorting, Storage, and Cooling Shed for Pawpaw
Yancey — Grant Award: $8,000; Billy Bryant, Bryant Farms; Packing Shed
Cattle/Beef
Avery — Grant Award: $4,000; Ruth McCloud, McCloud Farms; Bulk Grain Bin
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Rick Rhinehart, Ruby Brown Farm; Multi-use Shed Facility & Future Farm Store
Cherokee — Grant Award: $8,000; Keith Wood, Wood Farm LLC; Grass Fed Beef Fly Trap
Graham — Grant Award: $8,000; Matthew Nichols, Nichols Beef Farm; Working Facilities and Bulk Feed Trailer
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; Lisa and Dennis Braswell, Braswell Mountain Farms; Hay Storage Facility
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; Alvin Blake Brown, Brown’s Farm Ridge; Improving Performance of Grazing System
Corn
Cleveland — Grant Award: $8,000; Rodney and Lynn Willis, Willis Farms; 2 Row Vacuum Planter
Diversification
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Maxine Hodges, Blossom Ridge Orchard; New Apple, Berry, and Flower Irrigation System
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Chris Sawyer, Jake’s Farm; Expansion and Diversification
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Joan Walker, Fiddlesticks Farm; Season Extension Infrastructure Improvements
Equipment/Supplies
Avery — Grant Award: $4,000; Ruth McCloud, McCloud Farms; Bulk Grain Bin
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Michael Adams, Kestrel Herb Farm; Batch Dryer
Cherokee — Grant Award: $8,000; Keith Wood, Wood Farm LLC; Grass Fed Beef Fly Trap
Cleveland — Grant Award: $8,000; Rodney and Lynn Willis, Willis Farms; 2 Row Vacuum Planter
Graham — Grant Award: $8,000; Matthew Nichols, Nichols Beef Farm; Working Facilities and Bulk Feed Trailer
Haywood — Grant Award: $8,000; Danielle Keeter and Mark McDonagh, Mighty Gnome Market Garden; Walk-in Cooler for Farm Expansion and Agritourism Safety
Henderson — Grant Award: $8,000; Nicole Coston, Bearwallow Valley Farms; Wholesale and Process Improvement Plan
Macon — Grant Award: $8,000; John Cantrell, Mashburn Branch Vineyard; Small Winery Completion
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Emily Patrick, Carolina Flowers; Dried Flower Processing Chamber
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Morgan Decker, Root Bottom Farm; Gothic High Tunnel
McDowell — Grant Award: $8,000; Chue and Tou Lee, Lee’s One Fortune Farm; Rice Huller
Transylvania — Grant Award: $8,000; Nikki Sentelle Denson, River Bottom Bounty Farm; Tunneling Tomatoes
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; Alvin Blake Brown, Brown’s Farm Ridge; Improving Performance of Grazing System
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; Susan Owen, The Lily Patch Farm; Sorting, Storage, and Cooling Shed for Pawpaw
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; William Petty-Johnson, Mountain Flowers Hemp; Solventless Cannabinoid Extraction/Value Added Product Production
Expansion
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Chris Sawyer, Jake’s Farm; Expansion and Diversification
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Kathleen and Michael Balogh, Mountain Meadows Nursery; Nursery Irrigation and Expansion
Haywood — Grant Award: $8,000; Danielle Keeter and Mark McDonagh, Mighty Gnome Market Garden; Walk-in Cooler for Farm Expansion and Agritourism Safety
Polk — Grant Award: $8,000; Cheryl Judge-Decker, Paint Horse Flower Farm; Greenhouse to Expand Production
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; Alvin Blake Brown, Brown’s Farm Ridge; Improving Performance of Grazing System
Farm Stand/Store
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Rick Rhinehart, Ruby Brown Farm; Multi-use Shed Facility & Future Farm Store
Burke — Grant Award: $8,000; William Russ, Russwood Farms; Store Front
McDowell — Grant Award: $8,000; Danielle Hutchison, Beacon Village Farm, LLC; Farm Store
Fencing
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Tommy and Danni Speight, Bluff Mountain Nursery; Fencing for Katahdin Sheep
Flowers
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Maxine Hodges, Blossom Ridge Orchard; New Apple, Berry, and Flower Irrigation System
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Mandy Hornick, Blue Ridge Blooms; Covered High Tunnels
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Joan Walker, Fiddlesticks Farm; Season Extension Infrastructure Improvements
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Emily Patrick, Carolina Flowers; Dried Flower Processing Chamber
Polk — Grant Award: $8,000; Cheryl Judge-Decker, Paint Horse Flower Farm; Greenhouse to Expand Production
Fruit
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; Susan Owen, The Lily Patch Farm; Sorting, Storage, and Cooling Shed for Pawpaw
Goats
Cleveland — Grant Award: $8,000; Clinton Walker and Debbie Brentlinger, North Carolina Kikos; Project Kiko Cash
Greenhouse
Haywood — Grant Award: $8,000; William Wright, Wright Way Nursery; Wright’s Liner Greenhouse
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Morgan Decker, Root Bottom Farm; Gothic High Tunnel
Polk — Grant Award: $8,000; Cheryl Judge-Decker, Paint Horse Flower Farm; Greenhouse to Expand Production
Hemp
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; William Petty-Johnson, Mountain Flowers Hemp; Solventless Cannabinoid Extraction/Value Added Product Production
Herbs
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Chris Sawyer, Jake’s Farm; Expansion and Diversification
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Michael Adams, Kestrel Herb Farm; Batch Dryer
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Tommy and Danni Speight, Bluff Mountain Nursery; Fencing for Katahdin Sheep
High Tunnel Hoop House
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Mandy Hornick, Blue Ridge Blooms; Covered High Tunnels
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Joan Walker, Fiddlesticks Farm; Season Extension Infrastructure Improvements
Henderson — Grant Award: $8,000; Paul Shoemaker, Holly Springs Farm; Vegetable Season Extension Project
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Morgan Decker, Root Bottom Farm; Gothic High Tunnel
Transylvania — Grant Award: $8,000; Nikki Sentelle Denson, River Bottom Bounty Farm; Tunneling Tomatoes
Irrigation
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Maxine Hodges, Blossom Ridge Orchard; New Apple, Berry, and Flower Irrigation System
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Kathleen and Michael Balogh, Mountain Meadows Nursery; Nursery Irrigation and Expansion
Transylvania — Grant Award: $8,000; Nikki Sentelle Denson, River Bottom Bounty Farm; Tunneling Tomatoes
Land Improvements
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Kate and Fairman Jayne, Sandy Mush Herb Nursery; Farm Visit Improvements
Livestock
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Tommy and Danni Speight, Bluff Mountain Nursery; Fencing for Katahdin Sheep
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; Lisa and Dennis Braswell, Braswell Mountain Farms; Hay Storage Facility
Marketing
Cleveland — Grant Award: $8,000; Clinton Walker and Debbie Brentlinger, North Carolina Kikos; Project Kiko Cash
Natural Products
Cherokee — Grant Award: $8,000; Keith Wood, Wood Farm LLC; Grass Fed Beef Fly Trap
Nursery
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Kathleen and Michael Balogh, Mountain Meadows Nursery; Nursery Irrigation and Expansion
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Kate and Fairman Jayne, Sandy Mush Herb Nursery; Farm Visit Improvements
Haywood — Grant Award: $8,000; William Wright, Wright Way Nursery; Wright’s Liner Greenhouse
Organic
McDowell — Grant Award: $8,000; Danielle Hutchison, Beacon Village Farm, LLC; Farm Store
Processing/Production
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Michael Adams, Kestrel Herb Farm; Batch Dryer
Cleveland — Grant Award: $8,000; Clinton Walker and Debbie Brentlinger, North Carolina Kikos; Project Kiko Cash
Henderson — Grant Award: $8,000; Nicole Coston, Bearwallow Valley Farms; Wholesale and Process Improvement Plan
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Emily Patrick, Carolina Flowers; Dried Flower Processing Chamber
McDowell — Grant Award: $8,000; Chue and Tou Lee, Lee’s One Fortune Farm; Rice Huller
Watauga — Grant Award: $8,000; William Petty-Johnson, Mountain Flowers Hemp; Solventless Cannabinoid Extraction/Value Added Product Production
Yancey — Grant Award: $8,000; Billy Bryant, Bryant Farms; Packing Shed
Produce
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Joan Walker, Fiddlesticks Farm; Season Extension Infrastructure Improvements
Haywood — Grant Award: $8,000; Danielle Keeter and Mark McDonagh, Mighty Gnome Market Garden; Walk-in Cooler for Farm Expansion and Agritourism Safety
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Morgan Decker, Root Bottom Farm; Gothic High Tunnel
Sorghum
Cleveland — Grant Award: $8,000; Rodney and Lynn Willis, Willis Farms; 2 Row Vacuum Planter
Tomatoes
Henderson — Grant Award: $8,000; Paul Shoemaker, Holly Springs Farm; Vegetable Season Extension Project
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Morgan Decker, Root Bottom Farm; Gothic High Tunnel
Trees
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Kate and Fairman Jayne, Sandy Mush Herb Nursery; Farm Visit Improvements
U-Pick
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Maxine Hodges, Blossom Ridge Orchard; New Apple, Berry, and Flower Irrigation System
Burke — Grant Award: $8,000; William Russ, Russwood Farms; Store Front
Vegetables
Buncombe — Grant Award: $8,000; Joan Walker, Fiddlesticks Farm; Season Extension Infrastructure Improvements
Henderson — Grant Award: $8,000; Nicole Coston, Bearwallow Valley Farms; Wholesale and Process Improvement Plan
Henderson — Grant Award: $8,000; Paul Shoemaker, Holly Springs Farm; Vegetable Season Extension Project
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Tommy and Danni Speight, Bluff Mountain Nursery; Fencing for Katahdin Sheep
Madison — Grant Award: $8,000; Morgan Decker, Root Bottom Farm; Gothic High Tunnel
McDowell — Grant Award: $8,000; Danielle Hutchison, Beacon Village Farm, LLC; Farm Store
Yancey — Grant Award: $8,000; Billy Bryant, Bryant Farms; Packing Shed
Vineyard
Macon — Grant Award: $8,000; John Cantrell, Mashburn Branch Vineyard; Small Winery Completion