Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Jean Taylor Heirloom Vegetable Plant Production Grant Award: $6,000 In response to the high demand for heirloom vegetables, Jean is expanding her bedding plant operation by increasing her heated space and purchasing additional materials. She supplies other small growers with … View >>
Bill Beuttell Sr. & Will Beuttell Jr. Diversification of Family Farm with Hops Production Grant Award: $6,000 The Beuttells are establishing one acre of hops in a system designed specifically for steep terrains. Their method for growing and harvesting hops … View >>
Bobby Gragg Artificial Insemination of Beef Cattle Grant Award: $6,000 Bobby is increasing his ability to artificially inseminate cattle with top quality bulls; improving growth trait records; and enhancing marketability of his beef. He is purchasing a portable head gate … View >>
Kyle Kitchin Sugar Bear Maple Syrup Marketing Grant Award: $3,000 Kyle is purchasing a propane heated finishing cooker for his maple syrup operation. The cooker enhances the beauty and marketability of Grade A light amber maple syrup by allowing for … View >>
Marshall Bailey On-Farm Store; Lumber Grant Award: $6,000 Marshall passed away during the grant cycle and was unable to complete the project. Marshall was establishing an On-Farm Store in Barnardsville featuring grass-fed beef, pork, produce and other farm products from … View >>
Van Burnette: Hop N’ Blueberry Farm Milkweed Production & Butterfly Farming Grant Award: $3,000 Van is establishing a commercial milkweed operation. The primary customers for milkweed are butterfly farmers who are unable to produce sufficient food supply for caterpillars. Van … View >>
Starr Cash: Venezia Dream Farm Fiber Product, Value-Added Processing Grant Award: $3,000 Starr is purchasing fiber processing equipment (micro-mill or cottage scale) to add value to fiber produced by her own herd of alpacas as well as that of the … View >>
Anthony Cole Production of Traditional, Specialty and Heirloom Pumpkins and Winter Squash Grant Award: $6,000 Anthony is expanding his pumpkin operation with the purchase of a no-till planter unit and air blast sprayer. He is planting into managed wheat residue … View >>
Tamara Crain: Crain Family Farm Crain Family Farm Poultry Advancement Grant Award: $3,000 Tamara is expanding the production of layers and broilers at her grandfather’s farm. All of her animals will be raised free-range with no antibiotics and no animal … View >>
Paul & Anna Littman: Anna & Paul’s Farm Shiitake Mushroom Expansion & Season Extension Grant Award: $6,000 The Littmans are increasing their mushroom production during summer months and extending their production season with the construction of a cold frame. They … View >>
Chuck Marsh and Debbie Lienhart: Useful Plants Nursery Propagation Facility Grant Award: $6,000 Useful Plants Nursery specializes in growing food and medicinal plants for local and regional markets, including fruit and nut trees, berry bushes and herbaceous perennials. With this … View >>
Michael Porterfield: Gladheart Farms Produce Processing-Packing Facility Grant Award: $6,000 Gladheart Farms is building a packing and processing facility for farm produce, which will include a canning area and walk-in cooler for product storage. This new facility will improve food … View >>
Frank & Jeanette Wilson Hominy Valley Farms – Land and Cattle The Loca-Motive: A New Meat Market Opportunity Grant Award: $9,000 The Wilsons are opening a market stand for local meat at the WNC Farmers Market at Asheville. They are … View >>
Eric Carlson: Calaboose Cellars Vineyard Expansion to Sustain Local Wine Made from Local Grapes Grant Award: $3,000 Eric is expanding his vineyard by adding 150 Chambourcin vines, 75 Seyval vines, and 75 Catawba vines. His aim is to produce wine … View >>
Bass & Seth Hyatt Grass-Fed Angus Beef Grant Award: $6,000 The Hyatts are constructing a new cattle-working facility – corral, scales, chute and head-gate – for their grass-fed operation on a 640-acre farm. The equipment will encourage the careful monitoring … View >>
Dibe Duckett No-till Pumpkins Grant Award: $6,000 Dibe is transitioning 12 acres of pumpkins from plastic mulch production to no-till. The new system adds organic matter to the soil and limits the soil erosion in his fields, currently a challenge … View >>