Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2019 Recipient: Pink Boots Farm

John Pearson, Pink Boot Farms Goat Barn Renovation/Milking Operation Grant Award: $6,000 John and Lynn Pearson’s farm project is to add goat milk, butter, and aged goat cheese production to the farm. To accomplish this goal, they renovated a 150 … View >>

2018 Recipient: Daintrey Trees

Adam and Bill Beuttell, Daintrey Trees Solar Greenhouse for Fraser Fir Seedlings/Transplants Grant Award: $6,000 To move away from being highly dependent on suppliers in the Pacific Northwest, the Beuttells installed a 16′ x 24′ solar powered greenhouse to grow … View >>

2018 Recipient: Franny’s Farm

Frances and Jeff Tacy, Franny’s Farm Chicken Processing Barn with Brooder Room Grant Award: $6,000 Franny’s Farm has streamlined their existing chicken operation with the addition of a dedicated processing barn with a brooder room. No longer does it take … View >>

2018 Recipient: Ruby Brown Farm

Rick Rhinehart, Ruby Brown Farm Pasture Raised Beef Grant Award: $6,000 Ruby Brown Farm has expanded their freezer beef operation by building a dedicated 12′ x 16′ storage building to house 2 commercial freezers for beef and improving their feeding … View >>

2018 Recipient: Mission Valley Farms

Deborah Witt Anderson, Mission Valley Farms Efficient Drip Irrigation and UV Water Purification for FSMA Grant Award: $6,000 In order to expand, diversify, meet the requirements of the Food Safety and Modernization Act and to continue farming, Deborah purchased a … View >>

2018 Recipient: Countryside Berries

Theresa Jaynes, Countryside Berries Muscadine Project Grant Award: $6,000 With the goal of doubling farm sales in two years, Countryside Berries has diversified their u-pick berry farm with the addition of muscadines. This season, they have planted 48 muscadine plants … View >>

2018 Recipient: Sugartown Farm and Nursery

Chip Hope, Sugartown Farm and Nursery Sustainable Plant Nursery Grant Award: $6,000 Chip has established a sustainable, low-tech plant nursery to produce naturally grown plants for sale and to offer workshops on growing food, medicinal plants, organic farming, including livestock … View >>

2018 Recipient: Postell Hollow Farm

Josh and Brooke Postell, Postell Hollow Farm Economical Sheep Feeding Area Grant Award: $3,000 Building on a successful 2017 WNC AgOptions grant to build a sheep working/handling facility, the Postells have turned an existing slant shed into a cost saving … View >>

2018 Recipient: Crookneck Farms

Brad Bumgardner, Crookneck Farms Packing and Cooling Center Grant Award: $6,000 To reduce losses, increase quality, extend the shelf life of their berries and reach new markets, Crookneck Farms has added a desperately needed cooling facility. The facility has satisfied … View >>

2018 Recipient: Crawford Acres

Chris and Michelle Crawford, Crawford Acres Vineyard Expansion and Diversification Grant Award: $6,000 Crawford Acres has expanded their grape plantings by 472 vines and diversified their crop with three new varieties of grapes. Their grant covered the costs for new … View >>

2018 Recipient: Goforth Livestock

Charles Edward “Trip” Goforth, Goforth Livestock Improving Beef Profits with TMR Feeding Grant Award: $6,000 Trip Goforth purchased a specialized piece of feeding equipment—a vertical mixer or TMR (Total Mixes Ration) mixer for his 40-head cow/calf beef operation. Trip currently … View >>

2018 Recipient: Lambert Farms

Danny and Krista Lambert, Lambert Farms Wood Chips and Manure Composting Grant Award: $6,000 The Lamberts are employing a wood chip/manure composting system on their farm to support the production of sustainably raised grass-fed beef, pastured chickens, pastured pork and … View >>

2018 Recipient: Double 00 Farm

Sophia Annette Ensley, Double 00 Farm Breed Preservation and Increased Production Grant Award: $3,000 Double 00 Farm has increased the size of their Large Black Hogs herd, a threatened breed of foraging hog that produces a micro-marbled meat. Their grant … View >>

2018 Recipient: Dreamy Bean Farm

Alexa Baker, Dreamy Bean Farm Heirloom Dry Beans and Dry Corn Production Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 To meet demand for heirloom beans and corn, Alexa has expanded production of specialty legumes and grains by a half-acre with the purchase of … View >>