Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2020 Recipient: Causby Greenhouse

Jerry W. Causby, Causby Greenhouse Greenhouse Improvements Grant Award: $6,000 Once a thriving greenhouse business and an important part of the community, production at Causby Greenhouse has decreased over the past years. In order to increase production of vegetables and … View >>

2020 Recipient: D & M Apiaries

Mitch and Darlene Myers, D & M Apiaries Russian Honey Bee Expansion Program Grant Award: $6,000 Mitch and Darlene have expanded their Russian honeybee apiary in order to increase production of bees, honey and queens. The goal is to have … View >>

2020 Recipient: Lee Farms

Larry and Brandon Lee, Lee Farms Bulk Feed Storage Grant Award: $6,000 In order to save money and time, Lee Farms has added a facility to store bulk feed for their calving operation. Previously, they were feeding from 50 pound … View >>

2020 Recipient: Mardet Family Farms

Linda Laine, Mardet Family Farm LLC Infrastructure for Vegetable Production Grant Award: $6,000 Linda added critical irrigation infrastructure to her farm, which consists of two separate parcels of land totaling 23 acres. Previously, a one-acre parcel had a well, but … View >>

2020 Recipient: The Chef’s Farmer

James Swofford, The Chef’s Farmer Old North Farm Grant Award: $6,000 Having operated a successful farming business since 2012, James grows one acre of specialty ingredients for chefs and supplies boutique heirloom produce, culinary herbs, edible flowers and foraged ingredients … View >>

2020 Recipient: Saturnia Farm

Sarah Coury and Ben Pick, Saturnia Farm Nursery Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Saturnia Farm, a specialty perennial and native plant nursery, made needed renovations on the farm to expand nursery offerings.  They made improvements to an existing high tunnel, with … View >>

2020 Recipient: Gerald Rathbone

Gerald Rathbone Feed Bin for Lamb Operation Grant Award: $3,000 Having grown up on a tobacco and dairy farm, Gerald has been farming his entire life. His successful sheep operation brings in an average of $16,000 a year and has … View >>

2020 Recipient: D & R Bee Farm

David Massengill, D & R Bee Farm Updates for Increased Production Grant Award: $3,000 To increase pollination services and honey production, as well as provide a resource to the beekeeping community in Jackson County, David will be making necessary upgrades … View >>

2020 Recipient: The Flower Company

Daniel and Lori Cabe, The Flower Company Dahlia Flower Plugs and Soil Amendments Grant Award: $6,000 Since 1997, Daniel and Lori have operated The Flower Company Farmer and Florist in Otto, NC. This full-service florist specializes in local grown specialty … View >>

2020 Recipient: Seagle Livestock

Todd Seagle, Seagle Livestock Handling Facility for Spent Brewers Grain Grant Award: $6,000 Since the first craft brewery opened in Macon County in 2015, Todd has been taking advantage of the spent brewers grain to feed his cattle. He is … View >>

2020 Recipient: Caorach Farm

Joseph Paul Miller, Caorach Farm LLC Sheep/Goat Handling Equipment Grant Award: $3,000 A young and up-and-coming farmer, Paul has been operating his sheep business for about a year. As he is looking to increase the herd, it has become clear … View >>

2020 Recipient: Colfax Creek Farm

Nicole and Aaron Bradley, Colfax Creek Farm Walk-in Freezer Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 With the help of a 2017 AgOptions grant, Colfax Creek Farm has been very successful in the past few years and has expanded to supply eight restaurants, … View >>