Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Lucas Sorrells, Cold Mountain Angus Portable Cattle Handling Equipment Grant Award: $8,000 Fourth generation farmer Lucas Sorrells grazes cattle on several different farms, some without cattle handling/working facilities. His new portable chute has allowed him to work the cattle in … View >>
Kelsey Green, Our Friendly Allies The Processing Facility Project Grant Award: $8,000 Kelsey started Our Friendly Allies six years ago, and with the help of two previous AgOptions grants, has expanded to three greenhouses to grow certified organic herbs, medicinal … View >>
Charles L. “Butch” Deal High Pressure Boom Sprayer for Vegetables and Fruit Grant Award: $8,000 A 10th generation farmer whose family has been producing vegetables/tobacco for over 70 years, Mr. Deal will be purchasing a more efficient and modern sprayer … View >>
Sharon Marler and Christopher Scott Brazil, Blue Winter Farm Farm Diversification and Upgrades Grant Award: $8,000 Since 2010, Blue Winter Farm has been raising registered Black Angus and registered Red Hereford cattle. In order to upgrade to a full scale … View >>
Alyson Wade, The Farm Connection Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Gardens, Video Marketing and Risk Mitigation Grant Award: $8,000 Working on a multi-pronged approach to grow their successful nursery, The Farm Connection used their grant in three ways. Because nursery sales are … View >>
Randall Gifford, Greenshine Farms Operation Ten X Grant Award: $8,000 Greenshine Farms has embarked on an ambitious endeavor for a tenfold increase in production on their farm. Having doubled their revenue every year since 2016, Greenshine Farm has the experience … View >>
Timothy Keller, Keller Farm Goat Expansion for Profit Grant Award: $8,000 With the goal of increasing their goat herd to 100 head by 2026, the Kellers will convert approximately 3,000 feet of barbed wire previously used for cattle containment to … View >>
Jonathan Forbes, Forbes Farm Cattle Weighing System Grant Award: $4,000 Jonathan has been selling cow/calf pairs, bred cows and feeder cattle since 2018, earning him tens of thousands of dollars per tractor trailer load. In order to maximize profits, open … View >>
Jon Klimstra, TK Family Farm Apple Cold Storage Facility Grant Award: $8,00 Jon used his first AgOptions grant in 2016 to establish a high-density apple orchard and was able to harvest 541 bushels of apples by his third season. In … View >>
Sarah Lasswell, Moss & Thistle Farm WNC-Grown Willow for Sustainable Caskets Grant Award: $8,000 After planting two rows of willow for erosion control as part of her 2019 AgOptions grant, Sarah began to research uses for willow rods and discovered … View >>
Alexandra and Daniel Brown, Browns Farm Ridge Total Mixed Ration for Local Beef Production Grant Award: $8,000 In less than three years, Browns Farm Ridge has increased their sales of beef through direct sales in multiple local farmers markets, the … View >>
Elaine Ollis, Ollis Farms Feedlot Facility Grant Award: $8,000 As Ollis Farms has grown over the years, so has the task of feeding the animals she raises for her retail meat shop. To add efficiency and safety to her feeding … View >>
Justin Stines, Stines Farms Improvements to Cattle Handling Facility Grant Award: $8,000 Justin raises preconditioned cattle and markets them at the Abingdon Feeder Cattle sale, as well as to other local beef producers. To make his cattle operation safer for … View >>
Loretta Ball, The Never Ending Flower Farm Bathroom and Farm Store Grant Award: $8,000 Loretta has constructed a building on her farm that houses a bathroom and a small farm store space where visitors can shop and get supplies to … View >>
Kathleen and Michael Balogh, Mountain Meadows Nursery Nursery Expansion Grant Award: $8,000 COVID positively impacted the nursery trade with people turning to their yards and gardens for exercise and enjoyment. Mountain Meadows’ sales have increased since June 2020 with many … View >>
Gwendolyn Casebeer and Jay Englebach, Black Trumpet Farm Recycling Local Materials to Improve Efficiency in Gourmet Mushroom Production Grant Award: $8,000 Responding to sustained demand, Gwen and Jay used their 2020 AgOptions grant to obtain a 130-gallon mushroom substrate … View >>