Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2026 Recipient: D and J Trees

D and J Trees Soil Amendments to Reduce the Effects of Phytophthora Root Rot on Fraser Firs Grant Award: $10,000 D and J Trees grows Fraser Firs, which are susceptible to root rot caused by Phytophthora. Jack will use his grant … View >>

2021 Recipient: SKYe2Farm

Charles King, SKYe2 Farm Electricity to Drying Container and Greenhouse Grant Award: $6,000 To help meet growing demand for its high revenue-producing dried hemp, garlic, herbs, mushrooms, hops and seed, and to increase production of cut flowers and vegetable crops, … View >>

2020 Recipient: High Country Fungi

Avery Hughes, High Country Fungi Upgrades to Production Facility Grant Award: $3,000 To increase consistency of his product and expand production to meet demand of culinary and medicinal mushrooms, High Country Fungi made improvements to their current growing facility. They … View >>

2019 Recipient: Sky2Farm

  To increase production in order to meet current demand and to create a new revenue stream, Charles King expanded his lavender farm by 470 plants as part of a new venue for agritourism events. Mr. King planted a 3,000 … View >>

2019 Recipient: Tucker Hollow Farms

Grady “Bob” Johnson, Jr., Tucker Hollow Farms Bedding and Propagating Greenhouse Grant Award: $6,000 Bob Johnson has added a dedicated bedding and propagation greenhouse to his existing operation. The new greenhouse is allowing his farm to extend the growing season … 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: Hall’s Hill Farm

Wood Hall Young, III, Hall’s Hill Farm Greenhouse Expansion and Season Extension Grant Award: $3,000 To remain a sustainable operation, Hall’s Hill Farm will now be able to double CSA memberships by creatively utilizing a non-traditional hoop house for 12-month … View >>

2017 Recipient: Trosly Farm

Amos & Kaci Nidiffer, Trosly Farm High Tunnel Season Extension Grant Award: $6,000 Amos and Kaci have added a 30-foot by 72-foot high tunnel to their vegetable operation, allowing them to double their current production. With the increased volume, they … View >>

2016 Recipient: Gragg Farms

Bobby Gragg, Gragg Farms BRG Angus Local Grown Meat Production Grant Award: $6,000 Building on a successful 2010 WNC AgOptions project, Bobby has added on-farm sales of BRG Angus with the addition of a walk-in freezer. He can now store … View >>

2015 Recipient: Wards Farm

Brent Ward, Wards Farm Cattle Handling System Grant Award: $3,000 Brent is improving the safety and efficiency of his cattle farm by adding a handling system, including a covered and fenced separation area. This dedicated space allows Brent to better … View >>

2015 Recipient: Sh-Nanny-Gans

Shannonrae and Rickie Mathes, Sh-Nanny-Gans Targeted and Rotational Grazing for Goats Grant Award: $6,000 Shannonrae and Rickie are transitioning 58 acres of Fraser Firs into pasture for Boer meat goats, currently in 19 acres. The goats are rented to landowners … View >>