Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Michael Adams, Kestrel Herb Farm Batch Dryer Grant Award: $8,000 Michael is building a forced air “batch” dryer for herbs. Currently, he uses a shipping container with wire shelving powered by a heater and dehumidifier. The new building and herb … View >>
Kate and Fairman Jayne, Sandy Mush Herb Nursery Farm Visit Improvements Grant Award: $8,000 The Sandy Mush Herb Nursery is diversifying their production model to increase on-farm sales and agritourism experiences to complement their traditional mail-order market. The Jaynes plan … View >>
Rick Rhinehart, Ruby Brown Farm Multi-use Shed Facility & Future Farm Store Grant Award: $8,000 With the growth of their freezer beef business, the Rhineharts are running out of room to store their farm implements, feed, and fertilizer. As a … View >>
Chris Sawyer, Jake’s Farm Expansion and Diversification Grant Award: $8,000 Desiring to lower labor demands and increase profits, Chris has begun to transition away from vegetables and has started producing perennial crops such as figs, small fruits, and medicinal herbs. … View >>
Joan Walker, Fiddlesticks Farm Season Extension Infrastructure Improvements Grant Award: $8,000 Fiddlesticks Farm is a mama-owned small farm in Alexander, NC focused on producing high-quality flowers, salad greens and vegetables using sustainable, regenerative methods. Joan and her family started the … View >>
Kathleen and Michael Balogh, Mountain Meadows Nursery Nursery Irrigation and Expansion Grant Award: $8,000 Over the 40 years that Mountain Meadows Nursery has been in business, the nursery irrigation source has been the well and pump that also serves the … View >>
Mandy Hornick, Blue Ridge Blooms Caterpillar Tunnels Grant Award: $8,000 The addition of two covered 50′ high tunnels will enable Blue Ridge Blooms to extend their season of spring flowers and produce a better quality crop than could be grown … View >>
Maxine Hodges, Blossom Ridge Orchard Apple, Berry, and Flower Irrigation System Grant Award: $8,000 Maxine, her son and daughter-in-law will add blackberries, raspberries, and a high-density apple orchard to diversify their current beef cattle operation. In the spring of 2023 … 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 >>
Nicolette Irving, Flourish Flower Farm Flourish Flower Farm Stand Grant Award: $8,000 Flourish Flower Farm used their 2020 AgOptions grant to purchase a walk-in cooler which enabled them to increase the quality and quantity of the flowers they provided to … View >>
Suzanne Nolter, Blazing Star Flowers Multi-Use Canopy Structure Grant Award: $8,000 Suzanne’s current location at the SAHC Community Farm requires her to drive offsite to arrange flowers and conduct workshops. Desiring to create a more productive, efficient, and comfortable … View >>
Andrew Rogers, Pinnacle View Farm Fence Line Feeding System Grant Award: $8,000 Andrew has added a fence line feeding system to the farm. The new structure allows Andrew and his father to safely feed their cattle while also reducing feed … View >>
Gerald and Karen Strickland, Hawks Nest Farm Cattle Handling Equipment Grant Award: $8,000 The Stricklands currently have 80 cows they maintain for a cow/calf operation. The deteriorated equipment they currently use is inadequate for vaccinating, A.I., and medical treatments, and … View >>
Morgan Metcalf, Burley Stick Farm Walk-In Freezer and Packing Facility Grant Award: $8,000 To meet a continuous customer demand with a seasonal product, The Morgans are building a 12′ x 40′ packing facility. This structure will be built on a … View >>