Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Thomas E. Shepherd, Jr. Headwaters of Poverty Farm Grant Award: $6,000 — Specialty Poultry Thomas is raising and processing specialty poultry, focusing on poussins, three-week-old chickens. With the purchase of a brooder, grow-off pens and processing equipment, he is raising … View >>
Anthony Cole Jasperwood Farm Grant Award: $3,000 — Production of Colored Bell Peppers Anthony is diversifying his winter squash, livestock and Christmas tree farm with the production of full color bell peppers, which provides cash flow at a time period … View >>
Marshall Bailey On-Farm Store; Lumber Grant Award: $6,000 Marshall passed away during the grant cycle and was unable to complete the project. Marshall was establishing an On-Farm Store in Barnardsville featuring grass-fed beef, pork, produce and other farm products from … View >>
Van Burnette: Hop N’ Blueberry Farm Milkweed Production & Butterfly Farming Grant Award: $3,000 Van is establishing a commercial milkweed operation. The primary customers for milkweed are butterfly farmers who are unable to produce sufficient food supply for caterpillars. Van … View >>
Starr Cash: Venezia Dream Farm Fiber Product, Value-Added Processing Grant Award: $3,000 Starr is purchasing fiber processing equipment (micro-mill or cottage scale) to add value to fiber produced by her own herd of alpacas as well as that of the … View >>
Anthony Cole Production of Traditional, Specialty and Heirloom Pumpkins and Winter Squash Grant Award: $6,000 Anthony is expanding his pumpkin operation with the purchase of a no-till planter unit and air blast sprayer. He is planting into managed wheat residue … View >>
Tamara Crain: Crain Family Farm Crain Family Farm Poultry Advancement Grant Award: $3,000 Tamara is expanding the production of layers and broilers at her grandfather’s farm. All of her animals will be raised free-range with no antibiotics and no animal … View >>
Paul & Anna Littman: Anna & Paul’s Farm Shiitake Mushroom Expansion & Season Extension Grant Award: $6,000 The Littmans are increasing their mushroom production during summer months and extending their production season with the construction of a cold frame. They … View >>
Chuck Marsh and Debbie Lienhart: Useful Plants Nursery Propagation Facility Grant Award: $6,000 Useful Plants Nursery specializes in growing food and medicinal plants for local and regional markets, including fruit and nut trees, berry bushes and herbaceous perennials. With this … View >>
Michael Porterfield: Gladheart Farms Produce Processing-Packing Facility Grant Award: $6,000 Gladheart Farms is building a packing and processing facility for farm produce, which will include a canning area and walk-in cooler for product storage. This new facility will improve food … View >>
Frank & Jeanette Wilson Hominy Valley Farms – Land and Cattle The Loca-Motive: A New Meat Market Opportunity Grant Award: $9,000 The Wilsons are opening a market stand for local meat at the WNC Farmers Market at Asheville. They are … View >>
Van Burnette Hop and Blueberry Production – Grant Award: $6,000 “Just applying for the grant was the best thing I could have done. I learned so much — the cost, the activities, just narrowing what I wanted to do with … View >>
Walter & Wendy Harrill, Imladris Farm The Bunny Barn – Grant Award: $6,000 The Harrills are full-time farmers, who have grown berries since 2000 to process gourmet jam to sell at open-air markets, festivals, online, groceries, restaurants and gift shops … View >>
Susan Mallard & Viki Nofke, Blue Heron Farm Culinary Herb Project – Grant Award: $6,000 Susan Mallard (CoOwner) & Viki Nofke (Farm Manager) Blue Heron Farm has produced fruits, vegetables and herbs since 1986 and been members and co-founders of … View >>
Neal & Ava Morgan Creating non-corn-based feed for beef cattle – Grant Award: $3,000 Neal is a third-generation farmer and has raised black angus beef cattle and alfalfa hay since 1984. He grew tobacco prior to 1994, and then leased … View >>
Janet Shisler Peterson, Cloud 9 Farm Sustainable Sawmilling – $9,000 “This WNC AgOptions project gives me the support for making a business plan with follow through. The grant will enable me to maintain a healthy forest, focus on the sustainability … View >>