Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2021 Recipients

2021 Recipient: McNeilly Enterprises

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Julia Austin, McNeilly Enterprises Enhancing Capacity with Multi-purpose Facility Grant Award: $6,000 The owners of McNeilly Enterprises are constructing a 20-foot by 25-foot multipurpose building. They have purchased a commercial honey extractor and other equipment and supplies to facilitate processing … View >>

2021 Recipients

2021 Recipient: Willis Farms

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Rodney Willis, Willis Farms Sorghum Syrup and Cornmeal Process Upgrades Grant Award: $6,000 Rodney and Lynn have constructed a metal-frame processing building for their sorghum syrup and cornmeal that meets current food safety standards. The processing facility is located adjacent … View >>

2020 Recipients

2020 Recipient: Mardet Family Farms

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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 Recipients

2020 Recipient: The Chef’s Farmer

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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 >>

2019 Recipients

2019 Recipient: Dollar Down Farm

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Barry L. Bingham, Dollar Down Farm Growing Under Sliding Thunder Grant Award: $6,000 Barry has added a movable high tunnel to his operation in order to extend his growing season, double his inside growing area, and increase his capacity to … View >>

2018 Recipients

2018 Recipient: Goforth Livestock

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Charles Edward “Trip” Goforth, Goforth Livestock Improving Beef Profits with TMR Feeding Grant Award: $6,000 Trip Goforth purchased a specialized piece of feeding equipment—a vertical mixer or TMR (Total Mixes Ration) mixer for his 40-head cow/calf beef operation. Trip currently … View >>

2018 Recipients

2018 Recipient: Crookneck Farms

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Brad Bumgardner, Crookneck Farms Packing and Cooling Center Grant Award: $6,000 To reduce losses, increase quality, extend the shelf life of their berries and reach new markets, Crookneck Farms has added a desperately needed cooling facility. The facility has satisfied … View >>

2017 Recipients

2017 Recipient: Flag Branch Farm

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Kimberly P. Peace, Flag Branch Farm Adding Value to Goat’s Milk Grant Award: $6,000 Kimberly converted an existing structure into a dedicated production facility for her goat farm, enabling her to manufacture a line of all-natural goat’s milk skin care … View >>

2017 Recipients

2017 Recipient: Big John’s Hydro Farm

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John and James Carroll, Big John’s Hydro Farm Back-Up Electricity and Mini-Fogger Grant Award: $6,000 John and his father James added a back-up generator to their existing 3,600-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse to deter crop loss during power outages. They are also … View >>

2016 Recipients

2016 Recipient: Circle C. Farms

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Jody Black, Circle C. Farms Improved Sweet Potato Operation Grant Award: $6,000 Jody has expanded the storage capacity for his 10-acre sweet potato operation by retrofitting a trailer for curing and storing potatoes. He added an air conditioner and heater, … View >>

2015 Recipients

2015 Recipient: Wild Dahlia Homestead

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  Stacey and Alex are growing native plants and forest food crops using permaculture methods, revitalizing compacted soils on forest edges at Stacey’s family farm. Crops include Jerusalem artichokes, American hazelnuts, pawpaws, Rabbiteye blueberries, American groundnuts and King Stropharia mushrooms. … View >>