Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Always Love Gardens Propagation House Grant Award: $10,000 Always Love Gardens sells organic, sustainably grown produce at both Haywood County farmers markets and the Smoky Mountain Harvest Hub. Over the past four years, Tim has learned that transplanting rather than direct … View >>
Danny Hyatt Farms Cattle Working Squeeze Chute Grant Award: $10,000 As a member of the Mountain Cattle Alliance (MCA), Danny sells preconditioned calves through the WNC Regional Livestock Center. Preconditioning produces healthier, more consistent calves in size and weight, enabling them … View >>
Dennis Francis Farm Walk-in Freezer to Increase Sales of Home-Grown Beef from Farm to Table Grant Award: $10,000 Dennis has been raising beef cattle on his farm for 40 years. Since beef cattle are subject to commodity pricing and fluctuation, Dennis … View >>
Pinnacle Farms Walk-in Cooler Grant Award: $10,000 Jennifer has seen steady growth in cut-flower sales since she began growing in 2022. For 2026, she scaled up significantly with 350 newly planted peonies. These flowers have a short harvest window, and … View >>
Shelton Laurel Farm Hay Storage/Multi-Purpose Structure Grant Award: $10,000 Michael and his family transitioned out of tobacco farming by building their herd of beef cattle. They currently raise 30-40 cow-calf pairs on 70 acres and sell unneeded hay from 28 acres. … View >>
Joseph Smart, Smart’s Farm Cattle Feeder Wagons Grant Award: $8,000 Having recently diversified his vegetable and tobacco operation with the addition of beef cattle, Joseph purchased two 18-foot feed wagons. The feed wagons will be an important part of his … View >>
William Wright, Wright Way Nursery Wright’s Liner Greenhouse Grant Award: $8,000 Sourcing 4″ rhododendron liners from his current grower is becoming more difficult and expensive with supply chain disruptions and increased shipping costs. William used his grant to build a … View >>
Danielle Keeter and Mark McDonagh, Mighty Gnome Market Garden Walk-in Cooler for Farm Expansion and Agritourism Safety Grant Award: $8,000 Danielle and Mark have purchased a CoolBot™ walk-in cooler that will provide 1,120 cubic feet of space to store their … View >>
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 >>
Sara Martin and Dustin Cornelison, Two Trees Farm/Sustainabillies LLC Welcoming Back the Public to Two Trees Farm Grant Award: $4,000 In 2020 and 2021 as the pandemic swept the world, Two Trees farm halted their on-farm classes and tours … View >>
Catherine and Rick Topel, Smoky Mountain Mangalitsa, LLC Mobile Food Unit Trailer for Farm Use Grant Award: $8,000 As COVID hit in 2020, Catherine was unable to sell hog carcasses to restaurants. Even after pivoting to retail sales, business remained … View >>
John Queen III, John Queen Farms Hydraulic Squeeze Chute and Digital Scales for Heifer Development Grant Award: $6,000 John runs a stocker operation on his fourth-generation family farm, grazing about 500 head of cattle annually. He plans to purchase a … View >>
KT, KT’s Orchard and Apiary Apple Sorting and Packing Project: Upgrading Farm Efficiency Grant Award: $6,000 Having already purchased a used apple sorter from a neighboring county’s N.C. Cooperative Extension Center, KT will be converting an existing barn into an … View >>
Sarah Coury and Ben Pick, Saturnia Farm Nursery, Flower & Farm Goods Delivery Service Grant Award: $6,000 In spring of 2020 as the COVID-19 crisis was unfolding, Saturnia Farm started a plant delivery service between Waynesville and Asheville. An immediate … View >>
Donald Smart, Smart Farm Hay Loader for Beef Cattle Operation Grant Award: $3,000 Farming in multiple counties, Don raises 40 head of cattle and produces all his own cattle feed at two farm sites. He bales and loads 1200 lb. … View >>
Catherine & Rick Topel, Smoky Mountain Mangalitsa, LLC Walk-In Freezer Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 With success supplying quality whole hog specialty breed (Mangalitsa) carcasses to restaurants, the Topel’s are moving to retail sales of their pork and lard products. In … View >>