Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
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 will use his grant to build … View >>
Danielle Keeter and Mark McDonagh, Mighty Gnome Market Garden Walk-in Cooler for Farm Expansion and Agritourism Safety Grant Award: $8,000 The current cooler Danielle and Mark use presents safety issues that prevent them from using it for customer CSA pickups. … 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 >>
Sara Martin and Dustin Cornelison, Two Trees Farm / Sustainabillies, LLC Livestock Pasture and Barn Grant Award: $3,000 Sara and Dustin plan have installed fencing to create a new pasture, purchased a livestock guardian animal and built a barn suitable … View >>
Sarah Coury and Ben Pick, Saturnia Farm Nursery Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Saturnia Farm, a specialty perennial and native plant nursery, made needed renovations on the farm to expand nursery offerings. They made improvements to an existing high tunnel, with … View >>
Gerald Rathbone Feed Bin for Lamb Operation Grant Award: $3,000 Having grown up on a tobacco and dairy farm, Gerald has been farming his entire life. His successful sheep operation brings in an average of $16,000 a year and has … View >>
KT, KT’s Orchard and Apiary KT’s Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar Grant Award: $6,000 One of the unfortunate aspects of producing commercial fruit for sale is amount of loss experienced from fruit that cannot be sold – size, shape, imperfections, etc. … View >>
Sara Martin and Dustin Cornelison, Two Trees Farm / Sustainabillies Outdoor Kitchen and Classroom Space Grant Award: $6,000 Sara and Dustin have built a covered multi-purpose outdoor space that functions as a kitchen, classroom, cold storage, washing and packing area … View >>
Beauford Rice, Rice Family Farms Portable Corral Grant Award: $6,000 With the addition of a Rawhide portable corral system, Rice Family Farms now has the needed equipment to safely and efficiently work their cattle. Since their cattle are located on … View >>