Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2018 Recipient: Greenshire Farms

Randall Gifford, Greenshine Farms Operation Paper Pot Grant Award: $3,000 Greenshine Farms purchased a specialty piece of equipment called a Paper Pot Transplanter. Rather than having to pop out plant starts by hand and place into pre-dug holes, this Japanese … View >>

2018 Recipient: The Farmer’s Hands

Sebastiaan Zijp, The Farmer’s Hands Teaching and Event Shelter Grant Award: $3,000 With the addition of a new educational shelter, The Farmer’s Hands has the capacity to increase attendance and expand their agritourism events. This basic shelter with electricity is … View >>

2018 Recipient: Wildbud Natives

Nathan Buchanan, Wildbud Natives Shade Tunnel Project Grant Award: $3,000 Nathan has expanded his current native plants nursery operation with the addition of a 14′ x 50′ shade tunnel. He also purchased growing supplies to use in the expansion. The … View >>

2017 Recipient: Paper Crane Farm

Joe Evans, Paper Crane Farm Crop Diversification: Specialty Cut Flowers Grant Award: $6,000 Joe has diversified his successful five-acre vegetable farm with the addition of a half-acre of cut flowers. To achieve this level of production, he has increased the … View >>

2017 Recipient: Homemade in Marshall

Kathleen and Kevin Lane, Homemade In Marshall Dairy Parlor Upgrade Grant Award: $6,000 Kate and Kevin improved their milking routine with the addition of an enclosed milk room within their existing parlor. The new milk room houses a stainless steel … View >>

2017 Recipient: Doubletree Farm

Catherine Guthrie Bennett, Doubletree Farm Sorghum Syrup Expansion Grant Award: $3,000 Cathy purchased equipment to streamline her sorghum syrup processing with the goal of increasing her production to 500 gallons per season. Cathy purchased a new wagon to store larger … View >>

2017 Recipient: Dry Ridge Farm

Graham and Wendy Brugh, Dry Ridge Farm Beef Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Graham and Wendy have added 10 beef cattle to their current eight-cow herd. They also currently farm 100 hogs, 2,000 meat chickens, 90 lambs and a 700 laying … View >>

2016 Recipient: Just Ripe Farm

Rachel Kinard, Just Ripe Farm Soil Improvement and Root Crop Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Rachel has purchased a specialty tillage implement called an articulating spader that promotes higher root crop yields. Spaders prepare garden beds for planting in a gentle … View >>

2015 Recipient: Reeves Home Place

Robin Reeves Singleton, Reeves Home Place Farm WhiskeyPigs Branded Meat Grant Award: $6,000 Robin is developing a brand called “WhiskyPigs,” antibiotic and hormone-free meat from free-range animals that are fed whiskey mash from Troy & Sons at the Asheville Distilling … View >>

2015 Recipient: Jewel Hill Farms

Ernest and Kim Ramsey, Jewel Hill Farms Hay/Haylage Operation Grant Award: $6,000 Ernest and Kim have established a new source of farm revenue on their diverse farm and have decreased the cost of feeding hay to their farm animals. They … View >>

2014 Recipient: East Fork Farm

  Stephen and Dawn have completed the construction of a gristmill with the purchase of milling and packaging equipment. They are enhancing the agritourism side of their business, attracting customers to participate in grinding corn, as well as selling the … View >>

2014 Recipient: Paper Crane Farm

  Joe purchased a specialty tillage implement, called an articulating spader, that has enabled him to expand his root crop production to boost winter sales. This expansion allows him to farm full-time rather than seek off-season temporary work. Spaders prepare … View >>

2014 Recipient: Trout Lily Farm

  Phillip is adding a multi-functional processing house that serves as a centerpiece to the farm and is leading to increased product diversity and revenue. The building (under construction) will provide space for processing and storing medicinal herbs, fresh produce, … View >>