Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2021 Recipient: Butterfly Cove Botanicals

Renea Winchester, Butterfly Cove Botanicals Medicinal Herb Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 In the wake of the COVID crisis, many people became first-time gardeners and the demand for seeds skyrocketed. There was also an increased demand for medicinal herbs, particularly elderberry … View >>

2016 Recipient: Linda Ann Davis

Linda Ann Davis Goat Milk Soap-Making Workshop Grant Award: $3,000 Linda is constructing a workshop dedicated to the production of goat milk soap. The insulated 10-foot by 12-foot wood frame structure consolidates all phases of the soap making operation, including … View >>

2015 Recipient: Breedlove Farms

Patrick Jeremy Breedlove, Breedlove Farms Poultry and Game Birds Grant Award: $3,000   To meet customer demand, Patrick expanded his poultry venture. He produces game birds, laying hens and meat chickens for sale to hunting clubs and poultry growers. Patrick … View >>

2014 Recipient: Breedlove Farms

Patrick Jeremy Breedlove, Breedlove Farms Myotonic Goats Grant Award: $6,000 Patrick is expanding and improving his unique goat farm, which is the only Myotonic Goat farm in North Carolina that actively participates in the USDA Scrapie “Free” Flock Certification Program. … View >>

2013 Recipient: Van Winkle Farm

Kim Van Winkle, Van Winkle Farm/Johnson Branch Farms Shiitake and Goldenseal Production Grant Award: $6,000 Kim is reintroducing farming to a dormant property with winter greenhouse shiitake mushroom production and the wild cultivation of goldenseal. She is constructing a solar … View >>

2013 Recipient: Balltown Bee Farm

Krista Rashell Robb, Balltown Bee Farm Pizza Love! Mobile Pizza-making Oven for Value-added Products Grant Award: $6,000 Krista is purchasing a mobile wood-fired pizza unit to supply markets, festivals, private catering and other regional events with “homegrown” pizza and other … View >>

2012 Recipient: Axios Farms

Kevin and Shelley King Axios Farms Grant Award: $6,000—Axios Apiary Kevin and Shelley are establishing a full operational apiary and a mobile pollination trailer. They plan to transport bees to farms in the WNC region to help successfully pollinate crops. … View >>

2009 Recipient: Jim Frady

Jim Frady MaiLee’s Mountain Mushroom Expansion – Grant Award: $3,000 “This grant project has been a blessing, not only for me, but also for my kids and my business partners’ kids who have been out here working together as a … View >>

2009 Recipient: Mike Glover

Mike Glover Sleepy Hollow Farm Greenhouse – Grant Award: $3,000 “The grant allowed me to get the greenhouse to start plants earlier. The growing season here, especially for gourds, is limited. Sometimes 2-3 weeks really makes a difference. Growing the … View >>

2008 Recipient: Thomas Miller

Thomas Miller of Swain County is raising rare heritage breeds of hogs to sell naturally grown pork. He is renovating his barn, fencing and pasture with the grant. The costs involved in construction would have prohibited him from starting the … View >>