Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Holland Whitesides and Andrew Bryant, Against the Grain Sorghum Molasses and Mushrooms Grant Award: $6,000 Holland and Andrew are creating a multi-use facility that houses a sorghum press, furnace and broiler. With this new building, they no longer need to … View >>
Travis Cornett, High Country Ginseng Continuing Processing and Storage Facility Grant Award: $6,000 Travis has built a drying system and storage area to complete a processing facility for High Country Ginseng that he constructed with the help of a 2015 … View >>
Todd Combs Green Dragon Ginseng Farm Grant Award: $6,000 Todd is growing a trial acre of organic ginseng, testing out a new organic product, Root Shield, which contains a beneficial fungus that eats problematic fungus. Typically ginseng growers need to … View >>
Todd Combs Castle Ford Hops Grant Award: $6,000 Todd is diversifying his farm, where he recently planted 2.5 acres of ginseng, with one acre of hops. Several new local microbreweries recently opened in the Boone area, and no local hops … View >>
Travis is increasing the production capacity of ginseng and overall efficiency of his operation with the construction of a drying, cooling and storage facility. Without adequate space, he is unable to fill all the orders for seeds, rootlets and … View >>
Jonathan Fannon, W.O.W.S.A. Off-grid Post-harvest Washing and Cold Storage Grant Award: $3,000 Jonathan is using a simple technique call “agrovoltaic” to shade heat-sensitive crops as well as generate energy for his farm. He is installing 2kw of solar panels high … View >>
Rusty Henson, Ridgewood Simmentals Livestock Scales and Shelter Grant Award: $6,000 Rusty is increasing the efficiency and profitability of his cattle farm with the addition of livestock scales and a shelter. Instead of hauling his cattle to be weighed at … View >>
David Isaacs, Isaacs Farm Improved Calf Weaning Capabilities Grant Award: $3,000 David is increasing the profitability of his cattle operation while enhancing the health and performance of his calves with the purchase of key pieces of equipment: a bulk feed … View >>
Gregory has upgraded his corral/chute working facility, significantly improving cattle handling at the farm. He has purchased and installed commercial quality heavy duty chutes, panels and cages as well as improving the ground base with gravel so that cattle … View >>
Jeff is improving his cattle working facilities, housed in a converted tobacco barn, by adding a scale, sorting pens, electrical power and an upgraded chute system. He is also creating an on-farm shop to sell freezer beef and other … View >>
Nancy is upgrading the basement of her apple storage building to provide a cool space for the apples, increasing their longevity. She is also creating a permanent display area to enhance the experience for participants of large tours. The … View >>
Thomas and Margaret Tester and Jessica Lawrence, Tester Dairy Farm Hydroponic Fodder System Grant Award: $6,000 Tester Dairy Farm in Watauga County is creating a hydroponic fodder system, which grows barley, rye and wheat from seed to sprouts in eight … View >>
Ryan Norris, GOat GREEN Farm Goat Leasing and Meat Grant Award: $6,000 Ryan is establishing permanent fencing at his farm, where he raises meat goats that are rented to landowners to control unwanted brush. The additional eight acres for grazing … View >>
Watauga County Farmers Market Primary Contact: David Sengel Grant Award: $18,000 — Site Analysis & Capacity-Building for WCFM The Watauga County Farmers Market (WCFM) is securing a long-term home for building sheds and infrastructure. Market leaders anticipate increasing the number … View >>
Todd Nolt Sunny Side Farm Grant Award: $3,000 — Fall Bearing Raspberries Todd is establishing a small scale, fall bearing, raspberry crop, focusing on growing four different varieties that have demonstrated strong performance in taste, appearance, post harvest integrity, and … View >>
Ryan Norris GOat GREEN Farm Grant Award: $6,000 — Goat Land Clearing Ryan is leasing out his meat goats to land owners as a means of clearing invasive plants such as oriental bittersweet, multiflora rose and kudzu as an alternative … View >>