Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Alyson Wade, The Farm Connection Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Gardens, Video Marketing and Risk Mitigation Grant Award: $8,000 Working on a multi-pronged approach to grow their successful nursery, The Farm Connection used their grant in three ways. Because nursery sales are … View >>
Karen and Ed Speer, Sweet Betsy Farm Season Extension and Irrigation for Specialty Peppers and Vegetables Grant Award: $6,000 To address a lack of availability of plant starts and problems with irrigation, erosion and fungal diseases that have negatively impacted … View >>
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 >>
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 >>
David Massengill, D & R Bee Farm Updates for Increased Production Grant Award: $3,000 To increase pollination services and honey production, as well as provide a resource to the beekeeping community in Jackson County, David will be making necessary upgrades … View >>
Tyler Hunsader, Jeter Mountain Farm Juice (Cider) Operations Grant Award: $6,000 Jeter Mountain Farm has diversified their farm with the opening of a new 30 acre U-pick apple operation in 2020. From research done the past three years at multiple … View >>
Jordan Michael Smith, Two Girls Honey Company Commercial Conversion and Equipment Upgrades Grant Award: $6,000 Using his 2018 AgOptions grant to expand from 18 to 36 colonies, Jordan has since grown to over 47 production hives, investing profits from the … View >>
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 >>
Jordan Michael Smith, Two Girls Honey Company Apiary Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 In order to meet the demand for honey in Swain County, Jordan has expanded his current operation to 18 colonies. The expansion of the colonies required the addition … View >>
Mike and Beverly Woody Ham, Two Crows Farm Agritourism and Retail Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Woody and Mike are enhancing the agritourism element at their 29-acre alpaca farm, offering educational opportunities about fiber farming to the general public and other … View >>
Karen and Wade “Ed” Speer, Sweet Betsy Farm Bee Farm Season Extension Grant Award: $6,000 Karen and Ed have renovated their on-farm store, The Honey House at Sweet Betsy Farm, located just off US-221, so that they can keep the … View >>
Dale added a high tunnel to his innovative educational farm that provides fresh produce, beef and eggs to campers and staff. The farm currently provides 70 percent of all food consumed at the camp, which feeds more than 325 … View >>
Avery County Farmers Tailgate Marketing Association Primary Contact: Kyle Kitchin Grant Award: $5,000 — Community Advertising and Educational Campaign The association is undertaking an advertising and educational outreach campaign to build the local foods system in Avery County. The members … View >>
Stephen Alan Thompson Nottely River Valley Vineyards Grant Award: $6,000 — Tasting Room and Pavilion Stephen is constructing a tasting room and pavilion for a 10-acre vineyard, planted in Vitis Vinifera and French American Hybrids. The pavilion is the focal … View >>
Dale Robertson, farm manager of the camp Gwynn Valley in Transylvania County, is automating his milking operation to improve educational opportunities for campers. The clear tubing of his automatic milker allows children at the camp to view the entire milking … View >>
Diane Almond, owner of Honey Bees and Heather in Henderson County, is developing her nursery and apiary into an agri-tourism destination and educational resource for local residents. With the grant, she is increasing the number of bee hives and blueberry … View >>