Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2021 Recipient: Sweet Betsy Farm

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 >>

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 >>

2020 Recipient: Saturnia Farm

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 >>

2020 Recipient: D & R Bee Farm

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 >>

2020 Recipient: Jeter Mountain Farm

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 >>

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 >>

2017 Recipient: Two Crows Farm

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 >>

2016 Recipient: Sweet Betsy Farm

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 >>

2011 Recipient: Stephen Alan Thompson

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 >>

2008 Recipient: Dale Robertson

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 >>

2008 Recipient: Diane Almond

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 >>