Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Tommy and Danni Speight, Bluff Mountain Nursery Fencing for Katahdin Sheep Grant Award: $8,000 The Speights will convert old tobacco growing fields into grazing pastures in order to expand their Katahdin sheep herd from 27 to 70-80 head. They will … View >>
Timothy Keller, Keller Farm Goat Expansion for Profit Grant Award: $8,000 With the goal of increasing their goat herd to 100 head by 2026, the Kellers will convert approximately 3,000 feet of barbed wire previously used for cattle containment to … View >>
Andrew Rogers, Pinnacle View Farm Fence Line Feeding System Grant Award: $8,000 Andrew has added a fence line feeding system to the farm. The new structure allows Andrew and his father to safely feed their cattle while also reducing feed … View >>
Jeff and Terri Phillips, Pine Row Farm Farm Store Grant Award: $6,000 Terri and Jeff are approaching retirement and are working to generate an income from their family farm. To meet increasing demand for their farm-raised beef, pork, chicken and … View >>
Sara Martin and Dustin Cornelison, Two Trees Farm / Sustainabillies, LLC Livestock Pasture and Barn Grant Award: $3,000 Sara and Dustin plan have installed fencing to create a new pasture, purchased a livestock guardian animal and built a barn suitable … View >>
Sébastien Brun, Brulé Farms LLC Tuber Melanosporum or Black Winter Perigord Truffle Orchard Grant Award: $6,000 Leveraging knowledge gleaned from multiple truffle-growing workshops in France, Western North Carolina and both online and in person with the National Truffle Growers Association, … 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 >>
Chris Denesha, pleb urban winery Expanding and Protecting our High Country Vineyards to New Varietals Grant Award: $6,000 Working with a network of farmers, Extension agents and academic researchers, Chris’s goal is to establish western North Carolina as a unique … View >>
Jeff C. Phillips, Pine Row Farm Farm Store Grant Award: $6,000 With the help of a 2018 WNC AgOptions grant to boost their heritage hog operation, the Phillips were able to successfully expand their pork products. Since demand for their … View >>
Nancy Bateman, Bateman Girls’ Cattle Farm Heifer Replacement Program Grant Award: $3,000 With the ultimate goal of growing out 20% replacement/additional head of cattle per year on their farm, Nancy has implemented a program that includes purchasing an EDP “heifer … View >>
Gregory Miller, 3M Livestock Diversifying to Goats and Sheep Grant Award: $6,000 In order to diversify his cow/calf operation, Greg put up field fencing and removed the barbed wire to introduce goats and sheep to his herd. Since not all … View >>
Sarah Lasswell, Moss & Thistle Flower Farm Sustainable Floriculture for Local Markets Grant Award: $6,000 Sarah has expanded production of sustainably grown cut flowers from ¼ acre to a full acre field of bottom land on her farm. In order … View >>
Sophia Annette Ensley, Double 00 Farm Breed Preservation and Increased Production Grant Award: $3,000 Double 00 Farm has increased the size of their Large Black Hogs herd, a threatened breed of foraging hog that produces a micro-marbled meat. Their grant … View >>
Jeff C. Phillips, Pine Row Farm Pasture Raised Heritage Hogs Grant Award: $6,000 As hogs are making a comeback in Graham County, Pine Row Farm used their grant to expand their pastured heritage hog operation. By using a rotating pasture … View >>
Dwight Clifton Henry, Henry’s Farm Smoky Mountain Orchard Grant Award: $6,000 Dwight added an acre of apple and pear trees to his 37-acre farm, in which he raises cattle, hogs and vegetables. He expects to generate income after the fourth … View >>
Frances and Jeff Tacy, Franny’s Farm Rotational Grazing for Sheep/Lamb Production Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Frances and Jeff have improved their sheep pastures and their rotational grazing system with the addition of permanent fencing and a central lambing shed. Their … View >>