Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2017 Recipient: JB Farms

Paula and Dale Boles, JB Farms Aquaponics Greenhouses Grant Award: $6,000 Paula and Dale are continuing a project they started with a 2016 WNC AgOptions grant, converting their 500-foot former poultry house into an aquaponics greenhouse. After ending their 13-year … View >>

2017 Recipient: Big John’s Hydro Farm

John and James Carroll, Big John’s Hydro Farm Back-Up Electricity and Mini-Fogger Grant Award: $6,000 John and his father James added a back-up generator to their existing 3,600-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse to deter crop loss during power outages. They are also … View >>

2016 Recipient: JB Farms

Paula and Dale Boles, JB Farms Aquaponics Greenhouses Grant Award: $6,000 After raising broiler chickens for 13 years, Paula and Dale are ending their contract with poultry companies and converting their chicken houses to aquaponics greenhouses, growing tilapia and a … View >>

2013 Recipient: Tester Dairy Farm

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 >>

2012 Recipient: Nantahala Farms and Nursery

Rachelle Clark, Nantahala Farms and Nursery Hydroponic Plant Production and Greenhouse Growing Grant Award: $6,000 With the addition of a greenhouse, Rachelle is producing vegetable starts for her fields as well as fresh produce, strawberries, herbs and flowers to customers … View >>

2005 Farm: Dewain and Cathy Mackey

  Dewain and Cathy Mackey have grown tobacco for over 10 years. The Mackey family predicted the loss of tobacco income several years ago and decided to experiment with hydroponic lettuce production. The hydroponic lettuce is sold to the county … View >>