Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2021 Recipient: Ochre Hill Farms

Abbegail King, Ochre Hill Farms Expansion Project Grant Award: $6,000 Several years ago, Abbegail and her family bought land that has been farmed since the founding of Jackson County with the goal of returning it to being a full-time working … View >>

2021 Recipient: Johnson Family Farm

Tiffany Hudgins, Johnson Family Farm Preparing for Future Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 With the goal of turning her family’s four-year-old part-time farming and value-added foods operation into a full-time business, Tiffany is increasing marketing efforts and expanding vegetable production and … View >>

2019 Recipient: Tucker Hollow Farms

Grady “Bob” Johnson, Jr., Tucker Hollow Farms Bedding and Propagating Greenhouse Grant Award: $6,000 Bob Johnson has added a dedicated bedding and propagation greenhouse to his existing operation. The new greenhouse is allowing his farm to extend the growing season … View >>

2019 Recipient: McConnell Farms

Danny McConnell, McConnell Farms Custom Labeling Project Grant Award: $6,000 In addition to selling fresh fruits and vegetables, McConnell Farms, an established diversified family farm, offers a wide range of value-added products including ice creams, jams, preserves, fruit butters, acetified … View >>

2017 Recipient: Clem’s Organic Gardens

Clement Swift, Clem’s Organic Gardens Top-Lift Carrot and Beet Harvester Grant Award: $6,000 Clem has purchased a unique piece of specialty harvesting equipment—a Scott Viner Top-Lift Carrot/Beet Harvester. This tractor-drawn implement undercuts a row of root crops, lifts them out … View >>

2017 Recipient: The Lily Patch Farm

Susan Owen and Charles Coffey, The Lily Patch Farm Expanding Organic Production of Pawpaws Grant Award: $6,000 Susan expanded her current pawpaw production by planting additional trees, doubling the size of her orchard so that she is more than halfway … View >>

2017 Recipient: Bradley Farms

Aaron and Nicole Bradley, Bradley Farms Pastured Pig Feeding System Grant Award: $6,000 Aaron and Nicole purchased a Feed Train mobile grain bin with a gasoline powered hydraulic auger to feed their 70 pastured pigs. Mechanizing the feeding of their … View >>

2016 Recipient: Exotic Natives Nursery

Bill Weeks, Exotic Natives Nursery Expanding Markets and Increasing Manageability and Sales of Native Azaleas Grant Award: $6,000 Bill has made critical changes at his nursery to sell off his current inventory of field-grown azaleas, which are mostly native to … View >>

2015 Recipient: Wehrloom Honey

  Jessica responded to customer demand for value-added products by creating three new product lines: cut-comb honey, spun honey and pollen. She purchased specialized equipment to harvest, process and market these products. Cut-comb honey is a piece of honey filled … View >>

2014 Recipient: M&H Livestock

  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 >>

2014 Recipient: Shady Place Farms

Neal and Ava have constructed a dedicated space on their farm for storing and marketing freezer beef to individuals and eventually restaurants. Their aim is to display a professional and sanitary image, “one that shows customers we are committed to … View >>

2014 Recipient: Walnut Hollow Ranch

Charlie Kissling, Walnut Hollow Ranch All Natural Beef Business Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 To meet heightened demand for all natural grass-fed beef in Clay County and surrounding communities, Charlie is increasing beef production by an additional 5,300 pounds of beef … View >>

2014 Recipient: Breedlove Farms

Patrick Jeremy Breedlove, Breedlove Farms Myotonic Goats Grant Award: $6,000 Patrick is expanding and improving his unique goat farm, which is the only Myotonic Goat farm in North Carolina that actively participates in the USDA Scrapie “Free” Flock Certification Program. … View >>