Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2016 Recipient: Green Family Tree Farm

Burl Jonathan Greene III, Green Family Tree Farm Farm Diversification Grant Award: $6,000 Burl has diversified his Christmas tree farm with berries and pumpkins to offer products and services year-round. He recently added 20 acres of land, which has 235 … View >>

2015 Recipient: Jasperwood Farm

Anthony Cole, Jasperwood Farm Winter Squash Curing Facility Grant Award: $3,000 Anthony is building on the success of a 2010 WNC AgOptions project by improving the storage and curing of pumpkins and winter squash. He has constructed a passive solar … View >>

2014 Recipient: Edney Farms

Jason Edney, Edney Farms Packing Facility Upgrade Grant Award: $6,000 Jason is completing a Food Safety Certified facility, adding a concrete pad to his metal packing shed (future site of the packing shed, photo left). In compliance with Good Agricultural … View >>

2011 Recipient: Herman Garrison

Herman Garrison Grant Award: $3,000 — Farm Sanitation for G.A.P. Certification Herman is in the process of applying for G.A.P. (Good Agricultural Practices) certification, an important demonstration project for area growers. The purchase of two mobile porta-johns with hand-washing stations … View >>

2010 Recipient: Anthony Cole

Anthony Cole Production of Traditional, Specialty and Heirloom Pumpkins and Winter Squash Grant Award: $6,000 Anthony is expanding his pumpkin operation with the purchase of a no-till planter unit and air blast sprayer. He is planting into managed wheat residue … View >>

2010 Recipient: Dibe Duckett

Dibe Duckett No-till Pumpkins Grant Award: $6,000 Dibe is transitioning 12 acres of pumpkins from plastic mulch production to no-till. The new system adds organic matter to the soil and limits the soil erosion in his fields, currently a challenge … View >>

2010 Recipient: David Tucker

David Tucker New River Corn Maze & Dark Mountain Choose & Cut Grant Award: $6,000 David is converting five acres of hay land into a corn maze and one acre into a pick-your-own pumpkin and ornamental gourds patch. He is … View >>

2006 Recipient: Robert Reece

Robert and Barbara Reece have grown tobacco in Avery County since 1979. The Reece’s are slowing transitioning out of tobacco as they cut back on production and have been developing and implementing an agri-tourism operation on their farm to supplement … View >>

2005 Farm: Jerry Ellison

  Jerry Ellison is a part time farmer who has grown tobacco for 25 years and is looking for alternative income after the tobacco buy-out. Mr. Ellison is converting 1 acre of tobacco land into a commercial production for jack-o-lantern … View >>

2005 Farm: Jim Edwards

  Jim Edwards grew up raising tobacco with his father to help pay for expenses at home and for his college education. 2004 was the last year Mr. Edwards planned to grow tobacco due to the end of the price … View >>

2004 Farm: June Hawkins

  J. Hawkins is a full time farmer who has grown tobacco since 1967. The farm is transitioning from tobacco income to an agritourism business with a corn maze, pick your own Pumpkin Patch, choose and cut Christmas tree farm … View >>