Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2021 Recipient: Two Trees Farm

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 >>

2020 Recipient: Gerald Rathbone

Gerald Rathbone Feed Bin for Lamb Operation Grant Award: $3,000 Having grown up on a tobacco and dairy farm, Gerald has been farming his entire life. His successful sheep operation brings in an average of $16,000 a year and has … View >>

2020 Recipient: Caorach Farm

Joseph Paul Miller, Caorach Farm LLC Sheep/Goat Handling Equipment Grant Award: $3,000 A young and up-and-coming farmer, Paul has been operating his sheep business for about a year. As he is looking to increase the herd, it has become clear … View >>

2019 Recipient: 3M Livestock

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 >>

2018 Recipient: Postell Hollow Farm

Josh and Brooke Postell, Postell Hollow Farm Economical Sheep Feeding Area Grant Award: $3,000 Building on a successful 2017 WNC AgOptions grant to build a sheep working/handling facility, the Postells have turned an existing slant shed into a cost saving … View >>

2017 Recipient: Postell Hollow Farm

Josh and Brooke Postell, Postell Hollow Farm Complete Sheep Working/Handling Facility Grant Award: $6,000 Josh and Brooke built a working facility for their Katahdin sheep for more ease and safety when handling the animals. The facility promotes efficiencies that have … View >>

2017 Recipient: Franny’s Farm

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 >>

2016 Recipient: Chestnut Hill Farm

Tim and Jamie Kelley, Chestnut Hill Farm Grass Forages and Wildlife Preservation Grant Award: $6,000 Tim and Jamie have enhanced their livestock operation by optimizing forage grasses and better managing rotations of cattle, sheep and goats. Improvements have resulted in … View >>

2016 Recipient: Brothers on Farms

Susan Epps Ward, Brothers on Farms Lamb Production Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Susan is expanding her lamb meat venture, which she started with the help of a 2013 WNC AgOptions grant. She is renovating her pasture to better control barber … View >>

2016 Recipient: Cordell Farms

Carolyn and Joe Cordell, Cordell Farms Sheep and Goat Turn Table Corral System Grant Award: $3,000 Responding to the demand for lamb and goat meat in the region, Carolyn is expanding her sheep and goat venture, increasing efficiencies with the … View >>

2015 Recipient: Old Mule Farm

Steve Modlin, Old Mule Farm Frozen Lamb Storage and Distribution Space Grant Award: $3,000 Steve has built a dedicated space to handle and store frozen lamb cuts. This space allows for the safe, sanitary and organized handling of lamb products. … View >>

2014 Recipient: Old Mule Farm

  Steve has added a sheep handling facility to his existing corral system to improve the care of animals and ultimately increase production. The handling system includes a semi-circular crowding area, chute panels, a turntable to restrain individual animals, a … View >>

2014 Recipient: Goldfinch Gardens

  Cedar and Ben are diversifying their vegetable enterprise with the addition of meat sheep. They have purchased 12 ewes and will purchase one ram and begin breeding in late summer. They are constructing a secure shed and paddocks for … View >>