Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Rodney Willis, Willis Farms Sorghum Syrup and Cornmeal Process Upgrades Grant Award: $6,000 Rodney and Lynn have constructed a metal-frame processing building for their sorghum syrup and cornmeal that meets current food safety standards. The processing facility is located adjacent … 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 >>
Catherine Guthrie Bennett, Doubletree Farm Sorghum Syrup Expansion Grant Award: $3,000 Cathy purchased equipment to streamline her sorghum syrup processing with the goal of increasing her production to 500 gallons per season. Cathy purchased a new wagon to store larger … View >>
Isaiah and Annie Louise Perkinson, Flying Cloud Farm Mobile Sorghum Operation Grant Award: $6,000 Annie and Isaiah are building mobile sorghum processing trailers to turn sorghum cane grown on the farm into sweet sorghum syrup. The trailers allow them to … View >>
Holland Whitesides and Andrew Bryant, Against the Grain Sorghum Molasses and Mushrooms Grant Award: $6,000 Holland and Andrew are creating a multi-use facility that houses a sorghum press, furnace and broiler. With this new building, they no longer need to … View >>
Warren, Diana and Clint Cabe, Blue Ribbon Farms Sorghum Syrup Production Grant Award: $3,000 Warren and Diana have added a sorghum syrup processing facility to make syrup with sorghum that they are growing. The shed doubles as a produce packing … View >>
Keith has improved his sweet sorghum operation by adding an extension to an existing building to house his juice press, create a storage room and expand the cooking shed to include hot water. The new addition, which is a … View >>
Jason is restoring a generations-old family tradition of sorghum molasses-making, further diversifying his vegetable operation and enhancing agritourism opportunities on the farm. In addition to growing the sorghum, he has built a building dedicated to the production of molasses … View >>
Kyle Kitchin Sugar Bear Maple Syrup Marketing Grant Award: $3,000 Kyle is purchasing a propane heated finishing cooker for his maple syrup operation. The cooker enhances the beauty and marketability of Grade A light amber maple syrup by allowing for … View >>
For Cathy and Andy Bennett, owners of Doubletree Farm in Madison County, the grant is helping them keep Appalachian traditions alive. They are using the knowledge about molasses-making they’ve gained from their neighbors Peggy and Nathan Harmon, whose ancestors made … View >>
Joseph and Catt RedCloud of the Cherokee Reservation are expanding their herbal salves and syrups business with their grant. They offer educational workshops that highlight native Cherokee growing traditions. EBCI Contact the Local Extension Agent
Crop Diversification Former tobacco growers, Joe and Devon Deal are using the WNC Ag Options grant to increase their production of sorghum syrup. The grant is enabling the Deals to grow a product not commonly produced in the area. … View >>
Crop Diversification. Former tobacco grower, Tim Kelley has produced molasses the “old timey” way for four generations in Haywood County. The WNC Ag Options grant helped the Kelley’s build a modern evaporator that will allow them to maintain their family … View >>