WNC AgOptions Awards 2011 Farm Diversification Projects
Grants support diverse agricultural ventures, build local agriculture system
The WNC Agricultural Options program recently awarded six community groups and 47 farmers grants totaling $326,000 to assist them in farm diversification and joint marketing and distribution efforts.
This year's community grant recipients are creating cohesion, infrastructure and marketing for local products. Individual farm businesses are improving such diverse operations as a 75-acre kale, turnips and collards farm in Cherokee County, a new dairy in Madison County, a micro-greens venture in Watauga County, and a canned bamboo shoots business in McDowell County.
Community groups received varying amounts totaling $92,000. Grantees are: Avery County Farmers Tailgate Marketing Association, Jackson County Christmas Tree Association, Mountain Cattle Alliance, Mill Spring Agricultural Development Center, Watauga County Farmers Market and Southern Appalachian Family Farms.
Three individual farm businesses received $9,000 grants, 25 received $6,000 and 19 received $3,000. Projects increase the economic sustainability of farm businesses as well as provide demonstration to other transitioning farmers.
2011 WNC AgOptions Grantees
|
County/Region
|
Award
|
Name
|
Project
|
| High Country |
5,000 |
Avery County Farmers Tailgate Marketing Association |
Community Advertising and Educational Campaign |
| Far West |
13,000 |
Jackson County Christmas Tree Association |
Market Expansion for Christmas Tree Growers |
| Far West |
20,000 |
Mountain Cattle Alliance |
Improving Marketability of WNC Livestock |
| Central Mountains |
19,000 |
Mill Spring Agricultural Development Center/Friends of Agriculture |
Polk Fresh Trade Post |
| High Country |
18,000 |
Watauga County Farmers Market |
Site Analysis and Capacity-Building |
| Far West |
17,000 |
Southern Appalachian Family Farms (SAFF) |
SAFF Start-Up and Marketing Plan |
| Avery |
6000 |
Amos Nidiffer |
Poultry Processing Facility |
| Avery |
6000 |
Grady Bob Johnson Jr. |
Bees and Berries |
| Buncombe |
3000 |
Anthony Cole |
Production of Colored Bell Peppers |
| Buncombe |
3000 |
William Metes |
Shiitake Mushroom Smokehouse |
| Buncombe |
6000 |
Joan & Carl Chesick |
Heckuva Honey House |
| Buncombe |
6000 |
Thomas Shepherd Jr. |
Specialty Poultry |
| Buncombe |
6000 |
Loretta Ball |
Craggy View Farm Store |
| Buncombe |
6000 |
Leslie Sigmon |
Indoor Oyster Mushroom Production |
| Buncombe |
9000 |
Eddie & Jeff Frisbee |
Vineyard and Winery Expansion |
| Cherokee |
6000 |
Stephen Thompson |
Wine Tasting Room, Pavilion |
| Cherokee |
6000 |
Katie Erwin |
Greenhouse Underbench Heat and Irrigation Systems |
| Cherokee |
9000 |
Timothy Davis |
Translicer for Greens |
| Cherokee Reservation |
3000 |
Mary Thompson |
Traditional Cherokee Delicacies |
| Graham |
3000 |
Jeff Mansker |
Honey House and Extractor |
| Haywood |
3000 |
Herman Garrison |
Clean Farm |
| Haywood |
6000 |
Ray Chambers |
Refrigeration Transporation |
| Haywood |
3000 |
Steve & Terry King |
Raspberry and Vegetable Expansion |
| Henderson |
3000 |
Rick & Karen Jordan |
Produce and Poultry Cooler |
| Henderson |
6000 |
Larry Stepp Jr. |
Berry Irrigation Project |
| Jackson |
3000 |
David Noland |
Improving Genetics and Structure |
| Jackson |
3000 |
Steve Beltram |
Poultry Processing Equipment |
| Jackson |
6000 |
Joni & John Wavra |
Truffle Project |
| Macon |
6000 |
Tim & Annie Burrell |
Nuc Production for Natural Beekeeping |
| Macon |
6000 |
Jodie Zahner |
Expanding Production of Oconee Bells |
| Madison |
3000 |
Cassandra Lewis |
Dairy Goat Parlor |
| Madison |
3000 |
Frank Teneralli |
Blackberry Production |
| Madison |
3000 |
Thomas Charles |
Winter Squash Curing Shed with Temperature Control |
| Madison |
3000 |
Shannon Roberts |
Value Added Cattle |
| Madison |
6000 |
Sue Mickey |
Pure Dairy Goat Pet Milk |
| Madison |
6000 |
Chuck & Jeannie Blethen |
Greenhouse and Vineyard Expansion |
| Madison |
9000 |
Steven Davis |
Dairy Barn |
| McDowell |
6000 |
Mario & Michael DeLuca |
Wine Production |
| McDowell |
6000 |
Bao Yang |
Bamboo Shoots Testing/Processing |
| Mitchell |
3000 |
Mark Byrd |
Creep Feeder |
| Mitchell |
3000 |
Mark Conley |
Farming Hops |
| Polk |
6000 |
Randy & Megan Smith |
All Natural Pastured Poultry |
| Swain |
6000 |
Mike & Joan Glover |
Sleepy Hollow Farm Heritage Birds |
| Transylvania |
6000 |
Ronald & Cheryl Searcy |
Goat Treatment Facility |
| Watauga |
3000 |
Robert Johnson |
Harvest Equipment for Small-Scale Vineyard |
| Watauga |
3000 |
Todd Nolt |
Raspberries |
| Watauga |
3000 |
Jill Nicklaw |
Microgreens |
| Watauga |
6000 |
Jimmy & Sheila Greene |
Meat CSA and Marketing |
| Watauga |
3000 |
Charles Church |
Vegetable Expansion |
| Watauga |
6000 |
Ryan Norris |
Goat Leasing/Meat Production |
| Yancey |
3000 |
Ryan Wiebe |
Well Establishment/ Drip Irrigation/ Fertigation |
| Yancey |
6000 |
Billy Bryant |
Produce Expansion |
| Yancey |
6000 |
Nicole DelCogliano |
Fine Dining on the Farm |
|
