Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Krista Rashell Robb, Balltown Bee Farm Pizza Love! Mobile Pizza-making Oven for Value-added Products Grant Award: $6,000 Krista is purchasing a mobile wood-fired pizza unit to supply markets, festivals, private catering and other regional events with “homegrown” pizza and other … View >>
Karen Taylor, Taylors Greenhouse Herbal Options Grant Award: $3,000 Karen is broadening her customers’ knowledge of herbs by selling culinary and medicinal herbal plants as well as hosting hands-on workshops where participants work closely with the herbs. Each month, … View >>
Michael and Casey Lance, Calee’s Coops Diversification Project: On-Farm Feed Grant Award: $6,000 The Lances are purchasing three-ton grain bins for on-farm storage of bulk feed, reducing transportation costs of buying 50 pound bags from a hardware store to feed … View >>
Boyd Clyde Stines, Stines Farm Grant Award: $6,000 – Beef Cattle Improvement Program “Having this equipment will enable us to be better positioned in the cattle industry for many more years to come.” ~ Boyd Clyde Stines Boyd is building … View >>
Kim Van Winkle, Van Winkle Farm/Johnson Branch Farms Shiitake and Goldenseal Production Grant Award: $6,000 Kim is reintroducing farming to a dormant property with winter greenhouse shiitake mushroom production and the wild cultivation of goldenseal. She is constructing a solar … View >>
Tyler is building a micropropagation lab so that he can mass produce unique plants such as native orchids, which are challenging to propagate using traditional techniques. “Micropropagation is a new technology in the nursery business,” Tyler said. “This technology will … View >>
Gerald C. Whitson, Whitson Farms Cold Storage Grant Award: $3,000 Gerald is adding a cold storage unit for his potato crop, decreasing the amount of fuel and transport time as well as overall hours required to process the product. The … View >>
Jack W. Wiseman, Jr., D & J Trees Momi Fir Grafting and Native Ornamental Production Grant Award: $3,000 Jack is helping solve root rot issues that Christmas tree growers commonly deal with by grafting the root-rot tolerant Momi fir species … View >>
Randy and Megan Smith, Smith’s Sweet Grass Farm Improved Forage-based Genetics for Grass-fed Beef Grant Award: $6,000 The Smiths are transitioning their cattle to have foraged-based genetics, which should greatly reduce the high input costs associated with feed. Their goal … View >>
Neal Woody, Woody Farms Packing and Grading Facility Grant Award: $6,000 Neal is building an on-farm packing facility and adding a well to improve the washing and grading system at his Leicester farm. This centralized grading shed reduces labor costs … View >>
Ray Revis, Revis Russian Apiaries Production and Evaluation of Russian Honey Bee Queens Grant Award: $6,000 Ray is adding 50 new queen-mating colonies to his operation to be better prepared for the high-demand season. He is purchasing equipment and supplemental … View >>
The Frisbees are adding 400 vines of Petit Manseng to their vineyard, expanding it from 3.8 acres to 4.4 acres of six varieties. Growing more of their own fruit increases the ability to have influence over the quality and availability … View >>
Alvin Lytle, Cove Creek Nursery Expansion/Diversification to Grow Grain and Vegetables Grant Award: $6,000 Alvin is diversifying his farm, which is currently a tree, shrub and vine nursery, to include the production of chemical-free produce and grain, flour and meal. … View >>
Susan is adding a 30-foot by 96-foot heated greenhouse specifically for growing vegetable and herb transplants in organic potting soils with organic fertilizer and pest control methods. The separate greenhouse prevents cross-contamination with conventionally raised nursery crops. Purchases include a … View >>
Elymus D. Payne, Payne Dairy Farm Replacement Heifer Barn Grant Award: $6,000 Elymus is expanding to respond to the high demand for replacement heifers that have been trained to stand in headlocks. He is building a 40-foot by 100-foot pole … View >>
James A. Ramsey, Ramsey Farms Cattle Handling Facility Grant Award: $6,000 Jimmie is purchasing cattle handling equipment to increase the poundage per animal, raising profits by $150 to $200 each. He plans to increase his herd from 40 to 80 … View >>