Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Lori and Michael Osada, MiLo Acres Walk-in Cooler Grant Award: $3,000 The Osadas are adding an on-site walk-in cooler to store their naturally certified produce, fruit and eggs and extend shelf life. They are able to harvest and store more … View >>
Larry Stepp Sr. & Larry Stepp Jr., Stepp’s Plants, etc. Grant Award: $6,000 – Expansion of Raspberries and Blueberries “We have made a commitment to use this third generation land for agriculture and use it for our livelihood.” ~ Larry … View >>
Thomas and Margaret Tester and Jessica Lawrence, Tester Dairy Farm Hydroponic Fodder System Grant Award: $6,000 Tester Dairy Farm in Watauga County is creating a hydroponic fodder system, which grows barley, rye and wheat from seed to sprouts in eight … View >>
James Steve Dalton, Fruit of the Spirit Orchard and Vineyard Crop Diversification: Berry Juices and Jams Grant Award: $6,000 Steve is adding several more fruit crops to his blackberry farm: blueberries, raspberries, dwarf apple trees, and table, juice and wine … View >>
Nancy is upgrading the basement of her apple storage building to provide a cool space for the apples, increasing their longevity. She is also creating a permanent display area to enhance the experience for participants of large tours. The … View >>
Rick and Amanda Walker, 4 Sons Farm On-Farm Poultry Processing Facility Grant Award: $6,000 The Walkers are adding an on-site poultry processing facility to their farm, with the goal of producing 450 broilers, 450 fryers and 75 turkeys in 2013, … View >>
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 >>