Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Susan Epps Ward, Brothers On Farms Lamb Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Susan and her sons Dmitry, 13, and Andrei, 12, are adding all-natural grass-fed lamb to their growing farm business, which currently includes mushrooms, heirloom vegetables, rabbits, and specialty garlic … View >>
Tim & Annie Burrell, Rabbit Creek Bee Company, LLC Pollination Services “With grant funding and the additional income achieved from this project, we hope that within three years the farm can provide a majority of our income, and within four … View >>
Salvador is adding a heating system and gravel and ventilation system to his existing greenhouse so that he can supply all his own plant starts. Before this project he could only grow plants in late spring, which is not … View >>
Joseph is diversifying his nursery and landscaping business, which has been in operation since 1997, by adding heirloom vegetables grown with organic methods. The additional crops help keep the viability of the Bethel Valley farm, which has been in his … View >>
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 >>