Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Chris and Michelle Crawford, Crawford Acres Vineyard Expansion and Diversification Grant Award: $6,000 Crawford Acres has expanded their grape plantings by 472 vines and diversified their crop with three new varieties of grapes. Their grant covered the costs for new … View >>
Samantha and Kevin Webb, LeatherNeck Farms Irrigation Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Samantha and Kevin have installed a self-propelled irrigation system to boost their vegetable and grass-fed livestock operation. The reel irrigation helps them maintain greener pastures and increase vegetable production. … View >>
Susan Epps Ward, Brothers on Farms Lamb Production Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Susan is expanding her lamb meat venture, which she started with the help of a 2013 WNC AgOptions grant. She is renovating her pasture to better control barber … View >>
Salvador Moreno, SMM Farms Produce Washing System Grant Award: $6,000 Salvador is significantly cutting production costs on his 50-acre vegetable farm with the purchase of a washer and grader to clean and sort harvested produce. With this equipment, which helps … View >>
Charlie Kissling, Walnut Hollow Ranch All Natural Beef Business Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 To meet heightened demand for all natural grass-fed beef in Clay County and surrounding communities, Charlie is increasing beef production by an additional 5,300 pounds of beef … 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 >>
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 >>
Donna is diversifying her vegetable and meat/milk goat farm by producing goat cheese. She is purchasing a 12′ x 16′ building to turn into a certified kitchen and is equipping the kitchen per N.C. Department of Agriculture requirements. Purchases include … View >>
Bass & Seth Hyatt Grass-Fed Angus Beef Grant Award: $6,000 The Hyatts are constructing a new cattle-working facility – corral, scales, chute and head-gate – for their grass-fed operation on a 640-acre farm. The equipment will encourage the careful monitoring … View >>
Charlie & Barbara Kissling Natural Farm-Raised Beef – Grant Award: $3,000 The Kisslings have raised beef cattle and ornamentals since 1997, are small business owners, and have 25 years of experience in food service. With the award, they will market … View >>
Philip Moore Organic Greenhouse Tomatoes – Grant Award: $3,000 “Having assistance with the initial start-up costs enabled us to get the business off the ground much more quickly and allowed us to experiment with different aspects of organic vegetable production. … View >>
Andrew Jones of Clay County is growing his goat operation by building shelter, constructing fencing and renovating pasture. The land in Fires Creek where he farms has been in his family’s hands for four generations, and now he resides there … View >>
Livestock Laurie Bruce and her family have started raising Nubian dairy goats in Clay County. The Bruce family will soon be producing fresh dairy products in their cheese-making facility funded in part by the WNC Ag Options Grant. Clay … View >>
Clay County nursery operator, Mary Janis, used the WNC Ag Options Grant to help support the nursery’s expansion through funding marketing efforts and a new tissue culture lab. Visit www.SanctuaryNativePlants.com Clay County Contact the Local Extension Agent
Burson’s Corner Farm is owned and operated by Scott and Colleen Burson. The Burson’s farm serves the Atlanta and Asheville metropolitan areas with organic vegetable starts, flowers, herbs, nursery plants and handmade soaps and lotions. The diversified farm is … View >>
Karen and John are planning to expand their farm operation by producing value-added raspberry products, medicinal herbs and farm garden beauty products. Qualla Berry Farms is also open to the public for tours by appointment only. Expected income totals … View >>