Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Sophia Annette Ensley, Double 00 Farm Breed Preservation and Increased Production Grant Award: $3,000 Double 00 Farm has increased the size of their Large Black Hogs herd, a threatened breed of foraging hog that produces a micro-marbled meat. Their grant … View >>
Jeff C. Phillips, Pine Row Farm Pasture Raised Heritage Hogs Grant Award: $6,000 As hogs are making a comeback in Graham County, Pine Row Farm used their grant to expand their pastured heritage hog operation. By using a rotating pasture … View >>
Jessica Wehr, Wehrloom Honey Mead Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Jessica and Aron have added a meadery to the Wehrloom Honey Retail Store and Educational Center in Robbinsville. While making wine out of honey is unique in itself, they also have … View >>
Kendall (pictured above with her 10 year-old daughter) and her mother Vicki purchased equipment to expand their goat milk soap and lotion business. They produce natural products using goat milk that is hand-milked on the farm. They have converted … View >>
Jessica responded to customer demand for value-added products by creating three new product lines: cut-comb honey, spun honey and pollen. She purchased specialized equipment to harvest, process and market these products. Cut-comb honey is a piece of honey filled … View >>
John and Megan Pressley, Pressley Hollow Farm Truffle Orchard Grant Award: $6,000 John and Megan are diversifying their third generation family farm with the addition of a one-acre truffle orchard. They prepared the site, amended the soil, installed an irrigation … 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 >>
James Phillips and Danny Edwards, Apple Valley Orchard Orchard Establishment Grant Award: $3,000 James and Danny are establishing a one-acre orchard. They are planting 200 hundred apple trees and installing an irrigation system. No other orchard currently exists in the … View >>
Jeff Mansker Anderson Creek Apiary Grant Award: $3,000 — Honey House and Extractor Jeff is building a honey room and purchasing an extractor to allow greater production of Premier Sourwood Honey, increase storage space and expand his overall operation. Jeff’s … View >>
Jean Taylor Heirloom Vegetable Plant Production Grant Award: $6,000 In response to the high demand for heirloom vegetables, Jean is expanding her bedding plant operation by increasing her heated space and purchasing additional materials. She supplies other small growers with … View >>
Scott Boxberger, Stoney Hollow Farms & Stephanie Loafman, Five Sisters Stoney Hollow Farm Kitchen – Grant Award: $6,000 “The kitchen has increased farm income, and it makes a better use of the crop. There’s no waste.” ~ Stephanie Loafman “We … View >>
Bobby Williams of Graham County is starting a nursery specializing in native plants. He propagates more than 200 varieties, often times from seed collected in his nearby woods. He sells to nurseries, farmers’ markets and individuals, advertising in local newspapers. … View >>
Agri-Tourism Bruce DeGroot and Karen Mickler have used the WNC Ag Options Grant to improve the road between their dairy and pottery studio to enhance tourists’ experience on their farm. Yellow Branch Farm is located in Graham County. Visit … View >>
Former tobacco growers, John and Marcella McRae, have used grant funding to renovate a pasture for grass-finished beef production in Graham County. Since the early 1800’s this pasture land has been in Marcella’s family and they hope to keep it … View >>
No longer farming tobacco, Perry Jenkins has used the WNC Ag Options Grant to fence in the land that he used to grow tobacco on in order to raise livestock in Graham County. Graham County Contact the Local … View >>
Carl Patterson and his wife Denise have raised tobacco for 30 years. Mr. Patterson is a full time farmer who is leading alternative enterprise development in our region. He is in his second year of investing in the start … View >>