Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
John Queen III, John Queen Farms Hydraulic Squeeze Chute and Digital Scales for Heifer Development Grant Award: $6,000 John runs a stocker operation on his fourth-generation family farm, grazing about 500 head of cattle annually. He plans to purchase a … View >>
KT, KT’s Orchard and Apiary Apple Sorting and Packing Project: Upgrading Farm Efficiency Grant Award: $6,000 Having already purchased a used apple sorter from a neighboring county’s N.C. Cooperative Extension Center, KT will be converting an existing barn into an … View >>
Sarah Coury and Ben Pick, Saturnia Farm Nursery, Flower & Farm Goods Delivery Service Grant Award: $6,000 In spring of 2020 as the COVID-19 crisis was unfolding, Saturnia Farm started a plant delivery service between Waynesville and Asheville. An immediate … View >>
Donald Smart, Smart Farm Hay Loader for Beef Cattle Operation Grant Award: $3,000 Don is establishing approximately eight acres of trellised slicer & pickling cucumbers, further diversifying his tobacco and tomato farm. With the purchase of an air blast sprayer, … View >>
Catherine & Rick Topel, Smoky Mountain Mangalitsa, LLC Walk-In Freezer Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 With success supplying quality whole hog specialty breed (Mangalitsa) carcasses to restaurants, the Topel’s are moving to retail sales of their pork and lard products. In … View >>
Sara Martin and Dustin Cornelison, Two Trees Farm / Sustainabillies, LLC Livestock Pasture and Barn Grant Award: $3,000 Sara and Dustin plan to install fencing to create a new pasture, buy a livestock guardian animal and build a barn suitable … View >>
Sarah Coury and Ben Pick, Saturnia Farm Nursery Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Saturnia Farm, a specialty perennial and native plant nursery, made needed renovations on the farm to expand nursery offerings. They made improvements to an existing high tunnel, with … View >>
Gerald Rathbone Feed Bin for Lamb Operation Grant Award: $3,000 Having grown up on a tobacco and dairy farm, Gerald has been farming his entire life. His successful sheep operation brings in an average of $16,000 a year and has … View >>
KT, KT’s Orchard and Apiary KT’s Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar Grant Award: $6,000 One of the unfortunate aspects of producing commercial fruit for sale is amount of loss experienced from fruit that cannot be sold – size, shape, imperfections, etc. … View >>
Sara Martin and Dustin Cornelison, Two Trees Farm / Sustainabillies Outdoor Kitchen and Classroom Space Grant Award: $6,000 Sara and Dustin have built a covered multi-purpose outdoor space that functions as a kitchen, classroom, cold storage, washing and packing area … View >>
Beauford Rice, Rice Family Farms Portable Corral Grant Award: $6,000 With the addition of a Rawhide portable corral system, Rice Family Farms now has the needed equipment to safely and efficiently work their cattle. Since their cattle are located on … View >>
Stephen John Leatherwood, Leatherwood Family Farms Walk-In Freezer Grant Award: $6,000 Stephen has successfully diversified his successful vegetable operation with the addition of freezer beef. In response to customer demand for beef and to add a commodity to increase profit … View >>
Blake Francis, Blake Francis Farm Round Bale Wrapper Grant Award: $6,000 Blake has purchased a 3 point hitch round bale wrapper to use on his 320-acre farm. Since the 320 acres of hay on the farm are not contiguous, Blake … View >>
Alexa Baker, Dreamy Bean Farm Heirloom Dry Beans and Dry Corn Production Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 To meet demand for heirloom beans and corn, Alexa has expanded production of specialty legumes and grains by a half-acre with the purchase of … View >>
Dennis Francis, Dennis Francis Farm Seed Drill for Hay and Pasture Grant Award: $6,000 Dennis has invested in a seed drill to renovate his hay fields and pasture without tilling. Much of his grass died off during the droughts of … View >>
Tim and Jamie Kelley, Chestnut Hill Farm Grass Forages and Wildlife Preservation Grant Award: $6,000 Tim and Jamie have enhanced their livestock operation by optimizing forage grasses and better managing rotations of cattle, sheep and goats. Improvements have resulted in … View >>