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Harold and Nancy Long, Long Family Farms and Gallery Mushroom and Medicinal Extracts and Oils Grant Award: $6,000 Harold and Nancy will be diversifying their farm business with the addition of a mushroom and medicinal plant dehydration and extraction operation. … View >>
Ryan and Launi Higgs, Blue Ridge Apiaries Value-Added Diversification with Session Mead Production Grant Award: $6,000 Before starting their successful small-scale apiary that now supplies 12% of the total North Carolina honey crop, the Higgs were employees of the largest … View >>
Gregory Miller, 3M Livestock Diversifying to Goats and Sheep Grant Award: $6,000 In order to diversify his cow/calf operation, Greg will be adding field fencing to farm and removing the barbed wire to introduce goats and sheep to his herd. … View >>
Theresa Jaynes, Countryside Berries Muscadine Project Grant Award: $6,000 With the goal of doubling farm sales in two years, Countryside Berries has diversified their u-pick berry farm with the addition of muscadines. This season, they have planted 48 muscadine plants … 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 >>
Warren, Diana and Clint Cabe, Blue Ribbon Farms Stone Grist Mill Grant Award: $6,000 With the long-term goal of diversifying his farm to remain viable, Warren used past WNC AgOptions grants to improve his cattle operation and develop a niche … View >>
Keith Allison, Alt Hill and Verdant Pastures Small Fruit Diversification Grant Award: $6,000 Looking to diversify his farm and bring new sources of income, Keith has added a variety of berries to his farm. He planted 1,000 strawberry plants, 200 … View >>
Karen and Bob Binns, Parker-Binns Vineyard Increasing Wine Production and Diversification Grant Award: $6,000 To accommodate an expansion of their winery and to diversify into producing cider, Parker-Binns Vineyard has added a new production building to their existing successful winery. … View >>
Jordan Michael Smith, Two Girls Honey Company Apiary Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 In order to meet the demand for honey in Swain County, Jordan has expanded his current operation to 18 colonies. The expansion of the colonies required the addition … View >>
Rodney Wise, Mountain Hollow Mushroom Operation Grant Award: $6,000 Rodney has diversified his medicinal herb farm with native and exotic mushrooms. He is growing brown oyster, elm oyster, pearl oyster and maitake mushrooms, taking the next steps to becoming a … View >>
Joe Evans, Paper Crane Farm Crop Diversification: Specialty Cut Flowers Grant Award: $6,000 Joe has diversified his successful five-acre vegetable farm with the addition of a half-acre of cut flowers. To achieve this level of production, he has increased the … View >>
Janet Peterson, Cloud 9 Farm Small Fruit Irrigation and Raspberry Diversification Grant Award: $3,000 Janet upgraded the irrigation system on her blueberry farm to enhance the health of her berry bushes. She is also adding 200 raspberry plants to diversify … View >>
James Moore Edwards, Edwards Farm Grass-Fed Cattle Grant Award: $6,000 James is diversifying his vegetable operation with grass-fed cattle. He purchased seven calves to pasture on 16 acres. He feeds them on grass until autumn before slaughtering them for sale … View >>
Burl Jonathan Greene III, Green Family Tree Farm Farm Diversification Grant Award: $6,000 Burl has diversified his Christmas tree farm with berries and pumpkins to offer products and services year-round. He recently added 20 acres of land, which has 235 … View >>
Jon D. Klimstra, TK Family Farm High-Density Trellised Apple Orchard Grant Award: $6,000 Jon has diversified his 15-acre farm with a high density trellised apple orchard. This orchard style allows for higher yields in a shorter amount of time than … View >>
Paula and Dale Boles, JB Farms Aquaponics Greenhouses Grant Award: $6,000 After raising broiler chickens for 13 years, Paula and Dale are ending their contract with poultry companies and converting their chicken houses to aquaponics greenhouses, growing tilapia and a … View >>