Are you a small farmer needing financial help with a farm project? You might be eligible for the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund grant funded by the annual chef-curated Dinner in the Meadow.
Dinner in the Meadow
The Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund (LMSFF) was established to support and cultivate small farms in North Carolina. Founded in 2014 in honor and in memory of Franklin County farmers Marjorie Leonard and Steve Mobley of Meadow Lane Farm in Louisburg, North Carolina, the fund aids in development and long-term sustainability of small farms through an annual grants program, with proceeds raised during a dinner at the farm and through community donations and sponsorships. The annual recipient, chosen from many applicants, is awarded $5,000 to use in a way that best suits their farm mission and need.
Dinner in the Meadow returns on Sept. 15, 2024, for a communal feast at Meadow Lane Farm in Franklin County. Notable chefs from the area will gather to prepare a culinary feast in a meadow setting and to celebrate local food. Everyone is invited.
Tickets are now available here.
Is My Farm Eligible?
To apply, farms must be located in one of 11 North Carolina counties: Franklin, Granville, Person, Durham, Vance, Warren, Wake, Nash, Halifax, Chatham and Wilson.
Farms eligible for this grant can be the enterprise of one person or family or a small group of farmers. The farm business must have been operational for at least two years in North Carolina by July 1 of the year of the application. Farmers may own or rent the land. Farmers who generate at least 50% of their personal income from the farm operation during the previous calendar year will be given preference. Previous winners are not eligible.
The Grant is up to $5,000, and should be spent within one year of the award. The Grant is intended for agricultural equipment or infrastructure that will support continuation, growth and long-term success of the farm operation and small farm sustainability in the region. The LMSFF does not fund labor, wages, training or marketing.
Learn more about the grant or apply online at dinnerinthemeadow.org/grant-application.
