We are thrilled to be launching the 11th year of Local Farmer Awards for capital improvements on farms in Western Massachusetts. These grants are made possible by our generous funders: THE HAROLD GRINSPOON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION in partnership with BIG Y, the MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE, and our generous sponsors Ann & Steve Davis, Charles & Elizabeth D'Amour, Audrey & Chick Taylor, Barbara Deslauriers, PEOPLESBANK, ANDREWS, DENUCCI GROUP AT MERRILL LYNCH, EASTERN STATES EXPOSITION, FARM CREDIT EAST, HP HOOD LLC, BAYSTATE HEALTH, COUNTRY BANK, 3 COUNTY FAIR, FRANKLIN FIRST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, and BANKESB.
A FARMER APPRECIATION EVENT is held yearly for all applicants and awardees to honor and recognize our farmers and promote the importance of local farming.
Examples of How Local Farmer Awards Have Been Used
Everyday Farm (Gill, MA) used grant funding to help purchase a Grain Bin for Laying Hens. They reported:
“This grant allowed us to more than double our laying hen flock, going from 300 to 700 laying hens!”
Quabbin Hill Farms (Pelham, MA) used grant funding to help purchase a Greenhouse Heating System. They reported:
“We were able to start plants 6 weeks earlier and will expand our growing season by approximately 2 months. This allowed our farm to participate in three farmer’s markets per week, and increase our profits by around 200%.”
Award Recipients
The team of funders has now supported 672 projects on over 300 farms and invested $1.5 Million in local agriculture. We all continue to be thankful and appreciative that these farmers bring fresh food to our tables, care for the land they farm, and desire to continue to improve their farms.
Interested in where they work? Find links to maps of the Local Farmer Award Recipients in the right side of this page.