ASHEVILLE — Local farmers still rebuilding after devastating storm damage found a lifeline this week as agricultural leaders, business experts and community advocates gathered at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College for a conference designed to help Western North Carolina's farming community chart a path forward.
The daylong event drew dozens of farmers, extension agents and nonprofit representatives from across the region, bringing together practical workshops and one-on-one consultations under one roof.
"These farmers are the backbone of our region's food system, and they've taken some serious hits," said one conference organizer. "We wanted to remove every barrier we could between them and the resources they need."
Sessions covered a broad range of topics, including sustainable agriculture practices tailored to storm-damaged land, strategies for rebuilding soil health, and techniques for diversifying crops to reduce future risk, according to organizers. Business-focused workshops addressed farm financial planning, record-keeping and how to approach lenders when seeking recovery loans.
Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service were on hand to walk farmers through some available federal assistance programs, including emergency loans and conservation cost-share opportunities. State and local nonprofit organizations also tabled at the event, offering guidance on grants and technical assistance, according to organizers.
For many attendees, the conference offered something equally valuable: the chance to connect with neighbors facing the same challenges.
""You feel alone out there sometimes,' said one Haywood County farmer. 'Seeing this many people show up, people who actually want to help — it means a lot.'""
AB Tech's Small Business Center helped coordinate the event, according to organizers.