DECEMBER 21, 2010 (LINCOLN, NEB.)—The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) and Nebraska Rural Development Commission (RDC) have awarded $491,278 in Agricultural Innovation and Value-Added Ag (VAA) grant funding to 12 projects.

“Since its inception in 2005, the Agricultural Innovation and Value-Added Agriculture grant program has awarded over 100 grants to assist with a variety of agricultural based projects.  With the match provided by the award recipients, the program investment totals more than $6 million to strengthen the value-added industry and enhance income generation opportunities for rural Nebraska,” said Linda Fettig, RDC director.

Administered by the Nebraska Rural Development Commission, the program supports the collaborative development of farming and ranching; start-up and growth of value-added agricultural enterprises; and growth of rural communities and regions.

Central Nebraska Custom Crush

Prairie Creek Vineyards, LLC, Cedar Hills Vineyard and Gardens and Pour House Tasting Room/Potter’s Field Vineyard received $60,000 to build a custom crush facility in central Nebraska for Nebraska vineyard owners, Nebraska wine tasting rooms and wineries. A cash match  is provided by Prairie Creek Vineyards, LLC, Cedar Hills Vineyards and Gardens and Pour House Tasting Room/Potter’s Field Vineyard.  Contact Nicholas Ryan at 308-940-1370.

Sandhill Ranchers Beef Company Value Added Expansion

Sandhill Ranchers Beef Company received $10,500 to purchase equipment for  its full service beef packing facility.  The project will help Nebraska cattle ranchers potentially increase revenues through participation in company value-added programs.  Cash match is provided by Sandhill Ranchers Beef Company.  Contact Ben Roberts at 509-843-7074.

Building A Local Foods Distributing Business

The Nebraska Food Cooperative received $15,000 to purchase a walk-in cooler/freezer for their centralized distribution site. The Cooperative plans to develop a centralized warehouse/packinghouse and officer(?) facility to accommodate its expanding distribution system and growth.  Cash match is provided by the Nebraska Food Cooperative.  Contact Libby Broekemeier at 402-980-3757.

Pekarek’s Produce Expands Business

Pekarek’s Produce received $21,000 to establish a vegetable processing facility. The project will help Pekarek’s Produce expand into whole distribution with correlating expansions for its supply partners.  Ryan and Katie Pekarek are providing cash and in-kind match.  Contact Ryan Pekarek at 402-641-3305.

Building Value-Added Food Processing Capacity in Nebraska

Pumpkin Valley Farms LLC and Ely Farm LLC received $41,500 to purchase additional processing equipment. The two entities share a processing facility  that not onlyallows  them to expand individually, but create added opportunities for renting the processing facility and equipment to other businesses.  Brett Nunnenkamp and Neal Ely are providing cash and in-kind match.  Contact Brett Nunnenkamp at 402-469-0077.

Fiber Flax Test Plot Project

BastLab, Inc., received $48,000 to purchase flax harvesting equipment, and conduct fiber and operational testing.  This project is exploring  the viability of adding a new fiber flax crop to Nebraska.  BastLab, Inc., also is exploring further development of its post-harvesting fiber flax processing technology.  BastLab, Inc. /John Carpenter are providing cash and in-kind match.  Contact John Carpenter at 402-319-5105. 

Increasing the Accessibility of Local Foods

Old Cheney Road Farmers’ Market received $10,725 for electronic scanning equipment, and marketing and educational activities.  The project is increasing the accessibility and sales of farm fresh products through EBT/SNAP capabilities, educational activities and improved marketing.  Old Cheney Road Farmers’ Market, Inc., is providing cash match. Contact Elaine Cranford at 402-770-1705.

Mechanical Grape Harvester

South Platte Valley Grape Growers Association received $72,500 to purchase a mechanical grape harvester.  The grape harvester will be used by association members and loaned for custom harvesting throughout Nebraska and in surrounding states.  Use of  the harvester will reduce each grower’s harvesting costs and allow grapes to be picked at  an optimum ripeness ensuring higher quality wines.  Stephen Gamet/Ida’s Vitis, Steve Gibson/Far the Walk Vineyards, Jeff Hillis/Hillis Vineyards and Mike Loeffler/Medicine Creek Vineyards are providing cash match. Contact Stephen Gamet at 402-488-9763.

Grassland Dairy

Robert E. Bernt, Richard Nemec, Jerry Gotschall, and Kelly Bruns received $75,000 to build an onsite farm cheese and butter processing facility for grass-fed organic milk that is processed into value added products, and purchase equipment for the facility.  The partners are providing cash and in-kind match.  Contact Robert E. Bernt at 308-750-1086.

Pheasant Oak Wine Confections

Pheasant Oak Vineyard Confections, and Gary, Kari, and Jason Samuelson received $55,000 to purchase freezers for , and market their sauces, jellies, ice creams and cocktail sorbets. The freezers will help them more efficiently distribute their products to retailers, expand their freezer, refrigerator and dry storage capabilities, and increase production of their specialty products.  The partners are providing cash and in-kind match.  Contact Kari Samuelson at 402-709-8651.

Welsch’s Hay Across America

Welsch’s Bale in a Bag, LLC, received $75,000 to purchase an Aeolus Hay Dryer to more widely distribute its high quality hay from the farm in convenient, transportation-friendly packaging and at reasonable prices. throughout the U.S. Welsch’s Bale in a Bag, LLC is providing cash and in-kind match.  Contact Tom Welsch at 308-637-7853.

Produce Sheep and Mixed Milk Cheeses

Victory Hill Farm, LLC and MMM-BAH Dairy Goats received $7,053 to purchase a commercial vacuum packaging machine and sheep milk antibiotic testing kit..  The equipment and kit will help Victory Hill Farm better regulate the quality manufacture and distribution of cheese from sheep milk and mixed milk cheese from goat and sheep milk combined.  Victory Hill Farm, LLC/ Sarah and Lee Pinet are providing cash and in-kind match.  Contact Sarah Pinet at 308-641-8429.

For more information about the VAA grants, contact Linda Fettig at 308-380-4966 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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