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Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) is proud to announce a new scholarship fund, the Brittany Robinson Memorial Scholarship. The first award will be made in May 2026. This scholarship is designed to support the next generation of agricultural leaders in the High Country region of North Carolina. The award will be presented annually to a female student in the High Country who intends to pursue further education in agriculture, sustainable development or animal sciences.
The Brittany Robinson Memorial Scholarship was established to honor Brittany's passion and commitment to agriculture, animal husbandry, and sustainability. Read full article linked above. More details on our website here. |
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Blue Ridge Energy Foundation awards more than $83K to local organizations | Watauga Democrat | Nov. 3, 2025
"Watauga County organizations recently received more than $83,000 in grants from the Blue Ridge Energy Foundation. This year, the foundation focused on helping local communities continue recovery efforts from the impact of Hurricane Helene — the most devastating natural disaster in western North Carolina's history. Additional funding will support projects in the areas of health, wellness, education, youth, and economic and community development... Local Watauga County agencies receiving grant awards include:
Read full article linked above. |
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BRWIA's Annual Local Meat Sale Returns October 23
High Country Press | October 19, 2025 Watauga Democrat | October 20, 2025 Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) is excited to announce the return of the 4th Annual Local Meat Sale on Thursday, October 23, from 2–6:30 PM at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center (252 Poplar Grove Rd, Boone), home of the High Country Food Hub. The Local Meat Sale offers shoppers the opportunity to save 25% or more on locally raised beef, pork, lamb, and chicken from local High Country farms, including Asa Acres, BFR Family Brands, Happy Hens, Hellbender Farms, Old Beech Mountain Farms, Shepherd Farms, and Sun Raised Foods. "Every purchase supports local farmers who are working hard to provide healthy, responsibly raised meat for our community," said BRWIA's Producer Programs Coordinator Laney Baker. "It's a great way to fill your freezer with high-quality, discounted meat and invest in the local food system." Read full article here. |
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Dia Latino at the King Street Farmer's Market and the Upcoming Winter Market | High Country Press | October 3, 2025
The King Street Market honored the rich cultural heritage of Latino communities in the High Country at the Tuesday Farmers Market! "This is an incredible opportunity to learn more about our community and see how we can further support each other," said Blythe Ransdell, the Farmers Market Assistant Manager at Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture. The Winter Market opening day will be December 6th, and run every Saturday until the end of March. Applications for vendors are currently being accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Read full article linked above. |
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Fresh local produce brings healthy meals to seniors | The Avery Journal Daily Reflector e-Edition | October 2, 2025
From January through September, the Western Watauga Senior Center in Cove Creek got a big boost of fresh, locally grown produce thanks to a grant awarded to Henson Chapel United Methodist Church in Vilas. Staff and volunteers at BRWIA's High Country Food Hub purchased and packed produce bags filled with healthy fruits and vegetables for the Senior Center's meal program. In total, 350 produce bags — totaling more than 2,000 pounds — were delivered, helping to nourish seniors while also supporting local farms in the High Country. Read full article linked above. |
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Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture will host its annual fundraiser "A Savory Shindig 2025: A Celebration of Local Food and Community" on Sunday, Sept. 7, at Appalachian View in Linville. The event, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, runs from 4 to 7 p.m. and features a six-course farm-to-table dinner using seasonal ingredients from local producers. Local chefs Adam Cole, Iona Jones of Sweetwater Kitchen and Jessica of Moondance Catering will prepare the menu and grazing table.
The evening includes live Appalachian music from The Burnett Sisters, a community art project led by artist Andi Dandelion, and craft beverages from Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Linville Falls Winery. "This year has been challenging for our local food community and for BRWIA, as we've faced the devastation of Hurricane Helene and significant reductions in federal funding," said Liz Whiteman, the organization's executive director. "We hope community members will join us for an evening of good food, music and company while supporting our mission." Read full article linked above. The event will be held at Appalachian View, 1117 Sugar Mountain Road No. 2, Newland. |
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Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture and Frontline to Farm Team Up To Support Local Farmers
High Country Press | July 15, 2025 Watauga Democrat | July 17, 2025 The Avery Journal | July 21, 2025 Frontline to Farm and Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture have teamed up to create the BRWIA/Frontline to Farm Producer Relief Grant to ease the burden still facing the region's farmers. In total, the grant split $24,000 in donations among 12 local producers, directly impacting their ability to provide food to people from communities across the High Country... "We are forever grateful to BRWIA for agreeing to help administer the funds and for having the vision to create an ongoing grant opportunity for local farmers," Gibbard said. "I can't overstate the need created by the storm and subsequent impact of diminished production on the availability of local food. From beef to vegetables and value-added goods, we need to support the farmers who serve our High Country communities." Read full article linked above. |
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King Street Market hosting Appalachian Day on July 1 | Watauga Democrat | June 27, 2025
"We're hosting Appalachian Day as an ode to the High Country and the Appalachian region and the incredible traditions it holds," said Sarah Sandreuter, King Street Farmers Market assistant. "It's impossible to do it justice, but we wanted to include just a taste of what this place is about, with food, music and some of the community-centered organizations here in the High Country." Read full article linked above. |
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Listen here! Interview on High Country Radio, Boone's local radio station! Interview with Lily Lipford of BRWIA
High Country Radio | April 14, 2025 Lily talks to Mark at High Country Radio about the mission of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture and the programs that help High Country growers and businesses sell in more markets and also help folks access more affordable local food. Learn more about the High Country Food and the Double Up Food Bucks program! Lily gives listeners a special discount code for the month of April. Don't miss it! |
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BRAHM screening documentary about nonprofit championing locally-grown food | Watauga Democrat | April 5, 2025
"Farm, Food, & Community: A Documentary about Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture," will be screened on Thursday, April 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) at 159 Ginny Stevens Ln.
The film focuses on Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture that have worked to strength the local food system, according to the BRAHM; it explores the 20-year development of the nonprofit organization. There will be a panel discussion after the film on Thursday. The documentary was co-directed by two professors at Appalachian State University, Anne Walker and Chip Williams. |
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Appalachian State University's High Country Humanities is pleased to present "Documenting Our Common Humanity: Climate, Community, Resilience" on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, located at 559 West King Street in Boone. The event is free and open to the public, and doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
This coda to the Boone Docs Film Festival will feature the work of local filmmakers. Inspired by the unity and resourcefulness of Western North Carolinians, which Hurricane Helene recently highlighted, the films to be screened will showcase resilience and people working together to respond to environmental and agricultural challenges. [A] documentary featured in this screening is "Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture: Farm, Food & Community," a documentary by Anne Ward and Chip Williams that explores the twenty-year development of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture and their work to develop local food pathways in Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties. |
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Appalachian State University welcomed Liz Whiteman, executive director of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, to its Community Resilience Forum on Monday, Jan. 27, for an update on the nonprofit's work during recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene.
As part of the panel discussion, Whiteman provided guidance to the audience members on how they can support local farms and agriculture as they continue to recover from the storm. "Spend your food dollars locally when possible," Whiteman said. Read full article linked above. |
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App State hosted a Community Resilience Forum on Hurricane Helene, on Monday at the Plemmons Student Union. The forum focused on resilience, collaborative efforts and the immediate response of Watauga County residents. It also featured the launch of the Hurricane Helene Archive website, aimed at preserving the history of the storm.
Four local leaders, each representing a key area of focus during the storm — food, water, housing and the economy — participated in the forum. The Executive Director of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, Liz Whiteman, spoke first and represented the food focus of the forum. |
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Local Love for the Holidays Program Spreads Joy in High Country | High Country Press | December 20, 2024
For many residents of the High Country who are facing food insecurity, where their next meal is coming from is a constant source of stress, especially during the holidays. Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture's Local Love for the Holidays Program changed that. Thanks to an incredible community effort, 120 local families will enjoy the gift of fresh, local goodness this holiday season through the Local Love for the Holidays program.
Pictured: High Country Food Hub staff and volunteers with 120 bags of apples from Deal Orchards. BRWIA's Local Love for the Holidays program bought and distributed 120 holiday meal kits for food pantry partners this season. |
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Boone council green lights text for Stoneman's Raid marker, pass multiple proclamations | Watauga Democrat | August 21, 2024
The Boone Town Council approved a proclamation that the month of August will be Farmers' Market Month in conjunction with National Farmers Market Week during the first week of Aug. Pictured from L-R: Sydney Blume and Alice Ashburn of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture with council member Dalton George. Photo by: Watauga Democrat |
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Strengthening Communities and Sustaining Small Farms | WNC Business | August 7, 2024 |
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Community all-stars recognized with Boone's 1872 Award | Watauga Democrat | July 10, 2024
Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture received the Town of Boone's 1872 award at the Fourth of July parade, along with Bettie Bond. Pictured from L-R: Bettie Bond, Courtney Wheeler, Carol Coulter, Judith Phoenix, and mayor Tim Futrelle. Photo by: Watauga Democrat |
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BRWIA hosting Local Food as Medicine Summit on March 7 | Watauga Democrat | March 4, 2024
Boone Hosts 2nd Annual Local Food as Medicine Summit, Tackles Food Insecurity in High Country | BNN News | March 2, 2024 Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is Hosting the 2nd Annual LocalFAM Summit on March 7 | High Country Press | March 1, 2024 
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BRAHM hosting Song to Seed show with live music Oct. 19 | Watauga Democrat | October 19, 2023 Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture to hold Food Hub Freezer Sale Sept. 20 | Watauga Democrat | Sept 12, 2023 Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture Double-Up Food Bucks Awareness Week July 24-30 | Watauga Democrat | August 25, 2023 |
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BRWIA celebrates 20 years in the High Country | Watauga Democrat | July 31, 2023 Fresh, local food to be served at Grace Kitchen | The Alleghany News | July 19, 2023 Who's Your Farmer? | Carolina Mountain Life |Jun 16, 2023 Farm Fresh | High Country Magazine | June 13, 2023
Farm Fresh: Organic organization cultivates community and fresh fare from the farm | High Country Press | June 26, 2023 Checking Out the High Country Food Hub | WBTV, Charlotte | May 12, 2023 |