[Pittsboro, NC, August 28] – Rural Advancement Foundation International–USA (RAFI) has announced the recipients of its 2025 farmer grants. This year, the program awarded $261,319 to 42 farmers across 10 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since 2020, RAFI has distributed $1,412,179 to 241 farmers.
RAFI’s Infrastructure Grants program supports projects that strengthen farm viability, create new markets, sustain local food economies, and preserve traditional and cultural practices. In addition to providing Infrastructure Grants to farmers in the Southeast U.S. since 2020, RAFI’s Caribbean Infrastructure Grants began in 2023 for farmers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Additionally, RAFI provides Beginning Farmer Stipends to support those with fewer than three years of farming experience in the Southeast U.S. These stipends provide critical support to cover start-up and/or production costs, assisting new farmers in establishing viable operations and contributing to the sustainability of rural communities. Beginning Farmer Stipends are supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a key funder of RAFI’s since 2020.
A team of farmers and farm advocates from partner organizations reviewed proposals and recommended farmers to receive grants. Grantees were selected based on the strength of their project and its anticipated impact on the farm and local farming community. Short profiles of the grantees are available on RAFI’s website [LINK]. Below, you will find three representative profiles.
“Our grantmaking is about more than funding projects — it’s about making sure farmers have what they need to succeed and to strengthen their communities. These grants are especially valuable for smaller farms and for those who lack access to credit or capital, since they don’t always have the same resources or opportunities as larger operations. From new farmers just starting out to seasoned growers investing in infrastructure, the funding is helping build a stronger, more resilient food system across the Southeast, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico,” says Co-Executive Director Edna Rodriguez.
Kavita Koppa, Co-Executive Director, adds, “We see every grant as an investment in the future of farming. By supporting innovation, preserving cultural traditions, and helping farmers thrive, RAFI is proud to stand alongside farmers who are creating lasting change for their families, their communities, and the land.”
RAFI’s grantmaking programs support farmers with infrastructure improvements, start-up costs, and other funds made available when the need arises. Since the 1990s, RAFI has adapted its grantmaking to meet the changing needs of agriculture while advancing sustainability and resilience. Current programs include Infrastructure Grants in the Southeast and U.S. Caribbean, as well as a Beginning Farmer Stipend to reduce barriers for new farmers. These programs build on the legacy of the Agricultural Reinvestment Fund (1997–2019), through which RAFI distributed more than $6 million to 600 projects that helped farmers diversify, transition from tobacco, and strengthen rural economies.
Representative Grants 2025
Caribbean Infrastructure Grantee
Pablo Perez Cruz (Hatillo, Puerto Rico) has been farming since 2012 and launched Injertia Manases in 2015. He values the daily connection with nature and the opportunity to contribute to Puerto Rico’s growth. Injertia Manases is one of the island’s few registered nurseries for grafting producers, offering its own branded products, producing grafts, and hosting workshops to share knowledge with the broader community. The funds will be used to expand the infrastructure for graft production, enabling the farm to provide more products to growers on the island.
Southeast U.S. Infrastructure Grantee
Wenceslaus Provost Jr. is the owner and operator of Provost Farm, an 85-acre family farm in New Iberia, Louisiana, where he grows sugarcane. Farming has been a lifelong journey for Wenceslaus; he began farming in 1994 and officially established Provost Farm in 2007. Today, his sugarcane is sold wholesale to distilleries and sugar mills, as well as directly to the general public. The 2025 RAFI Farmer Infrastructure Grant will support Provost Farm by helping cover essential farm expenses, ensuring the farm’s continued ability to provide high-quality crops while sustaining its operations.
Beginning Farmer Stipend Awardee
Kai Stoudemire-Williams is the founder of HyperFarm, a state-of-the-art, 326-square-foot indoor hydroponic farm in Greenwood, South Carolina, with the capacity to grow the equivalent of three acres of food. Launched in 2024, HyperFarm produces lettuces, leafy greens, herbs, and edible flowers year-round, using 97% less water than traditional farming. A fourth-generation farmer, Kai runs the operation alongside her husband and children, carrying forward her family’s agricultural legacy while innovating in controlled environment agriculture (CEA).