Disc value-added AG pmdg-BEG & SOC disadv farmers & ranchers

Woodcock Farm LLC, through its River Run Farm division, received a $249.2 thousand Project Grant award on September 17, 2025, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Cooperative Services under the Rural Cooperative Development Grants program (CFDA 10.771). The award will support the delivery of technical assistance services for value-added agricultural processing enterprises and assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through September 17, 2027. This funding aligns with the Rural Cooperative Development Grants program's mission to improve rural economic conditions by providing hands-on technical assistance for the startup, expansion, and operational improvement of rural cooperatives and mutually-owned businesses.

The Rural Cooperative Development Grants program funds nonprofit-operated Cooperative Development Centers that provide feasibility studies, business planning, governance training, and ongoing operational support to rural cooperative enterprises. Recent program awards have supported diverse cooperative models including agricultural producer cooperatives, food hubs, local food systems initiatives, and value-added processing operations serving rural beneficiaries. The award to Woodcock Farm LLC reflects the program's focus on building sustainable cooperative infrastructure and business acumen among rural entrepreneurs and disadvantaged agricultural producers in Washington.