HONAKER, VA – May 22, 2026 — When Judy Money set out to open a business in the Honaker, VA area, at her farm atop Big A Mountain, she wanted to combine sustainable farming practices with her family’s love of southern-style slow smoked barbecue. She set up Seven Sacred Acres, LLC, DBA as Holy Smokes BBQ and More — what she describes as a farm-to-table agricultural business which also operates a mobile BBQ catering service available for events, festivals, weddings and more.
Seven Sacred Acres, LLC, DBA as Holy Smokes BBQ and More, is a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant. Seed capital grants are funded from regional funds received by VCEDA which are paid by the natural gas industry.
“While initially Seven Sacred Acres, LLC DBA as Holy Smokes BBQ is offering a mobile barbecue catering service in the region, the new business vision is to develop a permanent on-farm kitchen and retail space,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “The business projects three full-time and four part-time employees within five years.”
“As we develop the on-farm kitchen and retail space, we expect to increase our mobile food and catering capacity to allow for on-site food preparation and sales and to offer a dedicated area for visitors to experience farm-to-table offerings,” Money said. “We also want to grow our educational programming to include seasonal camps and farm festivals, fostering agricultural awareness and community engagement.”
Money said the idea to incorporate the mobile barbecue outdoor kitchen aspect of the business came about in part to honor her late son, Jason Reed, who loved family cook-outs and barbecue. He died in 2015 at the young age of 31.
Money added, “we want to become a model for community-based, faith-driven agribusiness in Virginia and to demonstrate how sustainable farming and local food production can strengthen both families and the local economy.”
She noted the purchase of a food concession trailer allows the business to expand its reach to farmers’ markets, community events and regional festivals. Homemade sides prepared with ingredients grown on-site serve to highlight the quality and authenticity of its products, Money said.
She added the business uses locally sourced meats; handcrafted sauces, including a bourbon peach sauce; and sides made from scratch. In addition to barbecue, rice bowls, tacos, traditional barbecue sides and more are offered.
“While our first year we are focusing on the catering aspect of the business and event bookings, we plan to establish a retail line of sauces and jarred products within 24 months,” Money said. “Additionally, we want to work with the schools to offer field trips to teach children where food comes from and how it grows. We want to teach people how to live off the land, because the fact is, kids these days just don’t know about it.”
Money used the seed capital grant toward the purchase of kitchen equipment, the concession trailer and branded marketing materials.
“Receiving the grant was absolutely amazing,” Money said.
By early summer, she plans to begin a regular schedule with the concession trailer at fairs and festivals; at the Lebanon Farmers Market once a month; at the Cleveland Farmers Market every other week; and at other local community events during the season. Special order catering is also available.
Money worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) in developing her application to VCEDA. She received a letter of support from the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority.
“The Southwest Virginia Community College SBDC congratulates Holy Smokes BBQ, a Buchanan County–based food truck owned by Judy Money, on receiving a Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Grant,” said Denise Harmon, SBDC director at SWCC. “The SBDC was proud to assist with the application process and remains committed to supporting local entrepreneurs through business advising and access to capital resources that strengthen small businesses and local economies across Southwest Virginia.”
For more information about Holy Smokes BBQ and More, interested persons may call 276-202-0834 or email holysmokesbbq@sevensacredacres.com.
About Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Southwest Virginia’s e-Region: The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the region’s economy and help create jobs, markets Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and its focus on electronic information technology, energy, education, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship. VCEDA is a unique economic development organization that manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. Located in southwestern Virginia, the region includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton. www.vceda.us or www.e-Region.org.
About the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Seed Capital Matching Grant Fund: VCEDA region for-profit businesses, within qualifying business categories, one year and under with less than 10 full-time employees are eligible to apply for dollar-for-dollar matching grants up to $10,000 from the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund. Applicants work with the Small Business Development Centers at Mountain Empire and Southwest Virginia community colleges to prepare the applications to VCEDA that include detailed business and financial plans. Businesses must be located in or plan to operate in the VCEDA region in southwestern Virginia that includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton.
(PHOTO CAPTION: A farm-to-table agricultural business which also operates a mobile barbecue catering service is what Judy Money sought to create as she opened Seven Sacred Acres, LLC, DBA as Holy Smokes BBQ and More. The new business is a recent recipient of a $10,000 VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant.)