JoAnne's Archive

Our Salute To Our Farmers
by JoAnne Leone

There's finally a taste of Fall in the air, and no place better to experience it early then at the Farmers Market. Pumpkins, gourds and corn husks are decorating the Market, and are also for sale. The first of the sorghum syrup came in last week, a sure sign that autumn's palette will be painting the mountainside soon. Late crops of cabbage and greens are arriving, along with some wonderful silver corn. Apples are showing up, moving the peaches over, and taking their place as the season's royal fruit.

There are only 5 more weeks to this year's market, but we are not winding down yet. We have a different theme for each remaining weekend, and we know you'll want to come out and be a part of it all. This Saturday, Sept 18 th, is our “Salute to Our Farmers”. There will be an antique Tractor Parade at 9am. At 10am we will have our Lil Farmers Parade and Contest. (More about that below) And at 11am we will be inducting the first members into the new Union County Agricultural Hall of Fame. (For more details, read Mickey Cummings article).

The Market has been about three generations this year. Parents and grandparents have been bringing their children, and that is such a joy to see. The feeling of community that those of us “over 50” knew when we were young has seemed to be much less prevalent in the past decade or two. The Market has brought this “meet and mingle” atmosphere back to this community, and it is so special that the children get to be a part of it. It is to my delight, as the Market emcee, that I have the opportunity to share the limelight with them as they enter our contests and participate.

This Saturday we will be having a “Lil Farmer” parade and competition for the best outfit. There will be a category for newborns to 3yrs. olds. Another for 4yrs old to 10 yrs old. And the last category will be 11 to 14 yrs old. We encourage them to dress up as anything to do with a farm. Make a tractor out of a box. Be a scarecrow or a barn cat. Dress up as a vegetable or flower. Siblings can be the front and back of a cow. Take some time this week to make a family project out of going to the closet and seeing what you can come up with, together.