Local Farmers' Chili Cook-Off, March 25th

The farmers at the Franklin Farmers Market will spice things up at the Local Farmers’ Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 9am till 12noon. Eight meat producing farms will be participating in what has become a free popular event at the market. Customers will be treated to each of the farmers’ special recipe made from either chicken, beef, lamb and even bison! Tasting begins at 9am and customers are invited to cast their ballots in a race to find out which farmer has the best chili. Voting ends at 10:45am with the new Grand Champion announced in front of the market at 11:30am. You can pick up ballots to vote at the market information booth, at each farm booth or download your ballot with this link.

The Franklin Farmers Market has the largest selection of local meats in middle Tennessee. Participating farms are Triple L Ranch, Red Cedar Bison Ranch, Tavalin Tails Farm, Little Spring Creek Farm, Hatcher Family Dairy, River Cottage Farm, and West Wind Farms.

Last years Grand Champion Brock and Dennis of Red Cedar Bison Ranch pictured with Tom the Furniture Guy who handmade the real barn wood sign award

Franklin market customer, Bonnie Ferguson, exclaimed at last year’s event, “This was so much fun and I can’t believe it was free!” She went on to say that tasting chili from each of the eight meat vendors gave her the opportunity to meet farmers she wouldn’t have normally met, and now she knows what other vendors have to offer. “I’ll make sure to shop with them in the future,” Ferguson said, “ It was so nice talking to the farmers participating in the cook off and getting to know more about their farm.”

Over one hundred customers sampled and cast their vote in 2016 and Red Cedar Bison was crowned the Grand Champion of the first ever local farmers’ chili cook-off. Owners of the second generation family business, Dennis Fioravanti and Brock Hughey were ecstatic to prove that their bison chili recipe is the best and this year they will defend their crown to be the 2017 winners!

Franklin Farmers market artisan, Tom the Furniture Guy, donated his talent to the chili cook-off by making the Grand Champion sign and said he was “Very proud to be part of the Franklin Farmers Market and excited to support all the special projects the market does.” Come out this Saturday and choose the farmer who has the best chili and deserves the beautiful handmade champion barn wood sign!

For more information about the participating vendors in the Local Farmers’ Chili Cook-Off, visit the Franklin Farmers Market every Saturday at the Franklin Factory, 230 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 9am-12pm.