On Saturday, October 22 the Franklin Farmers Market was taken over by hundreds of scarecrows at the annual Invasion of the Scarecrows sponsored by Ford Lincoln of Franklin. The market was transformed into a pumpkin patch of activities and scarecrows of all shapes and sizes decorated the market. Local farmers had their booths decorated from top to bottom with the best of fall decorations and each one tried to win the prize for best-dressed scarecrow and best-decorated booth.

There were fun activities for all ages including:
Free pumpkins from the pumpkin patch
Pumpkin Painting
Kids Coloring sheets
Pumpkin Weighing Contest
Kids Games

Kids really enjoyed getting a free pumpkin from our market “pumpkin patch” and painting the pumpkins with artistic flair. All the customers enjoyed seeing the local farmers dressed up in scarecrow costumes and market booths decked out in scarecrow decorations.

The winners for the best-dressed scarecrow were:

1st place tie: Noble Springs Dairy Farm
2nd place: Red Cedar Bison
3rd place: Rocky Glade Farm

The winners for the best-decorated booth were:
1st place: Noble Springs Dairy Farm
2nd place: Red Cedar Bison
3rd place tie: Murphy Garden and Flying S Farms

Community leaders once again came out to support the Franklin Farmers Market. Thank you to our contest judges: Jason Collins, Owner of Juice Bar, Aimee Punessen, Sr. Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Franklin Synergy Bank, Amy Dismukes, Williamson County Extension Agent, Linda Childs, Membership and Development of the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Ashley May Brown, Freelance Designer and Photographer in Franklin.

The Invasion of the Scarecrows is a market favorite and for good reason. The colors, the pumpkins, beautiful weather and farmer participation make it a fun time for everyone! Besides the best-dressed scarecrow and best-decorated booth contest, we also gave customers the chance to guess the pumpkin weight and win a stack of pumpkins!

The winner of the guess the weight contest was Bill Gentry of Franklin.

The Franklin Farmers Market is open year round every Saturday from 8:00 am- 1:00 pm. The market is located at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory.

The Franklin Farmers Market hosted its annual Franklin Watermelon Festival on Saturday, August 27th presented by Market sponsor, Williamson Medical Center.

The annual festival grows larger every year, and this year the Franklin Farmers Market had record crowds to celebrate the fruit of summer. Fun events included a seed spitting contest for adults and kids and a very popular watermelon eating contest for both kids and adults. Other activities included free face painting and games for the whole family. One contest had over 300 entries- the Guess the Weight contest. The largest melons at the market, donated by Hollow Creek Farm, came in at 86.3lbs and 74.1lbs. Two lucky customers got to take home the large melons after guessing the weights correctly!

To help us celebrate the watermelon even more, the Leiper’s Fork Carving Club carved beautiful and unique creations from watermelons in a matter of minutes! It was truly amazing to see what they could do with an ordinary watermelon and customers enjoyed learning more about their artwork.

The Franklin Farmers Market vendors and local farmers joined in the fun celebration in their own way. Padrino’s Pops quickly sold out of their famous watermelon pops, and Belle Springs Lemonade wowed the crowd with their handmade watermelon lemonade with melons sourced from the farmers. Many of the produce farmers made watermelon creations of their own, including watermelon shaped rice krispie treats at Evan’s Produce and watermelon cake pops at Norton Family Farm. Delvin Farms and Colbert Farm gave hundreds of free watermelon samples to the many customers who attended the festival. The Franklin Watermelon Festival ends the summer with a bang!

The Franklin Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8am-1pm behind the Factory in Franklin, TN. The market is a 15 yr old producers only market with the largest assembly of local farmers providing fresh farm food all year long each Saturday morning. Find us at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory. Visit us online at www.franklinfarmersmarket.com or follow us on facebook, twitter and instagram for the latest market news

The Franklin Farmers Market will host its 5th annual Franklin Watermelon Festival presented by Williamson Medical Center on Saturday, August 27th from 8am-1pm. This popular event is sure to be the highlight of your weekend as we celebrate summer’s favorite treat. Our local farmers will have the best of their watermelon crops ready for tasting, and customers will have their chance to guess the weight of the largest watermelon ever grown!

Our produce farmers have carefully tended the watermelons in the field in preparation of this annual event and they tell us that this year is a record year for delicious watermelons! Colbert Farms, Delvin Farms and Kirkview Farm will have watermelons ripe and ready!

Fun events include a seed spitting contest for adults and kids beginning at 9:30am, watermelon eating contest beginning at 9:30am for kids, 10:30 for adults, 11:30 for kids and 12:15 for adults. There will also be a kids activity area with face painting and games for fun for the whole family!

For a special treat, the Leiper’s Fork carving club will be carving beautiful creations from watermelons. Come out to see the amazing artwork and marvel at the unique designs!

Our vendors and local farmers are joining in the fun celebration in their own way. Padrino’s Pops will have watermelon pops, Belle Springs will have watermelon lemonade, Baby Agape will have special watermelon gummies for the kids, Danny’s Donuts will have a special red donut and Crepe Diem will have a watermelon creation that is sure to be superb! Join us for a fun celebration to see what other vendors have prepared for the Watermelon Festival!

The Franklin Watermelon Festival is more than just celebrating the best of summer. It is a fun, family friendly event celebrating all that is good about our community farmers market! We are grateful for our market sponsor Williamson Medical Center and the impact they have on our community’s healthcare, saving and healing lives everyday. Come join us on Saturday, August 27th for a fun filled day!

The Franklin Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8am-1pm behind the Factory in Franklin, TN. The market is a 15 yr old producers only market with the largest assembly of local farmers providing fresh farm food all year long each Saturday morning. Find us at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory. Visit us online at www.franklinfarmersmarket.com or follow us on facebook, twitter and instagram for the latest market news.

The Franklin Farmers Market held its 6th annual Tomato Festival on Saturday, July 16, hosted by market sponsor, Amerigo Italian Restaurant. Rain didn’t keep market customers away and children were treated to Maribelle the Clown with free face painting and balloon animals. But our local farmers weren’t interested in face painting; they were ready to compete in what have become the bragging rights for the year- the best tasting tomato!

Customers were treated to free tomato tastings from our local farmers. Amerigo Chef Steven delighted us with his famous gazpacho and bruschetta with free samples made from ingredients from our farmers.

“Every year our Tomato Festival grows bigger and we are blown away by the number of tomato entries grown by our local farmers. We had over sixteen farms enter their tomatoes, a record year! We are honored to have the largest selection of farmers in middle TN in one location, and proud to be a producers only market. You won’t find a better tasting homegrown tomato than right here in Franklin, grown by the farmers who are here,” says Franklin Farmers Market Event Coordinator, Ryan Palmer.

With over sixteen farms participating in the contest, market supporter Kristy Williams of the Franklin Heritage Foundation was charged with the task of finding just the right person to judge the contest. Eight judges were called upon to judge tomatoes in categories: Ugliest, Heirloom and Standard, and their job was not an easy one! A heartfelt thank you goes to our Tomato Festival judges, Rick Warwick, editor of the Williamson County Historical Society Journal, Representative Charles Sargent, Lynne McAlister, Heritage Ball fundraiser, Theresa Mascola, fitness instructor for Williamson County Parks, Shelley Robertson Birdsong, owner of Robertson Media Group, Matthew Antonovich, owner of Franklin’s Trattoria A, and Ali Gernsert, Marketing Director of market sponsor, Amerigo.

Local Celebrity Judges with the job of tasting selecting this years Tomato Winners

After many tastings and few re tastings, judges came to a decision and our winners are:

Heirloom Tomato: 1st Place- Vu Family Farm
2nd Place- Colbert Farm
3rd Place tie: Sturbridge Farm and Teston Nursery

Standard Tomato: 1st Place- Colbert Farm
2nd Place- Rainbow Hill Farm
3rd Place- Delvin Farms

Ugliest Tomato: 1st Place- Sturbridge Farm
2nd Place- Evans Produce
3rd Place- Beaverdam Creek Farm

1st Place Ugliest Tomato Winner Sturbridge Farm

1st Place Winner Best Tasting Heirloom Tomato Vu Farm

The judges’ decision was announced with much enthusiasm as market staff and market sponsor Amerigo’s Ali Gensert presented each winning farm with a ribbon and certificate. Another year of bragging rights go to long time winner, Sturbridge Farm, whose tomatoes win one or more category every year!

1st Place Best Tasting Standard Tomato, Colbert Farm

Festival attendees enjoyed all that our market has to offer- fresh, locally grown produce, locally made artisan goods and local food trucks for breakfast and lunch. Admission to the festival and the market as always, was free.

The Franklin Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8am-1pm behind the Factory in Franklin, TN. The market is a 15 yr old producers only market with the largest assembly of local farmers providing fresh farm food all year long each Saturday morning. Find us at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory. Visit us online at www.franklinfarmersmarket.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest market news.
Visit this link to view all photos from this years 6th Annual Franklin Tomato Festival.

The Franklin Farmers Market will host its 6th annual Tomato Festival on Saturday, July 16 beginning at 8am, hosted by market sponsor, Amerigo Italian Restaurant. Farmers will vie for the best tasting tomato in the popular taste test judged by local celebrity judges, and children will have many free activities for fun and entertainment, including free face painting by Maribelle the clown.

Customers will be in for a real treat with free tomato tasting from our local farmers. Amerigo Chef Steven Robilio will delight us with his famous menu with free samples made from ingredients from our farmers, and no one will want to miss the tomato tasting contest.

“The farmers market summer season is in full swing now that the “queen” of the farm has made her way to the market. Everyone waits for the perfect homegrown tomato and that wait is finally over! We are honored to have the largest selection of farmers in middle TN in one location, and proud to be a producers only market. You won’t find a better tasting homegrown tomato than right here in Franklin, grown by the farmers who are here,” says Franklin Farmers Market Event Coordinator, Ryan Palmer.

Free tasting from over 30 different varieties of locally grown farm tomatoes

It’s a family affair at the Franklin Tomato Festival with free children’s activities, free samples from Amerigo, tomato tastings and locally grown tomatoes from our farmers picked less than 48 hours before the event. You can’t find better, homegrown event than the Franklin Tomato Festival!

Chef Steven & Owner Paul of Amerigo Italian Restaurant

Festival attendees can enjoy all that our market has to offer- fresh, locally grown produce, locally made artisan goods and local food trucks for breakfast and lunch. Admission to the festival and the market is free.

This years Tomato Festival Judges are:

Chef Matthew Antonovich-Proprietor of Trattoria A

Shelly Robertson Birdsong-Owner and Publisher of Robertson Media Group

Ali Gensert-Marketing Director of Amerigo Italian Restaurant

Theresa Mascola-Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor for Williamson County Parks and Recreation

Lynne McAlister, Planning and Fundraising for the Heritage Ball

Ernie Reynolds, owner of Outdoor Classic Structures in Historic Downtown Franklin.

State Representative Charles Sargent-State Farm agent

Rick Warwick-Editor of the Williamson County Historical Society Journal.

The Franklin Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8am-1pm behind the Factory in Franklin, TN. The market is a 15 yr old producers only market with the largest assembly of local farmers providing fresh farm food all year long each Saturday morning. Find us at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory. Visit us online at www.franklinfarmersmarket.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest market news.

Taste so good says strawberry judge Laura Musgrave!

The 6th annual Franklin Strawberry Festival was a “berry” big hit amongst market customers and our local farmers. There were over 10,000 market customers who supported our farmers, and 5,800 quarts of strawberries sold! Some farmers had to send for help back at the farm for more berries to arrive, and within minutes even those were sold out! Our Strawberry Festival and market sponsor, Greg Brown, owner of Ford Lincoln in Franklin, made it possible for us to have such a large festival, our largest one yet! Thank you, Greg!

Queen of the Strawberry Shortcakes Karen Norton

Karen Norton, of Norton Family Farms made over 1,000 strawberry shortcakes that were nothing short of amazing. Clearview Baptist Church volunteers spent hours preparing the strawberries and assembling the shortcakes. The strawberries were provided by Kirkview Farm, Delvin Farms, Kelley’s Berry Farm and cream provided by Hatcher Dairy Farm.

Ellie’s Donuts made over 500 special strawberry donuts that were a big hit among children and adults! The line for the donuts never ceased, but the general consensus was that it was worth the wait! Belle Springs Lemonade sold over 300 strawberry lemonades made with fresh strawberries from our farmers at the market. We love the way our food vendors use local ingredients from our farmers!

Children were entertained with free games and art activities, and parents enjoyed live music and food from our food trucks, Crepe A Diem, Street Provisions, Jay’s Chicago and Bradley’s Ice Cream.

1st Place Best Tasting Strawberry winner Hank Delvin, Sr. with judges

Perhaps the most popular event at the market, at least among our farmers, is the best tasting strawberry contest. Winning this contest gives the farmer bragging rights for the rest of the year, and who doesn’t want to kid around with their friends at the market over who REALLY grows the best berry? When 1st place winner, Delvin Farms was announced, Hank Delvin Sr., owner of Delvin Farms exclaimed, “Wow, thank you! This means so much!” And then jokingly, “Alright! I beat Carl Thoni (College Grove neighbor to Delvin, Kirkview Farm). I had to hear all year last year from his wife, Teresa, how he had the best strawberry!”

We’re sure that next year Carl will be vying for his place back at the top if Delvin spends this year reminding him of the 2016 contest results! Good thing they’re neighbors and good friends, who knew there was so much action behind the scenes of farming?

2016 Strawberry Contest Winners:
1st Place Delvin Farms
2nd Place Bloomsbury Farm
3rd Place Rocky Glade Farm

Local Celebrity Judges had a tough days work!

We don’t envy our celebrity judges who had to make a decision from the 8 farms who entered their berries. Rumor has it that there was third tasting to break a tie…watching it was intense because we know what it means to the farmers!
Thank you to our judges:
Greg Brown, Owner of Ford Lincoln of Franklin
Eric Stuckey, City Administrator for the City of Franklin
Chris Harris with WSMV Channel 4 News
Laura Musgrave, President of the Music City Concierge Association

Washed, cut and prepared for 1,000 shortcakes by Clearview Baptist Volunteers

With over 80 volunteers from Clearview Baptist Church working behind the scenes, the festival ran smoothly and efficiently. Thank you so much to our volunteers, and market staff Ryan Palmer for coordinating the event. Ryan spent weeks planning and coordinating this huge event! Our other market staff who helped make this event possible: Deb Grant, market manager, Ron Beagle, media specialist and Amy Tavalin, market social media, and event specialist Kristy Williams of the Heritage Foundation who coordinated our Celebrity Judges. And finally, thank you to our market customers who attended our market to support the farmers. We hope you had a “BERRY” good time!

The Franklin Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8am-1pm behind the Factory in Franklin, TN. The market is a 15 yr old producers only market with the largest assembly of local farmers providing fresh farm food all year long each Saturday morning. Find us at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory. Visit us online at www.franklinfarmersmarket.com or follow us on facebook, twitter and instagram for the latest market news.

Kristy Williams helping Greg Brown of Ford Lincoln of Franklin

The Franklin Farmers Market will host its 6th annual Franklin strawberry festival on Saturday, May 14 beginning at 8am till 1pm, hosted by market sponsor, Ford Lincoln of Franklin. Farmers will vie for the best tasting strawberry in the popular taste test judged by local celebrity judges, and children will have many free activities for fun and entertainment. From owner Greg Brown, “Ford Lincoln of Franklin is a proud partner of the Franklin Farmers Market and we feel honored to sponsor such a valuable community institution. The Strawberry Festival is a highlight of the Franklin Farmers Market each year!”

We are thrilled our line up of Best Tasting Strawberry Judges are Greg Brown, Market Sponsor and Owner of Ford Lincoln of Franklin, Chris Harris with WSMV Channel 4 News, Laura Musgrave, President of the Music City Concierge Association and Eric Stuckey, City Administrator for the City of Franklin.

Over 1,000 Strawberry Shortcakes prepared just for YOU!

Karen’s famous short cakes, a local favorite tradition from Norton Family farm, will once again be the popular dessert in the celebration. Karen Norton will be making 1, 000 homemade short cakes for the occasion, topped with local berries from our farmers and whip cream made from Hatcher Dairy cream. Ellie’s Donuts will serve up their famous donuts to complement the strawberries, and many vendors will have their own strawberry surprises for customers.

It’s a family affair at the Franklin Strawberry Festival with free children’s activities, homemade shortcakes by Norton Family Farms and locally grown strawberries from our farmers picked less than 48 hours before the event. You can’t find a sweeter event than the strawberry festival!

Preserve the Best of the Best Strawberries for All Year Goodness

Spring got off to a cool start, but the recent warmer weather has ripened berries to perfection. With just enough rain to keep the berries growing without being waterlogged, the middle TN area is looking at a bumper crop year for strawberries!

Strawberry season doesn’t last long, and neither do the berries once they’re picked. To keep your berries fresh, you want to keep them cold and dry so they don’t mold. For short term, arrange the berries (without washing or removing the stems) on a paper towel-lined tray and cover with plastic wrap; then refrigerate. Before eating or using them, wash the berries under cool water and then remove stems. If you remove the stems before you are ready to eat them they will get soft and start molding.

Greg Brown of Ford Lincoln of Franklin loves Tennessee Sweet Strawberries!

For long term you can freeze your berries and enjoy that goodness all year! Take advantage of peak season of strawberries at the Franklin market and freeze your strawberries for smoothies, shortcakes, and cereal. To do this, place rinsed, dried, and stemmed whole berries, cut sides down, on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet; freeze, uncovered, for six hours, then transfer to a freezer bag. Another option is to freeze them whole! You simply have to remove the stem and core, place them on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet in a freezer then transfer to a freezer bag approximately 1 hour later. You can store them in the freezer for up to six months and enjoy them in the off-season, too!

Our Festival Judges have the best job of the day!

The Franklin Strawberry Festival isn’t all that is happening at the market. Festival attendees can enjoy all that our market has to offer- fresh, locally grown produce, locally made artisan goods and local food trucks for breakfast and lunch. Admission to the festival and the market is free! The Franklin Farmers Market is located at the corner of Liberty Pike and Franklin Road, behind The Factory.

The Franklin Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8am-1pm behind the Factory in Franklin, TN. The market is a 15 yr old producers only market with the largest assembly of local farmers providing fresh farm food all year long each Saturday morning. Find us at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory. Visit us online at www.franklinfarmersmarket.com or follow us on facebook, twitter and instagram for the latest market news.

The Franklin Farmers Market will host its first CSA Day on May 7th, 8am till 1pm presented by Amerigo Italian Restaurant and Williamson Medical Center. This is your opportunity to meet a farmer who will grow your food for the season in your very own CSA! In a CSA, a farmer “contracts” with other people in the community to provide them with a portion of the year’s harvest. CSA customers pay the farmer before the produce season begins, allowing the farmer to buy necessary seed, fertilizer, fuel and other inputs to farm for the year. When crops start coming in, the customer’s fresh, local food is already bought and paid for. CSA members might go to the farm to pick up their shares or meet the farmer at a drop-off site in the community, like the Franklin Farmers Market.

The Franklin Farmers Market has more CSA vendors than any other market in the area! You can find meat AND vegetable CSA farmers at the Franklin Farmers Market, including:

• Delvin Farms (vegetable and meat)
• Bloomsbury Farm (vegetable)
• Beaverdam Creek Farm (vegetable)
• Red Cedar Bison (bison meat)
• Triple L Ranch (meat)
• Flying S Farms (vegetable)
• Colvin Family Farm (vegetable)
• Hatcher Family Dairy (meat, milk, eggs)
• Kirkview Farm (vegetable)
• Peaceful Pastures (meat)
• West Wind Farms (meat)
• Noble Springs Dairy (cheese, milk, soap)

In addition to fruits and vegetables, customers can choose a meat CSA. A meat CSA typically has the popular cuts of meat from chicken, pork, beef, goat, turkey and lamb. You may pick up a vegetable share once a week, whereas a meat share you would pick up once a month, but talk to your farmer, as it may vary. You can find meat CSA’s and vegetable CSA’s at the Franklin Farmers Market and have a one stop shop!

We have many special surprises planned for our first CSA day including free food samples from our CSA farmers prepared by Chef Steven Robilio from market sponsor Amerigo Italian Restaurant. Amerigo Farm Diners prepared by Chef Steven are a popular dining experience each month using fresh produce from our local market farms. Registered Dietician and Nutritionist, Melanie Parnell from Williamson Medical Center, will be on hand to answer questions and help you achieve your health goals. Melanie has been a Registered Dietician and Licensed Nutritionist for 26 years. Williamson Medical Center will have a booth at the market where Melanie will be to answer any health questions you may have and help you become a better you! A CSA is the perfect way to make sure you get your fruits and veggies and achieve your health goals.

Your Passport for CSA Day! See the link to download

For those who like to “live local,” the perfect solution is a gift of a CSA share for a season of fresh produce and other local foods from a nearby farm. Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and every year we try to show our love for mom with gifts that may or may not have real meaning. Everyone eats, and everyone benefits from eating fresh produce and fresh farm meats. With a CSA gift, both the person who receives fresh foods and the CSA farmer are better off. Your gift of healthy, locally grown food sends your love into the recipient’s home every week, and nothing says I love you, mom, like showing her you really did learn to eat your veggies. Click on this link to download your Passport for our CSA Day Event. Look for the CSA Day logo to find each of our 12 CSA Farms when you arrive at market.

Find a vegetable and meat CSA farmer at the Franklin Farmers Market’s first CSA day on May 7th from 8:00 am- 1:00 pm.

Ten Reasons to Join a CSA
1. Support a local farm and learn how your food is grown.
We all have a doctor for our health, but what about a farmer? With a CSA you can have a personal relationship with your farmer and get to know who is growing your food and how. By buying a CSA, your money goes directly to your local economy, your personal farmer, and you are helping to keep the family farm alive while having access to healthy, nutritious food.
2. Learn how to eat with the seasons
You will eat leafy greens in the Spring and Fall, tomatoes and cucumbers in the Summer and root vegetables in the Winter. This is how we are meant to eat- with the seasons when produce is at its best and flavor is delectable.
3. You will learn to eat a variety of food
You may not know what to do with kale now, but if you join a CSA you’ll get the opportunity to learn to cook vegetables you’ve never tried.
4. The Fruits and Vegetables are fresh
Unlike fruits and vegetables in a grocery store that are harvested with shelf life in mind, the fruits and vegetables harvested for a CSA are hours old, at their ultimate peak of flavor and freshness.
5. Committing to a CSA will force you to eat more fruits and vegetables
By buying a CSA share, you will have access to fresh fruits and vegetables every week. You won’t want to waste those veggies, and you will end up with healthy eating!
6. You’ll cook more
Many CSA’s give their customers recipes for what is in the CSA box. You’ll learn to cook things you never knew about and you’ll feel accomplished! Cooking at home will save you money in the long run, too.
7. A CSA saves you money
Compared to buying the same amount/volume in the grocery store, joining a CSA will save you money. You’ll have to go to the grocery less, too.
8. There are Vitamin and Flavor Benefits of CSA fruits and Vegetables
When a fruit or vegetable is harvested, it immediately begins losing vitamin content. Having your veggies hours old ensures you are getting the most out of the nutritional content possible!
9. Protect the Environment
Buying from a local farm ensures that your food does not have to travel the average 1500 miles of grocery store food. You are lessening your carbon footprint by consuming food that is locally grown in a CSA. A small family farm is going to be as sustainable as they can in their growing methods and protect the land- after all, this is their livelihood and it is in their best interest to protect the environment!
10. Get back to your roots
We are now three generations removed from the family farm and our children do not know how food is grown. Participating in a CSA allows you to connect to the farmer, to visit the farm and get back to your roots! Many CSA’s allow you to volunteer on the farm, and others hold open houses to give you a tour.

The Franklin Farmers Market is a producers only market meeting behind the Factory in Franklin Tennessee each Saturday all year long with over 110 approved vendors for this new market season.

Customers enjoyed tasting chili from made with locally raised meats

Everyone thinks they have the best chili recipe and one local farmer proved it at the Local Farmers’ Chili Cook-Off held at the Franklin Farmers Market on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Eight meat vendors participated in what is sure to be a popular event at the market in coming years. Customers were treated to each of the farmers’ special recipe made from either chicken, beef, lamb and even bison! Chili Cook-Off tasting began at 9am and ballots were cast in a race to find out which farmer had the best chili. The Franklin Farmers Market has the largest selection of local meats in middle Tennessee. Participating farmers were Triple L Ranch, Red Cedar Bison Ranch, Bear Creek Farm, Little Spring Creek Farm, Hatcher Family Dairy, River Cottage Farm, Beaverdam Creek Farm and West Wind Farms.

First time tasters of Bison Chili made with locally raised Tennessee Buffalo

Franklin market customer, Bonnie Ferguson, exclaimed, “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 Chili Cook-Off and getting to know more about their farm.”

Ann Lee of Triple L Ranch agreed, “This is a wonderful event, especially for us meat vendors! It brings more people out to try our products and talk with us. We’ve been really busy, and this has been fun!”

Unity Chiropractic Staff with Dr. Devan Arman

Chili cook-off sponsor, Dr. Devan Arman of Unity Chiropractic, was proud to be part of the inaugural event and said they are always thrilled to be involved in the Franklin farmers market. Their goal is to bring “unity within the community, and empower the community to take care of themselves from the inside out,” and shopping at the farmers market will help the community make healthy food choices. To make their sponsorship even better, Unity Chiropractic is offering a special promo code for this event. Customers can visit their website, www.unitychirotn.com and use code CHILI for $55 off their first evaluation.

Tom the Furniture Guy far left with local farmers

Franklin Farmers market artisan, Tom the Furniture Guy, donated his talent to the chili cook-off by making the Grand Champion sign. He humbly said you’re welcome when thanked for his beautiful work 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.”

Tom made his first barn wood sign 6 years ago when a tornado blew a friend’s barn down. He’s been enjoying the beauty of barn wood ever since and “loves taking something nature knocked down and turning it into something people can enjoy for years and years.” Customers stood in front of his booth at the market and gazed with admiration at his work. Nature may have torn down one work of art, but Tom’s natural talent has allowed the barn history to continue in someone’s home.

Grand Champion Winners Brock Hughey and Dennis Fioravanti of Red Cedar Bison Ranch

The chili cook-off ended as spicy as it began. The ballots were counted and the race was close! The farmers vying for the title waited not so patiently for the results as they joked with one another and one farmer exclaimed, “Wait a minute, you had toppings? This isn’t a topping contest it’s a chili contest, I protest!”

Over one hundred customers sampled and cast their vote on who should be crowned the Grand Champion of the first ever Local Farmers’ Chili Cook-Off. After much anticipation the winner was announced- Red Cedar Bison Ranch in Chapel Hill, TN. Owners of the second generation family business, Dennis Fioravanti and Brock Hughey were ecstatic to prove that their bison chili recipe really is the best!

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.

Happy customer tasting local chili from LeeAnn Cherry of Bear Creek Farm

The Franklin Farmers Market is proud to present the first annual Local Farmers’ Chili Cook-Off, sponsored by Unity Chiropractic. On Saturday, March 5th, 2016, from 9 a.m. until noon, come and taste our farmers’ most famous chili recipes made with their own locally raised beef, pork, bison, chicken, and lamb, and you — our market shoppers — will be the judges! Simply sample each submitted pot of chili and cast your ballot by 10:45am on the day of the Chili Cook-Off. Winners will be announced at 11 a.m.

If you didn’t know already, the Franklin Farmers Market hosts the largest selection of locally raised meats in middle Tennessee, and we are excited to taste what these farmers’ are cookin’. Slow-simmered chili is perfect for winter, but made even better when made with locally raised meats. We’re excited to taste what kind of hearty creations our farmers produce for this exciting new chili cook-off community event.

Participating farms in the first annual Local Farmers’ Chili Cook-Off will be as follows:

Bear Creek Farm
Beaverdam Creek Farm
Hatcher Family Dairy
Little Spring Creek Farm
Red Cedar Bison
River Cottage Farm
Triple L Ranch
West Wind Farms

This event would not be possible without the generous support of our wonderful sponsor Unity Chiropractic of Franklin. Thank you Dr. Devan Arman and staff for your focus on nutrition and the benefits of eating local foods! And don’t forget, folks, that all chili prepared by our farmers will be sampled out for our market shoppers to taste until it’s gone, so be sure and come early to taste as much chili as you can and to ensure your vote is cast! See you for the first annual Local Farmers’ Chili Cook-Off, and be sure to come hungry!

Bear Creek Beef

Beaverdam Creek Farm

Hatcher Family Dairy

Little Spring Creek Farm

Red Cedar Bison

River Cottage Farm

Triple L Ranch

West Wind Farms