Category Archives: Market Festivals

Pardoning of the Turkey Coloring Sheet and Prize Drawing

November 18, 2015

The Pardoning of the Turkey coloring sheet is available by clicking on this link for kids to download and deliver to Commissioner of Agriculture, Julius Johnson, at the Franklin Farmers Market this Saturday, November 21, 2015. The Pardoning of the Turkey coloring sheet will also be available for our younger shoppers on the day of the event at the designated art tent with a space to write a letter to Commissioner Johnson asking him to pardon our favorite feathered friend, Danny the Turkey of Earth Advocates Research Farm. Deliver your letter and colored turkey to the market before 9:45 a.m. this Saturday and receive a ticket to win a Thanksgiving Harvest Basket of fresh food and goodies from our farmers’ market!

Our farmers market believes in engaging our younger shoppers with games and activities that peak their curiosity of food and agriculture at an early age. The Pardoning of the Turkey coloring sheet gives kids the opportunity to participate in a fun Thanksgiving event focused on farming and giving thanks (and also encourages them to be creative and have fun!) We are especially excited to have our local children join in this event, and are excited to see all their individual letters and designs. Deliver the letters and colored turkeys by 9:45 a.m. to be considered by Commissioner Johnson before he delivers his speech granting amnesty to our beloved Danny the Turkey.

Herban Market located in Franklin, a local health food store, is our presenting sponsor for this event. With the financial support of our market sponsors our farmers market can offer fun activities for local area families and their children. The Franklin Farmers Market is a producers only market.

Download the Turkey Coloring Sheet by clicking on this link.

To learn more about this event click on this link.

Pardoning of the Turkey at the Franklin Farmers Market

November 13, 2015

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The Franklin Farmers Market is particularly proud to present our inaugural Pardoning of the Turkey event, sponsored by Franklin’s very own Herban Market. On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 10:00am join us as we gather to celebrate the bounty of fresh fall produce harvested by our local farmers, and watch as Tennessee’s Agriculture Commissioner, Julius Johnson, pardons our market’s most beloved domesticated bird — Danny the Turkey of Earth Advocates Research Farm. Bring your little pilgrims for a photo opportunity with Danny, and also to participate in our coloring sheet activity and prize drawing. Let the kids color a picture of Danny and write a letter to the commissioner during the day of the event or download a copy with this link to bring to the market by 9:45 a.m., and you’ll have a chance to win a Thanksgiving Harvest Basket from our farmers’ market.

Danny the Turkey of Earth Advocates Research Farm

This Thanksgiving celebration will feature an all-star line-up of members from our community, but no one takes the stage quite like our favorite feathered friend, Danny the Turkey. Danny lives on the farm with Sue and Adam Turtle of Earth Advocates Research Farm. He is a regal white Royal Palm heritage breed, and is most popular on the Turtle’s farm for his affectionate disposition and friendly demeanor. We are honored to host a bird as beautiful as Danny at our farmers’ market and are excited to see our kids lining-up to take a photo with him! So be sure not to miss the star of the Pardoning of the Turkey this year.

In addition to Danny the Turkey, Dr. Charles Hatcher, State Veterinarian and co-owner/operator of Hatcher Family Dairy, will be in attendance, acting as our master of ceremonies for the pardoning of the turkey process. We are so lucky to have such a knowledgeable and respected member of our farming community to serve as host. Our special musical guest, Jon Martin and Friends, will be serenading our crowd with lively bluegrass tunes. We are also thrilled to have farmer, teacher, and market vendor Teresa Thoni of Kirview Farm will read a Thanksgiving poem in gratitude for this year’s splendid harvest at the Franklin Farmers Market.

Franklin’s locally-owned health food market providing shoppers with locally-grown organic produce, bulk items, local food products, and a premium olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting bar and dispensary.

Although we at the market are so very thankful for the support of our sponsor, Herban Market, our illustrious community members, and you, our market shoppers, nothing excites us more than to have the participation of our local schools and younger shoppers for the Pardoning of the Turkey this year! Bring the kids to the market to color a picture of Danny and write a letter directly to commissioner Johnson asking him to be pardoned or download your coloring sheet here and bring it to the market by 9:45 a.m., and our Market Manager Deb Grant will present the requests to Commissioner Johnson. In exchange for these requests, receive a ticket and win a chance to walk home with a Thanksgiving Harvest Basket for the whole family, filled with food, gifts, and more from the Franklin Farmers Market. Then, stick around to have the little ones pose for a picture with the famous Danny.

The pardoning ceremony will commence at 10 a.m. with our all-star line-up of guests. Be sure not to miss commissioner Johnson’s speech so you can learn what makes Danny so special to our farming community this Thanksgiving. Danny will be oh-so thankful, and so will our farmers, to join you in thanks for such an excellent year at the Franklin Farmers Market. See you then!

Tomato Festival Sees Record Crowd

July 21, 2015

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Many many thanks to everyone who helped make this the most successful TomatoFest we have had yet at market!! Despite the heat and humidity we had record crowds (Jim Perley who monitors our trash and replenishes the bags said it was an “18 trash bag day”- which is a BOAT LOAD of customers!!)

Thank you to all the farms who entered the contests and provided the heirloom and hybrid varieties for the customers to taste! Everyone enjoyed the competition and the tomato sampling at the judges table.

Winners of the tomato Contests:

Best Tasting Heirloom

#1 Sturbridge Farm – Alex Jackson — Cherokee Chocolate

#2 Flying S Farm – Ben And Catherine Simmons — Chocolate Heirloom

#3 Beaverdam Creek Farm – Philip And Trish Lingo — Black Krim

Best Tasting Hybrid

#1 Delvin Farms – Hank And Cindy Delvin — Cherry Hybrid

#2 Colbert Farm — Tim Colbert –Cherry Hybrid

#3 Beaverdam Creek Farm – Philip And Trish Lingo — Genuine Hybrid

Ugliest Tomato

#1 Kirkview Farm – Carl And Teresa Thoni

#2 Beaverdam Creek Farm – Philip And Teresa Thoni

#3 Blooming Baskets – Rebecca Fly

Theresa Thoni with the award winning Ugliest Tomato.

A big thank you to our sponsor of tomatofest – Amerigo’se Paul Schramkowski and to Chef Steven Robilio for appearing on Talk of the Town this week to showcase his wonderful Panzanela Salad! The customers raved over his fabulous creation Saturday!

Thank you to our judges for the event who donated their time on a hot, summer Saturday to help judge the tight competition among our farmer vendors. Judged included:

Paul Schramkowski helps as judge and event sponsor. Yes, even Paul could not resist sneaking away and getting some of Danny’s famous Ellie’s Doughnuts.

Paul Schramkowski

Owner of Amerigo’s and Etch Restaurant. Amerigo’s is a sponsor of the Franklin Farmer’s Market

Ellie Westman Chin

President and CEO of the Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Senator Jack Johnson

Tennessee Senator for the 23^rd district, which is composed of Williamson County.

Tracy Kornet

Tracy Kornet is a five-time Emmy Award winning news anchor, host and writer for WSMV-TV Channel 4.

What a great event and we want to thank all of our customers who help support us each week by shopping with our farmers at the market. Looking for a great tomato festival next year!

Large Crowds Pack Farmers Market for Franklin Strawberry Festival

May 19, 2015

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This year the Franklin Strawberry Festival brought smiles to everyone! A fun day for ALL, especially the kids loving the sweet tasting strawberries, strawberry shortcakes and donuts. We had our largest crowd of the year even with scattered rain showers. We are blessed to have so many customers who support our local farmers each Saturday of the year looking for fresh farm produce, baked goods and unique artisan crafts. A big THANK YOU to all our local farmers who picked strawberries Saturday morning, making 2nd deliveries of strawberries to market for Festival customers. We are grateful for having Ford Lincoln of Franklin as our Strawberry Festival Sponsor. Without Greg Brown’s generous support of our market and Tennessee Farmers, it would be difficult to have such a large Strawberry Festival. Please support Greg and his Ford Lincoln of Franklin local business!

Thank you to Norton Family Farms for baking over 600 shortcakes and Ellie’s Old Fashioned Doughnuts for over 600 strawberry doughnuts. Whipped cream was supplied by Hatcher Family Dairy. The fresh local strawberries came from Delvin Farms, Kelley’s Berry Farm, Kirkview Farm, and Rocky Glade Farm. All the festival preparation and serving of strawberry shortcakes could not have been accomplished without our army of volunteers. You guys are the BEST!!!

A special thanks to our Celebrity Judges who had the difficult task of making the tough decisions of Best Tasting Strawberry and Best Decorated Strawberry Booth. All of you did an outstanding job! We appreciate your time and dedication to judging this years Franklin Strawberry Festival!

-Joe Dubin, WSMV Channel 4 Sports Team, Emmy Award winner and two-time Edward R. Murrow Award winner while at WKRN
-Marianne DeMeyers, President of Downtown Franklin Association, Owner of Tin Cottage
-Cassie Jones, Director of Sales for Southern Exposure Magazine & The Williamson Herald
-Chef Carlos Garcia, Homestead Manor’s Executive Chef

Best Tasting Strawberry Awards to:
1st Place – Rocky Glade Farm, Jim Vaughn and son Dylem
2nd Place – Olivia Olive Oil, Christi Lassen
3rd Place – Evans Produce, Tonya Evans

Best Decorated Strawberry Booth Awards to:
1st Place – The Barkers Market, Eric & Jeanne Floyd
2nd Place – Bloomsbury Farm, Lauren Palmer
3rd Place – Triple L Ranch, Ann Lee & Daniel Fold

From all our Market staff, Farmers, Bakers and Artisans…THANK YOU!!! The Franklin Farmers Market enjoys putting on this event each year. We appreciate all our customers to come out to support our market each Saturday!

Visit our market photo gallery to see pictures of all the fun we had during this years Strawberry Festival!

Thank you to the Williamson Herald for covering this years market Strawberry Festival!

Scarecrows Invade Market, Kids Paint Pumpkins

October 20, 2014

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There were tasty crisp apples, tender greens, sweet potatoes and hot peppers, plus a whole lot of scarecrows and painted pumpkins at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday. There was no way you could miss them. Scarecrows were everywhere you looked! The Invasion of the Scarecrows was a big hit, with lots of pumpkins, lots of kids and the star “scarecrow” of the market, Paulette the miniature donkey.

Market Sponsor Greg Brown of Ford Lincoln of Franklin with two Johnson Family Scarecrows

Kids loving on Paulette the Miniature Donkey

A perfect day for Pumpkin Painting!

King Farm Pumpkins in front of market

Beautiful CSA of Greens from Beaverdam Creek Farm

Hot Peppers from Norton Family Farm

Star of the Day Paulette the Miniature Donkey

Guess the weight and win the largest pumpkin

Olivia with plaid shirt guessed one pound off at 125 pounds to win the Biggest Pumpkin!

Plus there was the Great Pumpkin from the King Family Farm. It was big, really big. A pumpkin that was ready to go home with someone and be turned into the largest jack-o-lantern in the neighborhood. All you had to do was guess how much it weighed. The guesses on the weight of pumpkin ranged from 5 pounds to 2000 pounds. A lot of poking and prodding of the pumpkin took place, with people trying gauge its weight. The real weight of that big pumpkin was 126 pounds and the winner was just off by one pound in her guess.

And as you can see, Olivia Sorrell and her siblings were pretty excited over the win. It took two men to put the great pumpkin in the family car and haul it home to become a very impressive jack-o-lantern!

Family Fun all day

My special pumpkin

350 free Pumpkins for all kids

Best Scarecrow booth winner Blooming Baskets

As part of a friendly competition, farmers and vendors turned their market booths into creative scarecrow displays. Judges Greg Brown, owner of Ford Lincoln of Franklin, Steve Smith, Williamson County Commissioner and president of the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Brandy Blanton, Alderman and Southern Exposure Magazine and Torrey Barnhill, of the Heritage Foundation and event manager of the Heritage Ball went through the market and took a look at all of the scarecrows. In the end, the judges picked Blooming Baskets Farm as having the best scarecrow booth, with Triple L Ranch coming in second place and Moonshadow Farm/V’s Pottery display in third place. The best “living” scarecrow award went to Anna Reyes of Light and Shine.

2nd Place best scarecrow booth Triple L Ranch

3rd place Best Scarecrow booth Moonshadow Farm/V’s Pottery

Best Living Scarecrow award to Anna Reyes of Light and Shine

Free Pumpkin Face Painting provided by market sponsor Ford Lincoln of Franklin

All in all, it was a fun-filled scarecrow, pumpkin painting kind of a day at the FFM. Take a look at the photos from the Invasion of the Scarecrows and get ready to smile!

Summer’s over and it won’t be long before fall turns into winter. But we’re ready. Many of our farmers grow all year-long and while the variety changes, you’ll still find the fresh vegetables grown locally that you love at the Franklin Farmers Market. Winter market begins on November 1st.

Beautiful weather with clear skies helped make this years Invasion of the Scarecrows a fun event for local families and friends.

Family Farm Fun visits the FFM Invasion of the Scarecrows!

October 21, 2013

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Posing with the King Farm’s giant cat

From a giant cat holding a crow, to the minions from Despicable Me, it all made for a weird, but wonderful day at the market last Saturday. The Invasion of the Scarecrows took place and even though it was a cloudy, chilly day, everyone had a great time.

Kids picked up over 300 free pumpkins in the special pumpkin patch and then painted wild colors on their pumpkins and faces too.

Got to decorate those pumpkins!

There were free pumkins for kids

It’s perfectly painted!

And our friends from Williamson Medical Center set up a great free photo booth so everyone could take home photos from the Scarecrow Invasion.

Market manager Deb Grant and the WMC team

Just got the free family photo from Williamson Medical Center!

Judges Brandy Blanton, Stephanie Clark and Nancy Williams awarded Noble Springs Dairy 1st place.

The scarecrow contest between the farmers and artisans was really something to see. Judges Nancy Williams, director of the Downtown Franklin Association, Brandy Blanton, publisher of Southern Exposure Magazine and Stephanie Clark of Williamson Medical Center had a tough time picking the winner of the contest, but in the end Noble Springs Dairy Farm won the grand prize with two goat scarecrows defending their garden against the crows. Beaverdam Creek Farm’s Despicable Me display with Gru and the Minions as scarecrows won 2nd place. And Bloomsbury/Spring Meadow Farms won 3rd with their Duck Dynasty scarecrow, complete with live ducks!

Beaverdam Creek won the 2nd place prize

Bloombury Farm’s Duck Dynasty took 3rd place

The Barkers Market scarecrow

Triple Springs Farm’s ghost

Purple Tree Farm’s Witchy Woman

The best dressed group of scarecrow winners

There were live scarecrows roaming the market too. These three from Zadock the Natural Farmer, took home the first place prize for the best dressed scarecrows.

It was a fun day at the market!

All in all, it was a wacky fun day for everyone at the Franklin Farmers Market! Click here to view all the photos taken on Saturday, you just might see yourself!

Taste Local Farm Meats this Saturday at our Day of the Grill Tasting Event

October 2, 2013

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The tantalizing smell of local farm beef, chicken or pork chops sizzling on the grill of a Big Green Egg just can’t be beat. It’s all grilled to perfection, tender and juicy on the inside with a delicious farm meat flavor.

Two Ribeye’s Grilling on the Big Green Egg

Free Range Chickens are great for Smoking on a Big Green Egg

And when you use top-rated meats from local farms, it becomes the ultimate mouthwatering experience.

Local farm Beef Ribeye from the Franklin Farmers Market

Local Farm Grilled Steak from the Franklin Farmers Market

Find out for yourself this Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market. It’s the Day of the Grill and it’s your chance to sample local farm meats from West Wind Farms, Peaceful Pastures, Bear Creek Farm, Triple L Ranch, River Cottage Farm and Beaverdam Creek Farm.

Bear Creek Pigs

Local Farm Beef

Local Free Range Chicken

Triple L Ranch Cattle

Chef Jeff Lunsford of the Hearth and Grill Shop

Master griller Chef Jeff Lunsford from The Hearth and Grill Shop will use his talents to give you free samples of appetizing local farm meats. “The Franklin Farmers Market supplies top quality meats that are produced from livestock -raised locally under the watchful eye of farmers that care about their animals, their product and the people they sell it to,” said Chef Jeff. This Saturday, enjoy cuts of steak, chicken, pork and lamb. Or take a bite of a “slider” – local ground beef, mixed with chopped jalapeños and grated cheese from Kenny’s Farmhouse Aged Cheddar provided by Moonshadow Farm. It’s served on one of Jones Mill Farm’s famous sourdough rolls.

Jones Mill Farm Sourdough Rolls

Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheddar from Moonshadow Farm

Everything will be grilled to perfection on a Big Green Egg Smoker & Grill from The Hearth and Grill Shop. “As a chef, I insist on the highest quality equipment and the very best local products,” said Chef Jeff. “The Big Green Egg provides me with the best Ceramic – Charcoal grill and smoker rolled into one fabulous grill.”

Vacuum sealed Ribeye’s

Local Farm Beef Ribeye’s

Look for The Hearth and Grill tent at the front of the market this Saturday and treat yourself to free samples of delicious grilled meats from our local meat farmers. Meat lovers, rejoice! It’s the Day of the Grill at the Franklin Farmers Market!

Local Free Range Chicken ready for the Big Green Egg Smoker

Watermelon Festival Brings Fun and Games for Kids!

August 26, 2013

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Teddy Pennington shows off his spitting skills.

One, two, three….spit! Who knew that spitting seeds could be an athletic event? That’s what happened at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday at the 2^nd annual Watermelon Festival. Contestants lined up to show off their spitting ability with watermelon seeds and claim the coveted Seed-Spitting Championship title. The winner was Casey Walker, who put the kids to shame with her athletic spitting ability. However, the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th place contestants were winners too.

The winners took home sweet juicy watermelons

All of them went home with a delicious sweet watermelon. Watermelon was definitely the star of the market, with delicious watermelon slices to munch on while walking around the market.

A big crowd at the Watermelon Festival!

As we’ve said before, it’s the high season at the market, with summer produce at its peak. Lots of people walking around with big bags filled with peppers and tomatoes; lettuce, potatoes, onions, corn, purple hull peas and much more.

Tasty, ripe bell peppers at the market

Sweet corn from the King Family Farm

And it was a record-setting hot August day for the Franklin Farmers Market too. Over 3,000 people came to the market’s Watermelon Festival! We are very grateful for your support of local farms and local food.

Local artisan Tom The Furniture Guy shows his wares

There is always music at the Franklin Farmers Market

Munching on yummy treats from Ellie’s Doughnuts

Watermelon seed bean bag toss at the festival

How fast can you eat a watermelon slice without using your hands?

The highlight of the day though was the fastest watermelon eating contest. Contestants quickly munched and slurped down watermelon slices with their hands behind their back.

Max wins the top prize

It was a very close call, but in the end, Max Atlas took home the championship along with his first place winnings – a big CSA box of produce from Delvin Farms, honey from Johnson’s Honey Farm, sweet preserves from the Norton Family Farm, chess pie from Geraldine’s Pies, fresh yummy doughnuts from Ellie’s Doughnuts, a bar of goat soap from Tottys Bend Goat Farm and of course, a delicious watermelon!

First place winner Max and his brothers hold up the contest prizes

And if you were at the market for the watermelon festival, you may now be a star on the market website! Click here and check out the photos of market day fun in our photo gallery. Lots of photos snapped, lots of smiling faces. Proof that when all was said and done, it was a great day at the Franklin Farmers Market for everyone!

Evie, a student at the Growing Kids Garden

A juicy watermelon makes everyone smile!

The Franklin Farmers Market Watermelon Festival is proudly sponsored by the Williamson Herald and Southern Exposure Magazine

Picking out the perfect watermelon

Slicing watermelon to munch at the market

Juicy, slurping fun at the watermelon eating contest

Watermelon Festival Fun at the Franklin Farmers Market

August 20, 2013

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Big sweet juicy fun. That pretty much sums up the Franklin Farmers Market Watermelon Festival. We’re celebrating summer with the watermelon, one of the season’s favorite treats. Whether it’s the watermelon seed-spitting contest, fun games or the fastest watermelon eating contest, there’s something for everyone.

Pure Watermelon Joy!

A Sweet & Juicy Day at the Market

There are sweet watermelon slices to enjoy as you walk around the market. The kids will love the Watermelon Bean Bag Toss and the free face painting at the festival. And if you’re ready to prove your watermelon seed spitting skills, get ready for the competition! Last year’s seed spitters broke records! Winners of the seed spitting contest go home with yummy watermelons. The number of competitors is limited though, so download the registration form now and get all the details.

How Fast Can You Eat a Slice of Watermelon?

Or maybe you’re up for the fastest watermelon eating contest. Can you do it with your hands behind your back? Prove it and enter the contest. Again, the number of contestants is limited, so download your registration form now. The winner of the watermelon eating contest goes home with a delicious market goody basket. And of course, your favorite farmers will be at the market too with all of the fresh food you love.

Wild Watermelon Carvings at the Festival

Presented by our friends at the Williamson Herald and Southern Exposure Magazine, the Franklin Farmers Market Watermelon Festival takes place this Saturday, August 24^th from 8am – 1pm. It’s juicy, sweet seed spitting fun – don’t miss it! Be sure to check back for all the fun Pictures that will be posted in the FFM website Photo Gallery.

Registration forms:

Sweet Watermelon Slices from our Tennessee Farmers

Large Crop of Tennessee Melons Now at the Franklin Farmers Market

August 19, 2013

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Farm Fresh Cumbers and Tomatoes from See Sun Vu Farm

It’s been a strange summer. Here we are in August, which is typically a dry and very hot month. But we’ve had plenty of rain and lows in the 50’s. Weird weather indeed, but on the flip side, it’s been good for the veggies. Right now, the Franklin Farmers Market is loaded with lots of great vegetables. You should have seen the pile of peppers at the Gardner’s Grove booth!

Multi-Colored Peppers from Gardener Grove Farm

Over 30 different varieties of Tomatoes

Beautiful Egg Plant coming in for 2013 from See Sun Vu Farm

A Great Summer for Cantaloupe from Kirkview Farm

This Mom teaching her son about Delvin Farms CSA fresh veggies

This year Watermelons are HUGE from Tim of Colbert Farm

And tomatoes were everywhere. Mr. Cecil’s tomatoes were hot items this past Saturday, along with green beans from the Colbert Farm and corn from the King Family Farm. Chicken for the grill was the big thing from River Cottage Farm. The Delvin Farm had cantaloupes that were huge (and sweet!) and of course, several of the farms had delicious watermelons.

So Very Fresh Green Beans from Kirkview Farm

Beautiful Potatoes and Melons from Colbert Farm

Fried Green Tomatoes anyone from Bloomsbury Farm

Beautiful Apples from Kirkview Farm

Wonderful Plums and Peaches from Kirkview Farm

Watermelon Festival is Next Weekend!

Speaking of watermelons, the market’s big Watermelon Festival is coming up this Saturday (August 24^th) and it’s a big juicy day of fun for everyone. Besides delicious slices of watermelon to munch on, there are games and face painting for the kids, weird watermelon carvings and the two contests you don’t want to miss – the watermelon seed spitting challenge and the fastest watermelon eating competition.

The excitement is building, as you can see in this short youtube video from one of the potential competitors in the watermelon eating contest:

The seed spitting contest takes place at 10am, while the watermelon eating contest is at 11:30. If you’re up to the challenge, come by the market’s info booth Saturday morning to register. Don’t miss the Franklin Farmers Market Watermelon Festival, presented by the Williamson Herald and Southern Exposure Magazine!