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.

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!

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

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.