Union County 4-H (Head, Heart, Hands, and Health) encourages diverse groups of youth to develop their unique skills and talents to the fullest potential through hands-on activities. At this market, the Grill Masters were preparing juicy, tasty hamburgers with free samples for everyone. The grass-fed meat was from both Rebel Hollow Farm and Seven Springs Farm-to-Table. Under the guidance of Extension Agent Sarah Stokely-Cook (865-992-8038) and awesome grilling coach Brandon Davis, Grill Master club members learned all the nuances of preparing and grilling pork, beef, lamb, and chicken. They were accepting donations to help raise funds for Grill Team T-shirts. Any donation helps and can be dropped off at the Ag Extension Office on the corner of Hickory Star and Maynardville Hwy.

The 4-H Beef Backer event, promoting support for our local farmers and nurseries by encouraging people to buy local, is coming up on July 18. You can purchase tickets to enter the contest to win a Smoky Joe Smoker Grill.

Carpentry and creating furniture pieces have been a lifelong hobby, but it was only after retiring from the City of Knoxville Public Works Dept that Union County resident Amos Massengile had enough time to dedicate himself to his carpentry. According to his wife, Jane, he built half of what they have in their home. Many of his Amos Creations have a dual purpose. For instance, flip up the top of a table, and you have a chair. He was unable to bring furniture pieces to the Market, but did have his plant stands, American flag on wood, spice rack, and many more portable pieces.

UCHS Senior Seth Welch is following his path and passion into the Criminal Justice system, but it is a plus to be able to prepare nutritious and delicious food along the way. Seth was Chef Zack Hodge’s assistant Market Chef at this Market. Chef Zack’s BBQ Corn Nibblers were delicious but came with a warning. A small part of the corn cob was still attached, and several folks tried biting into the whole thing. They were surprised.

The musical duo of Truett Davis on keyboard and Madeline Groce on guitar provided background for the event. These two have played together for a while and have a mixed repertoire … classical, country, jazz … pretty much any genre you want to hear. They had been playing for a while and had just finished Amazing Grace followed by Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. If interested in having them play at your event, text Madeline at 703-581-5686.

When his son took a beekeeping class in college, Ken Baran decided to join him. After the class ended, their son gave Ken and Sally one beehive as a gift. One hive soon became three, then many more. Today, they operate 38 hives as KSB Apiary in Claiborne County. They also work with Second Harvest’s Harvesting Hope Program, providing vegetables and honey. “Second Harvest is taking our vegetables and bringing them to the food bank. Honey is very popular because it is not easy to find in food pantries,” Ken said.
They have about 25 acres of forest and another 25 acres in pasture. No chemicals are used anywhere on the property, and they do not spray the bees for mites or any diseases. KSB Apiary is a completely spray-free farm. And this requires some adaptation. There is a small orchard for the bees to pollinate, but because they do not spray for bugs or fungi, there is seldom any edible fruit. It is a small sacrifice for the bees. In response to severe declines in our bee populations caused by infestations of parasitic mites, the USDA imported Russian honeybees. Russian honeybees have been proven to be more than twice as resistant to various parasitic mites and hive beetles than other honeybees. While the Barans have experienced some bee loss with their Russian bees, it has paled in comparison to what other apiaries have faced. Honey production depends a lot on weather, including warm sunny days, high humidity, and sufficient soil moisture. This has been a good year for honey. Contact the Barans at (630) 624-3016 for pints or quarts.

Why go to the Union County Farmers’ Market? Produce is generally harvested hours before sale rather than being picked unripe and traveling thousands of miles. You can easily find naturally grown, pesticide-free, or certified organic foods, as well as meats and cheeses raised without artificial hormones or antibiotics. Shopping directly at the Farmers’ Market helps farmers stay in business and generates substantial income for nearby local enterprises. You get to know exactly who grew your food and how it was raised. The Market participates in SNAP and Nourish Kids programs.

Don’t miss the next Farmers’ Market on Saturday from 9:00-1:00 on Durham Dr.