It was the 3rd Saturday of the month! That means that both Nourish Kids Union County, a free educational nutrition program for kids 2-12, AND Jessica Raley’s Free Books were at the Market! UT Agriculture Extension Assistant Beth Bergeron had fresh Hansard Orchard peaches for people to sample. She was chatting and interacting with kiddos about eating tasty food. Free Activity Books were available for coloring at a worktable there and to take home. Nourish Kids partnered with the Union County Humane Society for this Market. Fruit and vegetables are good for a healthy body, and, for many people, pets are good for a healthy mind and soul.

Humane Society volunteers routinely bring adoptable dogs to walk around the Farmers’ Market. Today, Traeger...he's a bassador (described as “labrador basset hound” (?)) was meeting and greeting marketgoers. Minnie was a little sadder. Her owner had been deported and had spoken Spanish to her. When she was surrendered to the Humane Society, she didn’t understand commands in English. Minnie was at the Market for socialization but was a little apprehensive at the strangeness. Both these adorable pups are looking for a good, stable home and there are many more available. There is a nice selection of cats and kittens, but they are a little harder to take on walks around the Market! The volunteers were available to talk with folks about the care of dogs, the different personalities they each have and how to select the perfect family pet. The Humane Society is at 719 Hickory Star Rd, Maynardville, and is typically open Monday-Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm (865) 992-7969. Adoption visits are by appointment-only. Monetary as well as supply donations are much needed and appreciated. Amazon donation link: https://a.co/0eE6EPmH

The 4-H Grill Masters were back at this Market as the Market Chefs of the day! Sisters Coral and Aspen Davis assisted marketgoers with filling out raffle tickets for the Oklahoma Joe Smoker Grill and the BBQ Tool Sets that they were giving away. There were free handouts, which included packages of Steak and Burger Blend spices (Paprika, Thyme, Onion, Garlic) and a Cooking with Beef for Kids cookbook with simple, easy-to-make, kid-friendly beef recipes. There are recipes for a Beef and Egg Breakfast Mug, English Muffin Cheeseburger Pizza, Beef Jerky Trail Mix, and more. All the Grill Masters were busily working at over a half dozen grills cooking free hamburgers for anyone who wanted one. The meat came from both Jones Farm Livestock LLC and Maynardville Food City. Thanks, folks!

Raffle winners of the bottles of Dan-O grilling spices were Kristen Cunningham, Randy Amos, Janet Amos, Jada Cameron, Brian Groce, and Jacob Brown. Ross Phifer won the BBQ Tool Set, and the main prize, the Oklahoma Joe Smoker Grill, went to Jonathon Isabelle. The Grill Masters want to thank Admiral Title / Adams Law for the donation of the grill and tool set.

The 3rd Annual Grill Masters County Contest will be August 15th. The 4-H youth will be competing and will be judged that day at the Union County Farmers Market

The TN Army National Guard was set up with freebies and educational Army National Guard information. The Guard was represented by Sgt. Xayver Szymanski and Sgt Micah Douglas. The Army National Guard is an elite team dedicated to serving and making a difference in our communities on both a Federal and State level. They have been called up to assist state, local, and emergency responders for natural disasters, such as Hurricane Helene. During Helene, the Guard airlifted tens of thousands of pounds of food, water, generators, and medical supplies directly into mountain communities that were completely cut off by destroyed roads as well as rescued people stranded on rooftops.

A flight crew from Knoxville's 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion conducted a search and rescue operation in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to aid a hiker with severe cold-weather injuries. Knoxville's 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion deployed UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to drop hundreds of gallons of water on wildfires across East and Middle Tennessee and launched an aggressive response to the devastating storms last winter.

Service is generally part-time, one weekend a month. A soldier will usually be assigned the same sort of job that they perform in civilian life: truck driver, mechanic, cook, etc. They also offer training in over 150 career fields. The National Guard service is not only a very positive item on a resume, but the Guard offers educational scholarships up to a Master's degree.

Every 5 years, they are deployed for up to 9 months. In May, 2025, around 260 Guardsmen from the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment were deployed to the Middle East. They were part of Operation Spartan Shield, which builds partnerships in the Middle East to promote regional self-reliance and increase security. The TN Army National Guard office is located across from Halls High School at 7413 Maynardville Pike and is open Mon-Fri 9-5.

Many vendors were at this Market, including Amos Creations, Ann’s Baked Goods, BLarge 3D Printing, Brantley Farms, Brian White Nursery, C & G Crafts, Cottage Kitchen, Debra Keck Designs, JP Crafts, Keep It Sweet, KSB Apiary, Little Valley Nursery, Magnolia Mountain, Nana’s Farms, Rebel Hollow Meats, Running Buck Farm, Rustic Ridge Cheesecake, Seven Springs Farm to Table, Smudnart Bakery, Thompson Farms, Walnut Hill Farms, and Musicians Madeline Groce (guitar) + Truett Davis (keyboard).

The annual Corn Festival will be at the Farmers’ Market on Saturday, July 25th. Chef Zach and UCHS Culinary Arts student(s) will be there to prepare samples of Street Corn. Delicious Funnel Cakes will be prepared by the Boy and Girl Scouts and, for dessert, Sticks and Scoops will have ice cream for purchase. Music will be provided by Donnie Pitman and Friends. All your favorite vendors will be there!

Don’t miss the next Saturday Market Day from 9 am to 1 pm.