The Saturday before Easter, the Union County Farmer’s Market decided at the last minute to organize a pop-up market before their official Market season begins on May 2. Several vendors were new to the Market, and this was their opportunity to showcase their wares, while others have been staples for customers for many years.

Tanya Leehans’ Magnolia Mountain had her first Market appearance with homemade natural body and home care products. Tanya’s dad was the VP of a natural supplement company, and she grew up using and learning about natural ingredients. Her goat milk soap, mango, and shea butter are all beautifully and professionally packaged.

Union County resident Debra Keck of Keck Kackleberries + Krafts started in the egg business when her grandson became involved with 4-H over 20 years ago. For many years, she just sold eggs. Then COVID came, and she got bored. Debra has always sewn and loves doing so. In fact, in high school, she made all her own clothes. So, to pass the time, she started making beautiful baby quilts. From there, it just took off into reversible table runners and table toppers with organic fillers to absorb heat from hot dishes, as well as criss-cross aprons.

REBEL HOLLOW FARM has been a family-run business since 2017. They raise beef and are deciding whether to focus on black angus or red angus. Their pork is Berkshire, Red Wattle, and Yorkshire. While they still have some lamb and mutton, there was a bad incident when wild hogs invaded the farm, forcing them to rebuild their flock of sheep. They are a first-time vendor at the Union County Farmers market, offering a selection of beef, pork, and lamb cuts you will not see locally! www.RebelHollowFarm.com

Mike Thobodeau is a longtime craftsman working primarily in hardwoods and Wire Art. His cutting boards are made from a variety of woods: black walnut, maple, and occasionally exotics like bloodwood. He uses copper wire, glass wire, glass beads, and local rocks for much of his exquisite work. Mike makes and sells River Tables, crafted from logs, with the tree's exterior texture and shape forming the table's edges. Unfortunately, he did not have one to display at this Market.

Tammy Salls crafts jewelry, keychains, badge lanyards, and offers a selection of pieces made especially for children. Her beads are made of wood, stone, glass, clay, ceramic, or metal, and, of course, a selection of TN Vols-themed jewelry. The jewelry for kiddos is built with safe materials. She uses strong elastic string for the bracelets and glow-in-the-dark acrylic and wooden beads.
Baylee Kocausta of Butter and Batch Bakery is a Union County native who has been successfully selling her yummy baked goods on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588009731880 ) but decided to start selling publicly at the Union County Farmer’s market. She is a brand-new Market vendor!

Teddy Hammond absolutely LOVES doing beadwork and creating different designs through his Diamond Art business! His bookmarks, coasters, and sun catchers are beautiful and show such care and precision in placing the tiny beads. He has recently branched out to more complex, larger, framed pictures that look like paintings. When asked where he gets his ideas, he said they come from his imagination and his friends.

Diane and David Trandums started out with Mama T’s Bakery, but as David’s sourdough bread (which Dave loves making) became increasingly popular (and it IS delicious), they decided that the bakery name should reflect both their efforts. What to do? Well, spell their last name backward, of course! And Smudnart’s Bakery was born! There is a variety of baked goods from cookies to brownies to cakes to breads. All are beautifully crafted and delicious.