By Beth Bergeron
The Union County Farmers Market Annual Youth and Corn Festival will be returning to Wilson Park on Saturday, August 7. Mark your calendar, plan to join us and have some fun!
The Youth and Corn Fest will have activities for the entire family. There will be contests, like the Corniest Joke Contest. Cornhole will be available for family play and the Children’s Tent will be staffed by the Union County Retired Teachers Association where there will be crafts, activities, and StoryThyme every hour. There will be food trucks and of course, corn!
Your family will enjoy looking at antique corn growing and grinding equipment while they learn all about the history of corn and its importance to our community throughout the years.
Corn was the first crop our settlers planted, and Union County has been home to numerous grist mills and distilleries.
It is a“maizing” to discover all the ways that corn has been used over the years, as well as all the current uses of corn.
UT Extension is sponsoring the fair entries this year. The contests are open to all youths in grades K-12. It’s time to show off our youths’ accomplishments!
Did your child garden this year? Raise laying hens? Do they do needlework? Perhaps they like to cook? There are fair entries that cover all these areas. The featured entry this year is the Farm to Table Corn Dish with a $20 prize awarded to the 1st place in each age division.
Most other entries will be due the day before the festival, but youths will register and bring this dish directly to the event for judging. Awards will be presented on stage later in the day. For more information, please contact bbergero@utk.edu.
The market is all about community, so if your community group is looking for a fun activity, have them join the Scarecrow Building Contest. All ages groups are welcome. For more information, please contact unionfmkt@gmail.com.
Did we mention corn? Yes, the Youth and Corn Fest is a part of the Farmers Market, and all your favorite farmers and craftsmen will be in attendance. Farm fresh produce, meat, honey, fresh flowers, dairy products, handmade crafts and lots of corn! New vendors with corn products that wish to attend are still welcome to join us “where the community meets.”