The Union County Farmers Market got "corny" last Saturday with the second annual Youth and Corn Festival. The festival celebrates...you guessed it...Union County's youth and that special time of year when the corn comes in. Huff Farm was on hand with corn for sale, and there were corn-related activities aplenty.

Winning the Corniest Joke Contest was a young man identified only as "Tim." Winning the Corn Shucking Contest for age 6 and older was John March Schwarzen. Michelle Phillips won the day's door prize.

4-H students winning first place for the corn-themed vegetable competitions were April Anderson, Emmagayle Malone, and Jeremiah, Jonathon and Gracie Tindell.

UT Extension and the Farmers Market thanked volunteers Jody, Clay and Abigail Foust, Kennedy Hill, Richard and John Hunt, Neva Kitts, Mary Barker and Elizabeth Tindell. Sponsors for the day were Atlantic Capitol Bank, Teresa's Bakery, USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program, and the Union County UT Extension. Non-profit booths were provided by Preservation Union County, Saint Theresa of Kolkata Catholic Church and ICare Union County. Musicians were the Union County High School Band, Josh Cottrell, Emmaline Jenkins, Virginia Faith Kaston, and the Knox County Jug Stompers. Tony Ozuna ran the sound booth. Special thanks also went to all the vendors for their hard work and donations to the door prize basket.

The Union County Farmers Market is held 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday, at Wilson Park in Maynardville.