The 2nd week in August is National Farmers Week. IFM will celebrate on August 8. We will raffle a basket of Market products. Stop by the Manager booth to buy a ticket for a dollar each or six for $5. The winner will be announced at noon. If you would like to show your support for the Market with a donation, we will be providing a $5 IFM gift certificate for a $20 donation and a $10 certificate for a $40 donation. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. If you would prefer to volunteer your time, we can always use help, especially on Festival days. Would you like to sponsor a contest or event at the Market? Please talk to Michelle.
It’s also time for the Grayson County Fair August 8 and 9 at Bottomley’s Warehouse in Elk Creek. The Fair Foundation is actively working on finding a new venue for the Fair and knows that the location is a problem for many in our community. However, it’s a free event for all ages that continues to expand and provides a showcase for agriculture which is Grayson County’s primary industry. If you’d like to enter the fair competitions, bring your entry to Bottomley’s Wednesday August 6 from 3-7pm. Categories include vegetables and fruits, field crops, flowers and plants, arts and crafts, photography, baked and canned goods, quilts and honey. There is also a youth livestock show. In addition, citizen scientist Cliff Morse will be sharing the Grayson LandCare table at the Fair and will be talking about new Chestnut research from 9 to noon and showing how to do oxalic acid testing at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30. If you want to learn more, we will be meeting at his house on Sunday to read the test results and check out his chestnut plantings.
August 15 is Christmas in August and our last Fiber Day. Start shopping locally for the holidays and support our talented artisan community.
Join Grayson LandCare on August 18 at 6:45 to tour a local root cellar. Contact Michelle for directions if you’d like to join us.
We are excited to hold the first Garlic Festival on September 5. Our First Friday Cooking day will feature recipes with lots of garlic. Geshe Morley will be the guest chef. The Apple Festival will be on September 12. We can always use volunteers to help run the presses, and don’t forget to enter the Apple Dessert Contest. Even if you don’t enter, plan to enjoy the entries after the judging. Pepper Day on September 19 features a free pepper tasting. In addition, several of our vendors participate in the Ag and Art Tour, which will be held September 6th this year. You can find more details at https://www.graysoncountyva.com/ag-art-adventure/