By: Rene’ McCracken, Director of Agriculture
NTCC Farm looks a little different this year. While we have moved passed the COVID lockdowns the weather continues to prevent farming as normal. The prices and inflation are also hurdles that we are navigating along with our fellow farmers and ranchers since we are a “true working farm” for our students to live and learn on. In addition, we were blessed to receive a SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) grant to design and build on-line courses called Agriculture Community Education courses that will allow us to reach out to so much more of our community and more. This blessing required the scale down of our Work4College students to focus on the classes and reduction of garden production spaces as well. These challenges resulted in the push back of our opening day to Friday July 22nd.
This slight delay will provide the time we need to get everything ready and for others who want to sell with us an opportunity to start making the goods! As always we welcome everyone who has homegrown and homemade products to join us for market days and make a little extra dollars that are so needed this year! Booth spaces are available under our pavilion or inside our air conditioned Ag Complex! You will be required to complete an application to reserve your spot. Additional market days will be planned depending on turnout. Contact Rene’ McCracken at 903-434-8267 or rmccracken@ntcc.edu for more information or to reserve your spot!
Also back by popular demand is our Farmer’s Market Meal! Opening day is Chicken Spaghetti Salad and this fresh and deliciously oh so good meal is just $10 each and includes crostini’s and a drink! You can always find this recipe and more by going to NTCC.edu/ag and looking under Farm Fashioned Recipes.
The NTCC Farmer’s Market has historically been so much more than just a place to buy great locally raised food, the market was established in 2013 to be a service to the community and area farmers. The main goal was to be a “gathering place” for area farmers growing great things to sell to those individuals looking to purchase those items. Students and instructors work to provide NTCC plants, livestock, and processed canned items to provide our students with direct marketing experience. Local growers are encouraged to come out, learn to present their products, test the markets with various products all at the wonderful setting of the Elizabeth Hoggatt Whatley Ag Complex and Pavilion. To find out the latest information join our Facebook page at: NTCC Ag Department.
