Tag Archive for: #vancecountyregionalfarmersmarket

TownTalk: Year End Review of Cooperative Extension with Dr. Wykia Macon

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From where Dr. Wykia Macon sits, being the director of the Vance County Cooperative Extension is a lot like being a coach – and, reflecting on a busy 2025, she and her team are looking forward to another successful year as 2026 approaches.

But Macon isn’t just calling the shots from the sidelines – she considers herself a part of the team, too.

“We all offer expertise and skills in our own area,” Macon said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

In her role as county extension director, Macon is in a unique position that has her reporting to both county leadership and to the universities – N.C. State and N.C. A&T State.

Part of the role of cooperative extension is “to bring information from the universities and bring it back here,” she said.

Back in the day it was known as Agriculture Extension, but Cooperative Extension opens it up for a variety of programs to benefit and serve a wide swath within the community.

And each year, Macon said she finds time to meet with each of the agents on Vance County’s team for reflection and planning, as well as to learn how she can better support their efforts.

She said she will continue to work to strengthen connections among the extension agent team members as well as those external partnerships in the larger community to expand extension’s reach.

The extension service has a presence across the county, whether it’s through the community garden at the farmers market, having a beekeepers’ class or helping new farmers find their niche.

“I think that’s the fun part about extension – we can do a little bit of everything,” she said.

She said the agents work “to encourage people to grow where they are,” which could mean growing plants in containers or in a hydroponic system when a plot of land isn’t available.

Food and Nutrition programming isn’t merely safe preparation of food, but it’s real home “economics,” Macon explained – how to cook the food you grow and how to stretch your dollar further.

Youth development activities have 4H Clubs that offer STEM activities alongside healthy living and leadership-building programs.

And then there’s the popular food competition that kids have really gotten into. The Dinah Gore competition is sort of like the reality TV show “Chopped,” turning mystery ingredients into a winning dish. Vance County High School will have a group participating in this project next year, Macon said.

“If they win the state competition, they’ll go to nationals,” she said.

Macon and her small team of agents rely on volunteers from the community to keep engagement high. She calls it putting ownership into the community’s hands.

“We’re at a place right now, because we’re out there, we’re gaining interest,” she said. People are asking more questions about how to become involved, asking more questions. “It’s just another way to extend (our) reach in the community,” Macon added.

There’s a Small Farm Boot Camp series beginning in January to help new producers learn about the different aspects of farming, a bee school to learn about all beekeeping, farmers market demos to share information about healthy food choices and preparation, and a possible “grill-off” for participants to show off their best grill skills.

There’s a lot in store for 2026. Follow the cooperative extension on Facebook, check the website at https://vance.ces.ncsu.edu/ or drop in the office at 305 Young St. The phone number is 252.438.8188.

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Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

The Local Skinny! Farmers Market Brimming With Fresh Produce

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This time of year, the vendors at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market have to squeeze together just a bit to accommodate the tables of fresh produce, baked goods and more that are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“The bay doors are full,” said Market Manager Pat Ayscue. “We kind of slip and slide a little closer to each other this time of year.”

In addition to the sweet corn, butterbeans, peas and more, there’s a new local producer who’s bringing in peaches. “He fills the back of his truck up, and they are so delicious!” Ayscue said.

Come on out to the market on Saturday, July 26 to celebrate the birthday of long-time vendor Calvin Adcock.

There will most likely be a cake with candles, but who knows – there could be candles in a birthday watermelon – the market also is celebrating Watermelon Day that day.

“Everybody loves and appreciates Mr. Adcock so much…it just all works together really well for both days to be together,” Ayscue said. “He’s a real inspiration to us all.”

To mark Watermelon Day, Ayscue said she’ll be giving away free watermelons every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to noon.

It’s shaping up to be a great watermelon harvest, she said, unlike last year when untimely drought and then heavy rains took tolls on the summertime favorite.

“Last year was a rough season on watermelons,” Ayscue said. “This season is looking really good…this year, we’ve hit it just right.”

Be on the lookout for Sugar Baby, Charleston Gray and Jubilee varieties.

Eligible customers can stretch their produce budget with the Senior Voucher and Double Bucks programs. EBT is accepted as well.

“If you use your EBT card at our market, I can match that with Double Bucks to stretch your food dollars,” she said.

The Senior Voucher program is a state program, and Ayscue said the vouchers can be used at any farmers market that is certified.

Artis Crews with Green Rural Redevelopment Organization will be at the market this Saturday to sign up seniors for the voucher program.

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Grand Opening of Community Garden at VCRFM

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The community garden at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market held its official grand opening Saturday, May 24, 2025.

Dr. Wykia Macon, director of the Vance County Cooperative Extension, was on hand and hands on!

She spoke recently at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market and said agriculture is “undeniably central to our lives,” when addressing 100 attendees of the ‘State of Agriculture’ luncheon hosted by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce.

Horticulture and Field Crops agent Michael Ellington was on hand and at work as well, and it’s apparent months of preparation is starting to pay off.

The community garden a place where gardeners of all skill levels are welcome to learn and share their own knowledge about growing fruits and vegetables.

Garden beds are available to rent for the growing season – each 4 foot by 8 foot bed is $40 for the whole season.

Community gardens provide lots of benefits, Ellington said recently on his weekly Tuesday segment on WIZS. Fresh, healthy food is just the beginning.

Access to affordable, nutritious food can be limited, especially in underserved neighborhoods and communities, he said. Garden plots like the ones at the farmers market offer local hands-on solutions that can reduce food inequality and increase availability.

And it just makes sense that folks who grow their own fruits and vegetables are likely to eat more of each. Community gardens give people power over what they eat, he said.

Community gardens can bring diverse groups together, and soon, new friends are swapping recipes and stories while they pull weeds and keep their plots watered.

These places “reveal that social fabric that holds communities together,” Ellington said.

Macon added that cooperative extension programs support agriculture in all its forms – from livestock and horticulture to youth programs like 4-H.

The community garden is also a place where children can learn first-hand about where their food comes from – literally – not from a video screen or a textbook.

“They learn by planting seeds, watching them sprout and harvesting what they’ve nurtured,” Ellington said.

Planting a garden can reduce grocery bills and can reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in the landfill.

Community gardens also send a clear message to prospective businesses that residents care about where they live.

If you’d like more information about the community garden, visit the cooperative extension website at https://vance.ces.ncsu.edu, call 252.438.8188 or email Ellington at maellington@ncsu.edu.

There are many ways to help, from volunteering to sponsoring to making a direct donation.

And if you don’t have a green thumb, don’t fret. Just spread the word about the community garden to friends and neighbors.

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Commissioners Approve Lower Application Fee For Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners on Monday voted to drop the application fee for vendors at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market from $30 to $20 in an effort to attract more potential producers to sell their vegetables, fruit and other products at the seasonal market.

Vance County Cooperative Extension Director Dr. Wykia Macon explained to commissioners that she, in consultation with the market advisory board and extension staff, is willing to not only lower the fee, but also to drop the daily $10 setup fee.

The market opens on Saturday, May 3.

“We’re ready to get started,” Macon said, and will move forward to approve this year’s guidelines now that commissioners have approved lowering the application fee.

Macon said the advisory board also is planning to open up the market property to other uses, including installation of a community garden and a health and wellness fair on Friday, May 2.

Commissioner Tommy Hester said he’d be in favor of doing away with fees altogether, adding that the facility, now 10 years old, is a way to help look out for local farmers who want to sell their produce.

Macon welcomed commissioners to attend the next market advisory board meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 18 at 2 p.m.

County Manager C. Renee Perry said there is a small increase in the 2025-26 budget for the farmers market, which is probably the first increase since the market opened in 2014.

“Our marketing budget is very small,” Macon said, adding that it will take “a concerted effort” to increase foot traffic and vendor participation at the market. “Advertising is just one part of it.”

The community garden project is taking shape.

More volunteers are needed at upcoming workdays:

  • Mar. 21 – working on establishing garden borders – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Mar. 29 – marking walkways and preparing for stone installation – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Apr. 11 – installing garden beds – 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“We want to have the community realize that this is their market, and the garden is theirs,” said Extension Agent Michael Ellington. The community garden would be a perfect spot for those who want a garden but lack the space or the confidence to plant, tend and harvest on their own.

There also is a series of market vendor workshops that is being held on Saturdays in March at Salem United Methodist Church, 4151 Salem Rd., Oxford. The workshops are free to attend and no registration is required. Upcoming sessions are as follows:

  • 15 – marketing – product placement for optimum visibility on tables in the market
  • Mar. 22 – knowing your customers and follow-up to sales
  • Mar. 29 – basic food safety

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr.

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

The Local Skinny! Fall is Here at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market

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Summer gardens may be giving us the last produce of the long-growing season, but there are still plenty of choices at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.

Market Manager Pat Ayscue said, “The summer season is winding down but thankfully since we are a regional market, there are still late summer veggies filling the farmer’s table.” Customers can still find butterbeans, field ripe tomatoes and those most sought-after purple hull peas, she said.

“Also, hats off to our farmers many who planted late crops when the rains came again after the long dry spell,” which created some extra bounty to share with customers on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The fall crops are coming in, too – tender collards, turnip greens, fall apples and grapes of many varieties, Ayscue said.

But there’s more than just fresh produce at the market. Local raw honey is available every Saturday, Ayscue said, and “Hidden Acres will be joining us with their pasture raised beef, chicken, lamb, pork and farm fresh eggs. Stop by and say hi and let them tell you all about their products,” she said.

And although we’re just a few days into fall, people are surely thinking about and preparing for Thanksgiving.

Sweet Inspirations is at the market every Saturday, and Ayscue said customers can begin placing holiday orders now.

EBT is welcome and stop by and ask the market manager about Double Bucks’.  Follow us on Facebook! Each market day the farmers and vendors that are at the market that shopping day will be posted.

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Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

The Local Skinny! Hand Crafted Holiday Market Coming To The Farmers Market

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Mark your calendars for Saturday, Nov. 18 and make plans to attend the special Hand Crafted Holiday Market at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.

There will be plenty of vendors on hand for the market, which will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to Market Manager Pat Ayscue.

“Our very talented crafters have been planning and working overtime on unique gift ideas and

décor for the home or office,” Ayscue said. “Thanks to our farmers who have scheduled the planting and harvesting of our fall crops.”

There should be plenty of leafy greens and pumpkins available to create some delicious Thanksgiving dishes – all the things that make the holiday special. Sweet Inspirations will be well stocked with fresh baked goods and will be available to take special orders.

But Ayscue said folks can expect to find some special handcrafted items, too. The holiday market is sure to help you with gift-giving ideas.

From local honey, pickles, jams and pasture-raised meats, the Holiday Market will have something for everyone.

Contact Ayscue at payscue@vancecounty.org or text 252.425.2092.

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Enjoy Fresh Produce And More From Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market Vendors

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will be open one more Wednesday this season before it drops back to Saturday-only hours.

Wednesday, Aug. 30 marks the unofficial end to summertime at the Farmers Market, but Market Manager Pat Ayscue says vendors still have lots of produce as summer transitions to fall.

The vine-ripe tomatoes just keep getting better, Ayscue said. Fruits such as watermelons, cantaloupe, peaches and apples are displayed alongside veggies including peas, butterbeans, okra, sweet corn, squash, zucchini and onions

Ayscue encourages patrons to chat with vendors and farmers about the grass-fed beef and pork – and don’t forget the tasty farm-fresh eggs!

There’s local honey, delicious fresh baked goods as well as fresh-cut flowers and handcrafted items for sale.

The market will be open until sometime in December, Ayscue said. Saturday hours remain 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Stop by and put a smile on a farmer’s face where the produce is so fresh it looks like it’s still growing,” Ayscue says.

And, as always, thanks for supporting your local farmers market.

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Drive, just off Beckford Drive, Henderson.

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

“Spring Fling” At Vance Farmers Market Kicks Off New Growing Season May 6

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Join vendors at the annual Spring Fling at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market on Saturday, May 6 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Whether you’re looking for fresh-picked produce or any of the other items that the market offers, Market Manager Pat Ayscue invites everyone to come out and see what all the buzz is about.

“Spring is such a topsy-turvy season with a bit of late frost and high temps that spin up, thunderstorms bringing inches of rain and high winds,” Ayscue stated.

“Hats off to the farmers who always put their best foot forward in all kinds of weather to bring you their best farm-raised produce and products. The bounty of strawberries makes all the pollen we experience well worth it.

Come experience the market as it comes alive to begin another season, filled with farmers’ harvests and craft vendors.

“It’s so good to hear the chatter among vendors and customers filling the air,” Ayscue said.

“I look forward to welcoming our new vendors to our farmers market family and the community,” she said.

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr. in Henderson. Contact Ayscue at 252.598.0814 or farmersmarket@vancecounty.org. To learn more, visit http://go.ncsu.edu/vcrfm.

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Farmers’ Market Set To Open April 15

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will open Saturday, April 15 for the 2023 season and Market Manager Pat Ayscue welcomes visitors and shoppers to come ccheck out all the vendors beginning at 8 a.m.The market will have its annual Spring Fling on Saturday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ayscue said.

The vegetable and plant growers will have a good variety of slips and flowering plants for the home and garden, and the craft vendors will have wreaths and other handcrafted items for the home and office.

Other vendors will have beef, pork, chicken, eggs, produce and more from the farmers along with those strawberries we have been waiting for. Homemade pies and cakes, whole or sliced  – just right for an after-dinner treat or for a special occasion.

Fresh-cut flowers will be on hand, Ayscue said, giving two green thumbs-up for the beginning of the growing season.

And before or after shopping, Ayscue invites everyone to stay awhile and walk through the Memorial Gardens, located on the grounds of the farmers’ market.

 

Farmers Market Advisory Board Meeting Thurs, Aug 12

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market Advisory Board will meet Thursday, August 12 at 2 p.m.

The meeting will take place at the Farmers Market at 210 Southpark Drive in Henderson, just off Beckford Drive.

These meetings are open to the public.

For additional information, call 252 438 8188 or email paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu.

While public attendance is meant for observation, to be sure you can speak with others there after the meeting.  Hanging around after a meeting is a good way to see if new things may be on the horizon for the market and a chance to provide some input if there are things you would like to see.