ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. – It was the summer of 1977…

Jimmy Carter was in his first year as president.

The original “Star Wars” was the summer blockbuster movie.

Gas cost just over 60 cents a gallon.

And the Hardin County Farmers’ Market (HCFM) began selling fresh produce in Elizabethtown. The market, which celebrated its 46th anniversary this summer, is one of 17 farmers’ markets in Kentucky that reported they have been in operation for more than 40 years.

"Since 1977, we are proud to have developed a reputation for providing food you can trust from farmers you know,” HCFM Manager Chad Queen said. “Through the years, our locally produced, high-quality selections have drawn thousands of people out to experience our central Kentucky gem."

The market is so popular among Hardin Countians that it raked in more than $300,000 in sales last year. In total, an estimated $15 million in sales was reported for all 170 farmers’ markets across the state. Farmers’ markets are a proven economic engine that celebrates the state’s agricultural roots and brings the farm to Kentucky’s consumers.

"Growing up around farming and now having part of my livelihood depend on agriculture is humbling and fulfilling at the same time,” HCFM President Ben Smith said. “I'm also proud to help carry on that pioneering legacy of those that laid the foundation for the Hardin County Farmers' Market beginnings in 1977."

HCFM celebrated its 46th birthday on June 24 with a party under the shade of its expansive new outdoor covered pavilion at 200 Peterson Drive. The festivities that sunny Saturday morning included giveaways of farmers’ market T-shirts, rain gauges from the Hardin County Conservation District, and hourly door prizes. After North Hardin High School’s Anna Vaughan sang “My Old Kentucky Home,” there were comments from Sharon Spencer, director of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Direct Farm Marketing Division, and Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul.

In one of 2022 Miss Kentucky Hannah Edelen’s last appearances before the end of her reign, she handed out free cupcakes to the hungry crowd. To prove its dedication to buying local, HCFM sourced the ingredients for the carrot cake and red velvet cupcakes from five local farms: Fallen Maple Farm, Modern Heritage Farm, Peterson Family Farm, Sassafras Farms, and Solway Farms. The sweet treats were baked by a local business, The Gathering Bakery.

“During my year-long reign as Miss Kentucky, I witnessed firsthand the significant role that agriculture plays in the commonwealth,” Edelen said. “Agriculture is a cornerstone of Kentucky's economy and culture, and farmers’ markets like the Hardin County Farmers’ Market are vital to sustaining this heritage. These markets not only provide fresh and locally sourced products to consumers, but also serve as community hubs, fostering connections between farmers and consumers.”

HCFM has approximately 30 vendors this year. One of its most unique is Sakinah Bunch, founder of Cleangoodeats in Radcliff, Ky.

“She had a history of family members dealing with severe eating/allergy issues,” Queen said. “So, she did some research and went to school to know what she can do to help those issues in healthier eating/food preparation choices.”

Bunch offers samples of her “clean eats” at HCFM on the first Wednesdays of each month. She also teaches “Farm-to-Fork Cooking Classes: A Culinary Journey with Your Local Farmer” at Hardin County’s first farm-to-table, locally sourced cooking studio.

For more information about HCFM, visit www.HardinCountyFarmersMarket.com