On a sunny Saturday morning at Hancock Park’s side road, vendors quietly prepared their booths for the weekly Dahlonega Farmers Market, held every weekend from May through October.
Among the stands, one vendor drew special attention: Flour & Flair, a bakery stall offering homemade bread and cookies, run by University of North Georgia junior Abby Franks, who also competes on the women’s golf team.
Franks, majoring in elementary and special education with a minor in psychology, said baking has always been a passion and a way to manage stress.“I have always enjoyed baking, but I really got more into it my sophomore year,” she said. “My teammate Lainey Panter also likes to bake and we started to bake together, and I was able to learn from her. I realized how much I really love it. I started to make so many things homemade such as bread, butter, cookies and whatever else I could. I find it very therapeutic as well and love to bake when I am stressed and use it as an outlet.”
Balancing golf, academics and baking requires strong time management.“I have a very busy schedule, especially now with student teaching as well,” Franks said. “I love being busy and having the blessing to be tired from what God has called me to do. The biggest thing I’ve learned is how to stay organized. I have struggled with time management but learned so much about how to better plan in advance to be able to do all of the things I want to.”
Several vendors said, since its relaunch in 2023, the Dahlonega Farmers Market has struggled to attract the same crowds it once did. Even many UNG students remain unaware of the event.
“If UNG tried to connect more with something like this, like the farmers market, I think you have more of a turnout if there was more of a connection and it was advertised and everything,” said Michelle Barradas, a senior in health informatics and administration. “A lot of people don’t even know that this is a thing.”
Another student pointed to the location as an obstacle. “I think a lot of students do actually know that this is here,” said Julia Hall, a senior biology major accompanied by her service dog, Cider. “I’m sure some students would love to put up crafts or homemade goods, but it’s kind of tucked away back here, so it’s hard to find.”
Vendors also expressed concern that the city has not done enough to market the event. “There is a lot of opportunity for community involvement and giving back that we’re just not able to do because we don’t have the support and the place to do it,” said Michelle Gilreath, owner of Buzzard Roost Branch.
Her daughter, Savannah Moss, who was helping at the booth, agreed.“The city is not doing their due diligence as far as appropriately marketing both to the communities and the tourists,” she said.
“We have local people who don’t even know about this, and they drive an hour to Blue Ridge. A lot of people don’t even know this exists, and here we are, local for our family and one of the first families that was here.”
Both vendors and students said more collaboration with UNG could help.“I think the university could advertise it more — maybe flyers up or posts online that are collaborating with Discover Dahlonega,” Franks said. “It is a lot easier to feel at home when you are far away when you are more involved and welcomed into the community.”
Moss said she hopes the farmers market can eventually expand into a partnership that benefits both students and vendors. “What I eventually want to do is have a way to provide some sort of internship program or the community service aspect where people need to do that for hours, or they just find a way to get involved,” she said. “I want an opportunity for students to come, learn, get those hours or even if they just want to have a homegrown experience.”
