On any Friday or Saturday at the Attala County Farmer’s Market, shoppers can find a variety of produce, meats, and canned or baked goods.
The vendors who gather at the pavilion in front of the Attala County Coliseum at the intersection of Highway 12 and Veterans Memorial encourage others to buy and eat from local farmers.
“It humbles you; you’re not in control. You can be resourceful,” said Sarah Rick of farming. “Not enough people like to sweat and get dirty. It’s actually good for you to get a little dirty!”
Sarah and her husband Robert grow fruits, vegetables and flowers, which she sells at the local Farmers’ Market. In addition, they are beekeepers and sell their local honey. Sarah also sews homemade shopping bags and encourages customers to bring their own bags to the market.
“I don’t like plastic waste,” said Rick.
Rick is a firm believer in eating and buying local.
“Eating in season is important. We are fortunate because Mississippi is a great place to grow things all year,” she said.
Marian Oakes is another proponent of eating and buying local. She sells her farm-raised eggs along with homemade jams and jellies.
“You know what you’re buying,” Oakes said of the products available at the farmer’s market. “I know what my chickens are eating. I know how old my eggs are. Plus, everything just tastes better fresh.”
Connie Brunt of Kosciusko first became interested in selling vegetables when the market was located on the Square.
“I had a surplus of garden produce one year, and my uncles were selling at the Square and encouraged me to join them,” she said. “I’ve been doing it on the 
side for about 20 years, and this is my first year to sell at the Farmer’s Market. I’ve been enjoying it.”
Brunt echoed the commitment to buying local expressed by the others.
“I know where it came from. I don’t use pesticides. I use all natural, organic sprays that I mix up,” she said.
Lance Woodard also sells his products — beef from cattle he raises — at the market. With an interest in farming dating back to childhood, Woodard of Wildlands Beef began raising cattle about four years ago and has worked for organizations that had cattle operations in the past. He was born on a hog farm in Tennessee, had ancestors who raised cattle on a Montana ranch, and his father raised angus cattle on the Mississippi River levee in northeast Arkansas.
“My love for agriculture has always been there. Farming is tough; it is not for the faint of heart. It is tough making a living at it,” Woodard said.
At his farm in Ethel, he raises angus and Brangus, commonly known as “black cattle.”
Attala Frozen Foods processes the USDA certified beef, but Woodward said processing can be his biggest challenge.
“Attala Frozen Foods is very busy and in high demand. I wait in line to get the beef done,” he said.
Eating and buying local is very important to Woodard, as well.
“It makes sense. Mississippi cattle being produced and processed here in our state will put cents in our pockets and makes sense to our people within our Mississippi communities,” Woodard said.
Another plus to farming he mentions is his involvement with family.
“My grandkids love the cattle and the farm. They expect to eat beef when they come. My wife Kim does a great job cooking it for them. Kids need a farm in today’s society. They need that understanding,” said Woodard.
Another huge advocate for growing and eating local is Rev. David Newell. He recently took some time to talk about his organization, the Attala Self Help Co-Op.
Newell sells his fresh vegetables at the Farmer’s Market and encourages others to raise their own vegetables, as well.
Established in 2000, the Co-Op helps small farmers with endeavors including growing vegetables and raising beef cattle. It also sponsors projects that support the community.
“We operate on a professional level, with a board of trustees,” Newell said. “We have a building at Sallis which we will use to teach skills like sewing, cooking and canning. Unfortunately, this (COVID-19) virus has killed everything, but we will open up again when it’s safe.”
In particular, Newell wants to involve young people in agriculture.
“Young people need to know that not everything comes in a can, and that someone did put in the hard work to get the food to the table,” he said.
For the farmer or rancher just starting out, the Co-Op provides information and workshops.
“We rent out equipment, and we provide information on government programs. We try to serve as a liaison between the government and the farmer,” Newell said, noting that just about all the information someone needs to get started is available through the Co-Op.
“We are part of the Mississippi Co-Operative and it keeps us up with the latest trends in farming. In addition, we have opportunities to attend workshops all over the Southeast, although all of that is shut down right now (due to the pandemic),” said Newell.
As for buying and eating local products, Newell said it is a matter of health.
“Fresh food is always better than processed. It is healthier and we know what is in it,” he said.
But there is another reason Newell said it is vital: “It is important to be a part of the community.”
