Edenton Food Drive

Last Thurs, we traveled to our Edenton, NC location for their FTFTFTH (Feed The Folks That Feed The Hungry) food drive, trading chicken wings smothered in John Boy & Billy Grillin' Sauce, with the donations going to the Edenton Chowan Food Pantry. We whipped up 600 more pounds along with some cash donations for the community. That put us at about 5,800 pounds donated through 8 store events, not bad being only 2 hour events. We're headed to Highland Springs, VA this Thurs, 17th, between 3 & 6pm for our last store event of 2009, this one again benefiting the Central Va Food Bank.

Feed the Folks that Feed the Hungry!

FTFTFTH (Feed The Folks That Feed The Hungry) had a exciting day at Southside Plaza on Dec 3rd. We hooked up with The Beat, Willis Entertainment, DTLR, Clear-wire, & RAC Rentals for a couple hours, whipping up the chicken wings for donations to the Central VA Food Bank, got about 625 pounds of much needed food for the needy in the area.

Red White and Blue Stew Crew

The Red White and Blue Stew Crew, based out of Hanover County, Virginia, has been cooking Brunswick Stew and competing in various Stew competitions for about seven years. During this period they have received 14 awards, with the most recent a 2nd Place Ribbon from the 2009 State Fair of Virginia's Brunswick Stew Competition.

"The competitions are fun, and we appreciate being recognized by the judges for our Stew, but the real reward is raising funds for the local Children's hospitals", according the Randy Bush, the Crew's "Stewmaster". All of the proceeds from Stew sales during the competitions are directed to the Log-A-Load for Kids Program ... part of the Children's Miracle Network (CMN).

"Over the course of a year's competitions, we have upwards of a dozen or more people who donate their time to the lengthy process of preparing and distributing Brunswick Stew", according to Bush. "It is always gratifying to the volunteers knowing their efforts are directed toward helping kids."

In addition, the Crew always welcomes other partners to support their activities. The most recent is Farmer's Foods, which provides discounts for the Stew's ingredients. "We appreciate Farmer's Foods' help," Bush states, "their support helps maximize what we can do for the kids."

But above all, the Crew appreciates the support from folks who purchase the Stew. "We realize during a competition, the public can select any Stew they wish ... often from 20 or more competitors ... and we are gratified that our many supporters have allowed us to contribute thousands of dollars over the years to CMN."

The Crew, and their charitable work, was recently highlighted in the nationally released book "America Eats!" authored by noted food writer Pat Willard. Ms. Willard wrote about our Crew’s fund raising activities and operating philosophy in her chapter "The Fund Raising Feast", which detailed the charitable aspects of American Cuisine. The Crew also does limited "special projects" outside of competitions, but still for charitable purposes.

Spiral Ham Dinner Giveaway Winner + NEW CONTEST!

And the winner is…

Bilal Muhammad
of Southside Richmond, Va !!


The Give-Aways Continue ! ! !

Our next giveaway is 50 (fifty) Virginia Lottery Scratch Tickets !!! Winner will be contacted on Dec 21st. What a good idea for Christmas gifts, and don't forget to slip Santa one under his cookies.

Remember, all Discount Club members are automatically eligible for our Give-Aways, along with our weekly discounts that the average family uses on a weekly basis. This week's discount is Free Farmer's Brown & Serve Rolls with a $20 purchase !!!

Check us out on Facebook.

Hoping Everyone has a Nice Thanksgiving,

Paul Farmer
Farmer's Foods

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day !! Because you can attribute most of your happiness for what our veterans have done for all of us. We're proud to have sponsored the VFW Post 8163 and the American Legion Post 45 in their recreational therapy sessions where they take patients from the Veterans Administration Medical Centers in Rich...mond VA and Durham NC to Kerr Lake for boating opportunities, skeet shoots, and just good social outings. These folks deserve a chance to get out and enjoy what they have sacrificed so much for. THANK YOU VETS !!!!!!

Feed the Folks that Feed the Hungry in Louisa

"FTFTFTH" (Feed The Folks That Feed The Hungry) had an outstanding day in Louisa, VA on Nov 5th, helping out the Louisa County Community Cupboard with a food drive. That was an additional 700 pounds, pushing the total mark for 6 events to 4,500 pounds of needed food for the pantries in our store areas. 3 more to go: ... Southside Plaza, Richmond VA on Dec 3rd, Edenton NC on Dec 10th, and back to Highland Springs VA (eastern Richmond) on Dec 17th. Trading Chicken Wings For Cans !!!

Feed The Folks That Feed The Hungry in South Boston

Our "Feed The Folks That Feed The Hungry" food drive in South Boston on Oct 29th was a great day in the neighborhood. We helped gather about 550 pounds of needed food for the community to be distributed by the Good Samaritan Association food pantry. That put us at about 3,800 pounds through 5 events....Yea !!

The Winner of our $50 Halloween Giveaway Is...

Jessica Cornell of Highland Springs


Thanks to all members.

Our next giveaway is for a Complete Spiral Ham Dinner for your Thanksgiving !!! Enter by joining our email list or by texting FARMERS to 68247. If you already receive our email or text discounts, you're already entered!

Winner will be contacted on Nov 23rd. This dinner comes with a Spiral Ham (about 8lbs), 2lbs of Green Bean Casserole, 2lbs of Candied Yams, 1lb of Cranberry Relish. Mmmmmmmm!

Don't forget that we will be cheaper than any competitor's advertised price within 10 miles on Thanksgiving 12lb & up Grade A Frozen Turkeys !! OR Get A Free Turkey through our Turkey Feather Promotion. See our store personnel for details.

Feed the Folks that Feed the Hungry in Kenbridge

Our "Feed The Folks That Feed The Hungry" event in Kenbridge benefiting The People's Community Center food pantry gathered 871 units for the Southside Va community, over 800 pounds !! With 4 events and the donation below from Edenton that needed right away, we're right at 3,300 pounds to the food ba...nks so far !!...going to be in South Boston Va on next Thurs, the 29th, then Louisa on Nov 5th, then Southside Plaza Richmond on Dec 3rd, then Edenton on Dec 10th, then our last event for 2009 will be at Highland Springs (Richmond) on Dec 17th...special thanks to the folks of TPCC food pantry and the area girl scout troop who helped get the word out for the Kenbride event !!!

$50.00 Halloween Shopping Spree

Farmer's Foods, the folks where No Card Is Needed For Great Prices, is giving away a $50.00 shopping spree to one of our lucky Discount Club members (Text Message or Email) on Oct 26th. The winner will be texted or emailed on October 26th. Tell your friends to go to www.farmersfoods.com on how to join our Farmer's Family Discount Club.

Turkey Feathers Equal Free Turkey !!

Get a Turkey Feather coupon for each $50.00 visit between now and Nov 25th, save six (6) feathers and receive a FREE GRADE A FROZEN 12LB & UP TURKEY FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY !!! How easy is that ?? Not six different weeks like some competitors,.... but just 6 different trips spending $50.00 or more gets you and your family a FREE TURKEY !!!

Farmer's Foods Holiday Turkey Commitment-

It has been a longstanding commitment to beat our competitions' prices on the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving Dinner....and we're not stopping now. Farmer's Foods will beat the price of any competitor within a 10 mile radius of any of our locations on Grade A Frozen Turkeys 12lb & UP for Thanksgiving. Don't worry about what you see in any advertisement, just come on by and see the lowest price on Thanksgiving Turkeys for the holiday !! Don't forget !!

On The Road Again...

"Feed The Folks That Feed The Hungry" is scheduled for another food drive in Kenbridge, Virginia on Oct 15th...mark your calendars, and research your cupboards. The People's Community Center Food Pantry, supporting Lunenburg County, is our next recipient of non-perishable food items donated. For each item donated, you'll be rewarded with a John Boy and Billy Grillin' sauce wing. Three events under my belt and I'm getting the hang of Grillzilla..."if you're looking, you're not cooking!" She makes it harrrrd, with no windows, when you have a pile o wings like this one hiding behind the metal.

After the Kenbridge event, South Boston's Good Samaritan group is scheduled for Oct 29th, and the Louisa Food Pantry on Nov 5th.

Farmer's Page One Food Drive

Luray, Virginia- Sept 24th, '09 - "Feed The Folks That Feed The Hungry" was back on the road to the Shenandoah Valley to help Page One food pantry that supports Page County, Virginia. A hot 92 degree Sept afternoon on the black-top didn't discourage the citizens coming by Farmer's to give non-perishable items to help the needy and at the same time enjoying some hot, right-off-the-grill John Boy and Billy Grillin' Sauce chicken wings.


Thanks to Lois and her Page One food crew; the citizens that could donate; and all of the sponsors that made this opportunity possible.

Summer of KLR Giveaway !!

Richmond, Virginia- Sept 19th, '09 - They really did give away a Ford 150, a Year's Worth of Farmer's steaks, a Grill, a huge Big Show Sauce Package, bicycles, etc. Those 96.5 KLR folks gave it all to Michele Rundstrom of Powhatan, Va when her cd played the winner song in her new truck.

Thanks from Farmer's to everyone involved.

Feed the Folks that Feed the Hungry

Louisburg, NC - Sept 3rd 2009 - "Feed The Folks That Feed The Hungry" was a great success with 700 pounds of needed food going to the local Care and Share of Franklin County, North Carolina. John Boy & Billy Grillin' Sauce on grilled chicken wings performed magic for the community.


Special Thanks to Cindy Tharringtin and her Food Crew at Care and Share, the folks of Dutt & Wagner Food Distributors for helping with the chicken, Randy Jordan with Country 102, Big Show Foods, Katgraphics, Bobbees Bottling,...and especially the Louisburg folks that gave up the donations for their fellow citizens in need.


Taking the "Feed The Folks That Feed The Hungry" to Luray, Viriginia next on Sept 24th to support the Page One organization, who help put food on needy citizens' dinner tables. Come on out if you're anywhere near Page County in the Shenandoah Valley.

Here Kitty Kitty Contest Results !

The Contest was a blast with 132 kitty kat entries. We helped gather $93.00 for local spca's, animal shelters, and humane societies. All cats and their owners deserve an "Honorable Mention"!!! "Teddy Bear" from Nathalie, Virginia won the race tickets and "Pippi No Stockings" from Franklinton, North Carolina won the free steaks for a month.

Tell your friends that we'll be having our "Hometown Dog Contest" for the spring race tickets.

Farmer’s Foods “Area Business Sweet Heart Deal” Opportunity is available in all Farmer’s Foods locations.

Farmer’s Foods in connection with locally owned and operated businesses welcomes the opportunity to network together to give our local communities a “Sweet Heart Deal”. Simply present a receipt from Farmer’s Foods where you purchased a 5 pound bag of sugar within the past week to the partnering business in that area to receive a discount on a purchase from the partnering business.

If you are a locally owned and operated business near any of our locations and would like to be part of the “Area Business Sweet Heart Deal”, then please call our corporate office and the proper person will be in contact with shortly. This program is in its very early stages and Farmer’s Foods is looking forward to this expanding throughout all of our locations.

Essentially, signage will be placed in front of the sugar section in our stores listing the partner businesses in that area, AND we want to list these business on our website for FREE !! We are particularly interested in business types that strengthen our communities that have not been gobbled up by the large big-box stores, ie. hairstylists, jewelers, florists, restaurants and the like. Give a call and we’ll discuss your ideas about possibilities of this program to maintain main streets.

Luray Youth Trout Day

May 11th, ‘09

Farmer’s Foods is appreciative to be allowed to have our first Casting Contest for the youngsters that came out to Youth Trout Day. Close to 200 kids of all ages, gender, and fishing ability came out with their families to enjoy the opportunity to try their chances at about 1,200 trout stocked by the Virginia Game & Fishing Department. The trout were released into the famous Hawksbill Creek which runs directly through the center of beautiful Luray, Virginia. Trout larger than 3 pounds were caught, and a truly wonder selection of prizes were given away by area business and civic groups.


Our part of the entertainment was rather simple but exceptionally exciting. Greeting anxious youngsters with rods loaded for action; replacing all hooks with a “competition casting cork”; and measuring who could cast the closest to a car tire about 10 yards away can be an eye-opening experience you’ll never forget.


Special thanks should be given to the Greg Richards who initiated the idea with a tremendous amount of continued support from the Page County Sheriffs Department and the Luray Parks & Recreation Department and area citizens. 2009 was the 5th year of the event and had the largest turnout despite the challenging weather that day. We look forward to helping with the event again next year.

“Hound Dog Beauty Contest”

Central Virginia Locations (South Boston, Dillwyn, Kenbridge, Louisa, Highland Springs, and Southside Plaza Richmond)
April 24th, ‘09

In connection with the Greater Richmond SPCA and Richmond International Raceway, Farmer’s Foods gave dog lovers an opportunity to enter their dog’s photo with contact information at store locations. Donations were welcome and forwarded to the Greater Richmond SPCA, who was very grateful for any help managing the increase number of abandoned and hungry animals due to the economic difficulties affecting their owners.


The event was a very exciting way for average people with average dogs to be drawn either for 4 tickets to Richmond’s Big Saturday Night Spring Race or “Steaks For A Month”. Over 50 dogs were entered and the winner picking process was extremely difficult. All entries received a letter of appreciation and an “Honorable Mention”.
Cat lovers won’t be left out. A similar contest is planned for Richmond’s Big Saturday Night Race in the fall with contestants being our feline loved buddies. Again, donations will always be forwarded to the SPCA.

ABC TV’s Extreme Home Makeover “Pack The House”

Aired May 3rd, ‘09

Farmer’s Foods of Edenton was proud to participate in the ABC TV’s Extreme Home Makeover to help the Cooper family in Jamesville NC. Jeff Cooper is a handicapped veteran of the Gulf War who has steadfastly continued to fight for handicap veteran rights. When Extreme Home Makeover contacted Farmer’s Foods about helping with supplying the food for the family in their new house, we were proud and honored to have been selected. We “Packed The House” with the items the family needed for their new home.

“Feed The Folks That Feed The Hungry”

Dillwyn, Va
March 27th, ‘09

Farmer’s Foods of Dillwyn teamed up with Big Country 105.3 radio, Hatcher’s Dining & Catering, Dutt & Wagner Distributors, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, and Big Show Sauces to gather food for the needy people in that area. People donating cans of non-perishable foods were given a deliciously grilled John Boy & Billy Grillin’ Sauce chicken wing, cooked to perfection by Leroy Hatcher.


In approximately three hours, we gathered about 1,000 pounds (1/2 ton) for that area Food Bank. This event was a fine example of how big things can come from ordinary people working together to help others in Central Virginia. We look forward to taking this program to our other locations.

Local Concert is a Hit!

By Vernon Fueston
Staff Writer

Between 4,000 and 5,000 fans turned up at the Chowan County Fair Grounds to hear up and coming country star Jason Aldean at a concert following Edenton Hog Fest, Saturday.





"It was by far the best show we've done in Edenton," said Jason Vick of Radio Media Productions, the promoter who brought the show to town.

Aldean, a native of Macon, GA and a phenomenon on the national country music scene for three years now, has produced three albums. Also appearing was Mikele Buck.

Among the songs performed at the concert were the title song for his current album, "Wide Open," "Keep the Girl" and "My Big Green Tractor."

Hog Fest a Success

By Vernon Fueston, Staff Writer

As the American Legion's Post 40 wrapped up Edenton's third annual Hog Fest Saturday, it was clear the event had been a hit.

The event collected 1,565 pounds of food for Edenton's Food Pantry along with over $500 in cash donations form the public and $348 raised from its Motorcycle Ride-in Show.
Winning the overall barbeque championship along with the title for pork barbeque was Checkered Pig, a team from Martinsville, Virginia, Tommy Houston, chief cook.
A local team, Tarheel Smokers II from Hertord with Louis DeVine as chief cook, took the honors in Chicken. Chix, Swine and Bovine BBQ of Jessup, Maryland, Mike Richter, chief cook, took title for both pork ribs and brisket while Yeopim Callers of Edenton, Calhoon Jordan chief cook, took the whole hog category.

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WINNERS OF THE FARMERS FOODS
TROPHY BEST DRESSED PIG

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Po' Boyz BBQ of Grifton, North Carolina, Matthew Sparrow, chief cook, took the honors for dessert and non-desert.

Gerald Rahal, the events chairman, didn't have an attendance number, but he characterized the public's response as overwhelming. He said much of the credit goes to the cook teams, Holme's High ROTC program, the Legion Family and community volunteers who made the program possible.


Spirit Award - Po Boyz BBQ
Peoples Choice - Old Dominion Smokehouse
Anything Butts - both non & dessert - Po Boyz BBQ
Whole Hog - Yeopim Callers
Chicken - Tarheel Smokers II
Pork - Checkered Pig
Ribs & Brisket - Chix, Swine & Bovine BBQ
Reserve Grand - Chix, Swine & Bovine BBQ
Grand Champion - Checkered Pig