Off icialKidsMag.com • AUG & SEPT 2018 • 13
OFFICIALKIDSMAG.COM
KIDS
PICK
6...
FAMILY
AFFAIR
Local families find farmers
market fun, educational experience
By Dave Woods - Official Kid Mag
Chandun O'Neal enjoyed his recent trip
to the kids day at the Fayetteville Farmers
Market.
"I like that you get to have fun," the
6-year-old Holcomb Elementary School
student said. "It's fun to come with
friends. It's just cool and fun hanging
out."
That morning, Chandun played in a
bounce house, shopped for fruits and
vegetables with his adults and got to hang
out in an unusual place.
"I got to go on a helicopter," he said,
proudly grinning. "It was fun. I hadn't
been in one before. I just wanted to do it.
The pilot uses the controls to fly it. It was
yellow and had a big engine."
Each year local farmers markets host
special events designed for kids. The
events stress the importance of healthy
eating and a healthy lifestyle. Chandun
didn't seem to care about the healthy
aspects of the event, but he won't soon
forget his time in the pilot's seat.
"We come out for the fruit and
vegetables," Jeanene O'Neal, Chandun's
mom, said. "Today kid stuff is going on.
We're jumping on the trampoline. They
have the bounce house out here. We
were going to go bounce some more,
watch a magic show, walk around and get
a popsicle."
While a kid friendly event is always a
nice extra for the O'Neal family, regular
trips to the farmers market are important
for other reasons.
"My kids are enjoying seeing their
friends," Jeanene said. "They are talking
to the vendors about the different fruits
and vegetables. They are trying the
different things that are here to sample.
They've had Chex Mix and we are going
to go back to get more squash and okra.
It's important they have vegetables in
their diet."
Jaynie Hesselgren, a Fayetteville mom,
brought her three daughters to the
market as well.
"They are having a good time," she
said. "There's the fresh air and the feel of
Fayetteville. Establishing roots and getting
to know the community is important.
Learning healthy eating habits and
connecting with the town is good."
Her daughters agreed.
"It's better than a regular market,"
Helen, a 10-year-old Fayetteville student
explained. "I like seeing the dogs. This is
our first time to bring (my dog) Daisy. I
like walking her around out here. I like
the blackberries, and the ice cream and
the tomatoes."
Her sister, Emelia, has her farmers
market favorites, too.
"I like the fresh smells and the flowers,"
she said. "We buy them a lot. I like the
flowers and all sorts of berries. It's a fun
place and I like getting outside and buying
stuff."
Chandun
O'Neal
and
the
Hesselgren
sisters
