Q&A with Farmer's Country Market owner, Jessica Shelton
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Q: What made you decide to open a country store?
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A: I grew up in a country store that my grandparents started in 1959. Their names were Cecil and Olivia Farmer, so it seemed natural to call the store “Farmer’s Country Market.” My grandparents' store was a place where people caught up on gossip, played cards, and shot pool. It was a place where everybody felt like they were at home. Everyone was accepted, and everyone felt like they had a family there at Farmer’s Market.
That little store shut down and had to be demolished due to a gas line issue in the 1990s. A new store had opened up a few doors down. It changed hands several times over the years, but became vacant in 2017.
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I love this area so much. It was sad to me that there was no longer a gathering place in the community. I also love to cook. After a lot of thought and prayer, I decided that if I waited til the “right time” to start my own restaurant, then I likely never would. So, I decided that it was worth a shot.
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Q. What is the hardest thing about owning a country store?
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A: The location is certainly a challenge. People don’t usually stop here because we are convenient, they usually drive out of their way to get to us because they love the food and atmosphere. I’ve worked hard to make sure that our food is something customers want to come back for time and again. So far, it’s working. I try to stay away from processed and frozen food as much as possible. Although I feel like that makes the food much better, it does get tedious making biscuits from scratch daily and peeling 15 lbs of potatoes on Saturdays.
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Q. What is the most rewarding part about owning a country store?
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A: I love when people comment on how they feel welcome and how Farmer's feels like home. Farmer’s Country Market is more than just a way to make money. This is my mission field. Of course, I love when people love my food, because food has such a strong link with emotions. But more than that, I love being a light to this area. I love when people don’t consider me just a business owner, but they consider me a personal friend. It’s not easy to gain people’s trust and respect these days. It’s an honor.