The Hernando Farmers Market was selected as a statewide finalist for the Sales and Marketing Professionals’ (SMP) Mississippi Pinnacle Awards.
The Hernando Farmers Market was honored at an awards gala at Lake Terrace Convention Center on April 11 in Hattiesburg. The event featured a black-tie optional seated dinner and live entertainment to celebrate the 2023 finalists. The Mississippi Pinnacle Awards honor excellence, professionalism, and outstanding achievement in sales, marketing, and community engagement and showcases the highest level of public relations talent in the state.
The Hernando Farmers Market was created to provide local agriculturalists with a retail outlet for their products while improving the health of the community and growing the local economy through agriculture.
“Last season the Farmers Market grew to more than 80 vendors and had in excess of $600,000 in sales that went directly into the hands of our local farmers and entrepreneurs,” said Hernando Community and Economic Development Director, Gia Matheny.
The Farmers Market attracts families and senior citizens, with events targeted toward each. Children’s Days take place on the last Saturday of each month and encourage healthy eating at an early age, and the Senior Citizen Day, monthly on the third Saturday of each month, makes space for seniors to socialize and improve their health.
The market partners with the City of Hernando’s “Dickens of a Christmas” to host their holiday market which launched four years ago and has become an event that vendors and visitors look forward to each year.
SMP is a state-wide organization of owners, managers, and account executives involved in sales and marketing. Membership includes professionals from all fields of businesses, including banks, media, real estate, medical, retail, tourism, law, academics, and more.
The Pinnacle Awards event also featured Miss Mississippi Hospitality 2022, Hannah Grace Crain of Hernando.
Hernando Community and Economic Development Director Gia Matheny and Miss Mississippi Hospitality 2022 Hannah Grace Crain of Hernando (Courtesy photo)Mississippi Miss Hospitality 2022 Hannah Grace Crain of Hernando was featured during the Pinnacle Awards event. (Courtesy photo) From left, Gary Russel Bass, Jeff Davis County Economic Development District Director, Gia Matheny, Hernando Community and Economic Development Director, and Chris Hinton, Community Development Manager Entergy Mississippi, Inc. (Courtesy photo)
