Enjoy a down-home holiday on the farm at the inaugural Christmas Market at S&K, set for Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entertainment, vendors, farm-fresh products, food, fun, and even Old Saint Nick are coming to S&K Farm Market, 3607 Chicken Foot Road in Hope Mills, to help put the fa-la-la-la-la in your 2025 festivities.
Brother and sister owners and operators, Ryan Kennedy and Paige Smart, are excited to offer this December event following their inaugural and very successful fall festival held on Oct. 4. While events are new to the ever-diversifying operation, agriculture and everything from cattle to crops are not. Kennedy and Smart are following in the footsteps of earlier generations, including their parents, Rose and David Kennedy. The land has been a working farm since the mid-1800s, in the Smith family lineage on their mother’s side for six generations.
“We have transitioned from Smith & Kennedy to Smart & Kennedy, but we’ve all managed it together over the years,” Ryan explained.
Growing high-quality hay and raising Red Angus and Black Angus cows under the LLC of S&K Livestock Development, the farmers sell Bermuda and alfalfa hay and their signature grass-fed, grass-finished farm beef. We’re talking steaks, beef stew, hamburger roasts, brisket, ribs and other quality cuts. For more than a decade, S&K has also marketed its beef to brands sold through Whole Foods and Harris Teeter supermarkets.
“We do a little of everything,” said Paige. “You can come in and buy a pound of ground beef, one rib eye or a roast. And then, we also sell shares if you want to order a 1/4, 1/2 or a whole cow and offer bundles to give people a little bit of a discount.”
For example, the November bundle brings the beef in a big way—a large chuck roast, a wide selection of dinner staples including ground beef, beef stew and stir fry, plus two sirloin steaks.
When you don’t feel like cooking, cozy up to the delicious ready-to-cook meals from Pies & Sides, sold in the S&K freezer. Chicken Pot Pie, Chicken & Dressing Casserole, Shepherd’s Pie and other dishes are pie-in-the-sky delicious and convenient. The new Country Girl Pie is a mashup of cubed steak, gravy and grits.
What else can be sourced from S&K? The collaborative farm partners with other local farms to offer Dixie Duroc pasture-raised pork, The R Farmstead poultry and eggs, Parnell Acres lamb, Good Seeds Microgreens, Sandhills Mushroom Co. mushrooms, Charissa’s Salsa and Painted Desert Sauces. Regular favorites Veterans of America Roastery coffee, Blooms Backyard Flower Co. bouquets, Closer to Eden baked goods and Sweet Southern Macarons stock the shelves at S&K, too. Home décor from Sassy Hassy and Chickenfoot Crafts, plus products from Homestead Creamery, featuring milk, custard and seasonal eggnog direct from a Virginia Amish community, ensures market carts are never empty.
“It’s the most addictive milk ever,” according to Paige and countless Facebook reviewers.
What about seasonal produce and products? Whether it's collards and pecans for the holidays or tomatoes and squash come summer, the market makes shopping by the calendar easy. Sip by the season while you shop with a Lu Mil non-alcoholic slushie, deliciously sold in a variety of rotating flavors. When available, keep it cool with grape, watermelon, cherry, peach, pineapple or lemonade. Spice things up with the Hot Apple Cider variety.
With free admission, Dec. 6 Christmas Market-goers will enjoy complimentary and ticketed activities and over 70 family-owned businesses and vendors set up on the grounds. Parkton Animal Oasis exotic animal petting zoo, goat petting and milking, a farm hayride and photography with Santa are available for a nominal fee each. Free activities include the Santa Meet and Greet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a hay bale decorating contest. Guests can shop from the large product lineup, including arts and crafts, toys, custom shirts and hats, fine art, jewelry, home décor, snacks, baked goods, bread, coffee, healthy food creations, and of course, the farm’s menu of meats. Make it a day and have lunch from the Pittsburgh-inspired Yinzers and/or pizza from Pazzos; both food trucks will be on site. The event rain date is Dec. 13.
Find out more about the holiday happening and the farm on Facebook @S&K Farm Market.