Community-driven agriculture grows more than just produce

Laura Ney

UGA Extension agent

Behind every aspect of the Marigold Collective, you'll find Laura Ney - and her unwavering support for her community. As the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension in Athens-Clarke County and chair of the collective, Ney's expertise and vision quietly shape and guide the collective's work, ever-present and essential to its mission.

Ney was the one Winterville Mayor Dodd Ferrelle and other city leaders approached with their vision, and she immediately got to work coordinating with local entities and seeking grant funding to turn the dream into reality.
As the group prepared to launch its first farmers market, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt. Rather than letting momentum fade, Ney and the market manager shifted the market to a drive-through format to connect vendors and customers.

As restrictions eased and safety measures improved, the market transitioned to an in-person experience and has grown steadily ever since.

"It's not just about providing a selling space for our growers and small businesses," she said. "It's about getting into the community, into the schools - teaching kids about farming, supporting local entrepreneurs, and ensuring people have access to fresh, nutritious food. It's about identifying needs and finding ways to meet them."

A soil scientist by training, Ney understands that strong foundations are essential for both healthy plants and thriving communities. She helps secure funding for farmers in the collective to attend field days and grower conferences, giving them opportunities to expand their knowledge and improve their operations.

Whether writing grant proposals or troubleshooting irrigation issues in a farmer's field, Ney's tireless efforts have transformed ideas into tangible benefits, making the Marigold Collective a model for addressing food insecurity and strengthening the local food system.

Dodd Ferrelle

Winterville's mayor

Dodd Ferrelle cares deeply about the well-being of all residents of the City of Marigolds. Elected in 2016, Mayor Dodd - as he's affectionately known to residents - and the Winterville City Council dedicated funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to create immediate and transformative change in the community.

Designed to help communities recover from the economic effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, city leaders directed funding from the act toward two key efforts: tackling food insecurity and repurposing a public facility to serve the community.

Ferrelle contacted Athens-Clarke County Extension with a request for help developing an innovative food hub that would intertwine a farmers market and a shared community kitchen in a community-driven approach to food security.

Thus began the Marigold Collective.

Sarah Hovater,

Director of the Marigold Market

At the proverbial heart of the Marigold Collective is Executive Director Sarah Hovater. A true shepherdess at heart, Hovater balances the rhythms of farm life with the needs of her growing community. She operates a working farm that raises sheep, goats, chickens and rabbits, producing fiber, milk, meat, cheese and soap, which she sells at the collective's cooperative booth. Her compassion and leadership ensure that every detail, from farm to market, is thoughtfully tended.

But Hovater's role extends beyond her own farm. She wears many hats, collaborating with Ney and Ferrelle to secure grants, support farmers and small-business owners, and turn ideas into actionable plans. Her careful coordination with growers on crop planning - using historical sales data to ensure both variety and abundance while minimizing overlap - has been key in reducing food waste, optimizing yields and fostering growth within the collective.

Hovater has actively sought partnerships with neighboring farmers markets to strengthen communitywide food access. To foster county connections, she recently established collaboration with Athens Land Trust (ALT), a nonprofit dedicated to creating lasting community assets through affordable housing, local agriculture and land conservation.

A key component of ALT's mission is the Young Urban Farmers program, which provides high school students with hands-on experience in gardening, farming, culinary arts and entrepreneurship.

These partnerships strengthen the impact of the Marigold Collective and extend its reach into neighboring Athens.