The annual spring Hen and Chicks Barn Market took place on May 17-18 at Jenny Stuckwisch’s farm in Seymour.

Vendors from Indiana and surrounding states — Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky — joined in on the fun at this two-day event.

Seeing these vendors every year, Stuckwisch said it felt like they grew up with all these people.

“Vendors are like our family,” she said.

Hen and Chicks Barn Market was born when Stuckwisch and Georgiann Coons went to a market in Washington. From there, they were inspired to bring a similar event to Jackson County.

Coons said that one of her favorite things she enjoys is “sitting under the tent and talking” with friends and family at the market.

At the start of this journey, they had 25 vendors, but now they work with more than 70 vendors to make the market run.

Another bit of progress for the event was that instead of having portable toilets like they did in their early days, there are now nicely built restrooms accessible. Stuckwisch made sure to thank the men involved for putting those together.

Some of the vendors participating include Firefly Farms Botanical Wonders, a CBD-based business and booth run by father-son duo Dave and Nick Armstrong from Palmyra. They have been supporting the market for three years now.

Dave Armstrong’s business was inspired by looking into different methods to help with Alzheimer’s, a condition that struck two family members — his mother and his wife, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in her 50s.

A new vendor to the scene was Miss Ellie’s Famous Caramels, owned by Ellie Hasket with her husband, Rick, helping run the booth. She has been making her own receipe for 25-30 years and was glad to bring her craft to Jackson County all the way from Illinois.

She found out about Hen and Chicks Barn Market online and was intrigued by the venue, liking how it was “out in the middle of the county.” Hasket also expressed how kind and appreciative all the people were who came to her booth.

The first hour of the market on Friday was a little rainy, but in spite of this, turnout was good and the sun was breaking through the clouds.

“We couldn’t ask for a better day,” Hasket said.

Throughout the event, live music was played on a stage with three different artists present on Friday. One of those was a two-person group, Brookyln Covey, 18, and Kaelin Grube, 18, both from Seymour. They performed and sang songs such as “Jolene” by Dolly Parton and “Toxic” by Britney Spears.

Grube has performed at the market for two years, including in November of last year. For Covey, this was her first time on stage at the market.

“Music controls my whole life,” Grube said. She and Covey both expressed their passion and love for music.

Hen and Chicks Barn Market will be celebrating its 10th annual market, set for Sept. 27-28, in the fall.

“We’re pretty proud we’ve made it this far,” said Coons said.