Sandra Bowden knew when she was just a third-grader that she would have a passion for baking all her life.

The Oconee County resident, who grew up in Monroe, said it only took one cook-off competition --hosted by her Girl Scout Brownies troop-- to get her started baking pound cakes.  She didn't win, although the winning entry --a chocolate pound cake with chocolate frosting-- was the exact same dessert she made for the contest.  Whatever the reason Bowden didn't take home the top prize that day, she has since baked hundreds of pound cakes in many different flavors and tweaked her chocolate with chocolate icing staple.

Her customers at the Oconee Farmers Market would likely agree that the chocolate pound cake is just one of the recipes that has kept them coming back to Bowden's vendor booth week after week over the last six years.

Bowden, whose recipes were handed down to her mostly by family members, specializes in baking a variety of pound cakes, including vanilla, lemon, blueberry cream cheese, caramel icing, and brown sugar.  Last week she debuted a peanut butter icing that went over well, too, she said. 

Bowden said she enjoys the Farmers Market for several reasons.

"I love the atmosphere, customers, and other vendors," she said.  "It's a very positive experience."

As a mother of six, selling baked goods on Saturdays on the lawn behind Eagle Tavern also gives her a chance to get out of the house for awhile.

If you would like to special order a cake, Bowden is more than happy to bake it. "I don't turn anyone away," she said.

Here is a list of items vendors will have at the Oconee Farmers Market this Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.:

• Zucchini
• Summer squash
• Beans
• Greens
• Carrots
• Fresh herbs
• Live plants
• Grass-fed Senepol beef
• Pies (apple with cheddar crumb topping, chocolate chess, blueberry, pecan, strawberry rhubarb)
• Whoopie pies
• Muffins
• Cookies
• Pound cakes
• Coca-Cola chocolate cake
• Blueberry muffins
• Dog biscuits
• Boiled and fried peanuts
• Pork skins
• Beef jerky
• Pickles on a stick