Chris Gibbs, a cattle farmer in rural Ohio, says he's been in a deficit for almost three years. Keren Carrión/NPR hide caption

Keren Carrión/NPR

At the weekday farmers market in Athens, Ohio, colorful vegetables are on display for patrons to purchase, community members interact with each other and vendors and one another. It feels like most people in attendance know one another on some personal level.

For a small town like Athens, the farmers market is a gathering place.

"Our Saturday markets have been fully at capacity," said Paige Walters, the Athens farmers market promotions manager.

Athens, Ohio is home to Ohio University. The city is, like many college towns, pretty liberal.…