Roasted butternut squash is a simple and healthy meal for fall. The flesh tastes somewhat like pumpkin, and the squash can be substituted for pumpkin in many recipes.

Lawrence area farmers are offering goodies for the holidays this weekend.

The last Downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market of the season will be from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at 824 N.H. Among the offerings will be turkey, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, pumpkins and wine.

Pendleton’s Country Market is hosting a “Christmas Sale in the Country.” The sale will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and Nov. 28-Nov. 29. More than 20 vendors will be offering a variety of homegrown and homemade gifts.

Iwig Family Dairy has fresh turkeys from Wiedmann Farm Fresh Meats as well as pies, cheeses and beef. The farm also has milk available in a variety of flavors: root beer, egg nog and chocolate. The store is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

If you know of another event, let us know through the comments below.

Also, it’s never too late to thank farmers for all of their hard work. Gov. Mark Parkinson proclaimed Nov. 20 as “Thank a Farmer” day in Kansas.

“The holiday season is a time be thankful for all that we have, especially the food that we share with our family, friends and neighbors in need,” Parkinson said. “Kansas farmers not only put food on our table–but tables across America and around the globe.”

Kansas is a leader in wheat, milo and beef production, and the state ranks sixth in farm product exports, which were valued at $5.9 billion in 2008.