News

Donnellson's Farmers' Market has successful first season

Published: Thursday, October 16, 2008 2:03 PM CDT

For MVM News Network

DONNELLSON - Donnellson's Farmers' Market had a very successful first season and it achieved its goal of supplying farm-fresh local produce to area residents.

Community camaraderie turned out to be a big part of the market. When the market started up in June of this year, only a small number of vendors assembled under the Railroad Park pavilion.

The success of that small group attracted more to join in and by the end of the season the vendors had increased to more than 14.

Most vendors were regulars every week and others came as one-time vendors. Two of the regular vendors were children with a specific earnings goal to achieve. During this experience they had the opportunity to learn responsibility, interpersonal relationships with adults and other youth, sharing, earning money and setting goals.

As the season came to an end, the youngsters achieved their goal and were making plans to set more goals for the second season.

Each has a unique story to share.

Kelsey and Micaela Bryant began taking items to the Donnellson Farmers' Market in July for several reasons. As part of their 4-H horticulture projects, they each listed a goal of selling their garden produce at a local farmers' market. To achieve this goal, they made their first trek to the Donnellson Farmers' Market the Wednesday after the Lee County Fair. Tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and zucchini were on the table that day. They later expanded to include apples and pears.

In their second year as members of the Jolly M's 4-H club, they both were selected to enter a baked item in the Iowa State Fair.

Needing more practice baking their cookies and cakes, the Farmers' Market seemed a great opportunity to test a market beyond the family. Practice makes perfect, and both won blue ribbons at the Iowa State Fair.

And lastly, Kelsey and Micaela wanted to show bucket/bottle calves at the 2008 Lee County Fair. Although they were not able to show the calves this year, they were not deterred.

When their produce quickly sold at the first farmers' market, they decided to raise money to purchase calves. Both girls like to bake cookies at home and thought others might enjoy their cookies, as well. Kelsey and Micaela turned to Mom's recipe box and selected their favorite cookie recipes.

For the next market, they would have cookies to sell.

And sell, they did. With a goal of purchasing calves in mind, Kelsey and Micaela have sold their produce and baked goods at both the Donnellson and Mount Pleasant Farmers' Markets every week since July and also sold at Donnellson Apple Daze and the Grape Festival in Nauvoo, Ill.

Two calves, bottles, milk replacer, medicine and bedding were purchased in September with the profits from the farmers' markets.

Although baking and tending to their garden required many hours of work each week, Kelsey and Micaela have other interests.

As 11-year old sixth grade students at Central Lee, they enjoy playing soccer, basketball, and softball and hanging out with friends.

Kelsey and Micaela look forward to participating in next year's Farmers' Markets. In the meantime, to fulfill an outreach of their Mount Pleasant market, they will be providing cookies for the Iowa Wesleyan College football game for the rest of the team's away games. Therefore, Kelsey and Micaela will be baking through the middle of November, at least.

The second youth group is Sarah Tweedy's Raisin ‘Em Up Kids. The day care has two programs which engage in activities to help children share and learn together, as well as developing individual interests.

The younger group, who have not yet entered formal schooling, and an after-school program and summer program to watch over school-aged children to fill the gap between school hours or the end of their parents' daily work hours.

The “after-schoolers” worked on many projects during the summer months and decided to take advantage of the Farmers' Market to help achieve their goals.

As a group they made beaded animal magnets and dry soup and cookie mixes in jars to sell to local residents. Since their products were such a success, they decided to expand their selection to include baked goods.

They worked as a team to plan, make decisions and set goals.

They decided that with such a variety of items they could set their goals high and selected three: community support, special events and “like-to-have” items for use at the day care.

During the summer two of those goals became a reality, the community support and special events goals. The children donated $50 to help a needy family and went on a field trip to the Iowa State Fair.

Their third goal will become a reality when their new day care center is built next year. That goal is to provide playground equipment, such as a rock-climbing wall, for the older children. Tweedy said her kids were sad to see the Farmers' Market come to an end this season but definitely look forward to next year.

They will continue to make their jars of dry soup and cookie mixes, as well as a holiday item - potpourri light jars. This will enable them to have the items available for a holiday season sale in the Donnellson Pilot Grove Savings Bank Community Room from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 5.

Vendors from Donnellson, Keokuk, Mount Pleasant, and Burlington will participate in the event and contribute 10 percent of their sales to the Angel Tree. The sale will include a free-will luncheon.

The money the children earn will go toward several goals. First, their community support goal, since 10 percent of their profit will be donated to the Angel Tree; secondly, the remainder of the profit can be placed in special events for a holiday event or saved for the new playground equipment at their new care center. As a team they will make that decision.

Chris Strunk, market manager, is working toward new goal for another successful season.

She is looking to expand the market goods along with some special events throughout the next season, as well as still providing the usual farm-fresh, local produce and other homemade products.

If vendors or new clients have ideas they would like to share to make the market bigger and better next year, contact Strunk at 319-836-2001 or by e-mail at chickadee66@iowatelecom.net.

By Diane P. Kruse with contributions from Michele Bryant and Sarah Tweedy.