NEXT MARKET: The next Indoor Winter Market takes place on Saturday, March 1, and will feature live music by, Matt Kosinski.

The Second Market in February will take place on Saturday, March 15. Lee C. Muller will provide the musical entertainment for the day.

Past, current and future vendors, Friends, Farmhands and Supporters are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP by March 12 to market manager, Tracy Simmons, at emporiaFM@gmail.com or 620-343-06555. A lunch of sandwiches and chips will be provided for those who attend (cost of lunch $3/person for those who are NOT currently enrolled as vendors or active Friends or volunteers of the market.)

EFM Board Elections: If you are interested in a position on the 2014-15 EFM Board, please contact Tracy Simmons or a current market board member. The Emporia Farmers Market, a project of The Learning Connection of the Flint Hills, is guided by a volunteer board of directors. This board is responsible for the overall policy and direction of the market, and delegates responsibility for day-to-day operations to the market manager and committees. Commitment for a 2-year board position includes monthly meetings (approximately 1 to 1.5 hours) and occasional help with fundraisers, kiosk management during markets, market educational activities and social events.

Please take a moment to thank our 2013-14 Directors:

President: Ruthann Resch
Vice President: Becky Smith
Secretary: Jessica Hopkins
Treasurer: Janet Brassart
Music Coordinator: Bill Ihling
 
Debra Blackwell
Harold Brenzikofer
Travis Carmichael
Colby Fuller
Ben Stallings
Ellen Hansen
Fannie Harrell

Nancy Crawford began selling with the Emporia Farmers Market with her daughters in1998. The girls are grown up and gone now, but Nancy continues to be a market regular. Shoppers look forward to seeing her throughout our summer and winter markets.     

Nancy recently took a moment to answer a few questions about her time as a vendor.

Q: How did you get started with EFM?

A: I have been baking with my girls since 1998. They wanted a summer job and I walked outside one really hot day and it hit me! People do not want to bake in the summer! It's too hot!  I told the girls they could make and sell cookies! They started out only baking cookies. Later we added cinnamon rolls; I would make the dough before I went to work and they did the rest. Eventually, they learned to do it all. They would bake in the summer and in the fall and I would do the baking anytime they couldn't. I used to go to the market until they got out of school. Wednesday markets were at 4 then. This continued until they were in high school.

Q: What do you consider your specialty?

A: We don't really have a best seller. Variety seems to be our draw!

Q: What advice would you share with someone who is considering becoming a vendor at the Emporia Farmers Market?

A: It takes time to build a customer base. New vendors should look for a niche that is not already being sold to have ultimate success and then be patient to grow. 

And because a picture is worth a thousand words, we will leave you with a few photos of Nancy's product.

Vendors re-enrolled, so far, for 2014 markets include:

Waite & Allenby Soap Company - David & Debra Arb  

Year began selling with EFM: 2010

Products Offered: Natural artisan soaps and skin care products. Soaps are made the cold-processed way to retain the natural glycerin and emollients. A variety of herbs, botanicals, clays and essential oils as well as goat's milk, honey, oatmeal, seaweed, sea salt, henna, Dutch processed cocoa, ground coffee, pumpkin puree, coconut milk, jojoba oil, black pepper and more are used. Base oils include extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, sustainable palm oil and castor oil. (Formerly Sleepy Hollow Natural Skin Care.)

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Baked Goods by Debra Blackwell  

Products Offered: Baked Goods and Pet Treats.

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Crawford Baking - Rod & Nancy Crawford

Year began selling with EFM: 2000

Products Offered: Cinnamon Rolls, Maple & Orange. Bread: White, Wheat, 100% Wheat, Sunflower Wheat & Walnut. Cinnamon Swirl, Bubble Bread, Cinnamon Bread, Pecan Rolls. Apple, Cherry, Pineapple Tea Rings. Cookies: Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Kisses, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, M&M Monster, Snicker Doodles, Raisin Chocolate Crinkles. Quick Breads: Banana & Walnut, Pumpkin, Zucchini, Blueberry, Poppyseed, Cherry Almond.  

Cookies and Breads vary from market to market. Always trying new items.

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The Orchard - Bob Karr

Year began selling with EFM: 1986

Products Offered: Honey, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Blackberries, Fruitwood (smokers), Raspberries, Plums, Peaches, Apples. IMP orchard practices, non-certified organic vegetables.

The Summer Kitchen: Hannah Miller  

Year began selling with EFM: 2013

Products Offered: Yeast bread, angel food cake and other baked goods. Fresh farm eggs and homemade pasta.

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Products Offered: Live plants (including starter vegetables for gardening), seeds, herbs and vegetables.  Also wool roving and handmade fiber products.

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How Sweet It Is - Linda Simmons

Year began selling with EFM: 2010

Products Offered: Gourmet Cookies, Cinnamon Rolls, Homemade Breads, Pies, Cakes.

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Interdependent Web Urban Farm - Ben & Jessie Stallings

Year began selling with EFM: 2009

And meet our new vendors! (below) 

Please join us in welcoming:

Please join us in welcoming: 

 

Farmers Market 101: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Farmers Market Vending

Instructor: Tracy Simmons

Cost: $5

Schedule: Tuesday, March 4, 6:00-8:00 PM

If you've ever considered selling produce, baked goods, or homemade crafts at a farmers market, this is the place for you. Emporia Farmers Market manager, Tracy Simmons, will cover the ins and outs of selling at the market, state and local regulations, creating a niche, and tips and strategies for successful vending. As well, you will learn about the Emporia Farmers Market history, operations and guidelines for selling. If you already know your product, or you've just had an idea that selling at the market is something you might like to do, sign up for this presentation.    Sponsored in part by the Emil Babinger Charitable Trust.

Seed Starting Basics

Instructor: John Crisp

Cost: $5

Schedule: Tuesday, March 11, 6:00-8:30pm

Don't get overwhelmed with all the technical stuff - you can do it!  From direct seeding in the garden to starting seedlings for transplant, you will learn all you need to know to get started raising your own food.  Students will work with seeds, potting soils, flats, cells, soil blocks, grow lights, timers, watering devices, and transplanters, learning all the aspects of growing through hands-on activity.  John has been gardening for over 50 years and his experience can help you get through the learning curve, and on your way to success.

Eating in Season

Instructor: Tracey Graham          

Cost: $5

Schedule: Saturday, March 15, 1:00-3:00 PM

We all know that locally-grown foods (from your garden, your friends' and neighbors' gardens, the Farmers Market, etc.) are the very best.  Even in the depths of winter, there are many lovely foods available locally.  Tips for creative ways of consuming high-quantity foods while they're at their peak is the focus of this class.  Explore how to take advantage of the abundance that is available at different times of the year, and sample some recipes whipped up from what's available right now.  Sponsored in part by the Emil Babinger Charitable Trust.

There will be a Pie Baking 101 class in April!

Enroll today!  Visit http://flinthills.augusoft.net or call 620-341-1392.

lead sponsor             

Winter Market & Vision Card Enhancement Sponsor:

The Emil Babinger Charitable Trust

Facilities Sponsors:

The City of Emporia

Lyon County K-State Research & Extension

Elbert Liquor Store

Mark II Lumber

Media Sponsors:

KVOE

The Emporia Gazette

The Flint Hills Shopper

Community Partner & Event Sponsors:

 Country Mart North

  Emporia Subways

Emporia Area Local Food Network

Murphy's Menu

Thurston's Plus

Tom & Rachel Andrews
James Bordonaro
Harold & Naomi Brenzikofer
Ele Browning
Jessica Bucholtz
Betty Campbell & Margaret
   Davidson
Laura Clawson
Coffelt Sign Company
Judy Conway
Tyler Curtis
Carla R. Davis
S.C. Dixon
John Dougherty
Paul DuToit
Emporia Gardeners of America

Joe & Allison Foster
Colby Fuller

Jon Geitz

Becky Hadicke
Joyce Hanlin (Arizings)
Ellen Hansen
Fannie Harrell

Millard Harrell
Dr. Stephen Haught
Roger Heineken
Jessica Hopkins
June Hubert
Bill & Dianne Ihling
Janice Jaggard
Rachael LeClear
Logan Ave. 4-H Club
Max McCoy
Regina Murphy
Wanda Myers
Bobbi Mylnar
Dr. DenaSue Potestio
Ruthann Resch
Gretchen Russell
Carol Schoeck
Mark Schondelmaier
Mark Sherman
Dr. Michael Shonrock
Evie Simmons
Kaman Simmons
Maddie Simmons
Rand Simmons
Becky Smith
Karen Sommers
Ben & Jessie Stallings
Pam Thuma
Cheryl Unruh
Jesse & Beth Wilson
Ruth Wise
Casey & Erin Woods
Jennifer Youngblood
Barbara Younger
 
and Market Musicians
Sara Coltrane
Savanna Chestnut
Sue Claridge
Lance Fahy
Joe Foster

Dr. Brent Hrabik
Bill Ihling

Matt Kosinski
Eric Martin
Jane McCoy
Lee C. Muller
The Neighborly Brothers
Carlos Pringle
Ben Stallings

Fran Stallings
P.J. Stephenson
Anne Strobel
Charlie Wilks
Tony Zouplna
Anton Zouplna, Sr.
Anton Zouplna, III