Farmer's Market Update
Author: Don and Chris Hettinger, Farmers Market
Townsend Farmers' Market Sets Dates of Operation Don and Chris Hettinger, Farmers Market Vendors and people interested in the Townsend Farmers Market, which includes all of Broadwater County, came together at the Alliance Church on Thursday Evening, Jan. 19, to prepare for the 2023 market season.
Chris Hettinger, the market manager, prepared a financial report and reviewed our Farmers' Market procedures. The dates of the new season were discussed and set for each Thursday from May 25 to September 28 for our regular season.
It was voted that this year there will be co-market managers. Diane Johnson volunteered to throw her hat into the ring and the confirming vote passed. Diane was recently hired as the Administrator to the board at the Conservation District.
More and new signs will direct people’s attention to the market. Dwight Dyk will head up the committee.
Again we look forward to volunteer help from Allison Kosto’s Master Gardener class. We are grateful for the help of last year’s volunteers who were Kathy Madden, Terey Artz, Donna Haynes, and Kim Kondelik. They helped set up, collect table fees, count people and generally watched over the market area. Their help is much appreciated and necessary.
There were 19 different vendors who participated in the 2022 season with the greatest number on any one day being 12. The highest count of patrons for a Thursday market was 173 with an average of 123 for the 19-week season.
The Farmers Market Senior Nutrition Program was successful and, hopefully, more seniors will sign up this year for the free coupons to purchase fresh garden produce. Information is available at the Broadwater County Health Department at 406-266-5209.
If you have questions or would like to be a vendor in the 2023 season, call Chris at 406-422-7933.
