Every good organization needs a good logo. I am pleased to announce that one of our communities young citizens who is majoring in graphic design has volunteered to design a professional logo for the Owen County Farmers' Market. Not only will we have a symbol that people can equate with our wonderful market, we can utilize the logo on eco-friendly shopping bags, t-shirts and other marketing items that can be used for fund raising. The Farmers' Market is definitely on the way.

What an exciting time for our Farmers' Market. The community support is tremendous. Members of the Steering Committee have been invited to speak to the Spencer Lions Club, the Owen County Commissioners, the First Friday Women's Forum, and the Owen County Farm Bureau, Inc. Perhaps the most exciting invitation is to be a featured part of the Owen County Ag Day Celebration scheduled for March. With this kind of interest in a project, there is a much greater chance for success.

A member of the Steering Committee was invited to present a progress report about the Farmers' Market at the Annual Banquet of the Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District on January 26, 2008. Attendance at this meeting was over 200 people who enthusiastically applauded the report. It is exciting when community support is present for a project at this magnitude. The Farmers' Market is well on the way to being a dream come true.

We had a great turn-out for the public forum meeting we offered on December 17, 2007. The goal of the meeting was to invite people interested in being vendors and/or consumers at our proposed Farmers' Market in Spencer. Even though people were undoubtedly busy with holiday preparations, over 30 people attended to lend overwhelming support for this project. The dedicated group of citizens forming the Steering Committee gave various reports about what has been accomplished thus far. The Steering Committee also asked for suggestions and comments from the public and will use them to create the best market possible. THIS COMMUNITY IS VERY EXCITED AT THE THOUGHT OF HAVING A FARMERS' MARKET!

Community Farmers’ Market of Owen County – A Dream Coming True

- Public Input Meeting Set for December 13

It is exciting for a community to have a common dream. It is even more exciting to watch that community work together to make that dream come true. That is exactly what is happening with the Community Farmers’ Market of Owen County!

The story of the Community Farmers’ Market of Owen County (CFMOC) began a few months ago. The Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors (made up of local farmers) thought that a farmers’ market located in Owen would offer a new economic opportunity to local producers as well providing many positive environmental benefits to the area. Those farmers began talking to other people in the community too. SWCD staff member, Gwen Dieter, also began making contacts throughout the community to gauge if there might be an interest in forming a Farmers’ Market in Spencer. The general response was overwhelmingly and enthusiastically “yes!” Since that time, the idea of a farmers' market in Owen County has become the talk of the community!

Since our first public interest meeting held back in June, where a group of nearly forty people decided that the farmers’ market should take place on Saturday mornings on the Courthouse Square in downtown Spencer, several wonderful new steps have been taken towards making this goal a reality. Owen County Commissioners Wiley Truesdel, Steve Williamson and Steve Redenbaugh showed their support and foresight for the economic future of Owen County by giving permission for the market to be located in the area of the county employee parking area on the Square.

In July, a Rural Entrepreneurs Network Workshop was held for people interested in being farmers’ market vendors. Then in August a second public meeting was held with a very impressive turn out to hear guest speaker Sarah Yeager, Program Manager for Diversification with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. Ms. Yeager has extensive contact with Indiana farmers’ markets and offered ideas on what other markets are doing across the state. Also at that meeting, with the facilitation of Mark Rogers, we began crafting our market mission statement with input from community members in attendance.

In September, a Steering Committee was formed comprised of nine members bringing a diversity of skills and knowledge to the task of overseeing this important project. Steering Committee members include: Rachel Beyer, Laurie-Ann Curry, Ron Dieter, Vickie Haskins, Denise Jenkins, Ed O’Brien, Patty Steward, Steve Worland and Aaron Zeis. Resource advisors serving the committee include: Mark Rogers (Owen County Community Foundation), Mark Evans (Purdue Cooperative Extension), Dave Haskins (Organic Farmer), Nancy Sparks (Farm Bureau Insurance) and Gwen Dieter (Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District).

At their first meeting, the Steering Committee completed the mission statement for the market. With the new working mission in place “to provide local producers and their neighbors a gathering place that fosters the connection between our food, our culture, our land and our environment,” the committee began addressing the more technical, specific aspects of starting a new farmers’ market. The Steering Committee met with the Bloomington Farmers’ Market Master in October to begin exploring options for our own market operations.

With winter fast approaching, many farmers’ markets across the country are closing down or scaling back for the cold months ahead but the Steering Committee for the Community Farmers’ Market of Owen County is still working hard towards our spring 2008 opening goal. In addition to twice monthly regular meetings, the committee currently has several very busy subcommittees: one constructing market rules and regulations; another exploring legal and insurance issues related to running a farmers’ market; and a third composing bylaws to achieve non-profit status. Any individuals not serving on the Steering Committee but who are interested in contributing their knowledge and energy to firmly establish the CFMOC should contact a Steering Committee member.

In addition to the other activities associated with starting this new venture, grant proposals were submitted to the Owen County Community Foundation and the Case Foundation seeking funds to help cover Market start-up costs. The Community Farmers’ Market of Owen County has been awarded a very generous grant by the Owen County Community Foundation towards estimated start-up expenses. Additionally, our application to the Case Foundation was selected from 4,461 submissions as one of the Top 100 finalists. The Owen Farmers’ Market proposal is now being considered to receive one of twenty $10,000 and four $25,000 grants offered by the Case Foundation. Whether we receive this specific grant or not, the CFMOC has a wonderful fund raising start thanks to our more local community supporters. THANK YOU!

Now you can see how this is genuinely a vision becoming reality. However, a lot of work remains to be done before the first market day in 2008. Interested community members are invited to participate in the next Public Input Meeting to continue planning for the Community Farmers’ Market of Owen County. The meeting will be held Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 7 p.m. at the Spencer Senior Citizens Center Community Room (400 E. Jefferson Street). At this meeting we will discuss in more specific detail what the Steering Committee has been accomplishing this fall. Nancy Sparks from Farm Bureau Insurance will be on hand as the guest speaker to answer questions about insurance needs for the market as well as for vendors. Additionally we will begin the process of getting commitments to the 60-75 (10’x10’) vendor spaces we hope to offer in the spring. Everyone is welcome to attend and share thoughts, preferences, experiences, and suggestions for running our new farmer’s market. Holiday treats will be available for those in attendance and people are encouraged to bring some food to share! After all, this is not just a meeting - it is also a celebration of a dream! Please feel free to contact Gwen Dieter at the Owen SWCD office at 812-829-2605 with questions or comments.

Imagine a scene where people are browsing aisles of colorful peaches, zucchini, and squash, selecting fresh eggs and milk, smelling fragrant flowers, admiring homemade crafts, and taking in the heavenly aroma of baked goods while also enjoying the sounds of local musicians. Picture neighbors visiting, eating, and shopping together. A trip to stock up on good food for the week thus naturally evolves into an environment for neighbors to chat with neighbors. When people come together in a warm and friendly atmosphere it becomes a fertile garden of opportunity to plant the seeds of community spirit and problem solving. This is our dream for the Farmers’ Market of Owen County.