Farmer's Market moves to Skubitz Plaza

The recent growth of the Bourbon County Area Farmer's Market has prompted organizers to move the event to a more suitable location this year.

This year's market, which opens May 2 and runs from 7 to 11 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday through October, will take place at Skubitz Plaza near the corner of North Main Street and Old Fort Blvd. At each market, area producers are able to sell their fresh fruits, vegetables and baked goods. The market has been popular in past years for local residents who are interested in shopping for reasonably priced farm-fresh produce or all-natural food products from certified organic vendors.

The change in location puts the market in a more visible area downtown and will allow for future growth of the market and potentially more vendors, Farmer's Market Association member and vendor Mary Corpstein said.

"It's so that we have room to grow the market and be able to accommodate more vendors," she said. "Attendance was up last year in the number of vendors and customers shopping. We felt like the ball was rolling, and that was the catalyst to try and find a bigger location and be more visible. Everybody is really supportive of it."

For the last four years, the market has taken place in the parking lot of the Good Shepherd Thrift Store at the corner of Fourth and Judson streets -- a location that has not been an appropriate venue for the market in recent years, Corpstein said.

"The parking lot just isn't really big enough to expand," she said. "There was also safety issues. People would just drive down through the middle of the market. Vendors will be off the roadway at the new location and customers can just pull in and park. The new location will also allow us to have the community tent and market tent and host more activities that are family-oriented and create a whole community atmosphere."

New additions to the this year's market will be a community tent -- a covered space that will be available to any local group, club or organization that wants to distribute information to the public or conduct a fundraising activity; and a market tent in which vendors will distribute information about the market, upcoming special events and area producers.

Corpstein said the goal of the FSFMA, which is made up of several past market vendors and was just formed last year to organize and conduct the farmer's market, is to host more groups and schedule more community activities. Any club, group or organization that is interested in using the space may contact Corpstein at (620) 857-4190 for more information. Upcoming special events that are being developed for the market include a grand opening event May 16 that will feature children's activities, the potting of herbs, face painting, and prize giveaways.

An event that will feature guest chefs from the area is also being planned. Local residents Chris Maycumber and Martha Scott plan to offer their services to the market periodically this year by giving presentations using vendors' seasonal produce. Dates for these "Guest Chef" days will be announced at a later date.

Along with seasonal, locally-grown produce, shoppers at this year's market will also be able to purchase locally-produced meats, eggs, cheeses, jellies and jams. Bedding plants and herbs, as well as house plants, flowers, and baked goods such as cookies, sweet breads, pies, and noodles will also be available. Craft items that will be offered include purses, custom-made scrub tops, handmade greeting cards, dolls, bird houses, rugs and several others.

In past years, the market had been sponsored by the Fort Scott PRIDE organization, which still regularly supports the market. The market is now sponsored by the FSFMA, Corpstein said.

For more information about the market or the FSFMA, contact Corpstein or Randy Gregg at (620) 547-2159.