2011 LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET INFO:
2011 Livingston Farmers Market Registration Form
2011 Livingston Farmers Market Rules and Regulations
For the last nine years, Western Sustainability Exchange has operated the Wednesday Livingston Farmers Market. In 2010 the market serviced 208 local vendors, as well as an estimated 1,000 shoppers on good weather days. Our market generated over $174,000 in sales for vendors. We also organized five special event days in order to bolster awareness and attendance: a Mental Health Awareness Day, Kids Day, Art and Culture Day, Sustainability Day, and Health Day.
2011 Special Event Days
Market Location: 215 W River Dr.
- June 22 – Wildfire Preparedness Day
- July 20 – Kids Day
- July 27 – Mental Health Awareness Day
- August 10 – Plein Air Day (Livingston Art & Cultural Center)
- August 17 – Community Health Day
- August 24 – Farmer and Rancher Appreciation Day
- December 3 – HOLIDAY FARMERS MARKET at the Livingston Civic Center 9am – 4pm
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
2011 will mark the third year that WSE will bring the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program to Park County. This program makes available $50 vouchers to low-income senior citizens for the purchase of fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruits, herbs and honey at the Farmers Market.
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Participant application
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Farmer contract
A heartfelt thanks to Community Closet, Reclaim Montana, Bank of the Rockies, Trout Headwaters International, and all our music and special event sponsors who are generously supporting this year’s Market. Please let us know if you would like to lend your support in 2012.
Young Entrepreneurial Stewardship (YES)
For the last several years WSE has allowed children to sell goods at the Market. Parents began reporting that their children were learning how to make change, interact with adults and set up displays. They also learned some hard lessons about balancing supply with demand, especially when dealing with baked goods, and the importance of reinvesting some of the profits in materials in order to have products to sell at the next week’s market.
Given these results, WSE initiated a Youth Booth Program. Upon the urging of parents, WSE now charges the children a modest $2.25 booth fee to demonstrate that there are costs to doing business. Our Farmers MarketMaster, Rob Bankston, and Producer Coordinator Tyrrell Hibbard advise the kids about products and encourages them along the way. To teach them the importance—and joy—of giving back to their community, WSE allows the kids to donate their booth fees to the charity of their choice. In 2008, 21 kids participated in the program. On December 6th the children donated $112 to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Park County. In years since, young entrepreneurs have gifted Youth Booth fees to Mania and LINKS for Learning.
In 2009, we expanded our Youth Booth Program. Through a partnership with Junior Achievement and Park County Extension Service, we created a Young Entrepreneurial Stewardship program to instill business skills and money management savvy in kids. Together, we used the PBS television series, Biz Kid$ and the Park County 4-H Operation: Military Kids Day Camp to teach children about money and basic business skills. Biz Kids imparts the theory. WSE provides the mechanism for the children to apply the theory at the Farmers Market. WSE emphasizes the importance of sustainable business practices.
Sincere thanks to our Lead Sponsor, 1st Interstate Bancsystem Foundation, for providing the seed funding to begin this effort. Please contact WSE to learn about sponsorship opportunities for this initiative.
Additional Information
Montana Department of Agriculture Farmers Market FAQs
Farmers Market Act provided by the Park County Health Department
State of Montana Farmers Market Guidelines
