Contact: Rob Bankston, Market Master, 406-223-4232
Farmers Market Vendors: Check back in March for 2010 Registration and Regulation Forms.
Registration Form for the 2009 WSE FARMERS MARKET
2009 WSE Farmers Market Regulations
For the last eight years, Western Sustainability Exchange has operated the Wednesday Livingston Farmers Market. In 2009 over 180 vendors participated, as well as an estimated 1,000 shoppers on a good weather day. Our market generated over $145,000 in sales for vendors. We also organized four special event days in order to bolster awareness and attendance: a Mental Health Awareness Day, Children’s Day, Art and Culture Day, and an Alternative Energy Day.
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
In 2009 WSE teamed up with Farms for Families to offer $50 vouchers to low-income senior citizens so that they can purchase 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, DA Davidson and all our business sponsors who generously supported last year’s Market. Please let us know if you would like to lend your support in 2009.
Young Entrepreneur Leadership Program
For the last few 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 booth fee to demonstrate that there are costs to doing business. Our Farmers MarketMaster, Rob Bankston, advises 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 2009, we are expanding our Youth Booth Program. Through a partnership with Junior Achievement and Park County Extension Service, we have created a Young Entrepreneur Leadership Program to instill business skills and money management savvy in kids. Together, we are using the PBS television series, Biz Kids and the Park County 4-H Operation: Military Kids Day Camp to teach children basic business skills and about money. Biz Kids will impart the theory. WSE will provide the mechanism for the children to apply the theory at the 2009 Farmers Market. WSE will emphasize 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.
