Marshall Democrat-News: Local News: Labor Day Weekend brings Market on the Square to an end (09/08/09)

Vendor Lorin Price pours a sample of wine from Three Trails Winery in Lexington at the final Market on the Square of the summer, Saturday, Sept. 5.
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Labor Day weekend is often seen as the traditional end of summer, and this year it marked the end of another warm weather pastime as well. Marshall Market on the Square held its final farmers market of the season this past Saturday morning, Sept. 5.

Organizers said attendance at the market varied quite a bit from week to week. About 100 people came to the final event, but the highest recorded attendance was 248 persons on July 18.

Ruth Ann Heinzler of Marshall has come to several market days throughout the summer.

Dale Swift plays guitar and sings Sept. 5 at Market on the Square. Swift's son, Daniel, has sold eggs at Marshall's farmers market nearly every week this summer.
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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"I think it's great," she said. "Every week it's grown."

About a dozen vendors came to the market throughout the summer, but no more than eight were ever present at one time.

Vendor Lorin Price recently relocated back to Marshall from Columbia, and she started selling baked goods at the market as a way to get involved in the community.

Ruth Ann Heinzler

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"I kind of got in on the tail end of the farmers market," she said. "But for the few weeks that I have been doing it, it's been a lot of fun."

Price's products sold quite well, with only four small items remaining Saturday morning at 11. She said she plans to return as a vendor next summer as well.

Businesses on the Marshall square were generally pleased with the farmers market.

Jessi Thomas of Square Corner said she has enjoyed Market on the Square this summer.

"The atmosphere was fantastic," she said. "I come up here and stock up for the week."

Thomas also said she thinks the market has helped business at downtown stores.

Jerry Hedrick, owner of Jerry's Menswear, appreciates the effort organizers made in putting on the farmers market.

"I know they didn't do it to get paid, because they didn't," he said. "But they really tried to help the town."

After the final market day, vendors and organizers met for lunch to discuss the results of the season and plan for next year.

At the meeting, several individuals expressed a desire to get more people involved with the market, both vendors and shoppers.

"We need more feet," organizer Kathy Fairchild said.

"I want to see someone bringing meat," Amy Crump, another organizer, said.

She added that many vendors already go to other farmers markets, but that shouldn't keep them from Market on the Square as well.

"It doesn't have to be an either-or kind of thing," Crump said.

Other suggestions for improving the market included adding activities for kids, having more musical performances and extending market hours.

Crump also invited vendors to return for a pumpkin festival, sponsored by Downtown Marshall Association, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10, on the square.

"We appreciate you all so much," Fairchild said, bidding the vendors farewell for the winter.

Eric Crump contributed to this story.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net

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Good suggestion, farmerwife. That idea came up at the meeting with vendors Saturday, too, and one downtown merchant seemed interested in providing something like that. Do you have any specific things you'd like to see demonstrated? We could start a list! I'd like to see Dale Swift do a demo on his whittling projects, myself.

-- Posted by Eric Crump on Wed, Sep 9, 2009, at 1:34 PM

Ever thought of some working demonstrations for varied uses of the products you are selling--that might bring in some new people both as venders and buyers.

-- Posted by farmerwife on Wed, Sep 9, 2009, at 1:29 PM