Leavenworth Community Farmer's Market celebrates 10 years

The Leavenworth Community Farmers Market (LCFM) commemorated its 10th anniversary during a special  on July 11.

The celebration included a celebratory cake from Cakes and Bakes, along with live music, a chef's demonstration, prepared food from local vendors and LCFM board members giving thanks to patrons and community members.

The Farmer’s Market, which runs from June to October at Lion's Club Park, has been a community staple in Leavenworth for the last decade. The Leavenworth Community Farmers Market spun off from the Wenatchee Valley Farmer’s Market and became its own entity through the advocacy and of local farmers and community members. It launched in 2009 and started in a parking lot in what is now Lot P-4.

Hana Butler has been an active member of the Farmers Market for several years. She was previously the Market Manager for the last two years and recently became the LCFM Board Present.

Butler noted the Farmers market has seen tremendous amounts of progress over the years, giving much of the credit to the organization's volunteer board members and community who stepped up and wanted to make it a place where locals and commercial business owners can meet.

Part of the growth of the Farmers Market also stems from dedicated farmers and vendors.

“There’s such a grassroots community strength in this town,” Butler said. “I grew up here and it’s been something I’ve been connected to ever since. It’s one of the reasons why I moved back here and (why I am) raising my family here. It’s just the grit and tenacity here to not give it all away and create quality of life that’s around good food and connection to people and where they live, and how we give back to our place and to the people.”

One of the recent changes for the Farmers Market, according to Butler, has been a new branding campaign. The rebranding includes a makeover of the website, social media campaign and a logo designed by one of the board members and vendors.

"It was a big rebranding effort to give us a new look," Butler added.  

Butler noted the Farmers Market has also worked on building a relationship with the city and show it "is a legitimate business and an advocate for the community."

“As we know we’ve gotten busier and busier and with tourism,” Butler said. “We love tourism, but we need to find balance in how we support our local people, especially our local farmers and artists, and chefs.”  

Volunteerism for the Farmers Market has increased increase as well. The market has also asked for donations from businesses, which Butler is grateful for as she knows several local merchants already donate to non-profits and other causes.

“They have stepped up far beyond our expectations to support us as a very small non-profit with one paid employee, it’s been a huge game changer for us to bring in that support of the commercial community,” Butler said. “It’ warms my heart, just to see the show of support from the community.”

Another factor in the Farmers Market’s success is the support from farmers and vendors. Many farmers who started with the market 10 years ago still participate and persevered from the market, weather and industry changes, according to Butler.

While the Farmers Market runs from June through October, the board works year-round. The LCFM begins planning for the season in January and will work for the next several months preparing for the market, working with the Market Manager Gabby Page and Administrative Manager Lauren Peterson, and implementing new systems. The organization also begin the fundraising process in February and planning big events, like the Farm to Table.  

“It's a lot of behind the scenes work,” Butler added.

As for the organization’s future, Butler said the market is in a “peak of growth,” and the board is seeking to obtain 501c3 non-profit status and generating ideas for financial sustainability. While the organization is grateful for the donations from local businesses, the board does not want those funds to be the LCFM's main source of funding. The LCFM also has one of the lowest farmer’s fees in the state, which Butler said the board "wants to keep it that way."

The board is also examining their future when it comes to location. While the LCFM loves hosting the market at Lions Club Park, the event is growing larger than the space. The market is also limited in what vendors can sell at the park. Butler said the Farmers Market obtained a permit to sell alcohol, but cannot sell it at the park because of city regulations.

“As a market we would like to feature some our local cideries, breweries and wineries, not for consumption but to sell,” Butler said “We’re in this process where we are looking for community input and what people would like to see. That’s a big open-ended question. Do we move our location or continue to expand as we are?”

The market is also featuring events throughout the year, one being Farm to Table at Aug. 21 at Roots, Produce and Flower Farm, which she said is one of the best events she has been. She said the previous year’s Farm to Table event featured more than 100 people.

“The sunset is going and we’re drinking wonderful, local wine, and you can’t stop smiling,” she said. “That’s just a wonderful event that showcases the market.”

There will also be a pig roast event at Rein Haus on Aug. 2. The board is also working with Yodelin to do a farm festival day in September, and the Snowgrass Lodge for a winter event. Butler explained the LCFM is expanding its events, partly for financial stability, but also to keep the community connected with the Farmer's Market and vendors throughout the entire year.

As for Butler, she continues to participate in the Farmers Market because it is an entity that brings the community together. She also enjoys the atmosphere of the packs of wild children running around, the live music and good food.

“I just long for that in this town,” Butler said. “That gathering place, the local spirit and the essence of the town. That feeling I get every Thursday when I get to watch the town interact. I just enjoy being there.”

Residents can visit Leavenworthfarmersmarket.org to learn about the upcoming events, as well as vendors who will appear at the market each Thursday.