farmers’ market takes root in community

pcfm is much more than just corn and tomatoes… 

Pendleton County has long since celebrated its rich agricultural heritage. Farmers have been an integral thread of the fabric that makes up our small town community. The Pendleton County Farmers’ Market (PCFM) is a place for many of those farmers to gather to support the local food economy and support entrepreneurship. 

Established in the 1980’s the PCFM has seen fluctuation in growth and support from the community. Always being the “best kept secret” of the county and operating in various lots around the county, primarily centralized in Falmouth. This nomadic spirit of market comes with its fair share of challenges; visibility in the community, long-term planning, lack of amenities (restrooms, water, electric, shelter, etc.), etc. 

Beginning in 2013, the Ag and Natural Resources Agent, Lindie Huffman, began working with the market and collecting local data to track the progress and the success of the market. Market has seen rapid growth in the number of vendors, 3 in 2012 to 18 in 2019; and also the individual sales and overall market visitation by customers. A focus on added-value products and a family approach to the organization by its members has been a key component of the markets success.

2018 began discussions with the Pendleton County Youth Fair Association, as they have also had tremendous growth due to strong community leadership, about the possibility of partnering to allow the construction of a permanent pavilion. A verbal agreement was reached and the PCFM Executive Team and ANR Extension Agent, began working diligently to write for available grant funding, and achieved great success!

The 5^th annual fundraiser for PCFM, the Farmers’ Feast, was the perfect venue to announce that construction will soon begin on a permanent farmer’s market pavilion on the Pendleton County Fairgrounds. Representatives of Market Members, Extension, Community Officials, and many State and Local Contributors were present to partake in the official groundbreaking ceremony on August 24^th. The annual feast was held on the site where the new market will be located, and where the original market took place. The Pendleton County Farmers’ Market is coming home!!!!

PCFM/Extension has received a combination primarily of State Kentucky Agricultural Development Funds, Federal Rural Business Development Grant, Interact for Health Grant, and local contributions from Rumpke and Pendleton County Farm Bureau Organization. This project would not be possible without tremendous leadership from the PCFM Association, Extension, Market Customers, and so many market supporters. We are excited to see what further community partnerships will flourish as we, the Market/Extension continue to foster community development, entrepreneurial development, and contributions to the local food economy!

Figure 1. The 5th Annual Feast was hosted on the original and the future permanent home of the Pendleton County Farmers' Market.

Figure 2. Pendleton County Farmers' Market Members, Extension Personnel, County Officials, and Market Partners/Supporters were on hand to break ground for the future Pendleton County Farmers' Market Pavilion.

Figure 3. A key focal point of the Annual Farmers' Feast is more than merely local food, it is the focus on community and conversations that make this event so unique.