One of the best lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, is how great and available local foods are. In the midst of the pandemic, families cautiously stayed close to home with limited trips to the crowded grocery stores. To help educate community members about the abundant local foods available as well as promoting family growth and health, the Logan County Extension Service, with community partners, re-designed the Family Fun Day at the Farmers’ Market into the Sweet Summertime at the Farmers’ Market Drive Thru.

The No-Contact Drive-Thru event was held in conjunction with the Farmers’ Market so families could safely participate in the drive thru as well as visit the market in one trip. Families with children from preschool thru 12 years old were encouraged to attend and received a bag full of family-focused items. Each bag included: sidewalk chalk with physical fitness educational activities, sunglasses with sun safety information, bubbles with bubble art activity information, keychains, and Farmers’ Market bucks to spend at the Farmers’ Market. Preschool youth were also given an additional bag with Kindergarten Readiness education material. We partnered with our local Family Resource Youth Service Centers and they provided board games, household items, and popsicles to the participants.

The Farmers’ Market bucks are a great way to give kids and parents a way to try need fruits and vegetables while encouraging future trips to the Farmers’ Market. The bucks are used as a special currency where the vendors are able to return them for cash. This year, the Logan CES were able to reach 431 individuals while serving 144 youth (between the ages of 4-12), and where $749 in Farmer’s Market Bucks were used to help support local producers and encourage heathy choices.