I had an unexpected treat last night. We held
our annual Harvest Meal when the vendors and volunteers get together to
celebrate the end of the summer season. It’s always a fun gathering, made even
more so by having several former vendors join us. And while Bert Ott’s Bavarian
cream cake was certainly a treat for those who enjoyed it, my dessert was delicious
watermelon brought by the Brubackers of Harmony Hill Farm. I do not expect fall
watermelons to be very good. Typically they don’t have much flavor and are pale
cousins to August melons, but the watermelon the Brubackers brought was bright
red, full of flavor, and just the right texture. If you, like me, love
watermelon, be sure to pick one up Saturday. With cold weather upon us, it may
be our last chance.
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| The last of summer - photo taken last Saturday. |
At the harvest meal, the market always gives
out two awards – The Market Champion and The Golden Washrag. The market
champion award is given to a community member or volunteer who has gone above
and beyond for the market. Past winners include the Perry Foundation and the
Perry family who have been big boosters of the market since it began, Bob Foos,
editor of this paper, Tom Reeder, director of the parks, Shon Bishop and
Patrick Byers, extension specialists who have provided so much training for our
farmers, as well as many volunteers. This year’s market champion was our
youngest. Kharlie volunteered at most markets for almost a year until she
turned 16 and began a paying job elsewhere. Usually she helped at the
information table, but she took on any project we assigned her from decorating
the pavilion for Christmas to running the kids’ craft table.
The first recipient of The Golden Washrag
Award was Robin Green. Part of the Green family who have sold at the market
since the second year, Robin had washed our picnic tables at every market during
the entire year, hence the name of the award. The award is given to a vendor or
vendors that have made important contributions to the market. Nancy Rasmussen
won it the second year for cleaning our bathrooms every week for a year. During
the year of the Joplin tornado our Hmong growers won as a group for donating
tons of produce to feed recovery volunteers. This year’s recipient is Karen
Scott who served as our board president for two years and as vice president
this year. She has provided important leadership and guidance for the market
during our time of transition. Farming is her second career, her first being in
the corporate world and she brings strong business experience that has served
us well.
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| In addition to many other roles at the market, Karen served as Fue Yang's mentor at the Market's Year-Round Growing Education Center located at the Yang Farm. |
Now you may have noticed that phrase “time of
transition”. Last Saturday the board hired Rachael Lynch to serve the market as
market manager. While I will continue writing this column for the time being,
my official title is now market volunteer.
I ran into Cynthia Schwab at a Pro-Musica
concert last week. I have told her before that she was my role model. She built
an important organization that benefits the region and managed to hand over the
reins after many years to new leaders. Last week’s wonderful concert demonstrates
that Pro-Musica is just as strong now as it was during her years of leadership.
That was my hope for the market. And I think we’ve done it. We have a capable,
energetic, creative manager and a strong board to lead the market into the
future. With our partnerships with our vendors, the city, our customers and
others in the community, I believe the market will continue to have an
important role in the life of Webb City and the region.
Winter is coming… I’m hoping against hope that the park workers
are able to put the sides on the pavilion before Saturday. We’ll know by
Thursday. The sides were still at the repair shop yesterday. But we plan to
forge on with or without sides.
Clickety Clack - We’re Reading Down the Track
runs from 9 to noon. Free tickets are available at EventBrite.com but are not
required to ride. We just use the reservation system to spread the riders out. The
featured book is The Little Red Caboose. Our readers are Steve McCrary from 9
to 10, Gary Stubblefield from 10 to 11, and Cheri Dawson from 11 to noon. The
streetcar leaves the station just west of the market about every 15 minutes.
There will be a free kid’s craft – yes, it’s a
little red caboose! – at the market.
There will also be a coloring table at the market
with free balloons as part of CROPwalk which is taking place at King Jack Park
this weekend.
A Cooking for a Cause breakfast benefiting CROPwalk will be served from 8 to 11. It will be in the pavilion if the sides
are on. If the sides are not on, breakfast will be served in the classroom of
the market kitchen. One of the double doors on the north side of the kitchen
will be marked. Just come on in. Whichever location it’s in, breakfast will be
biscuit and gravy or jelly, scrambled eggs, sausages, hashbrown casserole, and
juice or coffee for $6.
Our Fall Fotos are also on Saturday. Bob Foos takes
fall portraits from 9:30 to 11:30 so organize your family, friends and pets or
just sit for your own portrait among the market’s mums and pumpkins beside the
red barn. Two photo packages are available for $15 each (8 wallets with two
4x5s or 8 wallets with one 5x7). Add an 8x10 to either package and the total
cost is $20. You can also order extra wallets, 4x5s and 5x7s in case you want
to share the photos with family and friends.
So bundle up for a brisk fall market full of
fun, friends, and good things to eat. Let’s make some memories!
