The party is over! Well, actually the end of another season of the Farmers’ Market is now history which is next to impossible to believe. It seems like only last week that we opened with 8 vendors our very first day and a total 14 that had been with us by the end of the season. This year we had 36 vendors the first week and by the end of the season we had over 60 that had been with us. The only problem I really see is space, and that is a terrific problem to have! We held our end of the season drawing and all the goodies contributed by the vendors was won by Jean Tichler. Congratulations Jean, we hope you enjoy it.
I want to thank all of the vendors that were with us each week, or each week their produce was available because we all know there is a lot of work seeing that it produces well and is perfect for market. We had vendors from Morrison, Rock Falls, Savana, Lyndon, Tampico, Fulton, Sterling, Chadwick and Prophetstown-a well represented community of people all of whom we, the committee, have grown to appreciate and care about. It is always a bit sad saying good-bye to everyone, but we know that we shall be together again in the Spring, if not before.
Of course, a huge thank you goes to the WNS for allowing me to prattle on every week about the market and to all you wonderful people who read my prattle! Certainly, all the familiar faces, and not so familiar faces we see each week (average 200-250 per week) are a real joy and without whom we could not be a Market! Speaking for me personally, I will miss you all-Especially Sophie. Now don’t get me wrong and feel I am showing favoritism, but Sophie is special. She has deep brown caring eyes, fantastic golden hair all over her body-now some might wonder if I have gone around the bend-but yup, you guessed it, Sophie happens to be a dog who loves the market and walks away with her head down whenever her mistress wants to leave.
I want to extend a special thank you to the committee who got along just fine without me as I went through my surgery and recovery. Wait a minute! That means I am not even needed. Hmmmm, okay it just proves there is no “I” in TEAM and we are a great team. Thank you Flora, Corinne, Jim B., Jim C. Ron and Boon. You are all very special people and I feel honored to be associated with each of you. I also feel honored to make so many new acquaintances over the summer as well. Have a great fall and winter and remember to shop local whenever you can. We are all in this together and get only blessings when we work together. Morrison is a great community filled with wonderful people. As I have discovered at the market, they also are very loyal in their support. Thank you and may God Bless one and all.