Click for Workshop Schedule

Friday, February 23 🍓 10:00 – 11:30 am

Let’s Go to the Farmers Market! Starting and Sustaining Programs for Kids

Karol Widmer, Fairwood Farmers Market
Lindsay Gilliam, Carnation Farmers Market
Tina Eifert, WSFMA Regional Lead

Whether for a single market day or all season long, kids’ programs can be a bonus for local families and vendors as well as encouraging lifelong healthy eaters. In this workshop, led by seasoned farmers market organizers, you will hear what it takes to run or grow a successful kids’ program. Presenters will walk you through existing models (e.g., Power of Produce, KERNEL, Produce Pals), marketing resources, pitfalls to avoid and lessons learned, and opportunities to expand partnerships both as sponsors and programmatically. In addition, we will explain what to do if you want your kids’ program to be eligible for SNAP-Ed funding. Author Katherine Pryor will join to share how her books and author readings engage kids’ imagination (and taste buds) on their journey to healthy eating.

WIC & Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program: Transition to Electronic Benefits 1.0 (or what changed in 2023)

Katherine Flores, WIC FMNP WA State Department of Health
Nick Lee, WIC FMNP WA State Department of Health
Cameron Akita, Senior FMNP WA State Department of Social and Health Services

In 2023, the WIC & Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program transitioned from a $4.00 paper check that shoppers received and then spent with growers to a new electronic system using QR codes. WIC participants and Seniors received a QR code (and PIN) which vendors were able to read and electronically redeem benefits using a smart device. This “1.0” e-FMNP workshop will rewind to explain what changed in 2023 and why. It is especially for market managers, volunteers, and vendors who did not experience e-FMNP in 2023 or want a refresher so that they will have the broader context for what is planned in 2024. Please also look for the FMNP Team in Friday’s Trade Show in the Salmon Gallery.

Resources for Farmers Market Farmers and New Businesses

Whatever the news, farmers markets are a hub of information sharing and support. If you’re a market manager looking for resources to share with your vendors or a vendor looking to go straight to the source, this workshop will give you a lot of contacts. Hold on to notes when you hear the 2024 news in this “lightning round style” session. Please also meet one-on-one with Exhibitors during Friday’s Trade Show.

Friday, February 23 🍓 1:15 – 2:45 pm

The Magic of Morale at Your Farmers Market: Strategy and Tools for Connection, Psychological Safety, and Engagement

Hana Butler, Nash Consulting

Expert consultant and former market manager, Hana Butler will help your market team understand the foundational aspects of what makes organizations and people healthy and productive. We’ll explore the connection of personal growth and effective leadership and identify the 3 key habits of the growth mindset. We will discover the ‘magic of morale’ and why it matters (and why it isn’t “touchy-feely”) and how to get more of it. We will dig into the buzz word of “psychological safety,” why it’s so important and what behaviors make or break it. To put this into practice, we need regular, intentional and scheduled times for connection in one-on-one meetings. We will look at the effective ingredients to these conversations, the logistics behind how to make them work, and pool our collective knowledge around useful topics and questions that make these conversations less awkward, more human centered and your go to tool for engagement and productivity.

Washington’s Pilot Projects: “SNAP EBT Integration” at Farmers Markets

Jennifer Antos, Neighborhood Farmers Markets
Valerie Franzen, Neighborhood Farmers Markets
Alyssa Auvinen, WA State Department of Health
Damien Davis, Pasco Farmers Market

Nationally and here in WA, there are a small number of pilot projects at farmers markets to explore having vendors accept SNAP and any incentives directly at their booth. There is a lot to learn, sort out, and figure out! And we’re not sure what the future holds. This workshop is an opportunity to take stock of national trends, why USDA is investing in these pilots, and clarify some of the confusing language being used. We’ll also learn about an “EBT integration” pilot that took place with vendors at the Pasco Farmers Market in 2023, and about a new grant that the Washington Department of Health has called the “Electronic Healthy Incentive Projects” (eHIP) that will fund pilots starting in 2024. The end goal of this workshop is to share the bigger picture, specific lessons learned so far, acknowledge real challenges, and consider the potential benefits that working through a major change like this may bring.

Engaging Artists at Your Farmers Market

Matt Kelly, Queen Anne Farmers Market
Amanda Milholland, Jefferson County Farmers Markets
Jason Huang, The Olympia Farmers Market
Karyna Goldsmith, Thursday Market at South Perry (Spokane)

Farmers markets are renowned for the amazing array of local artisans in their vendor mix. In this workshop, a panel of peer markets will share how they have taken the next step and are exploring ways to engage artists in demonstrations, performances, and commissioned works. Not only does this help to spotlight local arts and talent, but it also creates and enhances a vibrant farmers market experience for everyone.

Friday, February 23 🍓 3:00 – 4:15 pm

It Happens! Tools and Tips for Managing a Manager Transition: A Case Study

Trinitee King, Shoreline Farmers Market, Market Manager
Laura Buzard, Shoreline Farmers Market, Board President

A Market Manager is often the backbone of any farmers market: the public face, lynch pin to relationships, master of ceremonies, peacemaker, logistics expert, and problem-solving genius. Finding and training a Market Manager (or Director) is no small feat. And then it happens! Whether sudden or strategically planned, it’s time to find, train, and sustain a new manager. This collaborative workshop will feature a recent case study of the Shoreline Farmers Market. Their experience will provide strategies for effectively selecting an interim manager, succession planning, best practices for retention (burnout assessment), and exiting with grace. In this interactive session with practical examples, participants will gain valuable insights and tools to navigate this transition successfully. Join us to learn – and share – best practices, how to support your managers, being prepared for when a manager leaves, and ensuring a smooth handover of responsibilities.

Your Safest Season Yet: Tools and Templates for Creating Safe Farmers Markets

Laura Titzer, Neighborhood Farmers Markets (Seattle)
Madison Silva, Neighborhood Farmers Markets

Behind the excitement of a farmers market, there is plenty of risk involved when managing an event in a public space. The Neighborhood Farmers Markets in Seattle embarked on a year-long project to create a catalog of safety procedures centering market managers, market staff, vendors, and users within the space. Laura Titzer and Madison Silva will share examples from their safety catalog including de-escalation, free speech, and extreme weather. Participants will leave having identified what types of safety are important to you and what you might need from safety procedures so that you can build a system that documents and responds to safety concerns!

Fundamentals of Graphic Design for Promotions that Elevate Your Communication Goals

Kim Nelson, Anyplace Creative
Cali Osborne, Cascade Community Markets

One of the many tasks farmers market organizers have is to create all kinds of materials to communicate with vendors, shoppers, partners, sponsors, and the public at large. And while platforms like Canva have made it easier to get started, designing for effective communication is tricky. In this workshop, professional Kim Nelson will explain the basic principles, techniques, and tools of graphic design so you can create clear, concise, and effective messaging in your market posters, signage, and online presence.

Saturday, February 24 🍓 9:30 – 10:45 am

WIC & Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program: Transition to Electronic Benefits 2.0 and what’s planned for 2024

Katherine Flores, WIC FMNP WA State Department of Health
Nick Lee, WIC FMNP WA State Department of Health
Cameron Akita, Senior FMNP WA State Department of Social and Health Services

Washington’s FMNP Team will unveil the latest changes and updates to e-FMNP for the upcoming 2024 season. By exploring key insights into electronic benefits utilization, market strategies, and enhanced collaboration opportunities, we aim to ensure a successful and seamless experience for growers, markets, and customers. Don’t miss this chance to keep up with the evolving landscape of FMNP. Please also look for the FMNP Team in Friday’s Trade Show in the Salmon Gallery.

Using Digital Growth Marketing to Strategically Market Your Farmers Market

Tony Meyer, Mise En Place Media

Ever wonder how those ads show up in your social media feed? Or ponder whether to pay to “boost” or not? In this workshop, consultant Toney Meyer will explain the basics of “digital growth marketing,” what it is and how it can help attract more shoppers and support for your farmers market. We’ll cover what goes into a successful digital marketing mix, including “owned,” “earned,” and paid media. We’ll also share insights into how to set your goals and set strategic priorities for this season. You’ll see actual demos of how to place paid ads on platforms like Facebook, Google, and TikTok. Finally, we’ll delve into measuring media performance to discern what works and what doesn’t for you.

Doin’ the Dots: Rapid Market Assessments (RMA) at Farmers Markets

Colleen Donovan, Washington State Farmers Market Association

Rapid Market Assessments (RMAs) are a great way to capture market data and a deep description of one particular market day. This methodology, pioneered by Oregon State University over 15 years ago, is based on principles of participatory research and includes shopper counts, qualitative feedback from market peers, and, of course, the dot surveys. This workshop will train you on how to plan, execute, and analyze the results of an RMA. We will also brainstorm how to scale a RMA to match the capacity available at your market this season and share results.

Saturday, February 24 🍓 11:00 am – 12:15 pm

Designing Effective Food Access Promotions for Shoppers, Growers, and Local Partners

Stacy Carkonen, Washington State Farmers Market Association
Tara McGinty, WA State Department of Social and Health Services
Jess Sappington, WSU Extension Kitsap County and WSFMA Regional Lead

The complexity of food access promotions is a real challenge: lots of acronyms with the same letters, varieties of logos, different sets of guidance, audiences that overlap (or don’t), importance of language/literacy, and digital divides – not to mention budgets and funding rules. In this workshop, we’ll rewind and review the basic principles of designing an effective promotion/marketing campaign. Whether you are targeting first-time or regular shoppers, market growers or local partners, we’ll share a process for designing promotions that are intentional, strategic, and get results. We will also share examples of food access promotions collaboratively developed and used by farmers markets and “turn-key” visual assets developed by SNAP-Ed to promote WIC and Senior FMNP, and SNAP Market Match in 2024.

What’s Top of Mind? “Open Space” for Sharing Ideas and Questions with your Peers

Time to connect with other farmers markets and partners is precious, especially in person! Where else will you be in a room surrounded by other professionals who have the same crazy and wonderful job that you do? The “Open Space” session is structured so that you can bring your own topic to discuss and find others who share your interest. It might be a topic that is not covered in this year’s conference or maybe you’d like to dig deeper into something you’ve learned. Brainstorm, workshop ideas, share strategies, and leave taken one more step towards the 2024 market season.

Best of the Booth: Model “Information Booth” Tour & Idea Exchange

After coffee, the Information Booth is one of the first things we look for at a farmers market. It’s not just for selling SWAG and distributing tokens, the Information Booth is the farmers market’s 10’ x 10’ HQ and control center where you’ll find people in charge, vital information, and supplies to manage the mundane to the market emergency. In a WSFMA Conference first, we are bringing you the actual Poulsbo Farmers Market Info Booth to tour, get ideas, and exchange your favorite tips and tricks. Post your favorite information booth moments on Instagram #BestoftheBooth to share! We will also be recruiting three markets managers to join us on stage to tell us about good times in your Info Booth!

Composting from Table to Farm (and back again)

Robbette Schmit, Winton Manufacturing Compost Works

Composting is a core value for farmers markets, farmers, vendors, as well as some shoppers. Not only does it help out planet, there are also new rules coming out from the Dept of Ecology that farmers markets need to know about for their prepared food vendors. What compositable packaging is required? What are the best types and brands to recommend? What does it cost and where do you get it? Aside from the prepared food vendors, what else can farmers markets be doing? In addition, Robbette will share new opportunities for farmers who use compost to be reimbursed. Unpack they mysteries of composable packaging and more.