Just hired? Just elected? Join us for the 2025 Farmers Market “Boot Camp” to get ready for opening day! We’ll take you behind the Information Booth to learn about core operational requirements, tools, and tips from seasoned market managers. We’ll also help make sense of the alphabet soup of acronyms for licenses, permits, food access programs, and essential infrastructure. Perhaps best of all you’ll connect with other new (and returning) managers and board members from six states who share your passion and unique new job. For volunteers, community members, or vendors who are joining the Farmers Market Board of Directors, we help you to understand what it takes to run a farmers market!

🗎 Downloadable 2025 Boot Camp flyer

Registration Opens Dec 18

The 2025 Farmers Market Boot Camp is a series of virtual trainings (via Zoom). General sessions will be held on two Thursdays, March 13 and 20, from 9:00am to 12:00pm (Pacific Time). In addition, each State Partner is offering a third, state-specific session, the State Day, to share farmers market food access programs, food safety information, and other resources specific to each state. There is also an additional “Board Members Only” on Tuesday, March 18 from 3:00 to 5:00pm (Pacific).

🎟️ $100 for General Admittance.

🎟️ Special rate: $25 with Promo Code for farmers markets that are members of the WSFMA, AKFM, IFMA, OFMA, and OFMN. Registration is $75 without the Promo Code. The 2025 Boot Camp discount is made possible by USDA AMS FMPP grant 24FMPPWA1211. Promo Codes are available from your Farmers Market Association or Network.

🥕 General Sessions: March 13 & 20 from 9:00am – 12:00pm (Pacific Time)

The first two days of Boot Camp provide general farmers markets tools and training for anyone who has just been hired, is looking for a refresher, or is interested in updated information. We encourage new (and returning) board members to attend to learn more about farmers market operations, their role in sustaining a strong market organization, and building a great team.

General Sessions are not recorded as they are designed to be interactive so that people can connect with other markets managers and board members. We also encourage a safe space for frank conversations among people who care and can help. All materials, presentations, and templates are shared to Boot Camp participants.

🥕 Board Members Session: March 18 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm (Pacific)

New in 2025, we are offering an “add on” to Boot Camp for participants who are current or incoming members of a farmers market Board of Directors, Advisory Group, or other leadership position. This session will focus on how farmers market organizations are unique, scaling governance and management to market size, and where to find resources throughout the year. All Boot Camp participants are welcome to attend this session. However, content will speak to the specific roles and responsibilities of Directors and Advisors of farmers market organizations, not to the day-to-day management of a farmers market. 

🥕 Your State-Specific Day 

The WSFMA and each of our State Partners host a final Boot Camp session called the “State Day.” Dates and times vary; all participants will receive a specific Zoom link for your state as part of Boot Camp. Many states do record this session.

  • Alaska Farmers Market Association (AFMA): via Zoom. Tentative. Thurs, April 3. Food safety and food access resources and the AFMA Annual Meeting.
  • Idaho Farmers Market Association (IFMA): via Zoom. Tentative. Thurs, March 27 from 9:00am-12:00pm.
  • Ohio Farmers Market Network (OFMN): In person. Tentative. Friday, March 7 in conjunction with the Ohio Farmers Market Conference. Focus is on food safety, Cottage Food Law, and food access and nutrition incentive programs in Ohio.
  • Oregon Farmers Markets Association (OFMA): via Zoom. Thurs, March 27 from 9:00am-12:00pm (Pacific). Includes OFMA Annual Meeting.
  • Utah Farmers Market Network (UFMA): In person. Thurs, March 27 from 9:00am – 12:00pm.
  • Washington State Farmers Market Association (WSFMA): via Zoom. Thurs, March 27 from 9:00am-12:00pm (Pacific).

What participants say about Boot Camp:

  • “I really appreciate having the opportunity to take part in this [Boot Camp}. I’m a new board member and have absorbed a lot of background on farmers markets in the last couple of This helps tremendously in filling in the gaps and providing a framework. Thank you so much.”
  • “To me the best part was getting tips and hearing about experiences from board members! It was really helpful to meet everyone and hear about what has and hasn’t worked in the past and what experienced folks have gathered from their time in managerial roles.”
  • “It’s so great the community that has been assembled and encouraged to act in support of each The tools assembled, housed and available are amazing! Thank you for all the work you do and energy you bring.”
  • “This is such a well-organized program with fantastic speakers and resources. I know I’ll be coming back to all the info on the Thank you so much! It was also great to be with so many market people from the west (and Ohio!)”
  • “I loved it all – it was great that there were multiple types of learning models: breakout, panel, informational, chat questions. It helps me to stay focused on such a long session.”
  • “The presentation was great. Loved the overview at the beginning for providing context. The panel was particularly informative b/c lots of tangible Also really appreciated getting a chance to chat and compare/contrast FM in breakout rooms.”
  • “All the resources. I’ve never seen an organization so committed to helping a group. ”

Questions?

Please email info@wafarmersmarkets.org or call (206) 706-5198. All messages will be returned promptly.