Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
This year marks the 30th season of the Kosciusko County Farmers' Market.
When the market began, Dennis and Barb Johnson began selling their wares.
A few years later, their two children began to help out. Now their grandsons, Tyler and Cameron, participate, keeping the business in the family for a third generation.
The Farmers' Market started June 18, 1975, on the north side of the Kosciusko County Courthouse, according to Eleanor Holt, president. The market then moved to the west edge of the county fairgrounds on June 25, 1975, and has remained there since. Rain or shine, the market is open every Monday and Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7 a.m. The market runs from the first of May to the end of October.
Barb Johnson said Dennis took some of their produce to the market on its second day of business 30 years ago. He came back not too long after with an empty truck to pick up more wares to sell.
"That sold us," said Barb.
The first year, they sold "the usual things," Dennis said, including peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn and cabbage. Back then, they had about 12 acres. Now, the family has about an acre total between them of produce.
They used to sell their product to local groceries. "It's difficult to sell to those kind of places anymore," said Dennis. "Of course it gets harder the older you get."
The Farmers' Market, Dennis said, has grown considerably since it began. There are fewer vendors, but each of the vendors sells more merchandise, including fruit, plants and crafts.
He said the Farmer's Market has become not only a community of vendors but a community including the people who come out regularly.
"The quality of people who come out here and sell - they really are nice people, hard-working and good friends," said Dennis.
"We get to be really good friends," said Barb.
"Some dwindle out for various reasons, including death," said Dennis, but most keep coming back year after year. "The diversity is there and it just keeps getting better."
The Johnsons brought their two children into it later on. They earned money and it kept them off the streets.
"We hired their friends to help," said Dennis.
Of course, after the children graduated high school and college, they didn't necessarily want to come back and pick tomatoes.
But three years ago, grandchildren Tyler and Cameron showed some interest in the market.
"They're gradually increasing the items they bring out here," said Dennis of his grandsons.
Dennis' daughter, Jenny McCloughan, said working in the fields and at the market teaches the value of the dollar and hard work. Most of the money Tyler and Cameron earn will go toward their college education fund, but they also get to spend some of it.
"I enjoyed coming out," McCloughan said. "It was busy and fun to meet all the people."
She said she started in the fields at 6 a.m. and finished at noon. "It was a job for everyone."
Besides learning to count change, McCloughan said, "it was a good experience at the time."
The grandchildren, Dennis said, are finding out what it is like to have a crop field.
"I like it," said Tyler. "It seems like at the beginning of the year it doesn't seem that fun because we're just doing work." But when the market is open, he said, it's more fun.
He and Cameron enjoy going through the seed and mum catalogs that Dennis orders for the next year. "We just look and see what we think has the best products and order what we think is best," Tyler said.
"It seems like a lot of work, but when you get out here, you get to meet new people," said Cameron. "You can just have a good time and get more social with people."
"I like to sell peppers and watermelons," said Tyler. "I like to sell tomatoes, too."
"I like to sell pumpkins, mums, tomatoes and mush melons," said Cameron.
One of the family's longtime customers is Cindy Nolton. "They have very good produce. They treat you wonderfully," she said. "These boys are doing wonderfully."
"It's gratifying to see them come back," said Dennis of the repeat customers. Of his grandchildren, he said, "It's a lot of fun to see them grow up and people take an interest in them and ourselves."
From 1975 to 1995, the market was sponsored by the Kosciusko County Extension Homemakers. In 1995, the market decided to go independent.
Saturday, the market will hold its annual fall festival, starting at 7 a.m. There will be drawings for prizes and "Farmers' Market Bucks" will be given away to be redeemed at the market. Various vendors will have their own drawings and refreshments will be served.
