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Kee High class plants seed for new Farmers’ Market

Daniel Wagner. Contributed photo.

When Daniel Wagner joined Kee High’s Innovation Lab class last fall, he needed to develop a business project to work on in the lab—a sort of small-business incubator. He and classmate Damon Weber combined an activity they enjoyed—going to farmers markets—with a need they saw in the Lansing community—greater availability of fresh produce.

The result is that, starting in June, Lansing will again have a farmers market. As an added attraction, the market will coincide once a month with Music on the River, including band entertainment, a food truck and wine for sale.

Wagner has been especially drawn to the works of handcrafters at farmers markets, but mainly, he says, “I like to see people’s hard work, whether it’s handcrafted woodworking or fresh-grown produce, and it’s cool to buy it straight from them.”

Weber helped to get the ball rolling on the project during the class’ first 12-week session and Wagner has worked with Innovation Lab instructor Ian Zahren to keep it going. The goal is two-fold: “We want the farmers market to bring people to Lansing and then for them to go to more places in town. We also want the market to showcase what people in the area are growing and making,” Wagner says.

To learn how to start a market and, just as importantly, how to make it sustainable, Wagner started by looking at vendor contracts for the previous Lansing market. He also worked with Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development, which includes a farmers market manager toolkit on its website. Allamakee County Economic Development was helpful as were farmers markets in several area towns, especially Decorah’s, Wagner says.

Elizabeth Loberg. Contributed photo.

Wagner’s goal has been to establish the market and then pass it to someone else to operate. He will graduate from Kee High this spring and attend Iowa State University in the fall to study engineering. Taking the handoff is local mental health provider Erica Burger, who is also something of an expert in farmers markets. She will be the part-time manager.

Ian Zahren. Contributed photo.

Bit by bit, the project came together. Wagner and Weber worked with Elizabeth Loberg of Wood Media to design a logo for the market. Lansing’s City Council agreed that the city would pay to insure the market. Wagner and Zahren applied for and received a small grant from the Allamakee County Foundation for advertising and start-up costs. They drew up vendor contracts to cover the market’s operating costs. Laura Gentry, pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing agreed to make signs to post on market days. Wagner and Zahren would like to add a coupon program so that people with lower incomes can more easily buy fresh produce at the market, but that is still in the works. They are also researching a potential CSA (community supported agriculture) program.

Dr. Erica Burger. Contributed photo.

Burger earned an undergraduate degree in sustainable agriculture and local food policy and has apprenticed on two organic farms, been a vendor at farmers markets, worked at food cooperatives and natural food stores and she has already helped start one farmers market. While in medical school, she worked with refugee farmers and taught children about local food through a REAP Farm to School program.

The process of securing vendors is ongoing, Burger says. Anyone who wants to participate should email lansingiafarmersmarket@gmail.com for the Vendor Information Handout to review, then complete and submit the application form at https://forms.gle/x5xGBt5xygDUgkiH7. Vendors can apply for the entire season or individual days.

The market will be held every other Thursday from June 2 through September 1, 5-8 p.m., at Clear Creek Park, across from the Mississippi River.

Joe and Vicki Price will perform in Lansing, Iowa, at Music in the Park on August 18. Contributed photo.

Once a month, market-goers will be able to listen to live music at the park too. Dates and bands scheduled for Music in the Park are May 19 (Tom Carpenter), June 16 (Hearts of Hedon), July 21 (Ann and the Crush), Aug. 18 (Vickie and Joe Price) and Sept. 1 (Guthries).

Organizer Lisa Welsh says there will be a food truck on site and wineries will sell bottles of wine. People are invited to bring law chairs and their own coolers, as well. The Lansing Parks and Recreation page on Facebook will provide information on cancellations in case of bad weather. A $500 grant has provided funding for advertising and materials such as banners, but organizers are also seeking donations from businesses and individuals.

Ellen Modersohn

Ellen Modersohn spent most of her career writing and editing for newspapers in Iowa and Wisconsin.

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