Mar 12, 2024
By Rick McNary
The Shop Kansas Farms’ Market of Farms held in Caldwell on Saturday, March 9, was a glowing success. Consumers as far away as Kansas City came to purchase food products from vendors as far away as Seneca. The Market of Farms brings vendors and consumers from all over the state together to make local foods available for purchase. This event was the rollout of the Border Queen Harvest Hub (BQHH).
“It was a great turnout on a beautiful sunny day,” Jill Kuehny, CEO of KanOkla and member of Vision Caldwell, a local organization intent on creating, improving and maintaining a future viability in Caldwell, says. “The interest in this concept was high and apparent by the conversations taking place, spurring a flurry of innovative ideas.
“It was important for Caldwell to host the Market of Farms to physically gather area growers under one roof, emulating how the BQHH’s digital hub will connect producers, processors and distributors in a practical, physical way.
“Caldwell was born and steeped in agriculture, and that continues to this day. Already serving as a regional hub for healthcare, broadband, pharmacy and groceries for surrounding communities in both Kansas and Oklahoma, it is a perfect fit to serve as a hub for fresh food and new revenue streams for local growers. Farmers are born entrepreneurs. Creating space for value-added ag products will create more prosperity for the region and will be one of the ways rural areas will remain viable. The mission of Vision Caldwell is to improve the health of our community. Getting closer to your food is healthier and enhances the great quality of life we enjoy in rural spaces.”
Jeff Jones of Jones Premium Beef from Seneca said, “The Shop Kansas Farms Market of Farms has always been beneficial for us to attend as a vendor. We’ve been to each one of them and have gained several new customers at them all. One of my favorite things about the Market of Farms is getting to meet new people with a lot of questions. It puts us in a place to tell our story as beef producers and connect people with a great product.”
Rick McNary, the founder of Shop Kansas Farms, says the litmus test for him is whether the farmers make money.
"Much to my delight,” McNary says, “many farms sold out of their products and all of them said it was a very profitable day for them, both in sales and in making new customers.
He explains the unique thing about a Market of Farms is that it draws vendors from as far away as Seneca near the Nebraska border and draws customers — truly, fans of farmers — from as far away as Kansas City.
“Repeatedly, farmers comment that people come to buy and not just browse,” McNary says.
Chad Gilliland, owner of Next to Nature Farm near Leavenworth, has been to every Market of Farms held in various parts of the state and says Shop Kansas Farms is an amazing platform and a voice for local farmers and producers.
“To be able to connect directly to the consumer through the Market of Farms events allows us to place a face to the customers’ names who order from us online,” he says. “Since the start, Shop Kansas Farms has introduced us to individuals across the state. Ones that otherwise we wouldn’t have had the privilege to connect with.”
Gilliland shared he felt the folk who attended the Caldwell Market of Farms was there to support local farmers, ranchers and producers.
“For that we thank you and appreciate your devotion to this wonderful community called Shop Kansas Farms.”
Tim Gross of Turkey Knob Farms near Kansas City states, “The Market of Farms in Caldwell will be tough to match. Everyone involved in putting this together successfully welcomed vendors and buyers alike. We had an incredible day.
Shop Kansas Farms and Farm Bureau were instrumental in making all of us successful. We’ve made the decision to support them everywhere we can. It’s a small thank you for all they’ve done and continue to do to make us all successful.”
Throughout the day, vendors gave away door prizes to those in attendance and Leah Sommerhoff, Caldwell Chamber of Commerce Director, was awarded a custom-engraved walnut cutting board in honor of her award-winning logo design. In addition, the Border Queen Harvest Hub website was launched.