A little love and sunlight: Colfax Farmers’ Market hopes to grow in second year

COLFAX – The farmers’ market season is almost here. For many Iowans, that means good food, cool crafts and of course, a day full of fun.

But here in Colfax, the annual market aims to do something a little more – revitalize the city’s downtown commercial district.

“There is nothing. Other towns have fun things to do and I just don’t see that we have anything fun. There is Mineral’s Day Spring in August and there are things that (Quarry Springs) is doing, but I don’t see anything else. I think we need it,” Nikki Stravers, event organizer and owner of Absolutely YOUnique Boutique, said. “The town needs energy and this could be something really fun ... if we could get all the downtown sidewalks lined with vendors, wouldn’t that be amazing?”

The second annual Colfax Farmers’ Market returns to downtown May 22. The market, which will end Sept. 25, will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday, weather permitting.

Market planners said the event, which will be sponsored by Colfax Main Street, aims to bring all the fun residents can expect from a local farmers’ market – from freshly laid eggs to recently harvested onions.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for you to get fresh vegetables, fruits, homemade items, premade dinners, if you need to pick up dinner on your way home,” Colfax Main Street President Cindy Van Dusseldorp said. “Last year, I stopped in and purchased one of the premade dinners. They were very tasty.”

According to Stravers, Absolutely YOUnique Boutique started the Colfax Farmers’ Market last August to help promote the business and up foot traffic around downtown Colfax. She said as the market was quickly put together under a short time span, the event, which ran every Tuesday evening from Aug. 1 to Oct. 12, gathered only a handful of vendors and people to the area.

Despite the low turnout, she said she was pleased with the event. She said in that month she saw the potential of what it could be, and wanted to turn it into something a little bigger this year.

“I think we will have 10 vendors (this year), at least to start. Last year, the most we ever had was four ... we had a small cluster of people set up. It wasn’t enough. Within an hour or so, they were basically gone,” Stravers said. “This year, we are hopeful it is going to be a real farmers’ market.”

To help grow the event, Stravers said organizers have been hard at work exchanging ideas with other area farmers’ market planners, reaching out to vendors and looking for unique ways to attract more people to attend the market.

As their goal is to bring more attention to downtown, Colfax Main Street naturally jumped on board and decided to sponsor the event this year.

“That is what Main Street is all about ... we are really passionate about all our downtown events going on and we are really happy to help out where we can,” Van Dusseldorp said. “It is a wonderful opportunity for our residents.”

Since the beginning of May, Stravers said the event organizers have been accepting applications for the local farmers market. She said she expects an array of different vendors to set up shop for the first market of the season.

She said patrons can expect a variety of vendors at the first farmers’ market of the season from one-of-a-kind metal artwork to yummy street tacos. Confirmed vendors include Skjordal Powder Coating, Mingo Fire Department, Mess Kitchen Candles, Patty Regnier, Justin’s Easy Spark Firestarters, Perfectly Posh & Joy Lin Portraits, Richard and Karen Kollasch, Nana’s Nummies and Cocina Hernandez.

“We were thinking about doing it last year, but it didn’t line up with our schedule. We did Newton’s and Prairie City’s. We are trying to hit another one this year,” Lee Anne DeVries of Justin’s Easy Spark Firestarters said. “(My son Justin) is also going to make some homemade dog treats. He does really well with those ... we want people to come out and see what the local com unity has to offer.”

Stravers said they plan to make the market more structured and organized compared to last year. This year, vendors will be allotted a designated 10-by-4 space along the sidewalk of Howard and Walnut Streets in downtown Colfax. Vendors who wish to reserve a specific spot must pay a $5 deposit the week prior.

The business owner said the vendor’s fee is $80 for the entire season, or $5 for a single week.

With several businesses and services already located downtown, Stravers said she hopes the farmers’ market will be one more thing to get the community excited about making a trip downtown.

“Downtown here is quiet. It is always quiet. Driving around Newton, there is always people walking around the square,” Tammi Schwickerath, Stravers’ sister and co-owner of the boutique said. “Bring a lawn chair. Sit and visit, and see what is down here ... I want to see this town grow. I want to see it alive again. It has a lot to offer.”

For more information, call 515-681-6414 or join the Colfax Farmers Market group on Facebook

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@jaspercountytribune.com.