Farmers market brings freshness to Libby
Across the nation farmers markets have become an integral part of the nation’s economy. Starting on May 14, Libby’s version of connecting growers and artisans to community members will take place once again at the parking lot of the Libby Chamber of Commerce on Thursdays from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Helping to bring the weekly event to fruition is Juanita Schikora. Schikora is in entering her eighth year as organizer for the Libby Farmers Market.
She was involved with the market when it was held by the old high school on the weekends. “I decided to try and move it to a week day, with so many people out of town for the weekends, I thought it would workout better when people were around during the week,” she said.
Schikora said the market went from around 15 vendors up to 48 at one point with the move to a weekday market. The increase was the result of outreach to those within the community and to nearby cities with people who may be looking for a place to sell their goods.
For the upcoming season Schikora said there are 19 vendors scheduled to set up their five-hour shops with another 15 pending. She said the market will boast people offering produce, jewelry, baked goods, candles, glassware, paintings and wood products.
“We offer just about everything you would expect to find at a farmers market,” she said. “It makes people aware there are produce farmers here and a lot of people that do crafts.”
Schikora offers crocheted items, baked goods and some fine homemade jellies and jams. The tasty spreads also travel well. “Some of my jellies went to Hawaii last year,” Schikora said.
With the market held near several motels, summer travelers often make their way to the market to pick up things with local flavor. “I like to see new faces of the people that are staying at the motels,” Schikora said. “It’s always fun meeting people from other places; we have a lot of visitors from Canada. Last year I had a nice time talking with people from Germany too. I’m just a people person I guess.”
Schikora said the market usually attracts anywhere between 200 to 500 people, depending on the weekend.
For those looking to get some starter plants, area farmers will offer those during the first month of the season before taking a month off and returning with their produce.
What may have started as strictly a business opportunity for locals looking to share their specialty items, has also morphed into a prime social event.
Linda Brabec has been selling her wildflower cards, calendars and pictures at the market for about eight years.
“I enjoy the people; just visiting and talking with the other vendors and people that visit the market,” Brabec said.
She started taking photos with a digital camera about 14 years ago while she and her husband were out on hikes. “I kind of learned on the fly,” she said. Part of that learning curve involved learning the names of many of the wildflowers and figuring out what comes up and when it blooms.
Brabec is getting things organized for the upcoming season, which means, among other things, taking her camera out and snapping some new photos.
“I found a gorgeous patch of Ferry Slippers the other day as we were hiking on Sheldon Mountain,” Brabec said. “I looked down and ta-da, there they were.”
Brabec’s table also includes unique hand-made card boxes embossed with nature pictues. She will continue to take photos of flowers in the area throughout the summer to put together a photo calendar she will offer later in the season. “Nobody buys a calendar in May,” she opined.
The Libby Farmers Market holds about 22 events from the second Thursday in May until the first Thursday of October. Securing a permit costs $30 for the season.
The first event is billed as Spring-fest and Schikora usually provides soup or some other bit of deliciousness for patrons to celebrate the kickoff to the season. One or two lucky shoppers also have a chance to win a basket containing a little bit of something from all the vendors.
All proceeds from the vendor fees go directly back into the community. “I’m retired so I don’t have to do taxes—and I don’t want to. So I just donate everything back,” she said. Schikora donates the money to various non-profits in the area.
The market offers flexibility to locals who may have hobbies they may be able to turn into a few dollars, but can’t or don’t want to make a full-time business. When Brabec started taking photos she didn’t plan on selling them.
“I started taking pictures and figured I should do something with them,” she said. “I just wanted to get them out into other people’s hands.”
Brabec said the market gives people an opportunity to share their talents and goods with others. “Come check us out, you never know what you’re going to find,” she said. “There’s always something new.”