Farmers Market gearing up for 2025 season
The Farmers Market at Libby is gearing up for its seventh season with renewed energy, fresh ideas and a brand-new location.
Beginning Thursday, May 1, the popular community market will open weekly from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at its new home on the corner of Idaho Avenue and Highway 2, directly in front of the former Asa Wood School.
Since last season wrapped up, the market's board of directors has been hard at work restructuring and reorganizing. Bell explained that significant effort has gone into transforming the market into a fully-fledged nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, complete with a new business plan, articles of incorporation and an active and engaged board.
“We have a very active Board of Directors and we've worked diligently on our business plan and articles of incorporation to guide us," board member Mandy Bell said. "We’ve launched a new website, email, phone number and mailing address. Our goal has been to enhance communication and support for our vendors and customers.”
Community response has been overwhelmingly positive, with strong attendance at recent vendor meetings. More than 30 small businesses attended the latest meeting, showcasing a promising level of interest and enthusiasm for the 2025 season. Bell emphasized how appreciative the board is of the continued support from the community, including vendors, shoppers and sponsors who help keep vendor fees affordable and operations running smoothly.
“We're incredibly grateful for the tremendous support we've received from vendors, customers and our invaluable sponsors," Bell said. "Their generosity allows us to cover costs and maintain reasonable fees. We're also proud to continue offering SNAP benefits, making fresh, local foods accessible to everyone.”
Alongside the staples market-goers have come to expect—local fruits, vegetables, meats, plants and handcrafted artisan goods—several exciting new additions are in the works for the coming season. While some surprises are still under wraps, Bell did share plans for regular events, including a monthly Kid's Corner hosted by Lincoln County Zero to Five, live music every week and a monthly Beer and Wine Tent to enhance the social atmosphere.
“It looks like we will have several new vendors at the market this year, offering some new items, and we are very happy to say that most of the vendors from past years will be back with their amazing fresh foods and beautiful artisan creations,” Bell said.
Behind the scenes, the workload required to make the Farmers Market at Libby successful is extensive and entirely volunteer-driven. Bell described a comprehensive list of responsibilities, from filing state and federal paperwork and securing insurance to managing SNAP applications, vendor outreach, sponsorship coordination, infrastructure planning, signage creation and even grant applications. Finding the perfect new location posed one of the greatest logistical challenges.
"Finding a new location was one of our biggest challenges, requiring space, visibility, parking and level ground," Bell said. "Thankfully, Chris Noble of Noble Investments offered to lease the property at Asa Wood and we are very excited to be at this new spot.”
The Farmers Market at Libby remains open to involvement from the community, whether through volunteering, sponsoring or joining as a vendor. As the market relies solely on volunteer support, Bell encourages anyone interested in helping out to reach out by phone or email.
“We are not able to hire a paid staff person this year, so all of our work is done entirely by volunteers,” Bell said. “The more we have, the easier the jobs will be.”
With opening day quickly approaching, Bell expressed sincere gratitude to the community.
“Thank you for supporting the Farmers Market at Libby," she said. "We can't wait to welcome everyone on Thursdays, starting May 1."
For updates or involvement inquiries, community members can visit the market's website, follow on social media, or contact the board directly at info@TheFarmersMarketatLibby.com or call 406-250-6550.