Opinion

Fresh produce, guest chef, bike rodeo, Flag Day highlight Fort Scott Farmers' Market

Thursday, June 9, 2011

This week's Market Minute will focus on two fun upcoming market events.

Saturday, June 11, the Spring Festival, will feature organic gardener Randy Gregg, conducting a cooking demonstration with seasonally locally grown produce from the market. Randy has gardened all his life -- as a child with his grandma. He loves to cook, has worked as a baker, participated the past three years in the Fort Scott Forks and Corks and taught cooking classes at Life + Style.

Randy has been a vendor at the Fort Scott Farmers' Market for approximately 10 years. Even though he is not serving as a vendor this year, he is assisting the market in many ways serving on the Market Board.

Our Farmers' Market structure and success is largely due to Randy's countless hours of hard work, meetings attended and education of other vendors on how to set up and conduct a market that can host events such as this. It is our great honor and culinary pleasure to have him as the first "guest chef" of the season.

Along with Randy and free food samples, the Fort Scott Police Department will conduct the Third Annual Bike Rodeo. There will be an obstacle course for kids to ride, free bike inspections and free bike registration. So bring the kids and bikes and your appetite.

The knife sharpener will be on site, so bring your knives, scissors and clippers. It's a great time for 4-Hers to get clippers and shears ready before the fair.

The second event will be Flag Day, June 14. The VFW Post 1165 Color Guard will conduct a presentation of the United States Flag. Fort Scott Mayor Jim Adams will lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and serve as the master of ceremonies for a teddy bear parade. Certificates will be presented for largest bear, smallest bear, oldest bear and best-dressed bear.

Each participant will receive a flag. Come on out and register your bear between 3:30 and 4 p.m. June 14. Honor our nation's great symbol of freedom and parade your bear. The parade is open to all age groups.

The first Super Tuesday drawing of a market basket was held June 7. Don Kenney won the basket of fresh produce and the gift certificate to Ace Hardware. The next drawing will be Tuesday, June 21.

Produce available now includes gooseberries, peas, potatoes, onions, turnips, beets, summer squashes, cucumbers, asparagus, greens, Swiss chard, herbs, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbages. Buy fresh, buy local and come have some free, family fun.