After Nine Years, I’m Seeing the Market Differently...
- alexiachianis
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
It's a funny thing: I’ve been part of the Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market for about nine years now, and just lately, something has started to come into sharper focus for me.
When I’m planning our social media each week, it often feels like the moment one Saturday market wraps up, I’m already thinking about the next one—and the one after that, and the one after that (and so on!)
As I’ve thought about it more, especially while looking back on National Farmers’ Market Week, I’ve found myself looking at the OBFM a little differently. Instead of being laser focused on my social media "cog", I’m seeing the whole "machine"- people, time, planning, and hard work that come together every single week. And honestly? WOW. It’s pretty impressive.
So I started wondering: What does it really take to put on a market as full, vibrant, and welcoming as the OBFM—week after week, 9 months out of the year? The answer is "simple": a lot of dedicated people, a lot of work, and an incredible amount of heart.
At the helm is Executive Market Manager Cindy Bunch, whose leadership, organization, and dedication (the understatement of the year!) keep all the moving pieces working together. But Cindy is the first to tell you that the market is truly a team effort. By the way, did you watch her interview on Porch Talks!? Well done, Cindy!
Volunteers are an essential part of that team, giving their time, energy, and plenty of behind-the-scenes help to make each Saturday happen. And then there’s Gus—quite literally the first one there and the last to leave. From setting up tents and tables to troubleshooting whatever unexpected challenge comes his way, Gus is always there to get the job done.
Our generous donors also play a crucial role, providing support that helps us grow and continue offering more to our community. And our Board of Directors is constantly thinking, planning, making important decisions, and looking for new ways to take the OBFM to the next level.
We certainly can’t overstate the dedication of our vendors, who seem to never stop impressing us. Week after week, they show up with vegetables, fruits, meats, seafood, baked goods, ready to eat items, and a cornucopia of high-quality handcrafted items.
But there’s one more group we simply can’t overlook: our marketgoers. Every Saturday, you turn out in droves. You shop, listen to music, bring your families, catch up with friends, discover something new, and support the people who make their living by being here. You are the reason all of this happens. Without you, there is no market.
Bringing it all back around... Now, when I walk under the live oaks on a Saturday morning, I find myself looking at the OBFM through a different lens. I still see the tents, the vendors, the music, the kids laughing, and neighbors gathering around the picnic tables—but I also see everything behind that picture: the planning, the early mornings, the hard work, the generosity, the countless emails and conversations- people who work together to make it all happen. The word that comes to mind is synergy (perhaps a bit overused term)... but I certainly can't think of a better one.
After nine years, it's more apparent to me than ever: the OBFM is so much more than what meets the eye. It truly is a community effort, built piece by piece by people who care deeply about making it special.
All the best, Alexia (vendor and social media manager, OBFM)
