Boasting more than 125 vendors that rotate through every Saturday morning, the Ames Farmers’ Market looks new every week as it continues through summer.
“It’s just a great local event,” Lojean Peterson, manager of the Ames Farmers’ Market, said.
The farmers’ market is family-friendly, pet-friendly and community-friendly.
“We try to bring a lot of family events down here,” Peterson said. “We have six cooking contests during the year, a lot of families, and we try to keep those all free for the public, so very family friendly.”
According to Peterson, every vendor lined up on either side of the street is a local grower or local business. Each product is locally made or locally grown.
“There is a great community feel at the farmers’ market,” Ben Visser, owner of The Heartland Maker, said.
Visser makes bowls, vases and cutting boards out of locally sourced wood, reusing wood from trees that had fallen or been taken down for various safety reasons. He pointed to a bowl on his table made from a tree that was cut down on Iowa State’s campus in 2012.
“The fact that I can give a second life to trees in Ames is important to me,” Visser said.
Through the summer months, the Ames Farmers’ Market will occur every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“The market is just a beautiful Saturday morning adventure,” Brian Bahr, operator of Old Fashioned Ice Cream, said. “A lot of great vendors, a lot of great people walking up and down, and a great time to get a nice bowl of ice cream.” Brian and his wife, Vicke, make their ice cream using an old hand churn that’s operated by a 99-year-old John Deere engine.
Among the many other vendors is Frances Rumos, of FRTLeathers, who makes useful leather items in order to ensure that animal products are used to their full potential.
“Everything is handmade, hand-stitched, made to last,” Rumos said.
A detailed calendar of this year’s Ames Farmers’ Market is available online.
