[FMC] Activities & educational programming for kids at markets

[Deb Connors]

We had some success developing some partnerships with area organizations during our 150th Anniversary in 2007. The National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame put together a nice display of agricultural equipment around the market and this year they have a booth on site once a month during our food festivals to discuss the history of agriculture and the future of farming.  They bring a trivia wheel and prizes for kids and promote their own special programming calendar.

We have also established a partnership with our local University Extension Office.  Their staff has committed to weekly recipe sampling opportunities during the Saturday Farmers' Market.  They have also organized a walking map and actively distribute to interested shoppers.

The scavenger hunt sounds like a great idea as long as you can keep it simple.  We have found adding kids activities as been a great way to enhance what we call the "market experience".  It may not drive specific traffic to your market but those who are shopping will likely enjoy the addition, resulting in more loyal shoppers. Especially if it helps parents to encourage their kids to try new vegetables.   If you find it to be successful, do share. It sounds like fun and we are always looking for new ideas.

Good Luck!

Stephanie A. Spatz-Ornburn
Director of Marketing & Events
The City Market
20 E. 5th Street, Suite 201
Kansas City, MO  64106
p: 816-842-1271  f: 816-471-6168
sspatzornburn at cwbkc.com<mailto:sspatzornburn at cwbkc.com>
a copaken white blitt managed property


From: fmc-bounces at lists.farmersmarketcoalition.org [mailto:fmc-bounces at lists.farmersmarketcoalition.org] On Behalf Of Bralts Lisa
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 9:21 AM
To: fmc at lists.farmersmarketcoalition.org
Subject: [FMC] Activities & educational programming for kids at markets


Hi, all:

I'm interested in developing some educational activities for kids at our market. In the past there have been a couple of special events each season geared toward young folks, but they've had nothing to do with food or nutrition, and I'd like to change that.

Unfortunately, I don't have as much time as I'd like to develop something permanent/ongoing, so I'm working with a dietetics/nutrition student from our local giant university who approached me about doing a one-time special event around nutrition and kids at the market as an unpaid internship. So we're in the planning stages... and I'm a little stumped in terms of getting started (probably doesn't help that Tuesdays are my Mondays in terms of work week).

She would like to do a tasting-as-scavenger hunt - kids come to the market, get cards where they have to try certain fruits and vegetables listed (as distributed by participating vendors), get them checked off as they travel the Market, and return the cards for a prize. Pretty simple, though it could be a bit of a logistical hassle due to the size/setup of our market.

Has anyone ever tried something like this before? How much time/space is devoted at your market toward programming for kids?

Thanks,

Lisa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lisa Bralts
Economic Development Specialist
Director, Market at the Square
City of Urbana
400 South Vine Street
Urbana, IL  61801

p: (217) 384-2319
f:  (217) 384-0200

email: ljbralts at city.urbana.il.us

www.city.urbana.il.us/market<file:///\\www.city.urbana.il.us\market>
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