FARMERS' MARKET HISTORY!

Market Manager Denise Dixon (left) with Homedale's Mayor Gheen Christoffersen (2016)

​The Homedale Farmers' Market was founded in 2013 by Denise Dixon, a long-time community member of Homedale, Idaho. She felt that the community needed a market, and she wanted to give back to the community which had provided so much for her and her family. To this day, Denise remains the market manager and works hard to make the market a success!

While the market started off quite small, over the years it has grown and grown. In fact, it continues to double its customer base! There is always room for more vendors and more customers though, and the staff works hard to partner with community members, businesses, and schools to make the market even more successful.

Since one of the main goals of the Homedale Farmers' Market is to give back, the market has consistently donated a portion of its proceeds in the form of grants, since its inception in 2013, to the Homedale School District’s fine arts programs including the high school drama club, music classes, and the school libraries. The schools continue to show their gratitude for the help that the market is able to provide.

In 2015, the first Cultivate! Children's Program classes were offered as a pilot program, and it was so successful that in 2016 the market decided to run a full 12-week program taught by different volunteer educators. This program will continue into the 2018 market year.

In 2016, Denise became the only representative from Owyhee County on the board of directors for the Idaho Farmer's Market Association, and through this relationship the market was able to learn about and participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program which offers incentives to EBT users. This program will continue into the 2018 market year.