MISSION STATEMENT
The Haymaker Farmers' Market provides a connection between producers of local food and the community by creating a vibrant and sustainable gathering place promoting direct access to fresh and prepared food, agricultural and environmental education and the arts.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mekal Banyasz, President, Community Member
Taylor Talley, Vice-President, Community Member
Rebecca Carman, Treasurer, Community Member
Erin May, Board Secretary, Vendor
Melissa Celko, Community Member
Shanisha Collins, Community Member
Ami Gignac, Community Member
Ann Gilmore, Community Member
Kelly Hambly, Community Member
Paula Hyde, Vendor
Peter Machlup, Vendor
Ellen Matlock, Community Member
Marissa Mathews, Vendor
Fritz Seefeldt, Community Member
Genevieve Smith, Vendor
Director, Haymaker Farmers’ Market
MARKET HISTORY
Haymaker Farmers’ Market was founded in 1992 as a shared vision between Jo Anne Jones, Fritz Seefeldt and Rick Hawksley. The “Haymaker Farm Market,” as it was then known, opened with just four vendors and an article in the Record Courier. The market was organized to provide an outlet for locally grown agricultural products as well as to encourage enterprise in Kent’s struggling central business district. Traffic was slow those first few Saturdays, but as awareness grew, so did the popularity and attendance.
Rick left after the end of the market’s second year and his wife Joan Inderhees joined the team until 1996. Joan’s valuable contributions included a new logo and much-needed creative work on signage design as well as the vendor brochure. During these early years, local farmer Dan Kamburoff helped with book keeping as well as providing the growing farm market a bountiful supply of fresh sweet corn and assorted locally grown produce. Donna Pawlicki contributed by painting the market name on the trim of the vendor umbrellas. Fritz Seefeldt and Jo Anne Jones managed day-to-day operations by setting up street side signs, arranging newspaper advertisements, paying bills and contacting area farmers about selling at the new market.
As a volunteer, Fritz Seefeldt managed the day-to-day operations for over 20 years and witnessed the success and growth of the market. In 2013 Fritz passed the baton to the market’s first paid manager, Kelly Ferry, who oversaw the market’s transition to year-round with over 45 vendors offering a wide variety of local fare. Kelly introduced educational programming, a successful Indoor Market during the winter months, and a market-funded program that matches SNAP benefits for families that struggle to access fresh food. Andrew Rome started as Market Manager in 2016 and has seen Haymaker’s continued growth to our 30th anniversary season in 2022!
Today Fritz and Kelly are Haymaker Farmers’ Market Board of Director members and Jo Ann, Joan and Rick continue to support our vendors while being great friends of the market.