August 22, 2023 |
Photo – Table of vegetables – Courtesy Yelp.com
The Hanna Farmers Market is canceled indefinitely after only two outings. The market organizer said a lack of advertising resulted in too few customers.
In June, Hanna officials held a public meeting to inform residents of the dire financial situation at the Hanna Recreation Center. In a statement issued by the town, the rec center lost nearly a quarter of a million dollars in the previous fiscal year. Hanna officials asked the public to brainstorm ideas for increasing the rec center’s revenue.
In response, Hanna resident Darlene Scheneman organized a weekly farmers market to benefit the rec center. All vendor stall fees would be donated to the recreation center. Scheneman, who sells baked goods under the name Granny D’s, said the town was initially very supportive of her plan. Unfortunately, Scheneman said town officials failed to uphold their promise to assist.
The Hanna Famers Market was only held twice, August 4th and 11th.
Beginning last Friday, August 18th, the Hanna Recreation Center switched to winter hours. The new schedule means the facility is closed on Friday afternoons, the same day of the week The Hanna Farmers Market was scheduled to occur. Scheneman said she was promised the farmers market could move into the rec center’s gymnasium if the weather became an issue. The adjusted hours of operation made that impossible, Scheneman said.
Scheneman said vendors were unhappy about having to stand outside in the wind and rain. Scheneman said she was told that a $500 fee is needed to reserve the rec center when it is closed.
Scheneman said poor weather on August 11th made her consider moving the farmers market into the rec center. Despite being scheduled to be open, Scheneman said rec center employees didn’t arrive until after the farmers market ended.
Scheneman said four vendors attended the final Hanna Farmers Market on August 11th. In the two and a half hours the market was open, Scheneman said approximately 12 shoppers visited.
Scheneman said sellers typically traveled 80 or more miles to attend the Hanna Farmers Market. She said the fruit and vegetable dealer came from Sweetwater County. Scheneman said the wind and rain kept many sellers away.
Scheneman said the rec center’s switch to winter hours also eliminated access to indoor rest rooms. She said she was told a “well maintained” rest room was available behind the rec center. Scheneman said she found the outdoor toilet far from “well maintained.”
Scheneman said the lack of customers combined with losing access to the rec center made her cancel the farmers market entirely. Scheneman said she donated $120 in vendor booth fees to the rec center.
Scheneman said the town didn’t do enough to support the farmers market. The market organizer said she was promised backing from Hanna town hall, but she received nothing.
Scheneman said she doesn’t believe the town was actively hindering the success of the farmers market. She said Hanna officials appear to be too busy with routine administrative duties to assist with something beneficial to the town. Scheneman blamed the low customer numbers on a lack of public notice.
Scheneman said she was disappointed to end the farmers market, but said it was the only way she could think of to prevent vendors from attending a market with no customers. Scheneman said she has no plans to organize additional fundraising events for the town.
Hanna officials said they would advertise the farmers market.
On the afternoon of Friday, August 18th, Hanna Farmers Market organizer Darlene Scheneman published a social media post stating the market was canceled and would no longer be held.
