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.

Mekal Banyasz

Taylor Talley

Rebecca Carman

Erin May

Shanisha Collins

Ann Gilmore

Paula Hyde

Megan Massoli

Marissa Mathews

Fritz Seefeldt

Genevieve Smith

Andrew Rome

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mekal Banyasz, President, Community Member

Taylor Talley, Vice-President, Community Member

Rebecca Carman, Treasurer, Community Member

Erin May, Board Secretary, Vendor

Shanisha Collins, Community Member

Ann Gilmore, Community Member

Paula Hyde, Vendor

Megan Massoli, Vendor

Marissa Mathews, Vendor

Fritz Seefeldt, Community Member

Genevieve Smith, Vendor

Andrew Rome, Market Director

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 since.