Just hired? Just elected? Join us for the 2025 Farmers Market “Boot Camp” to get ready for opening day! We’ll take you behind the Information Booth to learn about core operational requirements, tools, and tips from seasoned market managers. We’ll also help make sense of the alphabet soup of acronyms for licenses, permits, food access programs, and essential infrastructure. Perhaps best of all you’ll connect with other new (and returning) managers and board members from six states who share your passion and unique new job. For volunteers, community members, or vendors who are joining the Farmers Market Board of Directors, we help you to understand what it takes to run a farmers market!
The 2025 Farmers Market Boot Camp is a series of virtual trainings (via Zoom). General sessions will be held on two Thursdays, March 13 and 20, from 10:00am to 1:00pm (MT). In addition, each State Partner is offering a third, state-specific session, the State Day, to share farmers market food access programs, food safety information, and other resources specific to each state. There is also an additional “Board Members Only” on Tuesday, March 18 from 4:00 to 6:00pm (MT).
🎟️ $100 for General Admittance.
🎟️ Special rate: $25 with Promo Code for farmers markets that are members of the WSFMA, AKFM, IFMA, OFMA, OFMN, and UFMN. Registration is $75 without the Promo Code. The 2025 Boot Camp discount is made possible by USDA AMS FMPP grant 24FMPPWA1211. Promo Codes are available from your Farmers Market Association or Network.
🥕 General Sessions: March 13 & 20 from 10:00am – 1:00pm (MT)
The first two days of Boot Camp provide general farmers markets tools and training for anyone who has just been hired, is looking for a refresher, or is interested in updated information. We encourage new (and returning) board members to attend to learn more about farmers market operations, their role in sustaining a strong market organization, and building a great team.
General Sessions are not recorded as they are designed to be interactive so that people can connect with other markets managers and board members. We also encourage a safe space for frank conversations among people who care and can help. All materials, presentations, and templates are shared to Boot Camp participants.
🥕 Board Members Session: March 18 from 4:00pm – 6:00pm (MT)
New in 2025, we are offering an “add on” to Boot Camp for participants who are current or incoming members of a farmers market Board of Directors, Advisory Group, or other leadership position. This session will focus on how farmers market organizations are unique, scaling governance and management to market size, and where to find resources throughout the year. All Boot Camp participants are welcome to attend this session. However, content will speak to the specific roles and responsibilities of Directors and Advisors of farmers market organizations, not to the day-to-day management of a farmers market.
🥕State Day - FREE to attend, no registration required
Utah Farmers Market Network (UFMN): via Zoom. Thurs, March 27 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (MT). Focus is on meeting your state leaders, UT’s nutrition incentive programs (SNAP, Double UP, Produce Rx, Senior FMNP), HB 94/Cottage Food Production, and more!
UFMN 2025 State Day Agenda
Click on presentation title for slide deck.
10:00 am - Welcome & Introductions - Jaclyn Pace, Utah Farmers Market Network
10:20 am - Nutrition and Produce Incentive Programs 101 - Hannah Goggin, Department of Health & Human Services
10:40 am - Utah’s Own - Emily Ashby, Utah’s Own
11:00 am - MarketLink SNAP Grants Overview - Lisa Roach, MarketLink
11:20 am - Break
11:40 pm - Regulatory Update - Caroline Hargraves, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
12:00 pm - Data Collection Project - Bryn Watkins, Utah State University
12:20 pm - Navigating the Market Manager Handbook - Gwen Crist, Utah Farmers Market Network
12:40 pm - Market Your Market - Josh Jones, Downtown Alliance
1:00 pm - Closing - Jaclyn Pace, Utah Farmers Market Network
Speakers
Emily Ashby is the Program Manager of Utah's Own, a program run through Utah's Department of Agriculture. Her background in business and marketing stems from starting and selling her own business and working for the Small Business Development Center, Utah Microloan Fund, Ensign College, and other organizations. She loves promoting agriculture and food businesses throughout the state! When not working, Emily enjoys watching her son play high school baseball and hiking up Millcreek Canyon with her dogs.
Hannah Goggin is dedicated to building resilient, equitable food systems by reconnecting people to local food while increasing access to fresh, healthy produce. Through her work with the Green Urban Lunch Box and now Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Hannah is an experienced member of the Utah food system. She strives to facilitate communication between local farmers, community based organizations, and government agencies in order to strengthen food security for all Utahns.
Caroline Hargraves is the Director of the Marketing and Economic Development Division at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. With over 20 years of experience in local food systems, she brings a unique blend of practical knowledge and strategic vision to her role. From her early days in local restaurants to owning a photography and marketing business focused on supporting local restaurants and small businesses, Caroline has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the food industry. At UDAF, she is dedicated to improving local food systems, enhancing supply chain resiliency, and promoting the growth of Utah’s agricultural sector. In her free time, Caroline enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring the beauty of Utah one trout stream at a time.
Josh is the marketing and communications director of the Downtown Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing more vibrancy to Salt Lake City's Downtown. Our marquee program, the Downtown Farmers Market has 300 vendors and brings 252,000 shoppers to Pioneer Park. Josh enjoys telling the stories of farmers and ranchers to ensure their continued success.
Lisa's interest in food and agriculture stemmed from visiting her grandparent's farm in rural Germany during the summer, helping her parents garden, and cooking with her family. This upbringing led her to pursue an education in food systems at San Francisco State University where she majored in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Nutrition. Since then she has gained a wealth of knowledge by working in many facets of the food system including restaurants, retail, wholesale, farmers markets, and food access focused non profits. Lisa is delighted to be part of the MarketLink team, as a Regional Representative. Her favorite part of the job is connecting to farmers and market managers throughout the country and hear from their perspectives. Outside of MarketLink, she’s usually biking, hiking through local parks, cooking at home, visiting friends, or working on many art projects.
Gwen Crist has lived in SLC for over 35 years. Raised on an organic farm, she has always been passionate about local food and an advocate for small farmers. Gwen served on the Board of Directors for Slow Food Utah for more than 11 years, and as Chairperson for 10 years. She is an avid farmer’s market supporter and self-described market groupie. She currently serves on the Advisory Committee for Urban Food Connections of Utah. Gwen has an extensive and intimate knowledge of the local food community, as well as experience in organizing events and educational activities, grant writing, and non-profit management. Most recently, she completed and published the Utah Farmers Market Manager Handbook for UFMN.
What participants say about Boot Camp:
“I really appreciate having the opportunity to take part in this [Boot Camp}. I’m a new board member and have absorbed a lot of background on farmers markets in the last couple of This helps tremendously in filling in the gaps and providing a framework. Thank you so much.”
“To me the best part was getting tips and hearing about experiences from board members! It was really helpful to meet everyone and hear about what has and hasn’t worked in the past and what experienced folks have gathered from their time in managerial roles.”
“It’s so great the community that has been assembled and encouraged to act in support of each The tools assembled, housed and available are amazing! Thank you for all the work you do and energy you bring.”
“This is such a well-organized program with fantastic speakers and resources. I know I’ll be coming back to all the info on the Thank you so much! It was also great to be with so many market people from the west (and Ohio!)”
“I loved it all – it was great that there were multiple types of learning models: breakout, panel, informational, chat questions. It helps me to stay focused on such a long session.”
“The presentation was great. Loved the overview at the beginning for providing context. The panel was particularly informative b/c lots of tangible Also really appreciated getting a chance to chat and compare/contrast FM in breakout rooms.”
“All the resources. I’ve never seen an organization so committed to helping a group. ”