St. Patty's Day Celebration a Great Success

Another great big THANKS to everyone who participated in the St. Patty's Day Event. A couple vendors have told me it was our best event yet!

We had a steady lot of customers and had a lot of fun, not to mention raised $62 for the Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market. Thank you!

So many volunteers and vendors were generous with their time and donations to the raffle. Here's how things turned out:

Grand Prize Basket (donations by Tanya Miller, Mark and Terry Newman, Marjorie Beeler, David Elsik, Roger Burton, and Barbara Lorraine) - Virginia Koran, winner

St Patty's Day Cake (donated by Karen Jozwiak) - Roger Burton, winner

Tie Die T-shirt and Vegan shirt (donated by Sara of Wild Type Ranch and Thomas Liberty, local designer) - Amy Decker, winner

Spring Baby Blanket (donated by Helen Wise) - Hona Backstrom, winner

Irish Baby Blanket (donated by Helen Wise) - Leigh Anee Sheets

More coming soon on our next event: Spring Event (Saturday April 3, 2010).

Valentine's Celebration - Front Page of the Eagle

Yesterday's Valentine's Celebration at the BVFM made the front page of the Eagle. Check it out...

Sweetheart (The BCS Eagle)

Thanks again to everyone who made it possible!

Valentine's Celebration at the BVFM

What an amazing morning! With live music from "States," 6 raffles, decorated vendor booths with tasty treats, and a kids activity center, the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market was hopping this morning!

To add a little something extra special, the raffles (all donated from very generous vendors) raised $72 for the Brazos Valley Food Bank! A huge THANKS to everyone who donated goods towards the raffle. They included:

1. Bath and Body Product Basket - Amber Keown
2. Baked Goods and Teddy Bear Basket - Karen Jozwiak
3. Jellies and Jams Basket - Amy Decker
4. Market Basket w/ salsa, fudge, cupcakes, a plant, a soy candle, and magnets - Helen Wise, Donna and Roger Burton, Marjorie Beeler, James Kneip
5. Baby Quilt and Heart Ornaments - Helen Wise
6. Case of Tomatoes - Millican Produce

Of course, we had three wonderful volunteers to coordinate the morning. Thank you to volunteers Jan Gerston, Sonya Cooley, and our Volunteer Coordinator Nancy Burford!

Finally, I can't say enough about Janie Stein and Martin Bates, our talented musicians for the morning who drew the crowds and vendors in singing along. In town through May, we've asked them to return and play any Saturday they wish.

Stay tuned for more market celebrations in the months to come. Oh, and Happy Valentines Day!

Spring Volunteer Opportunities Announced

There are several opportunities to volunteer this spring for special events:

Valentines Celebration at the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market

Saturday, February 13 (8AM-Noon)

The FBVFM will be coordinating the Valentines event to include live music, a raffle for market gifts, and a kids activities table. Help is needed at the kids table as well as the info booth. Shifts are 8-10 (2 people needed) and 10-12 (2 people needed). Email Nancy to sign up.

Call+Response Movie Screening

A&M United Methodist Church

Friday, February 19th (7PM - ?)

A&M United Methodist has asked the BVFM to host a booth at the upoming screening of "Call+Response," a feature film regarding the slave trade and human trafficking. Fair Trade will be discussed (the tie in to food). The church felt people would be interested in a booth about the farmers' market to follow the screening. More information to come. Volunteer Tanya Miller has offerered to host our booth. I'd like to have one additional volunteer to help her. Email Nancy to sign up.

Messina Hof Birthday Bash

Sunday, March 10, 2010 (1:00-4:00)

Messina Hof has invited us back this year for the annual Birthday Bash. Setup will begin at noon in front of the facility. Vendors will sell out of their vehicles. Volunteers are needed to help setup, host the info booth, and help load up. Shifts are 11:30-2:00 (2 volunteers needed) and 2:00-4:30 (2 volunteers needed). Email Nancy to sign up.

Messina Hof Wine and Roses Festival

Saturday, April 24, 2010 (1:30-6:00)

Messina Hof has invited us back this year for the annual Wine and Roses Festival. Setup will begin as soon as vendors start to arrive from the regularly scheduled Saturday morning market in downtown Bryan. Volunteers are needed to help setup, host the info booth, and help load up. Shifts are from 1:30-4:00 (2 volunteers needed) and 4:00-6:30 (2 volunteers needed). Email Nancy to sign up.

Of course, you can always get the latest on our Upcoming Events page. With spring will surely come some gorgeous weather, so get on out there and show your support for the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market by volunteering today!

Holidays at the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market

The new year has begun, giving the Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market a much deserved rest after coordinating two holiday celebrations at the BVFM, December 12th and 19th. Included were live music, demonstrations by a local spinner, raffle prizes with proceeds going to the Brazos Valley Food Bank, and appearances by Old Saint Nick himself.

A big thank you to everyone who helped to make both events a great success. We raised $145 for the local food bank, gave away some wonderful prizes, and shared the holidays with our amazing community.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Household Hazardous Waste Event - November 2009

Last Saturday marked this year's second Household Hazardous Waste Event for Bryan-College Station and the Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market was asked to return with our recycling fliers.

Five wonderful volunteers attended the event distributing almost 2000 fliers to the community. A great big THANKS to Bob Moore, Debbie Miller, Jack Miller, Nancy Burford, and Holli Estridge for all your hard work on Saturday.

For more info on our "recycling" program, see our flier below...

Aggies Recycle - 2009 TAMU Recycle Fair

Today, Texas A&M hosted the 2009 Aggies Recycle Fair in Sbisa Plaza, and the Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market was there to spread the word about the market and about our recycling program (or more appropriately "reuse" program).

We handed out more than 200 fliers, and spoke individually with lots of students, staff, and faculty about our farmers' market and the benefits of eating local foods, many of which left our booth saying they'd see us on Saturday!

A big thank you to Liz Hughey for hosting the booth with me today. For more info on our recycle/reuse program, see our flier below...