The Monroe County Farmers Market returns this Saturday, and guests will be able to peruse a wide array of produce, crafts and other goods as the event offers even more vendors and attractions than the year before.

This year’s farmers market stretches from April 27 to Oct. 26, with vendors setting up their tents at the Monroe County Annex, 901 Illinois Avenue in Waterloo, every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Kara Hoke, who serves as the director of social media and marketing for the event, spoke about her own experiences as a vendor and how the market has grown in recent years.

Hoke first joined the market after she and her family began growing organic produce in a garden as well as keeping bees, eventually finding themselves with too much to eat between themselves and the friends they would share their produce with.

With this excess, they joined as a vendor – the Hokestead – in May of 2022, and even in those few years, Hoke has noted a substantial change in activity.

“This will be our third season joining the farmers market, and when we first joined, it was much smaller than it is today,” Hoke said. “We probably only had about 10 vendors on average weekly.”

That figure is in stark contrast to the number of vendors folks recall seeing at the market over a decade ago, but it’s also likely to be outdone by this year’s market given the number of farmers, gardeners, craftspeople and others who are signed up.

“We’re really excited because this year we have around 30 vendors signed up to attend our market,” Hoke said. “Some will just be part-time, so you won’t always see 30 out there at one time, but we do have about 30 signed up… That’s by far the largest amount I’ve ever seen. We have a lot of farms, a lot of farms specializing in different things.”

Hoke offered a brief overview of what folks can expect when they go to shop at the market.

She pointed out that a lot of the farms that will be attending have certain specializations, whether they focus on organic produce or flowers.

The variety of vendors has also expanded to include crafters and makers, baked goods and canned offerings. Hoke also noted there are three different beekeepers attending this year’s market.

Hoke was also pleased to say the market had finally secured a meat vendor in Pasture Link Meats.

She remarked on the overall growth of the farmers market in just the last few years, suggesting the COVID-19 pandemic is a potential factor in why many have begun to start these new hobbies or small business ventures.

“I think a lot of the growth, if I had to guess, might also have to do with the pandemic,” Hoke said. “A lot of people definitely branched out into other, different passions. I think that’s what we’re seeing. A lot of the growth is definitely some younger people coming into our market as well with different passion projects.”

The additional vendors aren’t all guests can expect at the market, however, as numerous attractions and other entertainment is scheduled throughout the season.

Hoke said, given the success of various attractions last year, one of the vendors stepped up to serve as an events coordinator for this year, and at least one extra event is scheduled for every market through the season.

Scheduled for this Saturday are a bunny petting corner, a market goody basket raffle and a musical performance by Brian McKelvey.

Hoke said that later this year, folks can expect the return of yoga and goat yoga sessions, plenty more musicians, an appearance from folks from Joy 99.1 FM and demonstrations from local farmers.

Folks can also keep an eye out for picnic tables at the market with various activities for young kids.

Along with Hoke, several other returning vendors spoke about their experiences at the farmers market each year.

Among the longtime farmers market vendors is Betsy Jones. She recalled joining the market 15 years ago as part of a previous baking venture with her sister, though she and her family joined more recently in 2017 as Feather’s Farm.

The family’s specialty at the market is lettuce grown through the winter in their greenhouse, though they also offer a range of other vegetables including spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, root vegetables and others. They also offer eggs and baked goods.

She also mentioned her daughter has started up her own floral business, with hanging baskets offered at the family’s stand.

Jones recalled when the market was originally hosted at the parking lot outside of the former Family Video in Waterloo, with only a handful of other vendors present.

She spoke quite positively about her experience as a vendor through the years, from being able to build a loyal customer base to getting to know some very good friends.

“My favorite thing about the farmers market is that it brings a wide variety of people together all centered around what we all have in common, which is food,” Jones said. “When you only go to a church or you only are involved in a certain school, you kind of see the same people all the time where, with the farmers market, we see so many different people. We’ve met and made friends with people that we miss all winter long that we can’t wait to see again in the summer.”

Nathan Johanning of Johanning Farm is another longtime face at the farmers market, having joined in the late 2000s.

Folks can keep an eye out for his stand later in the season as he provides fall staples such as pumpkins and gourds.

Johanning recalls the rather sparse attendance at the market when he first started, though his customers were happy to see him there having previously shopped with him at various community events like PumpkinFest.

He was also positive about being able to build his customer base and feeling a great sense of community within the farmers market.

“I have always been a big advocate for the farmers market, and I would say, if anything, we as a market, we appreciate all the customers because we can have 100 people setting up at the market, but if no one comes up to buy anything, it’s not very much fun for anybody,” Johanning said. “The support of the community, it’s kind of a mutual relationship. We appreciate the market. I appreciate being alongside other vendors.”

Waterloo High School student Riley McDermott of Tilled to Table is one of the newer additions to the market, having made her debut late last year.

She started her business as an FFA project centered around root vegetable production, and she sells her produce at the market along with the canned goods she makes with them.

McDermott similarly spoke about how the market serves as a great platform for her and her business, with the other vendors and customers helping to create a good experience.

“I personally love the atmosphere at the market,” McDermott said. “All of the vendors are excited to be there, and they all create this welcoming environment. I feel like we’re all pretty connected. We’re all there to help each other. If anyone needs something like setting up their tent, the other vendors are always quick to help. And all of the customers that I’ve interacted with are always excited to be there. They’re always ready to go to all of the stands and see what everyone has.”

Hoke expressed much of these sentiments as well, also emphasizing the local component of the farmers market.

As a requirement to participate, each vendor must live within a 50-mile radius of Waterloo, ensuring that when folks shop at the Monroe County Farmers Market, they’re helping support their neighbors.

“It’s really neat that we’ve provided an avenue for small businesses, whether it’s just a passion or a hobby or it’s your full-time business, we’re really providing an avenue for people to get their products out there and to also be able to meet directly with their customers,” Hoke said. “When you go out to the farmers market and you go to a stand, the person that you’re talking to is the one who made or produced all of that.”

The Monroe County Farmers Market takes place each Saturday through Oct. 26 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 901 Illinois Avenue in Waterloo.

For more information, visit the Monroe County IL Farmers Market Facebook page.