Partnerships

Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District and their
Community Farmers’ Market of Owen County

It is exciting for a community to have a common dream and work together to make it come true. That is what happened with the Community Farmers’ Market of Owen County (CFMOC).

The CFMOC story began in early 2007. The Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board of Supervisors believed that a farmers’ market located in Owen County would offer a new economic opportunity to local producers, as well as providing many conservation benefits. Positive environmental impacts include reduction of food transport miles, thus reducing vehicle pollution and fossil fuel use.Farmers’ markets encourage environmentally sustainable practices such as organic growing methods, diversification and bio-diversity.

Right: The Owen County SWCD partnered with several organizations in the county to organize a Farmers' Market in Spencer, Ind. The board
believed the market offers economic opportunity for local producers,
as well as conservation benefits.

The Owen County SWCD took the lead by hosting a series of public interest meetings for community input. Next a Steering Committee was formed comprised of nine members bringing a range of knowledge to the task. Owen County SWCD Chairman, Steve Worland, served on the committee and  District Coordinator Gwen Dieter serves as a resource. The Committee, with public input, formed the mission statement for the market

“to provide local producers and their neighbors a gathering place that fosters the connection between our food, our culture, our land and our environment.”

Partnerships were formed between the Owen County SWCD and the Owen County Commissioners, the Owen County Farm Bureau, Rural Entrepreneurs Network, Purdue Cooperative Extension and the Local Growers Guild. The Owen County SWCD obtained grant funding for the Farmers’ Market from the Owen County Community Foundation, South Central Indiana Rural Electric Membership Corporation, Case Foundation, Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the Bloomington Area Arts Council.

The Farmers’ Market opened May 3, 2008, and was found Saturdays on the Courthouse Square in Spencer from 8 a.m. until noon through October. The Owen County SWCD is proud to have led this project that provided a regular outlet for local farmers and strengthened our community.

Congratulations to the Owen County SWCD for their innovative thinking, forward action and ground breaking partnerships!

For more information on the Community Farmers Market of Owen County, contact Gwen Dieter, Owen County SWCD District Coordinator, at 812.829.2605, or via email.

>> Click here to find out more about Indiana's SWCDs