Sponsorship program gives Farmers Market a boost

Looking to strengthen its leadership and create a more self-sustaining enterprise, the Trumansburg Farmers Market launched a sponsorship program this season.

Debbie Biltonen, president of the market’s Board of Directors, said the sponsorship program was considered in 2020 but never put into action because of the pandemic.

“I personally thought we should be kind to all the business owners,” she said. “They were struggling as it was, and it just didn’t seem like a good time to unveil a sponsorship program.”

With the bones of an overall sponsorship in place, and one that’s been in place to pay the musicians that entertain market-goers each week, the Board was ready to implement it this year.

“I think it’s going very well,” Biltonen said.

Money raised through sponsorships helps cover the costs of the market, which have risen substantially in the last five years with an increased stipend for the manager. The manager position was initially a job that was done on a volunteer basis, so a small stipend was eventually put into place, Biltonen said. She said it went from $1,800 up to $2,400 in 2018 and then to $4,000 in 2019.

But the market was having trouble retaining a manager for more than a season at a time.

“In 2019, the Board felt, [the manager], they deserve somewhat of a living wage for their efforts,” Biltonen said. “So, in 2020, the stipend went up to $10,000, which is a huge leap.”

With the pay increase, she said the market was fortunate to hire Natalie Baris, who works for Red Jacket Orchards and has managed a number of other markets in the Finger Lakes region.

But the market is operated by the Village of Trumansburg, which sets the budget but enlists the Board of Directors to oversee the operations.

“Every year, we have to submit a budget, and when we submitted the budget with the increased salary, one of the agreements for the village to approve it is we would help pay for it,” Biltonen said. “We’re working on trying to be more sustainable, so that’s why we created the sponsorship program, to help pay for Natalie’s salary, which she really deserves. Last year, which was her first year, was COVID, and she did an amazing job [with the market]. It ran seamlessly.”

After years of traveling from her Geneva home to the market as a customer on a near-weekly basis, Baris said her second year at the helm has “gone great.”

“We’ve been busier trafficwise than we have, I think, ever,” she said. “I think people are used to the whole COVID thing by now, and that made it a lot easier. When the season started, we couldn’t have tastings, but that was pulled in June, right in the heart of the season, so we were able to do just about everything.”

And in the first year of gathering sponsorships, the market has had success. Evie Bellinger, another market board member, has been part of the sponsorship collection effort. She said responses she has gotten are usually, “Yes, we would love to. Can you send me the info?”

She said the response has confirmed her beliefs of the market’s place in the village and the support it has from the community.

“When we started this sponsorship initiative, we had a feeling we could sort of pay for all the market expenses through sponsorship,” Bellinger said. “But we didn’t know until we set out to do it. We have gotten more money than anticipated [in this first year].”

In addition to supporting the market operations financially, she said, sponsorships provide a “great opportunity for exposure for businesses.” Bellinger is hopeful the program continues to grow to the point it can cover costs for additional programming at the market, “instead of asking people to come out and offer programs for free.”

“Ideally, we will be able to offer a variety of programs to the community at no charge but will be able to pay people there offering courses for their time and materials,” she said. “It makes sense. Before, musicians weren’t getting paid, and now they are, instead of just relying on tips from vendors and customers.”

There are nine current sponsors — Tompkins Trust Company, Hart & Homes Realty, Maguire Chevrolet of Trumansburg, Cayuga Chiropractic, Collin Anderson Memorial Fund, Regional Access, Gemm Shop, Ehrhart Energy and Awaken Acupuncture — which are noted on a board installed by the gazebo where performances are staged in the middle of the market grounds.

Above the sponsor names, the board reads “Where we come together,” which Biltonen said is what the Board wants people to feel when they come to the market.

“It is definitely a focus of the Board to make it a gathering place,” she said. “We’re trying to make people feel comfortable and included. We’re trying to diversify our vendors and our market to show all the different aspects of Trumansburg.”

While the market wraps up its season next week, Oct. 27, there will be one more event before the end of the year — a harvest market scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 22. Baris said one took place last year, and “it was a great success.”

There will be turkey farmers there, she said, all sorts of squashes and other “things for the Thanksgiving table,” as well as a couple of artisans. It will be limited to 19 vendors, Baris said, because all will need to use the pavilions.

“It’s pretty much the vendors that were there during the season,” she said.

For more information about becoming a Trumansburg Farmers Market sponsor, visit its website at tburgfarmersmarket.com/sponsor. The market also is on Facebook and Instagram.

IN BRIEF:

Cover Crop Field Day set for Oct. 22

An in-person, on-farm Cover Crop Field Day, highlighting research that provides guidance for farmers incorporating cover crops, will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 22, at 9787 Route 96, across from Ehrhart Propane.

The program offers varied content, from visiting cover-crop plots planted with cover-crop species and mixtures to soil pit investigations discussing in-field methods of assessing soil health.

Among the presenters are Rod Porter and Tim Fritz of King’s AgriSeeds, Joseph Amsili of New York Soil Health, Fay Benson of Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Nicole Kubiczki and Zach Warning of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The New York Soil Health trailer also will be on site with interactive demonstrations.

The event is free to attend, and no registration is required. The first 20 participants from separate households will receive a free copy of Managing Cover Crops Profitably.

David Rogers performing at Conservatory

The Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts will play host to solo guitarist David Rogers at 7 p.m. Oct. 22.

Rogers will perform a wide range of tunes, including Spanish and Latin music, as well as offerings by the Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Rolling Stones, Roxy Music, Cheap Trick, Carla Bley, J.S. Bach and some original compositions.

Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from the past 72 hours is needed to attend. Advance tickets are available online for $12 and will be $15 at the door. Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts is located at 5 McLallen St.

Draw-a-Thon Cafe raising funds for arts education

A fundraiser to support arts education will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 24 at Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts. It is free to attend the drop-in program, and drawing materials are also provided without charge. All skill levels are welcome, but masks are required for all attendees.

Among the drawing stations will be rotating still life, scientific illustration, self-portrait and library salon, and there will be costumed models from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. There also will be kids’ activities, coffee, tea and light snacks.

Fine jewelry shop opening on Main Street

Jewelry artist Siedra Loeffler is opening a shop, The Gold Hammer, at 19 Main St. in Trumansburg. The shop is planned to open Nov. 1.

Loeffler describes her own work as “minimal sculptural forms that are fun to make and that interact with the body in a pleasing way,” and she specializes in custom jewelry and engagement rings.

She will also feature the work of several other jewelers and goldsmiths, including San Francisco goldsmith Sam Woehrmann who specializes in geometric work featuring large, colorful stones; Hilary Finck, who is “inspired by the constant need to brighten things up with pops of color” and whose delicate work features “captured stones”; M.Rose Studio, whose organic-focused gold and sterling silver works often enclose pieces of animal bone and other artifacts; and Taylor Koedyker, who is fascinated with organic formation and the energies of stones and who often includes rough tourmaline in her jewelry.

The Gold Hammer will share space with Dan Timmerman of Timmermade Gear, who crafts custom outerwear for hikers and bicyclists.