The Warren County Farmers and Artisans Market has been an annual staple in the area for years, but organizers this year say they’re hoping to take a fresh approach to growing the event and cultivating community connections.

The market is held two evenings per week in the summer and fall, Tuesdays at the Fairgrounds in Warrenton and Thursdays at Diekroeger Park in Wright City. To help improve sometimes sluggish turnout, market board member John Knoll said organizers want the market to become an engaging experience, rather than just a quick stop for produce.

“My theory on the market is to make it an event,” Knoll commented.

To that end, Knoll said the market is inviting new vendors for things like specialty drinks, custom crafts, and educational programs. Those will only add to the experience visitors get from personal engagement with the growers and makers who form the heart of the market, Knoll said.

“I feel markets are a great place to bring back community, social activity, because we are distancing ourselves from one another,” Knoll commented, adding that he wants community members to experience all the offerings that are grown and made locally. “It’s incredible what’s here in the community. We’re just trying to unveil it.”

One of the new programs being offered at the market this year is Master Gardener presentations several times per month, at both the Warrenton and Wright City locations. Visitors will be able to learn about topics such as how to establish gardens, attracting wildlife, managing plants and various other gardening tips.

Knoll said another possibility the market is considering is offering partnerships to local 4-H and FFA clubs to set up their own booths at the market, deepening the community bonds for everyone involved.

“The youth of our community is our dreams. ... They’re also our future entrepreneurs. If we can do anything to share our knowledge with them, it’s helpful,” Knoll commented.

Eventually, the market organizers want to be able to offer an ever more diverse array of produce, crafts, goodies and experiences for visitors. They’re seeking to draw in more visitors and more vendors to make that wish a reality.

Annie Mangin, one of the new vendors at the market, offers various specialty drinks, from cold-brew coffee to Italian soda – a mix of soda water, flavored syrup and a dash of cream. Her stand is a startup business born from personal passion.

“I wanted to bring good coffee to the area. There’s not a coffee shop around here. I have a horse trailer that I’m building out to be a mobile coffee shop,” Mangin commented. “In the meantime, I thought a way to raise funds was to set up at the farmers market.”

Mangin said she loves to take part in the small town farmers market where it truly feels like everyone is part of a community. Because some people have trouble making it to an evening market, Mangin said she hopes the market board will eventually add a food truck so people can come for dinner, and maybe stick around to browse the rest of what the market can offer.

Kelly Krauss, whose family and friends run a new stand with a wide variety of crafts and also pet rabbits for sale, said every day at the market is like being surrounded by an even bigger group of friends and family.

“Having people and customers you become friends with, you develop relationships with, whether they buy anything or not, that’s my ideal,” Krauss commented. She said the biggest draw for her stand so far has been the rabbits.

“Bunny therapy is perfect,” she noted.