Farmers market coming to Keota

The sights, sounds and smells of a farmers market will soon come to the town of Keota. Keota resident Melinda Eakins recently announced the creation of the Keota Farmers Market, which will meet for the first time Monday, June 4, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the corner of Broadway and Fulton streets.

Eakins hopes six vendors will show for the first market, and she expects that number to grow as the season progresses. She has talked to Washington Farmers Market Master Bob Shepherd about the ins and outs of running a market. Shepherd told her that six vendors would turn into 12 vendors by mid-season.

Eakins is a member of a development group in Keota called Keota Unlimited, which endeavors to create activities in town. She is also on the city?s planning and zoning commission, which is creating a comprehensive plan for the city. The city?s consultant said the town needed an activity every week to bring people to town. Eakins thought a farmers market would fit the bill.

?It would be something different and something fun that all different ages of people could enjoy,? she said.

Eakins visited the Washington Farmers Market last week for the first time. She said she was excited to open a market in Keota after seeing how much fun people had at Washington?s market.

?I was just amazed,? she said. ?I was so excited when I left Washington because all these people were enjoying themselves, eating and visiting.?

Eakins talked to Tanya Webster, a vendor from Keota who comes to Washington?s market, about how to set up a market in Keota. Webster told her when neighboring markets meet so that Keota?s market wouldn?t fall on the same day of the week. Eakins talked to several vendors at Washington?s market who are from the Keota area and who would be willing to sell at Keota?s market.

The Keota Farmers Market will probably last from June to August, Eakins said. A few people in Keota have told her they plan to sell produce from their garden once it?s ready.

?I am confident the market will be successful in Keota,? she said.