Editor,
Have you ever gone to the Carmel Farmers Market and noticed the official looking people who wear the yellow T-shirts standing around or riding a golf cart? Their job seems to be easy. Right?
Nothing could be further from the truth. For example, take the market’s steering committee.
Members of the vendor relations committee work way beyond the farmers market Saturdays. They expend a great deal of effort mustering up volunteers to help run the show and get all the vendors ready to roll on time.
Some committee members even go out to the vendors’ farms, which are located all over Indiana, to confirm that vendors are bringing to market locally produced food and goods.
In addition, they check to see that vendors meet the Hamilton County Health Department and appropriate State of Indiana boards’ and commissions’ requirements.
Evening meetings throughout the year demand their focus, and each member of the committee is responsible for some facet of the very sophisticated operation that includes vendors, music, site, equipment, demonstrations, special events, volunteers, finances and marketing.
The committee also creates the pleasant ambiance of the market experience by making sure that vendors and their displays are customer-pleasing and suitable. Let’s not forget the music and special events, such as the many musical groups and the upcoming Holiday Market on Nov. 23 at the Civic Square.
In other words, the members of the committee keep track of every facet of the market.
So much for my image of the yellow T-shirt folks standing around doing nothing. The vendor committee members and their volunteers work hard and care about Carmel.
They deserve halos rather than T-shirts.
Diane Hamstra
Carmel, 46032