Iowa Farmers Market Association

07/21/2026

SAVE THE DATE: National Farmers Market Week is right around the corner!

Head to your favorite local Farmers Market to Celebrate!

Market Managers, let us know in the comments what your National Farmers Market Week plans are!

07/09/2026

Update on SNAP guidelines!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) directed Iowa HHS to return to federal SNAP guidelines, meaning all food items eligible before January 1, 2026, are allowed again. Stores have been instructed to make these changes as soon as possible.

Because the SUN Bucks program was already underway when this update took effect, foods that were previously eligible before the waiver will be allowed under SUN Bucks.

See the news release here: https://hhs.iowa.gov/news-release/2026-07-02/healthy-snap-food-waiver-update

06/16/2026

Kelsey Abell is one of the newest Board Members to the Iowa Farmers' Market Association.
Kelsey Abell is a former cosmetologist, a stay-at-home mom of 4, a wife, and runs a cottage law bakery out of her home. She is the President of her local soccer club and the Market Manager for the Knoxville Farmers Market.
She thrives on chaos and creativity; loving to learn, create, and plan activities, whether for the family or one of the organizations she is involved in. Her goal, no matter what she does, is to do it in kindness.
Community is very important to her in creating a space where all are welcome, and individuality is encouraged. She believes she is a benefit to the IFMA because of her desire to bring fresh ideas to the table. She loves to bring some creativity and ideas to the IFMA as well as being able to help other markets and vendors to grow in their communities!

06/15/2026

The Iowa State Fair is looking for vendors for their farmers market to be held during the state fair inside Gate 15 from Aug 13 to Aug 22 from 4pm to 7pm.

Looking for produce, sourdough, fresh flowers, artisan food and agriculture farmers market vendors!

Choose Iowa vendors are preferred but all are welcome!

Application deadline is July 1, 2026.

Iowa State Fair Farmers Market application

06/11/2026

Molly Moore is one of the newest Board Members for the Iowa Farmers Market Association.
Molly holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a pre-veterinary focus from Iowa State University. Following graduation, she completed a year of AmeriCorps service at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This experience inspired her to transition her career toward the National Park Service, environmental conservation, and public land stewardship which led to positions with Polk County Conservation, growing her interest in parks, programming, and now, Farmers' Markets.
Molly started managing the Johnston Farmers Market in 2024, when she started her current role with the City of Johnston as Recreation Coordinator, but she has always loved representing organizations at local farmers markets, events, and expos. Now she enjoys getting behind the scenes and creating connections with local farmers, craft vendors, and small businesses; always encouraging people to shop local!

06/09/2026

Elizabeth Weyers joined the Iowa Farmers Market Association in 2024 and serves as The Manager of the Downtown Farmers’ Market at the Greater Des Moines Partnership in Des Moines, Iowa.
Her connection to The Market spans nearly a decade, with 2026 marking her eighth season with the Downtown Farmers’ Market. She began her involvement in 2019 as the Market’s Intern and continued for four years as a freelance Market Ambassador.
Through these roles, Elizabeth has experienced the Market from multiple perspectives and developed a deep passion for shopping local, supporting farmers, and expanding the role of farmers’ markets as community resources that connect growers, residents, and Market patrons.

06/04/2026

Bob Shepherd is a founding member of the Iowa Farmers Market Association and has been working with the Washington Farmers Market over the last 30+ years. His market prides itself that the vendors make, bake or grow all the products they sell. Bob has assisted with farmers markets for decades and wants market managers to know every market is unique. Make your market fit your community. It takes time.

06/02/2026

Sosia Duffy is the Secretary for The Iowa Farmers' Market Association.

Sosia lives in Albia, Iowa, with her husband and 5 Children. Sosia is the Local Food & Community Agriculture Manager at Mindful Nourishment Matters, a non-profit in Knoxville, Iowa, where she is leading the community garden initiative and local market education.
She serves as an active member of the local farm bureau and a dedicated produce vendor and promoter for the Albia Farmers Market. Her work is defined by a commitment to agricultural sustainability and regional food security.

05/28/2026

Scott DeVries is The Iowa Farmers Market Association Treasurer and comes to us from The Prairie City Farmers Market

Scott first interacted with the Prairie City market as a food vendor. He worked alongside market managers to assist with social media, advertising, and market setup for several years before assuming the Market Manager role in 2021.
In addition to the market, Scott is a member of the local business association (which is a co-sponsor of the Prairie City Market) and runs a non-profit community clothing closet. Scott lives on a farm just outside Prairie City, where in his spare time he enjoys gardening and spending time on a nearby bike trail

05/26/2026

David Ash is the Vice Chair of The Iowa Farmers Market Association and Tera Ash joined The Iowa Farmers' Market Association in 2025.

David and Tera just completed their third year as Board Members of the Fort Dodge Farmers Market. They have been vendors since the 2020 market season.
They help vendors stay compliant with State licensing (cottage food laws), to include snap and WIC certifications. They have a 10-acre farmstead north of Fort Dodge. They bring a good variety of farm-fresh products to the market each week.