By: Gavyn Heitman, Student Reporter
The St. Paris Farmer’s Market had its first outing of the year on Friday, marking the 17th year that the weekly event has been held.
The Farmers Market brought together arts, goods, food, live entertainment, and more outside the St. Paris Municipal Building.
Ron and Lisa Prince have been running the Farmer’s Market for 15 years, providing impactful community gatherings every Friday from May to October.
Ron and Lisa said, “The market was started in 2009 as a way to bring together people from the communities in Piqua and Urbana, but we also see a lot from De Graff as well as Springfield.”
Though much of the focus is on the products, Ron and Lisa stress the importance of bringing together communities, saying, “We’ve always got a food truck and live music, it’s all about people being together.”
Holly Bargo from Hen House Publishing was advertising a variety of books she has penned, including romance, fantasy, and westerns.
Her second book from her Adventure Western series, “The Bounty,“ was released earlier last year.
Bargo was also selling original paintings of various sizes and prices.
Elm Lawn Tallow Co. was also there, showcasing a variety of health and beauty products.
Their main product is their Whipped facial Tallow, which comes in a variety of scents, including Peppermint, Lavender, Citrus, and more.
Soap, lip care, deodorant, and even dog care are also available from them.
Stroud’s Hen + Hearth was selling baked sweets, breads, and baking mixes.
Their signature Homemade with Love products are all made with 100% organic ingredients, which is the driving force behind many of their operations.
Stroud’s Hen + Hearth also runs a local farmstand where they sell eggs and fresh breads, as well as laundry and hand soap.
Live entertainment was provided by local artist Bill Purk and friends.
Purk is part of The Muleskinner Band, who have been around since 1985, originally from Urbana.
They specialize in Bluegrass, Country, and Gospel, playing many original songs as well as taking recommendations from locals.
New Orleans Grill served bourbon chicken with rice and beans to hungry customers in what was a great start to this year’s Farmer’s Market season.
The next Saint Paris Farmer’s Market will be next Friday, from 3:00-6:00 at the St. Paris Municipal Building.
