The Butler City Farmers' Market ended its season Saturday. Attendance this year was potentially record-breaking, according to Bob Dandoy, manager of the market.

Despite some trepidation prior to the selling season, the Butler City Farmers' Market ended its season Saturday, surpassing the expectations of its organizers.

Bob Dandoy, Butler mayor-elect and manager of the market, said the 2020 season was above average in terms of attendance, but he chalked that up to it being a good outdoor activity for people to visit during the coronavirus pandemic.

Going into summer 2021, Dandoy said he thought the market would return to the routine of previous years, which had less than stellar attendance. But each week he was pleasantly surprised.

“Last year, we didn't have any promotions, music, but people kept coming,” Dandoy said. “Some of the vendors sold out and we haven't seen that kind of business in years.”

Dandoy said the summer 2021 season was potentially record-breaking in terms of week to week attendance.

The market, which is housed in a special barn-like facility on South Chestnut Street, was open every Saturday since May 23, invited vendors of all sorts to sell each week. Dandoy said the market's organizers used to have to beg vendors to sell at the market each week, but many were glad to return week after week this year.

The variety of vendors available, which extended outside of farm products into crafts and art, helped bring buyers back each week as well. Dandoy said the availability of locally-sourced products is one of the biggest draws of farmers markets in general, especially during the pandemic.

“They were looking in that time of illness for some good, wholesome fresh food,” Dandoy said. “The response of the community to that made us have a very successful season.”

Isaac Porter attended the market this year and last year with products from Pond Hill Farm. He said Butler's market was “very successful,” and agreed that many people come in search of locally-grown food.

Porter said he only operates and sells through his produce farm in the warm months because he deals mainly in selling vegetables and produce. Farmers markets are his main source of sales.

“I go to multiple farmers markets, that's the only way I keep up selling,” Porter said. “There are lots of local farms out there to get your produce and support a local grower.”