Buffalo Elementary hosts its first farmers’ market
Fourth and fifth grade students at Buffalo Elementary School in Buffalo Township recently got a firsthand experience at running a business by working alongside local vendors and harvesting their own product.
On Aug. 8, Buffalo Elementary School hosted its first farmers’ market, run by teacher Maddie Wells and her fourth and fifth grade students.
Wells, who runs the garden club at the school, said she wanted to expand the program and get students engaged.
“I was just trying to think of ways we could expand our garden program and teach them about different businesses that they could do with agriculture,” Wells said.
The market featured flowers and vegetables harvested by the students as well as donations from local farms. Students were paired up with other vendors to learn from and assist in business.
According to Wells, “It was about 90% student run, from setting up in the morning to bagging produce to checking out customers.”
The event taught students about gardening and agriculture; as well as how to interact with community members, count change and prepare products.
“The purpose of the event is to teach them different opportunities that come with gardening and also social skills,” Wells said.
She considered the event a success and hopes to host more farmers’ market events in the future, We;lls said.
While nothing is official yet, she is considering planning a holiday event where students make and sell wreaths and poinsettias.
