From Volunteering to Building a Legacy: The YLNI Farmers Market's Journey of Community in Fort Wayne

It was a hot, hazy July morning. I had driven my beloved Pontiac Grand AM to the customer parking lot while making mental notes of all the errands that I needed to do later that afternoon. I jogged across Wayne St downtown Fort Wayne, and as I took my very first step onto the History Center courtyard, I thought that I was just there to volunteer.

As I strolled through the YLNI Farmers Market that morning, I was greeted by new and unfamiliar faces. Smiles and waves became contagious, and I was soon in conversation with people that I didn't know would become my family someday. 

Little did I know that this one volunteer shift was the gateway to what I can only describe as community as in unity, solidarity, camaraderie. Something that Fort Wayne was hurting for. 

It was 12 years ago that this little market community consisted of only about 30 vendors. Over the years this community grew to hundreds of vendors. Even in this growth, many vendors bid farewell as they outgrew the market and needed their own brick and mortar along with employees and everything else that a small business has to offer.

This community also included local musicians. These musicians showcased their talent at the market even when the market season was only six weeks long. Soon enough the market grew to 22 weeks long. More and more musicians revealed their voices and skills. Many if not all became market favorites, but again bid farewell as they took on other gigs.

Another key component to the market community included volunteers. It usually only took just a few shifts for a volunteer to be swept up into the community and take on a few more responsibilities by joining the market committee. Year after year, volunteers and committee members pushed through the normalities of farmers markets, and strived to create their own benchmarks. Then as it most often happens, the now movers and shakers had to move on as well.

Over all these years, the market had been creating stepping stones for so many vendors, musicians, and volunteers. All while this community continued to grow the market, funding was created for yet another group that had become so valuable to that same community: our next generation of market shoppers, our youngest market-goers.

The market established their own Power of Produce Club in 2019. Abbreviated as POP Club, the market pumps $10k into this initiative that encourages children to purchase their own plant starts, veggies and fruit, and to learn where their food comes from. Each Saturday children can stop at the market’s POP Club tent and pick up a token worth $2 to spend with any produce vendor at the market. This initiative has truly encouraged and given kiddos the power to choose healthier eating habits. Coming back week after week, customers have also contributed to the market community.

That same year, Brunch on Barr was created to house the increase of food trucks; this also allowed for alcohol vendors to have an outlet. Even in its infancy, this program is sold out week after week, again creating community among its vendors and customers.

The farmers market has over and over created not just a community, but community which has long been a need for Fort Wayne. It has inspired small businesses, artists, has made volunteers into leaders, and continues to contribute to Fort Wayne by advancing our local economy. The market has made an imprint on everyone that is a part of it, on everyone that visits, and on everyone that dares to be a part of it personally. I can attest to that!
Twelve years ago when I thought that I’d be helping set up tents, clean tables, etc. that small community took a hold of me and allowed me to grow right beside it. I have been able to develop my leadership skills, oral and written communication, and the ability to help develop a family amongst vendors who had not known each other previously.

And now going into the next 20 years, I encourage our Fort Wayne community to support a market that has given so much of itself to growing Fort Wayne’s unity.

Ashley Wagner, YLNI Market Manager