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  • Jennifer Liggett (left) explains how she decorated her pumpkin doughnuts to Cathy Berry Saturday at Enid Farmers Market. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

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October 1, 2011

Harvest Festival caps off another year for Enid Farmers Market

By Austin Prickett, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — Live music, pony rides and a pumpkin-decorating contest were all on display during the Enid Farmers Markets season ending Harvest Festival.

Corey Groendyke, director, said the market continued to be successful despite the hot, dry summer.

“For all the challenges with the weather and lack of rain, it has been exceedingly amazing the success we have had,” Groendyke said.

For vendors, successes at the farmers market have led to more business in the community.

“Enid Farmers Market has been a catalyst for our vendors to grow their business and get into larger markets,” Groendyke said. “We are proud to support that,”

The vendors, Groendyke said, are the reason for the recent successes of the farmers market.

“The beautiful thing about having the military in Enid is that they come in and invigorate the market with new ideas from all over the United States,” Groendyke said.

This summer the farmers market has hosted four special events: GreEnid, Dog Days of Summer, Hometown Heroes and the Harvest Festival. Groendyke said the community really supports the special events and they plan to have four special events next season.

“We would like to see the market become a destination every weekend,” Groendyke said.

The Harvest Festival featured pony rides by Indian Summer Stables, a bounce house by Jump for Joy, a guess the weight of the pumpkin contest along with the vendors.

Paulette and Gary Rink of Rowdy Stickhorse in Covington were a regular sight at the market during the season. The Rinks have converted a school bus into a traveling store full of items made from natural ingredients and natural free-range meats.

“The lack of rain affects the farmers market a lot,” Gary said. “This season has gone really well. We have seen more people and the market seems to get better every year,”

Groendyke said she has an off season full of planning ahead of her to get prepared for next season.

“We have the opportunity to see the growth of the community here,” Groendyke said.

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