Frankenmuth Farmers Market Annual Report 2015

Frankenmuth Farmers Market
Annual Report
2015
Dear Frankenmuth Farmers Market Supporter,
The 2015 season of the Frankenmuth Farmers Market is now complete, and will be
remembered fondly. It was our 11th season, our first at our new location, and a new
beginning for your Market.
We got a feel for the awesome community support for this project when people stopped by
to say how happy they were to see this project happen. We had visitors from New York,
New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, California, Canada and Europe. People
from Saginaw, Reese, Bay City, Munger, Clio, Millington, northern Michigan, and the
Detroit area. They all came to see and taste the good, locally grown food from our region.
Our goal for agri-tourism is starting even now.
We have been fortunate to have some exceptional people who have stepped up to make
your Market happen. Lynn Zuellig started in February 2015 as our volunteer project
manager, keeping all the details in mind as she coordinates this huge endeavor with
Bronner Construction, and TSSF Architects. Gena Harken will be joining us as our
business manager, establishing policies and procedures and taking care of the many
details of starting a business. Jennifer Miller, of Miller Family Orchard, will be stepping
down from the board and taking on the role of Incubator Kitchen Manager. This is our
literal bread and butter and she will work to keep the kitchen full of users. We are thrilled
to have these excellent people on our team.
We have met so many generous individuals, foundations and community groups who
believe in our mission and want to help. 2016 will be another year of firsts, and we can’t
wait.
See you at the Market,
Michele Bernreuter, President
Frankenmuth Farmers Market
The Frankenmuth Farmers Market (FFM) is a non-profit organization formed to benefit growers
and the community guided by their Mission and Vision.
Our Mission: To promote and provide locally grown food and products, education, and
entrepreneurial opportunities to benefit the community and foster sustainability.
Our Vision:
 Supply community with fresh local products
 Create the exchange of value-added goods
 Educate all stakeholders in the value and benefits of a local sustainable food system
 Enable everyone to leave the Market enriched through wealth, knowledge, satisfaction and
enjoyment that would not be otherwise gained
 Keep or rural heritage alive
 Inspire community…that’s you!
Frankenmuth Farmers 2015 Market Board of Directors
Michele Bernreuter, president
Angie Engelhardt, vice president
Cheryl Lintz, treasurer
Bron Harmon, secretary
Julie Gafkay, member
Lynn Maurer, member
Zak McClellan, member
Jennifer Miller, member and farmer representative
Maria Schumacher, member
LJ Kehn, Market Manager
Dietrich Bronner, Marketing Volunteer
Lynn Zuellig, Volunteer Project Manager
Joan Ramm, Volunteer Copy Editor
______________________________________________________________
For every $100,000 spent on market operating expenses there was a
$1.8 million economic impact.
--2007 Study by Econsult and funded by Ford Foundation
______________________________________________________________
New Location, New Beginning
The Frankenmuth Farmers Market opened for its 11th season in May 2015 at our new location at 534 N Main St,
next to the Frankenmuth Credit Union. It was a leap of faith for our vendors, away from the guaranteed crowds of
the tourist district, but our faithful customers showed up en masse to support us at a record setting attendance
season opener.
Digging in for the Future
October 30, 2015 dawned sunny and perfect. We were not surprised, as we all know there is no rain allowed on a
parade in Frankenmuth! We were honored by the show of support from the community as our major financial
backers shared how the market will make an impact in Frankenmuth and beyond, and then dug in.
We are well on our way to the anticipated mid-May opening
of the Market Pavilion, with space for 28 vendors under the
canopy. There will be room for others in the courtyard and
front porch also. The Farm Store inventory is being
decided upon, and will be a shoppers delight - the kind of
place you will have to check each week for new items and
“great finds.” The Incubator Kitchen will be stocked with
all the vital equipment, along with a wood fired brick oven.
The courtyard will allow space to sit and enjoy a visit with
friends and neighbors. The Gathering Barn will be
available for showers, parties and meetings and will be the
site of many educational programs and events.
2015 Special Events
• The Market participated in the annual Taste of Frankenmuth and
served up some local goodness for the patrons. We were the grateful
recipients of the Noon Rotary’s funds raised during this event.
The Market sponsored a float in the Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival Parade and was awarded the Chamber of
Commerce trophy.
• The Market celebrated its 11th Birthday in July with
LJ’s famous carrot cake.
• The Annual Frankenmuth Farmers Market Tabloid
was printed and distributed in the Frankenmuth News in
July.
• The Market hosted an annual Pig Roast with the help of
Zehnder’s
• The Old Christmas Station Restaurant hosted a sold-out “Date Night” with all proceeds benefiting the Market.
• The annual Feast of the Harvest Moon was held in September at Zehnder’s Restaurant, with 140 persons in
attendance – the largest group in the FFM’s history.
• November brought the annual Christkindlmarkt for
two weekends with large crowds and perfect weather.
2015 Educational Opportunities
• The audience at the annual Feast of the Harvest
Moon learned about the growers who are the
backbone of the market, watching them grow
along with the market.
• Dietrich Bronner continues to write a weekly
column in the Frankenmuth News about the
benefits of a local food system. He includes a
cooking lesson featuring recipes using market
ingredients.
• CMU Marketing student Megan Milller and
Concordia University Marketing student Hunter Bernreuter volunteered to document the summer season on
Twitter and Facebook, interview the vendors, sell advertising in the tabloid and were a valuable asset in getting
younger people aware of the market.
MSU Dietetic student Annalisa Creger volunteered to staff the “Kernel of Knowledge” booth, sharing
informational poster sessions on various nutrition topics.
Culinary student Brittany Baker and Chef Tom Fisher did cooking demos, using market ingredients.
• Market Mistress LJ Kehn taught a class of 20
students in the Market Manager Certification
Program offered through the Michigan Farmers
Market Association (MIFMA).
MIFMA held a training at our market to show market
managers how to safely do cooking demonstrations at
a market.
• Cookbooks and educational pamphlets about
nutrition were available weekly at the Market.
____________________________________________________________
“Fresh produce in the Midwest travels on average more than 1,500 miles…”
----Center for Sustainable Systems; University of Michigan
“85% of Farm Market Vendors traveled fewer than 50 miles to sell at farm
markets in 2008.” ----Farmers Market Today
____________________________________________________________
2015 Market Community Benefits
• The Market made donations to the Made in Michigan Film
Festival and City Beautification Fund.
• The Market also was a collection point for 1,000 pounds of
food donations, which were delivered to the Saginaw Soup
Kitchen, Hidden Harvest and The Real 1% Food Bank.
• The Market offered a venue for other non-profits and
educational groups to share their mission, including the
Saginaw Bean Bunny, 4-H, Herbal Society of America
Frankenmuth Mid- Michigan Unit, and MSU Extension.
The Market added Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) to its list of food benefit programs, which matches dollars
spent on Michigan produce at the Market. Other programs accepted include Project Fresh; Senior Project Fresh;
Women, Infant and Children benefits; and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). There were 46
transactions totaling $904.
The Girl Scouts sold t-shirts they designed about the market. The Boy Scouts sold popcorn and pumpkins.
2015 Vendors
AB&C
Beyer Produce
Boardwalk Kitchen
Butterhorn Bakers
Deborah Kenneth
DMS Fish Distribution
Doyle's Vegetable Farm
Fostoria Bread Company
Frankenmuth 4 H Pace Setters
Girl Scout Troop 50857
Grand Traverse Pie Co.
Heather May
Hoffman Farms
Jar Head Salsa
Jodie's Massage
John Henry's LLC
KAPOW Soap and KaChomp
Dog Treats
Kernel Benny's Popcorn
Lawrence Farms
Ludwig Farmstead Creamery
Ma Tilger’s Family Farm
Main Squeeze Lemonade
Martin's Produce
Mike & Renee Pero
Miller Family Orchard
New Earth Microgreens &
Miniature Gardens
Paul's Produce
Red Maple Bakery
Schiefer Farms
Taylor Fruits
Tozy Tea LLC
Uncle Bob’s Smoky Mountain
Premium Sauce
Weiss Centennial Farm
Weiss Flowers
Xiong's Mini Market
Young Living
Building Project Update
The Market hired grant writer Manuela Kress to assist us with grant writing, and we were very successful. Jeanna
Rogner of Premier Promotions helped us to develop our promotional materials and Powerpoints that we used at
many community and grant presentations. Efforts were made to engage every community group in a presentation
on the project. Our business plan was completely rewritten to include detailed building and operational budgets to
guide decision making and create the sustainability plan.
TSSF Architects, Inc.
Frankenmuth Credit Union, Lending Institution
Wm Bronner & Sons Contractors, General Contractor
Grants Awarded through December 2015
$150,000 Frankenmuth Community Foundation
$125,000 Frankenmuth Credit Union Foundation for our Communities
$75,000 Margaret Jane Stoker Charitable Trust (administered by First Merit Bank)
$75,000 Allen E. and Maria A. Nickless Memorial Foundation
$75,000 Wickson-Link Memorial Foundation
$75,000 Harvey Randall Wickes Foundation
$75,000 Consumers Energy Foundation
$50,000 USDA Rural Business Development Grant
$20,000 Saginaw Community Foundation
$20,000 John E. Klobucar and Joseph D Klobucher Foundation
$7,800 100+ Women Who Care
Total Funds Raised As of January 1, 2016
Received $470,850
Pledged $781,027
Total $1,251,877
_______________________________________________________________
“If every family in Michigan spent $10 per week at a farmer’s market, it
would keep $40 million in our state.”
---Michigan Commission on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________
2015 Financial Recap
Operating Income
Dividends
$
29.14
Donations
$ 7,175.91
Vendors
$ 7,949.00
Sales (Coffee & Merchandise)$ 467.98
Tabloid
$ 2,340.00
Credit Card Machine
$ 12,614.20
Feast
$ 7,909.00
Pig Roast
$ 1,005.75
Christkindlmrkt
$ 15,559.00
$ 55,049.98
Building Donations
Deposits
Dividends
Building Expenses
Bank fees
Grant Writing fees
The Starting Bock
Legal Fees
Architectural fees
Construction
Equipment Purchases
Mortgage down payment
Land Payment
Fundraising
$332,184.90
$154.08
$332,338.98
$526.90
$18,181.00
$3,500.00
$780.00
$87,450.00
$25,845.00
$3,550.00
$13,700.00
$10,000.00
$1,980.20
$165,513.10
Join Us
There are many ways to become involved in the
Frankenmuth Farmers Market. Please consider a
donation to the building fund.
You can also join a committee. Volunteer in the
Farm Store. Think about taking the next step in
owning your own business and testing your
product. Shop local and your money stays local.
Operating Expenses
Tokens
$8,598.55
Music
$560.00
Tabloid
$2,565.00
Website
$1,000.00
Port-a-Poty
$450.00
Advertising
$550.00
Feast
$4,531.65
Pig Roast
$599.54
Christkindlmrkt
$5,970.28
Postage
$410.51
Signs
$637.57
Market Master
$12,000.00
Credit Card Machine $2,158.09
Supplies
$699.99
Professional Fees
$465.00
Insurance
$2,509.50
Property Taxes
$5,961.08
Printing
$1,143.48
Float
$362.53
$51,172.77
Net Operating
$ 3,877.21
Net Building
$166,825.88
Corporate Sponsors
AirAdvantage *
Bavarian Inn Restaurant & Lodge *
Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland
Cederberg Funeral Home of Frankenmuth
Charlin's Book Nook
Consumers Energy *
Covenant Glen Assisted Living
Frankenmuth CheeseHaus *
Frankenmuth Credit Union
Frankenmuth Credit Union Management Staff
Frankenmuth Credit Union Staff
Frankenmuth Insurance
Frankenmuth News
Gafkay Law, PLC
Healthy Habitz 4 Life
Heidinger Investments
Mike Young Buick GMC
Mobile Medical Response
PCS Computer Systems, Inc.
Primed to Paint
Rau's Country Store, Inc.
Scott Rausch & Associates
Tri-Star Trust Bank
TSSF Architects
Vassar Building Center
Willi's Sausage Co.
Wm. Bronner & Sons Contractors, Inc.
Zehnder and Associates, P.C.
Zehnders of Frankenmuth
Private Donors
Joelle Abke
Mary Anne Ackerman
Lynn Allington
Claudia Anderson
Jackie Anderson
Dottie Angiuano
Taylor Arvilla
Patricia Arvilla
Carissa Athey
Daniel L Attenberger
Peter & Susan Auerbach
Daniel L Bade
Jeannette Baikie
Lynn Baker
Deb Bauer
Dave & Kristi Bellsky
Hugh & Michele Bernreuter
Hogan Bernreuter
Larry Bernthal
Cheryl Beythan
Jason & Jennifer Bickel
Gary Bickel
Jim & Shelly Bickel
Elaine Bickel
Linda Bielskis
Steve Bierlein
Amy Billmeier
Sheryl Bills
Andrew Blegen
Dolores & Ron Block
Jonathon Block
Julie Bonkowski
David Bonkowski
Joyce Borchard
Mary Bourdow
Jim & Sara Boyd
Anne Brickel
Hollie Britton
Irene Bronner
Randy Bronner
Dietrich Bronner
Patti Brooks
Charles & Mary Brown
Emily Brown
Jack D Brown
Carrie Bryce
Amy Buchinger
Brooke Buckley
David & Christine Budnik
Don Chase
Mary Chasseur
Sierra Chiesa
Tim Christensen
Betty Cliatt
Sandra Cobb
Fallon Cody
Bridget Cook
Nicholas Cooper
Michael Corby
Jody Cormier
Matt Cramer
JoAnn Crary
Judy Creger
Allen & Carolyn Crist
Kelly Cron
Arlene Cross
Deanna Culler
William Cunningham
Laurie Czymbor
Laurie Daenzer
Foundation Sponsors
AXA Foundation
CU Solutions Group
Duane & Dorothy Bierlein Family Foundation
Frankenmuth Community Foundation *
Harvey Randall Wickes Foundation
JE Klobucar/JD Klobucher Foundation
John C. & Ann Leone Koester Charitable Trust
Margaret Jane Stoker Charitable Trust administered by FirstMerit
Private Bank
Saginaw Community Foundation *
The Allen E & Maria A Nickless Memorial Foundation *
The Wallace & Irene Bronner & Family Charitable Foundation
USDA-Rural Business Development Grant *
Wickson-Link Foundation *
William McNally Family Foundation
Civic Sponsors
4H Pacesetters
Bavarian Arbor #762 Gleaner Life Insurance Society
Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce
Frankenmuth Jaycees
Frankenmuth Mid-Michigan Unit of Herb Society of America
Frankenmuth Noon Rotary
Frankenmuth Women's Club
Friends of Frankenmuth United Methodist Church
Bill Dafoe
Pam Daily
Les & Judy Dale
Debra Decoster
Victoria DeGrace
Andrew & Tessa Donovan
Kellie Doolan
Gregory & Julie Dowis
Dennis Doyle
Diane Draper
Laurie Dubay
William Dudewicz
Richard Durkee
Lisa Dykema
Ruthie Elbers
Gary Ell
Mary Engel
Angela Engelhardt
Amanda Erbisch
Randall & Lori Ettema
Brian Evans
Ila Mae Ezop
Renee Farnsworth
Melissa Fielbrandt
A Jean Fields
Reyna Fitch
Ann Fitch
Al Fong
Gerald Fournier
Frederick & Carol Fox
John Fox
Robert & Mary Frank
Jeremy & Janet Frank
Janet Frank
Jerry & Ann Frank
Bernard & Gloria Frazee
Robert & Aline Freimuth
Jane Frenzke
Kevin Fresorger
Debbie Fries
Ryann Fugate
Julie Gafkay
Heather Galsterer
Duane & Darlene
Gerstenberger
Charlotte Geyer
Marshall & Veonna Gibbs
Amanda Gibbs
GraceAnn Gilleland
Chris & Louise Gioe
Karla Glowiak
Brad Gnatkowski
Dave & Judy Gorney
Betty Goyings
Neal & Mauricette Gracey
Pam Graham
Charles & Ann Graham
Carole Grates
Bill & Janet Gray
Becky Grimpo
Peter Haake
Chuch Haller
Robert & Mary Beth
Handeyside
Sarah Handeyside
Debra Hardin
Scott & Bron Harmon
Duane Hartman
Donna Haubenstricker
Floyd Haubenstricker
Blake & Connie Hebner
Cheryl Hecht
Katherine Heidenreich
Angie Heinlein
Vicki Heinsman
Kit Henderson
Ermie Hermann
Neil & Ruth Herzog
Marsha Herzog
George & Gail Hester
Joan Hetzner
Zach Heyse
Mary Zehnder-Heyse
Margaret Higgins
James Hildebrandt
Matthew & Jessica Hillborg
Richard & Donna Hodge
David Holtslander
Kelly Honeman
Nancy Honold
Ken Horn
Larry Huber
Pat Hughes
Scott Husen
Scott Ireland
Dennis & Sue Isken
Rhoda Jeffery
Bart and Andrea Jenniches
Kay Sue Johanson
Marquita Jordan
Dorothy Jorgensen
Gretchen Jungnitsch
Jerry & Beverly Kabat
Ken Kaschinske
Lindsay Kaufman
Girls Kehn
Patty Keinath
Kathy Kern
Lori Keys
Elaine Kimmerly
Marilyn & Alan Klco
Sheila Koon
Eric Korthals
Francis Kostrzewa
Dennis Krafft
Manuela Kress
Joseph Kubiak
Lori Kueffner
Matthew Lambertson
Talisa Laming
Katelyn Larrison
Greg & Tina Lawrence
Cheryl Lintz
Frank & Vicky List
Kay & Steve List
Art & Cheryl Loeffler
Robert Loesel
Anita Loesel
William & Pam Loiacano
Jeni Long
David & Pauline Luhring
R Dana MacVay
Stacey Malace
Thomas & Karen Manial
Debra Mantey
Mary Martinez
Shawn Marx
Steven Masker
Dean & Kathleen Mates
Samantha Matthews
Kenneth & Lynn Maurer
Collin & Jillian Maurer
Gayle Mayer
Amy McAvoy
Bob & Teri Chambers
McCarthy
Carol McClellan
Mary McEwen
Jon Meinert
Roland & Sharon Meinert
Keegan Merideth
Kathryn Meyer
Larry & Randi Michael
Pamela Miller
Jennifer Miller
Karen Miller
Jeff Monchilov
Kim Moskal
Marian Mossner
John Mossner
Karen Muska
Johna Nagy
Karen Neilson
Judy Nemec
Arnold Newman
Cassy Nitz
Vern & Rosanne Notestine
Jacob Nuechterlein
Kathryn Nuechterlein
Kathy Nuechterlein
Andrew O'Connell
Helen Olivier
Alvin Ortner
Karen Ostrofsky
Joseph & Dawn Pagel
Lisa Palmreuter
Elaine Parlberg
Kayla Parrent
Al & Joan Pavlicek
Pam Pavlo
Dave & Lori Pendleton
Pam Peplinski
Tammy Pieski
Susan Piesko
Mary Porte
Emily Pressler
Jill Przybylski
Donna Psotka
Joan Ramm
Beverly Rappley
Suzanne Rapson
Agnes Raquepaw
Ray & Louise Rau
Melissa Rau
Scott Rausch
Vicki Reed
Suzy Reider
Jeffrey & Dana Reif
Amy Reinbold
Ryan Reinbold
Tamara Reinert
Leona Reinert
Peggy Reinhardt
Patrick Reynolds
Jeanne Rhodes
Chris & Lisa Riccobono
Luke & Lindy Richards
Cynthia Riness
Clarence & Sara Rivette
Barb Robertson
Josh Rodammer
Frederick & Diane Rogner
James & Cindy Rogner
William & Susan Rogner
Brandi Rosencrants
Renee Rowe
Kathy Rude
Darlene Rupp
Gary & Barbara Rupprecht
Peter & Monica Rynearson
Michelle Sage
Robert & Susan Satonik
Cheryl Schaeff
Derek Schaller
Harold & Barbara Scharrer
Dianne Scharrer
Joy Scherzer
Ruth Schiefer
PaulSchiefer
Keith & Carol Schluckbier
Elroy & Jean Schluckbier
Fred Schmidt
Jeffery & Vickie Schmitzer
Brandon Schmitzer
Kari Schmitzer
Bob & Kathy Schollmeyer
Ken & Wilhelmina Schroeder
Dave Schultz
Maria Schumacher
Fred & Alberta Schumacher
Bailey Sheppard
Paul & Elizabeth Shiffer
Mary Shur
Ruth Slevin
Alois Smith
Kisha Smith
Leo & Gloria Snidersich
Lori Snyder
Laura Southam
Sherwood Spells
Todd & Jackie Sprowl
Rudolph Sreger
Sheila & Lynn Stamiris
Dennis & Jeannette Stange
Marc Stasik
Bob & Liz Stearns
Michelle Strickert
Russel & Amy Struble
Annette Sutorik
Jennifer Szewc
Pat Taylor
Pamela Taylor
Janice Thompson
Nicholas Tietz
Susan Traubenkraut
Kenneth C Treib
Cory Trinklein
Stacy Trogan
Guy Trombley
Stanley & Sharon Tuckwell
Gladys Utter
Melissa Van Ochten
Sue VanEvery
Dale & Gretna VanFleet
Melissa VanOchten
Ellen VanWormer
Michael & Debra Varley
Loraine Veitengruber
Kimberly Veitengruber
Mechelle Stroble Vick
Mari Wahl
Lori & Christopher Waites
Jeff & Amy Wales
Richard & Ruth Wallace
Billy Watchhorn
Dorothy Watt
Helene Weber
Jonathan Weirauch
Cheryl Weirauch
Louie & Kathleen Weiss
Jeffrey & Ronda Weiss
Aaron Welch
Todd & Kathy Welch
Gary & Corinne Wellman
Rollie Wenzel
Charla Wichert
Dave & Alice Wigley
MaryBeth Wigley
Leonard Williams
Jim & Joanne Willis
Kim Wininger
Gregory Wischmeyer
Bonnie Withrow
Linda Woodle
Sara Woolwine
Daniel Wortman
Kelly Wright
Denise Wright
Natalie Wright
Lois Wylie
John & Susan Yonker
Anne Zdanowski
Barb Zietz
Thomas & Lynn Zuellig
Janet Zuellig
Ronald & Susanne Zwerk
Michael & Kathy Nuechterlein
* Donations pledged in 2015