Oct 30, 2017

Michigan group cites newly re-certified market managers

The Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) has recognized seven farmers’ market managers who were certified through the Market Manager Certificate Program (MMCP) and have since become re-certified after participating in continuing education opportunities. In order to become re-certified, each market manager completed more than 20 hours of training within three years, in topics essential to market management.

Re-certified market managers include; Julia Darnton, Downtown Saginaw Farmers Market; Christine Easley, Saline Farmers Markets; Marlene Epley, Williamston Farmers Market; Joe Lesauksy, Fulton Street Farmers Market; Lucy Pier, Menominee Historic Downtown Farmers Market; Marlene Epley, Williamston Farmers Market; Treasa Sowa, Munising Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market; and Myra Zyburt, Downtown Marquette Farmers Market; and Treasa Sowa, Munising Farmers Market.

The MMCP is the first of its kind in the United States and is dedicated to training farmers market managers and acknowledging them as trained professionals. The program is voluntary and designed to encourage market managers to pursue leadership skills and professional development in topics essential to market management. Program participants engage in three in-person educational sessions and seven educational webinars, totaling 32 hours of training. Once certified, market managers are then able to start working toward re-certification. Market managers must voluntarily log 20 hours of professional development as part of continuing education opportunities hosted by or approved by MIFMA. Hours can be earned by attending educational offerings such as workshops, trainings, webinars, farmers’ market tours, and related events as assigned by MIFMA.

According to MIFMA, farmers’ markets are essential to the vitality of many local communities, and with more than 300 farmers markets in Michigan, trained professionals are needed to effectively run them. Farmers’ market managers often wear many hats in order to see that the market is run successfully. Their many roles can include; managing the market’s vendors, promoting the market to both vendors and customers, coordinating volunteers, supervising staff, planning special activities events, accepting food assistance benefits, fundraising, monitoring the market’s finances, coordinating day of set up and tear down, and so much more.

“MIFMA takes pride in knowing that these seven market managers are part of the 239 individuals across the Midwest who have been certified through the MMCP since 2011,” a news release stated.

The 2018 MMCP registration is now open to MIFMA members and includes 32 hours of education through three in-person sessions Jan. 19, Jan. 20, and Feb. 17, 2018, and a series of seven webinars Jan. 22, 23, 29, 31 and Feb. 5, 7, 12. The webinars will be held from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. EST. The program will be held in Kalamazoo, Michigan with a satellite campus in northern Michigan (specific location TBD). For more information or to register for the MMCP, visit www.mifma.org/mmcp.

The educational webinars are also open to individuals not interested in attending the full program, and market managers who are already certified through the MMCP can earn professional development hours toward their own re-certifications.

More information about continuing education and re-certification for market managers or individuals who have completed the MMCP and are interested in earning professional development hours toward re-certification is available at this location.

Individuals interested in learning how to obtain a scholarship or sponsorship to participate in the 2018 MMCP are encouraged to join MIFMA for an information webinar titled, “Learn How to Get a Scholarship for the 2018 Market Manager Certificate Program,” Monday, Nov. 6, from noon to 1 p.m. EST.

Learn more or register by visiting here.