Farmers’ Market Short Course
Farmers’ Market Manager Short Course
The Farmers’ Market Manager Short Course will develop your knowledge of farmers market topics specific to Wisconsin. To ensure that markets have access to education across the state, the Wisconsin Farmers Market Association and the University of Wisconsin Extension bring together experts on food safety, regulations, risk management and the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Registration is week by week so you can attend one, all or any combination of weeks, whatever fits your schedule. The Short Course is presented live only and is not available for replay.
2025 Short Course – Wednesdays in March from 11 am to noon
March 5, 2025 –
Boost Your Booth
When “Show and Tell” becomes “Show and SELL” – that’s the power of Visual Merchandising and strategic product presentation. Is your booth inviting? Shoppable? Does it communicate your “brand” and the quality level of your products? In this presentation, we’ll explore ways to elevate your booth’s appearance while increasing your sales. Win, win!
Presenter: Amy Meadows, Principal, Windows Matter – Amy Meadows is a nationally recognized designer, educator and speaker in the field of Visual Merchandising and Retail Design. For 25 years, Amy led the Window Display, Holiday and Marketing Events departments for Marshall Field’s/ Macy’s. Amy’s engaging, no-nonsense approach for solving branding and marketing challenges by means of innovative presentation and experiential strategies makes her a sought-after consultant and speaker for arts organizations, educational seminars and historic business districts.
March 12, 2025 –
Driving Foot Traffic Using Location Based Marketing
In this session, we’ll discuss how to leverage real world audience behaviors (Farmers Market Visitors, Whole Foods Visitors, Yoga Studio Visitors, etc.) into marketing that drives foot traffic to your Farmers Market events. We’ll discuss omnichannel approaches and best practices to reach qualified customers with precision and frequency.
Presenter: Brittany Longenbach, Senior Account Executive, GroundTruth – Brittany is a skilled media professional known for her expertise in omnichannel marketing campaigns. With over 15 years of experience in the advertising industry, she helps clients create thoughtful and intentional campaigns spanning from top of funnel branding initiatives to lower funnel, direct response tactics.
March 19, 2025 –
Bringing the Taste It Tent to Your Market
The managers of the Brown Deer, Jackson Park, Oak Creek, and Riverwest Farmers Markets will host a how-to session on bringing the popular Taste It Tent to your market. The Taste It Tent is a market hub for sampling local seasonal produce and agricultural products that brings shoppers and volunteers together to share information and recipes while boosting sales for vendors. Learn what you need to get going including essential items, budget considerations, and how to staff and promote your Taste It Tent.
Presenters: Farmers market managers of the Southeast Wisconsin Farmers Market Collaborative: Ruth Weill, Riverwest Farmers Market; Dena Radtke, Jackson Park Farmers Market; Dawn Carrillo, Oak Creek Farmers Market; Kerry Hoey, Brown Deer Farmers Market
March 26, 2025 –
Data Informed Social Media Advertising
This presentation will focus on how farmer market managers can use data from customer surveys and readily available social media analytics to inform more effective outreach. Case studies for how this data can be used to inform outreach will be shared with a focus on how you can adapt these strategies to benefit your own market.
Presenter: Bret Shaw, Professor, Division of Extension & Department of Life Sciences Communication, UW-Madison – Bret Shaw is a Communication Specialist for the Division of Extension and a Professor in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His work focuses on how to support farmers market managers to conduct more effective marketing through understanding the motivations and preferences of different audiences and testing what messages are most effective.
Extension Waukesha County * University of Wisconsin-Madison
515 W Moreland Boulevard * Administration Center Room G22 * Waukesha, WI 53188
Office Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday * Phone: (262) 548-7770
