Like any other professional, we believe a farmers market manager should be paid for his/her/their work. And like other professionals, market managers should commit themselves to continuously learning and advancing their careers through educational and networking opportunities such as webinars, conferences and volunteering.

To that end, the Ohio Farmers Market Network is proud to announce the 2021 Market Manager Certificate Program!

It wouldn’t be unusual if we pointed to the fact that like most things, farmers markets could be analyzed and approached like a venn diagram, showing “logical relations between a finite collection of different sets.” We believe the shape of a farmers market venn diagram is a star, with each point representing an integral part of a successful farmers market:

• The Market
• The Vendor
• The Community
• The Customer
• The Market Manager

The Market Manager Certificate Program (MMCP) was designed for individuals with some experience in farmers market management. While not required for participation, students may find the content more advanced than topics covered in the annual Ohio Farmers Market Conference, such as mission, vision and values, events and entertainment, and food assistance programs.

The 2021 MMCP will include presentations on the following topics:

• Project Management
• Licenses, Permits and Regulation
• Budget Building
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Emergency Preparedness
• Building Community Buy-In
• Data Collection and Use
• Fundraising
• The Power of Produce and Engaging the Next Generation

Given the investment of time and money, this program may be of more value to those seeking to advance their career in market management, those with ownership interests in a farmers market, or those invested in developing a strong, sustainable market in their community. Again, while experience is not required for participation, the benefits exist for individuals committed to this field of study.

The 2021 Market Manager Certificate Program includes the following:

• 8 webinars hosted live every Tuesday beginning January 12, 2021
• Templates, worksheets and other supplemental documentation to support your learning
• Q & A with speakers during live webinar presentations
• Access to professionals and colleagues with knowledge and experience
• One year membership to the Ohio Farmers Market Network (March 1, 2021 - February 28, 2022)

Students are encouraged to participate during live webinars, but this is not a requirement. All webinars will be recorded and available for viewing on a Google Drive after the live presentation, along with all documents shared during the webinar.

OFMN wishes to recognize and reward farmers market managers who commit to certification and professional development, and those markets who hire and support certified market managers. As such, OFMN will:

• Recognize graduates of the MMCP on OFMN website with his/her/their picture, name and market association, and;
• Recognize farmers markets on OFMN website with their logo and website, and;
• Provide a $20 discount to Certified Farmers Market Managers (CFMM) for the Ohio Farmers Market Conference hosted by OFMN, and;
• Provide a printed form of recognition such as a certificate, ID card and pin;
• Recognize CFMMs at the Ohio Farmers Market Conference.

COST: $250 for Market Manager Certificate Program or $35 per individual webinar.

REGISTRATION: Registration now open!

DATES: Webinars every Tuesday, January 12 - March 9, 2021 from 7-8:30 PM

ASSISTANCE: Stay tuned for scholarship information.

We hope you’ll join us in our pursuit to advance our markets, our vendors and the glue that binds it all together - our market managers!