The organizers of the Kleefeld Farmers Market say their first year was a resounding success.

Linda MacKenzie says she and her co-organizer Tanis Harder decided to start the farmers market relatively last minute.

"We decided eight weeks ago yesterday to the day that we were going to do this. I was like 'hey, do you want to do this thing?' and she was like, 'really? Yeah ok, let's do this' and then we just started. She was the first vendor we booked. Then we started asking and we had a little bit of hesitation, obviously, we're first-times. Vendors don't have time to be wasting but then it quickly caught speed, and it was off."

MacKenzie says they weren’t exactly sure how many vendors would be interested in being part of a farmers market in Kleefeld.

"Tanis said that we would be successfully amazed if we hit 20. I had a number in my heart when I had this thought come to me, I totally believe it was a God thing, and my number was 40 and she was like 'Nah if we get 20, we are rocking.' I said 'no, my number is 40 and I am believing that.'"

A total of 73 vendors participated in the Kleefeld Farmers Market this yearAt their first market on September 5th, MacKenzie says 30 vendors showed up. She notes they then checked and doubled checked the protocols to make sure everything was good to go and started allowing more people to join. She says vendors started recommending other vendors and by the end, a total of 73 different vendors were participating.

MacKenzie says the feedback they got from everyone involved was astounding.

"It was so great. We had so much support from so many amazing people. Everyone, vendors and shoppers applauded the environment. It was positive, it was encouraging, you could just feel this great energy there. We had tons of people come from Winnipeg and so many different types of vendors."

With their first attempt at running a farmer's market being so successful, Mackenzie adds they don't really have any choice but to run it again next year.