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Community Farmers Market Volunteer Feature: Lacey Cornell

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By Admin, BuyLocalBG.com, BuyLocalBg@gmail.com/
Thursday, April 16th, 2015 9:00 AM CST

Community Farmers Market is a volunteer driven market.  Over the last five years our farmers, artists, customers and community partners have benefited from the hard work and commitment of our loyal volunteers.  From putting out signs to working the market booth, representing the farmers and artists at public events and pursuing new opportunities to create better food access-our entire community benefits from their efforts.  Today, we would like to feature current volunteer Lacey Cornell.

How did you begin volunteering at CFM?

I began volunteering at CFM after attending the market as a customer and wanted to get involved as an intern. I was required to do an internship for my graduate degree in Folk Studies at WKU, and so I sent a cold email to CFM. I received a response from Michelle Howell gladly welcoming me into the horde. I have since moved on to new opportunities but miss my CFM family immensely.

 How is CFM different than other organizations? 

I think that CFM is special because they actively go out into the community to help give fellow farmers a chance to become self-sufficient, as well as provide real, fresh food and hospitality to families from all walks of life. Not all organizations have that drive for unquenchable outreach.

What have you learned while volunteering at CFM?

I learned so much about farmers in my community when I was living in Bowling Green and working as an intern. My favorite days of the week were when I could just sit at the market and talk to the farmers about their daily lives, struggles, and triumphs. I also learned how to teach large groups of students about herbs and how to take down/put up tents in record time. I treasure my time spent working with the market because it has shaped me for my future career aspirations as a non-profit entrepreneur bringing together children and the elderly together to teach one another about traditional ways of cooking, baking, and gardening.

How has CFM created new opportunities in your life? 

Since leaving Bowling Green and unfortunately CFM along with it, I have joined FoodCorps as a service member in the tiny, rural town of Marshall, Arkansas, population 1300. FoodCorps is an organization that seeks to connect kids to healthy foods in their schools through Farm to School programs, building school gardens, and garden based education initiatives with classroom teaching. Additionally, I have been assisting my local farmers market expand as they attempt to bring new farmers into the fold and accept SNAP/EBT benefits. I feel certain that if I had not been an intern at CFM, I would not be nearly as effective in my current position because I would be missing key moments from my life that have shaped and prepared me for the present and future.

Community Farmers Market is a year-round market featuring over 50 vendors with a variety of local foods and handcrafted items. The Market also regularly offers cooking demonstrations, folk school classes and live music. Hours are Saturdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and Tuesdays from 2-6 p.m. It is located at 2319 Nashville Road next to the WKU Store. For information about Community Farmers Market BG, visit www.communityfarmersmarketbg.com.

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