Iowa PBS and Perry Public Library pilot Farmers Market summer-learning program using 'Market Bucks'

Iowa PBS and Perry Public Library described a pilot summer program that brought library-led learning activities to the Perry Farmers Market, giving each participating child play money and hands-on activities to practice everyday literacy, early math and food skills.

The program was developed with funding from a Ready to Learn grant from PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and used a local “Perry Market Bucks” currency so children could buy fruits, vegetables, eggs or honey from vendors while practicing spending and conversation skills. "We were able to provide each child with $10 in Market Bucks each time they came to the market," Trista Paitzman, an Iowa PBS representative, said during the presentation.

Why it matters: the project aims to combine summer learning with community engagement by placing simple, developmentally appropriate activities where families already gather. Program leaders said vendors welcomed the interactions and that some families increased their produce purchases after children participated.

Program structure and activities Program staff and volunteers staffed a table at the market every other week and offered a combination of paper activities, games and hands-on stations. Activities include a vendor conversation-starter bingo, a spending log to track Market Bucks, recipe handouts tied to in-season produce, a mystery box to identify fruits or vegetables by touch, and simple measurement games such as weighing potatoes to learn what one pound looks like. Many activities are bilingual (English and Spanish).

Kayla Rothmeier, a staff member at Perry Public Library, said the library’s local knowledge helped: “They were in control and, you know, they looked for us every week,” Rothmeier said, describing children who returned regularly to the market table. Program organizers also asked for first name, age and ZIP code at sign-in so they could track participation and origin of visitors.

Funding and vendor reimbursement Program leaders said the Perry Chamber of Commerce handled redemption of Market Bucks much like SNAP or WIC coupons: vendors collected the Market Bucks, turned them in to the chamber, and the chamber issued checks weekly and charged the program’s business office. Nikki Mullins, an Iowa PBS representative, described that arrangement as simplifying vendor payments for the pilot and said the printable Market Bucks template is available for other communities that want to adopt the model.

Staffing and adaptations Organizers emphasized the program can be scaled to local resources. They said libraries can run a pared-down version without Market Bucks by bringing the free worksheets, a table and one or two simple activities. Volunteers such as older 4-H or FFA students, library volunteers, or local civic groups can help staff tables. Some vendors donated leftover produce at the end of the market, which organizers said could be used for simulated markets or handed to local food banks.

Resources and next steps Iowa PBS has posted a program guide, downloadable activities, Market Bucks templates and bilingual recipes on its website. Organizers said they plan to add a farm-safety leaflet for the coming season and are open to community feedback and adaptations. Contact options were provided during the session for organizers who want to implement the program in other communities.

The presentation described the project as a first-year pilot in Perry with plans to adapt and expand the materials; no formal policy or funding commitments beyond the pilot were announced during the session.