Wayne County approves new daily vendor fee option at Farm Credit Farmers Market to attract event vendors

Wayne County commissioners on Sept. 16 approved a revised vendor-fee structure for special events at the Farm Credit Farmers Market that adds a per-event fee option for vendors who do not want an annual commitment.

Cooperative extension staff told the board that many occasional vendors do not want to pay the $100 annual fee and instead prefer a per-event option. Staff proposed charging $35 for participating vendors at a single event, while regular vendors would still be able to pay an annual $100 fee or the $5 per-day fee that regular participants typically pay.

"We see the opportunity to have vendors, and they don't really want to pay the annual fee because they just wanted to go to one or two events," the cooperative extension director said. The $35 per-event rate is intended to be a middle ground so occasional vendors can participate in large events such as the marketseason openers, discovery days or holiday bazaars without incurring the full annual cost.

Staff said the market is slow after school resumes and the per-event fee is designed to encourage participation at special events such as a planned holiday event with story time and expanded decorations. Commissioners approved the revised fee structure as presented and asked staff to monitor vendor participation and return to the board if the policy causes unexpected enrollment impacts or revenue shortfalls.

Under the revised structure, staff noted vendors who plan to attend three or more events in a season would likely find it financially advantageous to pay the $100 annual fee rather than the $35 per-event rate.