A Beautiful First Year at Wire Park: A Grateful Recap

As we wrap up our very first year at Wire Park, my heart is overflowing with gratitude, pride, and awe at what we’ve built together. What began as a new chapter for the Oconee Farmers Market has grown into so much more than a market space—it has become a true community home. This year has been filled with early mornings, bustling Saturdays, new friendships, shared meals, and countless moments of joy that remind us exactly why we do what we do.

Thank You, Wire Park — Our New Home

We could not have asked for a better partner than Wire Park. Their team—supportive, visionary, and always willing to help—has been instrumental in making this first year such a success. From accommodating our ever-growing vendor list to cheering alongside us during special events, the Wire Park staff, especially Cam Shockey, has shown time and again what true community partnership looks like. Thank you for welcoming us, supporting us, and believing in what the market brings to this space. We truly feel at home here.

To Our Vendors — You Are the Heartbeat of the Market

Our incredible vendors—farmers, growers, bakers, artisans, chefs, crafters, makers, and small-business dreamers—YOU are the heartbeat of the Oconee Farmers Market.

From week to week, you show up with passion, talent, and a commitment to quality that continues to amaze me. You bring the colors, the scents, the flavors, the creativity, and the personality that make our market come alive.

This year brought record-breaking enrollment with over 110 applicants, as well as vendor participation, with markets that grew to over 30 vendors at a time. We welcomed new faces, celebrated returning favorites, and watched small businesses blossom right before our eyes. Your dedication—through the heat, the cold, the wind, the long nights preparing—never goes unnoticed. Thank you for trusting OFM. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for making this market something truly special.

To Our Customers — You Make Every Saturday Worthwhile

To our loyal shoppers, families, neighbors, and visitors from near and far: THANK YOU.

Your enthusiasm and steady support keep our vendors thriving and allow this market to continue growing. Every Saturday, you fill Wire Park with energy—shopping local,

encouraging small businesses, and creating a sense of community that can’t be replicated.

We’ve seen new families find us, longtime supporters return, children learning where their food comes from, and customers who arrive as strangers and leave as friends. Your presence matters more than you know.

Highlights from Our First Year

What a year it has been! Here are just a few moments that stand out:

1. Record attendance and markets overflowing with local products, handmade goods, and beautiful produce.

2. Holiday markets, fall festivals, and special events that brought out the best of our community.

3. Farm-to-Table collaborations that deepened our

   commitment to supporting local farms.

4. Vendor growth that exceeded every expectation and filled Wire Park with creativity and abundance.

5. A true community atmosphere where families gather, friends meet, and our local economy grows stronger.
   

   Every step of this journey has been a blessing.
   

Looking Ahead

As we step into a new year at Wire Park, we do so with excitement, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to our mission:

Connecting our community with local farmers, makers, and small businesses

while cultivating a warm, welcoming space for all.

We cannot wait to continue growing with you, improving the market experience, and celebrating many more Saturdays—rain or shine—together.

With heartfelt thanks,

Carol Gurley Market Director, Oconee Farmers Market