An open letter to the residents of Vance, Warren, and Granville counties that attend the Vance County Regional Farmers Market:
Dear Residents:
I am the author of a web based bi-monthly newsletter called “Greg’s Garden” that has been published since this past February on the HomeinHenderson.com website. Since the newsletter started I have been trying to promote attendance at the market. I started by putting up constant reminders about when it was to open, where it is located, and what to expect at the market. I attended the opening day and followed up with pictures and articles about all of the vendors that were at the market. I attended the market’s advisory board meeting in June and offered to promote the market more often through news articles in the HomeinHenderson.com website that also runs my newsletter. These articles were to run twice a week, on each Tuesday and Friday, prior to the market days of Wednesday and Saturday. I also met twice with the market’s manager Tracy Madigan to obtain information to promote the market further by assisting in the development of a “Healthy Eating Day” at the market that would include local medical and social facilities to help attendees at the market with good healthy habits while learning more about obesity, diabetes, and heart health issues.
To date I have little to show for all my effort. Tracy has been promising to have me added to their email list since we first met this past May. I still do not receive regular information updates on attendance or on projects that could be promoted in my newsletter or in the weekly articles. She responds to my emails and phone calls for information with more promises of sending what I need but never completes the task. She was asked back in May to send a one paragraph letter on the Vance County Farmers Market letterhead to me to start to organize the health day and has been reminded at least twice in the past few weeks that we are still waiting for it. As of today, it has not been submitted so that the health day can be planned. Without the request of the market, health care officials and others who would likely want to participate cannot go forward.
In the Vance County Commissioners meeting on July 7th, she was asked the question by a commissioner as to where the “business plan” for the market was and how soon could it be presented to the board. She replied that it was being prepared but she did not have a timetable of its completion. The commissioners approved of a budget for the market of over $124,000.00 without the business plan to know how the outstanding expenditures would be repaid to the county. In the budget for 2014-2015 the market only claims to foresee revenue of $8,000.00 During Tracy Madigan’s presentation to the commissioners she states that she looks forward to making the market profitable but not how it is to be done.
Also, on the current link for the market on the county extension office website, the forms for vendor application, vendor guidelines, and rental guidelines for interested parties wanting to use the market building are available. But the form to actually apply to rent the market building, which is by far the most profitable for the market’s revenue stream, remains absent. We are now approaching school going back into session and the loss of any family reunions or get together that could have been a way for the market to make additional funds. All this because the lack of attention to what would appear to be the fundamental reason for the market. TO MAKE MONEY! When I asked about the lack of the form’s availability when I met with Tracy in July, I was told it was still being put together and would be available soon. How soon is anyone’s guess?
Now that you have a little bit of history on the market, let me sum up the reason for my frustration.
It is a common problem in Vance County that good ideas are started and then discarded due to the absence of attention. This market is a valuable tool for the communities it wants to serve. It has been a part of the landscape of Vance County for many years. But it is destined to go away like other good ideas if someone is not accountable for the lack of attention by the manager of this market. The advertising I was and am still offering is absolutely FREE. Let me repeat that. I will at no cost to the market, advertise its projects and offerings to the public through at least 10 articles per month on a frequently read website. But I can only do this if I have the cooperation of the management of the market.
If you want to see your market continue to offer an affordable option for healthy foods and local made crafts please comment on my post in the comment section below. I want to see this market grow to be something Vance County can be proud of, but also something that can stand alone on its own feet without the necessity of local tax dollars desperately needed in other areas of the county.
Thank you for your time and please comment below, the more of us to comment then the more likelihood that changes can be put into place for the eventual prosperity of the market for us as attendees and also for the vendors who wish to provide us with their vegetables and crafts.
Mari Miller,
Author of “Greg’s Garden” and “News and Notes about the Vance County Regional Farmers Market”
I don’t much like your open letter as it seems your motive is self-promoting or an attempt for you or family members to personally benefit…at the expense of Ms. Madigan. You try to paint a picture that it is about the Market but it seems like a poorly-veiled personal attack. Shame!
Have you visited Ms. Madigan’s supervisor or related your concerns to the County Commissioners prior to this chastising? Would seem to be the appropriate choice to follow some chain of command before a public tongue lashing. imo
Your notices on HiH are appreciated, Mari. I’m sure you care very much that the Farmer’s Market succeeds and I believe it will, given patience and word of mouth. Without an advertising budget the Market must depend on people spreading the word. You have some fine ideas and perhaps Ms. Madigan would welcome some of your help. It is always helpful to keep one’s doubts and concerns private until the people involved all get to the table. I believe Ms. Madigan works through the Agricultural Extension Service, so perhaps you might check with that office to register your complaints.
Ms. Miller,
First let me start by apologizing for some ill-informed bloggers on HiH. It’s like some of these folks need a “good kick in the rear end”. Its amazing & amusing @ the amount of courage some bloggers have sitting in front of their keyboards. HIH once tried a duplicate site where you could only post using your real name. Needless to say the # of bloggers was less than a handful. You would think that the Hester lawsuit would reduce some of the nastiness but some folks must need a reminder!!
GOOD LUCK getting positive feedback on HiH but don’t be discouraged. Some of them have lived in ‘Hunnasun’ a long time.
First to Interested Reader: Shame on me??? For what? I tried to get the manager to accept help, that came free of charge to the market, to help the market make money quicker and pay off their debts sooner. I was told “it will happen” or “I am working on it” or “We need to take baby steps, let’s not go so fast”. For over three months help was offered and all she had to do was write one letter and put a name on an email list. She is getting paid by county taxpayers to do a job. It would seem if she wanted to be the manager and was supposedly qualified to do so, she would be able to manage two things in three months. I was told by the extension office she was the contact for the market. I even spoke at the markets advisory board in June about assisting them free of charge and was told to go through the manager with my suggestions and assistance. At what point do you wish me to wait to tell the public that if they do not address the problem the market will no longer exist? If you had read my postings in News and Notes and Greg’s Garden you would have seen that I was very active in bringing the market some “good reviews”. I have attended the market often in past years and was excited to see the new building become a reality. But it takes more than a building to make the market a profit. BTW…I have a full time job and never have entered into the idea to want her position. But don’t fault me for wanting her to DO HER JOB!
Now to mingo…As stated above I did try to get cooperation from the extension office. I spoke with Mr. White early on about the market and my ideas to help. I was told that the manager would be hired in May and would be responsible for those decisions and to wait on the manager being hired then work with the manager. I gave a passionate plea to the market’s advisory board to allow for me to help them through my articles and newsletter as a way to promote all of the vendors at the market. I again was directed to the manager and she was to handle the issues. I got tired of waiting for information due to the lack of attention from Ms. Madigan. I really did try. I sent her numerous emails to get me info in time for my writing deadlines only to receive no response or get the items after it was too late to write anything to help the market with.
To both of you…I want the market to thrive, but it needs a business plan and it needs the forms on the website and it needs attention, or it will not last. Other than my “Open Letter” I did write to the Daily Dispatch with a similar plea. This is not a personal attack on Ms. Madigan. It is an attack on her as a county official that is paid county funds for a county enterprise. I put my name out there so you know who I am and am willing to talk to you openly. Please do not attack me without giving me the same consideration.
I stand by my full comments. No apologies.
Interested Reader and Mingo, I think Ms. Miller has gone way beyond expectations of someone offering free, FREE, services. The August Board meeting was glaringly absent any financial data on a business called the Regional Farmers Market. At the July Board meeting Ms. Madigan and her “supervisor” Paul McKenzie where asked for a business plan. The two explained one was being developed. (Being developed? Outside of tapping taxpayers’ funds where else can you get money for a new business without at least a workable business plan? I digress) They did not provide a date the plan would be available. The Board at the July meeting totally failed to instruct the county manager to have the business plan on the August meeting agenda. Instead the Board and county management stayed their course of doing nothing while looking busy. Question, what other major business idea did Vance County initiate without a viable business plan?
I think Ms. Miller’s is holding Vance County’s management team and the Board of Commissioner to a higher standard of professionalism and skill than is customary for our hamlet. Ms. Miller has shown her desire to make the Farmers Market more than a fancy looking building and less of a drain on the taxpayers.
Gotta respectively disagree with the method, not the message. If she were a publicly elected official, go ahead and voice your disappointment on a blog. But a public employee, go through the chain of command, because her supervisor, and even his supervisor bear the weight of these issues too, they should be the ones informed of this, and they should act within their authority to make the changes.( and held responsible) The employee should have the opportunity to discuss these with their supervisor and within a supervision environment, and have an opportunity to correct. Or you can skip the chain of command and complain to the public. Which method is more likely to create the change you desire?
Ms. Madigan just moved here, returned home to Henderson actually. Its nice to see some folks come back, vs. all those leaving. Any wonder?
Mingo: You mention something that had I brought it up you would have screamed more. How is it that she can come here after several years in another state and obtain the job of manager for the market without any experience in agriculture business? Could the commissioners not find a single applicant in Vance county, the area that has enough farmers to support a market? What chain of command do you suppose I go through? I talked to the extension office and the advisory board, guess I was supposed to go to the commissioners and ask them why she is not doing her job. Just when do you think the EMPLOYER (us) should be told the EMPLOYEE (her) is not doing customer service? If I went to a local store and had bad customer service I go the head of the company, wouldn’t you? These are tax dollars being wasted not just a few bucks at a Quik Mart. I figure she has had her 90 days now it is time to get the evaluation. BTW…what method is appropriate to tell the public that the market is failing to attract enough money to make a profit, AFTER we let the commissioners stop the funding to stop the bleeding!
That’s like asking how a President can be the commander of our military without any military experience. I understand that the Market Manager position is part-time and there is no advertising budget. Your taxes may help pay her wages but you don’t own her time. I always find literature available and Ms. Madigan is always friendly and helpful. Have you questioned your attitude? Most people do not respond well to ‘in your face’ know it alls, offering unsolicited advice on how to do their job. However, your public criticism is another form of publicity. For that, thanks.
Another thought: Who proposed the Farmers Market and how did the concept get funded without a business plan? Does anyone expect a manager to write a business plan for an organization that has already been launched?
Such a shame–do we sense sour grapes??
Give Ms. Madigan time to work out any kinks–let’s not run off talented and competent people-.
How much time do you wish to give her Prudence? When do you think a plan to make the market money should be addressed. The building and the last two years of expenditures have exceeded $800,000 dollars.
This is not a non-for-profit project.
The market is a time sensitive project as it must be advertised while there are crops to sell. We are now towards the end of summer coming onto fall. At most another 2 months and the vegetables will no longer be available.
Then what?
She needed to work on the future months when she was first hired to have in place events, that will make the market money, for then. That is why having the rental forms available to the public to rent the building in the off season is so important. Without an application to rent the building there is no rental profit available. The building rental was going to be more than 20 times what one vendor paid for the same 4-5 hour period. That is what making a business work is about. That is what will make the market a profit so that next year the revenues can be better than only 6 percent of the total taxpayers outlay for the market.
You all are assuming that I have something personal against Ms. Madigan, but I don’t. She is a very nice lady and nice to talk to when you visit the market. The behind the scenes hard work appears to not be getting proper attention and for that the market will surely suffer and Vance County along with it.
Hold your horses, cowgirl! Not everyone moves at your pace but that doesn’t mean they won’t get there. A good skill in making positive things happen is to let other people think it’s their idea. There are more ways to get results than complain and confront. Again, more publicity for our Farmers Market!
I don’t know either Ms. Miller or Ms. Madigan. However, after reading all these posts, Ms. Miller has a great point, although her wording has a bite to it. Ms. Madigan is a tax paid employee. She is the same type paid employee as any other tax paid employee, meaning that she is held accountable for the job that she does by her supervisors AND the tax payers who pay her salary. What makes me the most interested in this story is not her failure, however. It is that the board approved a budget without a business plan. That goes against any and every business rule I have ever heard, lol. Shame on the board for this!! I’m sure Ms. Madigan is working hard but she either isn’t capable of her job duties, isn’t getting the assistance she needs to perform her job, or doesn’t have the experience to know what to do. I agree that this business, like many other businesses, will dry up and become another failed vacant spot in Henderson if it doesn’t turn a profit. Thank you for bringing this issue up for us to discuss, Ms. Miller. I can see your passion in wanting to see it succeed. However, the approach you took was a little tougher than probably was necessary. In any event, I think we can all agree that we want it to succeed. I think we can all also agree that, without a business plan, it won’t succeed. Hopefully, a business plan comes very soon and this farmer’s market will thrive. If not, shame on all involved, especially the board.
There are some profound and wise opinions being posted on the matter. Clearly, Ms. Miller should have used more discretion in making her point. I liken it to a quote from Shakespeare in Hamlet. Some of you may be familiar: “The lady doth protest too much, methinks”. Miller, in her exhaustingly long and windy posts, seems to “protest too much”. As originally mentioned above, it seems an ulterior motive or as Prudence mentioned, “sour grapes”. I bet if Ms. Madigan is allowed to do her job, she will show the Community her competence and value.
Let’s hope so. But it seems Ms. Madigan has had a decent amount of time to act but it doesn’t seem to me that much action has occured. I hope this changes quickly. The Farmer’s Market depends on it.
On Wednesday only TWO vendors were peddling their wares at the Regional Farmers Market, this according to a farmer who went by to see what all the fuss is about. On Saturday between 11 am and 12 noon the president of the Regional Famers Market operating committee was pushing her grocery cart through Food Lion. If farmers are unwilling to peddle they produce at the farmers market and the president of the Regional Famers Market operating committee is more interested in satisfying her own grocery shopping at Food Lion why should the taxpayers be on the hook for the expenses of the Regional Farmers market?
That’s odd. I was there at 7:30 Wednesday and counted 8 vendors. This morning I was there at 10 and there were 9 vendors. Did they all sell out and go home? For the space and cost, local farmers and home cottage industries can’t find a better deal. The investment is made and the only way to make it work is for people to support it. Buy local and things will get better, locally.