This article was originally posted by Compeer Financial.

Sun Prairie, Wis., (April 23, 2024) – Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, has awarded Farmers Market Grants, totaling $85,088. This is the sixth year Compeer Financial has offered these grants.

The grants are supporting 72 farmers market organizations, with funding up to $1,000 for marketing, technology or educational efforts. Since the program debuted in 2019, these grants have directly impacted 12,463 people and touched the lives of more than nine million farmers market visitors.

“We couldn’t be more excited to provide funding to these 72 farmers markets,” said Karen Schieler, senior corporate giving specialist at Compeer Financial. “Fresh produce should be accessible to all, and these grants help both farmers and consumers. Shopping at farmers markets supports local agriculture and provides the consumer with as fresh of produce as possible. It’s a win-win!”

The 72 farmers markets in Compeer Financial’s territory receiving grants include:

Illinois
Andersonville Farmers Market (Chicago)
Aurora Farmers Market
Canton Farmers Market
Chicago’s Green City Market Program
Eden Place Farmers Market (Chicago)
Edgebrook Farmers Market (Rockford)
Garfield Park Neighborhood Market (Chicago)
Glenview Farmer’s Market at Historic Wagner Farm
Hampshire Area Chamber of Commerce Farmers & Outdoor Market
Lincoln Square Farmers Market (Chicago)
Mercado de Colores de La Villita (Chicago)
North End City Market (Rockford)
North Lawndale Community Market (Chicago)
Northcenter Farmers Market (Chicago)
Oswego Country Market
Peoria RiverFront Market
QC Farmers Market (Rock Island)
Tinley Park Farmers Market
Twin City Farmers Market (Sterling)
Woodstock Farmers Market

Minnesota
Albert Lea Farmers Market
Big Lake Farmers Market
Central Hillside Farmers Market (Duluth)
Civic Center Farmers’ Market (Duluth)
Crystal Farmers Market
Eyota’s Farmers Market
Four Sisters Farmers Market (Minneapolis)
Goodview Farmers Market
Hopkins Farmers Market
Hutchinson Farmers Market
Lake Minnetonka Excelsior Farmers Market
Lakes Area Farmers Market (Brainerd)
Little Falls Farmers Market
Luverne Farmers Market
New Prague Farmers Market
New Ulm Farmers Market
North Mankato Farmers’ Market
Pipestone Farmers Market
Rochester Farmers Market
Simple Living Farmers Market (Spring Grove)|
St. Joseph Farmers Market|
St. Peter Farmers’ Market|
Two Harbors Farmers Market
West Side Farmers Market (St. Paul)
Worthington Farmer’s Market

Wisconsin
Albany Farmers Market
Baldwin Farmers Market
Belleville WI Farmers Market
Burlington Farmers Market, Inc.
DeForest Farmers’ Market
Dodgeville Farmers Market
Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market
Ellsworth Farmers Market
Farmers and Artisans River Market (Marshall)
Fondy Farmers Market (Milwaukee)
Galesville Farmer’s & Artisan’s Market
Gays Mills Farmers’ Market
Horicon Farmers Market
Jackson County Farmers Market (Black River Falls)
Jackson Park Farmers Market (Milwaukee)
Main Street Monroe Farmers Market
Menomonee Falls Village Market
Meyer Oak Grove Market
Monroe Street Farmers Market (Madison)
Platteville Farmer’s Market, Inc
Potosi Tennyson Market
Ridgeway Farmers Market
SCIO Farmers Market (Sheboygan)
Spring Street Market (Lodi)
The Camp Douglas Farmer’s Market
Verona Downtown Farmers’ Market
Washburn Farmers Market

The grants will be offered again in 2025. Beginning this year, market organizations are eligible for the grant every other year. Farmer vendors who are clients of Compeer will continue to be eligible every year, with priority given to those who have not previously received the grant. Learn more at compeer.com/giving-back.

About the Fund for Rural America
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is the corporate giving program of Compeer Financial, structured to support Compeer Financial’s mission to enrich agriculture and rural America. Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors has dedicated one percent of annual net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of agricultural advocacy and development, agriculture education, cooperative initiatives, rural development and community enrichment; and youth engagement. The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors. More information about opportunities available through the Fund can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.

About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $31.9 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.

Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial’s scholarship program.

Contact:
Nora Nolden, Communications Consultant
651-245-6804