The Historic 25th Street Farmers & Art Market opens Saturday, July 14, with the first fruits and vegetables of the harvest.
"We're hoping for a lot better season," said Saydee Barragan, project assistant for market sponsor Downtown Ogden, Inc. "It's been a lot sunnier and less wet than last year."
Sally Bigelow Rydalch anxiously waited through the winter for the opening of the market, but not because she was craving fresh produce -- she was looking forward to the market's poster art competition.
"Last year I won second place," said the Roy artist. "All year long, I've been thinking about it."
The seed of an idea was planted in her mind, and she was able to nurture it and create this year's winning piece. Her art can be seen at the market, held 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 29.
Rydalch's winning artwork is an image of a farmers market shopping bag, filled to overflowing with fresh produce and bread.
"This is actually a woodcut print," she said. "I took wood, and carved my design out of it. Then I take a roller, called a brayer, and roll a layer of ink over the part that didn't get carved and press it over paper. When that dries, I add watercolor."
A commercial artist for many years, Rydalch recently decided to earn a bachelor's degree in fine arts at Utah State University.
"I just felt I was missing some pieces in my art knowledge, so I had to go back to school," she said. "I graduated in May of this year as valedictorian of Caine College of the Arts."
She majored in painting and drawing, but particularly enjoyed learning how to create prints.
As the winner of this year's Farmers & Art Market poster contest, Rydalch's work is printed on the cover of the market guide and sold as a limited edition poster. She also received $500, and is the featured artist at the market on opening day.
She's planning to show a variety of her work, including some paintings and drawings. Of course, she's bringing her freshest woodcut prints.
"I did these especially for the Farmer's Market patrons," she said of her images of fruit and vegetables.
Food and fun
Quite a few farmers have signed on for this year's market, and Barragan expects more throughout the season. Shoppers will find a variety of vegetables and fruit, as well as honey.
Freshly baked items will be for sale, from breads to crepes and pies. Want to do your own cooking? Pick up some gourmet seasonings and baking mixes. Don't want to cook? Vendors will be selling breakfast and lunch items, and even cool drinks and ice cream.
Artists and crafters at the market sell handmade jewelry, clothing, leather goods, paintings, photos, pottery and even colorful covers for medical devices.
Market organizers have lined up programs each week, to make the market even more fun.
Opening day features a Western festival, with shootouts, stagecoach rides and a root beer saloon, in conjunction with Ogden Pioneer Days.
Shoppers can meet farmers, and learn more about how food is grown, on July 21.
"The Utah Farm Bureau Federation conference is in town that week, and they're bringing in a half million dollars in combines and tractors, and they're also bringing in Texas longhorns, a bull, sheep, cows and goats," said Dan Musgrave, executive director of Downtown Ogden, Inc.
Future Saturday activities include bike, car and boat displays; a fashion show; dog competitions and the Harvest Moon celebration.
Most weeks, there will be master gardener presentations at 8:30 a.m., followed at 9:30 a.m. with cooking demonstrations showing new ways to use fresh produce.
PREVIEW
- WHAT: Historic 25th Street Farmers & Art Market
- WHEN: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, July 14-Sept. Sept. 29
- WHERE: Municipal Gardens at 343 25th St., Ogden, and west on Historic 25th Street
- TICKETS: Free; 801-393-3866, www.ogdenfarmersmarket.com