With more people being interested in locally grown products, the Fauquier County 4-H program will offer a Next Generation Farmer's Market in which youth will make and sell products to sell at the Warrenton Farmers Market. Over 20 youth have signed up to participate and will have a variety of farm fresh and homemade goodies to sell throughout the summer. Youth participants will first attend a series of entrepreneurship classes where they will learn how to do market research, learn about food safety, learn how to successfully market their products, and create a business plan and pitch. There will be three opportunities for participants to put their skills into action and make their own money, by selling their products at the Warrenton Farmers Market. The 4-H Next Generation Farmer's Market Dates are July 3rd, August 7th, and September 4th. They will set up in the kids' section and follow all social distancing requirements. Since there is such a large interest from the youth, a local businessman, Zach Wakeman, from Upperville Farm and Feed offered the Next Generation Farmer's Market the opportunity to participate in their pop-up farmers market. The youth had the option to select additional days to sell their products in Upperville on July 24th and July 31st.

Youth involved in the Next Generation Farmers Market will learn to become local entrepreneurs. They are learning valuable life skills such as goal setting, planning, record keeping, and reflection. This 4-H project can teach youth a multitude of other lessons as well. Thirteen year old Micah Soehnlin is getting involved by selling fruits, vegetables, and eggs. He said, "I want to earn my own money for a change". Sedona Sifford, who is 10 and just recently processed one of her steers for beef said, "My favorite part of this project is I get to make my own decisions and I think it will be fun to share my products with others".

Many of these kids have already done a lot of work to have a product ready in time. They learned how to plant their gardens and communicate better with their parents when it came time to buy supplies.

Fauquier 4-H is proud to bring the Next Generation Farmer's Market to Warrenton and Upperville for the first time. The Next Generation Farmer's Market will allow the community to buy locally from youth who are members of 4-H. They will be offering homegrown foods - fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, flowers, home baked goods, jams & jellies, arts & crafts, jewelry, and other handmade goods. The dates available to come out and buy local products from the youth are as follows:

Warrenton Farmers Market:
July 3rd - 8 am - 12 pm
August 7th - 8 am - 12 pm
September 4th- 8 am - 12 pm

Upperville Farmers Market:
July 24th - 9 am - 1 pm
July 31st - 9 am - 1 pm