Noah Timpson – Strategic Organization
Working as an event coordinator for the Rexburg Farmers Market has been rewarding opportunity for my career development this semester. Over the Last 8 weeks I have been able to wear many different hats in my unique role. From event planning, online marketing and vendor support, there were many opportunities for me to showcase my learned skills in Strategic Communication. The two most important communication principles in this project are listening with love and being a problem solver.
Event Coordination Part 1: Each week of the farmers market there was a special guest that would come to do an activity during the farmers’ market. I was responsible for reaching out to these businesses in order to find out what they would need to be successful. Often times this would require coordinating location, equipment, power, supplies and other commonly asked questions.
One of the events needed a major adjustment for our main activity due to weather conditions. This was challenging because we had planned on this main event for over a week. I was able to coordinate a new main event with the same company. This required me to ask more questions. It also allowed me ot have more empathy for the vendor. This taught me that as strategic communicators we have to communicate what we need directly. Laying all of your cards on the table allows organizations to solve challenges faster and easier.
The schedule below lists all of the events that I was a part of coordinating during my Senior project. The two main event coordinators named Jamie and Rhonda are planning to have me run “First Responder Day” on July 5th, 2024, due to my outstanding performance.
Event Coordination Part 2: During the Farmer’s market I was responsible for additional coordination. Each week I would work directly work with Rhonda to set up the farmer’s market. I was responsible for implementing the Design layout for the market. Each week we have new vendors who are coming to the market. This required us to use a map that can be changed in a moment’s notice. I was responsible for directing the Vendors to their proper stations. Often times I would have vendors that needed special accommodations. I would make those decisions based on the needs of the market each week. What I learned from coordinating with Vendors each week is that it is important to be flexible. If you can be accommodating, it goes a long way. This is a great way to serve those within your organization.
One of our greatest accomplishments was how we coordinated the farmer’s market at Porter Park this year. Porter Park is not the usual spot for the farmer’s market. We were able to pack all of our vendors into a single street on the Southside of Porter Park. We had over 3000+ patrons show up to the market on 5.24.24 for the carousel event. What I learned from this event is that location plays a huge part in how successful your events can be. It was also important to learn that our vendors do better in locations that are high traffic areas. I believe that the Rexburg Farmers Market will perform better in a higher traffic area.
Below is the Vendor map from our farmers Market during the 6.21.2024 Market. This map is what I would use to coordinate each our vendors. If there were vendors that couldn’t make the market; we would make adjustments and put new vendors in their spots. I would show up 2 hours before the market to start in order to lay out all of the spots for the vendors. I learned that is important to make time to create the proper arrangements. Starting early allows for adjustments to be made and conflicts to be minimized. Arriving early has also taught me that you can experiment with new ideas to be efficient.
Event Coordination Part 3: One of the important parts of being an event coordinator at the farmers market is working with the underprivileged community here in Rexburg. There are many families who struggle to put food on their tables. The market allows those who receive EBT (Food Stamps) to exchange their EBT money for tokens at the market. This allows patrons to buy fresh produce, meats, poultry, and packaged goods.
I was responsible for taking payments, providing tokens, and relaying information to 100’s of patrons receiving food stamps. This was important and special part of being an event coordinator for me. I improved usage of our EBT program by suggesting we include all of our vendors business names on our main EBT Billboard. This proved to be a useful resource for many at the market. Because the patrons could see their available options; They bought EBT tokens more often. Many patrons always want to see what vendors are available for EBT. Making This billboard helped them to see their options quickly which translated into them spending their EBT more often. This taught me that we need to make it easier for others to say yes. This is the power of persuasion.
Online Marketing: A small part of my role as an event coordinator was to create some business features for the Rexburg Farmers Market Facebook and Instagram pages. As the farmer’s market continues to grow, the need for a stronger online presence is important. My posts were aimed to bring awareness to the Rexburg Community of the farmer’s market. Vendors who were willing to share their businesses online allowed me to interview them and share their businesses online. Below are some of the vendors that I completed business features for. What I learned by doing business features is that each business has a story. Each business has a reason for existing. There are many young entrepreneurs who participate in the market. I learned that showing genuine care and interest in my vendors would help me connect with them more than anything else.
Starting from the top left we have Posh Pooch Company, David’s Designs, The Baking Ninja, Golden Goodies and The 8th Apothecary.
Vendor Support: A Large part of my time during the last few weeks of the farmer’s market has been vendor support. I was responsible for collecting the required payments from vendors each week who were participating in the market. This allowed me to see which vendors were struggling to generate revenue and perform well in the market. I was then able to make plans to make contact with those vendors. Because of these efforts vendors are now coming to me with questions. They want to know how they can improve their businesses and grow their brands. I‘ve learned that it’s difficult to have hard conversations, but it is always worth it in the end.
My module for my major is in sales and advertising. I am always looking for ways to help others improve in their sales and advertising efforts. One of my favorite vendors at the market runs BOMF SOAPS. I was able to coach her a bit with her sales pitch to help her improve her revenue. I was able to help take her from a $50 day into about a $250 day. She regularly asks questions and I plan to help her grow her business future. What I learned from working with her is that everyone needs a little bit of reassurance and direction. I was able to listen to her pitch and realized that she was self-sabotaging a good number of her sales. I was able to help restore some of her own confidence. With some minor adjustments she got back on track with her sales targets.
This opportunity came to me because I was willing to listen and create a great opportunity for me to serve my community. I wanted to a project that would benefit the people of Rexburg. I have been blessed to live here for my time in school and I will always remember the people at the famers market. I have learned that organizations are people working together for a common goal. I have realized that it is important to adapt within your organization so that everyone can reach the common goal. I’ve realized that sometimes we don’t quite know what that goal is; but when we strive for excellence, we can find it. I’ve realized that communication is not so much about what you’re communicating. It’s about what you’re not communicating. I believe that the world will become better as we communicate more effectively. I believe that my project has given many opportunities to practice and refine my skills.
Link to SNAP PHOTO
https://financesall.com/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program
Link to Farmers Market Logo
Vendors | Rexburg Farmer’s Market (rexburgfarmersmarket.org)