Allen County Farmers’ Market board members hired Robin Schallie and Gene Myrick to tackle the market’s growing needs.
Schallie, a native of Wisconsin, stepped into the shoes of full-time market director, and Myrick replaced Greta Ingle as the market’s site coordinator.
Schallie, a teacher of marketing for more than 30 years, had the experience that board members felt was vital to the market’s growth. Vendor participation has grown to the point that marketing to potential customers has now become a priority, according to Debbie Bearden, secretary of the market’s board of directors. Schallie taught marketing at Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wis., for 28 years before moving to Iola two years ago with her husband, Iola native, Steve Lust, and their 22-year-old daughter, Morgan. Schallie has worked at Neosho County Community College, Chanute, as a marketing instructor since her relocation, a position that she will resign from at the end of the 2016-2017 school year.
Bearden said she is eager to see what innovative ideas Schallie brings to the market and is encouraged that Schallie is from outside the area.
Schallie’s first task was Thursday, when she met with vendors during the Season Opening Vendors Meeting at the Riverside Park Community Building.
“I am excited about the market and excited to get going,” she said. She asked vendors for their patience.
Schallie said she applied for the position because of the opportunity it presents to her to branch out beyond teaching, give back to the community she now considers home and to meet new people. The scope of her responsibilities, she said, include behind-the scenes tasks like paperwork and state reporting, scheduling and marketing duties. She said she will also attend all of the markets and work face-to-face with vendors.
But the primary face of the market will be the site coordinator, according to Myrick.
Myrick’s responsibilities will include running the information tent, registering vendors, inspecting vendor sites, encouraging vendors to participate in the market’s Double Up Food Bucks program, and resolving any disputes that might arise, he said. The position is part-time. Myrick said he applied for the position after his daughter, Sharon Leedy, encouraged him to do so. Myrick said it was the first cover letter he had ever written. An avid gardener himself, Myrick said he mans a 90 feet by 90 feet garden spot every year along with his friend, Gary Wells.
“I hardly ever buy canned goods at the store,” he said.
Myrick, born in Oklahoma, has lived in Iola for 38 years and calls himself a “transplanted Okie.”
He spent more than 24 years in the service, worked for 18 years at USD 257 in maintenance, and worked for SAFE BASE, USD 257’s after-school program, until 2015 when a battle with cancer forced him to resign. Myrick said he is compassionate about the farmers’ market and looks forward to working with Schallie and Bearden.
“One of the reasons I applied is because I don’t want to see the market go to the wayside,” he said. “I think with this three-person team here and the board we can make it even stronger than in the past.”
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