After 35 years managing the Lac La Biche Farmer’s Market, Freda Phillips feels that it’s time to let some new life into the seasonal market, and take some more time for herself. Her last market is going to be on Dec. 16
“I only have so much energy now and I’m usually tired on Saturday’s afterward,” said Phillips referring to the day after the Friday markets. “I think it’s time to say goodbye. You have to decide sometimes [to let things go].”
The 82-year-old Phillips said that she knows that Agriculture Society that runs the Famer’s Market would love to have her stay on for at least another 20 years, if not more.
“They said I am still young and I could keep going for another 20 years and they would be happy. I said ‘At 102? No I don’t think so, thank you.’”
Phillips has been organizing the markets since they first began in Lac La Biche and says that a lot has changed over the years since the first market found its way into the heart of the community.
“We originally held the market on the recreation grounds [near McArthur Place] when we started in 1976 before the Agricom was built,” Phillips said. “The [provincial] government gave us $5,000 to get a roofed shelter built. We used to start May 1 and end in October but now can go a little longer because of new hall.”
Although the location has changed, the spirit of the market has never floundered, according to Phillips.
“The best part about doing the markets is that I have had the chance to meet so many wonderful people – It’s been a really great experience and a lot of responsibility.”
Organizing the Farmer’s Market is more than just signing up vendors and showing up to the events, noted Phillips. It takes a lot of work, energy and hours supervising and doing paper work.
“Managers are supposed to monitor everything every week from the ingredients in the baked products to keeping eggs a certain temperature,” Phillips said.
“For a Farmer’s Market, 80 per cent of the people selling have to have made it, baked it or grown it. Only 20 per cent can be home business”
Phillips, who knits mittens and slippers for the market, noted that in addition to being on location at every market, as a manager, she has to submit a list of everyone who sold something and what they sold to make sure you don’t go over that 20 per cent at the end of the year. Knowing how much effort it takes to put the market together, Phillips is willing to help out whomever the Ag. Society finds as her replacement for the first little while, but she doesn’t want to be in full control again.
“I will help the new manager out and help them get into the swing of things,” Phillips said. “I don’t think I will organize anything else but will help when they need it. It’s time to take it a little easier.”
Phillips really hopes that they can find somebody so that the Farmer’s Market can keep going on for years to come, especially since she would like to return as a vendor once in a while, just not every week.
“I hope they can find someone soon because I’d hate to see the Farmer’s Market dropped. I’m hoping to still be here as a vendor but maybe not every week. You can’t just stop something and walk away from it without feeling empty.”
Knowing that she won’t be running the market anymore had given Phillips the opportunity to think about what she wants to do with her time. She would like to put more effort into her many hobbies that she enjoys.
“I haven’t done enough painting lately or braiding rugs. I also have a spinning wheel and I learned how to use it from my grandmother,” Phillips said.
“I also knit slippers for the hospital gift shop as part of the hospital auxiliary. It’s one of my hobbies that I really enjoy.”
Although Phillips’ last market is on Dec. 16, she was honoured by the Ag. Society at a volunteer appreciation evening in November where she was presented with a plaque, an honorarium, and a few gifts, said Ag. Society Secretary Marianne Langevin.
“Freda has been extremely gracious with her time and put in tremendous efforts,” Langevin said. “She built up the market over the past few years to be a fantastic market with a variety of vendors from all over.”
Langevin continued to say that she only hopes that the Ag. Society can find someone as good as Phillips but it would be hard to top her efforts.
As for Phillips, she is looking forward to the time off.
“I think it will be good to have time off and I’m hoping to get to do some of the things that I haven’t had much time to do. I am hoping to get back to the market sometimes too because it is something that I do enjoy.”
This Friday’s market on the 16th starts at 3 p.m. and runs until 5:30 p.m. at the Lac La Biche Agricom near the County building.
