About the Lawrence Farmers’ Market
Our Story
Established in 1976, the Lawrence Farmers’ Market prides itself on the quality of our vendors and the products they sell at market. The LFM is a producer-only market which means all of the products available were grown, raised, made, and crafted by the individual in the booth. This encourages connection between consumer and producer, allowing the customer to feel comfortable asking how an item was made or grown knowing they will receive a knowledgeable answer. All of our vendors are located within 50 miles of Lawrence; shopping at the Lawrence Farmers’ Market reduces the carbon footprint of food production and supports the local economy.
Our Mission
The mission of the Lawrence Farmers Market is to provide children and adults in the Lawrence, KS area, with locally grown foods and farm products. This will be accomplished by improving access to local, healthy, affordable food through a direct farm-to-consumer marketing venue that will serve diverse populations, including those of low income.
Other goals that the Lawrence Farmers Market strives to achieve are increased education and support of Lawrence-area agriculture. The Lawrence Farmers Market believes that small, local farms are essential to the local economy and is committed to making economic and educational connections between Lawrence-area residents and local farmers.
Our Vendors
LFM is a producer-based market. A vendor must directly produce the majority of items offered on land the vendor owns, leases, or sharecrops. A vendor may not purchase from wholesalers to resell at the Lawrence Farmers Market. All products must be grown or produced in Kansas, within 50 miles of Lawrence (the Board of Directors may, based on need, make exceptions to within 75 miles through a process of review and majority vote of the board).
Our Board of Directors
A Board of Directors manages the market under the LFM Bylaws. The Board is comprised of 6 Vendors, up to 3 Community representatives (elected by the market members), and 3 staff members (the Market Manager, Financial Officer, and Director of Development) as ex-officio (non-voting) members.
New Vendor Applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed at the monthly Board meetings.
Our monthly Board Meetings are on the first Monday of every month from 6:30-8:30pm, currently on Zoom, and open to the public. Please send an email to our Market Manager at lawrencefarmersmarket@gmail.com if you would like to attend a meeting.

Jill Elmers, Chair
1st Term – Spring ’20
jelmers@moononthemeadow.com

Elliot Pees, Vice Chair
1st Term – Spring ’19
elliotbp1@gmail.com

Melissa Johnson, Secretary & Community Member
1st Term – Spring ’20
melissafitejohnson@gmail.com

Tom Buller, Treasurer & Community Member
1st Term – Spring ’20
tom@kansasruralcenter.org

Denise Skeeba, Vendor Member
1st Term – Fall ‘20
dskeebarn@gmail.com

Sarah Salzman, Vendor Member
1st Term – Fall ‘21
wildaliveferments@gmail.com

Thomas Barton, Vendor Member
1st Term – Fall ’21
bartonscoffeeco@gmail.com

Kyle Longabach, Vendor Member
1st Term – Fall ’21
Longabach126@gmail.com

Jackie Stafford, Community Member
1st Term – Fall ‘21 jackiestafford@sbcglobal.net

Courtney Skeeba, Financial Officer
Fall ’14
info@circlehr.com

Kai Hamilton, Market Manager
March ’22 785-505-0117 lawrencefarmersmarket@gmail.com

Emily Lysen, Director of Development
January ’21
785-550-4102 emily@lawrencefarmersmarket.org