ATHOL — After a light sprinkle and slight threat of rain, the clouds dissipated and the sun shined on the opening day of the Athol Farmers Market.

“This is going to be the biggest year ever,” Athol Farmers Market President Michelle Livingston said Friday.

More than 30 food, craft and produce vendors were on site for day No. 1 of the Athol Farmers Market's seventh season, doubling the average number of merchants in 2023. Visitors to the 2024 market will see about 22 full-season vendors as well as several rotating pop-in booths.

"There are a lot of new vendors,” said Athol Farmers Market Vice President Heather Chapman. "We brought in a better variety. We have quite a few more farms than we had in the past and definitely more food trucks."

Flowers, herbs, plant starts, quilted tote bags, handmade jewelry, fresh bread, farm produce and more can be found throughout the market, which will be open from 2:30-6:30 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 27 when a harvest festival will mark the season finale.

The market is held in Athol City Park at 30355 Third St.

“It’s really fun,” 11-year-old Madilyn Bentley of Athol said after visiting with Labrador puppies and Scottish Highland cattle in the Long Mountain Meadows booth and petting zoo.

“I don’t really get to see animals a lot, so it’s fun to see them,” Madilyn said. “And they’re so sweet.”

Stephenie Kimener runs Long Mountain Meadows with her husband, Brian Kimener. This is their second year participating in the market.

“It’s so exciting,” Stephenie Kimener said. “It’s a great turnout, too. It’s huge.”

She said she enjoys the community feel at the Athol Farmers Market.

“We’re just farmers trying to do something to help feed the animals,” she said. “This is a great one for us to connect with the community and meet with people. We opened the door for events on our farm, so we have people come out for events. We do sip-and-paint events with the cows. We did a Highland cow kissing booth with this little booth.

“It’s a great way for people to interact with our animals,” she said.

Market-goer Barbara Grinstead of Garwood chatted with the ladies at the McKerracher Family Farm booth. She said she started coming to the Athol Farmers Market when she lived by Kelso Lake because it was closer than other markets farther south.

“I know people here, and I like visiting with the vendors,” she said. “It’s just more intimate and less crowded.”

She said it’s important for Athol to have a farmers market.

“It cuts down on travel time,” Grinstead said. “All of the communities outside of the city of Athol are coming together right here.

“You can bring your kids and be here for hours,” she said.

Post Falls-based flower grower and florist Amber Steele Poelstra of Steelstra Designs said the Athol market always has a chill vibe. This is her second year participating in the market, where she peddles her petaled wares, including tulips, daffodils and peony tulips.

“They have a lot of petals,” she said of the peony tulips. “We call them ‘fancy tulips,’ or ‘not your grandma’s tulips.’”

She said she was glad to see so many vendors at the market on the first day.

“The variety is amazing,” Steele Poelstra said. “It’s going to be a good season.”

Livingston has been active in local farmers markets for 14 years. When she first started at the Kootenai Farmers Market, she took her great-grandmother’s fabric scraps with her.

“I made greeting cards,” she said.

Livingston is the baker behind Kiss My Biscotti, an artisan-style treat that brings back memories of her parents, who have both passed on in recent years.

“My mom and dad had a bed and breakfast many years ago in Athol called the Ponderosa Bed and Breakfast," Livingston said. "She would serve the morning biscotti to the guests," 

She took her mom's recipe and made it for her dad, who was her tester.

"He would say, ‘These taste good. You need to sell ‘em!’" she said. "And as they say, the rest is history."

Livingston said she is looking forward to another successful season. She said she wants people to know Athol has a farmers market and that it will be open every Friday, rain or shine.

“I see the people, and I see what this community can offer,” she said. “Everyone is friendly. I just want everyone to have a place to come, enjoy the market, buy some produce, support your local farmers, support your local artisans.”

The Athol Farmers Market will feature live music throughout the season. A beer garden is available for those 21 and older.

Info: atholfarmersmarketidaho.com

    Amber Steele Poelstra, owner, grower and designer with Steelstra Designs in Post Falls, discusses peony tulips Friday at her Athol Farmers Market booth in Athol City Park. The market will be open 2:30-6:30 p.m. Fridays through the end of the season.
  

    Chelsea Gottas peeks out from behind a display of her quilted creations at her Handcrafted by Chelsea booth Friday during opening day of the Athol Farmers Market.
  

    Barbara Grinstead of Garwood, left, chats with Kathy Martz at the McKerracher Family Farm stand Friday at the Athol Farmers Market. This year's market features 22 full-season vendors as well as several rotating pop-in vendors.