The fresh, locally grown vegetables of one local farmer were out once again at the Women’s Improvement Club Park next to the public library on Saturday morning, 9 am to noon, but this time another vendor joined him. Katharine Westerhaus, a versatile mother who owns a chicken farm and grows a large amount of herbs, flowers, and succulent plants, joined Devon Minnema’s green and yellow produce stand. 

“It was either Saturday morning television or this,” Westerhaus said as her twin daughters held up signs to passing motorists while the other visited with two chickens in a large, wired pen.

“Better choice,” said Minnema via telephone call from Washington DC where he is attending his fourth National Young Americans for Liberty Conference which provides leadership training. Minnema, 16, is a member of the Downtown Dixon Business Association.

“It’s great that Katharine is joining us out here, especially since she will be offering free range eggs which we really were not capable of producing at a lever that would meet demand,” he said.

Maverick Miller, a Dixon High School member of Future Farmers of America assisted Saturday for Minnema and was busy selling bell peppers and cucumbers.

Attempts are being made to be in contact with past market vendors and new ones, Minnema said, including Lauri Jones, who sold fresh produce all last year at the market. Minnema volunteered to re-organize the local produce market after it was closed just three weeks into the summer with DDBA leaders citing lack of local support for it. If you are interested in participating as a farmer/vendor, please contact Minnema at (530) 848-3786 or leave message at the DDBA, (707) 678-8400.