2018 Illinois Farmers Market Association State Conference comes to Elgin March 14

Posted March 12, 2018 11:00 pm

Submitted by Krisilee Murphy

The 2018 Illinois Farmers Market Association Conference will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at Dream Hall, 51 S. Grove Ave. in downtown Elgin.

The IFMA Conference primary objective is educational support for farmers market organizers, farmers, vendors and other community food and nutritional organizations through networking, information sharing, policy discussion and planning.

There will be guest speakers including Elgin Mayor David Kaptain, Explore Elgin Area president/CEO Kimberly Bless, and Jen Cheek, executive director of the Farmers Market Coalition.

"The Elgin Area Tourism Bureau (www.ExploreElginArea.com) is very excited that the Illinois Farmers Market Association has chosen Elgin for their 2018 Conference," said Wendi Howard. Howard, a sales manager for the Elgin Area Tourism Bureau, assisted the organization in booking hotels rooms in Elgin and entertainment space for the conference attendees.

Howard stated "Partnering with organizations like IFMA gives us the opportunity to showcase the Elgin area. The opening of Dream Hub in downtown Elgin offered the perfect venue for both the conference and the Winter Market and Vendor Fair and will allow attendees a sampling of what the Elgin area has to offer."

The conference will also include a Winter Marker and Vendor Fair that is open to the public. Residents and visitors are welcome to stop in from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to shop the local vendors. There are 27 market vendors that will be selling everything from honey, ginger beer, tea, baked goods, cheese and more.

The Elgin Area Tourism Bureau serves nine communities including Elgin, Bartlett, Carpentersville, East Dundee, Gilberts, Hampshire, Sleepy Hollow, South Elgin and West Dundee. Its mission is to enhance the economic and environmental well-being of the 9 communities in the Fox River Valley through marketing the area and bringing visitors in for events.

For information, call (847) 695-7540 or at www.ExploreElginArea.com.

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