Collin Fall 2025

Fleaing through life as a volunteer

by | Aug 6, 2015 | Latest

By Wyndi Veigel

News Editor

[email protected]

The first Saturday of each month, small-town Farmersville is transformed and greeted by both farmers and fleas.

Farmers & Fleas, a project of the Farmersville Main Street Program, originated as a way to boost shopping in the downtown area. Aug.1 was the 11 year anniversary.

The market was started in 2004 and has boasted many fleas and vendors over the years.

Newcomer to the market Billy Miller has only participated three times but already Farmers and Fleas has made an impact on him.

“I live in Farmersville and I love the downtown area and the history,” he said.

Miller sells birdbaths and daylilies at his vendor spot, and though his season is over for this year, he already plans to participate in the market next year.

“The people there are so nice,” he said.

For vendor Ann Kelley, it is the small town friendly atmosphere that has brought her back for about a year now.

Kelley, who sells jewelry and other sundry items, enjoys the reasonable prices for the vendor spots, $15 under the shed, and the fact that it’s partially covered under the Onion Shed.

“It’s very efficient and friendly,” she said. “I just love it.”

The market’s purpose is to assist sellers in the direct marketing of their products, and to attract customers to downtown Farmersville in a wholesome and neighborly atmosphere,” according to Main Street Manager Adah Leah Wolf.

“Our downtown is not the easiest to find; this event helps to educate visitors about our location and it gives them another reason to visit. We feel that once folks discover us they will want to return; this gives them impetus to discover,” Wolf said. “Every vendor and every shopper is personally greeted at this market. Our volunteers make it a point to model ‘friendly Farmersville’ to all of our guests. We are not the largest market, but we try to make sure our vendors and shoppers have a pleasant and fun experience. It is not unusual to find our City Mayor or one of our Councilmen ‘on duty’ during registration, helping vendors unload their vehicles.”

Approximately 3,500 hours over the past 11 years have been donated by volunteers, also known as “big fleas.”

There have been about 115 markets since its inception.

Since Main Street is already advertising the market, with approximately $6,730 each year spent in ads, it is easy to add information about other events happening that day to the advertising.

In fact, many events have been added to the same day as the market including sidewalk sales downtown, classic car shows, chili cook offs, Santa’s annual visit, the Chamber’s annual Yards of Yard Sales, the Chalk the Walk Event, Chaparral Trail Clean up by the Rotary Club, the Arlington Geocache annual event, Rotary Blood Drive, Bike Rides on the Chaparral Trail and numerous non- profit group that utilize the market for annual fundraisers, such as the Boy Scouts and churches.

NTMWD 2025

0 Comments

Subscribe 300x250 - Love

Related News

Hard work, friendship pay off for top two grads

Hard work, friendship pay off for top two grads

Class of 2025 salutatorian Brycen Williams, left, and valedictorian Cooper Chambers will address their fellow classmates at the Farmersville High School graduation ceremony Tuesday, May 20. An academic year filled with challenges— and a shared commitment to “passing...

read more
McKinney Council approves airport contracts

McKinney Council approves airport contracts

Work is scheduled to begin next month on a $72 million expansion of McKinney National Airport that will allow commercial passenger service to begin next year. “We are cleared for takeoff,” Mayor George Fuller said after the McKinney City Council approved $61 million...

read more
Marker ceremony will honor Davis

Marker ceremony will honor Davis

Gussie Nell Davis, a Farmersville native and founder of the Kilgore Rangerettes, will be honored with a historical marker in downtown Saturday. Courtesy photo Gussie Nell Davis, a trailblazer who revolutionized American halftime entertainment and became known as the...

read more
Cities to lease Lake Lavon parks

Cities to lease Lake Lavon parks

Recreational facilities on the shore of Lavon Lake are being evaluated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has held public hearings on a draft plan to improve park quality while addressing long-term maintenance and funding...

read more
Windsor Farms voluntarily annexed into city

Windsor Farms voluntarily annexed into city

Farmersville City Council addressed several real estate properties in various stages of development during its regular meeting May 5. Council members unanimously approved a voluntary annexation of approximately 252 acres located east of Highway 78, west of the Kansas...

read more
Governor signs school voucher bill

Governor signs school voucher bill

Gov. Greg Abbott displays Senate Bill 2, signed Saturday, May 3, creating educational savings accounts – a school voucher system – in Texas. Courtesy Governor's Office Effective with the 2026-27 school year, Texas families will be able to apply for a trust fund...

read more
FISD administration contracts renewed

FISD administration contracts renewed

Trustees handled a brief agenda swiftly during the Farmersville ISD school board’s regular meeting Tuesday, April 29. Most of the meeting took place in closed session to discuss two items: personnel employment—including administrative contracts for the 2025–26 school...

read more
Voters choose trustees

Voters choose trustees

Three of the nine seats on the Collin College Board of Trustees were open in the Saturday, May 3, general election. Collin County Elections said Staci L. Weaver had 37,166 votes, or 58.20%, for Place 4, previously occupied by Trustee Greg Gomel. Tamara Thomas had...

read more
Subscribe 300x250 - Love