Autumn on the Farm

Autumn on the Farm

Cozy meets country at Farm Girl Fair, an event set to take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2 at Norman’s Sandy River Ranch, 3500 NW 72nd Ave. Vendors, entertainment and food trucks will be part of the family friendly fair, which has been hosted each autumn since 2015.

When friends Carol Bauman, Kim Frakes and Lindsi Niebur decided to create Farm Girl Fair, they shared a vision of a small, charming event. Bauman is operations director, Frakes oversees vendor relations and Niebur is the fair’s coordinator.

“From the very beginning, the event has been for the community and a part of the community,” said Bauman. “We sat down with people and asked key questions. What we had in mind was the fair in Charlotte’s Web. We don’t need to grow bigger and be something we’re not. People find it special, a niche.”

The three organizers have been friends since high school and all reside in Norman. Carol lives on the ranch property where the event is hosted.

“It was easy to imagine this property coming to life as a great campus for a dream like this,” said Bauman.

“Carol and I had come across a fair happening in northwest Arkansas and decided we could do this here,” said Frakes.

More than 50 vendors attend each year, artisans with handcrafted wares, candles, clothing, jewelry and pottery. Pony rides, live music, yard games, face painting, balloon animals, a petting zoo and pie tastings are also some of the day’s activities.

Admission is $5 for attendees over age 13 and free for children. Proceeds from admissions are donated in direct benefit to a designated non-profit organization. This year, Farm Girl Fair will benefit Loveworks Leadership, a youth advocacy organization focused on positive values, entrepreneurial effort and character-building activities.

“We have always wanted to give back as part of a shared overall vision for Norman, which is an important aspect of living here. Our residents seem to have that in common,” said Bauman.

Farm Kid Fair is an event of its own within the main event. Around 30 vendors under 16 will sell baked goods and other homemade items. Participants learn the value of giving back to the community with 5% of sales going to benefit Loveworks.

“We see young people with friendship bracelets, slime, soda, whatever they make and sell who come out to participate,” said Bauman. “Loveworks will have a table to sell its salsa, which is a product kids make and market from start to finish. It’s in Oklahoma grocery stores and part of their program to teach entrepreneurship.”

The event’s organizers recognize the role Farm Girl Fair plays in giving small vendors an opportunity to connect with the public.

“Farm Girl Fair helps to promote and advance small vendors,” said Niebur. “Their quality and talent are outstanding.”

Vendors for Farm Girl Fair and Farm Kid Fair apply annually, with approval considered on a case-by-case basis.

Before Farm Girl Fair, a pre-event leads up to the big day: Night on the Farm. Event organizers will release 50 tickets on Instagram for the VIP experience, which includes food, drinks, live music, a rodeo and community participation. Football players and cheerleaders from Norman’s high schools have attended in the past to interact with the guests gathered for a fun night. A new element is added to Night on the Farm each year. Check Instagram at @farmgirlfair as the date approaches for more details and ticket information.

Find more information about Farm Girl Fair at farmgirlfair.com.– BSM

VENDOR PROFILE: PATCHED DESIGNS

Owner: Jillian Marsh Castro

Instagram: @Patched_Designs

When Castro’s husband was deployed last October, she decided to start her own small business to stay busy. Patched Designs features apparel, bags and more with monogrammed fabric designs. Letters and symbols add personalization to the merchandise, which has national distribution.

“Little did I know this small business would take off and reach almost all 50 states. I was always the person that wanted these bags from the name brand, but I couldn’t justify spending $150 plus and I knew there had to be other moms that wanted these at an affordable price,” she explained.

Preview on Instagram or at patcheddesigns.com.

Owner: Amy Baldwin Instagram: @the_artifactory Artifactory has been a community-based art center with retail and class offerings since 2014. Amy Baldwin, its owner, is proud of her business and the play on words on its name: “It really does represent us and the vintage materials we use, artifacts of another time.” Baldwin’s degree in fine arts from OU is the foundation for her work. Her inventory includes one-of-a-kind home decor, clothing and crafted items with vintage flair. Before the pandemic, the studio was known for its classes. When social distancing forced Baldwin to find another way of doing business, she came up with kits that sold nationwide which included all materials and tools needed to complete a project, in addition to step-by-step how-to videos. Now, classes have returned to the space and another seasonal kit will likely return this winter. “We look forward to attending Farm Girl Fair each year,” Baldwin said. “We are so grateful for the Norman community’s support and for the organizers of Farm Girl Fair.” Stop by the Artifactory booth this year at Farm Girl Fair and find more information about the studio’s one-of-akind items at https://bit.ly/artifactory_Norman.

VENDOR PROFILE: ARTIFACTORY

Owner: Amy BaldwinInstagram: @the_artifactory

Artifactory has been a community-based art center with retail and class offerings since 2014. Amy Baldwin, its owner, is proud of her business and the play on words on its name: “It really does represent us and the vintage materials we use, artifacts of another time.”

Baldwin’s degree in fine arts from OU is the foundation for her work. Her inventory includes one-of-a-kind home decor, clothing and crafted items with vintage flair. Before the pandemic, the studio was known for its classes. When social distancing forced Baldwin to find another way of doing business, she came up with kits that sold nationwide which included all materials and tools needed to complete a project, in addition to step-by-step how-to videos. Now, classes have returned to the space and another seasonal kit will likely return this winter.

“We look forward to attending Farm Girl Fair each year,” Baldwin said. “We are so grateful for the Norman community’s support and for the organizers of Farm Girl Fair.”

Stop by the Artifactory booth this year at Farm Girl Fair and find more information about the studio’s one-of-akind items at https://bit.ly/artifactory_Norman.