Chipman Fur and Feathers Market

Emily Mailhot Reporter

Vegreville News Advertiser

Chipman fur and feathers market, held annually for the past four years, was presented for the first time in conjunction with the Chipman Agricultural Society on Saturday, May 11.

When the Fur and Feathers Homesteader Market first started, organizer and co-founder Nichole Gory said that it was a means to connect with other local farmers and hobby farmers.

No more scrolling through Facebook or Kijiji ads hoping to run across something “as good as it looks,” the Fur and Feathers Market was created to help create local people with local animals, products, and artisans.

“A lot of the time, people don’t know where they can buy their food homegrown, or where to buy their own chicks to raise and butcher,” said Gory, “We mainly just wanted to connect local people and local farmers to give everyone a little more exposure.”

Vendors came from local farms, and counties in the Edmonton area to sell their goods and connect with others.

While she still organizes and plans the event they can now also enjoy the exposure and help they receive being under the “Agricultural Society” umbrella and the new partnership. The Chipman Agricultural Society also helped organize a concession stand, along with the Tofield Packers.

A big rush of attendance at the beginning slowly trickled to a halt throughout the event, as the afternoon sun began to bore down more. There was free entrance for the public, and a little something for everyone; in addition to the many vendors, there was also a petting zoo, seed planting, and a booth led by Lamont Fish and Game where children could make their own birdhouses.

“It was our best attendance yet,” said Gory, “I look forward to seeing how we grow in the next years!”