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Guest Presenters and Programs

Each season, special community volunteers visit
with free info., displays and expertise to share with our customers.  

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

York County Master Gardeners


Longtime Dillsburg residents and York County Master Gardeners Dennis and Maryann Mawhinney bring a wealth of knowledge and experience on their Saturday to present at our farmers' market!  In 2013, they demonstrated techniques for drying herbs and how to make delicious homemade herbal vinegars.  The following year, they showed adaptive tools and strategies for gardening to maximize mobility and function and minimize aches and injuries.  In 2015, the Mawhinneys shared recipes and steps for preserving vegetables using the process of lacto-fermentation.  They gave a free informative demo. on herbs - how to grow, use and preserve them - in 2016.  The next season, 2017, they demonstrated how to start your own straw bale garden. 

Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania


Another Dillsburg resident, Nancy Putt, is a Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist and an active member of the Bluebird Society of PA (BSP).  She serves as Secretary of BSP and assists with many of their educational programs and demonstrations. In four seasons (2014 - 2017), Nancy brought bluebird boxes, displays and info. about cultivating bluebird habitat and the types of plants and flowers that attract these beautiful birds to live and flourish in your own backyard.   

Hart-So-Big Alpaca Farm
 

Barb Hartsough and her husband Tim run Hart-So-Big Alpaca Farm nearby in Wellsville where they raise their own alpacas and board others. Barb brings an array of homespun items made from alpaca wool, a few examples of alpaca wool for children to examine, and two of her most sociable alpacas come along to visit at the market on a Saturday morning (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019)! 

Children's Activities
 

Special displays, recipes and activities (often hands-on) at the children's table each Saturday through the season.  Try the "guessing box", farm fresh fruit and vegetable jokes, puzzle sheets, create a popsicle stick farm animal, decorate a pumpkin and more. Occasionally, students from Northern High School have volunteered to help at our table.  The Children's Librarian at Dillsburg Area Public Library (first Ms. Wendy Simpson, then Ms. Gina Staton and now Ms. Sue Rizzo) visits each season to read to young shoppers and share info. about the kids' summer reading program through York County Libraries!  

Latimore Valley Farms

Thanks to our hardworking vendor Latimore Valley Farms, a genuine Texas Longhorn (known as "The Gentle Giants") visited our customers on Opening Day 2015!

 

Our friends at NYCHAPS

 

We're lucky to have neighbors nearby at Dill's Tavern, a living history treasure in our community!  They love agriculture and so do we...so it's a great time

at our market when volunteers from Northern York County Historical and Preservation Society arrive to share with customers about the history of farming and early life in York County and all the wonderful programs through the year on site at Dill's Tavern and Maple Shade Barn. (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019)

Sergeant Smith and
     National NIght Out
 

Sgt. David Smith, representing Carroll Twp. Police Dept. AND volunteers for Dillsburg's annual National Night Out in early August, visits on a market Saturday each year before the big evening to greet customers and hand out flyers about this wonderful neighborhood event! (2015, 2016, 2017)

Abby Leese
Market friend and volunteer Abby Leese has brought a series of hands on activities to our children's table, all centered on being creative with everyday objects and items!  Children have painted with leaves and flowers, decorated sticks, and made flags with brightly colored masking tape (with twigs and sticks from trees for flag poles!).  In 2018:  fairy gardens, spin art, colored rice, floating chalk, mosaic tiles, pasta sculptures, and hatching dinosaur eggs. 2019:  lanterns, tiny worlds, aquariums, painting on glass and paper crafts.
 
Thank you, Abby! (2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019)

2014

2015

Our EGGsperts

 

Greg and Danny brought their

knowledge and chickens to market

to share with customers and kids

what is involved with cultivating

healthy, happy chickens and 

delicious, free-range eggs!         (2016, 2017) 

2016

2017

Our Neighbors from The Spalon
 

Heather, certified massage therapist from our business neighbors The Spalon, located near the market on N. Second Street, added a special wellness dimension to our Saturday morning gatherings from time to time.  She offered free chair massages to customers and vendors and described the products and services that The Spalon staff provides. (2015) 

Live Music
 

Local musicians volunteer their time and talents to perform during market hours, enhancing the atmosphere and entertaining customers! New in 2018 and 2019:  Open Mic! 

Essential Oils
 

Wellness advocates for DoTERRA Essential Oils and Dillsburg residents Sherry Houseal and Charity  Hutnick shared info. and samples about essential oils and their benefits and uses and led a make-and-take workshop for interested customers (2016, 2017 & 2018).

Dillsburg Farmers Fair Volunteers
 

Farmers Fair volunteers visit our market each year in Sept. and Oct. with displays, free copies of the Dill Pickle, info. and mugs, pens, posters and raffle chances for sale.

Community Special Events
 

Guests representing Dillsburg Garden Club and NYCHAPS are on hand at market to share info. about upcoming special events, for example the biennial Garden Club Tour and annual Honey and the Hog Festival at Dill's Tavern. 

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Presidential Occasion
 

Local Lincoln re-enactor (and Dillsburg vegetable grower) Lee Douglas Kirkland stops by once each season for a presidential visit (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017).  He'll talk shop about gardening or the 16th President of the United States, whichever you prefer. And he's always willing to shake hands and pause for a photo opportunity.

Free Chair Yoga

Chelsea Parcels, of Dillsburg, led market-goers in a meditative session of chair yoga (July 2017).

Dillsburg Yoga

 

Emily Gilmore, from Dillsburg Yoga, led free all-levels yoga sessions for our customers in both 2016 and 2017!

Dillsburg Arts and

              Revitalization Council

Arts Council friends brought brochures for the 2017 arts season and shared info. about upcoming

concerts, events, classes and programs (May 2017).

The Dr. is in!

 

Dr. Christine Curran offered info. on health

and wellness, including nutrition, exercise and

chiropractic health (June 2017).

Music Together Free Demo.

 

Loyal market fan and friend Nicole Bryden led a free session for children and their families during market hours on August 25, 2018. Such fun!

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South Central PA Harvest Hub

Diane Staz, Director, brought the custom van AND info. (Aug. 2017) about how she and the Havest Hub work with farmers, growers and local schools and institutions to bring fresh homegrown local food to students, residents and clients.

South Mountain Partnership and 
South Mountain Trolley Greenway

Katie Hess (SMP) and David Maher were our guests on two Saturdays in July 2017, sharing valuable info. with customers about projects the SMP supports in our area, the many benefits of a proposed rail trail in the Dillsburg community and the beauty and quality of life in South Central PA 

H2L Studio with FREE Barre Class

Heather visited on September 30, 2017 with info about fitness programs and classes AND to lead a free barre class at 10 a.m.

DABA Display and Info

Dillsburg Area Business Association provided free copies of their 2017 Local Business Guide and pens and fun! (stress) pickles for customers on two market Saturdays.  We can all shop local all year long for so many goods and services that are available right here in Dillsburg!

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Cooking Demo.

Registered Dietitian McKenna Welshans shared fresh recipes and samples from dishes she prepared using produce and products grown, made and donated by our vendors. (Sept. 1, 2018 & Aug. 31, 2019)

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Members 1st Federal Credit Union ~ 

a 2018 & 2019 Season Sponsor!

Sara and Amanda greeted customers on two Saturdays during our 2018 season. We thank them for being one of our business sponsors again in the 2019 season!

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kite tales weaving Saori arts studio

Japanese hand weaving demo. and skills for customers of all ages (Aug. 11, 2018 & June 1, 2019)

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M&T Bank ~ a 2018 Season Sponsor!

Karen brought greetings from M&T Bank and shared goodies and info. with customers on a Saturday

during our season. We thank them for being one of our business sponsors that season.

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Polar Bear Foundation

Nonprofit Dillsburg organization that gives generously to NYCSD students and supports programs at each school and campus. Volunteers visited market to share info about their upcoming golf outing to kick off the new school year and fundraising season (Aug. 24, 2019)

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Lobar Associates - a 2019 Season Sponsor

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Dillsburg Family Dentistry -

a 2018 & 2019 Season Sponsor

Awkward Artisans Brewing

Home brewer Rob Getz used vendors' produce (peaches, red beets) to craft two seasonal beers which he brought to market with free samples and to share his techniques and ingredients selections with customers. (Sept. 7, 2019)

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Plant and Wellness Bites

Rebecca Winters shared healthy cooking tips and a recipe sourced from our vendors' fresh produce along with free samples - yum!

(July 6, 2019)

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Yes, You CAN!

Home canning display with free recipes, Penn State Extension info. sheets and tools of the trade. (Sept. 28, 2019

Keystone Concert Band

Free concert on the lawn (Oct. 5, 2019)

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Susquehanna Folk Festival

Volunteers from Susquehanna Folk Music Society brought info., brochures and free buttons in advance of the 2nd annual festival (held at RoundTop Mountain Resort.

(July 2018 and June 29, 2019)

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Fitness and Nutrition Visits

Staff from 13 Stripes Fitness Dillsburg volunteered time and info. as our guests on two Saturdays.

(July 13 & Aug. 31, 2019)

FREE Basket Giveaways

Market friend Margaret Kovacic generously donated homemade goodies and market items for a basket giveaway in 2018 and THREE baskets in 2019 featuring a special Fourth of July theme, a Back-to-School "Just for Kids" drawing and an autumn extravaganza.

Health Simplified

David Steele shared health and cooking suggestions using ingredients sourced from our vendors and a collection of recipes and wellness tips. (June 8, 2019)

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