CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. — From colorful flower tubs and fresh herb plants to educational birdthemed games and handcrafted treasures, this past Saturday’s Farmers Market at Fire and Ice Park was more than a shopping trip — it was a full-on community celebration.
The market’s second weekend of the 2025 season brought an estimated 38 vendors, marking a strong turnout despite brisk winds. Crowds moved cheerfully among tables displaying everything from hand-crocheted crafts and burnedwood ornaments to Roma tomato starts and local baked goods.
Families with children were treated to a special Migratory Bird Day celebration, hosted by rangers from El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments. The rangers set up a kid-friendly zone complete with a migration obstacle course, pinecone bird feeder crafts, and a hands-on “bird beak” activity that helped young visitors understand the different ways birds feed. Kids also created colorful window decal art and explored how nests are made with a bird nest building station.
Market manager Siobhan Archibald thanked the National Park Service for helping connect education and play with local agriculture.
“It’s these kinds of interactive days that help bring people back to the market — not just for what’s on sale, but for the sense of connection,” Archibald said.
One of the weekend’s highlights was the return of Edith from Red Mesa Gardens, a beloved vendor known for her flower and herb plants — including highly sought-after dahlia tubers. She plans to attend the market every other weekend through the season, giving returning gardeners a reason to keep checking in.
While the market continues to welcome more produce vendors, Archibald emphasized the importance of supporting the growers and crafters already showing up each week. “We hear the calls for more produce,” she said, “but the truth is, our faithful vendors rarely sell out. The more local support they get, the more likely we’ll be able to draw in new vendors too.”
The Grants Farmers Market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through October at Fire and Ice Park — with a possible temporary shift to City Hall Park later in the season if needed. Vendors accept SNAP, WIC, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits, and the market participates in the Double Up Food Bucks program, doubling every dollar spent on eligible food items.
Children under 12 are also welcome to become vendors — for free — as long as they are involved in creating the goods they sell.
For updates on vendor availability, special events, or how to become a vendor yourself, follow the Grants Farmers Market on Facebook or email farmersmarket@grantsnm .gov.
Next week’s market will feature a “Paws-itive Thoughts for Furry Friends” fundraiser for the Grants Animal Care Center, hosted by the Grants-Milan Rotary Club.