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Forty-seven designated communities* have established an accessible community sports program or offered a free or low-cost fitness event as one of their Active Living strategies.

Community Sports Programs or Events for Adults and Children Overview

“45 million children and adolescent participants in the US. Seventy five percent of American families with school-aged children have at least one child participating in organized sports.” - National Library of Medicine. Free or low-cost programs or events include youth sports leagues, community tournaments, access to community centers, 5k runs, fitness challenges, school activity initiatives, and more. Like most Designation strategies, these programs require the commitment and support of the whole community to function properly, from you in the local government to schools, parents, children, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. 

 

Why is it important? 

“Getting people active could save the global economy nearly $68 billion annually in medical costs and productivity. The U.S. alone could save up to $28 billion. And individuals could find $2,500 or more in their pocket if they move for 30 minutes five times per week.” - The Lancet Physical Activity Series via Project Play.

Why is it important? 

The Aspen Institute’s Project Play gives a list of health benefits of youth sports: 

• Regular activity benefits healthy bones, muscles and joints; controls weight and reduces fat; prevents or delays development of high blood pressure
• Sports participation is a significant predictor of young adults’ participation in sports and physical activity throughout their lifetime
• Active communities are healthier 
• Active children are less obese in a time that the obesity epidemic continues
• Sports activity helps children develop and improve cognitive skills

• Physical activity correlates with better mental health in youth 
• Sports can positively impact personal development among young people
• Sports provide opportunities for meaningful daily interactions, which reduces loneliness and increases community involvement

 

How do you do it?

Perhaps more than any other strategy, this one must be tailored to your community’s needs and resources. Therefore, while this section will have pieces of general advice, it also includes numerous examples from Designated communities of all sizes, as small as Annabella (population: 900) and as large as West Valley (population 139,000).

Whether you’re starting a youth sports league, developing a Pickleball tournament, or organization a one-time 5k race, this Brief Guide to Community Event Planning provides the must-dos: 

 

Some of the most popular events or programs outside of youth sports (which is the #1), include:

• Committed individuals or councils focused on health and wellness
• 5k runs, fun runs, annual themed races (biking or running) 
• Sports courts: tennis, pickleball, basketball, volleyball, frisbee golf
• School fitness: Outride Program, fitness competitions
• Annual employee passes, sliding scale fees, scholarships for youth sports programs and access to sports/community/recreation centers
• Active community engagement events

 

Youth Sports

Ankored, whose mission is to simplify the way organizations keep youth sports safe, released Administration 101: The Complete Guide to Running a Youth Sports Organization to help build strong foundations for your youth sports program. To run a smooth and effective program or league, you will need a sports administrator that often works with a board or committee who oversees the program’s activities and makes high-level decisions. 

In this handbook, Anchored details 9 key areas sports administrators will take responsibility for. 

1. Establishing a Legal Entity

You can stay classed as an unincorporated association, which will save effort and costs in the beginning, but cause problems later as you grow. It also leaves individuals liable if things go wrong. 

If you choose to form a legal entity, usually the program will be a 501(c)(3) or an LLC. An LLC offers liability protection and flexibility in tax purposes. A 501(c)(3) is a non-profit sports team and will give you tax-exempt status from the IRS. However, to establish a non-profit, you will need to elect corporate offers, apply for a tax ID number, and more. Tax or legal advisors can help you determine which is the best route for you.

2. Getting Insurance

“Insurance is an absolutely critical part of running a youth sports organization.” Consider the following types of insurance: 

You don’t need all of these; types of insurance will be determined by your specific program’s needs. However, you absolutely should be covered by accident insurance, general liability insurance, and equipment insurance. 

3.  Managing a Budget

Establishing a budget and financial management will help you determine how to structure your program (does your sports admin need a board of directors or a committee or neither?). When developing your estimated revenue and expenses, here are some suggested line items: 

• • • Equipment
    • Staffing 
    • Training
    • Insurance
    • Rental expenses
    • Marketing & communications
    • Miscellaneous expenses

If you’re at the beginning of your program, you can track your budget on a spreadsheet. It would be beneficial to invest in a financial management software, however, which will also help you collect payments and manage invoices on top of tracking your budget.

4. Establishing a Code of Conduct

Your code of conduct should include expectations of coaches, players, parents, and organization staff (even if it’s just your sports admin). This document should also detail what behaviors are unacceptable and outline the mission of your program. Distribute your Code of Conduct to all players, coaches, parents, and staff at the start of the season. Have each individual sign it to confirm they have read and accepted it.

Ankored gives 4 example Codes of Conduct to get the ball rolling. You don’t have to start from scratch!

5. Becoming Compliant

“Compliance means adhering to any applicable laws and regulations dictated by federal, state, and local governing bodies.” Make sure you are aware and following all local, state, and federal laws that apply to your program. Ankored has a Compliance Guide for Youth Sports with a checklist of areas you should cover. 

Some compliance subjects to keep in mind: 

• • • The federal Safe Sport Act
    • Return-to-play concussion legislation
    • Background check laws
    • Abuse prevention training
    • Waivers

6. Registering Players

Registration is a process with many moving parts. You will need to create, distribute, and collect: 

Registration is a great time to ask parents if they want to help out; add a question about volunteering on the registration form to make it easier for them and you. 

Registration involves collecting and storing private/personal information, so make sure you’re doing this in a safe and secure way. While HIPAA is not a legal requirement for all youth sports programs, Ankored suggests you use it as a guideline to help you keep a high level of privacy. Their Compliance Guide for Youth Sports (linked above) goes more in depth about HIPAA and tips for how you can follow it. 

7. Hiring Coaches and Staff 

While the legal requirements are different for volunteers than paid staff, you should still have a volunteer agreement in place and run background checks on anyone interacting with minors. All of your staff and volunteers should go through abuse prevention training as well.

8. Setting up a Scheduling System

Once you’ve started your program and built the legal foundations, you will start into the day-to-day administration. When you build out your program’s schedule, you need to manage 

• • • Board meetings 
    • Coach meetings
    • Try-outs
    • Training sessions
    • Games
    • Social events (fundraisers, family engagement)

9. Marketing Tasks

The main and most important marketing materials of this day and age are website, social media, and mailing lists. Centerville (population 16,500) is active on social media and keeps an up-to-date resource page of their city website that provides information about healthy food access, physical activity opportunities, and connecting with mental health resources. These are great ways to keep the community informed about your services, including youth sports programs, and increase registrations and volunteer sign-ups.

Many large companies are invested in Youth Sports, both in building programs and making them accessible to all children. HERE is a list of 50 Companies who sponsor athletes in Youth Sports. 

An example of sponsorships and corporation collaboration comes from Woods Cross (population 11,500). They partnered with the Utah Hockey Club to offer a street hockey league through the local elementary school.

 

Committed individuals or councils focused on health and wellness

According to Project Play, athletic councils can employ key mechanisms: 

When you are building your council or committee, you want to make sure many types of sectors are represented, including different types of sports, education, and community leaders.

For example, Santaquin (population 15,400) created an ongoing section titled "Healthy Santaquin" on their quarterly Santaquin Community Services Board Committee agenda, setting aside time to discuss activities, points of policy, and events that impact the health of residents. Many cities and towns utilize their recreation departments to manage healthy priorities and programs. 

Centerville (population 16,500) established a full-time position within their recreation department specific to health and wellness for the whole community. 

St. George (population 84,500) has a LiveWell Coalition which regularly meets to discuss ways to improve the health of residents. The Coalition conducted a needs assessment of the health of the community to determine what residents need and want.

 

5k Running Events

First and foremost - work with your Parks and Recreation department to determine and obtain the necessary permits (unless another department in your local government oversees special events). 

Race Entry has built out a Race Director Guide that details the 4 crucial steps for planning a 5k race. 

1. Creating an Online Race Registration Form

Your registration form should be fast and simple for participants; do not require account creation if possible and customize the form to each of your races instead of using a general sign-up.

2. Planning a Running Location

To select your running location, you need to think through several factors: 

• • • Proximity to target market
    • Scenic attractions
    • Safety (will you need to close busy roads?)
    • Anticipated number of participants
    • Budget (permits, barricades, marketing materials, snacks/water…)

3. Creating a Race Course

There are 5 million and 1 5ks every year, but you can still make yours special by tailoring it to your community. What scenery or attractions will participants like to see on their runs? 

Also consider the elevation. This can determine how well it can be used for walking versus biking races. 

When you’re building the shape of your course, the best option is an out-and-back or a loop so that the start and end are in the same place. You can also explore unique shapes (that still start/end in the same place!) so people can watch the shape unfold as they run.

4. Organizing a Fun Run

The best way to get your community involved in your 5k is by focusing on the community itself, which makes your run a Fun Run! Here are some example themes from designated Healthy Utah Communities: 

• • • Manti (population 3,600) hosted a Senior Walk
    • Grantsville (population 14,400) offers several annual 5k races: PTA Glow Run, 4th of July Race, and Thanksgiving Turkey Trot.
    • Every year, South Jordan (population 80,000) offers the SoJo Race Series, a year-round series of kids runs, 5ks, and 10ks. 

Once you have your theme (including the race’s name!), work into your budget things like decorations, on-theme food, and any other thematic elements. 

After you’ve built out your 5k, you’ll need to promote it. Use your city website, social media channels, newsletters, and community groups to advertise the when, where, and how much. Race entry has a Race Promotion Guide if your registration is struggling or you want to open your races beyond your city or town community. One key point is to open your registration - or at the very least a countdown page - one year in advance. Give people time to prepare and train. 

Race Entry has 12 steps for directing your 5k race. We will go through the most important ones here: 

Create a budget

Talk to neighboring race organizers about what they spend on certain line items, which should include: 

• Permits
• Bib
• Aid station supplies
• Barricades
• Volunteer snacks
• Water bottles
• Start and finish line decor
• Prizes and medals
• Timing 
• Shirts and merchandise
• Marketing/outreach

Develop a Sponsorship Program

To use your 5k race as a Designation strategy, it needs to be low-cost or free to the community. Therefore, you probably won’t offset your costs solely on registration fees. Another way to build revenue is by creating sponsorship levels and packages to pitch to local businesses. Sponsorship packages should include marketing benefits (a.k.a. promo for the business). Business contributions can come from monetary sponsorships, but you can also lean on in-kind donations (maybe the local grocery store will donate snacks, or a gift shop can provide prizes), or volunteer hours. 

Prepare a Safety Plan

Coordinate with the police if you need security at your event, and make sure you have proper traffic safety devices (cones, barricades). When considering medical and emergency response, you can consult with a sports medicine professional to determine what your event’s specific needs may be. 

Time to Race Properly

Consider 4 things when you're looking for a timer: 

• Technology
• Experience
• Proximity
• Pricing

This is another question to ask neighboring race organizations: what did they budget for timers and timing technology? Who did they use? What is their process? How much you invest in a timer should be equivalent to the size of your race. If it is small, under 200 participants, you can probably use free options to time the race yourself, but you will need the help of volunteers to coordinate timing. If your race is over 200 people, you really should look into investing into an experienced timer and upgraded technology. 

Shirts and Bibs

Shirts are a great souvenir and a way to build community with race participants. Bibs easily identify who is an official participant (as some bystanders or viewers might end up with shirts as well). The bibs should be designed to be quickly read to make timing easier.

Prepare Aid Stations, Hydration & Food

Try to place aid stations every two miles, stocked with water and electrolyte beverages. If you are providing port-a-potties, ensure that you have the proper distance between them and your aid station (check with the health department what the distance is). Other commodities to have at aid stations include pain relievers and food that’s easy to eat on the run (gel packs, granola bars).

At the finish line, you should have high-protein food to support race recovery. This is a great time to ask local markets or restaurants for in-kind donations as a type of sponsorship. Common foods you’ll find at 5k finish lines: 

• Doughnuts 
• Water
• Coffee
• Tea
• Hot chocolate
• Protein bars
• Trail mix

Recruit and Train Volunteers

Incentives and positive experiences are the best ways to recruit and retain volunteers. Incentives can include a volunteer appreciation gift or party, or free registration/merch. Some pools you can recruit volunteers from: 

• Student volunteer organizations
• Local businessesScout troops
• Cheerleading squads
• Youth organizations

Make sure you have a reliable volunteer tracking system that keeps contact information, number of individual volunteers and volunteer hours. 

Course Clean Up & Post-Race Review

Have dedicated volunteers for clean-up and set-up to ensure you clean up properly. When the race is finished (and cleaned up!), conduct a review with the following groups: 

• Your team
• Volunteer team managers
• Vendors
• Sponsors
• Participants 

Ask everyone: what went well, what didn’t, and what changes should be made for next year? Make sure you personalize your thanks to sponsors and build renewal prospects into follow-up conversations. 

Your participant survey will be the longest and go to the most people. 

Try to add demographics into your survey (age/age range, gender, annual income range, how long they’ve been running). 

Here is a list by Race Entry of the supplies you’ll need for your race.

 

Sports Courts: tennis, pickleball, basketball, volleyball, frisbee golf, futsal

A great way to get your community more active is by providing free tools and opportunities for them. Many Designated communities have upgraded sports facilities in parks, community and recreation centers, or even repurposed buildings to focus on physical health. Introducing free tournaments is another incentive for community members to utilize these resources. Here are some examples: 

• Annabella ( population 900) installed new equipment to the exercise room in their Community Center, which led to youth participation tripling. They also added a volleyball net to the facility.
• Blanding (population 3,200) added new pickleball courts at the local park and hosted free tournaments.
• Manti (population 3,600) citizens worked together to refurbish tennis courts into tennis courts. The city also hosted fitness activities at their new sports complex.
• Kanab (population 5,100) offers tennis courts, trails, a skate park, and a track.
• Ephraim (population 6,200) installed a frisbee-golf course.
• Grantsville (population 14,400) offers Tai Chi classes at its local senior centers.
• Centerville (population 16,500), through their recreation department, regularly sponsors pickleball tournaments and kickball leagues for youth and adults.
• Payson (population 22,000) maintains a variety of outdoor amenities like pickle ball courts, disc golf courses, and basketball courts.
• Millcreek (population 61,700) installed a futsal court in a portion of the city home to lower-income, immigrant, and refugee populations. 
• Provo (population 113,500) is working to build outdoor fitness stations with outdoor exercise equipment (you can find an example HERE, or in the Resources section below)

 

School Fitness Programs

Kanab (population 5,100) engaged families in physical activity by starting a healthy school competition between elementary students and their parents. Students and parents were provided pedometers to track steps for 20 days. This recorded 27 million steps in its pilot year! This competition was so successful it is now an annual event in Kanab. 

South Salt Lake (population 25,500) and Washington (population 32,700) both implemented programs that provide bicycles to residents who don’t have one. Washington also conducts the Outride Bike Program for elementary and middle school students. Outride Bike offers grants that invest in programs that unlock the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of cycling. 

The CDC also has a list of strategies and resources for school and youth physical activity. The strategies include: 

• Physical activity clubs
• Recreational sports for fun (intramural programs)
• Interscholastic sports (competitive sports between schools)
• Access to team and individual sports 
• Physical activity in before and after school programs

 

Reducing Barriers

A great way to increase the physical health in your community is to reduce the barriers to sports leagues, activity centers, and other programs. In some Designated communities, like Blanding (population 3,200) and Sandy (population 96,100) businesses increase employee physical health by providing annual passes to the recreation center, or participating in recognition programs that spotlight companies championing good health. 

Other Designated programs, like Park City (population 8,300) and South Salt Lake (population 25,500)  offer a sliding fee scale for youth and adult programs. Other options are scholarships and vouchers, which is what Designated communities St. George (population 84,500) and Provo (population 113,500) offer. 

 

Community Engagement Events

Finally, community engagement events, whether one-time or annual, are a great way to connect your community while encouraging physical activity. For example, Grantsville (population 14,400) hosts an annual Children’s Pioneer Day Parade and Bicycle Hike to the Splash Pad. 

Challenges are also a great way to increase involvement. St George (population 84,500) offered a six-week-long community fitness challenge that saw over 600 registrants and a 73% completion rate. South Jordan (population 80,000) hosts a Winter Fitness Challenge where residents set and meet exercise goals during the cold winter months then report back to receive prizes.

These community engagement events are more important than ever during the obesity and loneliness epidemics facing Utahns. They build social cohesion, which improves mental health, as well as increasing physical activity (and therefore improving physical health). Getting local businesses involved is an added bonus of strengthening your local economy. Ascent Mental Health provided a list of community event benefits: 

• Builds lasting social connections
• Boosts your mental well-being
• Helps you discover new skills and passions
• Strengthens local support systems 
• Encourages involvement in civic life
• Supports the local economy
• Provides fun ways to stay active
• Creates safer, more connected neighborhoods
• Celebrates diversity and culture
• Drives positive change

 

Why Focus on Physical Health? 

 “Without regular activity, your body slowly loses its strength, stamina and ability to function properly. It’s like the old saying: You don’t stop moving from growing old; you grow old from stopping moving. Exercise increases muscle strength, which in turn increases your ability to do other physical activities.” - American Heart Association. In children, physical activity improves memory, attention, and concentration. It reduces disruptive behavior and helps children stay on tasks. In adults, physical activity supports mental wellbeing and reduces the risk of chronic conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and strokes. 

Utah cities and towns play an important role in shaping active lifestyles through policies, programs, land use decisions, and partnerships.

 

Resources

 *These are designated communities of varying populations that have successfully implemented a community garden. Reach out to them to see if they can share their tips and tricks:

1. Ephraim
2. Payson
3. West Valley

 

Administration 101: The Complete Guide to Running a Youth Sports Organization

• In-depth how-to for all aspects of starting and maintaining a farmers market, with success stories and added resources included. 

How cities and counties can establish local athletic councils to coordinate sports in their community

•  Key mechanisms athletic councils can employ with examples of councils from Fairfax, Virginia and Kansas City, Kansas. 

50 Companies Looking to Sponsor Youth Sport Athletes | TeamLinkt 

•  List of potential corporate funding sources for youth sports programs.

How to Organize a 5K Race: Successful Planning Guide 

• Details 4 steps for developing a 5k fun run, tips on how to promote your runs, and how to manage and direct them once they arrive.

A Brief Guide to Community Event Planning 

• A 6-point, 2-pager guide on community event planning.

Youth Sports Facts: Benefits - Project Play 

• Delves deep into the science behind the health, educational, mental, social, emotional, and financial benefits of youth sports.

Youth sport: positive and negative impact on young athletes - PMC 

• In addition to the well-known benefits, this paper discusses the negative impacts of youth sports, including increasing sports-related injuries, overemphasized winning, and challenges based in ethnic cultures, genders, communities, and socioeconomic levels. 

Greenfields Outdoor Fitness - Outdoor exercise equipment

• Example of outdoor fitness equipment you can install in your public parks.

Outride Bike Program

• Outride provides research, cycling programs, and funding to empower all people to experience the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of cycling. 

Strategies for School and Youth Programs | Physical Activity | CDC 

• Brief overview of types of physical activity programs for youth, plus a robust list of resources.

The Powerful Benefits of Engaging in Community Events — Ascent Mental Health 

• Details how community engagement events benefit the individual and the community. 

Encouraging Active Living Through Community Events 

• Overview of why active community events are important in rural towns with examples of how to do it.

Why Is Physical Activity So Important for Health and Well-Being? | American Heart Association 

• Lists the major reasons that physical activity is important in multiple areas. 

 

 

Is your city or town on the path to being a Healthy Utah Community?

Apply here 

Reach out to our program coordinator, Emma, to learn more about the designation and get guidance on the application process: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

 

 

Twenty-five designated communities have established a Farmers Market as one of their Access to Healthy Food strategies.* Farmers Markets not only increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other locally sourced foods, but they support local businesses (including farmers!) and create a space for community connection.

 

Farmers Market Overview

“A farmers market is a multiple vendor farm-to-consumer retail operation, where producers sell goods at a set outdoor or indoor location. Markets are usually held once a week and vary in size from a few stalls to several city blocks. Most farmers markets are organized and operated by community organizations, public agencies, or public/private collaborations with volunteer support” (County Healthy Rankings & Roadmaps).

Farmers Markets are designated for local sellers, and to meet the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services department’s definition, at least two vendors must sell agricultural products such as produce, meat/poultry, seafood, honey, plants, eggs, dairy, or grain. (Much more than two vendors need to sell SNAP-eligible food for your Market to accept SNAP, but we’ll get to that below!). 

Farmers Markets are adaptable to your community sizes and needs. Whether you organize your Farmers Market as a place for local farmers to sell their produce, meat, and dairy, or you expand it to all local businesses and include community draws like live music, every city and town can benefit from a Farmers market.

 

Why is it important? 

Farmers Markets offer three benefits to your city or town: 

• Increase access to fresh, healthy, and local foods.
• Provides space for farmers to sell products directly to consumers, allowing them to retain more of the profit.
• Keeps consumer money in the community, strengthening your local economy.

1. Healthy food access

“Access to affordable, nutritious food is essential to the health and wellbeing of Utahns. Communities with limited access to healthy food experience higher rates of chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as increased healthcare costs and decreased quality of life. Food environments shaped by income, geography, transportation, and affordability barriers disproportionately affect communities with limited access to healthy food, including low-income communities and older adults” (Utah Foundation, 2023). 

Farmers Markets increase access to healthy and high-quality fresh food, especially in areas that lack access to stores that sell affordable healthy food. According to County Healthy Rankings, access to a variety of high-quality produce at lower prices than retailers is one of the most commonly reported reasons for shopping at Farmers Markets.

2. Supporting local farmers and strengthening community

Did you know American farmers only receive 15.9 cents on every dollar Americans spend on food? And that cent-per-dollar continues to decrease (it was 17.4 cents in 2017). 

At Farmers Markets, American Farms can see up to 90 cents on the dollar for their product.

Providing a space for farm-to-consumer purchasing not only ensures community members get access to the freshest produce and agricultural products, but also that the farmers are properly compensated for their contribution. These venues also build relationships between local farmers and relationships between farmers and their local community. “Those relationships in turn build strong communities and resilient local food systems, giving farmers a source of income and consumers confidence in the food they are purchasing.” (HANDBOOK, CITE). Farmers Markets make space for rural farmers into the rapidly growing urban agriculture movement and bring more visibility to farmers’ products in rural areas.

“Wherever they are located, farmers markets bring the consumer and producer together in a celebration of local food, forging relationships that often endure many years. They offer fresh, locally produced food to meet the growing consumer demand, and in turn they support farms and small businesses, help to preserve agricultural heritage, and build community connections where people can trust the food they feed their families. Farmers markets bring together people of often vastly different backgrounds and demographics, strengthening our communities.” (HANDBOOK, CITE)

3. Support Your Local Economy

In 2015, Americans bought $1.5 billion worth of local, quality products directly from more than 150,000 farmers, ranchers, and agricultural entrepreneurs. Just like farmers retain more profit in direct-to-consumer sales, a series of case studies by Civic Economics showed that local selling venues like Farmers Markets keep 30-45 cents on the dollar in the local community versus 15 cents to the dollar when spent at a large chain. That’s twice the amount staying local if you buy local! 

Even better, “Farmers Markets generate business, and business creates jobs” (Farmers Market Coalition CITE). If demand for direct-selling is high and farmers can retain that extra income, the need and means to employ more people increases. Farmers Markets also bring business to the local stores that participate in the Market and other businesses that are in the community. 

Read more about local impact here: Where the Magic Happens: Farmers Markets as a Nexus of Community and Opportunity. 

 

How do you do it?

One of the best resources on building and sustaining Farmers Markets is the Utah Farmers Market Network’s Market Manager Handbook, and they gave this summary on the most important things to identify when starting a Farmers Market:

The next two questions are when and where. 

When: The when should be established based on local growing seasons so you can offer the freshest local produce. Often, this is between June-October every year. However, the time of day and day of week fluctuate between Utah communities, based on what your city or town will do best with. Here are some examples from the Utah Farmers Network Directory of the Farmers Market seasons, day of week, and the runtime:

• Bear Lake Valley: June-September, Fridays 3PM-7PM
• Bear River City: June-October, second Saturdays 10AM-2PM
• Bountiful: June-October, Thursdays 4PM-8PM
• Capitol Reef: May-October, Saturdays 3PM-5PM
• Ogden has a Summer, Fall, and Winter market.
  • Winter: January-February, Saturdays from 10AM-2PM
  • Summer: May-September, Saturdays 8AM-1PM
  • Fall: September-October, Saturdays 9AM-2PM
• Highland: June-October, Thursdays 4PM-8PM
• Millcreek: July-September, Wednesdays 5PM-9PM; October, Fridays 5PM-8PM
• Sandy: June-October, Saturdays 9AM-1PM
• The Historic Monastery Farm (Huntsville): July-August, Saturdays 9AM-2PM

On page 18 of the Market Manager Handbook, they have a run-down of Utah Farmers Markets times and days or the week:

Where: City leaders can support the success of Farmers Markets through zoning that promotes Farmers Markets. Some things to think about, according to County Health Rankings: 

• Locate your market in a central, accessible site and leverage public transportation to increase access.
• Operate in underinvested communities to offer community-tailored services. 

On page 17 of the Market Manager Handbook, UFMN lays out a checklist of other things to think about when placing your Farmers Market: 

• Is it accessible for and visible to both vendors and customers? The ideal space is flat and unobstructed. Think about
  
  • Traffic flow
  • Roadways
  • Ease of locating booths and canopies
• Is there enough space to allow for operations and potential future growth?
• Is there ample parking for both vendors and customers?
• Is the site accessible and safe for vendor loading and unloading?
• What amenities are on site? 
• Is there access to electricity, water, and restrooms?
• What about trash collection?
• Is there shade for vendors and customers? 
• Who owns the space and how will you secure the use of it? 
• Is it available and affordable? 
  • Think outside the box if city/government spaces are not available: a local landowner may be willing to allow use of a parcel of land, a local business owner, church, or civic organization may have a parking lot that isn't used during potential market hours. 
• Is there a sense of place to the location?
• Are there tables and benches, places for people to meet, eat, and gather?
• Are there other features to the site that encourage people to come and shop? 
• Does it lend itself to the image you want to create your market?
• Is there a need for a market in this location?
• Who are your potential customers and what do they want to buy?
  • This helps you center your market to serve those who would most benefit
• Is the location near the target shoppers?
• Is it in a safe space?

When you are planning out your site, there are a couple other things to consider. For example, when sketching out stall size, reserve ~10’x25’ feet per stall (based on a 10’x10’ average canopy size) this allows vendor vehicles if needed. If there isn’t room for vendor vehicles, designate vendor parking and an unloading/loading zone. For best customer flow, rows between stalls should be a minimum 12’. Keep vendor booths side-by-side with no space to keep visitors going through the whole market instead of slipping between vendors. Plan a flow that’s natural and leads the consumers through the entire market in a circular pattern, avoiding “dead-ends.” Place flagship vendors at the entrances of the market and spread out vendors with similar items so they aren’t right next to each other. If your Farmers Market allows food trucks and prepared food vendors, put them more towards the middle with seating and shade. Your market information booth needs to be clearly marked, especially if you are a SNAP-accepting Market (Described in the How to set up SNAP at your local Farmers Market section below). Lastly, consider placing a map at the entrance(s) of the market that outlines general vendor types (try to put these together – arts and crafts, vegetables, poultry, etc.), restrooms, trash cans, and parking.

Now, onto the who. Who is going to run your market, make sure everything is done properly, that all the vendors get paid, that the street is picked up week, that outreach is going well? Welcome to Managing your farmers market. 

Page 19 of the Market Manager Handbook has a list of questions you need to answer: 

• Where will the farmers come from and how will you get them to participate?
• Is your location within a reasonable driving distance of local farms? 
• What support systems do you have in place? Who are your potential financial donors or sponsors? Identifying these early on will help you get off to a good start.
• Are you planning to hire staff to run the market or will it be volunteer-run?
• Have you formed a steering committee or working group to get the plan in place? This should include both community stakeholders and farmers.
• Think about the structure of your market: are you creating a for-profit business model, a non-profit organization, or are you part of a local government agency?
• What is your governance structure? Will you have a board of directors?
• How will your market be managed? 
  • A beginning market may start out with a volunteer manager and a group of like-minded community members who all have a stake in the market's operations.
  • Some markets support a part-time seasonal manager, others employee a full-time, year-round manager and a staff of seasonal helpers.
  • Your management structure will depend on your financial support, and will likely evolve and change over time as your market grows and changes.
• What local businesses are in the area that could benefit from your market and be potential sponsors or partners? And, are there any who would not benefit and would see themselves in conflict with a market in their area? 
  • Identifying these early will help you to find ways of garnering support and perhaps forging new partnerships for mutual benefit. 
• How will you get the word out? What kinds of advertising and media will you use to promote your market?
  • Remember, if no one knows about your market, it will not succeed.

The Handbook also has several steps you need to go through to set up the behind-the-scenes of your market. Here’s the condensed version: 

(a) Build Market Structure (Chapter 2, starting on page 22). 

1. Recruit people to help you 
   • This should include people for a steering committee, a volunteer base or potential staff members (depending on your market structure), potential vendors and potential sponsors/stakeholders, like: 
     • Local Chamber of Commerce and other businesses
     • Food banks and nutrition programs
     • Nonprofits
     • Schools and universities 
     • Religious Groups
2. Define your mission statement
   • What is the goal for starting your market? Is it to increase access to healthy food? Create community connection? Revitalize your local economy? All three? Write your mission statement around those goals. 
   • Examples of Utah Farmers Markets' missions statements can be found on page 23 of the handbook. 
3. Decide governance structure and management guidelines
   • This can be informed by the people/businesses you recruit, but some of the options are: 
     • Informal or single proprietorship: a small number of individuals manage the whole market.
     • Third party, or umbrella organization: If you are a part of your city's government and/or partnering with a local nonprofit or Chamber, this is probably where you will start. The legal structure of your department or the organization taking ownership of the Market will dictate the Market's structure and governance. 
     • Nonprofit, incorporated or unincorporated: A market with a tax-exempt status, where profits generated by the market are reinvested into the market and its programs. These types of markets are governed by a Board of Directors and managed by a board member or employee(s).
     • For-profit corporations or LLC: a private business governed by a single "boss" that makes decisions and may or may not have a Board of Directors. Profits are held by the private business. 
     • Cooperative: Vendors and/or community members are included in the decision making process and share the responsibility. These are generally set up as a for-profit business. 
     • Here's the breakdown of Market types in Utah
   • Learn more at the Center for Agriculture & Food Systems Farmers Market Legal Toolkit
4. Write by-laws
   • If you are operating as an umbrella, nonprofit, or cooperative organization, you need to have by-laws (single-proprietorships and LLC businesses are not required to have these)
   • By-laws include your organization's
     • name and address
     • purpose
     • definition and powers of the Board of Director
     • general meeting requirements (especially of the Board)
     • defined process for amendments and record keeping.

(b) Create Your Management Documents (Chapter 2, starting on page 26) 

1. Operational guidelines that detail the specifics of the market. Here are some examples from the Handbook: 
   • Dates/days of the week and hours of operation
   • Application deadlines and fees (if applicable), as well as rules for renewal and existing contracts 
   • How to contact the manager and the role that a Board of Directors or others play in managing the market
   • Who can sell and what they can sell (e.g., producers only, vendors selling only what they grow, local only, no reselling of purchased produce, etc)
   • The jury process or means by which vendors are chosen (be specific if rules and processes differ with vendor type)
   • The preferred vendor mix - number of stalls for different types of vendors, such as crafts, farmers, food service, community groups, etc., and how individual vendor location is decided
   • The right of the manager to inspect and monitor market operations and enforce the rules, including adjusting vendor locations as needed
   • Responsibilities of staff as well as vendors
   • Grievance process for dealing with disputes, including how rules will be enforced (verbal warming, written warning, fines, expulsion from the market)
   • General customer/public management rules (e.g. whether dogs are allowed, whether political campaigns or religious groups are allowed, how customers can report issues, acceptable behavior, alcohol and firearm rules, whether smoking is allowed, solicitation outside vendor booths...)
   • Limits to market liability and responsibility for unexpected changes (weather events, city construction, etc)
   • Non-discrimination statement
   • Ownership of your bran and logo and how it may be used
2. Disaster preparedness and emergency management plan
3. Market rules and contracts for vendors (discussed in Vendors section below!)
4. Staff and volunteer management policies. 
   • If your Farmers Market is under a parent organization, that's a great place to start.
   • Make sure you have: 
     • Job descriptions
     • Employee rules
     • Volunteer utilization and expectations

(c) Get Your Legal Paperwork in Order (page 30-32 of the Handbook!) 

 

Managing your Farmers Market

Before we get into what should be sold at your Farmers Market, the ins-and-outs of your vendors, and setting up SNAP, let’s dive into tips about managing your Farmers Market. Best practice is having a Farmers Market Manager, who is the public face of the market and also makes sure everything is running smoothly. This includes: 

• Market operations
• Vendor and volunteer/staff management
• Permits
• Set up/take down
• Promotion and marketing

Depending on the structure and size of your Market, the Market Manager can be a full-time, year-round position, clear down to a seasonal volunteer position. However your Market’s Manager job description pans out, here are some of the duties and responsibilities every Market Manager should be able to perform. 

Day to Day

Market Managers prepare for the season by applying for/updating permits and insurances and coordinating necessary inspections. They will prepare the budget, in partnership with other staff/volunteers depending on your Market’s structure. Market Managers will map the market as we talked about above, gather equipment, and hire and train staff/volunteers. If applicable, they will also get authorized for SNAP and manage that program.

Market Managers also need to keep studious records. From the due dates and fees for your permits and insurances to vendor renewals and sponsorships to market data, having reliable data is critical for the day-to-day and long-term success of your Farmers Market. Just some records to keep: 

• Vendor details
• Staff and volunteer records
• Market metrics and operational information
• SNAP details
• Expenses and budget details
• Supplies, equipment, and merchandize inventories
• Signage/marketing inventory and how it’s used

A big barrier to Farmers Market success is under-marketing. Community members don’t know where it is, when it is, how long it goes on for. A Market Manager should be adept at Public Relations and Marketing so they can represent the Market appropriately to diverse audiences, from the Board of Directors to stakeholders to vendors to the general consumer. Marketing/PR things to keep in mind: 

• Press releases
• Posters, flyers, local ads, radio spots, interviews
• Calendar with special events and highlighted seasonal items
• Reports of success
• Up-to-date website
• Email list for newsletters and market information
• Email lists for vendors and other stakeholders
• Social media (x3 a week for the best chances at success) 
• Branding and merchandising
• Special events and market programs 
• Word-of-mouth marketing from your board and staff/volunteers

You can find “Marketing 101 - Josh Jones’ Top 5 Tips for Farmers Markets” on page 42 of the Market Manager Handbook! 

Season to Season

On the opening Market Day, the Market Manager will supervise set up and take down, oversee signage and merchandising set up, monitor vendors, handle customer service, manage SNAP, collect market data, manage staff/volunteers, and ensure market safety. Here are some tips to get ahead: 

• Have an equipment tub so all your small supplies (credit card machines, laptops, pencils, SNAP tokens, First Aid, flyers…)
• Have a “packing list” of what you need and where
• Have a folder (digital or paper) with important information like phone numbers, copies of permits, and passwords that you might need.
• Have a vendor map to mitigate booth disputes or help you fill in spaces when someone does not show up.
• To-do list with assigned staff/volunteers (including the Market Manager duties).

At the end of the season, stakeholders will often want reports. You will need to know the successes and failures so you can improve next year. Therefore, your Market Manager and supporting staff/volunteers will need to aggregate all your data, total up fees/expenses, send out end-of-season evaluation surveys (customers, vendors, and sponsors), and perform an equipment inventory. Also at the end of the season, ensure all final payments are paid and fees collected, send thank-yous to supporters and vendors, create summary marketing material (website, social media, newsletter), and celebrate the season with your staff/volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and other stakeholders. 

Between Seasons

Now is the time to analyze the good and the bad of that year’s market and adjust next year’s plan. Compile reports and create an Annual Report to track growth, changes, and impact (this should speak to your mission statement! Are you doing what you set out to do?). Look at your vendor/sponsor fees and adjust as necessary, then start advertising for new vendors and sponsors. Hire and train new staff/volunteers, review and refine policies and procedures, assess market needs for equipment, updated marketing, etc. Then plan your next season, including special events, financial planning and budgeting, and strategic planning for the future (like a SWOT analysis).

 

What should be in a local Farmers Market?

You’ve got your market down - the when, where, who, and how have been answered. Now we’ll go through the what. 

First and foremost, your market should be local. “Local” can be determined by your community’s needs, but more than 85% of Farmers Markets vendors travel fewer than 50 miles to sell at Farmers Markets, and more than half of farmers traveled less than 10 miles, according to USDA. For example, the USU Farmers Market defines local as 80 miles or less. 

Smaller Farmers Markets often will only have local, raw products, which have different registrations and requirements: 

If you open your Farmers Market beyond raw, uncut produce, you need to register your Market with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF). See HERE  for a list of UDAF regulations for Farmers Markets. The UDAF Q&A document  also has a number that will start you down the right path. 

There are a lot of considerations beyond just “raw produce” or “more than raw produce” when deciding what to allow in your Farmers Market. Page 20 of the Market Manager Handbook has a list of questions to determine what kind of market you have, depending on what is allowed:

The USU Farmers Market created the following list of prohibited items to keep their market local and locally-made:

• Items grown, raised, or made outside 80 mile radius
• Carnival-type, high-sugar food (cotton candy, snow cones)
• Value-added foods and crafts not produced by the seller
• Private label, franchises, and multi-level marketing products
• Items with offensive or explicit languages or images
• Styrofoam packaging
• Thrifted items that have been upcycled and value-added are allowed, but not thrifted items themselves
  • For example, a jacket embroidered with an original design is allowed, but not the jacket itself

When it comes to food regulations, vendors are responsible for their own permits and licenses, but you are responsible for ensuring they have the correct and up-to-date permits and licenses. The Market Manager Handbook gives a strong foundation of food regulations (Chapter 5) to help you determine if your vendors are in compliance, but to make sure, stay in contact with your state and local agencies. The best practice is to build a strong relationship with them so you can work together closely to ensure food regulations are followed and food is being safely sold. Some agencies you will work with for your Farmers Market include: 

• County/local health department
• Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF)
  • Regulatory Services Division
  • Animal Industry Division
  • Plant Industry Division
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

We’ll go through some SNAP-eligible items you should have in your Farmers Market in the How to set up SNAP at your local Farmers Market section below.

 

Vendors

“Research suggests that including a wider variety of vendors is associated with increased sales” (County Healthy Rankings). 

If you have the capacity, invite different types of vendors – raw produce, poultry, meat, dairy, arts and crafts – to join your Farmers Market to expand the appeal. When you are recruiting vendors, make sure you have an established set of market rules and a flushed-out vendor contract. Some things to consider according to page 28 of the Manager Market Handbook: 

• Times for vendor load/take down
• Time to begin selling
• Fee structure, including how to pay and when
  • Fees can be a flat seasonal or daily fee, a percentage of sales, a membership fee to the market, or a combination. 
  • Include information about fee reduction for those who volunteer or sponsor, if applicable.
  • Most of the time a "one size fits all" fee approach won't work or be fair. You need to consider factors like the size of the stall, the needs of the vendor, what are they selling and their potential market share, how often they will be there, etc. 
    • Many markets charge more for arts and crafts or prepared food vendors and less for farmers who offer produce only.
  • Be clear about any additional fees, such as late arrival fines or trash collecting fees
• Pricing rules (e.g. no "dumping" or lowering prices at the end of the day, a non-compete clause to keep vendors from undercutting others, posting of prices).
• Code of conduct for vendors
  • Stress the importance of maintaining and fostering respect for other vendors as well as customers and managers.
  • Be specific about prohibited behaviors (e.g. "hawking" or aggressive sales tactics, distributing leaflets, offensive or rude language, fraudulent practices) and how to report disputes or problems to management. 
• Allowed signage and booth requirements (including sizes, canopy weights, hand-wash systems, electricity, parking, safety measures). 
  • Signs should have vendor names clearly visible, prices visible, product name or description, menus...
• Waste disposal and rules for keeping your space clean and free of hazards.
• Vendor requirements and responsibilities 
  • E.g, pre-season orientation meeting, reporting sales, accepting SNAP, end of season reporting, training their employees on market rules.
• How your market handles complaints, rules violations, and grievances
• Rules for having children and pets in booths
• What permits, licenses, and insurances are required for different vendors and how to submit them to market management, as well as how to display in booths.
• If you require a signed contract or vendor agreement, include details about where and when to submit.
  • Rules for market vendors may vary depending on the type of vendor, and so your contracts for different types can vary as well
• Include a statement that makes clear that market management and staff are the ultimate authority for the market and can make changes at any time for any reasons to benefit the market, including the ability to remove a vendor from the market for any reason, with or without notice.

Licenses, Insurance, Permits

"First, have the vendor submit to you a copy of the local health department permit or the Department of Agriculture and Food Certificate of Registration. After receiving this, look at it closely to be sure it is current. If you have any questions at all, call us at 801-538-7124. You must keep this record available for inspection at the market" (UDAF). Send your vendors to the UDAF Farmers Markets Resources page, and look over the guidelines yourself, to make sure your market is fully compliant. But here are some quick tips: 

• Vendors selling whole, uncut produce, are exempt from needing a permit
• Vendors selling food that was made in their homes should consult the Cottage Food Production Law and the Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act pages
• Vendors selling food that is prepared onsite must obtain all permits required
• If you are providing samples, you are also required to obtain permits.

The vendor also needs to always have a copy of their UDAF registration in their booth, within easy view of customers. 

 

SNAP at your local Farmers Market

According to County Healthy Rankings, if Farmers Markets do not accept SNAP or EBT, that causes a barrier for community member use. So when you have the capacity, make this a priority for your Market.

Why is SNAP important? 

When low-income families participate in the SNAP program, food insecurity is reduced by 17%. After six months, families with children saw a 33% decrease in food insecurity. Because it increases access to healthy food, participants also pay less in healthy care costs, especially related to hypertension and coronary heart disease. 

How to set up SNAP at your local Farmers Market

The Utah Farmers Market Network has set up a page of resources for the Snap Double Up Food Bucks to introduce SNAP into your local food market (the webpage is linked in Resources below!).

Here's a quick rundown of the toolkit:

Why accept SNAP?

1. SNAP increases financial stability and access to healthy food
2. SNAP brings in new customers for your vendors
3. SNAP stimulates the local economy

How does SNAP work?

Market customers buy SNAP tokens from the info booth with their EBT card. Those tokens can then be used to purchase eligible foods at the booth that day or at a later date. The money is deposited into the Market’s account, and the market manager reimburses vendors for the cash values of the tokens spent at their booths. 

Seven Steps for Success

1. Determine if your Market has capacity (staff time and budget for equipment and overhead)
2. Find out if your market is eligible for SNAP
   1. Meet the Food and Nutrition Services definition of a Farmers Market (on page 6!)
   2. Meet the 50% rule (more than 50% of total retail sales must come from eligible staple foods) or the Staple Food Group Rule (continuously sell at least seven varieties of food within each of the four stable food groups)
3. Become an authorized market
   1. The links in the toolkit are outdated. HERE is information on how to apply to accept SNAP from USDA.
4. Get equipment and a service provider
   1. The links in the toolkit are outdated. HERE is a USDA grant program that connects Farmers Markets to app-based equipment for SNAP programs.
5. Create a management plan 
   1. Assign roles and responsibilities
   2. Set up your markets' SNAP tokens/currency
   3. Develop an accounting system
   4. Design a budget and fundraising plan 
      1. The Utah Farmers Market Network has developed a sample budget for a SANP program, found HERE.
6. Notify and train vendors
7. Develop an outreach and marketing campaign 
   1. Use promotional materials
   2. include SNAP in what you are already doing to promote your market
   3. Leverage strategic partnerships

 

SNAP-eligible food for Farmers Markets

 Only specific foods can be purchased through SNAP funding, so it is important vendors do not sell ineligible items to SNAP customers. These are the four things you need to know, which the the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit goes into in depth.

1. What food items are SNAP-eligible
   • What CAN SNAP buy, and what it NOT buy? according to the USDA
2. Utah's state-specific rules regarding SNAP-eligible food, according to the Department of Workforce Services
3. Potential penalties if ineligible items are sold, and who is liable
4. Potential penalties for SNAP rule violations. 

The Marketing Manager Handbook gives a quick-start guide for SNAP at your Farmers Market.

 

 

Why Focus on Healthy Food Access? 

Access to affordable, nutritious food is essential to the health and wellbeing of Utahns. Communities with limited access to healthy food experience higher rates of chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as increased healthcare costs and decreased quality of life. Food environments shaped by income, geography, transportation, and affordability barriers disproportionately affect communities with limited access to healthy food, including low-income communities and older adults. 

Utah cities and towns play an important role in shaping local food environments through policies, programs, land use decisions, and partnerships. However, many municipalities report limited funding, expertise, and support to address healthy food access effectively. 

 

Resources 

 *These are designated communities of varying populations that have successfully implemented a community garden. Reach out to them to see if they can share their tips and tricks:

1. Manti
2. Grantsville 
3. Herriman

Examples of Vendors Guidelines: 

1. Ogden Farmers Market
2. USU Farmers Market

Utah Farmers Market Manager Handbook

• In-depth how-to for all aspects of starting and maintaining a farmers market, with success stories and added resources included. 

Utah Farmers Market Network

• Provides a directory of Utah Farmers Markets, resources for including SNAP in your Farmers Market, and the Utah Farmers Market Manager Handbook 

USDA Farmers Market Directory

• National directory of Farmers Markets; find a successful Farmers Market near you and gain insight into locations, times, payment types, etc.

Utahns Against Hunger: Farmers Market Outreach

• UAH works to increase access to fresh, healthy local food by supporting and promoting farmers markets that accept SNAP. Contact them for more information and support.  

UDAF Regulations for Farmers Markets

• List of services and industries UDAF oversees. At the bottom is a guide if you’re not sure which Regulatory Program applies to your specific Market.

UDAF Q&A on Farmers Markets

• Answers questions about Market and vendor registration, including when it does/does not apply and who to call. 

Farmers Market Coalition, "What is a farmers market?"

• FMC outlines the what and why of starting and maintaining a farmers market in your city or town, including the benefits for your local economy and supporting local farmers. 

Farmers Markets Impact on Local Economics

• American Farmland Trust blogpost about how Farmers Markets support the local economy

Center for Agriculture & Food Systems Farmers Market Legal Toolkit

• Important insights on how to structure your Farmers Market, from a business point of view

SNAP Resources from the UFMN

• Information on the SNAP Double Up Food Bucks program and how you can get it started. 

SNAP Resources from USDA

• USDA's webpage about SNAP to use with Farmers Market marketing

Farmers Markets Accepting SNAP Benefits | Food and Nutrition Service

• "Food and Nutrition Services: Use your SNAP benefits at your local farmers’ market" video to use for marketing 

Food and Nutrition Service Farmers Market Programs

• FNS's resource page for Farmers Markets

Utah Farmers Market SNAP toolkit

• In-depth guide for setting-up and running a SNAP program at your Farmers Market

What can SNAP buy? USDA

• List of SNAP-eligible items from USDA

 

 

Is your city or town on the path to being a Healthy Utah Community?

Apply here 

Reach out to our program coordinator, Emma, to learn more about the designation and get guidance on the application process: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

 

 

Get Healthy Utah, The Utah Worksite Wellness Council, and Utah Community Builders brought together business and health leaders across Utah for the 2026 Utah Business of Health Event: Good Health is Good Business, on February 4 at the Zions Bancorporation Technology Center in Midvale. The purpose of this event was to elevate and learn the impact business has on health and to explore how businesses can improve the health and quality of life of their employees and Utahns.

The theme for our 2026 event was Back to What Matters: Building Stronger People, Workplaces & Communities. In an era of constant change and competing priorities, this event helped participants refocus on what truly drives well-being and success: our people, our workplaces, and our communities. During the event, we explored practical strategies for strengthening employee health, workplace culture, and community connections.

PRESENTATIONS

Stronger People: Michelle Ihmels, Intermountain Health, Caregiver Be Well Director 

Building Wellness from the Inside Out

This session explored critical role of self-care and why taking care of yourself is the foundation for helping others on their wellbeing journey. Michelle highlighted Intermountain Health's programs designed to support personal well-being and show how these resources can be scaled for organizations of any size to create a culture of wellness for employees.

Stronger Workplaces: Brittany Parry, Salt Lake County, Employee Wellness Coordinator

When Culture Becomes the Wellness Strategy

From perks to practice, wellness programs don't fail because they're poorly designed, they fail when workplace culture doesn't support them. Brittany broke down the real drivers of culture, including leadership behaviors, organizational norms, and the systems that shape daily work.  

 

 

Stronger Communities: Kim Johnson, Davis School District,  Employee Wellness Coordinator 

From Burnout to Belonging

In a time of rising burnout and disconnection, stronger communities may be one of our most powerful solutions. Kim explored how community engagement, volunteering, and meaningful connection can restore purpose, strengthen workplaces, and help people move from burnout to belonging. 

 

SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS

A big thank you to all our sponsors and exhibitors who made this Event possible! We appreciate those who spoke and tabled at our event. We're proud to partner with organizations who share our mission of making Utah a healthier place to live.

 

To get designated as a Healthy Utah Community, communities have to complete 1-3 healthy food access strategies depending on their population. One of the most favored healthy food strategies pursued by cities and towns is the community garden Thirty-three designated communities have established a community garden.* It is a cost-effective, community-beautifying initiative that improves access to healthy food. 

What is a Community Garden?

“At its most basic, a community garden is any outdoor space available in a community for growing vegetables, fruit, and/or flowers.” (Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine). 

Your community garden can be city-maintained, offer small plots up to community members, or some combination of both. Vegetables, fruits, herbs, and whatever else you decide to grow can go to members who are maintaining plots, or the produce can be donated to local homeless shelters or food pantries, who are often lacking healthy food resources. What best fits your community’s needs should be the shape your community garden takes.

Why is it important?

When you build a community garden in your city or town, your residents will profit from better access to healthy food and community building opportunities. 

Access to Healthy Food: 

Multiple studies found that community gardens, on average, produce double the amount of vegetables per square foot compared to conventional farming (M. Bonde, C. Bornstein, R. Goins, C. Twiggs, University of Minnesota). A different study conducted in Flint Michigan found that adults participating in a community garden were 3.5 times more likely than nonparticipants to consume the recommended services of fruits and vegetables. Not only do community gardens provide free or low-cost nutritious food to community members, but they do it efficiently. Delivering Community Benefit considers the followings some key takeaways from a community garden:

 

Community Building:

A large community-building aspect of community gardens is beautification; cultivating a community garden in vacant lots can reduce scattered garbage or other hazardous materials that sometimes end up in empty lots. Instead, these spaces become beautiful spaces where community members and nature alike want to spend time. According to the USDA, there is an economic multiplier of 1.66 for every dollar spent on local food, so community gardens can actually boost your local economy if local farms/farmers/farmer’s markets get involved in the project. Community gardens “provides participants with additional income, enables growers to expand and diversify their production, and makes more fresh fruits and vegetables available to the community” (Delivering Community Benefit: Healthy food playbook). 

How do You Do It? 

As a part of city government, here are some action items to start:

 

With these ideas in mind, you can develop a community garden following these steps: 

 

Step 1-4: Get community buy-in and build your community garden leadership team

Tapping into your health coalition is a great way to find support in starting and maintaining a successful community garden. Discuss responsibilities of each coalition member, including plot maintenance, seed acquisition and planting, marketing, and produce distribution. Pull in volunteers from the community for increased community investment and extended capacity. 

Step 5: Select the space

There are two main types of a community garden: Allotment and Communal. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you have determined what type of community garden will work best for your community, dedicate a plot for the project. A great piece of land for a community garden has the following attributes: 

• Gets six-to-eight hours of sun each day
• Sit relatively flat
• Have only manageable debris (can be removed by volunteers with basic tools)
• Be in a central location
• Have access to water and good drainage!
• A site without paving and soil relatively free of trash and debris is best
  • You can also start a raised-bed or container community garden in a paved or concrete space if that’s what is available to your community. 

Keep in mind if community members use the plot for any other purpose, such as for play or a path or a gathering place. Incorporate these other uses if you can. You will also need a shed for gardening tools and supplies (approach businesses and appeal to the community to see if you can get items donated!) 

Step 6: Create Guidelines

Garden guidelines create clear expectations for garden use. Use your community garden leadership (recommended: healthy coalition) to regularly update and amend as needed. To start:

 

Involve community members in this process where possible! That will give them a sense of ownership and pride in the garden. Also, create a sign-up process for community members, whether that’s for individual plot use or general garden management volunteering (weeding, tool/supply tracking and upkeep, harvesting, etc). 

Note on pesticide use: If you want to reduce pests without pesticides, grow bright flowers alongside produce. The bright flowers will attract bigger insects that will keep plant-eating pests away (SeedMoney). 

Step 7: Grow Partnerships

Connect with local businesses and organizations to establish sustainability in your community garden. These partners can donate tools, seeds, soil, fertilizer, and even time to increase your garden’s chance for success. 

 

Connecting with University extensions and garden-based organizations is a great way to educate community members on gardening techniques and what to do with the produce once it has been harvested (cleaning and cooking with fresh produce, preserving, etc.). Students looking for volunteer opportunities can also be a great avenue for expanding your capacity. 

Step 8: Play in the dirt

A community garden can be more than just a place to garden! Encouraging events in or near the garden really brings in the community connection and mental wellness aspects of the project. Some events and opportunities you can offer through the garden: 

• Seed swaps
• Garden tours
• Fresh-food potlucks
• Gardening workshops/classes
• Volunteer appreciation 

Step 9: Evaluate the harvest

So, you’ve set the garden up. You’ve got the space ready, the supplies donated, the volunteers ready. But what should you grow? And how often should you ask yourself that question? 

Lean on your community to determine what produce will be used the most. Open polls or surveys, or have options for input at a city townhall to see what vegetables, fruits, and herbs community members want and need the most.

Once a year, community garden leaders should evaluate the community garden’s health and progress. According to the N.C. A&T State University Cooperative Extension, some things you might consider when evaluating your garden are: 

• What needs did we address by having this garden?
• How did people feel when they came to the garden? 
• Did the foods we grow change any eating habits?
• Was there more access to fresh fruits and vegetables? 
• If we sold produce, did we make any money?
• What challenges did we encounter? 
• What factors may have affected the garden's outcome (weather, location, lack of help)?
• What skills do we need to be more success with our garden? 

Step 10: Celebrate!

Fall harvests are a great way to bring everyone together to reap the rewards of all their hard work. Find ways to celebrate and appreciate community garden leaders and volunteers. Collect success and impact stories. 

NOTE: As you work through this list, Community FRESH: A guide to growing community gardens has checklists for each step to help you get the most out of your community garden!

 

 

Why Focus on Healthy Food Access

Access to affordable, nutritious food is essential to the health and wellbeing of Utahns. Communities with limited access to healthy food experience higher rates of chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as increased healthcare costs and decreased quality of life. Food environments shaped by income, geography, transportation, and affordability barriers disproportionately affect communities with limited access to healthy food, including low-income communities and older adults. 

Utah cities and towns play an important role in shaping local food environments through policies, programs, land use decisions, and partnerships. However, many municipalities report limited funding, expertise, and support to address healthy food access effectively. 

Resources

*These are designated communities of varying populations that have successfully implemented a community garden. Reach out to them to see if they can share their tips and tricks:

1. Annabella Town
2. Price City
3. Logan City

Wasatch Community Gardens

• Local organization whose mission is empowering people to grow and eat healthy, organic, local food. 

Improve access through community gardens 

• Pamphlet on how community gardens tackle food insecurity and lists action items for City Board Members.

Public health benefits of a community garden 

• Resources for beginning a garden (organization, types of seeds, etc), and the public healthy benefits of community gardens, such as access to local, healthy food, community beautification, educational opportunities, and an enhanced sense of community.

Community Gardens and Farms

• Describes how community gardens contribute to healthy communities, including food access, education, sense of community, and safer neighborhoods. This source also details how hospital communities can get involved with starting and maintaining community gardens.

Community Gardening Resources 

• Outlines the benefits of community gardens, how to find gardens near you, ways to start and maintain a garden, and provides a list of external resources. 

American Community Gardening Association

• Resource hub for all things community gardens. 
• ACGA Resources for starting a community garden

Community Garden Start-Up Guide from Fargo City 

• This “Community Garden Start-Up Guide” is intended to help interested parties start and sustain a community garden. It also includes worksheets and sample forms and letters, including marketing materials, volunteer agreements, and donation letters.

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps: Community gardens 

• Bullet points of expected and potential benefits, research about effectiveness, and implementation examples/resources.

 

Is your city or town on the path to being a Healthy Utah Community?

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Reach out to our program coordinator, Emma, to learn more about the designation and get guidance on the application process: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..