Fort Bliss Monitor

Fort Bliss Farmers Market

First-ever event a smashing success!

Master Sgt. Steve Miller
Public Affairs Chief
Photo Illustration by Susan Laven

It was billed as an old-fashioned event to welcome the cooler fall weather that has descended on the Fort Bliss community in recent weeks, but the Farmer’s Harvest Market held Saturday turned out to be quite a hit.

Some 27 vendors and a steady stream of customers that eventually numbered about 2,000 at Old Fort Bliss made Saturday’s event an unqualified success under a pleasant midday sun, which drove away the early morning nip in the air.

“Vendors and visitors have already asked when we will do this again – they’re selling out like crazy,” said Lauri-Anne Disinger, director of education for the Children’s Bicultural Living History Program, two hours into the event. “We definitely will do it next year again.”

Disinger said that by day’s end at 4 p.m., half of the vendors sold out their inventory thanks to a steady stream of customers.

“They were thrilled. Everything they sold here was 100 percent profit because I didn’t charge them for the space,” Disinger said of the vendors. “The vendor from (Wilcox) Arizona brought $5,000 in product (cider and pastries) and sold out. And the PMO made it easy for them to get on post, which they appreciated.”

Disinger said the purpose of the event was to bring awareness to the Old Fort Bliss Museum – which was a gift to the post from the city many years ago – and to the CBLHP, which benefited from an increase in volunteers for the program and through donations.

“This reflects the vision of Old Fort Bliss reaching out to the El Paso community. It’s been my vision to reach out to all of the schools to build awareness for the program,” Disinger said.

Awareness for the event was aided by the drumming of 13-year-old Levi Pollygus who, with his father, Sgt. Maj. Anthony Pollygus, a student of Sergeants Major Course 55, are Civil War re-enactors.

“I’m cavalry, and he’s infantry,” the elder Pollygus said, describing he and his son’s Union attire. “Fort Bliss had mounted infantry and cavalry during the Civil War.”

Off in one corner of Old Fort Bliss sat Carol Cowan, who was hand-stitching a quilt and had another on display that was made by members of the Blissful Stitchers, who meet from 9 a.m. to noon each Wednesday at the Junior Enlisted Center to weave their magic.

“It took five ladies five months to make,” Cowan said of the display quilt. “This one will be shown in November at the NCO Wives Bazaar and at the Officers and Civilian Spouses Association Bazaar in March and raffled off on March 6, 2005, with the money benefiting the scholarship fund for students and military spouses.” As such, Cowan sold tickets for $1 apiece or six for $5 while working on her own quilt.

The CBLHP and Air Defense Artillery Association cooperated to host the farmer’s market, and Disinger said they are planning an antique market in April. Information about that event is available by calling 568-3137.

Pumpkins, watermelon, squash and apples were among the produce available at Saturday’s farmer’s market at Old Fort Bliss.

Carol Cowan of the Blissful Stitchers discusses the making of a queen-size quilt the group made with a couple of interested visitors Saturday during the farmer’s market at Old Fort Bliss.

Looney Toons characters made their appearance at Saturday’s farmer’s market on potpourri-filled pillows, which were for sale by the 62nd Army Band family readiness group.

A customer checks out the breads made by the family readiness group from the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, one of several FRGs that had items for sale.

Pecan products ranging from candy and nuts to barbecue sauce and jellies were available from these Lower Valley vendors at Saturday’s farmer’s market at Old Fort Bliss.

Among the many items for sale at Saturday’s farmer’s market was this collection of figurines.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	October 21, 2004

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Fort Bliss Farmers Market First-ever event a smashing success! Master Sgt. Steve Miller Public Affairs Chief Photo Illustration by Susan Laven It was billed as an old-fashioned event to welcome the cooler fall weather that has descended on the Fort Bliss community in recent weeks, but the Farmer’s Harvest Market held Saturday turned out to be quite a hit. Some 27 vendors and a steady stream of customers that eventually numbered about 2,000 at Old Fort Bliss made Saturday’s event an unqualified success under a pleasant midday sun, which drove away the early morning nip in the air. “Vendors and visitors have already asked when we will do this again – they’re selling out like crazy,” said Lauri-Anne Disinger, director of education for the Children’s Bicultural Living History Program, two hours into the event. “We definitely will do it next year again.” Disinger said that by day’s end at 4 p.m., half of the vendors sold out their inventory thanks to a steady stream of customers. “They were thrilled. Everything they sold here was 100 percent profit because I didn’t charge them for the space,” Disinger said of the vendors. “The vendor from (Wilcox) Arizona brought $5,000 in product (cider and pastries) and sold out. And the PMO made it easy for them to get on post, which they appreciated.” Disinger said the purpose of the event was to bring awareness to the Old Fort Bliss Museum – which was a gift to the post from the city many years ago – and to the CBLHP, which benefited from an increase in volunteers for the program and through donations. “This reflects the vision of Old Fort Bliss reaching out to the El Paso community. It’s been my vision to reach out to all of the schools to build awareness for the program,” Disinger said. Awareness for the event was aided by the drumming of 13-year-old Levi Pollygus who, with his father, Sgt. Maj. Anthony Pollygus, a student of Sergeants Major Course 55, are Civil War re-enactors. “I’m cavalry, and he’s infantry,” the elder Pollygus said, describing he and his son’s Union attire. “Fort Bliss had mounted infantry and cavalry during the Civil War.” Off in one corner of Old Fort Bliss sat Carol Cowan, who was hand-stitching a quilt and had another on display that was made by members of the Blissful Stitchers, who meet from 9 a.m. to noon each Wednesday at the Junior Enlisted Center to weave their magic. “It took five ladies five months to make,” Cowan said of the display quilt. “This one will be shown in November at the NCO Wives Bazaar and at the Officers and Civilian Spouses Association Bazaar in March and raffled off on March 6, 2005, with the money benefiting the scholarship fund for students and military spouses.” As such, Cowan sold tickets for $1 apiece or six for $5 while working on her own quilt. The CBLHP and Air Defense Artillery Association cooperated to host the farmer’s market, and Disinger said they are planning an antique market in April. Information about that event is available by calling 568-3137. Pumpkins, watermelon, squash and apples were among the produce available at Saturday’s farmer’s market at Old Fort Bliss. Carol Cowan of the Blissful Stitchers discusses the making of a queen-size quilt the group made with a couple of interested visitors Saturday during the farmer’s market at Old Fort Bliss. Looney Toons characters made their appearance at Saturday’s farmer’s market on potpourri-filled pillows, which were for sale by the 62nd Army Band family readiness group. A customer checks out the breads made by the family readiness group from the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, one of several FRGs that had items for sale. Pecan products ranging from candy and nuts to barbecue sauce and jellies were available from these Lower Valley vendors at Saturday’s farmer’s market at Old Fort Bliss. Among the many items for sale at Saturday’s farmer’s market was this collection of figurines.