Get Ready for the 2018 National Farmers Market Poster Contest!
Posted On: April 3, 2018
Get those posters ready – the Farmers Market Coalition is hosting the 2018 National Farmers Market Poster Contest, April 15th – May 15th! Now in its 4th year, the annual contest celebrates the creativity and diversity of America’s farmers markets by showcasing their posters on a national level.
Submit your contest posters HERE!
Follow along with us to take in all of the fresh poster contest entries from across the nation:
Why celebrate farmers market posters?
In a recent national survey of farmers who sell at farmers markets, farmers reported the best way markets can support their business is by better advertising and signage. The trusty poster has long served as one of the most essential ways farmers markets can promote the who, what, where, when and why of their venue. Market posters not only advertise a place where people can find fresh food for their families, they support the livelihoods of thousands of local farmers across the country by drawing communities closer to the hardworking men and women who produce their food. A true testament to the power of some simple signage!
Who else is celebrating farmers market posters?
We’re so excited to announce that Farm Aid has partnered with FMC to sponsor this year’s contest! For 30+ years, Farm Aid has raised over $50 million in support of farmer programs and the Good Food movement. Together, we’re thrilled to celebrate our nation’s local farmers and farmers markets! In addition to a cash prize, this year’s winning posters will be also displayed at the HOMEGROWN village tents at Farm Aid’s 2018 concert! Dare we say, that makes for major farmers market exposure?
The Contest:
FMC will award a cash prize to five winning farmers markets whose posters depict a combination of engaging graphics, informative messaging and regional or market identity across the following categories:
- 1st Place for best over all poster – $500
- 2nd Place for best overall poster – $300
- Best EBT/Nutrition Incentive poster – $200
- Fan Favorite – the poster with the most votes on Facebook – $200
- *NEW Category!* Best Metrics Poster – $200 – Do you collect data on your market and showcase that information on your poster? Then your poster is eligible for this prize! Examples include, but are not limited to:
- How many vendors sell at the market
- Number of products available at the market
- Visitor attendance
- Average distance vendors travel to market
- Number of acres of farmland the market’s vendors have in production
- How many years the market has been in operation
Winning posters will also be displayed at the 2018 Farm Aid concert, as well as at events in Washington D.C. during National Farmers Market Week.
Our panel of judges will determine the 1st, 2nd, EBT/Nutrition Incentive, and Metrics poster winners, while our Facebook followers can vote online to crown the Fan Favorite winner. For inspiration, check out the 2017 entries on Facebook here and our winners from 2014, 2016, and 2017.
Submit your contest posters HERE!
(Requirements and rules are below)
Entrance Requirements:
/ A high-resolution (300 dpi) PNG/JPG and a PDF of the poster or flyer
/ Completed Entry Form
/ All entries must be submitted by 11:59pm ET on May 15th, 2018
Criteria:
Posters will be judged based on their ability to:
/ Clearly identify market information
/ Engage the audience
/ Communicate a sense of place
Fan Favorite:
/ Most likes on Facebook
EBT and/or Nutrition Incentive Category:
/ Clearly communicates the market’s EBT and/or nutrition incentive options
Metrics Category:
/ Clearly highlights one or more points of data collected by the market
Prizes:
/ 1st Place: $500
/ 2nd Place: $300
/ Fan Favorite: $200
/ Best EBT/Nutrition Incentive Poster: $200
/ Best Metrics Poster: $200
All winning posters will also be on display at the 2018 Farm Aid Concert (location TBD), and at National Farmers Market Week events in Washington, D.C.!
Contest Rules:
/ Entry must be a 2018 season farmers market poster.
/ Anyone can enter; prize money goes to the farmers market represented on the poster.
/ Markets run by current Farmers Market Coalition and board members are only eligible to win the Fan Favorite category.
/ Winners from the 2014, 2016, and 2017 poster contest are only eligible to win in the Fan Favorite category.
/ Winners will need to submit a w-9 to FMC before receiving the award.
/ Winners will be interviewed by FMC
/ FMC can use posters images to further the FMC mission
Judging:
/ Judging will occur between April 15th and May 15th
/ Anyone can vote for Fan Favorites on Facebook until 11:59pm ET on May 31st. To vote, like us on Facebook, then vote for your favorite poster.
Frequently Asked Questions:
May I enter multiple posters for one market (for example, a basic one, and one that includes SNAP info)?
Yes!
I’m not the manager of my farmers market, but I’d like to submit its poster. May I?
Yes! The market promoted in the poster will win the award money, not the person who submitted it.
May I vote for more than one poster?
Yes! Fan Favorite votes are based on Facebook likes and you can vote for as many as you’d like. Share to support your hometown market or favorite!
My farmers market doesn’t have a poster. Can I make one and submit it to this contest?
Yes! We’d love for you to do that. Just remember that the prize money goes to the market, not the creator of the poster.
My market won a poster contest prize in 2014, 2016, or 2017. Is my market eligible to win a prize in this year’s contest?
Yes! Markets that won a prize in the 2014, 2016, or 2017 poster contest are still eligible to win the Fan Favorite category.
How long will it take for my entry to be added to the contest photo gallery on Facebook so fans can start voting?
No longer than 2 business days.
All of the winners look like they were professionally designed, should I even bother entering?
Yes! There are many ways to create a beautifully designed poster. Some of last year’s winning entries were designed by local artists, others by market staff or volunteers! We are looking for current 2018 posters, so it might be too late for your market to benefit from a poster this year, but we really encourage you to get creative next year. You could have a call for submissions from artists or children, find a designer that can make an in-kind donation, or contact a graphic design student.
Who do I contact at FMC if I have questions or trouble entering?
Honesta Romberger at honesta@farmersmarketcoalition.org
