It’s Back! 2016 Farmers Market Poster Contest
Posted On: June 28, 2016
Happy summer, everyone! Can you believe National Farmers Market Week (August 7-13) is just around the corner? To get the party started, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our 2016 Farmers Market Poster Contest!
Advertising is essential to a prospering business. 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. While vendors meticulously create eye-catching displays to entice customers to buy their goods, markets work hard (often with minimal resources) to spread the word about the fresh food and services they have to offer.
The trusty poster has long served as one of the most efficient ways to promote farmers markets, many detailing the who, what, where, when and why of their venue through beautiful and creative design. Market posters not only promote a place to pick up delicious food, they promote an opportunity to connect with neighbors, support the economic viability of local farms, and work to preserve farmland for generations to come – a true testament to the power of some simple signage.
The Contest:
FMC wants to applaud your creative efforts with a chance to win a cash prize for your market! We’re looking for posters that depict a combination of engaging graphics, informative messaging and regional or market identity. Four prizes will be offered in the following categories: 1st and 2nd place for best overall poster; best EBT/Nutrition Incentive poster; and the Fan Favorite – the poster with the most VOTES on Facebook.
A panel of judges will determine the 1st, 2nd, and EBT/Nutrition Incentive poster winners, while our Facebook followers can vote online to crown the Fan Favorite winner. Winning posters will also be featured at National Farmers Market Week events in Washington D.C.! And don’t forget to use the hashtag #MyMarketPoster to share your designs on social media.
Enter your poster here!
(Requirements and rules are below)
Entrance Requirements
/ A high-resolution (300 dpi) PNG/JPG and a PDF of the poster
/ Completed Entry Form
/ All entries must be submitted by 11:59pm ET on July 24, 2016
Criteria:
Posters will be judged based on their ability to:
/ Clearly identify market information
/ Engage the audience
/ Communicate a sense of place
BONUS EBT and/or Nutrition Incentive Category:
/ Clearly communicates the market’s EBT and/or nutrition incentive options
Prizes:
/ General Category 1st Place: $500
/ General Category 2nd Place: $300
/ Fan Favorite – most likes on Facebook: $200
/ Best EBT/Nutrition Incentive Poster: $500
Contest Rules
/ Entry must be a 2016 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 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 July 25th and August 7th
/ Anyone can vote for Fan Favorites on Facebook until 11:59pm ET on July 24th. 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?
No! The platform limits you to one Vote per Facebook user. We encourage you to share a post that you voted on Facebook to help us spread the word about our contest.
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. Is my market eligible to win a prize in this year’s contest?
Yes! Markets that won a prize in the 2014 poster contest are still eligible to win the Fan Favorite category.
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 2016 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.
