Meet Aysha Tapp Ross: AFT Scientist, Farmers Market President, and Farmer

Aysha Tapp Ross wears many hats. She’s a Water and Soil Health Scientist at American Farmland Trust, the president of her local farmer’s market, and a farmer. Her family runs a large apiary and produces baked goods, jams, and honey, which they sell at the market. 

In early June 2024, Aysha donned all three of those hats when she kicked off the first weekend of America’s Farmers Market Celebration™ (AFMC) by popping up with an AFT booth at her market, the Shelby County Farmers Market in Shelbyville, KY. While her kids excitedly ran her farm’s booth, Aysha spread the word about farmland loss in Kentucky, AFT’s local programs, and resources for farmers, all while raising awareness of AFMC and the importance of farmers markets. She enjoyed the opportunity to show her market colleagues and shoppers what she does when she’s not farming!

“Farmers markets are important because they provide an essential avenue of income and marketing tool for small farmers, who are often overlooked or unable to join in on larger market opportunities. Farmers markets also provide a means for the consumer to become educated on where their food comes from and build relationships with the farming communities around them,” shared Aysha. “This is in direct correlation with AFT’s mission of keeping farmland as farmland because it connects consumers to the farms that feed them, and the closer consumers are to their food producers, the more active they would be in maintaining the farmland.“

Read on to hear more about Aysha’s role as the president of her local market!

 1. How did you become the president of your farmers market? 

I was the secretary of the market during the 2020 season. As you may recall, there was a lot of confusion regarding how farmers markets were going to function during the pandemic. At first, everything was going to be shut down, but the farming community, especially small farmers who relied on farmers market sales, were pushing to have the government allow them to open. When the decision was finally made, it was determined that markets could open, but with a lot of restrictions, including creating an entrance and exit, being masked, ensuring distancing was being followed, etc. Our market President at the time was strongly considering closing the market for the year to bypass the hassle. I made a deal with him that we wouldn’t close the market if I took on all regulation compliance, and I did. We had one of our best seasons that year despite the pandemic, likely because everyone was trying to eat locally as grocery store shelves were bare. At the end of the market season, the President’s term was over, so I ran and was voted in unanimously. I have now been president for two terms. This year will most likely be my last. It’s now time for someone else to bring new, fresh ideas!

2. What does the role entail?

What a lot of people don’t understand is that this is a 100% volunteer position. Everything the board does is for the benefit of the market. The Market President runs the opening and closing market meetings, keeps track of the tasks of the other board members, ensures everything runs smoothly on farmers market days, and acts as the final word in non-voting decisions. Since we are housed in the Shelby County Fairgrounds, the President also serves as a liaison to the Fair board and the community at large. 

3. What made you want to be the president of your local market?

The year I started there were only about seven vendors. Two years later COVID hit, and once again we were left with fewer vendors than in previous years. I chose to run for president because I wanted to see the market thrive again. Since then, we have grown to over 30 vendors, hundreds of customers attending each weekend, and have completely revamped our website and sponsorship, and even have a monthly newsletter!  I am excited to see where the market will go from here. 

4. What’s your favorite part about the farmers market?

The people. We have some of the best vendors and customers. I typically arrive an hour before we open so I can set up before the other vendors arrive. This lets me chat about their week, help set up their booths and even make some early morning purchases (I make it my mission to purchase from at least four to five vendors each Saturday, and I purchase from every vendor at least once per season). It’s really important to me that we support each other. Then, once the customers arrive, there is nearly non-stop service banter and a lot of laughter. Some of my regular customers have been with me since the beginning, and I look forward to seeing them every weekend. 

5. Tell us a story about an experience or interaction you had at the market that made you think, “This is why I do what I do!”

It’s very hard to think of just one experience, but I think the best experience was when the President of the Fair Board reached out to me earlier this year to see how they could help us. He was impressed with our vendor and customer numbers and was once again seeing the market as a benefit to their organization. It solidified the fact that the community is behind what we do, and our biggest problem now is figuring out where to put all our vendors!

Many thanks to Aysha for allowing us to profile her work outside of AFT. We hope learning about her leadership at her farmers market has inspired you to get involved in supporting your favorite market by voting in AFT’s 16th annual celebration of farmers' markets nationwide. By supporting your local market, you are supporting your local community of farmers! Vote by July 31, 2024, at markets.farmland.org to help your market win a cash prize and national recognition!
 

About America’s Farmers Market Celebration™ (AFMC)
 

Since 2008, AFMC has been the only annual ranking of the top farmers markets in the United States as voted on by the public. AFMC has highlighted the important role farmers markets play in communities nationwide while celebrating the farmers, staff, and volunteers who make markets happen. The 2024 AFMC runs June 1 – July 31, 2024, and will award $15,000 in total prizes to the top five farmers markets nationally and first place in each state.

About American Farmland Trust (AFT)

AFT is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through its No Farms No Food® message. Since its founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 7.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families.