By DOUG SCHMITZ

Iowa Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. – USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins kicked off the inaugural Great American Farmers Market on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Aug. 3-8, with an evening of festivities she said honored America’s farmers, freedom and 250 years of agricultural heritage.

“We launched the inaugural Great American Farmers Market to honor our agricultural heritage, and stand shoulder to shoulder with today’s producers who continue in that tradition to feed and fuel our nation,” Rollins said.

The event was themed “America Grows: 250 Years of Liberty and Agriculture,” starting with the Ag Fest Concert: “Sunday was an incredible celebration of freedom, faith and the families that built this country,” Rollins said.

“Thank you to my friend and SBA (Small Business Administration) Administrator Kelly Loeffler for joining us for the kickoff celebration, as well as the talented musical artists Mary Millben, the U.S. Navy Band, Boiled Jam, and headliners Big & Rich,” she added.

Madison Pergrem, director of communications with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, which was at the event, told Farm World, “The Great American Farmers Market was an incredible opportunity for Kentucky agriculture to be showcased on a national stage.

“For the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, it means bringing our Kentucky Proud program and the hardworking farm families behind it to Washington, D.C., where their products and stories can be shared with people from across the country,” she said.

She added, “This event was more than just a market. It’s a chance to highlight the strength, diversity, and resilience of Kentucky agriculture, and to remind others why our producers are second to none.

“Farmers markets create a win-win relationship between producers and consumers,” she said. “For families, they provide access to fresh, local and nutritious food, while also allowing people to connect directly with those who grew or raised it.

“For Kentucky farmers,” she added, “farmers markets offer a vital place to sell their products, earn a better return, and strengthen relationships with their communities. Events like the Great American Farmers Market take that impact even further by putting Kentucky agriculture on display nationally, opening doors for our producers, and showing the country the value of buying Kentucky Proud.”