The River Hills Farmers Market begins its 2023 marketing
year with a new look, a new plan and a new schedule, all with the intent to improve direct marketing from the family farm and build on the renewed interest in local foods and farm fresh eggs.

The focus of the 2023 market year will be to meld marketing with consumer and producer education. Drawing upon a long history of poultry production in the River Hills region and Eastern Missouri as a whole, the market emphasis will be on heirloom poultry breeds and the more traditional methods of production now being sought out by consumers.

The group will hold just two meets this year, its Spring Poultry Expo on May 20 and the Fall Poultry Fest on Sept. 16.

Events will be at Central Elevator on Hwy. E, just west of Silex, and will include a farmers market, poultry breeders meet and seedstrock swap, as well as a variety of tailgate workshops on poultry themes. There is no admission or vendor fee.

Board members Virgil Smith of Vandallia, Carol Brown of
Bellflower, Kelly Klober of Silex, Aaron Burgin of Higbee and Milo Traynor of Bowling Green meet in winter and following a successful workshop at the Lincoln County Extension Center agreed upon a course of fewer but more timely markets to in crease participation and market numbers.

Hours will be 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with gates opening at 7. The May event will focus on flock creation and marketing and the September will have a theme of selection and breeding for im proved egg production. Recent events have increased interest in and questions about local farming and egg production and they will be addressed at both meetings.

All with an interest in poultry keeping are invited to attend. Contact numbers for the group are 636-697-3447 or 573-485-7261 and updated information will be available on the River Hills internet site.