Farmers Market Enters Contest For Open Air Barn

Supporters of Hartland's Farmers Market say they're happy with the current location that's highly visible right along M-59 in the parking lot of the .

But when backers came across a nationwide Farmers Market Great Barn Giveaway contest that features open air barn as grand prize, they needed a location for the entry form and opted to pick the old Township Hall site off Hartland Road next the .

The Township Board even had to vote on the site, which some said could offer advantages for the village area of Hartland and the market.

"The chances of winning this contest are very small," Hartland Township Treausuer Kathie Horning said. "We just think we do have a good story of everybody collaborating. Every dime we make on the market goes back into advertising. … I just think we shouldn't pass up the opportunity."

The 24-foot-by-36-foot movable open air barn is worth $80,000, according to contest details. Three finalists will be selected Aug. 1 and the public will vote for the winner, which would be announced Aug. 29.

Yankee Barn Homes, the Farmers Market Coalition and the American Farmland Trust are running the contest.

"You can't win if you don't try," said Hartland Township Trustee Joe Petrucci.

The farmers market, which is nonprofit collaboration of several local partners, is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays from May through October.