Eliza Walton was looking for the right farm for her four Angus cows. She found it, and much more, at Egg Hill Farm, where Chris Ishler was growing row crops.
Ten years later, the crop fields are pastures, and Walton and Ishler are managing a herd of 40 registered Angus.
âWe joke, it was a match made in farmer heaven,â Walton said.
At first, the couple just sold calves from the cow-calf herd, but before long they were looking to improve productivity and expand the markets for their business, Sinking Creek Meats.
They found the help they needed in Penn State Extension.
In recent years, Pennsylvania farmers markets have become not only places to shop for farm fresh foods, but also event-filled locations with entertainment and perks like seasonal festivals to attract more shoppers. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in the spring of 2020, farmers markets faced uncertain times in a new era where gatherings were discouraged. With 6-foot social distancing required to prevent the spread of COVID-19, markets were faced with a whole new challenge of how to attract buyers and continue to function.
For farmers markets trying to decide how to proceed in a pandemic, a major factor became Pennsylvaniaâs Department of Community and Economic Development, which designated markets as âessential businessesâ purveying foodstuffs during COVID-19. It meant the markets could remain operational if they could find ways to keep their vendors and customers safe.