 Sometimes all it takes is a radio ad, a last-minute application, and a willingness to figure things out as you go.
That’s all it took for Brittany and Dennis to start their Rayclift Design journey with Horton Farmers’ Market. After hearing an advertisement on 94.1 MyFM for the regular season at Horton, Brittany and Dennis Clift decided to take a chance and apply for the Wednesday pilot program in 2024. At the time, they had no polished business plan, no long vendor resume, and in their words, “no real business, product, or clue of how to be a vendor.” They applied anyway. The approval email arrived. Cue the scramble.
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 There’s a common misconception that shopping at a farmers' market has to mean spending more. Between baskets of fresh strawberries, display cases of mouthwatering baked goods, and beautiful displays of local produce, it can look like a luxury shopping trip, but does feeding a family at the Horton Farmers’ Market actually cost more than the grocery store?
 While living and working in Burlington, ON, Keith Small of TKS Woodworks decided to make a planter for his wife in his downtime during COVID. “He had woodworking experience from working in wood framing and doing odd jobs around the house,” his wife and business partner Tina explained. “So, he made me a planter. It wasn’t a big one, just a smaller one.” But later in the year during a barbeque at their house, a lot of people began to compliment the piece and mentioned it would be something they would buy. Tina and Keith decided to give it a shot and made a few more planters before listing them for sale on Facebook Marketplace. “We were both working our other jobs full time, Keith was framing, and I was working as a PSW, but once I posted them, that was that,” Tina said with a laugh. “Now we’ve run TKS Woodworks full time for two years as of February 2026.”
 Every Saturday at Horton Market, food brings people together. Whether it's picking up fresh vegetables for the week, chatting with a local baker, or discovering a new seasonal ingredient, the market offers more than just something to eat. It reflects a bigger conversation happening across Elgin County: what does food security really look like?
 The Horton Farmers’ Market is a magical place to spend a Saturday morning. The smell of fresh cut flowers and delicious brunch snacks fill the air, live music echoes throughout, vendors lay out their freshly baked goods and hand-picked produce, and every table suddenly seems to have something you need – local honey, handmade soap, gluten-free treats, hand crafted decor.
For a first-time market goer, all of that market charm can feel slightly overwhelming. Deciding where to start or what you’d like to buy can feel daunting when experiencing the market for the first time. The good news? You don’t have to see everything, buy everything, or know exactly what you’re going to do at the market to enjoy it – just show up and see what happens! So, if you’re thinking of checking out the Horton Farmers’ Market for the first time, here is a guide to navigating it without feeling overwhelmed.  As the flowers bloom and market season begins, it’s important to recognize the value in supporting the local harvest at Horton Market.
Eating seasonally is exactly how it sounds, eating with the seasons! You can do this by choosing foods that naturally grow and thrive during each season.  Spring has officially arrived, and with it comes one of the most exciting times of the year - the return of main season! As the weather begins to warm up, trees begin to bud, and the we gather indoors and outdoors under the market building and pavilions once again, the Horton Farmers' Market comes alive with the sights, sounds, and flavours that make spring in St. Thomas so special. This year’s opening weekend also falls alongside Mother’s Day weekend, creating the perfect opportunity to celebrate local food, local makers, and the people we love most. From the return of fresh farm produce and outdoor vendors to live music and family-friendly activities, there’s no better way to welcome the season.
 After a fabulous Maple Fest, the Horton Farmers' Market vendors and team would like to thank St. Thomas, Elgin County, and their communities for coming out each Saturday to support local during the Winter at Horton season. It may have been cold outside, but it was warm and welcoming inside our market building each weekend thanks to you! As we close out the Winter at Horton season, we have a few quick reminders for you before Main Season starts:
To stay up-to-date on all themed market days and market communications, make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Thank you all once again for being a part of our market family, and we can't wait for another Main Season filled with sunshine, fresh produce, local meats, artisan goodies, live music, and community love! See you on May 9!  As we celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd, we recognize that the day can easily feel overwhelming and daunting. We all love our Earth and we want to protect it, but a starting point can feel difficult to find. Many of us already engage with environmentally conscious habits, like recycling and composting, using power during off-peak hours, planting trees and native gardens, switching to energy-efficient appliances, and more. But how else can we learn about our local environment, support stewards of our lands, and promote sustainability? One way is to support and shop from your local farmers' markets.
 Maple Fest is almost here! Join us at the Horton Farmers' Market on Saturday April 25 from 9am-1pm to say goodbye to winter, celebrate all things maple and Canadian, and to gather with community, family, and friends indoors and outdoors for a sweet market day filled with local goods. The market will be bustling with demonstrations, a best-dressed Canadiana contest, a fun Goosechase scavenger hunt, and maple themed goodies from 50+ local farmers and vendors.
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10 Manitoba Street, 1/2 block North of Talbot Street St. Thomas, Ontario © Horton Farmers' Market 2025
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