16 Wednesday, May 13, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon MARKET: Passion, creativity drive effort for local food access Continued from page 1 to elevate the manager9s role and professionalize it. It9s hard running something like that on a volunteer basis,= Tehan said. Last year9s managers, T. Lee Brown and Rachel Kelleher, played a major role keeping the market going and leaving it in a healthy posi- tion. With their hard work and efforts, Seed to Table is taking over a market with a strong foundation that9s ready to grow. Hiring part-time manager Caroline Hager was an excit- ing step. She and Tehan share a passion and vision for how sustainable, local farming can promote healthier nutritious food for Sisters Country. They also see big potential with Seed to Table oversight that will integrate education, support for local businesses and access to fresh food for those experiencing food insecurity. Hager has been volunteer- ing with Tehan on the Seed to Table farm and felt an instant connection to the mission the nonprofit is implement- ing for the community and Sisters9 schools. With educa- tion and professional experi- ence in business marketing, education and community engagement, Hager saw the market manager position as a perfect fit. She started in late April and has been working to make the market a safe and welcoming experience, espe- cially during challenges asso- ciated with COVID-19. Her new role includes making sure there9s a diverse array of high-quality vendors and get- ting the word out about the market. Since she first stepped foot on the Seed to Table farm and met Audrey Tehan, Hager wanted to be involved.