​      These four couples are all dressed up and ready for a fun evening at the 2022 Grinnell High School Prom on Saturday, April 30. Pictured are, from left: Ella Johnson, Brady Steward, Haidyn Hull, Cole Johnson, Sydney Kenkel, Jacob Gosselink, Sophia Tyler and Colin Gibson. Photo by Chad Hull. All other photos were submitted.

Blake Wilson and Makenna Smith

     The Grinnell Farmers Market is now underway for 2022. The market is held on Thursday from 3 – 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. - Noon. The market is excited to welcome back many long time vendors with the addition of a number of new vendors for the 2022 season. Grinnell Farmers Market is organized by the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce and is presented by UnityPoint Health-Grinnell, Grinnell College and Grinnell Mutual.
Market Set Up
      Market will be held at the corner of 4th and Broad Street. Community members are again asked to avoid parking in those parking spaces after 1 p.m. on Thursdays and after 6:30 a.m. on Saturdays to allow vendors adequate time to set up for market.
      Market will continue to have a card reader available for those wishing to purchase tokens to use at the market. Debit/Credit tokens can be purchased to use as cash with all vendors at market. SNAP benefit tokens can be purchased with SNAP cards to use for qualifying products.
The market will again be participating in the Double Up Food Bucks program for the 2022 season. Customers are able to earn DUFB when purchasing SNAP tokens or can bring the DUFB earned at Fareway and spend them with qualifying vendors. The card reader stand will be located in front of the Veteran’s Memorial Building. Please stop by the stand or call the chamber office with questions.
Participating Vendors
      Below is a current list of participating vendors for the 2022 season. Application for Thursday part-time vendors and Saturday full- and part-time vendors are still being accepted. 
The Grinnell Farmers Market is a 100 percent producer grown or made market, meaning that all items for sale must be entirely grown or made by the vendor or immediate family members in Iowa. To stay up to date on vendors, please visit www.grinnellfarmersmarket.com
        Those interested in playing music or providing an educational or artistic activity at market should reach out to the Chamber to check availability.
Thursday Full-Time Vendors:
● B&J Vegetables: fruits, vegetables, black walnuts, freeze dried items (WIC, FMNP, SNAP,
DUFB)
● Beez Blooming Garden & Beez Kettle Corn: cut flowers, build your own bouquet, fresh popped kettle corn, microgreens
● Bodie’s Bakes: breads, cookies, jams and more
● Bunny Traxx Creations: Finished painted or glazed ceramics, scrubbies and kitchen items
● Circle W Acres: produce, baked goods, breads, pies and kolaches (WIC, FMNP, SNAP, DUFB)
● Compass Plant CSA: produce, fresh baked bread, heritage pork and chicken products, eggs
(WIC, FMNP, SNAP, DUFB)
● Cupcakin Around: baked desserts
● Dolezal Honey Bees: honey, beeswax, body products with honey or beeswax, soaps
● Esther’s Place: sweet breads, pies, kolaches
● Grinnell VFW/American Legion: stop by to learn more about membership and support
● Kate’s Kitchen Creations: scones, breads, french macarons, english muffins, cookies, eggs
● Lim’s Candies: candy, cookies, crochet items, wild mushrooms
● Little Bud Farm: fresh cut flowers
● Live Life & Tie Dye: tie dyed Clothing, bedding, tapestries and accessories
● Olson Garden Market: vegetable & herb plants, large array of produce and pumpkins (WIC,
FMNP, SNAP, DUFB)
● Prairie Produce: array of produce and sweet corn (WIC, FMNP, SNAP, DUFB)
● Roses Art Stand: painted rocks and other items
● Sweet Castle Soaps: handmade bath bombs and decorative soaps
● Tangled Roots Farm: variety of produce/veggies baked goods
● Weyrauch Greenhouse: plants, concrete yard ornaments
Saturday Full-Time Vendors:
● B&J Vegetables: fruits, vegetables, black walnuts, freeze dried items (WIC, FMNP, SNAP,
DUFB)
● Bunny Traxx Creations: finished painted or glazed ceramics, scrubbies and kitchen items
● Circle W Acres: produce, baked goods, breads, pies and kolaches (WIC, FMNP, SNAP, DUFB)
● Compass Plant CSA: produce, fresh baked bread, heritage pork and chicken products, eggs
(WIC, FMNP, SNAP, DUFB)
● Ginger Werner: vegetables, fruits, pies, breads, nut meat and more (WIC, FMNP, SNAP, DUFB)
● Grin Open Studios: handmade ceramics
● Grinnell VFW/American Legion*: stop by to learn more about membership and support
● Mamie’s Way Herbs LLC: homemade herbal oils, tinctures
● Olson Garden Market: vegetable & herb plants, large array of produce and pumpkins (WIC,
FMNP, SNAP, DUFB)
● Paul’s Country Treats: flavored popcorn, party mixes, jams and plants
● Prairie Produce: array of produce and sweet corn (WIC, FMNP, SNAP, DUFB)
● Scenery Changes: earrings, bookmarks, knitted product, book page art. Self-published books
(fantasy, sci-fi, poetry, speculative fiction)
● Susan Landkemer Rivera Jewelry: variety of handmade jewelry
● Sweet Castle Soaps: handmade bath bombs and decorative soaps
● Tangled Roots Farm: variety of produce/veggies baked goods
● Weyrauch Greenhouse: plants, concrete yard ornaments
Part-Time Vendors:
● Angelic Scents & Gifts: lip balm, shower steamers, roll-ons, wax melts, bug spray, air freshener, bug bite relief, foot soak
● Bread Tree Baking Co: baked goods and breakfast sandwiches
● Bumpside Rustic: farm fresh eggs, handcrafted wood products such as home decor, table-top
egg holders, garden trellis’ and more
● Silver Maple Lane LLC: syrup, Jelly, produce, eggs
        Those interested in applying to be a vendor or any area musicians interested in performing at the Grinnell Farmers Market can find more information at www.grinnellfarmersmarket.com or can contact the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce, [email protected] or 641-236-6555. For the latest market information, make sure to follow the market on Facebook and Instagram at @grinnellfarmersmarket.

Grinnell Police Sergeant Ben Smith wearing the Mental Health Awareness Patch in support of Mental Health Month. The patches are available for $10 at the Grinnell Police Department. The money will be used to support the Grinnell Area Mental Health Consortium.

     The month of May is designated as Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year the Grinnell Police Department will be partnering with the Grinnell Area Mental Health Consortium to raise funds for their community-based organization.
        Starting the week of May 9, the Grinnell Police Department will be selling a specialty police patch designed to bring awareness to this issue. The patches will be on sale at the Grinnell Police Department, and the proceeds from the sales will go to the Grinnell Area Mental Health Consortium. Grinnell Police Officers have the option to purchase and wear these special shoulder patches during the month of May as a way to contribute and advertise this program.
         From the Grinnell Area Mental Health Consortium: The purpose of the Grinnell Area Mental Health Consortium is to serve those in Poweshiek County area with mental health needs by providing financial assistance support, convening groups around mental health needs and advocating for those in need. They provide financial assistance to residents who need mental health support who would otherwise be unable to obtain it. They also support area educational endeavors in the areas of mental health and substance abuse.
            This project was spearheaded by Grinnell Police Sergeant Ben Smith.
        Members of the public interested in purchasing one of the patches can stop by the Grinnell Police Department and purchase them for $10 each, by either cash or check.

BGM students enjoyed an evening in Hollywood at the 2022 prom on Saturday, April 9 - photos provided by J.O. Parker and the BGM yearbook staff