Assistant Market Manager

I've been the assistant market manager now since April 2010 and I love my job.I'm just now finishing my second year in this position. I love being able to see all the customers and all the vendors every week. I decided to join the market in this capacity because I couldn't afford to operate my farm in full capacity, and because I knew I was the only person who had the commitment to get up at 3:30 AM to close the street every Saturday morning, regardless of what other priorities I had. The Cherry Street Farmer's Market is what distinguishes Tulsa from other cities on the map. It is what makes us extraordinary. Do you realize that the Cherry Street Farmers' Market is as big or bigger than the San Francisco City Center Farmers' Market? That is quite the appellation for a Midwestern city. There are very few people who have the focus and acumen to prioritize market on Saturday above all else. This has been a strain on my life and on the people I love. What would you think if your wife, husband, girlfriend, or boyfriend refused to "go out" on Friday nights? That's me, Mr. "No Life" on Fridays because of my commitment to the market. I go to bed at 8:30 PM. Bummer.

There is a lot of pressure on the Assistant Market Manager. If I were late to work, the vendors would go ahead and set up their tents in the middle of 15th Street without the appropriate safety systems. These are farmers after all, they don't stop for anything. I've seen some pretty crazy things in the early morning. Many of the people driving at in the early hours of Saturday morning are drunk or strung out. One time, I even had a guy in a clown mask pull a kitchen knife on me at 5:00 AM. To him is was a joke, really. It wasn't very funny to me. Well, next Saturday is the last market of the season and I hope everybody has enjoyed the season. I certainly have. Please come down to the market and say hi one last time before the market is over!