Gallatin Valley Farmers’ Market wraps up for the summer

As the warmth of summer slowly fades into the crisp air of autumn, it seems the entire city of Bozeman is closing out summer.

The Gallatin Valley Farmers’ Market (GVFM) wrapped up its 2026 Summer Market this past Saturday, Sept. 12. Starting in early June, the market ran every Saturday through the summer months at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. 

This was far from the market's first year serving the Bozeman community. It has been in operation for 55 years, according to the GVFM website. Beginning in 1971, the market was put together by individuals who wanted to create a space for farmers and crafters to sell their products. 

On Saturday, similar individuals filled booths spread across the lawn of Haynes Pavilion at Bozeman Fairgrounds, selling various services and goods.

Among them was Dakota Corbut, an agricultural entrepreneur. Corbut and his family members sell various vegetables every week at the GVFM, all grown on their three-acre operation. Corbut is responsible for planting, growing and harvesting their produce for the market. He explained the importance of locally grown produce such as his own.

“Everything starts with food. Health is based around food. Providing access to local food increases the health of the community,” Corbut said. “As vegetables are stored, they lose nutrient content. Most of our vegetables that we sell we pick the day of or the day before; that is peak nutrient content for food.”

Freshness and nutrition aren’t just benefits for humans when it comes to buying local produce, according to Austin Lumley, the owner of Pasture to Paws. Austin makes freeze-dried cat and dog treats from locally sourced meat.

“A lot of the foods and treats in store are processed, have a lot of harmful chemicals and just a lot of stuff in it that doesn’t need to be in there,” he said. “There’s a lot of other benefits, like vitamins, [and] just everything that [a dog] would need.”

Though their products are for different species, Corbut and Austin represent a common thread of the GVFM: supporting the Bozeman community on a face-to-face level.

Corbut emphasized the relationship purchasing from GVFM vendors builds for the community as a whole.

“The biggest thing is keeping the money local and investing in people that are going to continue investing in the community, such as local farmers,” he said.

Heather Lumley — owner of Natural Temptations, a refillery that stocks homemade cleaning and body products — echoed this sentiment, praising how the community comes together for the event.

“This is a great farmers’ market. I love how everyone comes together and supports their local 

businesses here. There’s a lot of volunteers that don’t have to, but volunteer their time to be a part of it, and I think that’s amazing,” Heather said. “It’s very important that we all help each other out and support the small local Ma and Pa and bring them back, because corporate is taking over everything.”

Heather’s roots in the GVFM started as less of a hobby and more as a lifestyle adjustment.

“I was diagnosed 15 years ago with Celiac disease, and then I have a couple other autoimmune disorders. It was so hard to find stuff that was actually clean in the stores,” she explained. “I hand-make everything; I use all-natural ingredients; I try to source locally as much as I can. I make a little bit of everything.”

Heather, Austin and Corbut are just a few of many locals who participate in the GVFM. 

“This is my life. This is what I want to do forever, and buying from people like us just helps support that vision,” Corbut said. “If people don’t continue to buy from local producers, the only place you’ll be able to buy food from is all the big box stores — you have no control.”

Though GVFM has not yet announced the dates for next year’s Summer Market, the Winter Market is scheduled to be held November 28th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Exhibition Buildings at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds.